other children. "You must only wish for
one thing, as we did."

"But I really wish for both," said the boy.

"If you wish for both perhaps you will get neither," said little Hulda.

"Well, then," answered the boy, "I wish for the puppy."

And so they all went on wishing till at last it came to Hulda's turn.

"What do you wish for, my child?" said her mother.

"Not for anything at all," she answered, shaking her head.

"Oh, but you must wish for something!" cried all the children.

"Yes," said her mother, "and I am now going to cut the cake. See, Hulda,
the knife is going into it. Think of something."

"Well, then," answered the little girl, "I cannot think of anything
else, so I shall wish that you may all have your wishes."

Upon this the knife went crunching down into the cake, the children gave
three cheers, and the white waxen tulip bud at the top came tumbling on
the table, and while they were all looking it opened its leaves, and out
of the middle of it stepped a beautiful little fairy woman, no taller
than your finger. She had a white robe on, a little crown on her long
yellow hair; there were two wings on her shoulders, just like the downy
brown wings of a butterfly, and in her hand she had a little sceptre
sparkling with precious stones.

"Only one wish," she said, jumping down on to the table, and speaking
with the smallest little voice you ever heard. "Your fathers and mothers
were always contented if we gave them one wish every year."

As she spoke, Hulda's mother gave a slice of cake to each child, and,
when Hulda took hers, out dropped the ring, and fell clattering on her
platter.

"Only one wish," repeated the fairy. And the children were all so much
astonished (for even in those days fairies were but rarely seen) that
none of them spoke a word, not even in a whisper. "Only one wish. Speak,
then, little Hulda, for I am one of that race which delights to give
pleasure and to do good. Is there really nothing that you wish, for you
shall certainly have it if there is?"

"There was nothing, dear fairy, before I saw you," answered the little
girl, in a hesitating tone.

"But now there is?" asked the fairy. "Tell it me, then, and you shall
have it."

"I wish for that pretty little sceptre of yours," said Hulda, pointing
to the fairy's wand.

The moment Hulda said this the fairy shuddered and became pale, her
brilliant colors faded, and she looked to the children's eyes like a
thin white mis