ps
he can tell you where you should go and what you are," said the
columbines, nodding joyfully as the brown velvet bee came buzzing along,
for he was their postman and brought the daily news.

Eagerly they told him all about their little guest, and asked him if he
had heard anything of a featherless bird, a strayed elf, or a human
changeling hidden in a blue egg.

The bee said he once heard a humming-bird tell about some little
creatures who were neither children nor fairies, because they were made
out of the fancies in people's heads. These poor mites never could be
real boys and girls; but if they tried very hard, and were very good,
wings would grow and they would be elves at last.

"I will, I will!" cried Bud. "I know I am one of those creatures, and I
want to be a fairy and find my home by and by. How shall I do it?"

"I think you have begun very well; for I've heard of you from several
friends as I came through the wood, and all say good words of you. Go
on, and I am sure you will find your wings at last. See! I will do my
part, and give you something to eat as you travel along."

As the kind bee spoke he began to mix the yellow pollen and honey he had
gathered, and soon handed Bud a nice little loaf of bee-bread to carry
with her. She folded it up in white violet leaves, like a sweet-scented
napkin, and with a horn of honey from the columbines set out again with
many thanks and full of hope and courage.

Presently a cloud of gay butterflies came flocking round her, crying
out,--

"Here's a rose! I smell honey! Come and taste! No, it is an elf! Dance
with us, little dear!"

Bud admired them very much, and felt very glad and proud when they
lighted all over her, till she looked like one great butterfly with
wings of every color.

"I cannot play with you because I am not an elf; but if you will carry
me on my way toward Fairyland I will give you my honey and my bread, for
I go very slowly and want to get along as quickly as I can," said Bud,
thinking that these pretty insects might help her.

The butterflies were idle things and hated to work, but they wanted the
dainty loaf and the flower sweets; so they said they would try to carry
Bud and save her tired little feet. They held tightly to her belt, her
hair, her frock, and all flew up at once, lifting her a little way above
the ground and carrying her along in a cloud of blue and yellow, red and
brown wings fluttering as they went. It was hard work, an