h such glory and majesty that the weary Wind fell prostrate,
and the Rain, beating against him, shook him, as she said:

"We won't stand it! She is always breaking through--is Madame Sunshine.
Let us not listen to her; what she has to say is not worth hearing."
And still the Sunshine began to talk, and this is what she said:

"A beautiful swan flew over the rolling, tossing waves of the ocean.
Every one of its feathers shone like gold; and one feather drifted down
to the great merchant vessel that, with sails all set, was sailing away.

"The feather fell upon the light curly hair of a young man, whose
business it was to care for the goods in the ship--the supercargo he was
called. The feather of the bird of fortune touched his forehead, became
a pen in his hand, and brought him such luck that he soon became a
wealthy merchant, rich enough to have bought for himself spurs of
gold--rich enough to change a golden plate into a nobleman's shield, on
which," said the Sunshine, "I shone."

* * * * *

"The swan flew farther, away and away, over the sunny green meadow,
where the little shepherd boy, only seven years old, had lain down in
the shade of the old tree, the only one there was in sight.

"In its flight the swan kissed one of the leaves of the tree, and
falling into the boy's hand, it was changed to three leaves--to ten--to
a whole book; yes, and in the book he read about all the wonders of
nature, about his native language, about faith and knowledge. At night
he laid the book under his pillow, that he might not forget what he had
been reading.

"The wonderful book led him also to the schoolroom, and thence
everywhere, in search of knowledge. I have read his name among the names
of learned men," said the Sunshine.

* * * * *

"The swan flew into the quiet, lonely forest, and rested awhile on the
deep, dark lake where the lilies grow, where the wild apples are to be
found on the shore, where the cuckoo and the wild pigeon have their
homes.

"In the wood was a poor woman gathering firewood--branches and dry
sticks that had fallen. She bore them on her back in a bundle, and in
her arms she held her little child. She too saw the golden swan, the
bird of fortune, as it rose from among the reeds on the shore. What was
it that glittered so? A golden egg that was still quite warm. She laid
it in her bosom, and the warmth remained. Surely there was life in