nt girl, pressing Marianna's hand to her
lips, "how sweet and kind thou art! Great is the debt I owe thee."

And as the girl poured out her thanks, Marianna heard a faint "chirp,
chirp," and looking down, beheld a little yellow bird crouching on the
hearthstone. Every now and then he hid his head under his wings and
cried unhappily. It was the yellow bird which had brought the message
from the Emperor of the Elves.

"Poor little bird," said Marianna, bending down and taking him up in her
hands, "why criest thou so mournfully? Who hath done thee harm?"

But the bird uttered only a forlorn little cry, and hid his head again
under his wings.

"I found him on the rocks at the mountaintop yesterday," said the
mother. "Someone has wounded him. His wing is broken."

And she put the bird on the floor of the house and bade Marianna watch
how he fluttered trailing a wing in the dust. Again Marianna stooped,
and picking up the bird, touched the wounded wing with the water of
healing. Scarcely had she done so, when the yellow bird burst into a
joyous and golden song, and flying to the window, beat madly against the
panes. Then the peasant girl threw open the casement, and the yellow
bird flew out into the streaming sun.

"He is gone forever," said the peasant girl.

"Nay, he returns," said Marianna, gently, as the yellow bird flew back
and perched in the sheltering bower of Marianna's arms. Then,
accompanied by the peasant girl and the yellow bird, who flew singing
before her, Marianna went down the dangerous path to the high road in
the valley. When they reached the foot of the path, the peasant girl
cried:--

"Farewell, dear Marianna; may it some day be mine to repay thee!"

Into the world again went Marianna, and with her went the yellow bird.
Presently she came to the fairest land which she had ever seen, a land
of rolling fields, little hills, and rivers bordered with pale willow
trees. This pleasant land, unknown to Marianna, was part of her father's
kingdom, and she was really its queen because her father had been the
last rightful king.

Now while Marianna had been in the forest, the wicked nobleman who had
stolen the kingdom from Marianna's father had died, leaving his brother
Garabin in charge of the kingdom and of the interests of his little son,
Prince Desire. This Garabin, however, taking advantage of the youth and
helplessness of his nephew, had himself assumed the state and airs of
king. For some time he