nd the
other islands where they generally stay. Oh dear! I do wish I understood
your language," he repeated again.

At this moment, a great humble-bee came humming in at the window; and on
looking up, what should Herbert see but a tiny fairy sitting on its
back! In a moment the bee lighted on the table, and stopped its humming;
and then the fairy's voice could be distinctly heard, as she stood up on
the back of the humble-bee, saying,----

"Little boy, with eyes so blue,
You are kind and you are true
To the birds, the beasts, the flowers,
Their language we will make it yours:
Then listen to Miss Polly's speech,
And hear what lesson she will teach."

With these words she waved her shining silver wand, and touching him
first on one ear, and then on the other, as she rode past him, was borne
away out of the window once more, on the back of the humble-bee.

Herbert didn't know very well what had happened, and thought he was
dreaming, till he heard Mrs. Polly saying to the cockatoo, "Now, sir, if
you sulk, Master Herbert will know what it's for."

"I say, Polly," said Herbert, "am I really to understand your language?
Did you see the fairy too?"

"Oh yes, sir," replied Mrs. Polly. "I saw her, and heard what she said;
and let me tell you, sir, it isn't every boy that receives such a
reward; but you must have pleased the fairy Fauna, by being kind to all
the creatures, great and small. Yes, she has heard no doubt how you open
the window, and put the bees and the blue-bottle flies out, instead of
killing them. I shouldn't wonder if it was that great spider whose life
you spared who told her. You remember your cousin Dick wanted to kill
it; and I noticed she guided the bee with threads from a spider's web."

"Well, I'm very glad," said Herbert laughing. "I must say the reward is
greater than I deserve, for it seems an easy thing to be kind to animals
and insects."

"It's not such an easy thing as you think, sir," said Mrs. Polly. "I've
lived seventy years in this world, and I've kept my eyes wide open, and
I've seen boys, ay, and girls too, do very cruel things to dumb
animals."

"Dear me, Polly, have you lived seventy years?" replied Herbert in much
astonishment; "I had no idea of it. Uncle James says parrots live to a
great age--he knew one that was a hundred years old; but somehow I
thought you were quite young. I mustn't ask you to dance quite so often,
for your legs must feel rather stiff at times.