s tree, Teddy started
to his knees, gazing out down the hill-slope. There were the four
black-and-yellow butterflies flying directly toward the tree as fast
as their wings could carry them, and on the two foremost ones were old
Granddaddy Thistletop himself and the beautiful Rosine.

They drew rein at the knot-hole, and the old fairy, skipping from his
butterfly and never pausing to fasten it, tottered straight to Teddy and
threw his arms about his neck. "Our preserver!" he cried. "And to think
I should have called you a gamblesome elf! But never mind; I will make
it up to you."

Suddenly he turned and caught the blushing Rosine by the hand. "Here!"
he cried; "she is yours, and you shall live with us, and learn to turn
your toes up, and we will all be happy together."

"But--but--" cried Teddy, starting back, "don't you know? I'm not an elf
at all. I'm---"

* * * * * * *

"Well, well! Here we are back again," said the Counterpane Fairy, "and
stiff enough I feel after all that journeying."

"Oh! wasn't it funny?" said Teddy, and his knees shook with laughter.
"They really thought I was a gamblesome elf."

"Take care!" cried the fairy. "There you are shaking your knees again. I
think, my dear, that if you were to lower them very, very carefully, the
hill would not be quite so steep."

"Yes, ma'am, I'll be careful," said Teddy, beginning very slowly to
slide his feet down in the bed. Suddenly, the door-knob turned,
and Teddy gave a start;--quick as a flash the Counterpane Fairy had
disappeared.

His mother was coming in carrying his breakfast and a little vase of
violets on a tray.

"Why, my darling, what a bright, happy face!" she said. "I think my
little boy must be feeling better this morning."

CHAPTER THIRD. STARLEIN AND SILVERLING.

"MIS' THOMAS, Ann McFinney's downstairs to see you about that sewing
you said she could do for you," said Hannah, putting her head in at the
door. Mamma was sitting close to the bed playing a game of Old Maid with
Teddy.

"Very well, Hannah; tell her I'll be there in a moment," she said.

"Oh, please don't go yet," said Teddy. "It's my draw. Match! You're the
old maid. Oh, Mamma! You're an old maid!" And he pointed his finger at
her and laughed.

"Why, so I am," said mamma. "Now you can shuffle the cards, and when I
come back we'll have another game."

"Don't stay long," begged Teddy.

"I'll come back as soon as I can," said mam