Story Hour Readers — Book Three

								

"Why have you returned?" asked Eolus.
"The sailors untied the silver cord at the end of the bag and set the
unruly Winds free," replied the captain. "Please call them back to their
caves and help us."
"Depart!" cried Eolus angrily. "I will show you no more favors."
Sadly they sailed away, and no kind West Wind helped them.
They toiled for many days and nights, and they suffered great hardship
before they came once more in sight of their own land.

DIANA AND APOLLO

On an island in the sea, there lived a beautiful woman who had two
children, twins. The girl's name was Diana, the boy's Apollo.
It was a floating island. Neptune, the king of the sea, had placed four
marble pillars under it, and had fastened it with heavy chains.
The two children grew rapidly. Diana became tall and graceful. Jupiter,
king of heaven and earth, saw that she was very fair.
One day as Diana was walking through the forest, Jupiter met her and
spoke to her, saying, "Fair Diana, hereafter you shall be called Queen
of the Woods."
Diana, followed by her maids the wood nymphs, often wandered through the
forest. She took care of the deer and all helpless creatures, but she
hunted fierce animals.
Apollo, also, grew to be fair and strong.
Jupiter bestowed many gifts upon the youth. He gave Apollo a pair of
swans and a golden chariot, so that the boy could go anywhere, on land
or sea.
The most wonderful present that Jupiter gave to Apollo was a silver bow,
with sharp arrows which never missed the mark. Apollo prized the bow so
highly and used it so very skillfully, that he came to be called "Master
of the Silver Bow."

THE TREE

Green stood the Tree,
With its leaves tender bright.
"Shall I take them?" said Frost,
As he breathed thro' the night.

    "Oh! pray let them be,

    Till my blossoms you see!"
Begged the Tree, as she shivered
And shook in affright.
Sweet sang the birds
The fair blossoms among.
"Shall I take them?" said Wind,
As he swayed them and swung.

    "Oh! pray let them be,

    Till my berries you see!"
Begged the Tree, as its branches
All quivering hung.
Bright grew the berries
Beneath the sun's heat.
"Shall I take them?" said Lassie
So young and so sweet.

    "Ah! take them, I crave!

    Take all that I have!"
Begged the Tree, as it bent
Its full boughs to her feet.
ADAPTED.

THE FAIRY TREE

Long, long ago, on an island in the sea, lived a family of seven
sisters. The oldest girl ruled the household, and her sisters obeyed her
commands. Flora, the youngest sister, was sent to the forest each day,
to gather wood for the kitchen fire.
Near the edge of the forest was a cave under some rocks. A stream of
water fell over the rocks into a basin in the cave.
This was a delightfully cool spot, and Flora often rested here on her
way home after gathering wood in the forest. She would lie on the mossy