In the fields grew nice little buttony mushrooms. No one knew better than the Herr Baron where they were to be found and how to prepare them. Apparently he had lived on mushrooms in the wilds of South America. He was very kind in helping the children to fill their baskets to take home with them; for, alas, even the pleasantest of holidays must come to an end; and there was only one day left. He discovered a treasure in the field, a little mother-of-pearl knife, very old and rusty, and presented it to Trudel. He told her to soak it in petroleum to clean it. That knife was more trouble than all the rest of the luggage on the way back, for Trudel made such a fuss about it, and dissolved in tears several times when she thought that she had lost it. To leave the beautiful cool woods, the fairies, the tree man and his sweetheart, the cows and the geese and all the marvels of the country, yes, it was hard; but home is home, and always turns a smiling face to us after a long absence. How nice to rediscover one's playthings and dolls. Trudel's first thought was always for her doll babies, and she would rush upstairs, and embrace each one tenderly. As the children drove to the station from the farm, they passed the famous oak-tree, but no little man was to be seen. "He's shy of the coachman, of course," said the children. Looking back, they caught a glimpse of him in the distance, and shouted and waved their handkerchiefs. Hermann and Fritz were very sorry to say "good-bye" to their little friends; but school began the next day, and they would not have so much time for play then. The landlady told the children a great secret before they left. "The Herr Baron is going to be married next week," she said. "Well, I am glad," said mother. "I hope she is very nice," and the children echoed the wish warmly. "She has lots of money, and is a countess, I believe," continued the landlady. "Well, I do hope she does not object to smoking," said Trudel, and they all laughed. * * * * * "Mother, you have never shown us your sketch," said Trudel during the unpacking. Mother laughed. "Where's Lottchen? I suppose she wants to see it too?" "Here I am," said Lotty. "Oh, do be quick and show it to us!" Mother held up the sketch. There was the hollow oak-tree, and standing in it the little tree man himself just as the children had first seen him, with his green peaked hood on. "So mother really did see him too!" said the children. Now this story disproves the common fallacy that only children can see the fairies and forest folk; for how could mother have painted the tree gnome unless she had seen him? EVERETT AND CO. LTD., 42 ESSEX STREET, STRAND, LONDON Transcriber's note