owl with glaring eyes flew down: the music and the dance were hushed, and all listened to his voice. To his surprise, Rudolph found that he could understand the language of all animals, which had formerly seemed to him mere unmeaning sounds. "Bright Fairy Queen, shall mortal dare On beauty gaze beyond compare; Shall one of earth unpunish'd see The mazes of your revelry? That ancient oak, by your donation, For years has been my habitation; And now a child usurps my right, Sleeping within its heart to-night; Nor that alone, but dares to view The mysteries of nature too. And shall he go, unscath'd, away? As Privy Counsellor, I say nay! Else man will learn our secrets dread. And higher raise his haughty head: All nature soon would subject be, Nor place be left us, on land or sea. E'en now, prophetic, I see the day When steam exerts resistless sway-- And iron monsters, with breath of flame, Shall blot from earth the fairy name. Then to the beasts that throng the wild, Dread Queen, give up the intruding child!" At this address, to which the wolves howled a dismal chorus of assent, all eyes were turned upon the chamber in the ancient oak, in which Rudolph sat, his heart quaking with terror at the thought of the fate before him. But a sweet voice, clear and piercing, spoke his name, and commanded him to descend, fearing nothing if his conscience was pure, and if he had not obtruded through vain curiosity upon the revels of the Queen of Fairy Land. Rudolph obeyed. The Queen was standing, with the ladies of her court ranged on either side. They all were beautiful, but she was like the brightness of the morning and the freshness of flowers. Dazzling loveliness distinguished her, and a dignity to which all paid obeisance. Upon her brow sparkled the evening star, her only diadem. She gazed mildly, yet searchingly, upon the boy, as if she read his very thoughts; and then she spoke: "'Tis true, wise Counsellor, that according to our laws of Fairy Realm, the child should die; and yet my heart yearns to the innocent, blue-eyed boy. Does no one have compassion upon him? Have none a plea to offer for his pardon? I solemnly declare that he shall be saved, were my very crown and life endangered, if but one act of kindness and mercy shown by him to weaker creatures, can be proved. For to the kind and merciful, mercy should ever be shown; this law stands higher than any judicial enactment." As she spoke these words, a dove with gentle eyes and downy breast flew to her feet, and thus timidly offered her prayer: