“Very well,--and we are now satisfied that this appearance is the consequence of the growth and decay of certain fungi(47), although the common people still believe that the ring is produced by the gambols of fairies--now then for my story. It was on a moonlight night, last August, when strolling along a neighbouring meadow, enjoying the beauties of the evening, that I met a young farmer, an intelligent person, although a little inclined to a belief in the marvellous, who, on approaching with a hasty step, thus accosted me;--‘You have often ridiculed my belief in fairies, and of their being the cause of those rings which go by their name; you may now, if you please, satisfy yourself of their reality, if you will only return with me to the elm close, which, as you know, abounds with fairy-rings. Within the last few minutes I have actually seen them at their gambols under the great elm; they are, sir, tiny beings which, as far as I could judge at a distance, cannot be more than a few inches in height; but there they are, frisking away most merrily: pray, sir, do let us return, and satisfy yourself as well as me.’--You may readily suppose that I lost no time in complying with my friend’s request; and sure enough there they were.” “What, the fairies!” exclaimed Louisa, in astonishment. “Have patience, my dear, and you shall hear. I confess,” continued Mr. Seymour, “that at the first glance, I was almost startled into a belief in the reality of my friend’s assertion, but on approaching, the Fairy Queen and her court were changed into a circle of fungi, to which the shadowy play of the leaves of the neighbouring tree had, in the light of the moon, given the appearance of a fantastic motion. The illusion, I will admit, was very extraordinary, and one well calculated to impose upon the credulous countrymen.” The young party were much amused by the anecdote, and the vicar took this opportunity to explain, on natural principles, several superstitious appearances recorded in ancient legends. Mr. Seymour now proposed to dedicate an hour to the explanation of the several toys which owe their action to atmospheric vibration; “I shall then,” said he, addressing Miss Villers, “be at your service to interrogate the spirit of the valley; and the children, whom I intend to accompany us, will be thus better prepared to comprehend the theory of the echo.” “Musical instruments, amongst which I include the toys to which I have alluded, may be classed under three heads:--_stringed_ instruments, such as the harp, violin, &c.; _wind_ instruments, as the flute and trumpet; and instruments of _percussion_, as the tabor and drum.” “And which kind do you consider the most ancient?” asked Miss Villers. “_Wind_ instruments, madam, most unquestionably,” cried Mr. Twaddleton. “Diodorus ascribed their invention to the accidental notice of the whistling of the wind in the reeds, on the banks of the Nile; and the poet Lucretius maintained a similar opinion.”