“Mary,” said Anna, “I’ve got an idea. I want to make a mattress and pillows for Emily’s doll, and some of the bird-houses are just bursting with feathers. Let us fill the mattress and pillows with feathers from the bluebirds’ house.” “Oh, that will be perfectly lovely!” said Mary. “And let us have them ready for her birthday,” continued Anna, “and we’ll send a verse from the bluebirds something like this: “Dear Emily: Our feathers free, Without a fee, We all agree To send to thee!” “Won’t that be fun?” laughed Mary, “but who’ll get the feathers for us?” “I’ll get them myself,” replied Anna. “With a long stepladder I can easily reach the bluebirds’ house. This evening we’ll make the cases, and then tomorrow afternoon right after school we’ll get the feathers.” The flower-elf, who was getting more and more provoked every moment, could stand the conversation no longer, and flew swiftly back to Mount Fern in search of the dream-elf, to whom he repeated every word he had heard in the garden. The dream-elf was very indignant at the thought of the bluebirds’ house being robbed of its feathers by these monsters of the Giant World, and he said to the flower-elf: “She shall _not_ rob the bluebirds’ house, for I’ll beat on the drum of her ear and make her dream a horrible dream!” “You surely will?” urged the flower-elf. “Without fail,” replied Slumber. The flower-elf rubbed his hands and laughed gleefully, and then ran back to his work in the garden. He spoke to the tall, pink foxgloves and told them that foxgloves were favorites of fairies all over the world. “We are very proud to hear _you_ say so,” replied the Foxgloves, “for everyone knows that fairies or elves are the favorites of children all over the world.” Then the flower-elf bowed low, and passed on to the snapdragons, and asked them how _they_ did. “We’re impatient,” said they, “and can hardly wait for the morning. We don’t see why there should be any night when the day is so much finer.” “I really cannot agree with you,” said Iris-Wing, “for we Elves love starlight and moonlight much better than sunlight, and so do some flowers, some birds, and some insects.” “Yes, but more flowers, more birds, and more insects love day than love night. We’ve really no patience with people who don’t love the sun. Of all living creatures we think the bee is the best, and she loves the sun.” “And now, if you’re done,” said the flower-elf, “I think I shall run, for there’s work to be done.” When he had finished his work in the garden, Iris-Wing called at the bluebirds’ house to tell him that hawks were abroad in the land. “And they’re _human_,” said he, “but fear not, we’ll protect you.” * * * * *