Story Hour Readers, book 3 | Page 9

earth with a blanket of snow. Freeze the waters of the lakes and rivers."
Thus Eolus would command the Winds, and they would do his bidding.
One day a ship stopped near the island of the Winds, and anchored. The captain of the ship and the sailors went ashore.
Eolus treated the visitors very kindly.
When the sailors discovered that they had come to the home of the Winds, they cried, "O Eolus! Tell West Wind to blow and help us reach home quickly:"
Then Eolus took a leather bag and put into it all the unruly Winds. He tied the end of the bag with a silver string. Giving the bag to the captain, he said, "Fasten the bag to the mast of your ship. Do not open it, or trouble will follow."
Then Eolus called West Wind from his island cave.
The captain and the sailors thanked Eolus and started off in the ship. West Wind blew gently, and the ship sailed over smooth waters day and night. Each day found them nearer home.
At last, on the evening of the ninth day, they saw the shores of their own land.
The captain cried, "Land, ahoy! We shall anchor in the harbor to-morrow."
Tired with long watching, and thinking that the ship was safe, he went to sleep.
Then the sailors began to whisper softly to each other.
"What do you suppose there is in the bag?" said one.
"It is tied with a silver cord. I am sure that it is full of gold," said another.
Then they planned to rob the captain of his treasure.
One of the sailors untied the bag.
Out rushed the angry Winds! They raged and roared. A storm arose, and the ship was sent far out of its course. The captain begged West Wind to help the sailors, but he could not.
At last the ship was driven back to the home of the Winds.
Eolus was surprised when he saw the ship again.
"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