while in others, touched by a light breeze, it turned up a thousand tiny ripples, that glittered in the moonlight.

I took a survey of the little island: the body was an entire rock of abrupt and fanciful outline, to the sides of which the water came deep and clear; one end composed of sand and large pebbles softened down to the water's level, on which were scattered dwarf cedars interspersed with golden-rods, lobelias, Indian posies and other wild flowers. On the outer ledges of the rock, wherever they could thrust a root, and for some distance in, grew cedars, white birch, sugar-maples and hemlocks, through the flexible branches of which rained a shower of silver light. In the centre was an open space, covered with green short turf, as smooth as a carefully-cut and rolled lawn. Toward midnight I began to feel somewhat weary, and thought that I would make a bed in the true hunter's style: selecting a spot on the edge of the green beneath the shade of a fine maple, I drew my knife from my pocket and cut from the white cedar four strong sticks, forked at one end, which I drove into the ground in the manner of bed-posts, with the crotches upward, on which lengthwise were placed two poles, and across these laid soft even branches of the same fragrant cedar. I would not have exchanged the pure air, the glorious sky, and luxurious woodland couch for the best bed in a king's palace; and I expended considerable compassion on the stifled wights pent up in cities, and thought what a pity it was that only one pair of eyes drank delight from all this beauty; when I discovered an agile figure moving lightly between the opposite trees, seemingly looking for some one, from the manner in which his eyes searched all directions: he stepped into the circle and carefully surveyed it, but the depth of shadow had apparently concealed me from his observation; while as he stood in bright moonlight, I had full time to examine him at my leisure, and well and truly he repaid the scrutiny.

He might have been a trifle but certainly very little over four feet in height, and though so small, in his figure were combined the pliant grace of youth with the composed dignity of manhood; his handsomely-cut features were rather sharp, and wore the expression of one who has seen all sides of the world, and though scorning cheatery and keen in its detection, had much rather laugh at than abuse mankind: the firm lip and frank cordial eyes inspired respect and confidence. In fact, he was such a handsome, generous, off-hand, free-looking little fellow, that my heart went round him at first sight. Yet was there something in his satirical, fun-loving glance that reminded me of my impish travelling friend. His dress was still more extraordinary than his appearance, and admirably suited his person; he had on leggings and hunting-shirt made from shining box leaves, each laid over the other in regular scalloped rows, the manner of plate-armor, trimly belted round the waist with mercury vine, and moccasins of bright snake-skins, with a smart hussar cap of green chestnut burrs; in his hand he carried what seemed to be a long rush, from which hung a tassel of seeds, each one of which looked like a small emerald. He walked away round the

after

circle, peering between trees and bushes; when he neared me I tried to look as if in a quiet slumber; hearing him pass I thought that the shadow had hidden me from his sight; when he turned back, burst into a hilarious laugh, saying, Ah, ah, my gay fellow! so you thought your sham sleep had caught me napping? I am sure if it had,' replied I, rising, that I should have been a great loser; that is, if you deign to favor me with your company? That is what I proposed, or rather that you would become mine for a short of time,' returned he, as he measured me from head to foot with a quizzical eye, and a smile, which he evidently endeavored to repress, played round his mouth. Then my suspicions flashed into certainty, and I exclaimed: 'I rather think that I have had a former proof of your companionable powers, and also a recollection of some accompanying advice.'

space

He drew himself up, and the little being actually looked noble and dignified, as he replied: That was a proof of yourself, not of me; I have always liked you from a child, since I first stood your friend, and wished personally to prove your nerve, discretion and self-command. You now see me in my proper person. You have had an affection and faith in us far beyond the ordinary race of mortals; and as love unlocks all secrets, I propose to initiate you into some of ours, and show you that we fairies are something more than the light, tricksome, fantastical creatures of fancy; and that we have our part assigned in the universe as well as man. see that huge earth-giant,' said he, pointing toward the black mountain. I nodded. That is our particular dominion; the surface is undisturbed by the foot of man, but the interior is crowded by busy inhabitants. If you wish, I will introduce you there, and unveil to your eye and understanding mysteries that human beings, even in the older countries, have scarcely caught a glimpse of."

You

Right gladly!' replied I, giving him my hand, which he received with a slight smile, and a friendly pressure; 'right gladly; and my impatience will turn every minute into an hour until I arrive there.'

As I ceased speaking, several winged thistle-seeds wafted by; my companion waved his rush-wand three times, and at each wave pronounced a word from some unknown tongue; when a couple of the seeds changed into a pair of magnificent coal-black coursers, with long dashing manes and tails; their hoofs seemed to be one solid diamond, and every time they breathed a phosphoric light played from their mouths and nostrils. Mount!' said he, as he sprang on the back of one; 'wreathe your hand in the mane and follow!'

I obeyed, and we sped through space with the steadiness and precision of a well-aimed arrow. In a second we alighted on the rugged rock-piled summit of the black mountain. Here,' said my guide, let us pause for one moment while I give you some directions that are necessary for you to remember. In the first place, whoever and whatever you see, speak to no one but me; and in the second, touch not any unknown substance nor working implements, for they might possess occult qualities that would not exactly agree

with flesh and blood. I will also explain to you my rank and control since the days of the Preädamites, when our people were first created, I have, under the sanction of our king and queen, held through this western world regal authority over all our different species. My name, (for among persons who have known each other so long titles would be useless,) is TREZALYUN; and now I will first make you acquainted with the denizens of the mountain, for we are composed of several races, each widely different from the other in occupation and appearance.'

He tapped on the face of a huge rock that stretched along the side of the mountain like a mural fortress, when it slid back on each side and discovered a large cavern glittering with spar. 'When we enter, the door will close, and it will be quite dark, but follow this talisman,' said he, touching the emerald tassels, and it will guide you safely.' We entered, and the doors that had opened to the exterior so quietly, shut and reverberated like thunder. I easily followed the sparkling beads, and after we had walked quickly for some time, evidently on a descent, there appeared a faint glimmer of white light, that gradually increased until the black sides of the cavern were silvered by what I thought a brilliant moonlight; but as we advanced it became yellower and brighter, until we arrived at a broad open space, where a large fire was burning. Nearly blinded by the excess of light, I could scarcely see, when Trezalyun drew me back, crying, Beware of those iron rods! I looked down and saw what appeared rail-road tracks; 'Take care of those,' said he; their slightest touch would annihilate an Earth-made! they are galvanic rods strongly charged from the centre of the universe.' After this I carefully picked my steps, until we were halfway across the space, which was probably a mile in extent. Here,' said my guide, we will rest, that you may observe at your leisure. You must know that I possess the power of passing invisibly through every part of our dominions, which I have also extended to you during our present companionship, that you might the more readily satisfy your curiosity, and at the same time that our people might not be aware of your near neighborhood.'

I looked round, and a truly animated scene presented itself. An immense cavern, filled with busy miners; broad, brawny, ruddy, fullfaced, laughing little fellows, were busy in every direction; and whether they worked or talked the most, it was impossible to decide, for tongue and hands were equally industrious. What with the lights in their caps and the life in their faces they were the merriest and most alert-looking little beings that my eyes had ever rested on. 'A brave set of miners!' exclaimed I, and right jolly dogs withal!' They are not exactly miners,' said Trezalyun; we will walk nearer that you may see their occupations. You must know,' continued he, that the interior of this globe once consisted of only two materials, and that the untiring industry of those little beings, who are called Waaths, in mixing and remixing those substances, with the application of central electro-magnetism, has effected all the various changes that you Earth-mades call stratas and minerals. But draw

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nearer; see, they are about to make a vein of your worshipped ore.' He pointed to the sides of the cavern, which I observed was porphyry, through which ran a wide irregular crack lengthwise, with numerous small ones branching out from it; these were filled with what looked like yellow clay, several baskets of which stood around. There,' said my friend, observe those who apply the rod; they are called Aucipo, and are fairer and smaller and of a different race from the others. They have charge of the axis upon which the world turns, and of those rods which are conducted from it; they determine what degree can be abstracted from the central power without interfering with what you call the law of nature.'' By this time they had applied a rod to each end of the clay; and scarcely had they come in contact, when it was instantly transmuted into a vein of the purest and finest gold. There is more of that yellow metal in this mountain,' observed Trezalyun, than the Spaniards gained by the conquest of all Mexico; but I have not shown you a tithe of the treasures concealed in its dark depths.' As we walked, I saw imbedded in spar bright branches of silver that ran in all directions. We may as well take a light,' said my guide, as he picked up a torch, and turned down a fissure that opened between two black beetling rocks. As we proceeded the deep pass grew so rugged, precipitous, forlorn and appalling, that it appeared like a descent to Avernus; when, on turning a sharp angle, we suddenly came in front of an immense block of rock-crystal, which Trezalyun swung back and displayed a brilliantly illuminated grotto, radiant with sparkling gems. This,' said he, is called Kelia's Grotto; it is our treasury of jewels. Here are all the rarest that have been collected since this continent was first peopled.

I could readily believe him; for diamonds, amethysts, rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and other precious stones, covered with a dazzling brightness roof, sides and floor; but as my bewildered eye glanced round, it fell on an object that surpassed them all. On a throne studded with turquoise, sat, or rather reclined, a being of celestial beauty. Her figure, though small, was of most exquisite proportion and symmetry; poet nor painter in their most inspired dreams ever imagined such round, taper lithe grace of outline; such finished perfection of form. On her sweet seraphic pale face there was a strange eloquence of beauty, that drank the life-blood from my heart. My whole being sank in worship beneath the dark melancholy loving pleading eyes. Never before had I felt the joy, fullness, glory, ecstacy, of perfect beauty; so perfect, that I unconsciously did homage to heaven, and vehemently exclaimed, None but the ALMIGHTY could so have endowed a creature!' Her garments seemed like woven mist, beneath which peeped out two models of beauty in the shape of feet; small, delicate, and white; the purple veins, like violets gleaming through snow, changed near the sole to a pinky tinge that deepened to a tint like a rosy shell in the pale moonlight. Does she not eclipse all jewels?' proudly said Trezalyun, as his dilated eye dwelt on her with all a lover's rapture; in two years she will be mine. I have loved and waited as many

centuries. But the night wears, and we must hasten, as we have far to travel before the dawn.'

He turned back the crystal and pointed toward a passage opposite to that by which we had entered. It was lined with transparent incrustations of all colors, in the form of branches, pinnacles and colonnades. Two delicate little beings with waving curls, and gauzy irradiant wings flew rapidly by us, each holding a jewel in her right hand. These,' said Trezalyun, we call Pimblepeers: you must know that the real substance of jewels is quite different from that which the scientific Earth-mades have so confidently proved them to be. You think that the most precious things on earth are entirely lost, and deem them of little value; not so, with our all-wise FATHER. Every pitying tear that steals for other's faults, every compassionate one for their sufferings, all penitential ones of contrition, are in His sight earth's brightest gifts, and humanity's dearest tribute. No; those tears were caught by angels' hands, and transmuted into everlasting jewels; when they were given in the form of diamonds, rubies, and other precious gems into the care of those messenger Fairies for transportation to Kelia's Grotto; and when discovered by human eyes, will be considered the world's richest treasure as long as man exists.'

6

We passed several large blocks of crystal as clear as ice, in one of which a frog was enclosed. 'Ah! ah! Mr. Frog!' said I, 'you have a splendid prison!' That is another mistake,' replied Trezalyun; they look to you like frogs, but they are Preädamite misers; for even in the earlier world, as now, there were lean, jaundiced, wrinkled, unquiet-eyed wretches, in whose heart and veins the blood was dry from the love of gold; starved anatomies, from whose withered frames avarice had sucked all humanity; and who, rather than part with their hard-clutched treasure, saw wife and children consume their days and nights in ceaseless toil, and descend into the grave, the pinched victims of carking cares and domestic oppression. Sorely they sinned, and severely are they punished; for in addition to their close imprisonment, conscience is constantly employed in reviewing their former crimes; the minutest consequence of which is burnt upon the memory, and tortures them with an unremitting remorse.'

You mention the Preädamites,' cried I, eagerly, for I prided myself on the correctness of my geological knowledge; our most learned men have positively proved that men and monkeys have never existed until the present formation.'

Ha! ha ha!' shouted Trezalyun, as he ran the whole gamut of laughter; but the airs of these superficials are inexpressibly diverting; and their large conclusions are really ingenious in juxtaposition to their small knowledge; considering their span of life, and the little wisdom they display in the government of their own affairs, it is truly wonderful how conversant and familiar they are with all that GOD and Time ever have done, and ever mean to do! When you ascend, advise them to make excavations on that part of the globe where man formerly inhabited, and it may possibly render