Page:Little Ellie and Other Tales (1850).djvu/92

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The Garden of Paradise.

They called out, ‘Thanks, thanks, paternal benefactor!’ but they didn't mean it; and I tinkled the bells all the while, and sang, ‘Tsing, tsang, tsu!’”

“You are a harum-scarum youth,” said the old woman. “It is a good thing you are going to the Garden of Paradise to- morrow; your education requires it, and your visit there always contributes to your improvement. Do but drink deep of the fountain of wisdom, and bring a little bottleful for me.”

“I will,” said the East Wind; “but why have you put my brother from the south into the sack? Let him out; he must tell me about the phœnix; about this bird the Princess in the Garden of Paradise wants always to hear something, when I go to pay my visit every hundred years. Open the sack; you are my own sweet dear little mother; and I'll give you two pocketsful of tea, quite fresh and green, just as I picked it myself on the spot.”

“Well, then, for the sake of the tea, and

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