Page:Little Ellie and Other Tales (1850).djvu/97

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The Garden of Paradise.

Prince rode along more rapidly in a very different manner.

“Now you can see the Himalaya,” said the East Wind, “they are the highest mountains in Asia: we shall soon be at the Garden of Paradise.”

They afterwards turned more to the south; and the fragrance of spices and flowers soon floated through the air. Figs and pomegranates grew wild, and red and white grapes hung in profusion on the wild vine. Here they both descended, and lay in the soft grass, where the flowers nodded to the wind, as though they would say, “Welcome, welcome!”

“Are we now in the Garden of Paradise?” asked the Prince.

“No, not yet,” said the East Wind; “but we shall soon be there. Do you see yon wall of rock, and the great cavern, where the tendrils of the vine-leaves hang like rich green curtains? There we must pass. Wrap yourself up in your cloak: here the sun is burning; but a step further and it is icy cold. The bird that flies before the

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