Page:St. Nicholas (serial) (IA stnicholasserial321dodg).pdf/380

and presented it to the Sea-Deity, who came out and recognized Prince Fire-Subside.

The Sea-Deity invited him to the castle, where he remained and married the king’s daughter. Three years he lived without regret, but one morning his wife told her father that, on the night before, he had heaved a deep sigh. Her father inquired into it, and the prince told his trouble.

The royal father-in-law gathered all the fishes of the sea together, and asked if any had swallowed the hook. They declared that the tai had complained of an unpleasant feeling in his throat. He was summoned, and on being examined the desired object was found.

Then the Sea-Deity gave the prince two jewels, which commanded the ebb and flow of the tide, and set him on the head of a crocodile, instructing that animal to take him safely home.

Fire-Subside returned the hook to his brother, but the ungrateful Fire-Shine still had haired in his heart, and attempted to kill Fire-Subside. The prince immediately threw out the flow-tide jewel. The waters closed in and would have drowned the malignant prince had not his supplications been heard and the ebb-tide jewel been replaced in the waters. Fire-Shine fell at the feet of Fire-Subside and pledged his allegiance and protection,by night and day, forever.

“School-days.” By Fred Klein, age 16. (Silver Badge.)

“School-days.” By Arthur J. White, age 14. (Gold Badge.)

A Welcome to the New Year
By Beulah H. Ridgeway (age 15.)
(Cash Prize.)

Such a happy little fellow, with a merry roguish way,
Came the New Year o’er our pathway, just a year ago to-day!
While, through all the nations ringing, pealed the bells out o’er and o’er:
“Welcome, happy, happy New Year! Welcome, Year of Nineteen Four!”

No one heard the springtime coming, for she walked with noiseless tread
Over field and through the woodland where her dainty footsteps led,
It was only from the robin, and his chirp so shrill and clear,
That we heard the gladsome tidings, “Spring is here! Oh, spring is here!”

Summer followed, crowned with flowers: roses pink and white and red
Blossomed all along her pathway; garlands wreathed her pretty head.
Ah! the days were long and sunny, and the year was in his prime,
And the world was full of beauty in the lovely summer-time.

Then came autumn, with is reapers, and his sheaves of yellow grain,
While the goldenrod abounded in the wood and field and lane,
All the leaves, their garments changing, dressed in crimson and in gold;
Shorter were the days and chilly, fer the year was growing old,

Soon the brooklets ceased their babbling, and the branches all were bare;
Ice and snow were all around us, keen and biting was the air,