The boys were very sorry for the loss of the Golden Hen, but they were comforted in time, and, thanks to her parting gift-for the Queen bought all the feathers, and paid handsomely for them-they were rich farmers when they grew up.

made it as bright as the sun on a summer morning. No one could see her and not feel glad, and when she went to the village on an errand for her father and mother, who lived a little way off, every one welcomed her; and it was: "Good-morning to you, Sunbeam." "How are you, Sunbeam?" or, "I am so glad to see you, Sunbeam." And yet Sunbeam was only a poor man's child.

Her parents lived in a little cottage in a wild waste place, almost surrounded by rocks. Sunbeam was fond of climbing up there, and as she sat amongst the wild flowers, she liked to watch the bees looking for honey. She was not afraid of them, and they knew her quite well, and liked to see her there. Sunbeam was sitting thus one day with the bees around her, when a Big Bee said to her,

"Would you not like to stay with us, Sunbeam? It is very pleasant up here with the wild thyme and the blue bells, and all that."

"Yes, it must be nice," replied Sunbeam; "but you see I must go home to father and mother."

"Well, I suppose you must," said the Bee, after considering a while. "I don't remember my father myself, but I was very fond of my mother, as nice an old bee as

ever you saw, Sunbeam, and the best mother in the world. But as I said, it is very pleasant up here, and we have a very good hive in that old oak, and plenty of honey in it, I can tell you."

"Yes, it must be pleasant in the old oak - tree," answered Sunbeam; "but then how could I get in?"

"I am afraid you are too large," answered the Bee, after looking at Sunbeam, "Well, never mind, my dear, it is no sin to be big, and we like you all the same."

"Thank you," said Sunbeam; "but what noise is that which I hear below?"

"Oh! that is the Giant hunting. He is a dreadful man-he spoils all our flowers with his hounds and horses. I cannot endure the sight of him."

Sunbeam

So saying, the Bee flew away in a pet. looked down in the plain below her, and watched the Giant riding by on his big black horse. He looked so terrible, and he was so tall, that Sunbeam felt quite afraid of him, and hid low among the rocks lest he should see her. But he did not, for the Giant, the huntsmen, and the hounds were all pursuing a poor grey rabbit and her young one, who was white as milk. The grey rabbit flew across the plain and was caught and