CHAPTER I
Thebeautiful Queen Wishtah had quite decided to change her home from the Northern to the Southern clime.
She had heard of evergreen groves, where around each pine-tree could be built a palace that would stand for years.
So she summoned to her presence four of her trusty elves, named Spider Eyes, Chip Wing, Pointed Toes and Dusty Cap.
They came and knelt before the throne, waiting her command.
She reached forth her wand and said: “Arise, go seek one of those wonderful pine groves, for therein shall my palace be built. This Norseland is too cold and bleak. I will hold court in a warmer clime.”
The elves arose at their Queen’s bidding, and set off on their journey.
They traveled south, they traveled east, and they traveled west.
THE ELVES’ DEPARTURE
THE ELVES’ DEPARTURE
THE ELVES’ DEPARTURE
One day, after a longer flight than usual, as they were resting beneath a willow-tree, they saw some children playing, and in their play they called to each other: “Let us go to see the beautiful world,” and with a merry shout they all joined hands, still singing as off they ran: “Let us go, we wish to see the beautiful world.”
Now spoke up Spider Eyes: “That is just what I have been wishing to do. What if we also go to see the beautiful world?”
“We must first make ready the Queen’s palace, then we might leave and go in quest of the beautiful world,” responded Pointed Toes.
“It cannot be far, and it must be very beautiful, for did you not see how joyfully the children all went?” said Spider Eyes.
They then flew into a pine grove, and very soon transformed it into enchanted Elfland.
“Now all is ready for Her Majesty,” said Chip Wing.
“Yes,” answered Spider Eyes, “and as it will be some days before she comes, we will have time to go in search of the beautiful world.”
“I am not going,” said Dusty Cap, “for no one will be here to welcome her when she arrives.”
“O yes,” answered Spider Eyes, “we will soon return, then we will tell her of the beautiful world and she will want to go there also.”
“Come! come! brothers,” exclaimed Chip Wing, “I am in such a hurry. We are only wasting time lingering here.”
So off they flew, Spider Eyes leading the way, although he knew not what direction to take. Suddenly he stopped, saying: “I am going to ask the first one we meet which is the way to the beautiful world?”