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It was a lovely morning when Daisy was next roused by the fairy music, and the ponies were standing at the door. “Are we going far?” she asked, as Wee put on her riding-skirt, and tied back her hair.

“Up to the mountain-top: it’s only a mile; and we shall have time, if we ride fast,” answered Wee.

Away they went, through the green lane, over the bridge, and up the steep hillside where the sheep fed and colts frisked as they passed by. Higher and higher climbed Dandy and Prance, the ponies; and gayer and gayer grew Daisy and Wee, as the fresh air blew over them, and the morning-red glowed on their faces. When they reached the top, they sat on a tall stone, and looked down into the valley on either side.

“This seems like a place to find giants, not fairies, it is so high and big and splendid up here,” said Daisy, as her eye roamed over river, forest, town, and hill.

“There are giants here; and I brought you up to see them,” answered Wee.

“Mercy, me! where are they?” cried Daisy, looking very curious and rather frightened.

“There is one of them.” And Wee pointed to the waterfall that went dashing and foaming down into the valley. “That giant turns the wheels of all the mills you see. Some of them grind grain for our bread, some help to spin cloth for our clothes, some make paper, and others saw trees into boards. That is a beautiful and busy giant, Daisy.”

“So it is, and some day we’ll go and see it work. Show me the others: I like your giants ‘most as well as those in the fairy-books.”

“On this side you’ll see another, called Steam. He is a very strong fellow; for, with the help of gunpowder, he will break the granite mountain in pieces, and carry it away. He works in the other mills, and takes heavy loads of stone, cloth, paper, and wood all over the country. Then, on the right of us is a third giant, called Electricity. He runs along those wires, and carries messages from one end of the world to the other. He goes under the sea and through the air; he brings news to every one; runs day and night, yet never tires; and often helps sick people with his lively magic.”

“I like him best, I think; for he is more like a real, wonderful giant. Is there any on that side of us?” asked Daisy, turning round to look behind her.

“Yes: the best and most powerful of all lives in that big house with the bell on the roof,” said Wee, smiling.

“Why, that’s only the schoolhouse.”

“Education is a long word, dear; but you know what it means, and, as you grow older, you will see what wonders it can work. It is a noble giant; for in this country rich and poor are helped by it, and no one need suffer for it unless they choose. It works more wonders than any other: it changes little children into wise, good men and women, who rule the world, and make happy homes everywhere; it helps write books, sing songs, paint pictures, do good deeds, and beautify the world. Love and respect it, my little Daisy, and be glad that you live now when such giants lend a hand to dwarfs like us.”

Daisy sat still a long time, looking all about her on the mountain-top; and, when she rode away, she carried a new thought in her mind, which she never forgot.

“This is the last day of the seven, and no fairies have been found. Do you think I ever shall see one?” said Daisy, on the Sunday morning that ended her week’s hunt.

“Not the kind you think of, for there are none such, Daisy; but you have found two better and more beautiful ones than any fanciful sprites,” said Wee.

“Have I? Where are they? What are their names?”