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“Far away beside the sun live the fire spirits; but I cannot tell the road, for it is through the air and no water sprite could live to reach it. Dear Ripple, do not go, for if any harm comes to you I shall lose my sweetest subject,” said the Queen,–and all the others begged her to stay safely at home.

But Ripple would not break her promise, and they had to let her go. So the sprites built a tomb of delicate, bright shells, where the child might lie till she came to make him live again; and with a brave good-by Ripple floated away on her long journey to the sky.

“I will go round the world till I find a road to the sun. Some kind friend will help me, for I have no wings and cannot float through the blue air as through the sea,” she said, as she came to the other side of the ocean and saw a lovely land before her. Grass was green on all the hills, flowers were budding, young leaves danced upon the trees, and birds were singing everywhere.

“Why are you all so gay?” asked Ripple, wondering.

“Spring is coming! Spring is coming! and all the earth is glad,” sang the lark, as the music poured from its little throat.

“Shall I see her?” asked Ripple, eagerly.

“You will meet her soon. The sunshine told us she was near, and we are hurrying to be up and dressed to welcome her back,” answered a blue-eyed violet, dancing on her stem for joy.

“I will ask her how to reach the fire spirits. She travels over the earth every year, and perhaps can show me the way,” said Ripple, as she went on.

Soon a beautiful child came dancing over the hills, rosy as dawn, with hair like sunshine, a voice like the balmy wind, and her robe full of seeds, little leaves, dewdrops, and budding flowers, which she scattered far and wide, till the earth smiled back at the smiling sky.

“Dear Spring, will you help a poor little sprite, who is looking for the fire spirits’ home?” cried Ripple,–and told her tale so eagerly that the child stopped to hear.

“Alas, I cannot tell you,” answered Spring, “but my elder sister Summer is coming behind me, and she may know. I long to help, so I will give you this breeze, that will carry you over land and sea and never tire. I wish I could do more, but the world is calling me, and I must go.”

“Many thanks, kind Spring,” cried Ripple, as she floated away on the breeze. “Say a kind word to the poor mother waiting on the shore, and tell her I do not forget.”

Then the lovely season flew on with her sunshine and song, and Ripple went swiftly over hill and dale till she came to the place where Summer lived. Here the sun shone warmly on early fruit and ripening grain; the wind blew freshly over sweet hay-fields and rustled the thick branches of the trees. Heavy dews and soft showers refreshed the growing things, and long bright days brought beauty to the world.

“Now I must look for Summer,” said Ripple, as she sailed along.

“I am here,” said a voice, and she saw a beautiful woman floating by, in green robes, with a golden crown on her hair, and her arms full of splendid flowers.

Ripple told her story again, but Summer said with a sigh of pity,–

“I cannot show you the way, but my brother Autumn may know. I, too, will give you a gift to help you along, good little creature. This sunbeam will be a lamp to light your way, for you may have a gloomy journey yet.”

Then Summer went on, leaving all green and golden behind her, and Ripple flew away to look for Autumn. Soon the fields were yellow with corn and grain; purple grapes hung on the vines; nuts rattled down among the dead leaves, and frost made the trees gay with lovely colors. A handsome hunter, in a russet suit, came striding over the hills, with his hounds about him, while he made music on his silver horn, and all the echoes answered him.