First came the Bird Fairies, five of them together, merry and good little creatures as ever lived in the wood.  They had arrived only that day from their summer homes in the far north, ’way up among the snow-barrens.  They always spent the winter in this wood, living in the empty birds’ nests and spending their time making up songs to teach the birds that would come back in the spring.  Bird Fairies cannot sing a note themselves, nor carry an air, but they make up fine songs for the spring birds, who while they can sing with beautiful voices really have but few ideas.

They are fluffy, cuddly, swift little creatures, tiny and quiet.  One might think them of little account just at first, but not for long.  For they are the farthest-traveled of all the Forest People, except the Wind Creatures only.  Now they were fluttering in, and off came their white cloaks and forth they hopped in bright colors, little feet twinkling and pattering, little wings lifting and wavering.  They gathered around the Tree Man, nestling in a row on his shoulder, running up and down his arms, giving all of the news of their long journey into his ear.  He chuckled and chuckled and soon sat down by the table again, nodding his head with delight at the tales they were telling him.

Meanwhile, another group entered,—­the Forest Children.  The Forest Children are little girls and boys who live all by themselves in moss houses deep in the thickest of the forest, and know nothing of mothers, nurses or schools.  They came tumbling, cheering, and skipping in, curls bobbing, eyes shining.  When their white cloaks were taken off with the help of the Tree Girl and Ivra, it was plain to see that they had no mothers.  Their frocks were torn and stained, and half their sandal-strings untied and flapping.  The Tree Girl sighed as she patted the bobbing curls into some order, tied the laces and straightened a buckle here and there.

Now the room was musical with sound.

The last guest arrived, Wild Star, who had run away from Eric in the forest.  He was a Wind Creature.  Wind Creatures are growing-up girls and boys who live near the edge of the forest.  Like all fairies, they can only be seen by Earth People on a day that is clearer than a day should be, or by people like Eric who have no shadows in their eyes.

Wild Star dropped his bright white cloak as he entered.  His wings were purple, the color of early morning, high and pointed.  But they clapped themselves neatly down his back to avoid the ceiling.  He was a beautiful boy, wild and starry, and that is how he got his name.  Wind Creatures are strong and swift, a little too wide-awake and far-traveled to be very intimate with the Forest People.  But Wild Star, though he was as swift and strong as any, often came to the Tree Man’s, and often played with the Forest Children in their moss village for days together.  He loved the Tree Man, and now he sat down cross legged by him, and laid his bright cheeck against his knee.