Tony was led from one chamber to another, all glittering with precious stones, sapphires, topazes, emeralds, and amethysts.  Last of all they came to a vestibule, with a dome, and pillars of the brightest polished steel.

[Illustration]

“My brothers will rejoice to see you,” said the little man.  “Come into the garden.”

It was enclosed with a fence of silver wire, curiously wrought, and the flowers were beautiful beyond description.  The trees too were loaded with fruit equally new to him.

In one part of the garden a number of children were playing.  They piled up heaps of pebbles, jumped over them, and laughed heartily if one did not spring clear over, or tumbled down.  When Tony came near they cried out, “Welcome, Tony!” and shook his hand, and looked kindly in his face, gathered some fruit, and led him to the other side of the garden, where there was a grove of trees which bore gold and silver fruit.  These trees looked just like those the angels bring to children on Christmas-eve.  The children shook the trees, and the fruit fell off till the ground was all covered; then they gathered it up and offered Tony an equal share with themselves, and gave him a diamond needle, and instructed him to string them into a necklace, and threw it over his shoulders.  Then they presented him with a sweet orange for his mother, and a pomegranate for his father, which they said must be opened very carefully.  “He will know what use to make of its contents,” continued they.  “Tell him we send it as a recompense for the meal which thou gavest us out of his store.”

Tony modestly inquired if he might keep the necklace.  They replied, that it was given him to do as he pleased with; but Tony thought it would make his father and mother rich again, so he resolved in his heart that he would give it to them.

Then he took leave of his kind little friends, and his conductor led him back through the passages to the entrance, and bade him farewell.

When Tony reached home his mother asked him where he had been, for, said she, “We have been seeking thee these three days, and thy father is gone out once more, almost in despair of ever finding thee.  But come here, Tony, and let me see those shining things upon thy neck.”

Just then his father entered.  “Ah!  Tony, where hast thou been, my boy?  I thought thee lost to us forever.”

Tony looked at his parents and then at the shining necklace, which he had almost forgotten, and thought, “Then it is not all a dream!  Dear father, I have been with the little brown men of the mountain, and they gave me these shining stones, and here is a present for you,” taking the pomegranate from his pocket; “you will know how to use it; and this is for you, dear mother,” handing her the orange.  His mother received and ate it with a great relish.  Not so the father; he examined it with suspicion, and asked who this little brown man was.