Now their path led them through the wood; and as they talked, Harmonius said:—­

“Hush! listen!” But the others answered:—­

“Oh! that is only the sound of the brook trickling over the stones.  Let us make haste to the king’s court.”

But Harmonius stayed to hear the song that the brook was singing, of journeying through mosses and ferns and shady ways, and of tumbling over the rocks in shining waterfalls on its way to the sea.

“Rippling and bubbling through shade and sun, On to the beautiful sea I run; Singing forever, though none be near, For God in Heaven can always hear,"

sang the little brook.  Harmonius listened until he knew every word of the song, and then he hurried on.

When he reached the others, he found them still talking of the king and queen, so he could not tell them of the brook.  As they talked, he heard something again that was wonderfully sweet, and he cried:  “Listen! listen!”

“Oh! that is only a bird!” the others replied.  “Let us make haste to the king’s court!”

But Harmonius would not go, for the bird sang so joyfully that Harmonius laughed aloud when he heard the song.

It was singing a song of green trees, and in every tree a nest, and in every nest eggs!  Oh! the bird was so gay as it sang:—­

“Merrily, merrily, listen to me, Flitting and flying from tree to tree.  Nothing fear I, by land or sea, For God in Heaven is watching me"

“Thank you, little bird,” said Harmonius; “you have taught me a song.”  And he made haste to join his comrades, for by this time they were near the palace.

When they had gone in, they received a hearty welcome, and were feasted in the great hall before they came before the king.

The king and queen sat on their throne together.  The king thought of the queen and the minstrels; but the queen thought of her old home, and of the butterflies she had chased when she was a little child.

One by one the minstrels played before them.

The oldest minstrel sang of battles and drums, just as he had said he would; and the youngest minstrel sang of ladies and their fair faces, which pleased the court ladies very much.

[Illustration:  Harmonius * * * touched his harp and sang.]

Then came Harmonius.  And when he touched his harp and sang, the song sounded like the wind blowing, the sea roaring, and the trees creaking; then it grew very soft, and sounded like a trickling brook dripping on stones and running over little pebbles; and while the king and queen and all the court listened in surprise, Harmonius’ song grew sweeter, sweeter, sweeter.  It was as if you heard all the birds in Spring.  And then the song was ended.

The queen clapped her hands, and the ladies waved their handkerchiefs, and the king came down from his throne to ask Harmonius if he came from fairyland with such a wonderful song.  But Harmonius answered:—­