“Here am I, dear Bellerophon!” said the child softly.

For the little boy had spent day after day on the margin of Pirene, waiting for his friend to come back; but when he perceived Bellerophon descending through the clouds, mounted on the winged horse, he had shrunk back into the shrubbery.  He was a delicate and tender child, and dreaded lest the old man and the country fellow should see the tears gushing from his eyes.

“Thou hast won the victory,” said he joyfully, running to the knee of Bellerophon, who still sat on the back of Pegasus.  “I knew thou wouldst.”

“Yes, dear child!” replied Bellerophon, alighting from the winged horse.  “But if thy faith had not helped me, I should never have waited for Pegasus, and never have gone up above the clouds, and never have conquered the terrible Chimera.  Thou, my little friend, hast done it all.  And now let us give Pegasus his liberty.”  So he slipped off the enchanted bridle from the head of the marvelous steed.

“Be free for evermore, my Pegasus!” cried he, with a shade of sadness in his tone.  “Be as free as thou art fleet.”

But Pegasus rested his head on Bellerophon’s shoulder, and would not take flight.

“Well, then,” said Bellerophon, caressing the airy horse, “thou shalt be with me as long as thou wilt, and we will go together forthwith and tell King Iobates that the Chimera is destroyed.”

Then Bellerophon embraced the gentle child and promised to come to him again, and departed.  But in after years that child took higher flights upon the aerial steed than ever did Bellerophon, and achieved more honorable deeds than his friend’s victory over the Chimera.  For, gentle and tender as he was, he grew to be a mighty poet!

A VISIT FROM SAINT NICHOLAS

By Clement C. Moore

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugarplums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap,—­
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter. 
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. 
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave a lustre of midday to objects below;
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be Saint Nick. 
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled and shouted, and called them by name: 

“Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen! 
On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen! 
To the top of the porch, to the top of the wall! 
Now dash away, dash away, dash away all!”