gushed out of its crater. But still the poor child
screamed, and scattered her apron full of flowera
along the way, and left a long cry trailing behind
the chariot; and many mothers, to whose ears it
came, ran quickly to see if any mischief had te-
fallen their children. But Mother Ceres was a
great way off, and could not hear the cry.

As they rode on, the stranger did his best to
soothe her.

"Why should you be so frightened, my pretty
child?" said he, trying to soften his rough voice.
"I promise not to do you any harm. What!
You have been gathering flowers? Wait till we
come to my palace, and I will give you a garden
full of prettier flowers than those, all made of
pearls, and diamonds, and rubies. Can you
guess who I am? They call my name Pluto
and I am the king of diamonds and all othei
precious stones. Every atom of the gold and
silver that lies under the earth belongs to me, to
say nothing of the copper and iron, and of the
coal mines, which supply me with abundance ot
fuel. Do you see this splendid crown upon rny
head? You may have it for a plaything. O,
we shall be very good friends, and you will find

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