seed time nor harvest, but left the farmers to
take care of their own affairs, and the crops to
fade or flourish, as the case might be. There
was nothing, now, in which Ceres seemed to feel
an interest, unless when she saw children at
play, or gathering flowers along the wayside.
Then, indeed, she would stand and gaze at them
with tears in her eyes. The children, too, ap-
peared to have a sympathy with her grief, and
would cluster themselves in a little group about
her knees, and look up wistfully in her face; and
Ceres, after giving them a kiss all round, would
lead them to their homes, and advise their moth-
ers never to let them stray out of sight.

"For if they do," said she, "it may happen to
you, as it has to me, that the iron-hearted King
Pluto will take a liking to your darlings, and
snatch them up in his chariot, and carry them
away."

One day, during her pilgrimage in quest of
the entrance to Pluto's kingdom, she came to
the palace of King Celeus, who reigned at Eleu-
??. Ascending a lofty flight of steps, she en-
tered the portal, and found the royal household
in very great alarm about the queen's baby.

[[250]]

p249 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p250w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p251

v?