or of the little house lay a pleasant meadow, and beyond the meadow rose up to the skies a mountain whose top was sharp-pointed like a spear. For more than hal

e sea, its last rays rested on the bare mountain top and made it gleam lik

or frechans and wild honey, and sometimes they found a bird's nest––but they only peeped into it, they never touched the eggs or allowed their breath to fall upon them, for

hat the children could not see it, and then they would say to each other: "Our mountain is gone away from us." But when the mi

birds would once more sing for them, and never a day passed that they didn't fling crumbs

inute when the lark would begin to sing, and when the thrush and the blackbird would pour out thei

r the perfumed shade of a hawthorn in bloom, they saw on the edge of the

thrush––and, look, look up in the

ce down on the frightened thrush. He jumped to his feet, fixed a stone in his sling, and before the wh

ldren, he sang a song so sweet that they left the hawthorn shade and walked along together until they stoo

ou ever hear a son

do believe sweeter music

er heard the nine little pipers playing. And n

pointed you out to me, and also pointed out

" said Nora, "for he slew

my song, and you say you have never heard anything so swe

we hear them?" s

ws have crept up the heather, and then, when the mountain top is gleaming like a golden spear, look a

er song sweeter than the first, and then sa

thrush and the nine little pipers; and when the birds sang in the mor

d waited, and at last, when the birds were singing their farewell song to the evening star, the children saw

golden spear, they fixed their eyes on th

onnla, "the t

another and another, until they were nine in all, and then the door slung back again. Down through the heather marched the pipers in single file, and all the time they played a music so sweet th

ell-bound, and couldn't speak, but when the

the sweetest music that was

morning broke, and they looked out upon their mountain and could see no trace of the door 68 above the

s, and through the leaves tossing in the breeze the sun flashed down upon the streamlet, and shadow and

ee anything so bright and c

Connla, "I

hall of the fairy of the mountains," sai

ho should they see perched

rystal hall of the

here it always will be," said the thr

to see it," sai

do is to follow the nine little pipers when they come down t

having said t

ght they fell asleep talking of the th

hronging from the glen and scaling the mountain side. And, at last, the

all the time. It was not long until they had passed through the wood, and then, what should the children see rising up before them but another mountain, smaller

clambered after them, and the moment the pipers passed the heather a door opene

r two, they became able to bear the splendour, and when they looked around they saw that they were in a noble hall, whose crystal roof was supported by two rows of crystal p

at the end of the hall was opened to let the pipers pass, a crowd of colours came rushing in, and floor, and c

the children followed, and when they crossed the threshold t

Nora, "we have walk

g sky, and the stars were shining through it, as a lady's eyes shine through a veil of gossamer. A

of a ladder, all the steps of which were formed of purple and amber clouds that descended to what appeared to be a vast and shining plain, streaked with purple and gold. In

an half way down there came mingled with the music a sound almost as sweet––the sound of waters toying in the still air with pebbles on a shelving beach, and with the sound came the odorous brine of the ocea

nd away the nine little pipers marched, treading the golden line cast upon the waters by the setting sun. And as the music became fainter and fainter as the pipers passed into the glowing distance, the children began to wonder what was to become of themselves. Just at that very mome

the nine little pipers?"

n, "come up here behind me; you,

hout wetting hair or hoof. But fast as he galloped the nine little pipers were always ahead of him, although they seemed to be going only at a walking pace. When at last he came up rather close

clasp me tight, Nora, and do you, Connla, cli

hey were bidden, and

h! sw

and down until at last h

eyes," said t

their heads the sea like a transparent cloud between them and the sky. And once more they

aid the little man, "I ca

y set out after the nine little pipers, and it wasn't long until they saw rising up from the golden strand and pushing their heads up into the sea a

t and polished stone a mermaid combing her golden hair, and singing a strange sweet song th

s, and she beckoned the children to her. Her large eyes were full of sadness; but there

and in a second her arms were around the child. The mermaid kiss

Irish grasses and of the purple heather from your feet. And you both can soon return to Erin of the Streams, but I shall not see it till three hundred years have passed away, for I am Liban the Mermaid, daughter of a line of kings. But

gh the meadow sped a sunlit stream. They followed the stream until it led them into a garden of roses, and beyond the garden, standing on a gentle hill, was a palace white as sn

of the golden spear that they thought it was the same. But on all the crystal couches fairies, dressed in silken robes of many colours, were sitting, and at the end of the hall, on a crystal throne, was seated the fairy queen, looking lovelier

ittle pipers to come before

aithfully, and now play one more

f the music all the fairies rose, and forming partners, they danced ove

awoke next morning and rose from their silken beds they were no longer children. Nora was a graceful and stately maid

tall and beau

nla," said Nora, as she flung her white arms

ook of each other, and who should ste

ur knee, and as for you, Connla, you look as straig

ow so tall in one

ight, indeed! Why, you have been fast asleep

mother all that time?" sai

, Nora; it is formed out of the drops of the ocean spray, sparkling in the sunshine. They were caught by my fairy nymph, for you, as they skimmed the sunlit billows under the shape of sea-birds, and no queen or princess in the world can match their lustre with the diamonds won with toil from the caves of e

oulders a flowing mantle of yellow silk, and

not come for a long time after you have left the fairyland under the sea, and until they come lay aside your helmet, shield, and spear, and warrior's cloak and golden brooch. But when the time comes when you will be called to battle, enter not upon it without the golden brooch I give

ar, led Nora with him. They passed from the palace through the garden of roses, through the flowery meadow, 79 through the dark

g waters. Kiss me, children, once again; and when you are in Erin of

the golden strand. When they had gone what seemed to them a long way, they began to feel weary;

said: "Connla, put Nora up on thi

told, and when both o

e bridle in your hands, and you, Nora, clasp

a lark from the grass, and pierced the covering sea, and went bounding on over the level waters; and when his hoofs s

lmost touched Connla's head. And on they went until they had passed thro

id Nora, "we are

ut where is the little

re; but in its stead was st

this mean?

of the mansion, and, in the twinkling of an eye, Connla and Nora were

e mother came rushing out to them, and flung her arms a

me to me; for though I knew it was all for

ther 81 in their arms, and they carried her

ead over me; and as for you, Connla, you look al

airy queen said, m

said the little mother. "Turn ro

und, and the lit

silken cloak, you look like a king. But take them off, my boy, beautiful as they are.

lmet and his silken cloak. Then he caught the little mother and kissed

mother, I'd rather have

gether, you may be sure that in the whole world no people