pent the days feasting and the nights dancing in the light of the moon, and they danced so hard that they wore the shoes off their feet, and for a whole week after th

berries grow only in fairyland, and are sweeter than any fruit that grows here in this world, and if an old man, bent and grey, ate one of them, he became young and active and strong again; and i

n the presence of the king and queen that they would not give a single berry to mortal man, nor allow one to fall upon the earth; for if a single

o long, and were so full of joy because of their victory over the lake fairies, that one littl

nd were at home for more than a week before they knew of the l

erflies with golden spots on their purple wings, and fifty white without speck or spot, and fifty golden, yellow as the cows

. They looked up, and saw that the cloud was formed of bees, who in a great swarm were flying towards the wood and humming as they flew. Seeing this t

butterflies until they had captured the full number of various colours. Then they returned to

corners of fairyland to summon all his subjects to his pres

ped the berry, and of course every one said that it w

and after a while they found him hiding in a c

a word, but after a time he told how he never missed the berry until 85 he had

onounced sentence everyone was very sorry, because the little fellow was a favourite with them all. No fairy harper upon his harp, or piper upon his pipe, or fiddler upon his fiddle, could play half so sweetly as he could play upon an ivy leaf; and when they remembe

a handful of berries. These the queen said he was to offer to the giants, and say at the same time tha

s of the land, and when they saw him go up the mountain towards the land of the giants

him. Before beginning his descent he turned round for a last glimpse of fairyland; but he could see nothing, for a thick, dark cloud shut it out from view. He was very sad, and tire

s black as night, and his arms and chest were all covered with black, shaggy hair; round his body was an iron band, and hanging from this by a chain was a great club with iron spikes. With one blow of this club he could break a rock into splinters, and fire could not burn him, and water could not drown him, and weapons co

you here?" s

es banished me here, and here I must stay for ever and a da

the fairy a touch of his foot that sent the

the giant, feeling sorry for what he had done,

gently between his fi

e man," said he, "and now,

ows in the Wood of Dooros," said the fairy

you?" said the giant

m the pocket of his little green

lowed the three together, and when he had done so, he

d he. "More, you little–––wha

nt," said the fairy, as h

nd his shouts were heard by all the oth

ught up Pinkeen, and put him in his

shouting for?"

n, "that rock there fe

like a man that w

ou what way I sh

uestion," said they; "but sure you were alw

of sight, Sharvan took

little thief––I mean l

f 89 you will guard the tree in Dooros Wood

in the wood, if I may d

guard only one

get to it?"

with me towards fairy

top of the mountain. Then the giant looked around towards the giant's land; but a black cloud shut it out from view, while the sun w

e ground and he could not move a step. Sharvan gave three loud shouts that were heard all over fai

the matter. Pinkeen told them it was the giant who was to guard the tree, shouting because he was stuck fast on the borders, and they need have no fear of him. The fairies were so delighted to have Pinkeen back again, that they took him up on their shoulders and carried him to the king's palace, and all the harpers and pipers and fidd

you return

he had brought with him a giant who

nd where is he?"

e Surly," said Pinkeen, "and he is stuc

id the king, "yo

caps in the air, and cheered so loudly that a bee 91 wh

age, taking the berries with him, went off to Sharvan, whose roaring nearly frightened the poor little fellow to death. But as soon

f you promise me that you will not tr

the giant. "But hurry on, my little man, f

re free. Then Sharvan and the fairy page set off for Dooros Wood, and it was not long until they came within view of the fairy tree. When Sharvan saw the berries glistening in the sun, he gave a shout so loud and strong that the wind of it blew the little fa

who could scarcely speak, as

e berries; but the giant, true to his word, was always on the watch, and not a single day passed on which he did not fight and sl

hands could pierce, and he carried always with him two javelins that never missed their mark, and were so fatal that they were called "the shafts 93 of death." The murdered king had two children––a boy, whose name was Niall, and a girl, who was called Rosaleen––that is, little Rose; but no rose that ever bloomed was half as sweet or fresh or fair as she. Cruel as the tyrant king was, he was afraid of the people to k

ok it she cried with joy at finding that there was one living thing that did not shun her. After this the robin came every day, and he sang so sweetly for her that she almost forgot her

that horrid

ggled, and said they had

d chirruped softly in her ear, and Rosaleen was comforted, for she felt she had at least one friend in the world, although it was only a little robin. But the robin could do more for her than she could dream of. He heard the remark made

ry berries, I suppose," said

Rosaleen's

a surly giant. He sleeps in the branches during the night, and he breathes upon them and around them every morning, an

ould give a hundred lives for Ros

ranch of berries in the iron belt that's around his waist, so that when he feels tired or thirsty he can refresh himself, and there is ju

chance," said R

ith one great blow, struck the warrior down, but as he did so he stumbled and fell upon him, and before he had time to recover himself 96 the little robin darted towards him like a flash and picked off one of the berries, and then, as fast as wings could carry him, he flew towards home, and on his way he passed over a troop of warriors on snow-white steeds. All the horsemen except one wore silver helmets and shining mantles of green silk, fastened by brooches of red gold, but the chief, who rode at the head of the troop, wore a golden helmet, and his mantle was of yellow silk, and he looked by far the nobles

of these realms, even though you are without the palace gates, unatten

id Rosaleen, "but not of the

e prince sat the king's beautiful daughter, and then in due order sat the nobles of the court and the warriors who had come with the prince, and on the wall behind each noble and warrior his shield and helmet were suspended, flashing radiance through the room. During the feast the prince spoke most graciously to the lovely lady at his side, but all the time he was thinking of the unknown beauty he had

king asked the prince what

ld find the lady who is destined to share my throne, and fame reported that in your kingdom are to be found the lo

or, of course, she thought the prince was alluding only to herself, as she did not kn

from their seats and drew their swords, and the bards raised the song of battle; but their voices were stilled and their harps silenced

his father's throne," said th

ll!" answered

ement, 99 turned to the chiefs and

ugh to drive that intrud

d forward alone, but before he could reach the spot where Niall

had entered the banquet hall unperceived by anyone. But when her presence was discovered every eye was dazzled with her beauty. Niall looked at her for a second,

or the hand of Rosaleen, Niall told his lovely sister to speak for herself. With downcast eyes and smiling lips she said, "y

took him home with her to Sunny Valleys, and every day she fed him with her own hands,