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the Jubilee of Autumn Tintings, the solemn ceremony of Leaf Shedding and
the revelry of Budding Day. But these periods of enjoyment were far apart,
and left many weary hours between.
That a wood-nymph should grow discontented was not thought of by Necile's
sisters. It came upon her only after many years of brooding. But when once
she had settled in her mind that life was irksome she had no patience with her
condition, and longed to do something of real interest and to pass her days in
ways hitherto undreamed of by forest nymphs. The Law of the Forest alone
restrained her from going forth in search of adventure.
While this mood lay heavy upon pretty Necile it chanced that the great Ak
visited the Forest of Burzee and allowed the wood-nymphs as was their wont--
to lie at his feet and listen to the words of wisdom that fell from his lips. Ak is
the Master Woodsman of the world; he sees everything, and knows more than
the sons of men.
That night he held the Queen's hand, for he loved the nymphs as a father
loves his children; and Necile lay at his feet with many of her sisters and
earnestly harkened as he spoke.
"
We live so happily, my fair ones, in our forest glades," said Ak, stroking his
grizzled beard thoughtfully, "that we know nothing of the sorrow and misery
that fall to the lot of those poor mortals who inhabit the open spaces of the
earth. They are not of our race, it is true, yet compassion well befits beings so
fairly favored as ourselves. Often as I pass by the dwelling of some suffering
mortal I am tempted to stop and banish the poor thing's misery. Yet suffering,
in moderation, is the natural lot of mortals, and it is not our place to interfere
with the laws of Nature."
"
Nevertheless," said the fair Queen, nodding her golden head at the Master
Woodsman, "it would not be a vain guess that Ak has often assisted these
hapless mortals."
Ak smiled.
"
Sometimes," he replied, "when they are very young--'children,' the mortals
call them--I have stopped to rescue them from misery. The men and women I
dare not interfere with; they must bear the burdens Nature has imposed upon
them. But the helpless infants, the innocent children of men, have a right to
be happy until they become full-grown and able to bear the trials of humanity.
So I feel I am justified in assisting them. Not long ago--a year, maybe--I found
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