Apollo saw her and rose higher and higher into the sky. A gentle breeze came rustling from the southeast, and whispered something to everything he met.
Suddenly the flowers sprang up; the birds flocked together and sang; the trees put on bright green leaves.
Everything, great and small, began to say in his own language, “Be happy for Persephone has come! Persephone has come!”
Demeter saw these changes and was puzzled. “Can the earth be ungrateful? Does she so soon forget Persephone?” she cried.
It was not long however before her own face became beautiful and happy, for she held again her beloved child in her arms.
When Demeter found that Persephone could stay with her only half the year, she brought out the choicest treasures from her storehouse and while Persephone stayed, the world was filled with beauty and joy.
When she had gone, Demeter covered the rivers and lakes, and spread a soft white blanket over the sleeping earth.
Then she, too, fell asleep and dreamed such pleasant dreams that she did not awake until she felt Persephone’s warm kiss on her forehead.
