For childhood’s hour is short,
And manhood’s day is long.
Come, see our fairy haunts,
And we will light the way;
Come, join the merry dance,
And dance till break of day.”
“Please may we go to the dance, Mr. Santa Claus?” begged Hal; their guide nodded assent, and they watched the glow-worms form into a long line, two and two, and creep between two high moss-grown rocks.
“It’s all very well to say ‘come,’” remarked Hal, “but how are we to get through that place, I should like to know?”
“Hold Love’s wand high overhead,” answered Santa Claus, “and much that is difficult will be made easy.”
“Oh, dear! he has begun preaching again,” cried Hal, but he held the star over his own and his sister’s head, and, pushing some overhanging brambles aside, they found that they could easily go where the glow-worms led.