The little ones, suddenly stopped in their play by the army of insects, ran hither and thither over the meadow, screaming with pain. But Goldilocks appeared in the midst of them, with her shining hair, violet eyes, and laugh like the music of a spring robin.
“Come to me,” said she; “let me kiss away the stings.”
In a very short space the children were soothed, and had forgotten their trouble. Then they threw their little arms about Goldilocks’ neck, and begged her to stay and play with them.
“Sweet children, it is my mission,—so the stars say,—to travel all over this world, from north to south. But, for all that, I will frolic with you till the sun sets.”
“Will the sad boy come too?” asked the children.
Goldilocks shook her bright curls. “He is planting a garden,” said she; “no need to ask him; he hears nothing while he is at play, and his games are as solemn as midnight.”
The children made believe that the beautiful Goldilocks, in her rose-colored dress, with her beaming hair and flying feet, was a great butterfly, which they were trying to catch. Now here, now there, the glowing butterfly flitted from flower to flower, leading her followers a merry chase. Every child thought to seize and hold her, for a kiss. She laughed; and the breezes danced with her hair, like—
“Zephyr with Aurora playing,
As he met her once a-Maying.”
But before any one had kissed or even touched her, she had disappeared, leaving the children gazing into the air, and seeking their late companion with tearful eyes.
Goldilocks had only gone back to Despard, who was still planting flower-seeds.