"Ah! you are welcome, my dear Sunbeam—take a chair, I pray," said the Papa Stork, gravely.
"So I will; but first send some one to open the door, for a sweet little princess knocks there to gain admission."
Mr. Stork opened the door himself, and led little Sunnylocks in, who said,
"Dear Mr. and Mrs. Stork, I bring you a gift of sweet ripe dew-berries which the Sunbeam found, and I gathered fresh from the grass this morning."
"We are much obliged, my dear, and will accept them gratefully," said Mrs. Stork; "and now thou and the Sunbeam will stay and take breakfast with us, and then thou mayst go upon thy journey."
Sunnylocks thanked Mrs. Stork, and after she had eaten her breakfast she inquired the way to Fairy-Land.
"Why, I thought every bird and beast and flower knew the way. But then thou art neither bird nor beast nor flower, consequently thou canst not know the way. Fairy-Land lies on the other side of the moon."
"Alas! alas! how can I get there, then?" said the little Princess, sadly.
"Cheer up thy heart, my pretty maiden, for I will direct thee to one who will take thee to Fairy-Land if thou art as brave as thou art fair," said Mr. Stork.