"'You feel very gay,' rustled the tree.
"'Yes, I am only just born; so I may well be gay.' I answered.
"'Ah! dance while you may,' said the Catalpa gravely. 'Your life lasts a few hours, but mine for years.'
"My fine spirits were chilled in a moment, and I dropped to the grass, feeling utterly miserable. I could only enjoy all this pleasure for a few hours after all! There was so much to see, and so little time to see it in, where should I turn first? While I sat there thinking after this fashion, a pansy slowly unfolded, and out of it stepped a tiny figure, no longer than one of my legs. I was not very wise, but I knew it must be a fairy or elf that now stood before me. He wore knee-breeches, a jacket to match, and a funny little cobweb cap.
"'So we are sad, eh?' he said, winking one eye drolly.
"'I have such a short time to live, that I do not know which way to turn first,' I replied.
"'That is a pity,' said the sprite, rocking himself upon a stem of seed-grass, as if it were a hobby horse. 'What would you do if you could live longer?'
"'What would I not do?' I exclaimed. 'I should try to see every thing beautiful and curious in the whole world.'
"'Stop a bit,' he interposed. 'You shall do this if you desire it so much.' He took off his cobweb cap and threw it at me, saying, 'This will make you invisible, if you put it on your head, when any danger threatens.'
"Before I had time to thank him the elf turned a somersault in the air, and plunged head first into his pansy mansion, which closed upon him."