from all evil; consequently on them Sunnylocks slept sweetly all that night.

When she awoke she looked about for the Sunbeam, but neither he nor the Breeze Fairy was to be seen; so she ate her breakfast, and then began her last day's journey.

At last she reached the mountains, but as it was fast growing dark, she began to search for a resting-place. Now as she looked uncertainly about her, a beautiful long-eared Rabbit came out of a little cave in the mountain-side, and asked her what she sought.

"For a place to pass the night, madam," said the Princess Sunnylocks.

"Come in and sleep in my pretty house. There is a soft bed in the warmest corner, and there is new fruit for your supper," replied the grave gray Rabbit.

The Princess readily consented, and was soon asleep in the Rabbit's cozy bed. The next morning, after thanking the Rabbit for her kindness, she began her journey again; but the mountain was rough and steep, so she was forced to travel very slowly now; but as she clambered wearily up, out jumped Sunbeam, and kissed her on both cheeks before she could say, "Oh!"

"Where have you been, you darling Sunbeam?" cried she, clapping both her hands.

"Oh, I have had such a glorious time! We killed the owl, and then I ran down into a great city, where a bad man was beating his poor horse, and I gave him such a stroke right on his head that all the people cried: 'He is dead! he is dead! A sun-stroke, poor man! Take him to the hospital!' And then all the papas and mammas looked at the tell-tale mercury, and forbade their boys to play ball that day."

"Ah, you naughty Sunbeam!" cried the little Princess—"not naughty for hurting the bad man, but for getting all the little boys shut up."

At that the Sunbeam laughed, and said, "Oh, that did not matter; most of them slipped away, anyhow; boys do do such things, you know," he added, gravely.

"What else did you do?" asked Sunnylocks.

"Oh, I kissed all the little girls I met, and I freckled the runaway boys, and I teased all the fat people, and I made a crying baby laugh by jumping on the wall, and I went into the King's palace and kissed the Queen before his face, and I did ever so many things besides."

"And now you have come to help me to Fairy-Land," said the little Princess, gayly.

"Yes, and I might have carried you there, only I was afraid my lady mamma would set me to work again," laughingly said the Sunbeam.

"You are a lazy fellow," said sweet Sunnylocks; and then they went on, the Princess laughing gayly at his freaks, for never did Sunbeam behave so wildly before or since. In fact, he performed so many wonderful feats that Sunnylocks never felt tired once, and was surprised when she found herself fairly in the Eagle's castle, and standing before that monarch himself.

He listened gravely to all her entreaties to take her to Fairy-Land, and then he stretched his mighty pinions, and bade her follow him.

This both the Princess and the Sunbeam did, gliding swiftly down the mountain-side until they reached Cloud-Land, where the Eagle bade her step into a tiny skiff made of a fleecy cloud.

No sooner had she done so than away it floated, King Eagle just a little in advance, and the Sunbeam making beautiful rainbows over it, just to amuse himself and her.

Soon the skiff moored in a lovely arbor, where the water made sweet music as it rippled by the amber steps, up which the Princess now went alone, for the Sunbeam fled back to the mountain-side again, as he was afraid his lady mamma would set him to work.

And now if you want to know what Fairy-Land looks like, you just ask your baby brother or sister the first time you see them smiling in their sleep, and they will tell you; for only babies and angels have the right words to describe it with.

All I know is that Sunnylocks was led to the palace of the Fairy Queen, which is built of all the lovely actions which are unheeded in this world of ours, and that she dropped upon her knees and said:

"Dear Fairy Queen, the Sunbeam saw my beautiful mamma's picture, and he said she was so lovely that she must have come to Fairy-Land. Oh, if she has, please give her to me, for I want her—oh, so much!" and little Sunnylocks stretched out her arms as though to clasp her dear mamma in them.

"Dear child," said the Fairy Queen, "thy mother is not here; she went to the Land of the Blessed to dwell; but be thou of good cheer, and I will send thee thither also." And as she spoke she came down from her gleaming throne, and taking Sunnylocks by the hand, she led her to the shore of the mighty Ocean Space.

Here she waved her magic wand, and instantly a bark made of a purple cloud, with golden masts and rosy sails, drifted swiftly to the shore; and after a loving farewell, Sunnylocks was borne by it onward, and still onward.

At last she stepped upon a land whose glory far exceeded that of all God's other worlds; and as she stood upon the wondrous shore, great bands of little children came singing down to meet her, led by One beyond all beautiful, who smiled upon them as they pressed about His steps.

Now when Sunnylocks saw the beauty of the children, and perceived that He who walked with them was indeed the King, she feared she would not be received; but He stooped down, and set His seal upon her brow, while the children robed her in such garments as they wore, and then the great King led her toward a lovely lady seated on the ocean's shore, as though she watched for some one.

But as soon as Sunnylocks beheld her lovely face, she cried, "My beautiful mamma!" and this time the lips did say, "My darling child," and the white arms did fold her closely to her breast; and all the children rejoiced with great joy because Sunnylocks had found her dear mamma, and come to dwell forever with them.

"But what became of the runaway Sunbeam?"

Well, when the Sun, his papa, discovered that he was gone, he sent six of his brothers to catch and bring him back; but the little Sunbeam was too fleet for them, for before they could even touch him, he jumped right into the Lady Moon's arms, and as he was the very littlest and the very youngest Sunbeam, it was not likely his mamma would send him back to be punished.

So the six little Sunbeams went back, and standing before their papa, with their little fingers in their sweet little mouths, they all told him what the Lady Moon had said.

At that the Sun got into a tremendous passion, and hid himself and all the little Sunbeams behind some ugly clouds for three whole days; and when he next came out, the astronomers declared they saw dark spots upon his face.

THE SURPRISING EXPERIENCE OF BEN BUTTLES.

BY FRANK H. CONVERSE.

Part Second.

Ben Buttles was a real mother boy; that is, he was in his sixteenth year, yet did not think himself too old to love and obey his mother, or care for her comfort. It is always a bad sign when a boy begins to outgrow one or both of his parents.

So, immediately after his arrival in Savannah, Ben borrowed the mate's writing materials, and wrote to Mrs. Buttles, to relieve the anxiety he knew she must be feeling, despite his telegram.

Ben's educational advantages had been limited, though I am glad to say he made the most of such as he had had. Hence I trust that better-educated boys will excuse the mistakes they may see in his letter. Poor Ben had never seen such a book as The Polite Letter-Writer in his whole life. But he had read the late Captain Buttles's old log-books over and over again, and looking upon them admiringly as specimens of high literary art, he had, perhaps without knowing it, imitated their short and pithy sentences in this almost the first letter he had ever written. And I am not sure that most business men, particularly editors,