Page:Little Ellie and Other Tales (1850).djvu/21

Rh the prey of a nasty toad. They therefore assembled round the green stem on which the leaf grew where Ellie was, and gnawed it in two with their teeth; and now leaf and Ellie, slowly and gently, floated down the stream, far away out of reach of the toad.

Thus the little maiden sailed along, past towns and villages; and when the birds on the trees perceived her, they sang aloud, “Oh, what a charming little maid!” But away, away floated the leaf, always further and further; Ellie was making quite a foreign voyage upon it.

Then there came a small white butterfly, and after fluttering about a long time, settled at last on her leaf, because Ellie pleased him; she, too, was glad of the visit; for she knew it would be impossible for the toad to overtake her now. The country she passed through was very beautiful; and the sun shone on the water, making it glitter like gold. It now entered her head to take off her girdle, and bind one end of it to the butterfly, and the other to the leaf;