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 THE POMEGRANATE SEEDS

was exceedingly fond of her daughter Proserpina, and seldom let her go alone into the field. But, just at the time when my story begins, the good lady was very busy, because she had the care of the wheat, and the Indian corn, and the rye and barley, and, in short, of the crops of every kind, all over the earth; and as the season had thus far been uncommonly backward, it was necessary to make the harvest ripen more speedily than usual. So she put on her turban, made of poppies (a kind of flower which she was always noted for wearing), and got into her car drawn by a pair of winged dragons, and was just ready to set off.

'Dear mother,' said Proserpina, 'I shall be very lonely while you are away. May I not run down to the shore, and ask some of the sea nymphs to come up out of the waves and play with me?'

'Yes, child,' answered Mother Ceres. 'The sea nymphs are good creatures, and will never lead you into any harm, but you must take care not to stray away from them,, nor go wandering about the fields by yourself. Young girls, without their mothers to take care of them, are very apt to get into mischief.'

The child promised to be as prudent as if she were a 154