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 coming upon them with such a rush. Nor must I forget to say, that all the birds in the whole world hopped about upon the newly blossoming trees, and sang together in a prodigious ecstasy of joy.

Mother Ceres had returned to her deserted home and was sitting disconsolately on the doorstep, with her torch burning in her hand. She had been idly watching the flame for some moments past, when, all at once, it flickered and went out.

'What does this mean?' thought she. 'It was an enchanted torch, and should have kept burning till my child came back.'

Lifting her eyes she was surprised to see a sudden verdure flashing over the brown and barren fields, exactly as you may have observed a golden hue gleaming far and wide across the landscape, from the just risen sun.

'Does the earth disobey me?' exclaimed Mother Ceres indignantly. 'Does it presume to be green, when I have bidden it be barren, until my daughter shall be restored to my arms?'

'Then open your arms, dear mother,' cried a well-known voice, 'and take your little daughter into them.'

And Proserpina came running, and flung herself upon her mother's bosom. Their mutual transport is not to be described. The grief of their separation had caused both of them to shed a great many tears; and now they shed a great many more because their joy could not so well express itself in any, other way. 194