Part 8 (2/2)

And we came here because we could not help it. In a few minutes we will go away again into the next Valley.”

”Oh,” said the Stork, ”very well.”

”Isn't that milk I see in the fountain?” asked the child, after a little pause.

”Certainly it is,” answered the Stork; ”we feed the babies with it.”

”Could--could I have a drink of it?” asked Dot, who was thirsty from eating so much candy.

”Why, bless the child! Of course you can. We have plenty and to spare. Come on sh.o.r.e at once, but be careful not to step on the babies.”

”I want a drink, too!” cried Tot, who had been so much astonished to hear a bird speak that he had remained silent until now.

”You may both drink as much as you wish,” replied the Stork, in a kindly voice.

So the children stepped out upon the bank and fastened their boat, that it might not float away without them. Then, taking each other's hands, they followed the Stork over the silken moss to the fountain.

There were no cups, so Dot and Tot drank from bottles; but they thought it the most delicious milk they had ever tasted.

While Dot was drinking she happened to look up into the sky, and something she saw there made her utter a cry of surprise. A fleecy, flower-like bud was floating, lightly as thistle-down, high in the air, and seemed to be slowly dropping into the Valley.

”What is that?” asked the girl, wonderingly.

”That?” answered the Stork, turning its head sideways so that its round, black eye could look at the sky; ”why, that's a baby-blossom to be sure.”

”And what is a baby-blossom?” inquired Dot.

”Wait a moment and you will see,” replied the Stork.

Slowly and gently the white object floated downward, and even as Dot and Tot watched it, the fleecy blossom sank upon the moss a few feet from where they stood. Then one white leaf unfolded, and another, and still another, until they saw lying in the center of the flower a beautiful baby, fast asleep. While the children looked upon this sight, hushed and silent at the wonder of it, the leaves of the blossom faded away and disappeared, while the new baby rolled over and opened wide its big, blue eyes.

”It will be hungry after the long journey,” said the old Stork, and, filling a bottle at the fountain, the bird carried it in its long bill to the baby and began to feed it, crooning at the same time the following verse:

Hushaby, lullaby, Sweet flower from the sky; Glad be thy dreams, for thy Life lies before thee.

Soon shalt thou be at rest, Soon fondled and caressed, Pressed to the mother's breast Who will adore thee.

The baby looked up at the Stork, smiled sweetly and then closed its eyes in sleep; while Tot, who had watched this scene with much interest, asked in a low voice, ”Do all the babies come from the sky?”

The old Stork did not seem to hear him; but another bird, which was busily filling nursing bottles at the fountain, replied:

”Certainly, they do.”

”I should think it would get crowded,” said practical Dot, ”for here comes another blossom.”

”Two of 'em!” added Tot, looking upwards.

Indeed, two more of the baby-blossoms were seen floating down from the clear, blue sky, and the children watched them until they settled upon the white moss and opened their leaves, setting free two more rosy, new-born babies.

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