were blossoming around. Nothing could be better adapted to the taste of the young prince, who, yielding himself up to the full enjoyment of the scene, banished from his mind all recollection of the dwarf's advice, and every lingering doubt as to the direction of the road he had chosen. Whether I am right or not, however,' thought he, laughing, it does not much matter. I don't see but I am as well off at any rate. Health and happiness I now possess and as to beauty, why I have quite enough of it. It does not much matter who conveys the Water of Life' to my father and cousin, provided they get it—and I would far rather enjoy myself here, and let it be found by one of my brothers, than take the trouble it costs them. Every one to his taste, I am for enjoyment.' And on he went, eagerly plucking the flowers, and feasting on the fruits that courted his grasp.

The youngest brother meanwhile had quietly continued on his way, disregarding the obstacles which from time to time presented themselves, and avoiding the contemplation of his brothers, lest the glittering brightness of the temple, or the pleasant beauty of the road, should tempt him to join the one or the other. As he proceeded, however, his own path became more and more inviting. Fewer thorns sprang up around-the sky became brighter

-the grass greener, and many a sweet flower, he had never seen elsewhere, cheered his sight, and invited him onwards. And now as he glanced towards the paths his brothers had taken, he no longer felt inclined to envy them; for clouds and darkness seemed gathering around. The temple lost its brightness, and the pleasant road no longer seemed alluring. He turned, and gazed on his own pathway, and in his heart gratefully thanked the dwarf for his advice. Had he seen the termination of their career, he would have been still more thankful. His eldest brother persevered till he reached the summit, though the road grew constantly more steep and narrow, and often he was on the point of losing his footing, and falling over the side of the precipice. At last he reached the temple; he stood before the golden door; when just as he was about to open it, a rival, who had eagerly pressed behind him, and who had frequently sought to hinder him in his ascent, now springing to the summit, pushed him aside, and without a moment's delay, entered the temple. Unable to regain his footing, the unhappy prince staggered back, and falling over the side of the mountain, Iwas dashed amid the rocks beneath.

"The second brother went for a long time gaily onwards, and though when he beheld, as the path

he was pursuing permitted him to do, the lamentable fate of his eldest brother, he felt a sensation of grief and horror, that for a while cast a gloom over every thing around; yet he soon banished it from his mind, and yielded himself anew to the influence of the beauties which were around him. He found many others, who like himself expected the road would conduct them to the water of life, though they gave themselves very little anxiety about it; the chief reason why they wished for it, being its supposed power of shielding them from sorrow; and as they scarcely realized amid their present enjoyments, that they were exposed to any danger in that respect, their desires to gain the Water of Life' were very faint. Gay, trifling, and eager for enjoyments, the prince for a while was enchanted with their society, but as they proceeded, he found they were perfectly indifferent to the happiness of any one but themselves, and would bitterly contend for any flower or fruit which either happened to desire. It was very true he did the same, but he felt discontented in so doing, and his mind sometimes turned to his younger brother. He thought of his uniform generosity and kindness, till he almost wished their lot had been cast together. At times he caught a glimpse of the youthful prince journeying cheerfully onward, and

at some moments he felt tempted to join him, but they were separated by a rocky ridge, covered with briers, through which it would have been difficult, if not impossible, to have penetrated. He therefore continued his way; but the song of the birds, which had at first seemed so sweet, now sounded monotonously to his ear. He became wearied of the flowers he had before admired, and, satiated with the fruits he had plucked, he no longer enjoyed their flavour. Disappointed and discontented he now began earnestly to desire the Water of Life,' but in proportion as this desire strengthened, his doubts as to the road increased, and often he regretted his hasty choice. Meanwhile the sky grew dark, and the thunder began to roll heavily over his head; he looked around for shelter, but none was nigh; and while seeking in vain for some place of refuge, the rain began to come down in torrents. The flowers were beaten to the earththe birds ceased their song-his gay companions were all engrossed in self-preservation, and the unhappy prince, despairing at last of finding any comfort in his present pathway, determined if possible to find his way to his brother. When they first separated, the hedge seemed so thin that he had fancied it would be an easy matter to join him. As he went on, it had become thicker, but he

had not noticed it, and when the wish to break through first arose in his mind, and led him to regard it with attention, he found it so thick, thorny and rugged, that he could not summon resolution enough to attempt it. Now, however, reduced to despair and thoroughly disgusted with the road he was pursuing, he thought nothing could be worse than his present situation, which he determined to change at all risks. He struggled for a long time in vain; his face and hands were torn and bleeding, while the rain poured furiously upon him: still he persevered, resolved no longer to continue in his present route, and animated by the glimpse he now and then caught of his brother, to whom the storm did not seem to extend.

"We will thus leave him struggling with difficulties, and return to the youngest prince. He had gladly and cheerfully pursued his way, in his heart thanking the dwarf for his advice. Every thing around was lovely, and shed a calm and gentle influence over his soul. Occasional obstacles seemed to obstruct his way, but they were constantly becoming fewer in number, and less difficult to be overcome. At last a welcome view met his sight. A bright and beautiful fountain, half hidden amid the trees, was yet plainly visible in the distance, glancing in the sunlight. The