Chapter II

The people on the island do not look as we do. Their skin is brown. Many bright flowers grow on the island. The women always wear flowers in their hair.

The people loved Mr. Stevenson very dearly. When they learned that he wrote stories, they named him Tusitala. That means The Story Writer.

Once some of the chiefs were put in prison. Robert Louis Stevenson did not think this was right.

He went to the prison to see the chiefs and was very kind to them.

At last the chiefs were set free. They wanted to show their love for Mr. Stevenson, so they made a road from the town to his house.

It was a hard piece of work. It took many men a long time to do it.

When the road was made the chiefs gave a great feast. All the people on the island came to it.

These are some of the words which they put on a board beside the road,

“To show our great love for Tusitala we have made this gift. It shall never be muddy. It shall go on forever, this road that we have dug.”

SINGING.

Of speckled eggs the birdie sings
And nests among the trees;
The sailor sings of ropes and things
In ships upon the seas.

The children sing in far Japan,
The children sing in Spain;
The organ with the organ man
Is singing in the rain.

ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON.

MARCH.

O March that blusters, and March that blows,
What color under your footsteps glows!
Beauty you summon from winter snows,
And you are the pathway that leads to the rose.

CELIA THAXTER.
]

THE FOUR WINDS.

“Which is the wind that brings the cold?”
“The North wind, Freddy, and all the snow;
And the sheep will scamper into the fold,
When the North begins to blow.”

“Which is the wind that brings the heat?”
“The South wind, Katy; and corn will grow,
And peaches redden for you to eat,
When the South begins to blow.”

“Which is the wind that brings the rain?”
“The East wind, Arty; and farmers know
That cows come shivering up the lane,
When the East begins to blow.”

“Which is the wind that brings the flowers?”
“The West wind, Bessie; and soft and low
The birdies sing in the summer hours,
When the West begins to blow.”

EDMUND CLARENCE STEDMAN.

THE BAG OF WINDS.

Long ago there was a man named Ulysses who had been traveling for many years.

He was sailing toward home one day when he came to the land where Æolus lived. Æolus was king of all the winds that blow.

Sometimes he sent soft winds to fill the sails of the ships at sea. Sometimes he sent winds that made the waters roar. Then he called them back and the sea would become quiet again.

Ulysses and his sailors were glad to stay for a time in the land of Æolus. They were tired of traveling so long.

When they were ready to go away, King Æolus filled their boat with food and many gifts. One of these gifts was a large bag made of skin.

King Æolus said to Ulysses, “In this bag I have tied all the winds that blow. If you wish to go more quickly toward home, open the bag and let one of the winds fly out. Then tie the bag again.”

Æolus said good-by to Ulysses and sent a soft wind to carry him from the land.