34 FOREST FANCIES 



home, he went whistling through the wood. 



Dotty May had come to the maple grove, not 

 for the sake of the sugar water, but to seek her 

 playmate Nani. She went far into the wood 

 in her quest, but no Nani answered her call, 

 and now night shades were falling and the 

 frost was pinching her little nose. She sat 

 down on a stump and began to cry. 



*^The little one cries for me,'' thought Nani; 

 ^* could love give me a form, I would go 

 to her." And her feet bore her swiftly to 

 Dotty May. 



*^Nani, my Nani I" cried Dotty May. 



**I have come, dear, for just a little while," 

 said Nani. **Come, take my hand, and I will 

 lead you home." 



Smothering her sobs. Dotty May put her 

 trusting hand into Nani's and trudged beside 

 her through the shadowy woods. 



** Hurry, little one," urged Nani, as they 

 neared the maple grove. 



They were now on the hillside, in sight of 

 home. 



'^Good-bye, Dotty May," she said, loosening 



