122 FOREST FANCIES 



or the spring or of her who watched beside it. 

 All his thoughts were for the law of the world, 

 and all beautiful laws that were higher, and 

 all inner meaning that lies beyond the material 

 expression of things, faded from his mind. 



As his inner ear closed more and more, his 

 outer ear caught louder the call of the world, 

 and one day he packed the old family carpet- 

 bag and started for the city. 



Before Josiah left the clearing, he hap- 

 pened to think of the spring, in the water of 

 which he would drink to his success, and there 

 he remembered the wood-nymph. 



''Did you call me?" 



''No, I did not call you," he confessed. 



"Ah, I heard your thought and came, before 

 the world should teach you to forget." 



"But I will not forget," he cried, "and 

 every year you may look for me with the 

 laurel." 



"Nay, you will forget the forest, you will 

 forget the spring, and her who watches by its 

 side. The world will tell you naught of little 

 nymphs who live within the trees ; and by-and- 



