114 WINTER STORIES AND POEMS 



down on the earth, he saw a crowd of little boys 

 playing in a meadow. 



Some were rolling over each other in the 

 sweet grass. 



Others were wrestling and boxing. 



Some little ones were playing " tag." 



One little urchin with fat brown legs was the 

 swiftest runner of them all. 



All at once something was seen coming down 

 out of the sky. 



At first it looked like a mere speck. 



As it came nearer and nearer, the boys saw 

 that it was a monstrous eagle. 



Then its mighty wings made a noise like the 

 wind. 



It made one swift dart and swooped down on 

 Ganymede. 



It fastened its talons in his kilt, and carried 

 him off from his playmates. 



Higher and higher the eagle soared, with the 

 poor little fellow kicking and screaming. 



At last they came to Olympus. Here 

 Ganymede, before long, became very happy, for 

 Jupiter made a great pet of him. 



