BAUCIS AND PHILEMON 161 



Then, pointing toward their cottage, he said, 

 " There is your home." 



What was their surprise to see, instead of their 

 poor little cottage, a beautiful palace of white 

 marble. 



They turned to thank the gods, but neither 

 Jupiter nor Mercury were there. 



For many years the old folks lived in the 

 palace, and made everybody happy who passed 

 that way. 



The brown pitcher was always full of milk 

 when it was wanted. 



One summer morning the old folks were not 

 to be found. But there in front of the door of 

 their palace were two beautiful trees. Their 

 roots deep down in the ground, and their branches 

 touching each other lovingly. 



One was an oak tree and the other was a 

 linden. 



As the breeze rustled through their leaves 

 they seemed to say : 



" I am Philemon." " I am Baucis/' 



In after years, many times a dusty, tired 

 traveller was glad to sit under the shade of these 

 beautiful trees, 



