The Piper, looking at Doris's wondering face, said, smiling: "Thou dost
not comprehend, dear heart? Well, I will explain. As I said, this is
our Spring-room, and in it all the sunshine and flowers and clouds and
rain are made that go to make up a spring day. They," he said,
pointing to the first group, "are separating the golden skeins so that
they can be spun into sunbeams. It takes great patience before they
are completely finished; and if one of the spinners should sigh while
weaving, it would ruin the beam and make it dull and heavy. So, you
see, the sunbeam-children must be very light-hearted. Then those
others are coaxing the flowers to spring up and bud. After they are
all well above ground the flower-children hide a secret in the heart of
each blossom, and a very beautiful secret it is, and so wonderful that
very few ever succeed in finding it out. But it is worth searching
for, and one or two world-people have really discovered it. Thou mayst
guess what a difficult task is that of my flower-children; for at first
the flowers are drowsy and would prefer to slumber yet awhile; and my
children must whisper to them such beautiful thoughts that they forget
everything else and spring up to hear more. The singing thou nearest
is the lullaby the rain-children are singing to the drops. Thou
knowest that the clouds are the rain-cradles, and when my children sing
slumber songs and rock the clouds gently to and fro, the drops grow
sleepy and forget to fall. But sometimes they are too restless to
remain in their beds, and then they fall to earth; and if we could wait
so long we might hear the children teach them their patter-song. But
we have much else to see, and must go forward. Now, Children!"

At this there was a slight commotion while the deft hands put aside
their tasks; but it was over in a moment, and the Piper once more in
the midst of the merry crowd, who laughed gayly and chattered like
magpies, while Doris looked her admiration and delight, and the Piper