No one but our tiny little water-drops themselves, who sprang on it by
hundreds and thousands, and whirled it over and over.

The brook emptied into a quiet pond where ducks and geese were
swimming. Such a still, beautiful place it was, with the fuzzy, brown
cat-tails lifting their heads above the water, and the yellow cow
lilies, with their leaves like green platters, floating on the top. On
the edge lived the fat green bullfrogs, and in the water were spotted
trout, silver shiners, cunning minnows, and other fish.

Aqua liked this place so much that he stayed a good while, sailing up
and down, taking the ducks' backs for ships and the frogs for horses;
but after a time he tired of the dull life, and he and his brothers
floated out over a waterfall and under a bridge for a long, long
distance, until they saw another brook tumbling down a hillside.

"Come, let's join hands!" cried Aqua; and so they all dashed on
together till they came to a broad river which opened its arms to
them.

By the help of Aqua and his brothers the beautiful river was able to
float heavy ships, though not so long ago it was only a little rill,
through which a child could wade or over which he could step. Here a
vessel loaded with lumber was carried just as easily as if it had been
a paper boat; there a steamer, piled with boxes and barrels, and
crowded with people, passed by, its great wheel crashing through the
water and leaving a long trail, as of foamy soapsuds, behind it. On
and ever on the river went, seeking the ocean, and whether it hurried
round a corner or glided smoothly on its way to the sea, there was
always something new and strange to be seen--busy cities, quiet little