Meanwhile, Morgan laughed until his jaws were tired and his stomach
muscles ached.

But no sooner did he take his fingers off the strings, to rest them,
than he opened his eyes in wonder; for in a flash the harp had
disappeared.

He had made a bad use of the fairies' gift, and they were displeased.
So both the monk and Morgan felt sorry.

Yet the grass grew again when the quondam harper and singer ceased
desolating the air with his quavers. The air seemed sweeter to
breathe, because of the silence.

However, the fairies kept on doing good to the people of good will,
and to-day some of the sweetest singers in Wales come from the poorest
homes.




VII


THE GREAT RED DRAGON OF WALES


Every old country that has won fame in history and built up a
civilization of its own, has a national flower. Besides this, some
living creature, bird, or beast, or, it may be, a fish is on its flag.