Orpheus first went into the woods of Thrace.

When the south wind blows, earth's voices become low and sweet, and the
birds sing soft melodies to greet its coming.

Old books tell us that Orpheus was really the south wind itself.




THE LITTLE WIND-GOD

_Greek_


"What is it in the thermometer that shines so, mother?"

"Oh, that is quicksilver, Ethel. See the line of silver run up the tube
while I hold it in my hand."

"Quicksilver? I should think it was quick! See it run back, now the
tube is cool. But father called it something else the other night.
What was it?"

"Oh, yes; he called it mercury, my dear. It is named after one of the
gods the Greeks used to worship, their swift wind-god, Mercury. We read
of him in many old stories. He was so quick that he became a messenger
boy for the other gods."

"Oh, I like those old myths. Tell me about Mercury. I am going to