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ut presents； even thehead cook at the great house was honored with a mark of distinction；most likely for the soup。〃
〃And what did you receive？〃 said the stork…mamma。 〃Theycertainly ought not to forget the most important person in the affair；as you really are。 The learned men have done nothing at all but usetheir tongues。 Surely they will not overlook you。〃
Late in the night； while the gentle sleep of peace rested on thenow happy house； there was still one watcher。 It was not stork…papa；who； although he stood on guard on one leg； could sleep soundly。 Helgaalone was awake。 She leaned over the balcony； gazing at thesparkling stars that shone clearer and brighter in the pure air thanthey had done in the north； and yet they were the same stars。 Shethought of the Viking's wife in the wild moorland； of the gentleeyes of her foster…mother； and of the tears she had shed over the poorfrog…child that now lived in splendor and starry beauty by thewaters of the Nile； with air balmy and sweet as spring。 She thought ofthe love that dwelt in the breast of the heathen woman； love thathad been shown to a wretched creature； hateful as a human being； andhideous when in the form of an animal。 She looked at the glitteringstars； and thought of the radiance that had shone forth on theforehead of the dead man； as she had fled with him over the woodlandand moor。 Tones were awakened in her memory； words which she had heardhim speak as they rode onward； when she was carried； wondering andtrembling； through the air； words from the great Fountain of love； thehighest love that embraces all the human race。 What had not been wonand achieved by this love？
Day and night beautiful Helga was absorbed in the contemplation ofthe great amount of her happiness； and lost herself in thecontemplation； like a child who turns hurriedly from the giver toexamine the beautiful gifts。 She was over…powered with her goodfortune； which seemed always increasing； and therefore what might itbee in the future？ Had she not been brought by a wonderfulmiracle to all this joy and happiness？ And in these thoughts sheindulged； until at last she thought no more of the Giver。 It was theover…abundance of youthful spirits unfolding its wings for a daringflight。 Her eyes sparkled with energy； when suddenly arose a loudnoise in the court below； and the daring thought vanished。 Shelooked down； and saw two large ostriches running round quickly innarrow circles； she had never seen these creatures before；… great；coarse； clumsy…looking birds with curious wings that looked as if theyhad been clipped； and the birds themselves had the appearance ofhaving been roughly used。 She inquired about them； and for the firsttime heard the legend which the Egyptians relate respecting theostrich。
Once； say they； the ostriches were a beautiful and glorious raceof birds； with large； strong wings。 One evening the other largebirds of the forest said to the ostrich； 〃Brother； shall we fly to theriver to…morrow morning to drink； God willing？〃 and the ostrichanswered； 〃I will。〃
With the break of day； therefore； they menced their flight；first rising high in the air； towards the sun； which is the eye ofGod； still higher and higher the ostrich flew； far above the otherbirds； proudly approaching the light； trusting in its own strength；and thinking not of the Giver； or saying； 〃if God will。〃 When suddenlythe avenging angel drew back the veil from the flaming ocean ofsunlight； and in a moment the wings of the proud bird were scorchedand shrivelled； and they sunk miserably to the earth。 Since thattime the ostrich and his race have never been able to rise in the air；they can only fly terror…stricken along the ground； or run round andround in narrow circles。 It is a warning to mankind； that in all ourthoughts and schemes； and in every action we undertake； we should say；〃if God will。〃
Then Helga bowed her head thoughtfully and seriously； and lookedat the circling ostrich； as with timid fear and simple pleasure itglanced at its own great shadow on the sunlit walls。 And the storyof the ostrich sunk deeply into the heart and mind of Helga： a life ofhappiness； both in the present and in the future； seemed secure forher； and what was yet to e might be the best of all； God willing。
Early in the spring； when the storks were again about to journeynorthward； beautiful Helga took off her golden bracelets； scratchedher name on them； and beckoned to the stork…father。 He came to her；and she placed the golden circlet round his neck； and begged him todeliver it safely to the Viking's wife； so that she might know thather foster…daughter still lived； was happy； and had not forgotten her。
〃It is rather heavy to carry；〃 thought stork…papa； when he hadit on his neck； 〃but gold and honor are not to be flung into thestreet。 The stork brings good fortune… they'll be obliged toacknowledge that at last。〃
〃You lay gold； and I lay eggs；〃 said stork…mamma； 〃with you itis only once in a way； I lay eggs every year But no one appreciateswhat we do； I call it very mortifying。〃
〃But then we have a consciousness of our own worth； mother；〃replied stork…papa。
〃What good will that do you？〃 retorted stork…mamma； 〃it willneither bring you a fair wind； nor a good meal。〃
〃The little nightingale； who is singing yonder in the tamarindgrove； will soon be going north； too。〃 Helga said she had oftenheard her singing on the wild moor； so she determined to send amessage by her。 While flying in the swan's plumage she had learntthe bird language； she had often conversed with the stork and theswallow； and she knew that the nightingale would understand。 So shebegged the nightingale to fly to the beechwood； on the peninsula ofJutland； where a mound of stone and twigs had been raised to formthe grave； and she begged the nightingale to persuade all the otherlittle birds to build their nests round the place； so that evermoreshould resound over that grave music and song。 And the nightingaleflew away； and time flew away also。
In the autumn； an eagle； standing upon a pyramid； saw a statelytrain of richly laden camels； and men attired in armor on foamingArabian steeds； whose glossy skins shone like silver； their nostrilswere pink； and their thick； flowing manes hung almost to their slenderlegs。 A royal prince of Arabia； handsome as a prince should be； andacpanied by distinguished guests； was on his way to the statelyhouse； on the roof of which the storks' empty nests might be seen。They were away now in the far north； but expected to return very soon。And； indeed； they returned on a day that was rich in joy and gladness。
A marriage was being celebrated； in which the beautiful Helga；glittering in silk and jewels； was the bride； and the bridegroom theyoung Arab prince。 Bride and bridegroom sat at the upper end of thetable； between the bride's mother and grandfather。 But her gaze wasnot on the bridegroom； with his manly； sunburnt face； round whichcurled a black beard； and whose dark fiery eyes were fixed upon her；but away from him； at a twinkling star； that shone down upon herfrom the sky。 Then was heard the sound of rushing wings beating theair。 The storks were ing home； and the old stork pair； althoughtired with the journey and requiring rest； did not fail to fly down atonce to the balustrades of the verandah； for they knew already whatfeast was being celebrated。 They had heard of it on the borders of theland； and also that Helga had caused their figures to be representedon the walls； for they belonged to her history。
〃I call that very sensible and pretty；〃 said stork…papa。
〃Yes； but it is very little；〃 said mamma stork； 〃they could notpossibly have done less。〃
But； when Helga saw them； she rose and went out into theverandah to stroke the backs of the storks。 The old stork pair bowedtheir heads； and curved their necks； and even the youngest among theyoung ones felt honored by this reception。
Helga continued to gaze upon the glittering star； which seemedto glow brighter and purer in its light； then between herself andthe star floated a form； purer than the air； and visible through it。It floated quite near to her； and she saw that it was the deadChristian priest； who also was ing to her wedding feast… ingfrom the heavenly kingdom。
〃The glory and