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id it over thehead of the poor bird。 The next morning she again stole out to seehim。 He was alive but very weak； he could only open his eyes for amoment to look at Tiny； who stood by holding a piece of decayed woodin her hand； for she had no other lantern。 〃Thank you； pretty littlemaiden；〃 said the sick swallow； 〃I have been so nicely warmed； thatI shall soon regain my strength； and be able to fly about again in thewarm sunshine。〃
〃Oh；〃 said she； 〃it is cold out of doors now； it snows andfreezes。 Stay in your warm bed； I will take care of you。〃
Then she brought the swallow some water in a flower…leaf； andafter he had drank； he told her that he had wounded one of his wingsin a thorn…bush； and could not fly as fast as the others； who weresoon far away on their journey to warm countries。 Then at last hehad fallen to the earth； and could remember no more； nor how he cameto be where she had found him。 The whole winter the swallow remainedunderground； and Tiny nursed him with care and love。 Neither themole nor the field…mouse knew anything about it； for they did not likeswallows。 Very soon the spring time came； and the sun warmed theearth。 Then the swallow bade farewell to Tiny； and she opened the holein the ceiling which the mole had made。 The sun shone in upon themso beautifully； that the swallow asked her if she would go with him；she could sit on his back； he said； and he would fly away with herinto the green woods。 But Tiny knew it would make the field…mouse verygrieved if she left her in that manner； so she said； 〃No； I cannot。〃
〃Farewell； then； farewell； you good； pretty little maiden；〃 saidthe swallow； and he flew out into the sunshine。
Tiny looked after him； and the tears rose in her eyes。 She wasvery fond of the poor swallow。
〃Tweet； tweet；〃 sang the bird； as he flew out into the greenwoods； and Tiny felt very sad。 She was not allowed to go out intothe warm sunshine。 The corn which had been sown in the field overthe house of the field…mouse had grown up high into the air； andformed a thick wood to Tiny； who was only an inch in height。
〃You are going to be married； Tiny；〃 said the field…mouse。 〃Myneighbor has asked for you。 What good fortune for a poor child likeyou。 Now we will prepare your wedding clothes。 They must be bothwoollen and linen。 Nothing must be wanting when you are the mole'swife。〃
Tiny had to turn the spindle； and the field…mouse hired fourspiders； who were to weave day and night。 Every evening the molevisited her； and was continually speaking of the time when thesummer would be over。 Then he would keep his wedding…day with Tiny；but now the heat of the sun was so great that it burned the earth； andmade it quite hard； like a stone。 As soon； as the summer was over； thewedding should take place。 But Tiny was not at all pleased； for shedid not like the tiresome mole。 Every morning when the sun rose； andevery evening when it went down； she would creep out at the door；and as the wind blew aside the ears of corn； so that she could see theblue sky； she thought how beautiful and bright it seemed out there；and wished so much to see her dear swallow again。 But he neverreturned； for by this time he had flown far away into the lovely greenforest。
When autumn arrived； Tiny had her outfit quite ready； and thefield…mouse said to her； 〃In four weeks the wedding must take place。〃
Then Tiny wept； and said she would not marry the disagreeablemole。
〃Nonsense；〃 replied the field…mouse。 〃Now don't be obstinate； or Ishall bite you with my white teeth。 He is a very handsome mole； thequeen herself does not wear more beautiful velvets and furs。 Hiskitchen and cellars are quite full。 You ought to be very thankfulfor such good fortune。〃
So the wedding…day was fixed； on which the mole was to fetchTiny away to live with him； deep under the earth； and never again tosee the warm sun； because he did not like it。 The poor child wasvery unhappy at the thought of saying farewell to the beautiful sun；and as the field…mouse had given her permission to stand at thedoor； she went to look at it once more。
〃Farewell bright sun；〃 she cried； stretching out her arm towardsit； and then she walked a short distance from the house； for thecorn had been cut； and only the dry stubble remained in the fields。〃Farewell； farewell；〃 she repeated； twining her arm round a little redflower that grew just by her side。 〃Greet the little swallow fromme； if you should see him again。〃
〃Tweet； tweet；〃 sounded over her head suddenly。 She looked up； andthere was the swallow himself flying close by。 As soon as he spiedTiny； he was delighted； and then she told him how unwilling she feltto marry the ugly mole； and to live always beneath the earth； andnever to see the bright sun any more。 And as she told him she wept。
〃Cold winter is ing；〃 said the swallow； 〃and I am going tofly away into warmer countries。 Will you go with me？ You can sit on myback； and fasten yourself on with your sash。 Then we can fly away fromthe ugly mole and his gloomy rooms；… far away； over the mountains；into warmer countries； where the sun shines more brightly… thanhere； where it is always summer； and the flowers bloom in greaterbeauty。 Fly now with me； dear little Tiny； you saved my life when Ilay frozen in that dark passage。〃
〃Yes； I will go with you；〃 said Tiny； and she seated herself onthe bird's back； with her feet on his outstretched wings； and tied hergirdle to one of his strongest feathers。
Then the swallow rose in the air； and flew over forest and oversea； high above the highest mountains； covered with eternal snow。 Tinywould have been frozen in the cold air； but she crept under the bird'swarm feathers； keeping her little head uncovered； so that she mightadmire the beautiful lands over which they passed。 At length theyreached the warm countries； where the sun shines brightly； and the skyseems so much higher above the earth。 Here； on the hedges； and bythe wayside； grew purple； green； and white grapes； lemons andoranges hung from trees in the woods； and the air was fragrant withmyrtles and orange blossoms。 Beautiful children ran along thecountry lanes； playing with large gay butterflies； and as theswallow flew farther and farther； every place appeared still morelovely。
At last they came to a blue lake； and by the side of it； shaded bytrees of the deepest green； stood a palace of dazzling white marble；built in the olden times。 Vines clustered round its lofty pillars； andat the top were many swallows' nests； and one of these was the home ofthe swallow who carried Tiny。
〃This is my house；〃 said the swallow； 〃but it would not do for youto live there… you would not be fortable。 You must choose foryourself one of those lovely flowers； and I will put you down upon it；and then you shall have everything that you can wish to make youhappy。〃
〃That will be delightful；〃 she said； and clapped her littlehands for joy。
A large marble pillar lay on the ground； which； in falling； hadbeen broken into three pieces。 Between these pieces grew the mostbeautiful large white flowers； so the swallow flew down with Tiny； andplaced her on one of the broad leaves。 But how surprised she was tosee in the middle of the flower； a tiny little man； as white andtransparent as if he had been made of crystal！ He had a gold crownon his head； and delicate wings at his shoulders； and was not muchlarger than Tiny herself。 He was the angel of the flower； for a tinyman and a tiny woman dwell in every flower； and this was the king ofthem all。
〃Oh； how beautiful he is！〃 whispered Tiny to the swallow。
The little prince was at first quite frightened at the bird； whowas like a giant； pared to such a delicate little creature ashimself； but when he saw Tiny； he was delighted； and thought her theprettiest little maiden he had ever seen。 He took the gold crownfrom his head； and placed it on hers； and asked her name； and if shewould be his wife； and queen over all the flowers。
This certainly was a very different sort of husband to the sonof a toad； or the mole； with my black velvet and fur； so she said；〃Yes；〃 to the handsome prince。 Then all the flowers opened； and out ofeach came a little lady or a tiny lord； all so pretty it was quite apleasure to look at them。 Each of them brought Tiny a p