The children shook the trees, and the fruit fell off till the ground
was all covered; then they gathered it up and offered Tony an equal
share with themselves, and gave him a diamond needle, and instructed him
to string them into a necklace, and threw it over his shoulders. Then
they presented him with a sweet orange for his mother, and a pomegranate
for his father, which they said must be opened very carefully. "He will
know what use to make of its contents," continued they. "Tell him we
send it as a recompense for the meal which thou gavest us out of his
store."
Tony modestly inquired if he might keep the necklace. They replied, that
it was given him to do as he pleased with; but Tony thought it would
make his father and mother rich again, so he resolved in his heart that
he would give it to them.
Then he took leave of his kind little friends, and his conductor led
him back through the passages to the entrance, and bade him farewell.
When Tony reached home his mother asked him where he had been, for, said
she, "We have been seeking thee these three days, and thy father is gone
out once more, almost in despair of ever finding thee. But come here,
Tony, and let me see those shining things upon thy neck.
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