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the brook which vanished in the hole。 But scarcely had he noticed
so much as this before a merry shouting and laughter burst upon him；
and a number of naked little boys came running； every one eager to get
to him first。 At the shoulders of each fluttered two little wings；
which were of no use for flying； as they were mere buds； only being
made for it they could not help fluttering as if they were flying。
Just as the foremost of the troop reached him； one or two of
them fell； and the rest with shouts of laughter came tumbling
over them till they heaped up a mound of struggling merriment。
One after another they extricated themselves； and each as he got
free threw his arms round Diamond and kissed him。 Diamond's heart
was ready to melt within him from clear delight。 When they had all
embraced him；
〃Now let us have some fun；〃 cried one； and with a shout they all scampered
hither and thither； and played the wildest gambols on the grassy slopes。
They kept constantly coming back to Diamond； however； as the centre of
their enjoyment； rejoicing over him as if they had found a lost playmate。
There was a wind on the hillside which blew like the very embodiment
of living gladness。 It blew into Diamond's heart； and made him
so happy that he was forced to sit down and cry。
〃Now let's go and dig for stars；〃 said one who seemed to be
the captain of the troop。
They all scurried away； but soon returned； one after another；
each with a pickaxe on his shoulder and a spade in his hand。
As soon as they were gathered； the captain led them in a straight
line to another part of the hill。 Diamond rose and followed。
〃Here is where we begin our lesson for to…night；〃 he said。
〃Scatter and dig。〃
There was no more fun。 Each went by himself； walking slowly with bent
shoulders and his eyes fixed on the ground。 Every now and then
one would stop； kneel down； and look intently； feeling with his
hands and parting the grass。 One would get up and walk on again；
another spring to his feet； catch eagerly at his pickaxe and
strike it into the ground once and again； then throw it aside；
snatch up his spade； and commence digging at the loosened earth。
Now one would sorrowfully shovel the earth into the hole again；
trample it down with his little bare white feet； and walk on。
But another would give a joyful shout； and after much tugging
and loosening would draw from the hole a lump as big as his head；
or no bigger than his fist； when the under side of it would pour
such a blaze of golden or bluish light into Diamond's eyes that he
was quite dazzled。 Gold and blue were the commoner colours：
the jubilation was greater over red or green or purple。 And every
time a star was dug up all the little angels dropped their tools
and crowded about it； shouting and dancing and fluttering their
wing…buds。
When they had examined it well； they would kneel down one after the
other and peep through the hole； but they always stood back to give
Diamond the first look。 All that diamond could report； however； was；
that through the star…holes he saw a great many things and places
and people he knew quite well； only somehow they were different
there was something marvellous about themhe could not tell what。
Every time he rose from looking through a star…hole； he felt as if his
heart would break for； joy； and he said that if he had not cried；
he did not know what would have become of him。
As soon as all had looked； the star was carefully fitted in again；
a little mould was strewn over it； and the rest of the heap left
as a sign that the star had been discovered。
At length one dug up a small star of a most lovely coloura colour
Diamond had never seen before。 The moment the angel saw what it was；
instead of showing it about； he handed it to one of his neighbours；
and seated himself on the edge of the hole； saying：
〃This will do for me。 Good…bye。 I'm off。〃
They crowded about him； hugging and kissing him； then stood back
with a solemn stillness； their wings lying close to their shoulders。
The little fellow looked round on them once with a smile； and then
shot himself headlong through the star…hole。 Diamond； as privileged；
threw himself on the ground to peep after him； but he saw nothing。
〃It's no use；〃 said the captain。 〃I never saw anything more of one
that went that way。〃
〃His wings can't be much use；〃 said Diamond； concerned and fearful；
yet comforted by the calm looks of the rest。
〃That's true；〃 said the captain。 〃He's lost them by this time。
They all do that go that way。 You haven't got any； you see。〃
〃No；〃 said Diamond。 〃I never did have any。〃
〃Oh！ didn't you？〃 said the captain。
〃Some people say；〃 he added； after a pause； 〃that they come again。
I don't know。 I've never found the colour I care about myself。
I suppose I shall some day。〃
Then they looked again at the star； put it carefully into its hole；
danced around it and over itbut solemnly； and called it by the name
of the finder。
〃Will you know it again？〃 asked Diamond。
〃Oh； yes。 We never forget a star that's been made a door of。〃
Then they went on with their searching and digging。
Diamond having neither pickaxe nor spade； had the more time to think。
〃I don't see any little girls；〃 he said at last。
The captain stopped his shovelling； leaned on his spade； rubbed his
forehead thoughtfully with his left handthe little angels were
all left…handedrepeated the words 〃little girls；〃 and then；
as if a thought had struck him； resumed his work； saying
〃I think I know what you mean。 I've never seen any of them； of course；
but I suppose that's the sort you mean。 I'm toldbut mind I don't
say it is so； for I don't knowthat when we fall asleep； a troop
of angels very like ourselves； only quite different； goes round
to all the stars we have discovered； and discovers them after us。
I suppose with our shovelling and handling we spoil them a bit；
and I daresay the clouds that come up from below make them smoky
and dull sometimes。 They saymind； I say they saythese other
angels take them out one by one； and pass each round as we do；
and breathe over it； and rub it with their white hands； which are
softer than ours； because they don't do any pick…and…spade work；
and smile at it； and put it in again： and that is what keeps them from
growing dark。〃
〃How jolly！〃 thought Diamond。 〃I should like to see them at their
work too。When do you go to sleep？〃 he asked the captain。
〃When we grow sleepy；〃 answered the captain。 〃They do saybut mind
I say they saythat it is when those otherswhat do you call them？
I don't know if that is their name； I am only guessing that may be
the sort you meanwhen they are on their rounds and come near any
troop of us we fall asleep。 They live on the west side of the hill。
None of us have ever been to the top of it yet。〃
Even as he spoke； he dropped his spade。 He tum