We had a glimpse of her , as you remember , half hidden among the waving grain , while the four black steeds were swiftly whirling along the chariot , in which her beloved Proserpina was so unwillingly borne away . You recollect , too , the loud scream which Proserpina gave , just when the chariot was out of sight . Of all the child 's outcries , this last shriek was the only one that reached the ears of Mother Ceres . She had mistaken the rumbling of the chariot wheels for a peal of thunder , and imagined that a shower was coming up , and that it would assist her in making the corn grow . But , at the sound of Proserpina 's shriek , she started , and looked about in every direction , not knowing whence it came , but feeling almost certain that it was her daughter 's voice . It seemed so unaccountable , however , that the girl should have strayed over so many lands and seas -LRB- which she herself could not have traversed without the aid of her winged dragons -RRB- , that the good Ceres tried to believe that it must be the child of some other parent , and not her own darling Proserpina , who had uttered this lamentable cry . Nevertheless , it troubled her with a vast many tender fears , such as are ready to bestir themselves in every mother 's heart , when she finds it necessary to go away from her dear children without leaving them under the care of some maiden aunt , or other such faithful guardian . So she quickly left the field in which she had been so busy ; and , as her work was not half done , the grain looked , next day , as if it needed both sun and rain , and as if it were blighted in the ear , and had something the matter with its roots . The pair of dragons must have had very nimble wings ; for , in less than an hour , Mother Ceres had alighted at the door of her home , and found it empty . Knowing , however , that the child was fond of sporting on the sea-shore , she hastened thither as fast as she could , and there beheld the wet faces of the poor sea nymphs peeping over a wave . All this while , the good creatures had been waiting on the bank of sponge , and once , every half minute or so , had popped up their four heads above water , to see if their playmate were yet coming back . When they saw Mother Ceres , they sat down on the crest of the surf wave , and let it toss them ashore at her feet . `` Where is Proserpina ? '' cried Ceres . `` Where is my child ? Tell me , you naughty sea nymphs , have you enticed her under the sea ? '' `` O , no , good Mother Ceres , '' said the innocent sea nymphs , tossing back their green ringlets , and looking her in the face . `` We never should dream of such a thing . Proserpina has been at play with us , it is true ; but she left us a long while ago , meaning only to run a little way upon the dry land , and gather some flowers for a wreath . This was early in the day , and we have seen nothing of her since . ''
XXXXX scarcely waited to hear what the nymphs had to say , before she hurried off to make inquiries all through the neighborhood .
Ceres Proserpina dragons hour left minute outcries sea-shore something steeds