Do you remember all the awful things that happened when Pandora opened the box? Pandora and Epimetheus had both been badly stung and were in great pain. It was the first time that anyone had ever felt pain. It was sharp and unbearable. Epimetheus sat in a corner. He was angry and did not want to look at Pandora.

Pandora herself lay down on the floor. She was crying bitterly as if everything had been Epimetheus’ fault. She did not notice that her head was resting against the box.

After some time, Pandora heard a gentle tap on the inside of the lid. Now, what was that?

`What was that tap? You hear it? She asked Epimetheus.

Epimetheus did not answer. Either he had not heard her, or he was too angry to answer.

`So, you won’t speak to me? That’s not very kind of you,’ Pandora said.

There came that gentle tap again. `But what is it? Pandora asked again.

`Just lift the lid and you’ll see who it is, a sweet voice whispered from within the box.

`Lift the lid, did you say? Pandora asked unpleasantly. `I’d rather not! I have enough of lifting the lid.’

The voice said, `Lift it just once more, and let me come out.’

`Let you come out and add to our troubles?’ Pandora cried. `No, please stay where you are, your brothers and sisters have made enough trouble,’ she said firmly.

But the voice went on- `You mean those ugly monsters with stings in their tails? They’re no brothers or sisters of mine, you know. Do I sound like one of them? Has any of them spoken a word to you as I am speaking to you know? I am sure you will like me when you see me. You will let me out, won’t you? I’ love so much to be with you in the sunshine! Are you listening?’

`Do you that little voice, Epimetheus? Have you been listening?’ Pandora asked him.

`What if I have?’

`Shall I lift the lid?’

`Just as you like,’ said Epimetheus. He was very cross with her.

`He means you may let me out, Pandora, he means you may’, the voice said. It was soft and musical.

`Epimetheus,’ the voice went on, `Epimetheus, I know you’re longing to see me as much as Pandora. Come, lift the lid,

Pandora, and let me see the sun. Don’t you want to see my wings?’

Pandora sat up, and her eyes opened wide. So eager she was to see the wings!

`Epimetheus, I am going to open box, come what may,’ she cried.

`That’s the right spirit, Pandora!’ said the voice.

By this time Epimetheus sat up too. He said, `well, if you must open the box, you must. I…I can’t stop you. So I might as well help you.’

So this time, the two of them lifted the lid together.

Out o the box flew a sunny and smiling little winged creature. So hovered about the room, throwing ribbons of light wherever was she went. Have you not held a looking –glass in the sun and made the sunshine dance into dark corners? So Danced the little fairy from the box in the gloom was of that cottage.

She flew to Epimetheus and lightly touched with her soft wing the place where he was stung. At once the pain was gone.

Then she came to Pandora and kissed her on her forehead. She fluttered around them brightly and full of laughter.

The two children could not take their eyes off her. A look at that angelic fairy was worth all the troubles in the world! How terrible it must have been for her to stay in a box! But who was she?

`Who are you, little fairy?’ Pandora asked her.

`Call me Hope’, said the fairy. `Yes, there will be troubles in the world, but we will also have happy times, and the world will go on. Troubles would have got into the world anyway. If you hadn’t opened the box, someone else would have done so’.

`But why were you up in this box of troubles?’ Epimetheus asked.

`Why, to give you hope in the midst f all these troubles, don’t you see?’ said Hope.

`Do you mean we can have some fun in spite of all these troubles?’ Pandora asked.

`Yes,’ said Hope, smiling. `I will make sure that you have enough fun and more. Let those troubles do their worst. We shall do quite well.’

`Look at her wings, Epimetheus!’ Pandora exclaimed.

`They’re just like the rainbow. How it’s beautiful!’

`And so will your hopes be beautiful like the rainbow,’ said the fairy. `They’ll be made of smiles and tears as the rainbow is made of light and water.’

`Whatever you’re made of,’ said Epimetheus, `you must be with us for ever and ever, but will you? We can’t go on living in this world without you.’

`I will be with you as long as you need me,’ Hope promised.

`We’ll need you as long as we live in this world,’ said Pandora.

`I promise never to leave you,’ Hope said gently.

`Never?’ asked Pandora. She could not believe this.

The fairy said again, `Hope will never leave you. There may be times when you feel that I have vanished, but again and again, when you least dream of me, you will see the glimmer of my wings on your ceiling.’

And ever since that day, Hope has stayed with human beings.