Thousands of years ago, people told strange stories and believed in many wondrous things. They believed that in the woods, streams, hills, and hollows lived fair creatures called nymphs. These nymphs were beautiful and loved flowers and murmuring brooks.
The fairest of them all was Echo, whose voice was the sweetest. But one day, Echo displeased Queen Juno. As punishment, Juno decreed: "You shall have your voice, but nothing else. You shall never speak first. You can only answer when others speak to you." Poor Echo! She grew thin and pale, thinner and paler, until at last, only her voice remained.
She wandered unseen through the woods, heard only when others spoke. On a quiet evening, you may hear her if you walk near a high rock where she loves to hide. Call to her, and she will answer. "Where are you?" you may ask. "— You?" she will reply. "Are you Echo?" you may ask. "— Echo?" she answers. "Come to me!" you cry. "— me!" she replies. "I like you," you say to her. "— you," Echo repeats.
A curious truth about Echo is that she always answers in the same tone you use. If you sing, she sings back. If you shout, she shouts. If you cry, she cries too. If you are cross and ill-natured, she will be cross and ill-natured in return.
Once, two brothers went into the woods to find Echo. They called and called but could not hear her. At last, one cried impatiently, "You are a mean old cheat!" Quick as thought came the cross reply, "— cheat!" The other boy quickly said, "He didn't mean that." The same tone came back from Echo, "— that." When the boys told their mother, she smiled and said, "That happens the world over. Gentle words will bring forth gentle words, and harsh tones will be echoed by harsh tones."