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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Magic Soap Bubble, by David Cory
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Magic Soap Bubble
+
+Author: David Cory
+
+Illustrator: E. I. Jones
+             P. H. Webb
+
+Release Date: October 17, 2008 [EBook #26944]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MAGIC SOAP BUBBLE ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Chris Curnow, Joseph Cooper, Emmy and the
+Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+          _"Come with me for a visit
+             To Fairyland, dear Ned.
+            I'll show you many won'drous things,"
+              The tiny Gnomeman said._
+
+[Illustration]
+
+          _"I've lost a magic golden ring,"
+              The pretty Bluebird sighed.
+           "Don't worry," laughed the kind old fish,
+              "I have it safe inside."_
+
+[Illustration]
+
+          _"I'll hurry, Mother," Jimmy cried,
+              As down the road he ran,
+            When in a jiffy up there jumped
+              A little Rabbitman._
+
+[Illustration]
+
+          _"Come, Mr. Elephant," cried Shem,
+              "Don't fear the dreadful Shark.
+            The Circus Folk are calling us
+              To leave the big Noah's Ark."_
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+THE MAGIC SOAP BUBBLE
+
+by
+
+DAVID CORY
+
+
+
+
+LITTLE JOURNEYS TO HAPPYLAND
+
+          The Cruise of the Noah's Ark
+          The Magic Soap-Bubble
+          The Iceberg Express
+          The Wind Wagon
+          The Magic Umbrella
+
+          BY
+          DAVID CORY
+          Author of
+          Little Jack Rabbit Series
+          (Trademark Registered)
+
+[Illustration: NED ATE THE MAGIC CAKE
+
+_The Magic Soap Bubble_ _Frontispiece_]
+
+
+
+
+LITTLE JOURNEYS TO HAPPY LAND
+
+(Trademark Registered)
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+THE MAGIC SOAP BUBBLE
+
+BY
+
+DAVID CORY
+
+AUTHOR OF
+
+THE LITTLE JACK RABBIT BOOKS
+
+[Illustration]
+
+PROFUSELY ILLUSTRATED
+
+BY
+
+E.I. JONES AND P.H. WEBB
+
+          GROSSET & DUNLAP
+          PUBLISHERS  NEW YORK
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Made in the United States of America
+
+
+
+
+          COPYRIGHT, 1922, BY
+          GROSSET & DUNLAP.
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+                                PAGE
+
+          THE MAGIC SOAP PIPE      9
+
+          THE MAGIC CAKE          25
+
+          THE MAGIC NECTAR        39
+
+          THE MAGIC AXE           53
+
+          THE MAGIC SPRING        63
+
+          MAGIC FOOD              73
+
+          MAGIC EARS              85
+
+          THE MAGIC BASKET        95
+
+          THE MAGIC RING         123
+
+          THE MAGIC BALLOON      139
+
+
+
+
+THE MAGIC SOAP PIPE
+
+The King of the Gnomes prepares the Magic Pipe for making the Magic Soap
+Bubble.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+THE MAGIC SOAP PIPE
+
+
+NED had been reading a very interesting book about fairies and goblins,
+and how these real queer little folk inhabit dense forests and lofty
+mountain caves and lead a wonderful life apart from the homes and cities
+of men.
+
+The book was very large and heavy, and the afternoon was very warm, and
+the big armchair in which he was curled up was so comfortable that by
+and by he let the book slip to one side.
+
+He had just closed his eyes for a moment to rest them, when he was
+startled by a little squeaky voice at his elbow.
+
+He opened his eyes with a start and saw a Gnome standing on the
+window-sill just in front of him. Yes, there was no mistake about it, it
+was a Gnome. For had not Ned a moment before seen his picture in the big
+book he had been reading? Indeed, it almost seemed as if the picture
+itself had stepped out of the page from between the covers, so exactly a
+duplicate did the little man appear.
+
+"Hello, Ned!" said the little squeaky voice again. "I say, hello! You
+ought to know me well enough by this time to answer, since you've been
+reading about me for the last hour."
+
+"Hello, yourself!" replied Ned, laughing in spite of himself, and
+rubbing his eyes again to make sure that it was not a picture from the
+book.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"Can't you see a fellow is sleepy after reading so long a time? I
+didn't think you were coming out of the book to speak to me, you know."
+
+"Neither did I," retorted the Gnome, with a funny wink. "I came from the
+forest to invite you to take a little journey with me through Gnomeland.
+I am the King of the Gnomes, and my subjects have told me how interested
+you are in reading about us, so I have come to take you for a trip
+through our kingdom. I know you will love to see all the wonderful
+things you have been reading about. Will you come?"
+
+"Indeed, I will," said Ned.
+
+"Then follow me," replied the Gnome.
+
+Ned jumped through the window after the little fellow, who ran swiftly
+down the walk and across the fields to the forest beyond.
+
+As they neared the brook that ran through the meadow, the Gnome paused.
+Taking from his pocket a clay pipe, he stooped over and filled it with
+water.
+
+"Did you ever blow soap bubbles?" he asked, taking a piece of soap from
+another pocket and rubbing it carefully around the inside of the
+pipe-bowl.
+
+"Yes," replied Ned, "lots of times."
+
+"Well, you wait and see what sort of a bubble I'll blow," replied the
+Gnome.
+
+It was a bubble! But the strangest part of it all was that Ned found
+himself inside of it with his companion.
+
+"How did we get inside, or how did the bubble get around us?" asked Ned,
+but before his question was answered away went the bubble up in the air,
+across the meadow, above the little brook, yes, over the roof of his own
+house, higher and higher, until finally it reached the big high mountain
+that he had so often dimly seen from the window of his bedroom at home.
+
+After circling about the highest peak the bubble at length safely
+landed on a rocky ledge.
+
+Before Ned could ask how they were ever going to get out the Gnome
+opened a little door through which he led him to the outer air.
+
+There was a great change in the temperature, or else the inside of the
+bubble was very warm, for Ned began to shiver and shake. "Who-o-!" he
+cried; "it's co-old!"
+
+"Of course it is. Look," answered the Gnome, and Ned's eyes, following
+the pointing finger of his little friend, fell upon a strange and
+terrifying figure.
+
+Behind a bank of icicles stood a giant, with an immense helmet upon his
+head, from which hung long sharp pieces of ice. The top part was covered
+with snow which slipped off at intervals like a small avalanche to the
+ground below. His beard and mustache were festooned with thin slivers
+of ice, and his shoulders bore epaulets of frosted snow. The cuffs of
+his greatcoat were fringed with snowflakes, and altogether he was a
+startling and frigid looking individual. In his hands he held a
+monstrous bellows, from which he forced out a blast of icy air which,
+scattering the snow in whirling clouds, went howling down the rocky
+ravines.
+
+"He's the Wind Man of the Mountain," explained the Gnome, turning to
+shivering Ned, whose toes and fingers by this time were quite numb with
+the cold.
+
+"Well, I'd like to meet a Hot Air Man," said Ned, blowing on his hands
+to keep them from freezing. "I'd like to feel warm again."
+
+"Well, then follow me!" cried the Gnome, and turning to a big rock he
+tapped upon it twice with the toe of his little red boot. In a moment a
+door opened, showing a pair of rocky steps leading down into the
+mountain.
+
+"Be careful," admonished the Gnome, as he and Ned descended the rough
+flight. "Don't slip, for you might fall a long way."
+
+Ned assured him he had no desire to fall, but that his feet were so numb
+he wasn't at all sure but what he might slip, no matter how hard he
+tried to be careful.
+
+Although it was not exactly dark, at the same time the light was not
+sufficient for Ned to make out anything distinctly, and as the stairway
+was narrow and the walls dim he kept his eyes closely upon the ground.
+
+Soon they came to a level corridor and he perceived a dim light in the
+distance. "Where are we going?" he asked. But at this point an iron door
+arrested their progress, and without pausing to answer, the Gnome took
+from his pocket a key. Inserting it in the lock, the door slowly swung
+open, and Ned heard the faint beating of a drum.
+
+"Sit down," said the Gnome, drawing forward a wooden stool, much too
+small for Ned, but probably just the right size for a Gnome; "sit down
+and wait a moment while I go in search of the Gnomeland Band. I want you
+to hear them play, and I hear them practising now."
+
+Ned glanced curiously around the strange place. It suddenly occurred to
+him that he was a long, long way from home. Here he was, deep down in
+the mountain, in a rocky cavern, sitting on a little Gnome stool,
+waiting for his friend to return. But what if he did not come back?
+
+Ned's hair suddenly stood on end at the thought. Going over to the big
+iron door, he tried to turn the great knob, but his fingers either were
+not strong enough or he did not know the secret of the lock. Returning
+to his seat, he made up his mind to wait a while before allowing his
+fears to get the better of him. This is what every brave boy would do
+under the circumstances, he said to himself, resolving not to be a
+coward.
+
+Presently he was relieved to hear music, as the Gnome, at the head of
+the Gnomeland Band, came into view; and the funniest band that Ned had
+ever seen. Why, each instrument was playing itself and dancing the
+Mountain Tango at the same time!
+
+The big drum went "Bum, bum, bum, diddle dum," and pranced around on a
+pair of short, fat legs in red stockings. Two fat little arms beat the
+drumsticks on the top of his head, or what appeared to be the top of his
+head, which was in reality a funny face, which winked and blinked as
+the drumsticks traveled over the queer little features.
+
+"Toot! toot!" went the big yellow horn, as his fat little fingers
+pressed in the brass stops that made the notes high or low, or soft or
+shrill. Over the floor he skipped, after the round, fat drum.
+
+The 'cello and the violin came next. The latter ran his bow across his
+stringed waistcoat in perfect time, while the former twanged the strings
+that covered his happy face in a jolly fashion. The rest of the band
+played on themselves beautifully, and the Gnome, with his baton, proved
+a most capable leader. In fact, the music was so delightful that Ned
+finally could restrain himself no longer, and, jumping up, began dancing
+around to the tune of "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow!"
+
+          "Heigh-ho! hey diddle-do!
+             Down in the mountain deep,
+           Fiddle and drum, tiddle-dy-um,
+             Are doing the Leopard Leap!"
+
+Just then the music stopped, or, rather, the Musical Instruments paused
+to take breath, and Ned sat down again, wondering what next would
+happen. In a few minutes the round, fat drum commenced to beat "Left,
+right! left, right!" and the Gnomeland Band fell into line and marched
+slowly down the long cavern until it was out of sight.
+
+
+
+
+THE MAGIC CAKE
+
+Ned and the Gnome landed safely on a big soft bunker of moss.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+THE MAGIC CAKE
+
+
+AS the last drum beat died away in the distance, the Gnome turned to Ned
+and said: "Come, let us hasten, for I am rather hungry, and you no doubt
+are in need of nourishment also."
+
+Ned obeyed willingly, for he had tasted nothing since breakfast and was
+now as hungry as a healthy youngster should be.
+
+At the farther end of the cavern was an inclined plane, very much like
+the chutes at Coney Island.
+
+Carefully seating Ned at his side the Gnome said: "Now hold tight, and
+hold your breath and hold your tongue--in fact, hold everything you've
+got--for we are going to take a swift shoot to the bottom of the
+mountain and you'll find out what the word swift means if you never have
+before!"
+
+At this they began to move, and in another moment they were traveling as
+fast as a bullet from a gun.
+
+The wind, whistling by, cut Ned's cheeks like little sharp needles; his
+hair stood out behind like feathers on a speeding arrow.
+
+They were going so fast it was almost impossible to breathe.
+
+Presently a tiny light appeared in the distance, and he saw that they
+were now on a level, although still going at a tremendous rate of speed.
+
+In another moment they shot through the little round hole of light,
+which turned out to be the opening at the other end, and he and the
+Gnome landed safely on a big soft bunker of moss in the midst of a
+beautiful forest.
+
+Birds were singing in the treetops and little rabbits were skipping on
+the soft carpet of the woodland.
+
+Pretty flowers sent forth a delicious perfume and a brook close at hand
+rippled over the pebbly bottom of its bed.
+
+"Wait," cried the Gnome, as Ned leaned over to drink the cool water.
+"Wait; I have for you the most delicious drink if you will restrain your
+impatience a moment longer."
+
+Ned obeyed and followed the Gnome along a narrow path until they came to
+a small clearing, where the blue sky smiled down upon them.
+
+In the center of the spot was a monstrous watermelon, standing up on
+end, the thick vine supporting it like a strong round barrel stave.
+
+A large wooden spigot protruded from one side and over it leaned a
+Gnome, who had climbed upon the vine in order to reach the handle.
+
+Ned's little companion lifted a goblin cup to catch the drops of
+delicious looking pink juice which began to drip slowly from the spigot
+when the Gnome carefully turned the handle.
+
+"Careful, now," commanded the Gnome, as he handed the brimming goblet to
+Ned. "See that you spill not a drop of the precious nectar.
+
+"Good, is it?" he inquired, seeing the sparkle in Ned's eyes and hearing
+the smack on his lips as the last drop disappeared. "Pretty good, eh?"
+
+"Better'n soda water," replied Ned; "lots better."
+
+The little Gnome at the spigot smiled. "I grew the melon," he said with
+pride. "It's the largest so far in Gnomeland. But next year I'm going to
+grow even a bigger one!"
+
+"How do you make them grow so large?" inquired Ned, hoping he would be
+invited to have another glass of the juice.
+
+"Not another drop!" said Ned's little friend. "A second goblet and you
+would be so hungry you could eat stones."
+
+"Come with me," said the small Gnome guide. "We must eat."
+
+Ned eagerly followed him, and they pressed forward at a rapid walk until
+they came to a queer little hut, from which issued a most delicious odor
+of sponge cake.
+
+Around the door, or, more properly, what appeared to be one, but which
+was in fact but a small opening, stood several goblins, evidently
+awaiting orders from someone.
+
+As Ned drew near he perceived that instead of a hut it was in reality a
+huge oven, in which something very delicious was being baked.
+
+"Minions!" called out Ned's friend, "is not the goblin cake ready?"
+
+"Yes, sire!" responded several voices, and in another moment the oven
+was taken apart and removed from the most delicious looking sponge cake
+that Ned had ever seen. A soft, warm brown color made it most tempting
+to the eyes, and the delicious smell made Ned so anxious to commence
+eating that he could with difficulty restrain himself.
+
+"Help yourself," cried his little friend, and without a moment's
+hesitation Ned pulled off a piece of cake and eagerly commenced.
+
+"Begone!" commanded the Gnome to the small bakers, who still stood
+around curiously watching their cake disappearing down the mouth of a
+mortal as rapidly as its owner could cram it in; "begone and leave us to
+enjoy the cake alone!"
+
+At this they turned away and descended the steep hill which lay to the
+right and disappeared below.
+
+"Be careful," admonished the Gnome, as Ned showed no signs of finishing,
+"you may eat too much. Gnome cake, while most delicious, is more filling
+than that of mortal make!"
+
+But Ned paid no heed. Already he had eaten a great hole in the cake and,
+finding the inside warm and flaky, he squeezed himself in.
+
+It was much easier to eat the inside, as it was softer, and the crust
+had already grown quite hard.
+
+He was so busy eating and, I'm sorry to say, so greedy, that he did not
+notice that as he ate away the interior of the sponge cake the outside
+gradually grew tighter, and the opening which he had made at the
+beginning of his feast, and through which he had crowded, became smaller
+and smaller, until finally it closed altogether.
+
+When Ned perceived this, and it was some time after, I assure you, he
+was indeed frightened. He pounded on the walls of his sponge cake prison
+and called loudly to the Gnome, but for some time he heard nothing.
+
+Finally, after frantically running around and around inside the huge
+cake ball, he thought he heard the voice of his small friend. He pressed
+his ear close to the wall and listened.
+
+Sure enough, he could just hear the words, "Hold on tight to one side,
+and brace your feet," and the next moment he perceived that the cake was
+in motion.
+
+Slowly at first, but in a few minutes the great cake ball began to
+revolve faster and faster.
+
+Ned was terrified at first, as it was with great difficulty that he kept
+his body from playing battledore and shuttlecock. The greater the speed
+of the huge mass, however, the less inclination there was to bounce
+about, and he soon found himself literally glued, as it were, to one
+side.
+
+While thus traveling in this novel way, he began to entertain some fear
+as to what would happen should an obstacle be encountered, and by some
+strange coincidence no sooner had, the idea come than it was followed by
+a terrific crash!
+
+The crust of the cake ball broke into a thousand pieces, and Ned landed
+safely some distance from the spot, still clinging to a huge piece of
+sponge cake, which acted like a cushion between him and the ground.
+
+Looking anxiously around, after wiping some stray crumbs from his eyes,
+he saw his little friend, the Gnome, running frantically down the steep
+incline, which, luckily for Ned, had been the cause of his liberation.
+
+Finding him unhurt, the Gnome sat down on the piece of cake to rest
+himself and regain his breath before speaking.
+
+When he did, however, what he said caused Ned to run quickly over to the
+brook to look at himself in the water.
+
+To his dismay, what the Gnome had said was, indeed, too true. Ned was
+nearly as broad as he was high.
+
+The cake he had eaten had evidently occupied the same space inside of
+him as it had inside the brown crust.
+
+"What am I ever going to do?" said Ned.
+
+"'Twas a lucky think I kept you from drinking another gobletful of the
+watermelon juice," answered the Gnome. "Otherwise you might have eaten
+the whole cake, and then you might have been twice as large as you are
+now."
+
+"I don't think there is anything to laugh at," said Ned, as his small
+friend burst into a hearty peal of laughter.
+
+"Of course you don't," replied the Gnome, "you can't see yourself. If
+you could, though--oh, my!" and he again burst into peals of laughter.
+
+Ned waited a few moments and then asked: "Well, what are we going to
+do?"
+
+"Don't worry, Ned, dear," replied his little friend, touched by his good
+nature and feeling sorry for him, "don't worry. The watermelon juice
+made the sponge cake swell. All that is necessary now is to take the
+antidote, and I know where it can be found without any trouble."
+
+
+
+
+THE MAGIC NECTAR
+
+The Fairies brought a lily filled with the Magic Nectar.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+THE MAGIC NECTAR
+
+
+NED and the Gnome continued their journey down the valley, following the
+crystal stream, in whose waters he had just a short time before seen his
+distorted figure, until they came to a beautiful waterfall, down whose
+silvery sheen slid numerous water sprites and water fairies.
+
+"Over yonder," exclaimed the Gnome, "lives the Fairy of the Lake. She
+brews a magic liquid from checkerberries, which, I am told, if you but
+drink a thimbleful, will enable you to regain your natural shape. There
+she goes now, over the bridge, on some such errand I dare say."
+
+Ned watched the fairy stepping across the silver network which hung
+above a miniature Niagara that he could easily have spanned with a
+single step. Catching up a handful of berries he followed her, not
+heeding the Gnome's remark "that she would probably prefer to pick them
+herself," and, almost treading on some of the fairies who were blowing
+about in the long grass like the flowers they represented, threw the
+berries in a heap at the door of her castle.
+
+It was, indeed, a most beautiful little palace. Made of brilliant
+crystals, it sparkled in the sun like a rainbow. Inside, it was even
+more exquisite, for all her little subjects, the flower fairies and the
+woodland fays, had adorned it with many lovely things.
+
+Ned stooped over and peeped in at the doorway. There was a bright light
+inside which came from a little star suspended from the ceiling, the
+crystal walls on all sides reflecting the light with great brilliancy.
+Here and there were draped beautiful laces, no doubt spun by the spiders
+kept by the fairies for that purpose.
+
+"Come," said the Gnome somewhat impatiently, as Ned's curiosity still
+held him at the little castle's doorway. "Come away, or else the Queen
+will not return. How is she to enter if you block up her entrance?"
+
+Following his advice, Ned withdrew some little distance and stood
+watching the gay scene around him.
+
+Hundreds of insects were flying about and large, gay-winged butterflies
+fluttered over the flowers. On some he noticed tiny figures and others
+with blades of grass tied around the necks of robins, bluebirds and
+golden orioles were also flying about in mid-air, while some sailed on
+the silver backs of fishes or floated in shells upon the water near his
+feet.
+
+"Look!" cried the Gnome suddenly, "here she comes."
+
+A half horsechestnut, with damask roseleaf cushions, mounted on four
+ivy-berry wheels and with four shining beetles for horses came driving
+up from the waterfall.
+
+Leaning back in her carriage sat the Queen Fairy, fanning her face with
+a fly's wing.
+
+The beetles came to a stand in front of the palace, and the Queen,
+gathering up her white satin dress, stepped out.
+
+Instantly numerous ladies in waiting, jumped from off their butterfly
+steeds and escorted her through the palace door.
+
+Ned cautiously peeped in again. The room was filled with fairies about
+as large as your thumb, dancing here and there and singing a low, sweet
+song.
+
+On perceiving that a mortal was gazing at them they began to dance more
+slowly, and presently ceased altogether. Whereupon the Queen, looking
+about to ascertain the reason and catching sight of Ned's admiring face,
+exclaimed:
+
+"No wonder you feel so faint, my little fays, and that you stop your
+merry dancing. The hot air is pouring in upon us from a fiery furnace
+outside. Look here, my giant friend," she added, coming up to Ned, "if
+you want to see how we live you mustn't hold your mouth open with
+astonishment. Your breath is very hot to us little people!"
+
+With that the mischievous Queen jumped quite unexpectedly on Ned's nose
+and gave it a sharp pinch.
+
+"Don't cry," said the fairy in a cheery voice, the laughs falling from
+her like waterdrops from the cascade just outside; "I only wanted to
+let you know what I could do; but I am ready to be as polite as you
+wish."
+
+"May it please your highness," interposed the Gnome, who at this point
+squeezed himself through Ned's legs and entered the door, "to give my
+mortal friend a drop of your crystal nectar, in order that he may regain
+his boyish shape again?"
+
+The Queen Fairy looked politely inquisitive.
+
+"You see, your highness," the Gnome went on to explain, "he has eaten
+too heartily of gnome cake, and that together with a gobletful of gnome
+watermelon juice, has caused him much inconvenience, as well as an
+entire change of form."
+
+No sooner had he finished speaking than the Queen called the Waterfall
+Fairy, the Brook Fairy and yet another, somewhat smaller, called Violet
+Water.
+
+"Hasten," she said to them when they had assembled before her, "hasten
+to make a draft of crystal nectar, that this mortal may drink and assume
+once more his natural shape."
+
+"Move off!" cried a shrill voice in Ned's ear, and, looking up, he saw a
+Snapdragon, who seemed to be a sort of policeman for the fairies.
+
+"How can you expect these Ladies-in-Waiting to fulfill their Queen's
+commands if you stand there blocking the royal exit?"
+
+"Tell your friend to sit him down and wait patiently, for it will take
+some time to brew the magic draft," said the Queen to the Gnome, who
+repeated her words to Ned.
+
+He was very glad indeed to rest, for, not being accustomed to carry so
+much weight on his young legs, he felt very weary and somewhat
+discouraged.
+
+However, relief was in sight, and, following the suggestion of the good
+fairy, he threw himself down on a mossy bank and waited.
+
+Before long the three fairies returned, bearing between them a lily
+filled with a white liquid.
+
+As they approached the Queen herself came forth from her crystal palace,
+followed by many of her subjects.
+
+Stepping up to where Ned lay, she said in a soft voice: "Do not rise,
+for even now you are much too tall. I myself must pour this magic nectar
+upon your lips."
+
+So saying, she stepped lightly upon a stone close by and, bending
+forward, placed the lily to Ned's mouth.
+
+[Illustration: "DO NOT RISE," SAID THE FAIRY QUEEN.]
+
+The next moment he felt a strange sensation running through him, and
+looking down at his hands and feet was delighted to see that they
+were becoming smaller and smaller.
+
+Though great was his delight, he did not forget his manners, and,
+turning to the little fairy, said: "How may I ever repay you for your
+great kindness? Indeed," he added, scarcely able to restrain the tears
+which came to his eyes, "whatever would my dear mother have thought had
+I returned to her in the form of a giant?"
+
+"Thank me no more," answered the Fairy Queen, "for gladly will I do any
+favor for the boy who thinks of his mother first. In the future, should
+you need my aid, hang this ring about a bluebird's throat and send him
+to me."
+
+And with these words she placed a slender gold ring upon Ned's little
+finger.
+
+"But how shall I catch the bird?" asked Ned, his curiosity aroused
+before he had time to think of thanking her small highness.
+
+"Whistle thrice upon a blade of grass," she answered, "and the bird will
+fly to thee. Then place the ring about his neck and bid him hasten to
+the Fairy Queen of the Lake."
+
+During all this time Ned had been growing smaller and smaller. He had
+almost forgotten this, when his little friend, the Gnome, exclaimed:
+"There! You're your own self again!" At which Ned turned to the Queen,
+and, after thanking her again ran hastily to the brook to assure himself
+that such was the case.
+
+So, bidding farewell to his kind friend, the Fairy Queen, and her three
+Ladies-in-Waiting, he accompanied the Gnome down the valley.
+
+
+
+
+THE MAGIC AXE
+
+Ned meets the King and proposes to cut down the big Oak Tree.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+THE MAGIC AXE
+
+
+PRESENTLY the Gnome turned to Ned and said:
+
+"I must leave you for a time. But with the Fairy Queen's magic ring upon
+your finger, you will be safe from harm. Self reliance is what all boys
+should practise. Therefore, travel for a few days alone. At the end of
+that time I will join you." And with these words the Gnome disappeared.
+
+For a moment Ned felt a wild desire to call him back. But with a shrug
+of his shoulder, he put away the thought and bravely set out in search
+of further adventure.
+
+He had gone but a short distance when he came to a Magic Axe, chopping
+away all by itself at one of the tallest trees.
+
+"Good morning, Mistress Axe," he said. "Doesn't it tire you to be
+chopping away all alone there at that old tree?"
+
+"Not at all, my son. Put me in your knapsack and I will make you
+famous."
+
+Picking up the axe, Ned placed it in his knapsack and set off once more.
+After a while, he came to a place where the road was hollowed out of a
+mass of solid rock, and here, in the distance, he heard a sharp noise
+like that of iron striking against stone.
+
+"Some giant must be breaking rocks away up there," he said to himself,
+and climbed up the mountain. When he reached the top of the high rock,
+he found a Magic Pickaxe, all alone by itself, digging away at the hard
+stone as if it were soft clay.
+
+Every time that wonderful pickaxe struck a blow it went more than a foot
+into the rock.
+
+"Good morning, Mistress Pickaxe," said Ned. "Doesn't it tire you to be
+digging alone here, hollowing away at that old rock?"
+
+"Not at all, my little man. Put me in your knapsack and I will make you
+famous."
+
+Ned picked up the pickaxe and placing it in his knapsack, again went on.
+
+After a while he came to a brook which he followed up the hillside.
+
+The farther he went the smaller it grew until finally, it ended in a
+little nutshell, from which this tiny stream began its journey down the
+mountain.
+
+"Good morning, Miss Spring," said Ned. "Doesn't it tire you to be
+gushing away all alone by yourself in your little corner?"
+
+"Indeed it does, my little man. Put me in your knapsack and I will make
+you famous."
+
+Ned picked up the little nutshell and plugging it up with moss, placed
+it carefully in his knapsack with the Magic Axe and the Magic Pickaxe.
+
+After some little time he came to a king's palace. Now, although it was
+a magnificent palace, everyone living there was perfectly miserable, for
+one morning, without the least warning, an immense oak had sprung up,
+with leaves and branches so thick that they shut out the sun from all
+the windows, making the castle as dark as night.
+
+Of course in those days there was no gas and electricity, and although
+the king had commanded that candles be made as high as barber poles,
+they spluttered and often went out when the wind blew.
+
+All the woodcutters in the kingdom had tried to cut down this tree, but
+its bark was so tough that it turned the edge of every axe, and for
+every branch that was lopped off, two instantly grew in its place. At
+last the king had offered three bags of gold to anyone who would rid him
+of his troublesome oaktree.
+
+Now this was not the only trouble that beset the poor king. For,
+although the surrounding country was rich in springs and brooks, the
+royal gardens were dry as the desert of Sahara. And although the king
+had also promised three bags of gold to anyone who would dig a well, no
+one had yet been able to dig deeper than a foot, as the palace was built
+on a rock of solid granite.
+
+Each day the king grew more angry, but of course that did no good. At
+last calling the poet laureate of his kingdom, he asked him what should
+be done.
+
+Running his fingers through his long curly hair, the poet thought a
+while. Then summoning the Royal Carpenter, ordered him to make an
+immense placard, on which, when finished, this wise poet printed:
+
+          "To him who cuts my oaktree down
+             I'll give three bags of gold
+          But he who fails shall lose his life
+             And lie beneath the mold."
+
+"But what good will that exquisite poem do?" asked the king,
+sarcastically.
+
+"It will keep your Royal Highness from being irritated by this endless
+sound of chop, chop, chop," replied the poet. "I verily believe every
+man in your kingdom has had a hack at the tree. Now, he who reads this
+sign, will first make sure his axe is a good one. And my poetic ears
+will be spared much of this frightful noise which is far worse than a
+steel rivetter at work on a ninety story building in New York City."
+Which shows that this poet had an eye that could see into the future,
+for at that time, as far as I know, Columbus hadn't even asked the Queen
+of Spain to pawn her diamond rings!
+
+"Very well," replied the king, "have the sign nailed on this dreadful
+tree and we will see what happens."
+
+As soon as Ned arrived at the castle he bowed politely to the king, who
+happened to be standing nearby with all his courtiers.
+
+"Ha, ha," laughed the king, as Ned read the sign. "Do you, too, wish to
+lose your ears?" At which all the courtiers laughed heartily, the first
+time in many months that anybody in that castle had laughed, or even
+smiled, for that matter.
+
+"I can but try," answered Ned bravely, and opening his knapsack, took
+out his Magic Axe. Standing it up, with the handle leaning against the
+enchanted tree, he stepped back a few feet and shouted: "Chop, chop,
+chop!"
+
+At once the axe began to chop, now right, now left, and up and down, and
+in an incredibly short time that immense tree was cut to bits. It took
+only a quarter of an hour, and yet there was such a monstrous heap of
+wood that the whole court needed nothing else to burn for a whole year.
+
+But when Ned asked the king for the three bags of gold, that stingy old
+monarch said, "Before I give you the reward, you must perform another
+task."
+
+"What is it?" asked Ned.
+
+"You must dig me a well so that I may have plenty of water," answered
+the king.
+
+
+
+
+THE MAGIC SPRING
+
+Ned mounted the little Donkey and rode away.
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+THE MAGIC SPRING
+
+
+"I CAN but try, your Majesty," said Ned bravely, and again opening his
+knapsack, took out his Magic Pickaxe. Laying it carefully on the ground
+in the proper position, he shouted:
+
+"Pick, pick, pick!"
+
+At once the pick began to burst the granite to splinters, and in less
+than a quarter of an hour had dug a well more than a hundred feet deep
+in the solid rock.
+
+"Is the well deep enough, your Majesty?" asked Ned politely.
+
+"Certainly," answered the king, "but where is the water to come from?"
+And he winked at his courtiers, who smiled to themselves, for they all
+thought Ned would fail, after all, for as yet there wasn't a drop of
+water in the well.
+
+But Ned wasn't discouraged. He quietly opened his knapsack again and
+took out the nutshell covered with moss, and placed it on a magnificent
+fountain vase which, not having any water, had been filled with a
+beautiful bouquet of flowers.
+
+"Gush, gush, gush!" he shouted, stepping aside to avoid a wetting.
+
+At once water began to burst out among the flowers, singing with a
+gentle murmur, and falling down in a sparkling cascade, that was so cold
+it made everybody shiver. And in less than a quarter of an hour the well
+was filled, and a deep trench had to be dug to take away the overflow,
+otherwise the whole palace would have been flooded.
+
+"You have indeed earned the reward," said the king. And he ordered a
+little donkey saddled and bridled and the six bags of gold hung from his
+back, three on either side. After which Ned was invited to a great
+feast, and when that was over, he mounted the little donkey and rode
+away, with the three bags of gold hanging from each side of the saddle
+and a little gold ring on his finger, which the king's daughter gave him
+after washing her pretty face in water for the first time in many
+months.
+
+But before Ned rode away, he put his Magic Axe and his Magic Pickaxe
+back in his knapsack, "for who can tell," he said to himself, "what need
+I may have of these two useful tools."
+
+His knapsack was now well filled, for the cook in the royal kitchen had
+also placed in it a loaf of bread, a cheese and a knife in case he
+became hungry while on his journey of adventure.
+
+As Ned traveled on, the forest became darker and darker, for the trees
+grew so close together that the sun could hardly shine through the thick
+leafy roof. Suddenly he heard a great voice singing:
+
+          "I am the master of this wood
+             And everyone bows to me,
+          My head is as big as a drygoods box
+             And my legs as long as a tree."
+
+Then, all at once, the voice changed to a whistle, which sounded like
+the siren on a sound steamer when the weather is foggy.
+
+"It must be a giant singing," thought Ned. "Goodness! but he's a loud
+whistler. I guess he blows through his fingers!" and he hid beneath a
+clump of bushes.
+
+"Ho, ho!" cried the voice, and a giant came crashing through the forest.
+
+On seeing Ned, he shouted:
+
+"Come out of there, and I'll make a mouthful of you."
+
+"Don't be in a hurry," replied Ned bravely. "I'm going to make you my
+servant."
+
+"Ho, ho!" laughed the giant, "that is a good joke! I'll pitch you into
+that raven's nest up there to teach you to make less noise in my
+forest."
+
+"_Your_ forest!" laughed Ned. "It's as much mine as yours, and if you
+say another word, I'll cut it down in a quarter of an hour."
+
+"Ha, ha!" shouted the giant, "I should like to see you begin, my brave
+Sir Kid!"
+
+Carefully placing his Magic Axe on the ground, Ned shouted, "Chop, chop,
+chop!"
+
+At once the axe began to chop, now right, now left, and up and down,
+till the branches tumbled down on the giant's head like hail in autumn.
+
+"Stop, stop!" cried the giant. "Don't destroy my forest. Who the
+mischief are you?"
+
+"Sit down and I'll tell you the story of the famous Puss in Boots, who
+once killed a giant and gave his castle to his Master, the Lord of
+Carabas," said Ned.
+
+"How could a cat kill a giant? You are making sport of me."
+
+"Not at all," replied Ned. "Have you never read the story of Puss in
+Boots?"
+
+"No, but I once heard my cousin, the Giant of the Beanstalk, speak of a
+cat who wore boots. But that was long ago when we were both boys."
+
+"Well, I'll tell you then," said Ned. "Puss in Boots' master was the
+youngest of three sons. When their father died, the two older brothers
+received the farm and money, while he was left nothing but a Cat, who
+said to him one day, 'Do just what I tell you and I will make you rich.
+Give me a bag and a pair of boots, because the brambles scratch my legs,
+and you shall see what I will do for you.'
+
+"Well, when the boots were made and he had put them on, he hung the bag
+about his neck, and set out for a rabbit warren where lived great
+numbers of rabbits. Opening the bag he stretched himself out as though
+he were dead, and waited for a hungry rabbit to poke his nose into the
+bag to eat the bran. Pretty soon along came a young rabbit and as soon
+as it had crept in to eat the bran, Puss in Boots pulled the string, and
+that was the last of the little rabbit.
+
+"Then, running off to the palace, he gave it to the king, saying it was
+a present from his master, my Lord of Carabas, the name he had invented
+for his young master. Every day he brought some kind of game, until by
+and by the king thought my Lord of Carabas a great man and Puss in Boots
+a most wonderful cat, which indeed he was."
+
+"He was indeed," said the big giant, moving uneasily on the log on which
+he was sitting.
+
+"Well, one day," continued Ned, "Puss in Boots bade his master bathe in
+the river, and leave the rest to him. Just then the King passed by.
+
+"'Help, help!' cried Puss. 'Robbers have stolen my master's clothes!'
+
+"At once the king ordered his guards to the rescue, and fitting out my
+Lord of Carabas with a new suit of clothes, invited him to ride in the
+coach with his beautiful daughter.
+
+"As they rolled along they came in sight of a castle owned by a bad
+giant."
+
+
+
+
+MAGIC FOOD
+
+The Giant cannot understand how Ned can eat cheese.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+MAGIC FOOD
+
+
+"PUSS IN BOOTS, who had reached the castle in advance of the royal
+party, opened the door and said with a low bow to the wicked ogre:
+
+"'I hear you have the power to change yourself into any animal.'
+
+"'That is true,' answered the ogre, so pleased that at once he turned
+himself into a lion.
+
+"'I doubt if you can become as small as a mouse,' said Puss in Boots.
+
+"Instantly the ogre changed himself into a mouse, whereupon Puss in
+Boots pounced upon him and ate him up.
+
+"At that moment up drove the coach. Throwing open the castle door, Puss
+in Boots said with a hospitable bow:
+
+"'Welcome to the castle of my Lord of Carabas.' And, to make a long
+story short," laughed Ned, "his master married the King's daughter and
+lived happily ever after."
+
+"Whew!" gasped the giant. "He certainly was a wonderful cat," and he
+looked anxiously at the Magic Axe.
+
+Presently Ned began to feel hungry, and opening his knapsack, took out
+his bread and cheese.
+
+"What is that white stuff?" asked the giant, who had never seen cheese
+before.
+
+"That is a stone," answered Ned, commencing to eat it with a hungry
+appetite.
+
+"Do you eat stones?" asked the giant.
+
+"Oh yes," answered Ned. "That's my regular food, which explains why I'm
+not so big as you who eat oxen; but it's also the reason why, little as
+I am, I am ten times as strong as you are. Now take me to your house."
+
+The giant looked at the Magic Axe which had so nearly destroyed his
+forest, and then at Ned eating a stone with apparent relish.
+
+"I will," he said, and humbly led the way to his monstrous cabin.
+
+"Now listen," said Ned to the giant after they were fairly seated, "one
+of us must be the master, and the other the servant. If I can't do
+whatever you do, I am to be your slave; if you're not able to do
+whatever I do, you are to be mine."
+
+"Agreed," said the giant. "I'd be tickled to death to have a little
+servant like you. It's too much work for me to think, and you have
+brains enough for both. Well, let's start the trial. Here are my two
+buckets,--go and get the water to make the soup!"
+
+Ned looked at the buckets, the tops of which he couldn't even see, for
+they were two enormous hogsheads, ten feet high and six broad. It would
+have been much easier for him to drown himself in them than to move
+them.
+
+"Ho, ho!" shouted the giant. "Do what I do and get the water."
+
+"What's the good of that?" replied Ned. "I'll go get the spring itself
+to put in the pot," knowing that he could easily run back to the king's
+castle for the little magic nutshell.
+
+"No, no!" said the giant, "that won't do. You have already half spoiled
+my forest with your Magic Axe. I don't want you to take my spring away.
+You may attend to the fire, and I'll go for the water."
+
+So the giant hung up the kettle, put into it an ox cut into pieces,
+fifty cabbages, and a wagon-load of carrots, skimming the broth with a
+frying pan, tasting it every now and then until it was done. When
+everything was ready, he turned and said:
+
+"Now we'll see if you can do what I can. I feel like eating the whole
+ox, and you into the bargain. I think I'll serve you for dessert."
+
+"All right," answered little Ned. But before sitting down he slipped his
+knapsack under his jacket.
+
+Then the two champions set to work. Perhaps Ned was a trifle nervous,
+knowing only too well that if he failed he must be the giant's servant.
+
+Well, the giant ate and ate, and Ned wasn't idle; only he pitched
+everything, beef, cabbage, carrots, and all, into his knapsack when the
+giant wasn't looking.
+
+"Ouf!" at last grunted the giant, "I can't do much more. I've got to
+undo the lower button of my waistcoat."
+
+"Eat away, starveling!" cried Ned, sticking half a cabbage into his
+knapsack.
+
+"Ouf!" groaned the giant, "I must loosen another button. But what sort
+of an ostrich's stomach have you got, Kiddo? I should say you were used
+to eating stones!"
+
+"Eat away, lazy-bones!" said Ned, sticking a huge chunk of beef into his
+knapsack.
+
+"Ouf!" sighed the giant for the third time, "I must open the third
+button."
+
+"Bah!" answered Ned. "It's the easiest thing to relieve yourself," and
+taking his knife, he slit his jacket and the knapsack under it the whole
+length of his stomach. "Now's your turn. Do as I do, _if you can!_"
+
+"Excuse me!" gasped the giant. "You win. I'd rather be your servant
+than do that."
+
+Then kissing Ned's hand in token of submission, he lifted his little
+master on his shoulder, and slinging the six bags of gold over his back,
+started off through the forest.
+
+"Wait a minute," said Ned, "I've forgotten my Magic tools." So the giant
+picked them up and thrusting them in his pocket, again set off at a
+tremendous rate.
+
+After a while, they came in sight of a great castle where lived a lord
+even more wicked than the cruel Blue Beard. As they drew nearer, they
+heard loud screams like those of some fair lady in distress. The next
+minute the wicked lord dragged a lovely lady by the hair across the
+courtyard.
+
+With one stride the giant stepped over the castle wall.
+
+"Shall I toss him over the moon?" he asked.
+
+"No, leave him to me," replied Ned. The wicked lord trembled and grew as
+pale as a white swan that swam nearby in a beautiful fountain.
+
+"My giant servant at a sign from me, will pitch you over the moon. But
+instead, as you have the reputation of being the greatest liar that ever
+lived, we will see who can tell the biggest story, you or I. If you
+lose, you shall give your castle to this fair lady and take yourself
+off, I don't care where, but you must never return."
+
+At once the wicked lord commenced to tell the biggest story he could
+imagine.
+
+"I have a bull so large that a man can sit on each of his horns, and the
+two can't touch each other with a twenty foot pole."
+
+"Oh, that's nothing," replied Ned. "At home on the farm we have a bull
+so large that a servant sitting on one of his horns can't see the
+servant sitting on the other."
+
+"You win," laughed the pretty princess, clapping her hands at Ned. Then
+the wicked lord went to his stable and saddling his best horse, rode
+away. But as he passed through the gate, Ned touched his steed with his
+magic gold ring. Instantly the horse turned into an immense bird and
+flew away. But where he went no one knows to this day.
+
+
+
+
+MAGIC EARS
+
+The Man with Ears like a Donkey invited Ned to eat with him.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+MAGIC EARS
+
+
+"DEAR me," said the giant suddenly. "I've forgotten all about my errand.
+You and your Magic Axe have robbed me of my memory," and the big man
+scratched his hand and looked anxiously at Ned.
+
+"What is it?"
+
+"I was to take a chicken to my old mother," answered the giant sadly.
+
+"Go ahead," said Ned. "I can take care of myself. At any rate it is
+about time my friend the Gnome came back to me."
+
+"You are very kind," said the giant. "Here are your Magic Axe and your
+Magic Pickaxe. I almost forgot them," and he set off at a great rate for
+his mother's house.
+
+Ned, too, quickened his pace, for it was growing late, and the shadows
+creeping from tree to tree. At length he saw a light in the distance. It
+was a very little light, not much larger than a star, and at first Ned
+thought it might be a giant firefly. However, he kept on and after a
+while it turned out to be a little candle in the window of a poor
+woodcutter's hut. Knocking on the door, it was presently opened by a
+strange looking man. He had long hairy ears like a donkey and was
+dressed in the skins of wild animals.
+
+"Welcome," he said in a kindly voice, "I am just preparing my evening
+meal. Come in and eat." Ned followed the donkey-eared man into the
+cottage and sat down at the rude wooden table on which were spread black
+bread and beans.
+
+"I have but humble fare to offer you," said the donkey-eared man, but
+his smile was a kind one as he helped Ned to the beans with a large
+wooden spoon. "But as I see you are a traveler, you no doubt have fared
+worse at times," and he smiled again in such a friendly way, that Ned
+took a great liking to him.
+
+"You are right. I'm a traveler, seeking adventures and many strange
+things I have seen while visiting Gnomeland."
+
+"I have heard little of the world since my ears were changed into those
+of a donkey," sighed the donkey-eared man.
+
+"Is there no magic charm which will remove them?" asked Ned, as he
+finished the last bean on his plate and wiped his mouth carefully with
+the pocket handkerchief which his kind mother had given him the very
+morning he had set out for Gnomeland.
+
+"None whatever," answered the man with a sigh. "There is no charm nor
+magic herb, but I've heard tell of a Magic Axe that once cut down a
+charmed oak tree overshadowing a king's palace. But where am I to find
+that Magic Axe?"
+
+          "Oh master dear, pray ask this lad
+             Your donkey ears to sever;
+          For then your own two ears will take
+             Their place as good as ever,"
+
+sang a little bird from her tree in the forest.
+
+When Ned heard that, he jumped up and went behind the door where he had
+hung his knapsack. Taking out the Magic Axe, he laid it on the table
+before the donkey-eared man.
+
+"Cut off my ears!" shouted the donkey-eared man.
+
+"I can't do it," said Ned, trembling all over.
+
+"Do as I ask you," begged the donkey-eared man, laying his head on the
+table.
+
+Instead, however, Ned touched the donkey ears with his little magic gold
+ring, at the same time whispering, "Away with you!"
+
+Off went the long, hairy ears, and the next minute, two grew in their
+place, just like yours and mine.
+
+          "Oh, now I'm free from donkey ears,
+          Three cheers and once, again, three cheers!
+          No more the witch's evil snare
+          Shall force me donkey ears to wear!"
+
+sang the donkey-eared man, dancing about the room.
+
+All the next day Ned trudged on alone until towards evening, he came to
+the edge of a pine-forest, where close at hand stood a small hut made of
+pine-branches, plastered with mud and thatched with rye-straw. No sooner
+had he tapped on the door than it was opened by a girl. She looked out
+timidly, thinking, I suppose, it might be a robber. But when she saw
+Ned, she smiled.
+
+"Come in," she said, and Ned saw four small children staring curiously
+at him.
+
+The room was very smoky, for there was no chimney to the rude hut. A
+hole in the roof let the smoke out, and there were no windows, for the
+father of these children was a poor peasant who made his living by
+gathering turpentine in the pine forest.
+
+Ned sat down, while the girl went on with her work until the black beans
+were ready for supper, when she put them all in a big wooden bowl, and
+invited Ned to join her and the four children.
+
+While they were eating out of the bowl with a wooden spoon, a tame
+jackdaw who had been sitting on an old stool by the fireside, hopped
+over and perched himself close to Ned.
+
+When the supper was over, and the children were ready for bed, he
+whispered, "This little family is very poor. Their father is away
+selling turpentine, and there is little food in the cupboard. But if you
+will come with me tonight, I will show you how we can help them."
+
+When all the children were sound asleep, Ned looked over to the fireside
+where the jackdaw sat, his eyes shining brighter and brighter through
+the darkness, till they made the room so light that Ned could plainly
+see the five sleeping children huddled together on the straw bed in the
+corner.
+
+Then the jackdaw nodded, and hopping down from the stool on which he
+sat, walked softly over to the door.
+
+The moon shone brightly on the bare brown fields silvered with white
+frost, and in the still, cold air, the forest looked like a black cloud
+just dropped upon the earth.
+
+
+
+
+THE MAGIC BASKET
+
+The Little Old Woman made a low bow to the Jackdaw.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+THE MAGIC BASKET
+
+
+ON and on they went, the jackdaw hopping over the rough fields, and now
+and then turning his head and winking his fiery eyes at Ned, until they
+found themselves at the foot of a high, round hill.
+
+At one side of the great mound the stream which they had been following
+suddenly stopped short, making a deep well, over which hung an old oak
+tree, leafless now, but still strewing the ground with dry acorns.
+
+Right at the foot of this tree was an upright gray stone, apparently
+part of a rock deeply sunk in the hillside. Beside this stone the
+jackdaw paused, and, turning to nod reassuringly at Ned, picked up a
+pebble about the size of an acorn and dropped it into the well, at the
+same time knocking gently on the flat stone with his bill.
+
+In a moment the rock opened in the middle, and there stood a little old
+woman, as withered as a spring apple and as bright as a butterfly,
+dressed in a scarlet bodice covered with spangles and a black petticoat
+worked in square characters with all the colors of the rainbow.
+
+Ned thought she was not nearly as attractive as the fairies whom he had
+but lately left, although she had on more colors than even the Queen
+Fairy.
+
+On seeing the jackdaw she made a low bow, and in a shrill eager voice
+invited them in. Ned hesitated, but the little old woman snatched his
+hand and pulled him in, asking in a whisper, "Dost thou fear for thyself
+when visiting the King of the Gnomes?"
+
+Then, opening a low door in the side of the cavern, she beckoned them to
+follow. In the middle of a still larger vault stood an arm chair
+fashioned from beryl and jasper, with knobs of amethyst and topaz, in
+which sat Ned's friend, the Gnome.
+
+He was dressed in a robe of velvet, green and soft as forest moss, and a
+ring of gold lay on his grizzled hair. His little eyes shone keen and
+fiery, and his hands, withered and brown, were now covered with
+glittering jewels.
+
+About the cave a hundred little men, smaller than he, were busy in a
+hundred ways. Some stirred kettles of smoking broth; others sliced fresh
+vegetables for crisp salads. Some spread a table, with golden plates
+and crystal goblets; three turned huge pieces of meat on a spit before a
+fire at the end of the cavern, while a dozen more watched the simmering
+pots.
+
+The jackdaw hopped gravely past all this toward the chair of the Gnome
+King, who stretched out his sceptre, a tall bulrush of gold, and touched
+the jackdaw, who at once turned into a dwarf.
+
+Making a low bow to the Gnome King, he turned to Ned and said:
+
+"I was forced to take the form of a jackdaw for twenty years because I
+once said that gold was not as yellow as buttercups nor so bright as
+sunshine. This made the Gnomes angry, because their belief is that gold
+is the most beautiful thing in the world. My punishment is now over and
+I need never return to the earth again. But I would do a favor to the
+poor peasant children who were so good to me."
+
+"What favor would you ask for the poor peasant children?" asked the
+Gnome King.
+
+"I would send them a Magic Basket filled with food," answered the dwarf.
+
+No sooner had he spoken, than the Gnome ordered his subjects to fill a
+Magic Basket with all kinds of good things to eat. There was a golden
+bowl of smoking stew, a crystal goblet of wine, a golden dish of mashed
+potatoes and another of rice pudding.
+
+And when the Magic Basket was covered with a damask napkin, it was
+handed to a dwarf messenger to take to the poor woodcutter's children,
+while all the little dwarfs stood around him and sang:
+
+          "In this basket they will find
+          Food and drink of magic kind.
+            Never will it empty grow
+          And no hunger they shall know."
+
+"Hereafter," said the Gnome King, looking kindly at Ned, "a bluebird
+shall be your companion and will show you many and curious things. I can
+spare no more time, for my people must be governed, and while I have
+given you more attention than any other mortal because of your great
+fondness for fairy tales, I must now leave you in the care of this
+bluebird, unless, perchance, you wish to return to earth at once."
+
+To which Ned answered eagerly that he would much rather see more of
+Gnomeland before again returning to the everyday routine of grammar
+school and lessons.
+
+"Good luck to you, then!" cried his friend, as he shook Ned warmly by
+the hand.
+
+The door opened and Ned once more found himself by the side of the great
+flat stone in the hillside, where rippling waters of the little stream
+flowed into the pool at the foot of the great oak tree, on which sat a
+lovely bluebird.
+
+Following the bluebird, Ned turned to one side to avoid climbing the
+hill, and continued his journey for some time, keeping ever in sight the
+bluebird's beautiful form.
+
+It was almost dark when they were confronted by a dense forest. This was
+not particularly reassuring to Ned, especially as the bluebird flew back
+and settled herself on his shoulder, evidently not wishing to enter the
+woods at so late an hour. For in a deep, black forest, with all sorts of
+strange shadows and ghostly trees, one never knows what may be lurking
+about, and the same Ned who, with his two stout fists, in broad daylight
+would have undertaken to keep any living boy or man from doing serious
+mischief, felt his teeth set hard and his heart stand still as he came
+into the shadow of the great trees.
+
+The little bird nestled close to his cheek and refused to leave his
+shoulder.
+
+Ned, indeed, felt that he must now look out for himself, and though his
+heart beat high, he bravely trudged forward.
+
+It was very unlike the woods to which he had been accustomed to go with
+his schoolmates at home, where bright green maples, beeches and birches
+made a leafy bower overhead. Instead, there were solemn pines and
+hemlocks, and as he entered deeper, great caverns appeared in the rocks
+and narrow gulleys, into which one might easily fall and break one's
+neck.
+
+Through this dismal place he trudged along, with his knees shaking, but
+with a brave heart, until he came to a great pine, which evidently had
+been struck by lightning, for it stood up white and tall, lifting its
+bare arms to the sky, like some specter giant crying for vengeance.
+
+Luckily he had placed the bluebird in his pocket, fearing that the low
+hanging branches would sweep it from his shoulders. Had he not done so
+before arriving at this spot the opportunity would not have presented
+itself again.
+
+Right at the foot of the pine, on a decaying log, sat a little old man,
+who was altogether the ugliest looking object that Ned had ever seen. He
+was about half the size of ordinary men, though the whiteness of his
+hair and beard showed plainly that he would never be any taller, and
+though his body was short and crooked to the last degree, his face was
+long and pale, but was lighted up by wonderfully brilliant eyes.
+
+These were fixed on Ned from the moment he came in sight, and, piercing
+through the darkness, it is no wonder that they chilled the poor boy's
+blood and failed to quicken his pace. Indeed, it is not quite certain
+that he would have gone forward at all if the greater part of the forest
+had not been behind him, though there seemed to be a spell in the
+strange eyes that drew the boy on in spite of himself.
+
+"Come along! What are you afraid of?" cried the dwarf in a little, dry
+voice, that sounded like the cracking of a dry twig beneath one's foot.
+
+Ned hesitated, and, as if seeking the comfort of something alive and
+friendly, thrust his hand into his pocket alongside of the little
+bluebird.
+
+"Come on! Come on, little master," repeated the dwarf. "Here I have been
+waiting more than an hour to tell you some good news, and now that you
+are here you would hinder me because you are such a coward."
+
+"I don't know you," said Ned, as an excuse.
+
+"Well, well, no matter for that. I know you well enough. Would you read
+about gnomes and then be so cowardly that you would fear to associate
+with them?"
+
+As he finished speaking, he arose, disclosing a doorway in the trunk of
+the pine tree behind him.
+
+At that moment, a beautiful dwarf maiden emerged therefrom, and, as if
+having heard the conversation, said: "He is no coward, father. See, he
+will shake hands with me!"
+
+Ned put out his hand, but drew it back just in time to escape having the
+gold ring which the Fairy Queen had given him, slipped off his finger by
+the dwarf maiden.
+
+"Selfish mortal," she cried, "'tis nothing but a little gold band. Give
+it to me. See, I will exchange this beautiful diamond for it," and she
+held out a sparkling stone set in a gold ring.
+
+Ned drew back in alarm, more especially as the dwarf himself advanced
+with a threatening attitude.
+
+Continuing to step back, Ned kept his eyes upon the dwarf, who advanced
+now with upraised fist. Seeing this, Ned quickly threw off his coat and
+picking up a stout stick, prepared to defend himself.
+
+It would have gone ill with him, for the dwarf was surprisingly strong
+and agile, had not relief come from an unexpected quarter.
+
+[Illustration: NED THREW OFF HIS COAT.]
+
+The little bluebird had quietly slipped out of Ned's pocket, and flying
+up to him, received the gold ring about her neck in accordance with the
+command of the Fairy Queen, which Ned remembered suddenly and luckily
+in time.
+
+Off flew the bird to the great tall pine and touched it with the magic
+ring. In an instant it changed into a giant, who stretched forth one of
+his great hands, and catching up the dwarf, hurled him headlong down the
+side of the ravine close by.
+
+The dwarf maiden, with a cry, rushed after him, climbing down the sides
+with wonderful agility.
+
+The giant now turned to Ned, saying: "Little Master, I owe it to you
+that I am once more my natural self. An evil spirit transformed me into
+yonder tree, but the magic of your ring has restored me once more to my
+natural shape. I will henceforth serve you while the occasion lasts,"
+and with these words he knelt before Ned most humbly.
+
+At the same time the bluebird handed Ned his magic ring, and with this
+faithful little friend, his gold ring, and the giant for a servant, Ned
+felt that he had nothing further to fear while traveling in Gnomeland.
+
+"Thank you, my good friend," said Ned, placing his hand upon the bowed
+head of the giant. "You are certainly grateful for what I have done for
+you, which is more than can be said of many mortals. But had I not had
+the magic ring and the assistance of my little companion, the bluebird,
+you would still be the tree you were. Let us, therefore, the three of
+us, pledge allegiance to one another and set out upon our journey of
+adventure."
+
+As he finished speaking the giant arose and carefully placing Ned upon
+his shoulder, started off at a rapid stride.
+
+The little bluebird flew ahead, and in a short time the three comrades
+emerged from the forest.
+
+In the distance could be seen the turrets of a stately castle, which
+looked down from a high point of land upon a beautiful river that wound
+in and out like a silver ribbon through the meadow.
+
+"Who lives in yonder castle?" asked Ned, unconsciously adopting the
+style of language of Gnomeland.
+
+"I know not," answered the giant, "but with a few more steps we will be
+able to inquire at the postern gates."
+
+It was indeed a stately castle, and upon reaching the drawbridge Ned was
+surprised to find that it was not lowered for them to cross over,
+although they waited for some time.
+
+"I think I'll blow upon my policeman's whistle," said Ned, hunting
+through his pockets. "I certainly had it when I left home."
+
+"Blow hard," advised the giant as Ned brought it forth, "blow hard, that
+those within may think us worthy of admittance."
+
+Upon which Ned let out a blast that would do justice to any Knight of
+the Round Table. He was himself surprised at the volume of sound, but
+was too much interested in what was about to happen to realize that the
+touch of his magic ring had made it possible for the small nickel-plated
+whistle to create such a sound.
+
+Presently the drawbridge began slowly to descend, and when the creaking
+chains ceased their noise, our three comrades crossed over to the castle
+gates. These were thrown wide open, and just as the giant placed Ned
+upon his feet in front of the castle doors, they opened, disclosing a
+beautiful princess on the threshold.
+
+"Welcome, Ned, to you and your two friends."
+
+Whereupon the giant bowed very low, and the little bluebird flew over
+and nestled on her shoulder.
+
+Ned was too delighted to speak for a moment, for up to this time his
+experiences had been most trying, but here at last it seemed that
+fortune smiled upon him.
+
+So he and the giant followed her into the stately hall, the latter
+finding it necessary to stoop each time he entered a doorway, for
+although the castle was built on magnificent lines it had not occurred
+to the architect that a giant would ever be a guest.
+
+When they were all seated, except the giant, who sprawled on the floor,
+as there was no chair large enough to accommodate him, the beautiful
+princess said:
+
+"I would ask you to spend the night here, but my wicked stepfather
+returns tonight, and I fear he will do you some injury."
+
+"I fear nothing," answered Ned courageously, standing up to appear more
+dignified, "and if I can be of any service to you, say but a word, for I
+have a trusty friend in the giant, and also a clever one in my little
+bluebird, to say nothing of the magic of this ring," and he touched the
+gold band about his finger and bowed again to the beautiful princess.
+
+"My stepfather is very crafty," said the princess, looking at Ned
+intently, as if weighing the possibilities of his assistance. "He once
+changed a giant into a pine tree!" At these words, the giant began to
+shake and tremble so that the cut glass chandeliers rattled all over the
+castle.
+
+"Remember, I have the magic ring," Ned whispered, leaning over to where
+the giant lay upon the floor; "nothing can harm us with that in our
+possession."
+
+"What would you have me do?" asked Ned, turning again to the beautiful
+princess, for he felt that she was unwilling to ask him the favor,
+fearing it might prove of harm to him.
+
+Still the beautiful princess remained silent until the bluebird began to
+sing a sweet song, perching meanwhile upon her shoulder, as if intending
+the song for her ears especially.
+
+Then tears fell from her eyes.
+
+"'Tis the song my brother was wont to sing," she said, "but now"--and
+hiding her face in her hands, she wept more bitterly than before--"he
+has been sent away and hidden by my cruel stepfather I know not where."
+
+"We will find him for you, princess," cried Ned. "Fear not, for I have
+confidence in my two comrades and in myself. Give us all something to
+eat that we may have strength to undertake this adventure."
+
+The princess immediately ordered a great feast to be set before them,
+and when our three comrades had eaten their fill they once more set out
+upon their journey, with the prayers of the beautiful princess for their
+safety and successful return.
+
+As they wound their way through the pleasant valley, every so often the
+little bluebird would sing her song, loud and sweet, and then would
+pause, with folded wing, to listen, as if expecting an answer.
+
+So they went on for many miles, until, as they approached a cottage by
+the roadside, Ned thought he heard a familiar air. Indeed, he was sure
+that something important was about to happen, for the bluebird was
+whirring around in circles and singing as if her life depended upon the
+way she trilled and warbled.
+
+"Why, there is a bluebird in that wicker cage!" exclaimed Ned, pointing
+toward the cottage porch, from which swung a bird cage.
+
+It was, indeed, true, and in another moment Ned's bluebird was perched
+on the railing close by.
+
+Scrambling down from the giant's friendly shoulder, Ned touched the
+cage, and, to his amazement, the little door flew open and out walked a
+handsome young prince, about his own age.
+
+"Who are you?" cried Ned, but before he could reply the giant exclaimed:
+"He must be the brother of the princess! We have, indeed, completed our
+adventure, or nearly so," he added, remembering they had yet to deal
+with the crafty stepfather.
+
+"How can I ever repay you?" cried the little prince, who was at first
+unable to speak from the joy of it all. "I am free! I am free!" And he
+almost cried with delight, flinging his arms about Ned's sturdy form
+and patting the leg of the giant.
+
+"Come, little bluebird, and let me thank you, too," he added, as the
+pretty bird circled in the air and alighted on Ned's shoulder. Indeed,
+it was a happy moment for all.
+
+"And now," said Ned, "let us think of the best way to return to the
+castle, so that the princess may receive her long-lost brother."
+
+"The easiest way is the best way," said the giant. "Both you boys climb
+up on my back, and in 500 short seconds we'll be back at the castle, or
+I have forgotten my early training on the cinder path."
+
+All of which goes to show that even in Gnomeland there are sports,
+although few fairy tales tell us anything about them.
+
+When Ned and the prince had seated themselves comfortably on the great
+shoulders of the obliging giant, he set off at a tremendous rate, and
+soon they were ascending the hill on which stood the castle of the
+beautiful princess.
+
+
+
+
+THE MAGIC RING
+
+The Unhappy Little Princess leaned out of the window and sobbed.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+THE MAGIC RING
+
+
+NED followed the beautiful princess and her brother into the castle,
+while the giant, who had to stoop nearly to the floor in order to enter
+the doorway, brought up the rear.
+
+As it was late, everyone decided to go to bed. Besides, they were all
+well tired out after their exciting day.
+
+You would have laughed to see the giant ascend the stairway to the royal
+bedchambers, for the steps were too small for his feet, and it was with
+great difficulty that he managed to get a foothold with the toes of his
+boots.
+
+When at last he was safely inside his bedroom, the largest in the
+castle, it was found that the bedstead was not nearly long enough for
+him.
+
+So the princess gave orders that two cot beds be placed ends together,
+and in this way the giant, by allowing his feet to project through the
+open window, could lie down at full length. His feet nearly reached the
+tree that grew just outside, on which the little bluebird had perched
+for the night, and it was lucky, indeed, that it was midsummer, for
+otherwise our big friend might have caught a severe cold.
+
+After bidding the giant goodnight the little bluebird had a few minutes'
+talk with Ned while he undressed himself.
+
+[Illustration: THE STEPS WERE TOO SMALL FOR THE GIANT.]
+
+She agreed to act as sentinel during the night, to keep a vigilant
+lookout from the treetop, and in case of approaching danger instantly to
+awaken Ned and the giant.
+
+Gradually the great castle grew quiet, until nothing was stirring, "not
+even a mouse."
+
+At times the night wind rustled the leaves in the tree where the little
+bluebird sentinel sat winking and blinking, and the big yellow moon
+glistened fantastically on the big toe of the giant.
+
+Toward midnight a faint sound in the distance, like the beat of horses'
+hoofs, startled the bluebird.
+
+Hastily flying toward the castle entrance she gazed out upon the roadway
+that wound up from the valley below.
+
+At some distance she made out dimly the figures of a number of horsemen.
+
+Returning swiftly to the castle, she tweaked the giant's big toe. That,
+you can easily imagine, awoke him with a start.
+
+"What's the matter?" he asked in a frightened whisper which, although
+only a whisper, was enough to make the castle tremble, thereby awakening
+Ned and the princess herself.
+
+"The crafty stepfather of the princess is coming," answered the
+bluebird.
+
+"Then it's all up with me," cried the giant, "for he'll change me again
+into a pine tree."
+
+The bluebird made no reply, but hastened to find Ned. On entering his
+bedroom through the half open window she found him already dressing.
+"Take the ring," he said, slipping it over her glossy neck, after she
+had informed him of what she had seen. "If you can manage to touch him
+with it, this wicked man will find that he has no power whatever to harm
+us."
+
+"I will make haste," replied the little bird, "for they must by this
+time have reached the drawbridge."
+
+So saying she flew swiftly away and reached the other side of the moat
+just as the cavalcade set foot upon the bridge.
+
+Awaiting her opportunity to touch the wicked stepfather of the princess
+with the magic ring, she alighted quietly on the tip of a spear which
+one of the horsemen carried.
+
+As they neared the center of the drawbridge the king, as if suddenly
+aware of an unseen power, exclaimed: "I feel there is danger near!"
+
+Then the horseman shook his spear defiantly and so startled the little
+bluebird that she nearly lost her footing, and alas! what was much more
+serious, caused her to loosen her hold upon the little magic gold ring,
+which slipped from between her bill and fell into the waters of the
+moat.
+
+Like a falling star, it shivered and glimmered in the rays of the moon
+as it descended, attracting the attention of a speckled trout, who
+opened his mouth and swallowed it as it splashed upon the silvery
+surface of the water.
+
+"Your trusty spear has done me good service in times gone by," exclaimed
+the wicked king, not knowing that its owner had unknowingly been the
+cause of saving him at the present moment.
+
+On came the cavalcade, the wicked attendants of the king inside the
+castle opening the gates and allowing him and his men to enter the
+courtyard.
+
+Ned looked down from his window and wondered what had become of the
+bluebird. He did not feel afraid, but at the same time he realized that
+he was not in friendly hands. The giant, on hearing the gates open, had
+quickly drawn in his feet and was struggling to get his shoes on when
+Ned appeared at the door.
+
+"It's all up!" said the big fellow, with a wry face and a catch in his
+gruff voice. "I can feel already the pine-needles beginning to stick out
+all over me."
+
+"Oh, that's gooseflesh, you're so scared!" replied Ned, smiling in spite
+of the gravity of the situation. "It may not be as bad as you think!"
+
+Just then a great pounding on the front doors told them that the King
+was seeking admittance. "Who has locked the doors?" he shouted.
+
+"Wait a minute," said the sweet voice of the princess; "we did not
+expect you so late," and she ran down the stairs and opened the door
+herself.
+
+"I have two visitors upstairs," she said, as the angry monarch stepped
+inside.
+
+"What!" he shouted hoarsely, "bring them to me. How do I know but that
+they are enemies?"
+
+"Indeed they are not," she replied, "as you will see in 500 short
+seconds."
+
+"Ned, come down!" she called, "bring your friend with you, for I would
+have you meet the King!"
+
+Ned turned to the giant, whose big face was twitching with terror.
+"He'll recognize me as sure as eggs is eggs!" he groaned.
+
+"What! is that thunder?" exclaimed the King below, mistaking the giant's
+moan for a thunderclap, but before his question was answered Ned and his
+friend appeared at the head of the stairway.
+
+After shaking hands with Ned in quite a friendly way the wicked King
+turned to the giant. "Ha, ha!" he cried, "have I not had the pleasure of
+meeting you before, my fine friend?"
+
+The giant said nothing, for what could he say?
+
+"Have I not met you before?" repeated the King, with a fierce gesture.
+"Methinks you would look better as a pine tree than a hulking giant,"
+and before the words were fairly out of the King's mouth a stately pine
+tree was standing in the courtyard, through which the wind of the early
+morning made a moaning noise much like the pitiful groan of the poor,
+late giant.
+
+"And you, my little cockatoo," continued the wicked King, turning
+quickly to Ned, "would look better in a cage!"
+
+And in another minute Ned found himself in a wicker cage, suspended from
+the lowest limb of the pine tree.
+
+"And now," cried the wicked King, "where is your third guest?" The
+princess paused a moment. "Oh, the little bluebird!" she exclaimed,
+"where has it gone?"
+
+"No, not the little bluebird, but he that was the bluebird."
+
+At this the poor princess became very pale. She had hidden her brother
+the evening before when they had gone to bed in a closet in her room,
+hoping to have the opportunity of disguising him and sending him away
+with Ned and the giant the first thing in the morning. But, now, alas,
+her wicked stepfather undoubtedly suspected something. For else why
+should he ask for him?
+
+She was in despair, for she knew not what to say. And where was Ned's
+little friend, the bluebird herself, all this time? Had she deserted her
+friends, the little princess asked herself?
+
+"Answer my question!" cried the King, grasping hold of her wrist.
+
+The princess screamed with terror and her brother, hearing her cry,
+rushed forth from the closet and down the stairs.
+
+Whipping his sword from its scabbard, he made for the cruel tyrant.
+
+Alas, that bravery and valor do not always win! It was useless for him
+to fight against so experienced a swordsman as the King, and in short
+time the prince was wounded and his sword thrown from his grasp.
+
+"Little gamecock!" cried his conqueror, "you must needs grow larger
+spurs before you tackle an old rooster like me! And since you remind me
+of one, a rooster you shall be," and in five short seconds the little
+prince was changed into a young gamecock.
+
+"Out into the courtyard!" cried the King; "a castle is no chicken
+house," and the little prince found himself unceremoniously thrown under
+the big pine tree.
+
+"Have pity!" cried the little princess. "Is there no pity for a little
+orphan princess?"
+
+"Enough," answered the King, with a stamp of his foot. "Go to your
+room, else you may find yourself also changed into a bird, or a tree,
+or a pretty butterfly."
+
+So the unhappy little princess went up the stairs, crying bitterly, to
+her own chamber. Closing the door, she leaned out of the window and
+sobbed as if her heart would break.
+
+For a moment she did not notice that the topmost branch of the pine tree
+was close to her casement. In fact, she would not have noticed it for
+some time probably, as her face was buried in her hands, had not the
+branch brushed against her fingers.
+
+As she withdrew her hands from her face she heard the giant's voice,
+very much subdued, speaking to her.
+
+"Ned says not to despair, for he feels sure that his little friend, the
+bluebird, will yet find a way to liberate us all."
+
+
+
+
+THE MAGIC BALLOON
+
+Ned leaves the Magic Soap Bubble.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+THE MAGIC BALLOON
+
+
+GREAT was the grief of the little bluebird as she skimmed over the
+waters of the moat, realizing how impossible it was for her to regain
+the lost ring.
+
+She had not the heart for the moment to return to the castle to inform
+Ned of his loss; so she perched herself disconsolately on a bush which
+grew close to the margin of the moon-lit water, wondering what was best
+to do.
+
+Suddenly the speckled trout rose to the surface, and, seeing how
+despondent was the pretty bluebird, inquired the cause of her grief.
+
+"Ah, me!" she sighed in answer. "I have lost a magic gold ring, and I
+know not what to do, nor how to recover it."
+
+At this the speckled trout flapped his silvery tail gleefully, and
+answered: "Worry no more, pretty bluebird, for I have it safely tucked
+away inside of me."
+
+"If that be the case, Sir Trout," joyously chirped the happy bird, "swim
+at your greatest speed and deliver the ring to her majesty, the
+Waterfall Fairy, Queen of the Lake. Tell her that Ned, her little mortal
+friend, is in dire peril and that he needs her aid."
+
+"That will I gladly do," answered the speckled trout, and without more
+delay he darted off down the moat toward the dam at the farther side,
+over which the water ran in a clear stream into the purling brook,
+which finally led to the lake, where lived Ned's friend, the Fairy
+Queen. Down the silvery cascade he glided and whirled away through the
+running water, frightening the minnows and miller's thumbs lying among
+the stones in the shallow places, and startling the crawfishes and
+little fresh water lobsters hidden under the hollow banks.
+
+Faster and faster he swam, like a courier with important dispatches,
+down the clear stream running over its pebbly bed, with the luscious
+meadow sweet and the large blue geranium blooming all about its banks,
+and the wild rose on its bushes.
+
+Nor did he pause until with a loud splash he dived over the waterfall
+safely into the lake and rose to the surface close to the palace of the
+Queen of the Lake.
+
+A big black spider was busily at work mending the suspension bridge
+which spanned the water at this narrow point, for the heavy drops of
+dew had broken the slender strands in several places.
+
+He stopped his work to look at the speckled trout, who at once addressed
+him.
+
+"I am the bearer of a most important dispatch for her highness," he
+began.
+
+"Well, and I am engaged in the most important duty of repairing her
+highness' bridge," replied the spider.
+
+"So, I see," answered the trout, "but----" At this very moment the Queen
+herself, hearing voices at so early an hour outside her window, peeped
+out. Catching sight of her the trout called out boldly:
+
+"Listen to me, I beg of you, most gracious Queen. I have brought you the
+gold ring from Ned, who sorely needs thy aid!"
+
+[Illustration: "HERE IS THE RING," SAID THE TROUT.]
+
+At this the Queen quickly withdrew her head, and in a short time
+emerged from the doorway of her castle.
+
+Hastily running to the water's edge, she leaned over, grasping hold of a
+stalk to keep her from falling.
+
+"Here is the ring," said the trout, holding it in his teeth and swimming
+as close to the bank as he was able.
+
+The Queen reached out and took it safely from him.
+
+"I will make you king of my fishes, noble Sir Trout," she cried, "for
+what you have this day accomplished. Remain here in my lake henceforth,
+and now, to the rescue!"
+
+In an incredibly short time she was mounted on her swiftest robin and
+with her three ladies in waiting flew away toward the castle, where Ned
+and the beautiful princess, her brave brother and the giant were held
+prisoners by the magic of the wicked king.
+
+Now, the little bluebird, as she saw her friend, the trout, swim away,
+suddenly thought of her former master, the King of the Gnomes, and
+decided to seek aid from him. So, whirling around in a circle to get her
+bearings, she darted off swiftly through the air toward the cave in the
+forest.
+
+She made rapid progress until she reached the thick foliage of the
+woods, and here, in her eagerness, she nearly lost her way.
+
+Indeed, in the uncertain light that struggled through the thick boughs,
+it was not easy to make out certain familiar landmarks which would guide
+her to her destination.
+
+At length, just at dawn, she found herself at the foot of the hill
+wherein was the cave of the King of the Gnomes.
+
+Worn out with her arduous journey, she fluttered down to the edge of
+the bubbling fountain and drank of its refreshing waters.
+
+Then, picking up a pebble, she dropped it into the little gravelly
+basin, hopped painfully over to the great flat stone, and tapped upon it
+three times with her beak.
+
+No one replied, but the rock opened in the middle, and there stood the
+King of the Gnomes himself.
+
+On seeing the little bluebird, he stretched out a kindly hand for her to
+rest upon, and carried her into the inner room.
+
+It was his breakfast hour, for gnomes are early risers. Seating himself
+at the table, he ordered that the little bird be served with breakfast
+at once, for well he knew that a hungry bird's first wish must be for
+food.
+
+The King had scarce given this order before several nimble little men of
+the forest placed seeds and grains of wheat and a goblet of golden
+fruit juice before the bluebird.
+
+Soon she was sufficiently revived to address the gnomes, and it took her
+but a few moments to tell him all.
+
+"Come, let us hasten," he said, as she finished, and, slipping into his
+pocket his magic pipe and little pieces of soap, he left the cave and
+walked rapidly toward a small clearing.
+
+Leaning over a little pool in the hollow of the grassy earth, he filled
+his pipe, rubbed the soap about the rim, and in a moment more blew a
+large soap bubble.
+
+Taking the little bluebird in his hand, he opened a small door and
+entered the magic balloon. Up and up it went, until it was well above
+the tops of the trees.
+
+Then it took a course toward the east, where the rising sun was gilding
+the sky with its golden fingers.
+
+Faster and faster it sailed, overtaking in a short time the Fairy Queen
+and her three ladies-in-waiting, mounted on their friendly robins.
+
+In the distance could be seen the turrets of the castle, gleaming in the
+morning sun like bayonets thrust up from the earth in monster guns.
+
+"Now, little bluebird," said the Gnome, opening the little door and
+thrusting her out upon his hand, as the big Soap Bubble hovered above
+the castle, "fly down and tell Ned that deliverance is near at hand. So
+also inform the beautiful Princess, who, I see, is still sitting at her
+window, but asleep!"
+
+Off flew the bluebird on her happy errand.
+
+"Your Majesty," cried the Gnome, addressing the Fairy Queen, as she drew
+rein at the doorway of the soap bubble, "I would suggest that you touch
+with the Magic Ring only the cage wherein is confined our friend Ned,
+instructing him, while still in the form of a cockatoo, to fly up to the
+topmost branch of the pine tree. Also for the Princess' brother, while
+he is still a gamecock, to do likewise. After I have brought the bubble
+close to the window ledge, so that the beautiful Princess may step
+easily inside, I will cause it to rise to the treetop, from which
+advantageous position Ned and the Princess' brother can step within. But
+what to do with the Pine Tree Giant," said the Gnome, scratching his
+beard reflectively, "gets me! However, one thing at a time, as my old
+grandfather used to say when I was a boy, 'one thing at a time!'"
+
+As the bluebird whispered in the ear of the beautiful Princess, the
+Magic Soap Bubble approached the window ledge.
+
+Rubbing her eyes, but making no outcry, although she was very much
+startled, she obeyed the bluebird's command to "step softly," and
+entered the Bubble. It then ascended till it was on a line with the
+topmost branch, where it swayed in the gentle morning breeze, like a
+barnyard weather cock, the game rooster on one side and the cockatoo on
+the other!
+
+The Fairy Queen touched them with the ring as they hopped into the
+bubble, and they regained immediately their natural shape.
+
+The Princess threw her arms around her dear brother and hugged Ned, so
+great was her delight.
+
+Ned ran over to his little friend, the Gnome, and thanked him again and
+again for his aid, and was about to lean out of the doorway to also
+thank the Fairy Queen when the Gnome restrained him.
+
+"Not so fast, Ned, my boy! All is not yet over."
+
+"No, indeed," answered Ned, "we must rescue the giant."
+
+"Aye, there's the rub," replied the Gnome. "How are we ever to get him
+in the bubble, either as a tree or as a giant?"
+
+At this point the Fairy Queen joined in the conversation, kissing Ned at
+the same time as he attempted to thank her.
+
+"Let me first change him into his natural form," she said. "Then he can
+walk across the courtyard and out upon the drawbridge. From there he can
+easily step off into the bubble, which your majesty can lower to the
+right height above the water of the moat."
+
+"Good!" said the Gnome. "Go and do your part and I will attend to the
+bubble."
+
+Just as the bubble cleared it the pine tree became once more the
+friendly giant, who immediately strode across the courtyard.
+
+Quickly lowering the drawbridge he hastened out upon it.
+
+The creaking of the chains, however, had aroused the wicked King, who
+looked out of his window to see what was the cause of the noise. In
+another moment he was rushing toward the gates at the head of the castle
+guard.
+
+"Quick!" shouted the Gnome to the giant. "Get in!"
+
+But, alas! The doorway was too small. In vain the giant wiggled and
+squirmed. In vain Ned and the princess' brother pulled his arms. His
+great shoulders could not be forced through the doorway. Finally, with a
+tremendous shove he managed to go half way in, but no further, for at
+this point his head was against the opposite side of the bubble.
+
+On came the wicked King and his castle attendants, who, seeing the
+predicament of the giant, fitted arrows to their strong bows, preparing
+to shoot the hapless fellow.
+
+"Blow the bubble larger!" shouted Ned. "Put the pipe in his mouth and
+tell him to blow like thunder."
+
+The Gnome placed the pipestem between the lips of the giant and
+commanded him to blow for his life, and before an arrow left a bow the
+bubble widened sufficiently to enable the giant to crawl inside.
+Slamming the door shut the Gnome cried out exultingly: "We are safe!"
+
+Away sailed the Magic Soap Bubble, with the Fairy Queen and her little
+robin perched securely on the top, and her three ladies in waiting
+standing close by on their own little feathered steeds.
+
+Back to the beautiful Waterfall Lake, where the Fairy Queen bade Ned
+goodby; back to the friendly Gnome's cave in the woods, where he said
+farewell to Ned; back to Big Man's Land, where lived the Giant with his
+kind old mother; back to the castle where lived the beautiful Princess
+and her brother before the wicked King had kidnapped them, and back at
+last to Ned's own home, where it left him in the old easy chair by the
+window, from which he had started out to visit Gnomeland.
+
+Well, well, little reader, here we are, you and I, at the end of the
+book. What shall we do, for we have grown to be such good friends while
+you have been reading this story of mine.
+
+Listen, I will tell you another story, it's called "The Iceberg
+Express"--it is one of The Little Journeys to Happyland books. So come
+with me on the Iceberg Express.
+
+                         Yours for a story,
+                                           DAVID CORY.
+
+
+
+
+LITTLE JOURNEYS TO HAPPYLAND
+
+By DAVID CORY
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+          =Profusely Illustrated. Individual Colored Wrappers.=
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+          Printed in large type--easy to read.
+          For children from 6 to 8 years.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+A new series of exciting adventures by the author of the LITTLE JACK
+RABBIT books. This series is unique in that it deals with unusual and
+exciting adventures on land and sea and in the air.
+
+
+THE CRUISE OF THE NOAH'S ARK
+
+          This is a good rainy day story. On just such a day
+          Mr. Noah invites Marjorie to go for a trip in
+          Noah's Ark. She gets aboard just in time and away
+          it floats out into the big wide world.
+
+
+THE MAGIC SOAP BUBBLE
+
+          The king of the gnomes has a magic pipe with which
+          he blows a wonderful bubble and taking Ned with
+          him they both have a delightful time in Gnomeland.
+
+
+THE ICEBERG EXPRESS
+
+          The Mermaid's magic comb changes little Mary
+          Louise into a mermaid. The Polar Bear Porter on
+          the Iceberg Express invites her to take a trip
+          with him and away they go.
+
+
+THE WIND WAGON
+
+          Little Hero stepped aboard the Wind Wagon and
+          started on a journey to many wonderful places and
+          had a delightful time.
+
+
+THE MAGIC UMBRELLA
+
+          A little old man gave Jimmy the Magic Umbrella
+          which took him to Happyland, where he had many
+          adventures.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK
+
+
+
+
+Little Jack Rabbit Books
+
+(Trademark Registered)
+
+By DAVID CORY
+
+Author of "Little Journeys to Happyland"
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+          Colored Wrappers With Text Illustrations.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+A new and unique series about the furred and feathered little people of
+the wood and meadow.
+
+Children will eagerly follow the doings of little Jack Rabbit, and the
+clever way in which he escapes from his three enemies, Danny Fox, Mr.
+Wicked Wolf and Hungry Hawk will delight the youngsters.
+
+          LITTLE JACK RABBIT'S ADVENTURES
+          LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND DANNY FOX
+          LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND THE SQUIRREL BROTHERS
+          LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND CHIPPY CHIPMUNK
+          LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND THE BIG BROWN BEAR
+          LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND UNCLE JOHN HARE
+          LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND PROFESSOR CROW
+          LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND OLD MAN WEASEL
+          LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND MR. WICKED WOLF
+          LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND HUNGRY HAWK
+          LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND THE POLICEMAN DOG
+          LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND MISS MOUSIE
+          LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND UNCLE LUCKY
+          LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND THE YELLOW DOG TRAMP
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+          GROSSET & DUNLAP, _Publishers_, NEW YORK
+
+
+
+
+THE PUSS-IN-BOOTS, Jr. SERIES
+
+By DAVID CORY
+
+Author of "The Little Jack Rabbit Stories" and "Little Journeys to
+Happyland"
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+          =Handsomely Bound. Colored Wrappers. Illustrated.
+          Each Volume Complete in Itself.=
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+To know Puss Junior once is to love him forever. That's the way all the
+little people feel about this young, adventurous cat, son of a very
+famous father.
+
+          THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS-IN-BOOTS, JR.
+
+          FURTHER ADVENTURES OF PUSS-IN-BOOTS, JR.
+
+          PUSS-IN-BOOTS, JR. IN FAIRYLAND
+
+          TRAVELS OF PUSS-IN-BOOTS, JR.
+
+          PUSS-IN-BOOTS, JR., AND OLD MOTHER GOOSE
+
+          PUSS-IN-BOOTS, JR., IN NEW MOTHER GOOSE LAND
+
+          PUSS-IN-BOOTS, JR., AND THE GOOD GRAY HORSE
+
+          PUSS-IN-BOOTS, JR., AND TOM THUMB
+
+          PUSS-IN-BOOTS, JR., AND ROBINSON CRUSOE
+
+          PUSS-IN-BOOTS, JR., AND THE MAN IN THE MOON
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+          GROSSET & DUNLAP, _Publishers_, NEW YORK
+
+
+
+
+THE LITTLE WASHINGTONS SERIES
+
+By LILLIAN ELIZABETH ROY
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+          Handsomely Bound. Colored Wrappers. Illustrated.
+          For Children 6 to 12 Years
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+This series presents early American history in a manner that impresses
+the young readers. Because of George and Martha Washington Parke, two
+young descendants of the famous General Washington, these stories follow
+exactly the life of the great American, by means of playing they act the
+life of the Washingtons, both in battles and in society.
+
+
+THE LITTLE WASHINGTONS
+
+Their thrilling battles and expeditions generally end in "punishment"
+lessons read by Mrs. Parke from the "Life of Washington." The culprits
+listen intently, for this reading generally gives them new ideas for
+further games of Indian warfare and Colonists' battles.
+
+
+THE LITTLE WASHINGTONS RELATIVES
+
+The Davis children visit the Parke home and join zealously in the games
+of playing General Washington. So zealously, in fact, that little Jim
+almost loses his scalp.
+
+
+THE LITTLE WASHINGTONS' TRAVELS
+
+The children wage a fierce battle upon the roof of a hotel in New York
+City. Then, visiting the Davis home in Philadelphia, the patriotic
+Washingtons vanquish the Hessians on a battle-field in the empty lot
+back of the Davis property.
+
+
+THE LITTLE WASHINGTONS AT SCHOOL
+
+After the school-house battle the Washingtons discover a band of gypsies
+camping near the back road to their homes and incidentally they secure
+the stolen horse which the gypsies had taken from the "butter and egg
+farmer" of the Parkes.
+
+
+THE LITTLE WASHINGTONS' HOLIDAYS
+
+They spend a pleasant summer on two adjoining farms in Vermont. During
+the voyage they try to capture a "frigate" but little Jim is caught and
+about to be punished by the Captain when his confederates hasten in and
+save him.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+          GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK
+
+[Illustration]
+
+          _"Give me the bag," the Steward said,
+             A frown upon his face.
+           "I'll lock you in a dungeon deep
+             That you may know your place."_
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+          _"Help, help! The Polar Bears are left
+              Upon the Iceberg chill.
+            Turn back the Ark; we cannot leave
+              Them on that icy hill!"_
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+          _"Your Highness," cried the Polar Bear,
+             "The fast Iceberg Express
+           Has broken into smithereens;
+             Too bad, I must confess."_
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+          _When Little Hero met the Goose
+             He asked her what to do.
+           So, children, read the Wind Wagon
+             And learn how it came true._
+
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Transcriber's Notes:
+
+Page 70, opening quotation mark added ("As they rolled along)
+
+Page 157, "Ed." changed to "Ned" (and taking Ned with him)
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Magic Soap Bubble, by David Cory
+
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