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diff --git a/26944.txt b/26944.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..32d8b98 --- /dev/null +++ b/26944.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2830 @@ +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 + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MAGIC SOAP BUBBLE *** + +***** This file should be named 26944.txt or 26944.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/6/9/4/26944/ + +Produced by Chris Curnow, Joseph Cooper, Emmy and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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