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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/33606-h.zip b/33606-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..bdf52ee --- /dev/null +++ b/33606-h.zip diff --git a/33606-h/33606-h.htm b/33606-h/33606-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f467f1e --- /dev/null +++ b/33606-h/33606-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2888 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<HTML> +<HEAD> + +<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> + +<TITLE> +The Project Gutenberg E-text of The Fairy School of Castle Frank, by Grant Balfour +</TITLE> + +<STYLE TYPE="text/css"> +BODY { color: Black; + background: White; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; + text-align: justify } + +P {text-indent: 4% } + +P.noindent {text-indent: 0% } + +P.poem {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10%; } + +P.letter {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10% ; + margin-right: 10% } + +P.finis { font-size: larger ; + text-align: center ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +H4.h4center { margin-left: 0; + margin-right: 0 ; + margin-bottom: .5% ; + margin-top: 0; + float: none ; + clear: both ; + text-align: center } + +IMG.imgcenter { margin-left: auto; + margin-bottom: 0; + margin-top: 1%; + margin-right: auto; } + +</STYLE> + +</HEAD> + +<BODY> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's The Fairy School of Castle Frank, by Grant Balfour + +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 Fairy School of Castle Frank + +Author: Grant Balfour + +Release Date: September 2, 2010 [EBook #33606] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FAIRY SCHOOL OF CASTLE FRANK *** + + + + +Produced by Al Haines + + + + + +</pre> + + +<BR><BR> + +<A NAME="img-cover"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-cover.jpg" ALT="Cover art" BORDER="2" WIDTH="445" HEIGHT="679"> +</CENTER> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="img-front"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-front.jpg" ALT="ROBIN OF CASTLE FRANK." BORDER="2" WIDTH="480" HEIGHT="705"> +<H4 CLASS="h4center" STYLE="width: 480px"> +ROBIN OF CASTLE FRANK. +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +THE FAIRY SCHOOL OF<BR> +CASTLE FRANK. +</H1> + +<BR> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +BY +</H4> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +GRANT BALFOUR, +</H3> + +<H5 ALIGN="center"> +AUTHOR OF "THE MOTHER OF ST. NICHOLAS." +</H5> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +TORONTO: +<BR> +THE POOLE PRINTING COMPANY, LIMITED, +<BR> +PUBLISHERS. +</H4> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<P CLASS="noindent" STYLE="margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 80%"> +Entered, according to Act of the Parliament of Canada, in the year one +thousand eight hundred and ninety-nine by A. BALFOUR GRANT, in the +office of the Minister of Agriculture. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<P CLASS="noindent" STYLE="margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%"> +Hon. G. W. Ross, LL.D., Premier of Ontario, says:—"I have read this +little story by Grant Balfour, which I can cheerfully recommend to the +children of Ontario. It is both interesting and instructive, and +contains a useful moral lesson." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +CONTENTS +</H2> + +<TABLE ALIGN="center" WIDTH="80%"> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">Chapter</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> </TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">I. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap01">Romantic Robin</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">II. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap02">Fairyland</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">III. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap03">The Strange School Class</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">IV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap04">The Advice of Hug-grippy, the Affectionate</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">V. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap05">The Advice of the Subtle Snake</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap06">The Modest Medallist</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap07">The Fight in the Ravine</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap08">Robin's Book</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top"> </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap09">The Snow-White Fox</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top"> </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap10">The Song-Sparrow</A></TD> +</TR> + + +</TABLE> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +List of Illustrations +</H2> + +<H4 STYLE="margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%"> +<A HREF="#img-front"> +Robin of Castle Frank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . <I>Frontispiece</I> +</A> +</H4> + +<H4 STYLE="margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%"> +<A HREF="#img-021"> +"How many walnuts are 2 and 4 and 6?" +</A> +</H4> + +<H4 STYLE="margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%"> +<A HREF="#img-050"> +Fascinated +</A> +</H4> + +<H4 STYLE="margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%"> +<A HREF="#img-065"> +Crafticus: "I have a cunning plan." +</A> +</H4> + +<H4 STYLE="margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%"> +<A HREF="#img-073"> +King Muffler: "It is no new thing," remarked the king, "for crafty +creatures to get the simple to begin a foolish quarrel." +</A> +</H4> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap01"></A> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +THE FAIRY SCHOOL OF CASTLE FRANK. +</H2> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER I. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +ROMANTIC ROBIN. +</H4> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +I've found at last the hiding place<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Where the fairy people dwell,</SPAN><BR> +And to win the secrets of their race<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">I hold the long-sought spell.</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 4em"><I>Havergal.</I></SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +One hundred years ago, in the great land of Canada, there lived a boy +whose name was Robin. His home was in the grand old woods, with +wapitis, wolves and bears. It was near the edge of a deep ravine that +opened out on the east by a slow winding river flowing into one of the +great blue lakes. And the name of his home, though built of wood, was +Castle Frank. +</P> + +<P> +The castle was well-furnished, for Robin's father was a great man. The +best rooms had comfortable carpets and carved oak furniture, while on +the walls were interesting pictures, representing people of high rank, +and battles on sea and land. In one room there was a fine arrangement +of muskets, pistols and swords, together with Indian spears and bows +and arrows. In another room there was a library, containing books of +religion and science, histories and tales of adventure, and story-books +for children. With the weapons and stories the boy beguiled away many +a pleasant hour. +</P> + +<P> +But there was something more pleasant than guns and spears and stories. +Outside the castle, in little houses built of wood, with doors and +windows of netted wire, were a number of pets, as foxes, rabbits and +squirrels. To these Robin was greatly devoted, he fed them regularly +with his own hand, and kept their dwellings sweet and clean. In a +grassy enclosure where their little cotes stood, he let them have +liberty every day, watching over them carefully, that no harm should +come from savage beasts or birds of prey. He had also other pets—a +white pony, big dogs and little ones, and beautiful birds—which he +loved much and tended faithfully. So that among all these companions +Robin passed much of his time very happily, even more so than when +accompanying friendly Indians shooting game in the wild woods miles +away, or fishing from a canoe in Lake Ontario. +</P> + +<P> +A boy that is truly kind to animals will love men and, of course, boys. +This quality and what was brave and honest shone plainly in his clear, +blue eyes, as they shine in all kinds of eyes that have them. +Unspoiled by city dainties, and clad in the grey shooting suit which he +usually wore, he looked strong, active and healthy. Yet Robin had at +times a dreamy, meditative look. Away from the stir and hum and +engagement of city life, he dwelt in a kind of fairy-land, where +flowers and trees and solitary paths called forth quiet questionings +and aroused reflection, gilded by mystery and imagination. The tales +of Indian life, and the stories of mighty giants and magic-working +fairies, told and read in the quaint castle in the evenings, cultivated +the growth of his imaginative mind. So that, mingled with his natural +brightness and activity, there were moods that occasionally carried him +under the shade of some elm or maple tree, to sit and see pictures of +wonderful creatures in the beauty and melancholy of nature all around. +For this reason his loving mother called him <I>Inabandang</I>, a dreamer of +dreams. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap02"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER II. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +FAIRYLAND. +</H4> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +With the woodland fairies I can talk,<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">I can list their silver lays;</SPAN><BR> +Oh! pleasant in a lonely walk<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Is the company of fays.</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 4em"><I>Havergal.</I></SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +The ravine adjoining the castle was a mysterious looking place, dark +with dense underwood, the haunt of wild beasts and the home of +numberless birds, now sending forth awful cries and inspiring songs, +then silent as the grave. A tortuous difficult pathway in the hollow +extended along its length, while one or two animal tracks in the +neighborhood crossed it from side to side. A few grassy spaces here +and there slightly relieved the gloom, while a small stream of water +moved slowly along its base, now forming into pools where little fishes +leaped, then gradually unwinding itself and stealing softly on under a +wealth of branches and green leaves. +</P> + +<P> +Down to that stream Robin wandered alone one beautiful afternoon in +June. He followed its course as best he could till he found it turning +into a deep, dark, eddying pool beside and partly under the steepest +slope of the ravine. The opening underneath the projecting bank, +though large, was almost concealed by overhanging branches. Robin +crawled out on a strong beech branch, brushed aside the leaves and +peered in. It seemed as if it were a water-gateway into the heart of +the great ridge, and had a weird misty look. Robin said to himself, +"Wouldn't it be fine if I got a real peep at some of those brownies and +fairies I hear so much about! Wouldn't mother stare when I got home +and told her!" He therefore waited and imagined and watched, until he +got quite excited at the thought of seeing something wonderful. But +no, nothing came, and he was disappointed, although he only half +believed that anything strange might really appear. His excitement +cooled down, and then after a time he yawned, feeling weary; yet, +retaining a lingering hope, he stretched himself comfortably across two +or three adjoining branches, his face downwards, with one arm and one +leg dangling below, and finally fell asleep. It was not a very +becoming or a very wise act in that riskful, dismal hollow; yet, are +not men themselves but thoughtless boys in bigger shape? +</P> + +<P> +While thus under the blissful spell of Morpheus, Robin heard a noise +that made his heart throb with expectation. He pushed aside the leaves +and looked in. There, sure enough, something was coming out that was +not common. Nearer it came on the surface of the pool. What could it +be? A beautiful little ship, with white sails spread, and manned by +Mississagua sailors dressed in vivid red. The gallant ship sailed +round the pool most gracefully, and Robin's eyes looked down and +followed it with intense interest. When this was done three times all +sails were taken down, then a silver anchor was thrown out, and the +ship stood still. Two Indian sailors stepped forward from the rest, +seized something, swung their arms to and fro for a moment, and then +flung a long ladder of yellow silken ropes right over an overhanging +branch a short distance away from Robin's head. +</P> + +<P> +After a brief pause, a beautiful little lady in white, with a golden +crown upon her head, ascended the ladder and stood erect among the +leaves of the branch. Then the captain of the ship took off his peaked +hat and called for a cheer for their good Queen Celeste of happy and +beautiful Fairyland. And the sailors cheered Her Majesty mightily. +Robin thought her the prettiest creature he had ever seen, and when she +smiled upon him sweetly, he put his hand to his cap politely and smiled +his best in return. +</P> + +<P> +"Art thou the dreamer of dreams?" enquired the Queen with a merry but +dignified look. +</P> + +<P> +"I am," answered Robin with a blush, and wondering what was going to +happen. +</P> + +<P> +"Art thou he that I have heard so much of in my hidden realm?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know," said Robin modestly. +</P> + +<P> +"Art thou he that hast so much interest in my people?" +</P> + +<P> +"I am," replied Robin, feeling relieved. +</P> + +<P> +"Art thou Robin of Castle Frank who lovest all animals?" +</P> + +<P> +"I am, your Majesty," answered Robin happily, and at last managing to +address a queen as he ought. +</P> + +<P> +"Wilt thou come with me, and I will show thee wonderful things?" +</P> + +<P> +"I shall, your Gracious Majesty, with great pleasure." +</P> + +<P> +The Queen then raised a jewelled sceptre in her right hand, the captain +of the ship saw it and flashed a signal inward towards the cavern, when +by-and-bye a silver canoe shot out with an Indian chief at the stern, +and halted underneath the branch upon which Robin rested. The boy was +delighted, and without a moment's hesitation he clasped the branch +firmly with both hands and let himself drop as gently as possible into +the boat below. He was hardly seated, with the oars in his hands, when +the white ship passed by, all sails spread, and Queen Celeste sitting +upon a golden throne on deck. Robin followed. There was darkness as +he entered, and he felt bewildered and even eerie. But it was only for +a moment, for the white ship ahead became aglow with many brilliant +colored stars, and, with the silver boat behind, it glided into a land +whose beauty and marvellousness no pen can describe. +</P> + +<P> +The sky was of entrancing azure, lit up by twelve mellow suns, making +perpetual day; the fields were like rich velvet carpets of green; and +the rivers, winding in fantastic shapes, widening into blue lakes and +forming dashing cascades, were pure as crystal. There were also plains +of gold dust, fine as flour, where butterflies enriched their tender +wings; great forests, where birds of gay plumage built peculiar nests +and sang in choirs most glorious songs; high hills, with rocks of red +ruby and blue lazuli, on which gilded reptiles basked and whistled; +lovely valleys full of fragrance and of luscious fruits; cool grottoes, +and sombre ravines; picturesque villages; busy towns, and majestic +castles. +</P> + +<P> +All the animals could speak and sing and dance, and every one was a +pet. Nay more, they were useful. Squirrels ran messages, and +calculated like schoolboys; foxes drew out plans as architects; tigers +drove waggons pulled by zebras; and lions built bridges, which pretty +parrots wreathed with flowers. +</P> + +<P> +Children played and laughed everywhere, dressed in the quaintest and +prettiest styles. None ever quarrelled, except in fun, as kittens do. +</P> + +<P> +There was no time to see all that could be seen, so Robin was wafted +over a part of this wonderful land in a crimson silk balloon, with +Queen Celeste at his side, pointing out what was most interesting, till +his eyes were almost sore with gazing and gazing. Then they descended +into a field of gorgeous flowers, among a number of animal pets that +were leaping, racing, resting and talking. Robin was charmed and +amazed. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh," said he, "if I could only get mine to speak like that I should be +happy, and what is it I would not teach them to do?" +</P> + +<P> +The Queen was delighted because her guest was delighted. +</P> + +<P> +Then Robin turned to her and said with a smile full of entreaty: +</P> + +<P> +"Will your Majesty not aid me? Please help me, at least with my pretty +black squirrels I love so much." +</P> + +<P> +"It shall be done," said the Queen, with a gracious smile, and she +raised her sceptre and touched his forehead. +</P> + +<P> +"But thou art hungry," she added, "and thou must not leave my land +without tasting of my delicacies." +</P> + +<P> +As Celeste said this she plucked a great flower full of nectar, and +handed it to him to eat. Robin did so, and the effect and odor were so +delightfully soothing that he fell into a deep sleep. +</P> + +<P> +Queen Celeste then gave orders, through a glossy black squirrel, to +have Robin conveyed with great gentleness to another part of her +dominions. Six brownie giants appeared promptly with a flying machine +shaped like a Bird of Paradise. They placed him inside its body, on a +bed of down and softest silk, as if he had been a child again. Then +the chief brownie, dressed like an admiral, mounted the neck of the +machine, touched a spring, and the Bird of Paradise rose high into the +blue sky, flew softly over lakes and forests and prairies, then over a +high mountain of emerald, and at last down through a dense mist into a +picturesque spot, the very image of that on which Castle Frank stood on +the ridge of the great ravine. The machine descended gently into the +castle enclosure amidst a crowd of pets. The brownie touched another +spring, when the Bird of Paradise deposited Robin in the soft, green +grass, as if a new-laid egg in a nest. +</P> + +<P> +The brownie quietly arranged everything and then quickly left with the +flying machine. He had scarcely gone when Robin was awakened by the +sound of whispering, and, slightly opening his eyes, he saw his black +squirrels around, warning each other not to disturb their master. He +was overjoyed to hear that they had received the gift of speech, and in +his heart he praised the Fairy Queen for her kindness and marvellous +skill. But he could not understand how she managed to transfer him to +where he was. It seemed only a moment before when he was talking to +her among the flowers of Fairyland, and now he was among his pets in +the garden of Castle Frank. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap03"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER III. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +THE STRANGE SCHOOL CLASS. +</H4> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +Full many a beauteous lesson, too,<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Their rosy lips can teach;</SPAN><BR> +Great men would wonder if they knew<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">How well the fairies preach.</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 4em"><I>Havergal.</I></SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +One day in June, when the sky was as blue as it is in Italy, and when +all the trees and shrubs were dressed in bright green, there was a +curious sight in the Fairy Garden of Castle Frank. Under the shade of +a big apple-tree, and upon a long school-like seat, there sat twelve +little jet-black squirrels. They were but half-grown creatures, the +offspring of different parents. They sat upon their haunches, all in a +row, with their forefeet raised as hands, holding tiny slates. Right +in front of them stood Robin, giving them a question in arithmetic to +answer. +</P> + +<P> +"How many walnuts are 2 and 4 and 6?" +</P> + +<A NAME="img-021"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-021.jpg" ALT=""How many walnuts are 2 and 4 and 6?"" BORDER="2" WIDTH="708" HEIGHT="510"> +<H4 CLASS="h4center" STYLE="width: 708px"> +"How many walnuts are 2 and 4 and 6?" +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<P> +"Not half enough for them anyway," said a tame grey parrot, sitting on +a branch above the class. +</P> + +<P> +The little squirrels shook their tails and tittered and said +"tut—tut—tut—," but the teacher looked up and gently said— +</P> + +<P> +"You are not one of the class; please keep quiet, Chattie" (which was +the parrot's name). +</P> + +<P> +"I am above their class anyway," replied Chattie. +</P> + +<P> +"Please do not take away their attention," said the teacher patiently. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, the friskies need all their attention. It is the first rule of +getting on. It was the first thing that helped me to speak anyway." +And here Chattie stopped, believing that she had said a wise thing +(which indeed was true), and that it was prudent to stop now for fear +of offending her master. +</P> + +<P> +"Put up your slates, all that have got the answer down," requested the +teacher. +</P> + +<P> +Every slate went up except one. Examining them, Robin saw that four +had the correct answer, seven were wrong and one was unfinished. The +teacher commended the successful pupils, helped those that were +mistaken, and worked out the sum for the pupil that had stuck. This +took a long time, for Robin wished everyone to understand before going +further. He then made a sign to Chattie to give the signal for +dismissal of the class. Chattie did so, giving a loud shrill whistle, +ending in a long cat-like yell that filled the woods and made the +friskies and Robin laugh outright; which greatly pleased the parrot, +for she loved to talk and make a noise and be well thought of. The +signal over, the squirrels marched away to their several homes, laid +aside their slates and went out to play. +</P> + +<P> +"You do not believe much in cram," said Chattie, as the pupils marched +away. +</P> + +<P> +"Mother says that 'cramming makes the figures blurred and weak; +education makes them bright and strong.'" +</P> + +<P> +"Ah," replied Chattie, "but laziness makes no figure at all." +</P> + +<P> +Robin smiled and asked her to come home with him to tea. Chattie was +his constant companion, and she flew down upon his shoulder and rubbed +her head affectionately against his soft, ruddy cheek. +</P> + +<P> +"I suspect you have a cheat in the class," said the parrot. +</P> + +<P> +"I hope not," replied Robin trustfully, and he walked into the castle +to partake of tea with his mother, who was alone, his father being far +away on government business. +</P> + +<P> +Robin's mother was much interested in the progress of the +squirrel-class, not only as a pleasure and discipline for the pupils +themselves, but as helping to train her darling boy in patience and +kindness. These little creatures sometimes found their lessons +irksome, and being naturally frisky they would suddenly leap from their +seat and chase each other over a score of trees, while Robin entreated +and waited patiently for their return; but they were gradually getting +interested in their lessons and trained to attention and submission, +out of love for their teacher. Robin's mother also wished her boy to +learn the value of thoroughness. If he could observe that a pupil that +thoroughly understood the lessons would be able to do them alone, +whereas one that copied from others would fail when left alone, it +would stimulate thoroughness where he himself was a learner. +</P> + +<P> +When Robin entered the room his mother was already seated and waiting +him. "Good evening, mother dear," he said, and he went forward and +kissed her. He loved his mother much, and well he might. We do not +love people for what they promise or give us, but for the heart that +lies behind. Bad people may give much for their own ends, but we do +not trust or love them. Robin's mother had a tenderness of heart that +warmed and enhanced the beauty of her face, so much so that her +servants and the poorest felt quite at home in her presence. She had +also refinement and intelligence, giving her a dignity that kept even +the rudest from being familiar and disrespectful. The Indians of the +district called her <I>Ininatig</I>, the maple tree, because they thought +her so sweet and beautiful. During tea there was much conversation +about Robin's father, and when it was over his mother said— +</P> + +<P> +"I have a gift for your best pupil, and something for all of them, when +vacation comes." +</P> + +<P> +"What are the gifts, mother?" Robin asked eagerly. +</P> + +<P> +"A big white toy-horse for the first, a doll for the second, a +looking-glass for the third, a tall hat for the fourth, then a trumpet, +a small sword, a little ship, and so on, getting less and less in value +according to the pupil's merit." +</P> + +<P> +Robin was delighted. +</P> + +<P> +Next morning the twelve young friskies were in their places as usual, +and it was such a pretty picture to look at the row of glossy black +bodies, with a silk ribbon around each neck to distinguish one black +pupil from another. Number one wore a red ribbon, number two a white, +number three a blue, and so on, each a different color down to the +last, who wore a modest black. +</P> + +<P> +When the teacher announced that prizes were to be given when the school +session was over, there was much gladness, with many promises of +attention and diligence for the time to come. Proceeding to work, he +asked— +</P> + +<P> +"If you divide 24 nuts among 12 good friskies, how many are left?" +</P> + +<P> +"They're all left if they're bad," said Chattie. +</P> + +<P> +Red, White, and Blue were correct, each having a big round O on their +slates. So was number four, called Silver Ribbon. Several of the +others were incorrect. Black Ribbon wrote down that he thought the +parrot was right, but that after all he wasn't sure if the nuts were +bad. He had a big head, a loving heart, and open honest brown eyes, +and when the teacher saw what was written down he laughed and took him +up in his arms and kissed him. +</P> + +<P> +"My simple pet," said Robin, "you have as good a head as the others, +but you have not been so long in the class; and, besides, your mamma is +a poor, sick widow and unable to help you with your lessons." +</P> + +<P> +Silver Ribbon (whose constant position for a certain reason was against +the apple-tree) was the oftenest correct of all the class; but though +very frolicsome and good-looking, she had a strange sly look about her +face, very different from Black Ribbon's. +</P> + +<P> +Chattie was pleased to hear her master sympathise with Black Ribbon, +and desiring that no one might overlook his remark, she very distinctly +said— +</P> + +<P> +"Failure does not always mean a faulty head." +</P> + +<P> +She had quite a liking for Black Ribbon, and well she might: he was a +splendid climber of trees, and a magnificent leaper from branch to +branch, his best feats being performed too whether the others were +looking on or not. He was also civil and kind to everyone, and was +most helpful to his sick mother at home. For these reasons, Chattie +had lately taken his arithmetic in hand, but she was a great joker, and +sometimes led the simple-minded little fellow astray. She was very +sorry for his helpless mother, and therefore she visited her every day, +prepared her meals, chatted with her, made her bed and swept the house +with her tail. Indeed widow Black Ribbon's final recovery was due to +Chattie's careful nursing, rather than to Dr. Beaver's baths and poplar +pills. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap04"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER IV. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +THE ADVICE OF HUG-GRIPPY, THE AFFECTIONATE. +</H4> + +<P> +The class was just finishing when Hug-grippy, the chief of the Chippewa +bears, appeared upon the scene. He had come on a friendly visit, and +to get a breakfast of ripe raspberries and honey that Robin had +promised him for saving the white pony, Plumpy, from the horns of a +huge elk. He had indulged in a recent meal evidently, for his ribs +bulged out so much and so comically that Chattie shrieked with laughter +and cried out— +</P> + +<P> +"There is more nourishment in fasting sometimes than in eating over +much." +</P> + +<P> +Hug-grippy himself laughed, although had he been thin-skinned he would +not, but he was good-natured, and looking up he merely remarked that +Miss Chattie appeared to him to be uttering a contradiction in some way +or other. For his entertainment the teacher gave the class another +question in division, and Hug-grippy wondered at their cleverness. +</P> + +<P> +"As for me," said he, "I am bad at any kind of counting, but I can't do +division at all. I suppose it's because I——" +</P> + +<P> +"like everything to myself," said Chattie, finishing his sentence and +laughing a her own joke. +</P> + +<P> +When Robin told his class to count the bear's toes, they all jumped +from their seat and seized his feet, and before he could recover from +his mock alarm he was astonished to learn what he never could find out +for himself—that he had no fewer than twenty toes. Then the friskies +jumped upon his great back and head like a lot of monkeys. During the +fun and confusion that followed, Black Ribbon ran to his home (which +was close by) and begged a nut from his mamma; then returning quickly, +he stood upon his hind legs and duly presented it to Hug-grippy. The +great bear looked down, and patting the little fellow on the head, +remarked, with a broad grateful smile, that he was a dear wee boy, fit +to be at the head of his class, if for kindness only. Then turning to +Robin he said— +</P> + +<P> +"I think you should get up a kindness class, and (with a sly twinkle at +Chattie) I shall come along often, not to talk and joke like some +people, but to give the class an opportunity of putting their learning +into practice." +</P> + +<P> +"Very good advice," replied Robin. +</P> + +<P> +Encouraged by this, Hug-grippy continued— +</P> + +<P> +"There is too much teaching of the head in this world, and too little +acting of the heart. Is it not intended that every bit of us should be +exercised? If people neglect kindness, that fine feeling will die." +</P> + +<P> +"Hear, hear," said Robin, "you have spoken well." +</P> + +<P> +"Mind, master Robin," answered Bruin earnestly, "I am not hinting +anything against your class, for the friskies need head treatment, and +I am sure you show them in your own life how to be kind; but they will +be all the better of doing as well as seeing, and so I have humbly +suggested a class for the exercise of the faculty of kindness." +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you, Hug-grippy, the idea is capital. I will raise such a class +very soon, and put my best arithmetic-pupils into it by way of reward." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," replied Bruin, "the cleverest often need it most, to restore the +proper balance between head and heart; and put Chattie in it," he added +with a funny smile, as he lay down on the grass with his nose between +his toes. +</P> + +<P> +"And Hug-grippy too," cried Chattie. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh no," said the bear, "I am trained." +</P> + +<P> +"But you require to keep up your education, Mr. Bruin." +</P> + +<P> +"True, very true," replied Hug-grippy quietly, "but too much exercise +is bad, and I need an occasional rest. Besides, my dear, the class +must have someone to work upon, someone to whom to be kind." Putting +one of his great paws over his eyes he looked through his claws at +Robin, and with a modest but humorous smile added— +</P> + +<P> +"And if I might venture to speak of myself, I may mention that I am not +unfavorable to honey." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh you cunning rascal," cried the parrot. +</P> + +<P> +"Hush," said the white pony, putting back her ears, "hush, hush." +</P> + +<P> +And Robin laughed. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap05"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER V. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +THE ADVICE OF THE SUBTLE SNAKE. +</H4> + +<P> +Two weeks passed, the class had worked hard, and even Black Ribbon had +pulled up wonderfully, but Silver Ribbon had the highest number of +marks. The time for prize-giving, however, had not come, but the +pupils were to get a rest for two or three days before going through a +special examination, which would last half a day. When this was over +the prizes would be given, and then there would be the glorious +holidays, with excursions far into the forest. +</P> + +<P> +Meantime Silver Ribbon got the preliminary silver medal attached to her +neck. The other pupils crowded around her, congratulated her, and +kissed her. Black Ribbon took her hand in his, and in a simple boyish +way promised her a nut. Then they all carried her home shoulder high, +singing and dancing merrily. Her mother, a kind, thin, old squirrel, +with soft, black, melting eyes, was quite excited as she received her +victorious daughter with a good big hug and many kisses. But her +father, who was a stout, gruff-toned squirrel, though not unkind, was +suspicious. +</P> + +<P> +"I can't understand," said he, "why a girl that never does anything but +play—never studies at home—should be the very head of a class of +clever boys and girls. There is no special gift in our family to +explain it: I fear there is something wrong." +</P> + +<P> +And, sad to say, her father's honest suspicion was too well founded. +The explanation is this. One day shortly after the class was formed, +and when the other squirrels had all gone home from play, either to +study or help their parents, Silver Ribbon remained stealthily behind +to amuse herself as best she could. Hearing a soft noise in the tree +upon whose branches she was leaping and running, she turned quickly +round and saw a large, dark snake with gleaming, piercing eyes. She +was frightened and was about to run away, which she could easily have +done, as the reptile was not very near, but it spoke at once, and in a +soft, attractive, motherly voice persuaded her to stay a minute. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you wish to be at the head of your class, dear?" enquired the snake. +</P> + +<P> +"I do indeed," answered Silver Ribbon, "it is a great honor." +</P> + +<P> +"You can easily secure it," said the snake. +</P> + +<P> +"Without labor and trouble?" enquired the squirrel. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, if you do what I tell you." +</P> + +<P> +"What shall I do?" asked the squirrel. +</P> + +<P> +"What is your position in the class at present?" the reptile asked. +</P> + +<P> +"I am second, but I have reached it mainly by a cunning copying from +the other slates, and I fear I can't keep that up long." +</P> + +<P> +"You suffer slightly from a weak spine, don't you?" enquired the snake +in a sympathetic tone. +</P> + +<P> +"I do," said Silver Ribbon. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, dear, take my advice, and when the class meets again go to your +teacher in a very modest manner and make a graceful curtsey. Tell him +that though you would not in the least mind being at the lower end of +the class, yet because of your weak back he might favor you by allowing +you the support of the shade tree opposite the 4th place. This will +win him, for his mother has taught him to love modesty and to be kind. +Having secured that place for the remainder of the session, watch what +the three pupils above you jot down on their slates, and copy all their +answers if they be different. When the teacher comes to examine the +slates, beginning with number one, and mentions who is correct, you +will know which answer to rub out, which you can easily do without +being suspected. Do as I tell you, and you will be as often successful +as any one of the three best pupils above you is correct. Be clever, +be cunning, there is no harm in wrong-doing, and you will get honor and +reward without any trouble, with plenty of time to go about idle and +amuse yourself. Glide along through life as I do, dear, as smoothly +and as pleasantly as you can, taking everything and giving nothing." +</P> + +<P> +Although Silver Ribbon could not quite shake off her dread of the +snake, and therefore kept her former safe distance, yet the advice was +ingenious and charming. She at once agreed to take it, and having +thanked the cunning reptile, she hurriedly scampered home. +</P> + +<P> +"I shall have you as a choice mouthful yet, and, through you, all the +rest of your nimble pretty crowd," said the snake, when Silver Ribbon +was gone. The reptile was an active specimen of the great +boa-constrictor tribe, thirty feet long. It had taken a trip from the +sunny South to the North, deceiving and doing much mischief on the way. +Its advice was the secret of Silver Ribbon's success. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap06"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VI. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +THE MODEST MEDALLIST. +</H4> + +<P> +In the previous chapter we turned aside and went a long way back—back +nearly as far as the formation of the class—to explain how Silver +Ribbon had come to be the most successful pupil, at least so far as to +win the preliminary silver medal. We come forward now to where we left +off, at the reference to two or three days' rest from study. That rest +passed away very quickly. Then came the final tug-of-war, the day of +special examination which was to reveal who was really the best scholar. +</P> + +<P> +All the pupils were in the garden on a Friday morning at 9 o'clock +prompt. Their black fur was beautiful and glossy—nicely washed and +brushed for the occasion—and their silken ribbons were neatly tied and +clean. Silver Ribbon looked exceedingly well, and her silver medal was +burnished till it shone like a little moon. When all the pupils had +gathered together they gave her a ringing cheer. Black Ribbon looked +clean and tidy, but he seemed as if he had been studying rather than +resting, for his lovely dark eyes were somewhat weary. +</P> + +<P> +Silver Ribbon took up her place against the apple-tree as usual, but +judge of her surprise and alarm when, by Hug-grippy's advice, the +pupils were separated from each other a considerable distance, and +seated on chairs brought out for the occasion. Having a sprightly +disposition, however, she shook off her fears, and, trusting to chance +and to what little she had learned, she prepared for the contest. +</P> + +<P> +Robin was a reasonable schoolmaster, and did not give questions that +had not been already gone over, or that could not be understood. When +each pupil had finished a question, the teacher went over quietly, +examined the slate, and whispered the result. +</P> + +<P> +Silver Ribbon succeeded with the first question, and she was happy; +with the second also, and her spirits rose high. She was, she thought, +going to be chief prize-winner and the head of her class after all. +But her hopes were soon crushed. She was wrong in the 3rd question and +the 4th, still she held on bravely. She was wrong in the 5th, 6th and +7th, and her spirits fell. She looked wistfully towards the best +pupils' slates, but even her sharp eyes could not discern the figures. +When she found herself incorrect in questions 8, 9 and 10, she felt +sick at heart, and when she tackled the remaining questions her heart +palpitated painfully, the perspiration came down in beads from her +little forehead, and her hands felt clammy and cold. She was wrong to +the very last, and she fell into complete despair. +</P> + +<P> +When the results were announced to all the class, everyone was +surprised to hear that Black Ribbon was first and that Silver Ribbon +was last. Black Ribbon was cheered three times over, and was +astonished to find himself famous, while poor Silver Ribbon was dazed, +and her little head dropped upon her medal and breast. As her chin +touched the medal, she was reminded of its presence, a shining mockery +seen by all, and she hated it from the bottom of her heart. +</P> + +<P> +Robin drew up the white toy-horse and presented it to Black Ribbon, and +the class cheered again and again. He then presented the other gifts +to the pupils in the order of merit till he came to poor Silver Ribbon. +He was so sorry when placing his hand gently underneath her little chin +and raising her head he saw that her eyes were dull, wet and very sad. +He knew at last that she had been a copyist and a deceiver, but he gave +her no rebuke while removing the medal from her breast. He felt keenly +that she was suffering punishment enough from disappointment, shame and +humiliation. Not knowing how she had been tempted to cheat him, he +placed by her side the only remaining gift, which was a pretty little +toy snake. All eyes were upon her, saying nothing, yet pitying and +despising her. She looked sideways at the toy a moment and +shuddered—shuddered at what would have delighted any of the +others—and being unable to bear the shame any longer she leaped from +her chair and ran away. +</P> + +<P> +"Didn't I tell you that you had a cheat in the class?" said Chattie +sorrowfully. +</P> + +<P> +"She has cheated herself more than anyone else," answered Robin +regretfully. +</P> + +<P> +"One can't live long on empty nuts," said Hug-grippy gloomily. +</P> + +<P> +Robin now commended the class for their diligence and progress, and +amidst great cheering announced a long vacation. He then tied the +silver medal with golden silk on the neck of Black Ribbon, who tried to +repress a happy smile, while all the others cheered wildly. Taking the +little victor up in his arms, he caressed him and said— +</P> + +<P> +"My clever pet, my mother has asked me to say that hard work and +honesty have their true and lasting reward. Your name henceforth is +Golden Ribbon." +</P> + +<P> +The signal was given to Chattie, and she dismissed the class with an +exultant Indian whoop that even startled big Bruin and made him laugh. +</P> + +<P> +Said he, "I thought for a moment that my enemies had suddenly come upon +me." +</P> + +<P> +Three of the best pupils—Red, White and Blue, referred to, +before—then ran forward and seizing Golden Ribbon, lifted him upon the +back of his white toy horse. Getting confused, the little black rider +sat upon the horse's neck and held it by the ears. Robin went in front +and pulled, while all the pupils marched behind in pairs, singing +merrily as they tripped along. Bruin brought up the rear with all the +presents on his big, broad back. Golden Ribbon was drawn to the castle +and duly presented to Robin's mother, who praised and kissed him, while +she presented him with a gilt-edged picture book full of wonderful +stories. +</P> + +<P> +When Golden Ribbon was drawn home to his own door they all parted from +him with much hand-shaking but with silence, because his mother was +sick. Entering the door and going over to her bedside he said— +</P> + +<P> +"Mother, dear, I am first, and here is a great, beautiful picture book, +and there is a big, toy horse at the door." +</P> + +<P> +"My darling boy," said his mamma, raising her head and opening her eyes +wide when she saw the medal and golden band around his neck, "I can +scarcely believe it, but you deserve it, for you have been a hard, +honest worker, as well as most loving and attentive to me," and she +kissed him tenderly. Then laying her head upon the pillow she wept +with joy. +</P> + +<P> +That night Silver Ribbon sobbed herself to sleep upon her mamma's neck. +Her mother did not punish her, for she knew that she had pain enough. +She tried indeed to comfort her by saying that every one would forgive +her if she would begin and do better for the future, for she was very +grieved for her deceitful little child. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap07"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VII. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +THE FIGHT IN THE RAVINE. +</H4> + +<P> +When morning came, Silver Ribbon heard all the others at play with +Golden Ribbon's horse, and she ventured out. But on seeing the crowd +she was still so ashamed that she slipped quietly past, and went right +into the wood. Going down the edge of the deep ravine she wandered she +knew not and cared not where, till she came to the winding stream at +the bottom. Seeing Bruin taking a drink she passed softly down the +bank, and coming to a grassy spot she sat down, feeling very unhappy. +She watched for awhile the little fishes as they darted to and fro, +envying their happiness. +</P> + +<P> +But hearing a gliding movement in the grass behind her, what was her +horror when on turning round she saw the big snake a few feet away, its +head raised, its neck arched, and its cunning eyes shining with +fiendish glee. Poor Silver Ribbon would have run away, but she could +not; she was too near and was fascinated. +</P> + +<A NAME="img-050"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-050.jpg" ALT="FASCINATED." BORDER="2" WIDTH="477" HEIGHT="713"> +<H4 CLASS="h4center" STYLE="width: 477px"> +FASCINATED. +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<P> +"Aha," said the hideous reptile with a hiss, "I have got you now." +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent" ALIGN="center"> +<SPAN STYLE="letter-spacing: 4em">*****</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<P> +Although Chattie was a funny bird and straightforward, still she had a +liking for Silver Ribbon, and when with her quick eyes she saw the poor +sad thing wandering aimlessly down the ravine, she followed secretly +from tree to tree to watch over her. Noticing the rise of the horrid +snake's head, she flew back like an arrow to Castle Frank to tell of +Silver Ribbon's danger. +</P> + +<P> +Robin seized a short loaded gun and ran after the parrot as fast as he +could. The brushwood was very thick but he pressed on, and as he drew +near the spot he heard roars and groans and hissing. Getting out into +the open, he saw the snake and Hug-grippy fighting desperately. The +reptile was coiled around the bear's body, its head was raised, its +mouth wide open, and its glittering eyes were looking straight into +Bruin's face. It was gripping Hug-grippy dreadfully: he was in agony +and was losing breath. +</P> + +<P> +Kneeling down upon one knee, Robin raised his gun; but being scarcely +near enough, it was dangerous to fire—he might shoot the bear. +Running right up, without realizing his danger, he went close behind +the combatants. Not noticing the serpent's tail in the grass he trod +upon it, when round his ankle it swept, and in an instant he was thrown +upon his face and stunned. +</P> + +<P> +Bruin, though fighting bravely, was losing the battle. Chattie was +circling wildly in the air and screaming. Everything seemed to be lost. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly Robin woke up, drew a hunting knife from his belt and slashed +the serpent's tail, setting himself free. The reptile turned its +arched head towards him, showed its tiger-like fangs and hissed as from +a pipe of steam. Robin jumped back a little and picked up his gun. +Placing it to his shoulder, he took rapid aim within a few feet of the +serpent's head—bang went fire and smoke and bullet—snake and bear +tumbled down together and rolled upon the grass. The unusual sometimes +happens, a boy had done the work of the bravest man. The huge, dark +monster was shot through the head, and its long, scaly body twisted and +quivered in death. +</P> + +<P> +Hug-grippy, slowly disentangling himself, went down to the brook all in +a tremble, and freely drank of the water. He rested for a little in +the cooling stream and rose up refreshed. Coming forward to Robin, he +licked his extended hand in unspoken thankfulness. As a member of a +kindness class he had come to the aid of Silver Ribbon just in time to +break the spell, yet he himself would have perished but for the timely +aid of a brave, true boy. +</P> + +<P> +"Hurrah for my beloved young master, and for dear old Hug-grippy," +shrieked Chattie in hysteric happiness. +</P> + +<P> +"Don't mention me," said Bruin softly, with a smile broad and funny. +</P> + +<P> +"Nor me," said Robin modestly; "it is due to us all," added he with a +sweet becoming smile. +</P> + +<P> +And the young soldier-teacher, with Chattie on his shoulder and +Hug-grippy by his side carrying the gun, went home with glad and +exultant heart to the quaint castle. +</P> + +<P> +Silver Ribbon became completely changed, working honestly and well; and +from that time forward she was respected and loved. +</P> + +<P> +The awful conflict was never forgotten by the many pets of Castle +Frank: they talked over it now and again all their lives, and they +thought how good and great was the young master, who went through such +trouble and danger for the benefit of creatures so much his inferior. +</P> + +<P> +"I guess," said Red Ribbon on a certain occasion, "Master Robin +understands that we have feelings as well as human people." +</P> + +<P> +Chattie, who could quote Scripture, sometimes more appropriately than +greater parrots, chimed in— +</P> + +<P> +"A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast." +</P> + +<P> +"Dearie me," said Green Ribbon, "I never knew there was a text for us +before." +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent" ALIGN="center"> +<SPAN STYLE="letter-spacing: 4em">*****</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +But Fairyland we now must leave—<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">The land of Robin's spell.</SPAN><BR> +Adieu! Celeste, magic Queen:<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">We like thy teaching well.</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap08"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VIII. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +ROBIN'S BOOK. +</H4> + +<P> +When Robin went to school in a great city, he saw children trifling +with their lessons, copying from the workers, and cheating their +teachers. They succeeded for a time, but when the day of searching +trial came, he saw them fail. +</P> + +<P> +When Robin became a young man, he saw many who, carrying up the craft +and ignorance of earlier days, were utterly broken down in the great +business of the world. Impressed with the ruin that lies in shunning +true and ennobling labor, he wrote a little book, and the title was— +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent" ALIGN="center"> +"MEN THAT CHEAT THEMSELVES." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<HR> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap09"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE SNOW-WHITE FOX. +</H3> + +<P> +There was once a lion with a bushy mane, whose name was Muffler. He +lived in a country, called Antartika, where the hills were high, the +valleys low, the forests thick, and the waters broad and deep. It was +a fertile land, where grass and fruits and flowers grew in abundance. +It was also a rich, rich country, full of precious stones lying on the +ground, shining in the beds of the rivers, and glittering on the face +of the mountains. Antartika was indeed a beautiful land. +</P> + +<P> +But no people lived there, nothing but birds and beasts and fishes, and +a wonderful race of tailless apes that died out long ago. And Muffler, +the lion, was king. +</P> + +<P> +On a certain day, a law-court day, Muffler sat on a diamond rock, and +at his back was a rock of ruby blazing in the sun. On his head was a +crown of laurel powdered with gold-dust and pearls. Beside him stood +Old Primeval the ape, his faithful adviser, wearing on his neck a +wreath of white poplar leaves dusted with silver, and holding in his +hand a club inlaid with shining emeralds. On each side of the king and +behind him were many young lions looking respectful and brave. Some +distance in front was a crowd of all kinds of beasts, such as tigers, +panthers, bears, wild-boars, wolves, hyenas, foxes, wild-cats, and even +deer, sheep and goats, while the trees around were covered with birds +of brilliant plumage. And they were all very quiet, because they were +expecting something. +</P> + +<P> +"Who is next?" enquired the king. +</P> + +<P> +"Crafticus, come forward," cried old Primeval. +</P> + +<P> +There was a movement among the beasts as of someone pushing his way, +and then there came out from among them a snow-white fox with a bushy +tail. He walked forward with bowed head till he stood before the great +Muffler, who looked down at him sternly and haughtily. +</P> + +<P> +"Stand up," commanded the king. +</P> + +<P> +Crafticus stood on his hind legs, and his eyes blinked because of the +light from the ruby, which made him look as if covered with blood. +</P> + +<P> +"State the charge," said the king turning to his counsellor. +</P> + +<P> +"Crafticus," said Primeval solemnly, "you are charged with wilfully +slaying Awkwardibus, the king's gander, last night up beside Lake Snow +among the Topaz Hills. What have you got to say in self-defence?" +</P> + +<P> +"I did not know that the gander was the king's," replied the fox in a +humble tone. +</P> + +<P> +"Crafticus, you must have known, knowing that the king's ganders and +geese are green, while all the others are gray, black, and white," and +the counsellor thought he had promptly caught the fox, and that the +king would be highly pleased. +</P> + +<P> +But Crafticus replied—"There was a storm up there last night, and the +gander was covered with snow—in my eyes he was white." +</P> + +<P> +Old Primeval looked perplexed and annoyed. +</P> + +<P> +But king Muffler laughed and his mane shook. "Crafticus is clever," +said he. "I know something myself about the case, nevertheless call +for witnesses." +</P> + +<P> +"There is but one witness, O king, and that is the gander's widow." +</P> + +<P> +"Call her," said the king. +</P> + +<P> +"Stupidify, come to the front," cried the counsellor. +</P> + +<P> +The green goose waddled up before the king, napped her wings, cackled, +and screamed hysterically. +</P> + +<P> +"Be silent, you idiot, don't you see the king?" Primeval shouted +between her cries. +</P> + +<P> +"Where?" replied the goose, looking around her confused. +</P> + +<P> +"There," said Primeval emphatically, pointing his emerald club at +Muffler's nose. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh yes, I think I see him," cried the goose through her tears. "But I +thought the king was like my lovely husband. Oh dear me," and she +cried bitterly. +</P> + +<P> +King Muffler cast his eyes down towards her with pity and contempt. +</P> + +<P> +"Stupidify," said Primeval gravely, "was there a fall of snow last +night?" +</P> + +<P> +"What? What?" enquired the goose. +</P> + +<P> +"Are you deaf, you silly creature?" cried Primeval angrily. "Was there +not a fall of snow last night?" He wanted to frighten her into saying +there was, for he thought the king admired the fox and wished him to +escape. +</P> + +<P> +"Be patient, be patient," said king Muffler, "my counsellor's conduct +should be dignified. Be gentle with the poor widow." +</P> + +<P> +"Pardon me, O king," replied Primeval bowing low. Then turning to the +goose he enquired, +</P> + +<P> +"Are you deaf, dear?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir," answered she, and receiving such sympathy she screamed +loudly; which was rather annoying to Muffler's ears, for they jerked as +if wasps were at their tips. +</P> + +<P> +When the goose quieted down, Primeval asked: "You don't think of course +there was any snow last night, my dear?" He wanted to coax her to say +there wasn't, for he now thought the king was in her favor. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't remember," answered Stupidify; and Primeval scratched his head +in disgust, while the king gave a muffled laugh. +</P> + +<P> +"O king Muffler," said Primeval, "I can proceed no further, for the +green goose is no use as a witness. Is the explanation given by +Crafticus satisfactory? Does he go free?" +</P> + +<P> +"No," replied the king, "his explanation is cunning, but untrue. I +went to the top of the Topaz Mountain last night to get nearer the ear +of the man in the moon, in order to invite him down to see me and my +country. He did not seem to hear me, although I roared and shouted at +him all night, and during the time I was there not a flake of snow +fell. Therefore my judgment is that Crafticus did know that +Awkwardibus the gander was mine, for it was green and nothing else all +the time. Crafticus, I do therefore sentence you to leave your wife +and children, with all the rest of the Craftikites, and to stay with +widow Stupidify in my barn and its near surroundings, and to provide +food and comfort for her as long as she lives." +</P> + +<P> +This was a deep humiliation, and Crafticus howled with shame and +disgust. When he moved away from the king's presence with the fat +goose waddling by his side, all the hyenas laughed and laughed. And +this was so vexing to him that he slyly turned his head toward +Stupidify and showed her all his teeth in anger. +</P> + +<P> +So they walked away in the direction of the king's barn, which was to +be their home when they were not out in search of food. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent" ALIGN="center"> +<SPAN STYLE="letter-spacing: 4em">*****</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<P> +That night before the goose came in, Crafticus thought and thought how +he could get rid of Stupidify. At last he rose up and sniffed through +the dried grass in search of Furrier, the black cat. +</P> + +<P> +Furrier was asleep; but Crafticus nipped his left ear gently, and he +awoke with a yawn and stretched out his claws. +</P> + +<P> +"What do you want?" said he, looking up. +</P> + +<P> +"I wish you to help me to get rid of that hateful goose, dear Furrier." +</P> + +<P> +"I am afraid of the king," replied the cat. +</P> + +<P> +"You needn't, you will be quite safe. I have a cunning plan, but I +need your help, and I will reward you well." +</P> + +<A NAME="img-065"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-065.jpg" ALT="CRAFTICUS. "I have a cunning plan."" BORDER="2" WIDTH="533" HEIGHT="515"> +<H4 CLASS="h4center" STYLE="width: 533px"> +CRAFTICUS. "I have a cunning plan." +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<P> +Crafticus then told his plan, and Purrier agreed and went out to meet +the goose, while the fox lay down in a low broad box, as if fast asleep. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent" ALIGN="center"> +<SPAN STYLE="letter-spacing: 4em">*****</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<P> +"Hail, Stupidify, lovely fat goose," cried Furrier, when he met her and +saw her by the light of the moon. +</P> + +<P> +"Joy be with you, dear sooty cat." +</P> + +<P> +"Has Crafticus provided any food for you to-day?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not a single speck, and I have been searching till now and have +scarcely got any—this place is new to me, as you know." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh my poor dear goose, how sorry I am." +</P> + +<P> +And hearing this she sat down and screamed. +</P> + +<P> +"Arise and assert your rights," said Purrier, "and I will help you. +Let us go together to Crafticus, and if he be as careless about your +bed as about your food, you just scream and scream till you get what +you want." +</P> + +<P> +So they went along side by side, and when they entered the barn and +looked into the box, Crafticus appeared to be in a deep sleep, but he +was only pretending. +</P> + +<P> +Purrier leaped in softly and lay beside him. "Oh this is cold," said +he. Then he went to the other side and lay down. "Oh, this is cold +also," and he rose up shivering. Then he poked his paw under the fox +and whispered—"Ha, ha, this is warm. The selfish fellow—it is just +like him to choose the warmest spot. Come and judge for yourself, poor +neglected Stupidify." +</P> + +<P> +The goose jumped in clumsily and fell on her fat breast. Then she +poked her beak under Crafticus and found it to be as the cat had said. +It never struck her that the heat came from the fox's own body. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, demand your rights," said Purrier, "demand a share of the +comfortable spot," and he went away and lay down among the dried grass. +</P> + +<P> +"I want my rights," cried the goose, in the fox's ear. +</P> + +<P> +"What?" said Crafticus, rubbing his eyes. +</P> + +<P> +"I want my rights, I want you to move." +</P> + +<P> +"You have got your rights and double your rights. You can rest on +either side of me and I have only the centre." +</P> + +<P> +"I want my share of the warm part." +</P> + +<P> +"How can the centre be warmer than the sides?" +</P> + +<P> +"Let me try," said the goose. +</P> + +<P> +"All right, but it is very disturbing," replied the fox, and he rose up +and let the goose sit down. +</P> + +<P> +"It is just as I felt with my beak, it is the warmest spot, and you +can't deny it. Now, I want my share of it." +</P> + +<P> +"You won't get it, your request is absurd," and he pushed her aside. +Then he lay down and buried his eyes in his tail, as if trying to sleep. +</P> + +<P> +Stupidify looked as if she might give in. +</P> + +<P> +"Demand your rights," cried Purrier, in a shrill menacing voice; "the +king is on your side," he added, with an emphatic yell. +</P> + +<P> +"I want my rights," cried the goose, encouraged to quarrelsomeness, and +she bit Crafticus on the ear. +</P> + +<P> +"Stupidify," said the fox, slowly raising his head, "you are breaking +my rest. Don't you know that I have to run in the king's chamois chase +to-morrow, and that I need all the sleep I can get?" +</P> + +<P> +"The king is my friend," answered the goose with a chuckle and a +stubborn look. +</P> + +<P> +"Do let me alone," rejoined the fox, as he buried his face again in his +tail. But it was no use. +</P> + +<P> +"I want my rights, I want my rights," screamed the goose, and she went +on demanding them or scolding and hissing every now and then till +midnight. +</P> + +<P> +At last Crafticus arose and said—"I can't stand this any longer. I +can't get any sleep, and I shall be quite unfit for the king's chase." +Then turning to the goose he cried—"Wretch, you have provoked me to +kill you, and you have yourself to blame"; and having said this, he +seized Stupidify by the neck and killed her. +</P> + +<P> +Purrier now sprang from his bed and leaped into the box beside +Crafticus, and they had a right royal feast together. They chatted and +laughed, and Purrier told what he said to the goose when he met her and +walked with her towards the barn. +</P> + +<P> +"You have done well, Purrier, and I'll never forget you." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, my part was nothing," replied he, "it was your own wise head that +planned the whole trick. And when your case comes again before the +king, I am sure it can't be broken." +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you sincerely," rejoined Crafticus. "I shall now get back to my +dear, sorrowing wife and children." +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent" ALIGN="center"> +<SPAN STYLE="letter-spacing: 4em">*****</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<P> +Two days afterwards, the fox stood again before the king. +</P> + +<P> +"Crafticus," said the counsellor, with a grave face, "you are charged +this time with wilfully killing Stupidify, the king's fat goose. Now +what have you to say for yourself?" +</P> + +<P> +Then Crafticus told the whole story of his provocation in a persuasive, +modest manner, and he finished by saying— +</P> + +<P> +"Purrier, if I mistake not, was present at the time, and, if so, he +will be able to support every word I have spoken." +</P> + +<P> +"Call for the black cat," commanded the king. +</P> + +<P> +"Purrier, to the front," cried Primeval. +</P> + +<P> +With a few fine springs the cat was in his place and on his hind legs +before the king. But his eyes were closed because of the glare of +light from the ruby and the diamond. +</P> + +<P> +"Tell king Muffler all you know about Stupidify's treatment of +Crafticus." +</P> + +<P> +Purrier did so and added— +</P> + +<P> +"I was so sorry and indignant after the selfish goose sat down in the +poor fox's warm place that I called out to him—'Demand your rights, +the king is on your side.'" +</P> + +<P> +Then Purrier finished by saying— +</P> + +<P> +"Pardon me, O king, if I venture to say that such senseless, irritating +conduct as the goose exhibited all that night might almost try your own +great patience." +</P> + +<P> +"It would indeed," said Muffler, "it was absurd and provoking in the +highest degree, and if there be nothing to set aside your testimony, +Crafticus shall go free." And when Purrier bowed and sprang away, the +king smiled approvingly and called after him—"You are a sympathetic, +clever little fellow, and I like your glossy, black coat." +</P> + +<P> +"Next witness," said Muffler. +</P> + +<P> +"Niblius, come forward," cried the counsellor. +</P> + +<P> +But although everyone looked, no one could see Niblius, and they +wondered if he had dared not to be present. At last a little mouse +with a white face and white feet was seen running up the hairy body of +Primeval and out along his extended arm, and then sitting bolt upright +on his broad palm. Then it bowed with a pretty jerk to king Muffler, +and he nodded back and smiled. +</P> + +<P> +"I suppose you will be able to prove the black cat's words to be true?" +remarked Primeval. +</P> + +<P> +"No, my king," replied the little fellow bravely, and he told +everything he overheard in the barn. +</P> + +<P> +King Muffler opened his eyes in astonishment and enquired— +</P> + +<P> +"Is Niblius truthful?" +</P> + +<P> +"He was never known to tell a lie in all his life," answered Primeval. +</P> + +<P> +"Then Purrier must be very treacherous," rejoined the king. +</P> + +<P> +"He is," said the counsellor. +</P> + +<P> +"It is no new thing," remarked the king, "for crafty creatures to get +the simple to begin a foolish quarrel." +</P> + +<A NAME="img-073"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-073.jpg" ALT="KING MUFFLER. "It is no new thing," remarked the king, "for crafty creatures to get the simple to begin a foolish quarrel."" BORDER="2" WIDTH="474" HEIGHT="650"> +<H4 CLASS="h4center" STYLE="width: 474px"> +KING MUFFLER. "It is no new thing," remarked the king, "for crafty creatures to get the simple to begin a foolish quarrel." +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<P> +"True, O king, and the crafty gain their end by seeming to be in the +right." +</P> + +<P> +"If not found out," said Muffler. "Crafticus," he added, indignantly, +"such trickery, if practised by all my subjects, would break up my +mighty realm. And, besides, you showed no mercy. I do therefore +sentence you to be struck down by the lion Thunderpeal, my grumbling +uncle, or, if you choose, to be torn in pieces by the tiger Clawnailia, +my cruel cousin, or to the mercy of anyone as cruel-hearted as +yourself, and if you can escape their terrible clutches, good and well. +I am sorry for you, and I am doubly sorry that talent like yours should +be so much abused." +</P> + +<P> +"I bow to your will, O King," said Crafticus meekly. +</P> + +<P> +The fox's wife and children now came forward to bid him farewell +forever. They were beautiful creatures, especially the little foxes, +and their cries were heart-rending. They looked wistfully into the +eyes of the condemned Crafticus, and placed their heads gently and +affectionately beside his drooping head. +</P> + +<P> +When Thunderpeal advanced by the counsellor's request to separate them, +he had much difficulty in pushing them away, and king Muffler's big +heart was touched with sorrow. +</P> + +<P> +Then Crafticus stood alone by the side of Thunderpeal, who waited +impatiently the signal to strike him down. +</P> + +<P> +"O king," said Crafticus, "may I speak one word?" +</P> + +<P> +"You may, but make haste, for my uncle's face is getting dark and +cloudy." +</P> + +<P> +"You gave me my choice of a slayer, O king?" +</P> + +<P> +"I did, but of one as cruel as yourself." +</P> + +<P> +"You placed me in their mercy, O king?" +</P> + +<P> +"I did, and I am very sorry for you, but the law must take its course." +</P> + +<P> +"Then, O king Muffler, I choose my wife." +</P> + +<P> +On hearing this the king's eyes opened wide, while Thunderpeal broke +into a roar of anger, but a flash of Muffler's eyes sent him howling +away. Then the king turned toward his counsellor and said— +</P> + +<P> +"Well, well, isn't Crafticus clever? He catches at words as a lawyer +handles them among mankind. Who would have thought that he would turn +my words in his own favor?" Then Muffler laughed, and said—"he +deserves to escape. After all, it was only a goose, and the goose was +my own, and I can well afford the loss." And he laughed till his mane +shook. "Go, Crafticus," he added, "and be slain by the mercy of your +wife—by one indeed as cruel as yourself when it is a case of geese and +ganders." +</P> + +<P> +Crafticus bowed low and answered— +</P> + +<P> +"I am deeply thankful, O king Muffler, for your justice and sympathy." +</P> + +<P> +"Before you go," said the king, "there is one command I desire to make." +</P> + +<P> +"I await your pleasure, O king." +</P> + +<P> +"Make a right use of your talents, my Crafticus—be straightforward, be +straightforward." +</P> + +<P> +"I will, my king, I will." +</P> + +<P> +Old Primeval smiled but said nothing. +</P> + +<P> +Then Crafticus left with a bound, and getting into the presence of his +wife and children, they killed him nearly—with kindness. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<HR> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap10"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE SONG-SPARROW. +</H3> + +<P> +The song-sparrow sang a long sweet song. Then he stopped and looked +around. Butterflies and bees and other insects were on the wing +everywhere, floating, darting and dancing in the sunshine; but the bird +did not seek to disturb any of them, he had had a good breakfast of +berries, and he was happy. +</P> + +<P> +He might well be happy, not only for delicious food and glorious +sunshine and power to sing a lovely song, but for the fact that his +home was near. And in that home were his young ones—his tiny +children,—and his little wife. +</P> + +<P> +So the song-sparrow raised his rufous head, and opening his mouth, and +vibrating his throat, he sang again as if in thankfulness and praise. +</P> + +<P> +"Listen, Richard," said his little mate suddenly, and of course in her +own tongue, "listen, listen." She called him "Richard," but if he were +in a cage people would call him "Dickie." +</P> + +<P> +Richard stopped in the middle of his song, and bending down his head, +while turning his right eye toward a pretty cottage close by, he +listened attentively and with great delight. +</P> + +<P> +"Jenny," remarked he to his tiny wife, when the cottage song was done, +"Master George is at the open window, the beautiful day has stirred his +heart, and he has sung happily and well." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," said Jenny, "this must be Saturday, for his tone is unusually +bright and happy." +</P> + +<P> +"It is always happy," answered Richard. +</P> + +<P> +"True," said Jenny, "but it is happier to-day." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, be it so, we won't differ, dear." +</P> + +<P> +"That is right, dear husband, we must show a good example to our +children;" and the mother-sparrow nestled her little ones lovingly. +</P> + +<P> +"There is only one thing that makes me anxious in this glad world," +remarked Richard as he looked down from the bush to the comfortable +nest in the grass. +</P> + +<P> +"What is it husband?" +</P> + +<P> +"I am afraid of that snake I saw gliding outside and round the fence +yesterday." +</P> + +<P> +"Ah, yes," replied the little mother, "it makes my flesh creep to think +of it; but I hope it won't venture into the garden." +</P> + +<P> +"I trust not," said Richard; "but if I were a man, and if I had a gun, +I should make short work of it." +</P> + +<P> +"Aren't guns wonderful things, husband? How they blow out fire and +smoke, and what a deafening noise they make!" +</P> + +<P> +"They are indeed wonderful, Jenny; but aren't they fearful? Do you +remember how the poor hare fell, although it was far away from the gun +and running like a railway train?" +</P> + +<P> +"I do, Richard; it tumbled over just as the fire burst out, and there +was such a big blood spot on its side. Oh, guns are dreadful things." +</P> + +<P> +"They are, Jenny, and we ought to be thankful that nobody around this +garden uses them," said Richard, with a look of relief. +</P> + +<P> +"Isn't Master George a fine boy?" remarked Jenny. +</P> + +<P> +"He is; he wouldn't hurt a fly—that is, pull off its legs and then its +head and torment it, as wicked youngsters do." +</P> + +<P> +"I love to see him in the garden," said Jenny; "somehow I feel safer +when he is near. He is so big compared with you, Richard, and so kind. +He comes gently towards our nest, and looks down on me with his +interesting, dark grey eyes; then he gets down on his knees, and +stretching out his forefinger he lightly strokes my head and wings, +saying as he does so—'Don't be frightened, birdie, I won't hurt you.' +I was scared at first, and jumped out and flew away; but I don't do +that now." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, we know our friends," chimed in Richard, "and Master George is +one of them." +</P> + +<P> +The two birds went on speaking to each other this way in praise of the +kindly boy, and then the mother-bird said— +</P> + +<P> +"Sing me another song, Richard; I never tire of hearing your voice. +Sing out, dear, with all your might, and make every one happy far and +near." +</P> + +<P> +Richard was about to open his beak and fill the air with melody, when +his quick eye detected something among the grass. He uttered a sharp +note of warning, and the mother sparrow shrank close into the nest. +</P> + +<P> +"The snake is coming," shouted Richard. But Jenny did not move, she +only kept flat and shuddered. +</P> + +<P> +"Come from the nest, and we will mislead the reptile," cried Richard. +</P> + +<P> +Then both birds flew around and at and over the snake, doing their +utmost to bewilder it; but it was no use—the cunning creature glided +on—it knew its helpless prey was near; and the poor parents were +frantic, as it raised its head and looked around. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent" ALIGN="center"> +<SPAN STYLE="letter-spacing: 4em">*****</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<P> +"Mother," said George, as he looked into the garden through the open +window, "what can be wrong with our song-sparrows?" +</P> + +<P> +His mother came forward, and seeing the birds fluttering about +excitedly, she said— +</P> + +<P> +"Run, George, there is a cat or some other enemy at the nest." +</P> + +<P> +Without a moment's delay the lad seized a cane, and running along the +garden-walk and jumping over flower-beds and bushes, he came to the +scene of the disturbance. He knew well where the nest was, and looking +to that spot he was horrified to see the snake bending over it with +arched neck and head, preparing to devour the helpless young +song-sparrows. Springing fearlessly forward like a hound, George smote +the snake on the head, and that one blow was enough. But grasping its +tail he jerked it back from the nest, and stamped upon its head, to +make sure that the life was gone. Then lifting it across his cane he +went to the fence, and flung it over in indignant disgust. +</P> + +<P> +Oh, how the parent song-sparrows rejoiced. The mother flew to the nest +to examine and fondle her young, while the father-bird went up on the +twig of a white rose-bush and sang a rapturous song of deliverance. +</P> + +<P> +"Ever since then the male sparrow has shown his gratitude to George in +a truly wonderful manner. When he goes into the garden the sparrow +will fly to him, sometimes alighting on his head, at other times on his +shoulder, all the while pouring out a tumultuous song of praise and +gratitude." +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent" ALIGN="center"> +<SPAN STYLE="letter-spacing: 4em">*****</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<P> +"How is it, Richard," said Jenny one day, "that nearly all these great +creatures called mankind look upon us as if we had very little +understanding in our head? Is it because we are so little and wear +feathers?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, no, it is because our language is different. In fact, they really +think we do not speak at all, and it seems to them that where there is +no speech there is little or no thought." +</P> + +<P> +"What language does Master George speak, Richard?" +</P> + +<P> +"English, dear, a beautiful language when well spoken and especially +when well sung." +</P> + +<P> +"And what language do we speak, Richard?" +</P> + +<P> +Sloping his head a little to the side, Richard thought for a moment and +then replied with a funny twinkle in his eye— +</P> + +<P> +"Our language is Song-Sparrowish." +</P> + +<P> +"Dear me," said Jenny, "it must be greater than English, when it needs +such a big word. But Master George understands it, doesn't he?" +</P> + +<P> +"He does indeed, he does, because he is well acquainted with us. I +overheard him say the other day that he understood our ways well, and +that our musical language and gratitude were to him a great delight." +</P> + +<P> +"Here he comes," exclaimed Jenny. "See, he opens the garden-gate. I +do love to see his winsome, cheerful face." +</P> + +<P> +"And he is both brave and kind," answered Richard, clearing his throat +and preparing to deliver an eloquent speech in Song-Sparrowish. +</P> + +<P> +"Now raise your song of gratitude, dear, and sing your very best." +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent" ALIGN="center"> +<SPAN STYLE="letter-spacing: 4em">*****</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<P> +The above little story is founded on a fact recorded in the *<I>Courier +Journal</I>. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<P CLASS="noindent" ALIGN="center"> +*A SONG-SPARROW'S GRATITUDE. +</P> + +<P> +It is a rare occurrence for animals in a wild state to select man for a +companion and friend, yet well-authenticated instances where this has +been done are a matter of record. The following incident is vouched +for by a young lady who is a close and accurate observer: +</P> + +<P> +"Last week my brother, a lad of 12, killed a snake which was just in +the act of robbing a song-sparrow's nest. Ever since then the male +sparrow has shown his gratitude to George in a truly wonderful manner. +When he goes into the garden the sparrow will fly to him, sometimes +alighting on his head, at other times on his shoulder, all the while +pouring out a tumultuous song of praise and gratitude. It will +accompany him about the garden, never leaving him until he reaches the +garden gate. George, as you know, is a quiet boy who loves animals, +and this may account in a degree for the sparrow's extraordinary +actions."—<I>Courier Journal</I>. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR><BR> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Fairy School of Castle Frank, by Grant Balfour + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FAIRY SCHOOL OF CASTLE FRANK *** + +***** This file should be named 33606-h.htm or 33606-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/3/6/0/33606/ + +Produced by Al Haines + +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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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 Fairy School of Castle Frank + +Author: Grant Balfour + +Release Date: September 2, 2010 [EBook #33606] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FAIRY SCHOOL OF CASTLE FRANK *** + + + + +Produced by Al Haines + + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: Cover art] + + + + + +[Frontispiece: ROBIN OF CASTLE FRANK.] + + + + + +THE FAIRY SCHOOL OF + CASTLE FRANK. + + +BY + +GRANT BALFOUR, + +AUTHOR OF "THE MOTHER OF ST. NICHOLAS." + + + + + +TORONTO: + +THE POOLE PRINTING COMPANY, LIMITED, + +PUBLISHERS. + + + + +Entered, according to Act of the Parliament of Canada, in the year one +thousand eight hundred and ninety-nine by A. BALFOUR GRANT, in the +office of the Minister of Agriculture. + + + + +Hon. G. W. Ross, LL.D., Premier of Ontario, says:--"I have read this +little story by Grant Balfour, which I can cheerfully recommend to the +children of Ontario. It is both interesting and instructive, and +contains a useful moral lesson." + + + + +CONTENTS + + +Chapter + + I. Romantic Robin + II. Fairyland + III. The Strange School Class + IV. The Advice of Hug-grippy, the Affectionate + V. The Advice of the Subtle Snake + VI. The Modest Medallist + VII. The Fight in the Ravine + VIII. Robin's Book + +The Snow-White Fox + +The Song-Sparrow + + + + +List of Illustrations + + +Robin of Castle Frank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _Frontispiece_ + +"How many walnuts are 2 and 4 and 6?" + +Fascinated + +Crafticus: "I have a cunning plan." + +King Muffler: "It is no new thing," remarked the king, "for crafty +creatures to get the simple to begin a foolish quarrel." + + + + +THE FAIRY SCHOOL OF CASTLE FRANK. + + + +CHAPTER I. + +ROMANTIC ROBIN. + + I've found at last the hiding place + Where the fairy people dwell, + And to win the secrets of their race + I hold the long-sought spell. + _Havergal._ + + +One hundred years ago, in the great land of Canada, there lived a boy +whose name was Robin. His home was in the grand old woods, with +wapitis, wolves and bears. It was near the edge of a deep ravine that +opened out on the east by a slow winding river flowing into one of the +great blue lakes. And the name of his home, though built of wood, was +Castle Frank. + +The castle was well-furnished, for Robin's father was a great man. The +best rooms had comfortable carpets and carved oak furniture, while on +the walls were interesting pictures, representing people of high rank, +and battles on sea and land. In one room there was a fine arrangement +of muskets, pistols and swords, together with Indian spears and bows +and arrows. In another room there was a library, containing books of +religion and science, histories and tales of adventure, and story-books +for children. With the weapons and stories the boy beguiled away many +a pleasant hour. + +But there was something more pleasant than guns and spears and stories. +Outside the castle, in little houses built of wood, with doors and +windows of netted wire, were a number of pets, as foxes, rabbits and +squirrels. To these Robin was greatly devoted, he fed them regularly +with his own hand, and kept their dwellings sweet and clean. In a +grassy enclosure where their little cotes stood, he let them have +liberty every day, watching over them carefully, that no harm should +come from savage beasts or birds of prey. He had also other pets--a +white pony, big dogs and little ones, and beautiful birds--which he +loved much and tended faithfully. So that among all these companions +Robin passed much of his time very happily, even more so than when +accompanying friendly Indians shooting game in the wild woods miles +away, or fishing from a canoe in Lake Ontario. + +A boy that is truly kind to animals will love men and, of course, boys. +This quality and what was brave and honest shone plainly in his clear, +blue eyes, as they shine in all kinds of eyes that have them. +Unspoiled by city dainties, and clad in the grey shooting suit which he +usually wore, he looked strong, active and healthy. Yet Robin had at +times a dreamy, meditative look. Away from the stir and hum and +engagement of city life, he dwelt in a kind of fairy-land, where +flowers and trees and solitary paths called forth quiet questionings +and aroused reflection, gilded by mystery and imagination. The tales +of Indian life, and the stories of mighty giants and magic-working +fairies, told and read in the quaint castle in the evenings, cultivated +the growth of his imaginative mind. So that, mingled with his natural +brightness and activity, there were moods that occasionally carried him +under the shade of some elm or maple tree, to sit and see pictures of +wonderful creatures in the beauty and melancholy of nature all around. +For this reason his loving mother called him _Inabandang_, a dreamer of +dreams. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +FAIRYLAND. + + With the woodland fairies I can talk, + I can list their silver lays; + Oh! pleasant in a lonely walk + Is the company of fays. + _Havergal._ + + +The ravine adjoining the castle was a mysterious looking place, dark +with dense underwood, the haunt of wild beasts and the home of +numberless birds, now sending forth awful cries and inspiring songs, +then silent as the grave. A tortuous difficult pathway in the hollow +extended along its length, while one or two animal tracks in the +neighborhood crossed it from side to side. A few grassy spaces here +and there slightly relieved the gloom, while a small stream of water +moved slowly along its base, now forming into pools where little fishes +leaped, then gradually unwinding itself and stealing softly on under a +wealth of branches and green leaves. + +Down to that stream Robin wandered alone one beautiful afternoon in +June. He followed its course as best he could till he found it turning +into a deep, dark, eddying pool beside and partly under the steepest +slope of the ravine. The opening underneath the projecting bank, +though large, was almost concealed by overhanging branches. Robin +crawled out on a strong beech branch, brushed aside the leaves and +peered in. It seemed as if it were a water-gateway into the heart of +the great ridge, and had a weird misty look. Robin said to himself, +"Wouldn't it be fine if I got a real peep at some of those brownies and +fairies I hear so much about! Wouldn't mother stare when I got home +and told her!" He therefore waited and imagined and watched, until he +got quite excited at the thought of seeing something wonderful. But +no, nothing came, and he was disappointed, although he only half +believed that anything strange might really appear. His excitement +cooled down, and then after a time he yawned, feeling weary; yet, +retaining a lingering hope, he stretched himself comfortably across two +or three adjoining branches, his face downwards, with one arm and one +leg dangling below, and finally fell asleep. It was not a very +becoming or a very wise act in that riskful, dismal hollow; yet, are +not men themselves but thoughtless boys in bigger shape? + +While thus under the blissful spell of Morpheus, Robin heard a noise +that made his heart throb with expectation. He pushed aside the leaves +and looked in. There, sure enough, something was coming out that was +not common. Nearer it came on the surface of the pool. What could it +be? A beautiful little ship, with white sails spread, and manned by +Mississagua sailors dressed in vivid red. The gallant ship sailed +round the pool most gracefully, and Robin's eyes looked down and +followed it with intense interest. When this was done three times all +sails were taken down, then a silver anchor was thrown out, and the +ship stood still. Two Indian sailors stepped forward from the rest, +seized something, swung their arms to and fro for a moment, and then +flung a long ladder of yellow silken ropes right over an overhanging +branch a short distance away from Robin's head. + +After a brief pause, a beautiful little lady in white, with a golden +crown upon her head, ascended the ladder and stood erect among the +leaves of the branch. Then the captain of the ship took off his peaked +hat and called for a cheer for their good Queen Celeste of happy and +beautiful Fairyland. And the sailors cheered Her Majesty mightily. +Robin thought her the prettiest creature he had ever seen, and when she +smiled upon him sweetly, he put his hand to his cap politely and smiled +his best in return. + +"Art thou the dreamer of dreams?" enquired the Queen with a merry but +dignified look. + +"I am," answered Robin with a blush, and wondering what was going to +happen. + +"Art thou he that I have heard so much of in my hidden realm?" + +"I don't know," said Robin modestly. + +"Art thou he that hast so much interest in my people?" + +"I am," replied Robin, feeling relieved. + +"Art thou Robin of Castle Frank who lovest all animals?" + +"I am, your Majesty," answered Robin happily, and at last managing to +address a queen as he ought. + +"Wilt thou come with me, and I will show thee wonderful things?" + +"I shall, your Gracious Majesty, with great pleasure." + +The Queen then raised a jewelled sceptre in her right hand, the captain +of the ship saw it and flashed a signal inward towards the cavern, when +by-and-bye a silver canoe shot out with an Indian chief at the stern, +and halted underneath the branch upon which Robin rested. The boy was +delighted, and without a moment's hesitation he clasped the branch +firmly with both hands and let himself drop as gently as possible into +the boat below. He was hardly seated, with the oars in his hands, when +the white ship passed by, all sails spread, and Queen Celeste sitting +upon a golden throne on deck. Robin followed. There was darkness as +he entered, and he felt bewildered and even eerie. But it was only for +a moment, for the white ship ahead became aglow with many brilliant +colored stars, and, with the silver boat behind, it glided into a land +whose beauty and marvellousness no pen can describe. + +The sky was of entrancing azure, lit up by twelve mellow suns, making +perpetual day; the fields were like rich velvet carpets of green; and +the rivers, winding in fantastic shapes, widening into blue lakes and +forming dashing cascades, were pure as crystal. There were also plains +of gold dust, fine as flour, where butterflies enriched their tender +wings; great forests, where birds of gay plumage built peculiar nests +and sang in choirs most glorious songs; high hills, with rocks of red +ruby and blue lazuli, on which gilded reptiles basked and whistled; +lovely valleys full of fragrance and of luscious fruits; cool grottoes, +and sombre ravines; picturesque villages; busy towns, and majestic +castles. + +All the animals could speak and sing and dance, and every one was a +pet. Nay more, they were useful. Squirrels ran messages, and +calculated like schoolboys; foxes drew out plans as architects; tigers +drove waggons pulled by zebras; and lions built bridges, which pretty +parrots wreathed with flowers. + +Children played and laughed everywhere, dressed in the quaintest and +prettiest styles. None ever quarrelled, except in fun, as kittens do. + +There was no time to see all that could be seen, so Robin was wafted +over a part of this wonderful land in a crimson silk balloon, with +Queen Celeste at his side, pointing out what was most interesting, till +his eyes were almost sore with gazing and gazing. Then they descended +into a field of gorgeous flowers, among a number of animal pets that +were leaping, racing, resting and talking. Robin was charmed and +amazed. + +"Oh," said he, "if I could only get mine to speak like that I should be +happy, and what is it I would not teach them to do?" + +The Queen was delighted because her guest was delighted. + +Then Robin turned to her and said with a smile full of entreaty: + +"Will your Majesty not aid me? Please help me, at least with my pretty +black squirrels I love so much." + +"It shall be done," said the Queen, with a gracious smile, and she +raised her sceptre and touched his forehead. + +"But thou art hungry," she added, "and thou must not leave my land +without tasting of my delicacies." + +As Celeste said this she plucked a great flower full of nectar, and +handed it to him to eat. Robin did so, and the effect and odor were so +delightfully soothing that he fell into a deep sleep. + +Queen Celeste then gave orders, through a glossy black squirrel, to +have Robin conveyed with great gentleness to another part of her +dominions. Six brownie giants appeared promptly with a flying machine +shaped like a Bird of Paradise. They placed him inside its body, on a +bed of down and softest silk, as if he had been a child again. Then +the chief brownie, dressed like an admiral, mounted the neck of the +machine, touched a spring, and the Bird of Paradise rose high into the +blue sky, flew softly over lakes and forests and prairies, then over a +high mountain of emerald, and at last down through a dense mist into a +picturesque spot, the very image of that on which Castle Frank stood on +the ridge of the great ravine. The machine descended gently into the +castle enclosure amidst a crowd of pets. The brownie touched another +spring, when the Bird of Paradise deposited Robin in the soft, green +grass, as if a new-laid egg in a nest. + +The brownie quietly arranged everything and then quickly left with the +flying machine. He had scarcely gone when Robin was awakened by the +sound of whispering, and, slightly opening his eyes, he saw his black +squirrels around, warning each other not to disturb their master. He +was overjoyed to hear that they had received the gift of speech, and in +his heart he praised the Fairy Queen for her kindness and marvellous +skill. But he could not understand how she managed to transfer him to +where he was. It seemed only a moment before when he was talking to +her among the flowers of Fairyland, and now he was among his pets in +the garden of Castle Frank. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE STRANGE SCHOOL CLASS. + + Full many a beauteous lesson, too, + Their rosy lips can teach; + Great men would wonder if they knew + How well the fairies preach. + _Havergal._ + + +One day in June, when the sky was as blue as it is in Italy, and when +all the trees and shrubs were dressed in bright green, there was a +curious sight in the Fairy Garden of Castle Frank. Under the shade of +a big apple-tree, and upon a long school-like seat, there sat twelve +little jet-black squirrels. They were but half-grown creatures, the +offspring of different parents. They sat upon their haunches, all in a +row, with their forefeet raised as hands, holding tiny slates. Right +in front of them stood Robin, giving them a question in arithmetic to +answer. + +"How many walnuts are 2 and 4 and 6?" + +[Illustration: "How many walnuts are 2 and 4 and 6?"] + +"Not half enough for them anyway," said a tame grey parrot, sitting on +a branch above the class. + +The little squirrels shook their tails and tittered and said +"tut--tut--tut--," but the teacher looked up and gently said-- + +"You are not one of the class; please keep quiet, Chattie" (which was +the parrot's name). + +"I am above their class anyway," replied Chattie. + +"Please do not take away their attention," said the teacher patiently. + +"Yes, the friskies need all their attention. It is the first rule of +getting on. It was the first thing that helped me to speak anyway." +And here Chattie stopped, believing that she had said a wise thing +(which indeed was true), and that it was prudent to stop now for fear +of offending her master. + +"Put up your slates, all that have got the answer down," requested the +teacher. + +Every slate went up except one. Examining them, Robin saw that four +had the correct answer, seven were wrong and one was unfinished. The +teacher commended the successful pupils, helped those that were +mistaken, and worked out the sum for the pupil that had stuck. This +took a long time, for Robin wished everyone to understand before going +further. He then made a sign to Chattie to give the signal for +dismissal of the class. Chattie did so, giving a loud shrill whistle, +ending in a long cat-like yell that filled the woods and made the +friskies and Robin laugh outright; which greatly pleased the parrot, +for she loved to talk and make a noise and be well thought of. The +signal over, the squirrels marched away to their several homes, laid +aside their slates and went out to play. + +"You do not believe much in cram," said Chattie, as the pupils marched +away. + +"Mother says that 'cramming makes the figures blurred and weak; +education makes them bright and strong.'" + +"Ah," replied Chattie, "but laziness makes no figure at all." + +Robin smiled and asked her to come home with him to tea. Chattie was +his constant companion, and she flew down upon his shoulder and rubbed +her head affectionately against his soft, ruddy cheek. + +"I suspect you have a cheat in the class," said the parrot. + +"I hope not," replied Robin trustfully, and he walked into the castle +to partake of tea with his mother, who was alone, his father being far +away on government business. + +Robin's mother was much interested in the progress of the +squirrel-class, not only as a pleasure and discipline for the pupils +themselves, but as helping to train her darling boy in patience and +kindness. These little creatures sometimes found their lessons +irksome, and being naturally frisky they would suddenly leap from their +seat and chase each other over a score of trees, while Robin entreated +and waited patiently for their return; but they were gradually getting +interested in their lessons and trained to attention and submission, +out of love for their teacher. Robin's mother also wished her boy to +learn the value of thoroughness. If he could observe that a pupil that +thoroughly understood the lessons would be able to do them alone, +whereas one that copied from others would fail when left alone, it +would stimulate thoroughness where he himself was a learner. + +When Robin entered the room his mother was already seated and waiting +him. "Good evening, mother dear," he said, and he went forward and +kissed her. He loved his mother much, and well he might. We do not +love people for what they promise or give us, but for the heart that +lies behind. Bad people may give much for their own ends, but we do +not trust or love them. Robin's mother had a tenderness of heart that +warmed and enhanced the beauty of her face, so much so that her +servants and the poorest felt quite at home in her presence. She had +also refinement and intelligence, giving her a dignity that kept even +the rudest from being familiar and disrespectful. The Indians of the +district called her _Ininatig_, the maple tree, because they thought +her so sweet and beautiful. During tea there was much conversation +about Robin's father, and when it was over his mother said-- + +"I have a gift for your best pupil, and something for all of them, when +vacation comes." + +"What are the gifts, mother?" Robin asked eagerly. + +"A big white toy-horse for the first, a doll for the second, a +looking-glass for the third, a tall hat for the fourth, then a trumpet, +a small sword, a little ship, and so on, getting less and less in value +according to the pupil's merit." + +Robin was delighted. + +Next morning the twelve young friskies were in their places as usual, +and it was such a pretty picture to look at the row of glossy black +bodies, with a silk ribbon around each neck to distinguish one black +pupil from another. Number one wore a red ribbon, number two a white, +number three a blue, and so on, each a different color down to the +last, who wore a modest black. + +When the teacher announced that prizes were to be given when the school +session was over, there was much gladness, with many promises of +attention and diligence for the time to come. Proceeding to work, he +asked-- + +"If you divide 24 nuts among 12 good friskies, how many are left?" + +"They're all left if they're bad," said Chattie. + +Red, White, and Blue were correct, each having a big round O on their +slates. So was number four, called Silver Ribbon. Several of the +others were incorrect. Black Ribbon wrote down that he thought the +parrot was right, but that after all he wasn't sure if the nuts were +bad. He had a big head, a loving heart, and open honest brown eyes, +and when the teacher saw what was written down he laughed and took him +up in his arms and kissed him. + +"My simple pet," said Robin, "you have as good a head as the others, +but you have not been so long in the class; and, besides, your mamma is +a poor, sick widow and unable to help you with your lessons." + +Silver Ribbon (whose constant position for a certain reason was against +the apple-tree) was the oftenest correct of all the class; but though +very frolicsome and good-looking, she had a strange sly look about her +face, very different from Black Ribbon's. + +Chattie was pleased to hear her master sympathise with Black Ribbon, +and desiring that no one might overlook his remark, she very distinctly +said-- + +"Failure does not always mean a faulty head." + +She had quite a liking for Black Ribbon, and well she might: he was a +splendid climber of trees, and a magnificent leaper from branch to +branch, his best feats being performed too whether the others were +looking on or not. He was also civil and kind to everyone, and was +most helpful to his sick mother at home. For these reasons, Chattie +had lately taken his arithmetic in hand, but she was a great joker, and +sometimes led the simple-minded little fellow astray. She was very +sorry for his helpless mother, and therefore she visited her every day, +prepared her meals, chatted with her, made her bed and swept the house +with her tail. Indeed widow Black Ribbon's final recovery was due to +Chattie's careful nursing, rather than to Dr. Beaver's baths and poplar +pills. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE ADVICE OF HUG-GRIPPY, THE AFFECTIONATE. + +The class was just finishing when Hug-grippy, the chief of the Chippewa +bears, appeared upon the scene. He had come on a friendly visit, and +to get a breakfast of ripe raspberries and honey that Robin had +promised him for saving the white pony, Plumpy, from the horns of a +huge elk. He had indulged in a recent meal evidently, for his ribs +bulged out so much and so comically that Chattie shrieked with laughter +and cried out-- + +"There is more nourishment in fasting sometimes than in eating over +much." + +Hug-grippy himself laughed, although had he been thin-skinned he would +not, but he was good-natured, and looking up he merely remarked that +Miss Chattie appeared to him to be uttering a contradiction in some way +or other. For his entertainment the teacher gave the class another +question in division, and Hug-grippy wondered at their cleverness. + +"As for me," said he, "I am bad at any kind of counting, but I can't do +division at all. I suppose it's because I----" + +"like everything to myself," said Chattie, finishing his sentence and +laughing a her own joke. + +When Robin told his class to count the bear's toes, they all jumped +from their seat and seized his feet, and before he could recover from +his mock alarm he was astonished to learn what he never could find out +for himself--that he had no fewer than twenty toes. Then the friskies +jumped upon his great back and head like a lot of monkeys. During the +fun and confusion that followed, Black Ribbon ran to his home (which +was close by) and begged a nut from his mamma; then returning quickly, +he stood upon his hind legs and duly presented it to Hug-grippy. The +great bear looked down, and patting the little fellow on the head, +remarked, with a broad grateful smile, that he was a dear wee boy, fit +to be at the head of his class, if for kindness only. Then turning to +Robin he said-- + +"I think you should get up a kindness class, and (with a sly twinkle at +Chattie) I shall come along often, not to talk and joke like some +people, but to give the class an opportunity of putting their learning +into practice." + +"Very good advice," replied Robin. + +Encouraged by this, Hug-grippy continued-- + +"There is too much teaching of the head in this world, and too little +acting of the heart. Is it not intended that every bit of us should be +exercised? If people neglect kindness, that fine feeling will die." + +"Hear, hear," said Robin, "you have spoken well." + +"Mind, master Robin," answered Bruin earnestly, "I am not hinting +anything against your class, for the friskies need head treatment, and +I am sure you show them in your own life how to be kind; but they will +be all the better of doing as well as seeing, and so I have humbly +suggested a class for the exercise of the faculty of kindness." + +"Thank you, Hug-grippy, the idea is capital. I will raise such a class +very soon, and put my best arithmetic-pupils into it by way of reward." + +"Yes," replied Bruin, "the cleverest often need it most, to restore the +proper balance between head and heart; and put Chattie in it," he added +with a funny smile, as he lay down on the grass with his nose between +his toes. + +"And Hug-grippy too," cried Chattie. + +"Oh no," said the bear, "I am trained." + +"But you require to keep up your education, Mr. Bruin." + +"True, very true," replied Hug-grippy quietly, "but too much exercise +is bad, and I need an occasional rest. Besides, my dear, the class +must have someone to work upon, someone to whom to be kind." Putting +one of his great paws over his eyes he looked through his claws at +Robin, and with a modest but humorous smile added-- + +"And if I might venture to speak of myself, I may mention that I am not +unfavorable to honey." + +"Oh you cunning rascal," cried the parrot. + +"Hush," said the white pony, putting back her ears, "hush, hush." + +And Robin laughed. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE ADVICE OF THE SUBTLE SNAKE. + +Two weeks passed, the class had worked hard, and even Black Ribbon had +pulled up wonderfully, but Silver Ribbon had the highest number of +marks. The time for prize-giving, however, had not come, but the +pupils were to get a rest for two or three days before going through a +special examination, which would last half a day. When this was over +the prizes would be given, and then there would be the glorious +holidays, with excursions far into the forest. + +Meantime Silver Ribbon got the preliminary silver medal attached to her +neck. The other pupils crowded around her, congratulated her, and +kissed her. Black Ribbon took her hand in his, and in a simple boyish +way promised her a nut. Then they all carried her home shoulder high, +singing and dancing merrily. Her mother, a kind, thin, old squirrel, +with soft, black, melting eyes, was quite excited as she received her +victorious daughter with a good big hug and many kisses. But her +father, who was a stout, gruff-toned squirrel, though not unkind, was +suspicious. + +"I can't understand," said he, "why a girl that never does anything but +play--never studies at home--should be the very head of a class of +clever boys and girls. There is no special gift in our family to +explain it: I fear there is something wrong." + +And, sad to say, her father's honest suspicion was too well founded. +The explanation is this. One day shortly after the class was formed, +and when the other squirrels had all gone home from play, either to +study or help their parents, Silver Ribbon remained stealthily behind +to amuse herself as best she could. Hearing a soft noise in the tree +upon whose branches she was leaping and running, she turned quickly +round and saw a large, dark snake with gleaming, piercing eyes. She +was frightened and was about to run away, which she could easily have +done, as the reptile was not very near, but it spoke at once, and in a +soft, attractive, motherly voice persuaded her to stay a minute. + +"Do you wish to be at the head of your class, dear?" enquired the snake. + +"I do indeed," answered Silver Ribbon, "it is a great honor." + +"You can easily secure it," said the snake. + +"Without labor and trouble?" enquired the squirrel. + +"Yes, if you do what I tell you." + +"What shall I do?" asked the squirrel. + +"What is your position in the class at present?" the reptile asked. + +"I am second, but I have reached it mainly by a cunning copying from +the other slates, and I fear I can't keep that up long." + +"You suffer slightly from a weak spine, don't you?" enquired the snake +in a sympathetic tone. + +"I do," said Silver Ribbon. + +"Well, dear, take my advice, and when the class meets again go to your +teacher in a very modest manner and make a graceful curtsey. Tell him +that though you would not in the least mind being at the lower end of +the class, yet because of your weak back he might favor you by allowing +you the support of the shade tree opposite the 4th place. This will +win him, for his mother has taught him to love modesty and to be kind. +Having secured that place for the remainder of the session, watch what +the three pupils above you jot down on their slates, and copy all their +answers if they be different. When the teacher comes to examine the +slates, beginning with number one, and mentions who is correct, you +will know which answer to rub out, which you can easily do without +being suspected. Do as I tell you, and you will be as often successful +as any one of the three best pupils above you is correct. Be clever, +be cunning, there is no harm in wrong-doing, and you will get honor and +reward without any trouble, with plenty of time to go about idle and +amuse yourself. Glide along through life as I do, dear, as smoothly +and as pleasantly as you can, taking everything and giving nothing." + +Although Silver Ribbon could not quite shake off her dread of the +snake, and therefore kept her former safe distance, yet the advice was +ingenious and charming. She at once agreed to take it, and having +thanked the cunning reptile, she hurriedly scampered home. + +"I shall have you as a choice mouthful yet, and, through you, all the +rest of your nimble pretty crowd," said the snake, when Silver Ribbon +was gone. The reptile was an active specimen of the great +boa-constrictor tribe, thirty feet long. It had taken a trip from the +sunny South to the North, deceiving and doing much mischief on the way. +Its advice was the secret of Silver Ribbon's success. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE MODEST MEDALLIST. + +In the previous chapter we turned aside and went a long way back--back +nearly as far as the formation of the class--to explain how Silver +Ribbon had come to be the most successful pupil, at least so far as to +win the preliminary silver medal. We come forward now to where we left +off, at the reference to two or three days' rest from study. That rest +passed away very quickly. Then came the final tug-of-war, the day of +special examination which was to reveal who was really the best scholar. + +All the pupils were in the garden on a Friday morning at 9 o'clock +prompt. Their black fur was beautiful and glossy--nicely washed and +brushed for the occasion--and their silken ribbons were neatly tied and +clean. Silver Ribbon looked exceedingly well, and her silver medal was +burnished till it shone like a little moon. When all the pupils had +gathered together they gave her a ringing cheer. Black Ribbon looked +clean and tidy, but he seemed as if he had been studying rather than +resting, for his lovely dark eyes were somewhat weary. + +Silver Ribbon took up her place against the apple-tree as usual, but +judge of her surprise and alarm when, by Hug-grippy's advice, the +pupils were separated from each other a considerable distance, and +seated on chairs brought out for the occasion. Having a sprightly +disposition, however, she shook off her fears, and, trusting to chance +and to what little she had learned, she prepared for the contest. + +Robin was a reasonable schoolmaster, and did not give questions that +had not been already gone over, or that could not be understood. When +each pupil had finished a question, the teacher went over quietly, +examined the slate, and whispered the result. + +Silver Ribbon succeeded with the first question, and she was happy; +with the second also, and her spirits rose high. She was, she thought, +going to be chief prize-winner and the head of her class after all. +But her hopes were soon crushed. She was wrong in the 3rd question and +the 4th, still she held on bravely. She was wrong in the 5th, 6th and +7th, and her spirits fell. She looked wistfully towards the best +pupils' slates, but even her sharp eyes could not discern the figures. +When she found herself incorrect in questions 8, 9 and 10, she felt +sick at heart, and when she tackled the remaining questions her heart +palpitated painfully, the perspiration came down in beads from her +little forehead, and her hands felt clammy and cold. She was wrong to +the very last, and she fell into complete despair. + +When the results were announced to all the class, everyone was +surprised to hear that Black Ribbon was first and that Silver Ribbon +was last. Black Ribbon was cheered three times over, and was +astonished to find himself famous, while poor Silver Ribbon was dazed, +and her little head dropped upon her medal and breast. As her chin +touched the medal, she was reminded of its presence, a shining mockery +seen by all, and she hated it from the bottom of her heart. + +Robin drew up the white toy-horse and presented it to Black Ribbon, and +the class cheered again and again. He then presented the other gifts +to the pupils in the order of merit till he came to poor Silver Ribbon. +He was so sorry when placing his hand gently underneath her little chin +and raising her head he saw that her eyes were dull, wet and very sad. +He knew at last that she had been a copyist and a deceiver, but he gave +her no rebuke while removing the medal from her breast. He felt keenly +that she was suffering punishment enough from disappointment, shame and +humiliation. Not knowing how she had been tempted to cheat him, he +placed by her side the only remaining gift, which was a pretty little +toy snake. All eyes were upon her, saying nothing, yet pitying and +despising her. She looked sideways at the toy a moment and +shuddered--shuddered at what would have delighted any of the +others--and being unable to bear the shame any longer she leaped from +her chair and ran away. + +"Didn't I tell you that you had a cheat in the class?" said Chattie +sorrowfully. + +"She has cheated herself more than anyone else," answered Robin +regretfully. + +"One can't live long on empty nuts," said Hug-grippy gloomily. + +Robin now commended the class for their diligence and progress, and +amidst great cheering announced a long vacation. He then tied the +silver medal with golden silk on the neck of Black Ribbon, who tried to +repress a happy smile, while all the others cheered wildly. Taking the +little victor up in his arms, he caressed him and said-- + +"My clever pet, my mother has asked me to say that hard work and +honesty have their true and lasting reward. Your name henceforth is +Golden Ribbon." + +The signal was given to Chattie, and she dismissed the class with an +exultant Indian whoop that even startled big Bruin and made him laugh. + +Said he, "I thought for a moment that my enemies had suddenly come upon +me." + +Three of the best pupils--Red, White and Blue, referred to, +before--then ran forward and seizing Golden Ribbon, lifted him upon the +back of his white toy horse. Getting confused, the little black rider +sat upon the horse's neck and held it by the ears. Robin went in front +and pulled, while all the pupils marched behind in pairs, singing +merrily as they tripped along. Bruin brought up the rear with all the +presents on his big, broad back. Golden Ribbon was drawn to the castle +and duly presented to Robin's mother, who praised and kissed him, while +she presented him with a gilt-edged picture book full of wonderful +stories. + +When Golden Ribbon was drawn home to his own door they all parted from +him with much hand-shaking but with silence, because his mother was +sick. Entering the door and going over to her bedside he said-- + +"Mother, dear, I am first, and here is a great, beautiful picture book, +and there is a big, toy horse at the door." + +"My darling boy," said his mamma, raising her head and opening her eyes +wide when she saw the medal and golden band around his neck, "I can +scarcely believe it, but you deserve it, for you have been a hard, +honest worker, as well as most loving and attentive to me," and she +kissed him tenderly. Then laying her head upon the pillow she wept +with joy. + +That night Silver Ribbon sobbed herself to sleep upon her mamma's neck. +Her mother did not punish her, for she knew that she had pain enough. +She tried indeed to comfort her by saying that every one would forgive +her if she would begin and do better for the future, for she was very +grieved for her deceitful little child. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE FIGHT IN THE RAVINE. + +When morning came, Silver Ribbon heard all the others at play with +Golden Ribbon's horse, and she ventured out. But on seeing the crowd +she was still so ashamed that she slipped quietly past, and went right +into the wood. Going down the edge of the deep ravine she wandered she +knew not and cared not where, till she came to the winding stream at +the bottom. Seeing Bruin taking a drink she passed softly down the +bank, and coming to a grassy spot she sat down, feeling very unhappy. +She watched for awhile the little fishes as they darted to and fro, +envying their happiness. + +But hearing a gliding movement in the grass behind her, what was her +horror when on turning round she saw the big snake a few feet away, its +head raised, its neck arched, and its cunning eyes shining with +fiendish glee. Poor Silver Ribbon would have run away, but she could +not; she was too near and was fascinated. + +[Illustration: FASCINATED.] + +"Aha," said the hideous reptile with a hiss, "I have got you now." + + * * * * * + +Although Chattie was a funny bird and straightforward, still she had a +liking for Silver Ribbon, and when with her quick eyes she saw the poor +sad thing wandering aimlessly down the ravine, she followed secretly +from tree to tree to watch over her. Noticing the rise of the horrid +snake's head, she flew back like an arrow to Castle Frank to tell of +Silver Ribbon's danger. + +Robin seized a short loaded gun and ran after the parrot as fast as he +could. The brushwood was very thick but he pressed on, and as he drew +near the spot he heard roars and groans and hissing. Getting out into +the open, he saw the snake and Hug-grippy fighting desperately. The +reptile was coiled around the bear's body, its head was raised, its +mouth wide open, and its glittering eyes were looking straight into +Bruin's face. It was gripping Hug-grippy dreadfully: he was in agony +and was losing breath. + +Kneeling down upon one knee, Robin raised his gun; but being scarcely +near enough, it was dangerous to fire--he might shoot the bear. +Running right up, without realizing his danger, he went close behind +the combatants. Not noticing the serpent's tail in the grass he trod +upon it, when round his ankle it swept, and in an instant he was thrown +upon his face and stunned. + +Bruin, though fighting bravely, was losing the battle. Chattie was +circling wildly in the air and screaming. Everything seemed to be lost. + +Suddenly Robin woke up, drew a hunting knife from his belt and slashed +the serpent's tail, setting himself free. The reptile turned its +arched head towards him, showed its tiger-like fangs and hissed as from +a pipe of steam. Robin jumped back a little and picked up his gun. +Placing it to his shoulder, he took rapid aim within a few feet of the +serpent's head--bang went fire and smoke and bullet--snake and bear +tumbled down together and rolled upon the grass. The unusual sometimes +happens, a boy had done the work of the bravest man. The huge, dark +monster was shot through the head, and its long, scaly body twisted and +quivered in death. + +Hug-grippy, slowly disentangling himself, went down to the brook all in +a tremble, and freely drank of the water. He rested for a little in +the cooling stream and rose up refreshed. Coming forward to Robin, he +licked his extended hand in unspoken thankfulness. As a member of a +kindness class he had come to the aid of Silver Ribbon just in time to +break the spell, yet he himself would have perished but for the timely +aid of a brave, true boy. + +"Hurrah for my beloved young master, and for dear old Hug-grippy," +shrieked Chattie in hysteric happiness. + +"Don't mention me," said Bruin softly, with a smile broad and funny. + +"Nor me," said Robin modestly; "it is due to us all," added he with a +sweet becoming smile. + +And the young soldier-teacher, with Chattie on his shoulder and +Hug-grippy by his side carrying the gun, went home with glad and +exultant heart to the quaint castle. + +Silver Ribbon became completely changed, working honestly and well; and +from that time forward she was respected and loved. + +The awful conflict was never forgotten by the many pets of Castle +Frank: they talked over it now and again all their lives, and they +thought how good and great was the young master, who went through such +trouble and danger for the benefit of creatures so much his inferior. + +"I guess," said Red Ribbon on a certain occasion, "Master Robin +understands that we have feelings as well as human people." + +Chattie, who could quote Scripture, sometimes more appropriately than +greater parrots, chimed in-- + +"A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast." + +"Dearie me," said Green Ribbon, "I never knew there was a text for us +before." + + * * * * * + + But Fairyland we now must leave-- + The land of Robin's spell. + Adieu! Celeste, magic Queen: + We like thy teaching well. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +ROBIN'S BOOK. + +When Robin went to school in a great city, he saw children trifling +with their lessons, copying from the workers, and cheating their +teachers. They succeeded for a time, but when the day of searching +trial came, he saw them fail. + +When Robin became a young man, he saw many who, carrying up the craft +and ignorance of earlier days, were utterly broken down in the great +business of the world. Impressed with the ruin that lies in shunning +true and ennobling labor, he wrote a little book, and the title was-- + +"MEN THAT CHEAT THEMSELVES." + + + + +THE SNOW-WHITE FOX. + +There was once a lion with a bushy mane, whose name was Muffler. He +lived in a country, called Antartika, where the hills were high, the +valleys low, the forests thick, and the waters broad and deep. It was +a fertile land, where grass and fruits and flowers grew in abundance. +It was also a rich, rich country, full of precious stones lying on the +ground, shining in the beds of the rivers, and glittering on the face +of the mountains. Antartika was indeed a beautiful land. + +But no people lived there, nothing but birds and beasts and fishes, and +a wonderful race of tailless apes that died out long ago. And Muffler, +the lion, was king. + +On a certain day, a law-court day, Muffler sat on a diamond rock, and +at his back was a rock of ruby blazing in the sun. On his head was a +crown of laurel powdered with gold-dust and pearls. Beside him stood +Old Primeval the ape, his faithful adviser, wearing on his neck a +wreath of white poplar leaves dusted with silver, and holding in his +hand a club inlaid with shining emeralds. On each side of the king and +behind him were many young lions looking respectful and brave. Some +distance in front was a crowd of all kinds of beasts, such as tigers, +panthers, bears, wild-boars, wolves, hyenas, foxes, wild-cats, and even +deer, sheep and goats, while the trees around were covered with birds +of brilliant plumage. And they were all very quiet, because they were +expecting something. + +"Who is next?" enquired the king. + +"Crafticus, come forward," cried old Primeval. + +There was a movement among the beasts as of someone pushing his way, +and then there came out from among them a snow-white fox with a bushy +tail. He walked forward with bowed head till he stood before the great +Muffler, who looked down at him sternly and haughtily. + +"Stand up," commanded the king. + +Crafticus stood on his hind legs, and his eyes blinked because of the +light from the ruby, which made him look as if covered with blood. + +"State the charge," said the king turning to his counsellor. + +"Crafticus," said Primeval solemnly, "you are charged with wilfully +slaying Awkwardibus, the king's gander, last night up beside Lake Snow +among the Topaz Hills. What have you got to say in self-defence?" + +"I did not know that the gander was the king's," replied the fox in a +humble tone. + +"Crafticus, you must have known, knowing that the king's ganders and +geese are green, while all the others are gray, black, and white," and +the counsellor thought he had promptly caught the fox, and that the +king would be highly pleased. + +But Crafticus replied--"There was a storm up there last night, and the +gander was covered with snow--in my eyes he was white." + +Old Primeval looked perplexed and annoyed. + +But king Muffler laughed and his mane shook. "Crafticus is clever," +said he. "I know something myself about the case, nevertheless call +for witnesses." + +"There is but one witness, O king, and that is the gander's widow." + +"Call her," said the king. + +"Stupidify, come to the front," cried the counsellor. + +The green goose waddled up before the king, napped her wings, cackled, +and screamed hysterically. + +"Be silent, you idiot, don't you see the king?" Primeval shouted +between her cries. + +"Where?" replied the goose, looking around her confused. + +"There," said Primeval emphatically, pointing his emerald club at +Muffler's nose. + +"Oh yes, I think I see him," cried the goose through her tears. "But I +thought the king was like my lovely husband. Oh dear me," and she +cried bitterly. + +King Muffler cast his eyes down towards her with pity and contempt. + +"Stupidify," said Primeval gravely, "was there a fall of snow last +night?" + +"What? What?" enquired the goose. + +"Are you deaf, you silly creature?" cried Primeval angrily. "Was there +not a fall of snow last night?" He wanted to frighten her into saying +there was, for he thought the king admired the fox and wished him to +escape. + +"Be patient, be patient," said king Muffler, "my counsellor's conduct +should be dignified. Be gentle with the poor widow." + +"Pardon me, O king," replied Primeval bowing low. Then turning to the +goose he enquired, + +"Are you deaf, dear?" + +"Yes, sir," answered she, and receiving such sympathy she screamed +loudly; which was rather annoying to Muffler's ears, for they jerked as +if wasps were at their tips. + +When the goose quieted down, Primeval asked: "You don't think of course +there was any snow last night, my dear?" He wanted to coax her to say +there wasn't, for he now thought the king was in her favor. + +"I don't remember," answered Stupidify; and Primeval scratched his head +in disgust, while the king gave a muffled laugh. + +"O king Muffler," said Primeval, "I can proceed no further, for the +green goose is no use as a witness. Is the explanation given by +Crafticus satisfactory? Does he go free?" + +"No," replied the king, "his explanation is cunning, but untrue. I +went to the top of the Topaz Mountain last night to get nearer the ear +of the man in the moon, in order to invite him down to see me and my +country. He did not seem to hear me, although I roared and shouted at +him all night, and during the time I was there not a flake of snow +fell. Therefore my judgment is that Crafticus did know that +Awkwardibus the gander was mine, for it was green and nothing else all +the time. Crafticus, I do therefore sentence you to leave your wife +and children, with all the rest of the Craftikites, and to stay with +widow Stupidify in my barn and its near surroundings, and to provide +food and comfort for her as long as she lives." + +This was a deep humiliation, and Crafticus howled with shame and +disgust. When he moved away from the king's presence with the fat +goose waddling by his side, all the hyenas laughed and laughed. And +this was so vexing to him that he slyly turned his head toward +Stupidify and showed her all his teeth in anger. + +So they walked away in the direction of the king's barn, which was to +be their home when they were not out in search of food. + + * * * * * + +That night before the goose came in, Crafticus thought and thought how +he could get rid of Stupidify. At last he rose up and sniffed through +the dried grass in search of Furrier, the black cat. + +Furrier was asleep; but Crafticus nipped his left ear gently, and he +awoke with a yawn and stretched out his claws. + +"What do you want?" said he, looking up. + +"I wish you to help me to get rid of that hateful goose, dear Furrier." + +"I am afraid of the king," replied the cat. + +"You needn't, you will be quite safe. I have a cunning plan, but I +need your help, and I will reward you well." + +[Illustration: CRAFTICUS. "I have a cunning plan."] + +Crafticus then told his plan, and Purrier agreed and went out to meet +the goose, while the fox lay down in a low broad box, as if fast asleep. + + * * * * * + +"Hail, Stupidify, lovely fat goose," cried Furrier, when he met her and +saw her by the light of the moon. + +"Joy be with you, dear sooty cat." + +"Has Crafticus provided any food for you to-day?" + +"Not a single speck, and I have been searching till now and have +scarcely got any--this place is new to me, as you know." + +"Oh my poor dear goose, how sorry I am." + +And hearing this she sat down and screamed. + +"Arise and assert your rights," said Purrier, "and I will help you. +Let us go together to Crafticus, and if he be as careless about your +bed as about your food, you just scream and scream till you get what +you want." + +So they went along side by side, and when they entered the barn and +looked into the box, Crafticus appeared to be in a deep sleep, but he +was only pretending. + +Purrier leaped in softly and lay beside him. "Oh this is cold," said +he. Then he went to the other side and lay down. "Oh, this is cold +also," and he rose up shivering. Then he poked his paw under the fox +and whispered--"Ha, ha, this is warm. The selfish fellow--it is just +like him to choose the warmest spot. Come and judge for yourself, poor +neglected Stupidify." + +The goose jumped in clumsily and fell on her fat breast. Then she +poked her beak under Crafticus and found it to be as the cat had said. +It never struck her that the heat came from the fox's own body. + +"Now, demand your rights," said Purrier, "demand a share of the +comfortable spot," and he went away and lay down among the dried grass. + +"I want my rights," cried the goose, in the fox's ear. + +"What?" said Crafticus, rubbing his eyes. + +"I want my rights, I want you to move." + +"You have got your rights and double your rights. You can rest on +either side of me and I have only the centre." + +"I want my share of the warm part." + +"How can the centre be warmer than the sides?" + +"Let me try," said the goose. + +"All right, but it is very disturbing," replied the fox, and he rose up +and let the goose sit down. + +"It is just as I felt with my beak, it is the warmest spot, and you +can't deny it. Now, I want my share of it." + +"You won't get it, your request is absurd," and he pushed her aside. +Then he lay down and buried his eyes in his tail, as if trying to sleep. + +Stupidify looked as if she might give in. + +"Demand your rights," cried Purrier, in a shrill menacing voice; "the +king is on your side," he added, with an emphatic yell. + +"I want my rights," cried the goose, encouraged to quarrelsomeness, and +she bit Crafticus on the ear. + +"Stupidify," said the fox, slowly raising his head, "you are breaking +my rest. Don't you know that I have to run in the king's chamois chase +to-morrow, and that I need all the sleep I can get?" + +"The king is my friend," answered the goose with a chuckle and a +stubborn look. + +"Do let me alone," rejoined the fox, as he buried his face again in his +tail. But it was no use. + +"I want my rights, I want my rights," screamed the goose, and she went +on demanding them or scolding and hissing every now and then till +midnight. + +At last Crafticus arose and said--"I can't stand this any longer. I +can't get any sleep, and I shall be quite unfit for the king's chase." +Then turning to the goose he cried--"Wretch, you have provoked me to +kill you, and you have yourself to blame"; and having said this, he +seized Stupidify by the neck and killed her. + +Purrier now sprang from his bed and leaped into the box beside +Crafticus, and they had a right royal feast together. They chatted and +laughed, and Purrier told what he said to the goose when he met her and +walked with her towards the barn. + +"You have done well, Purrier, and I'll never forget you." + +"Oh, my part was nothing," replied he, "it was your own wise head that +planned the whole trick. And when your case comes again before the +king, I am sure it can't be broken." + +"Thank you sincerely," rejoined Crafticus. "I shall now get back to my +dear, sorrowing wife and children." + + * * * * * + +Two days afterwards, the fox stood again before the king. + +"Crafticus," said the counsellor, with a grave face, "you are charged +this time with wilfully killing Stupidify, the king's fat goose. Now +what have you to say for yourself?" + +Then Crafticus told the whole story of his provocation in a persuasive, +modest manner, and he finished by saying-- + +"Purrier, if I mistake not, was present at the time, and, if so, he +will be able to support every word I have spoken." + +"Call for the black cat," commanded the king. + +"Purrier, to the front," cried Primeval. + +With a few fine springs the cat was in his place and on his hind legs +before the king. But his eyes were closed because of the glare of +light from the ruby and the diamond. + +"Tell king Muffler all you know about Stupidify's treatment of +Crafticus." + +Purrier did so and added-- + +"I was so sorry and indignant after the selfish goose sat down in the +poor fox's warm place that I called out to him--'Demand your rights, +the king is on your side.'" + +Then Purrier finished by saying-- + +"Pardon me, O king, if I venture to say that such senseless, irritating +conduct as the goose exhibited all that night might almost try your own +great patience." + +"It would indeed," said Muffler, "it was absurd and provoking in the +highest degree, and if there be nothing to set aside your testimony, +Crafticus shall go free." And when Purrier bowed and sprang away, the +king smiled approvingly and called after him--"You are a sympathetic, +clever little fellow, and I like your glossy, black coat." + +"Next witness," said Muffler. + +"Niblius, come forward," cried the counsellor. + +But although everyone looked, no one could see Niblius, and they +wondered if he had dared not to be present. At last a little mouse +with a white face and white feet was seen running up the hairy body of +Primeval and out along his extended arm, and then sitting bolt upright +on his broad palm. Then it bowed with a pretty jerk to king Muffler, +and he nodded back and smiled. + +"I suppose you will be able to prove the black cat's words to be true?" +remarked Primeval. + +"No, my king," replied the little fellow bravely, and he told +everything he overheard in the barn. + +King Muffler opened his eyes in astonishment and enquired-- + +"Is Niblius truthful?" + +"He was never known to tell a lie in all his life," answered Primeval. + +"Then Purrier must be very treacherous," rejoined the king. + +"He is," said the counsellor. + +"It is no new thing," remarked the king, "for crafty creatures to get +the simple to begin a foolish quarrel." + +[Illustration: KING MUFFLER. "It is no new thing," remarked the king, +"for crafty creatures to get the simple to begin a foolish quarrel."] + +"True, O king, and the crafty gain their end by seeming to be in the +right." + +"If not found out," said Muffler. "Crafticus," he added, indignantly, +"such trickery, if practised by all my subjects, would break up my +mighty realm. And, besides, you showed no mercy. I do therefore +sentence you to be struck down by the lion Thunderpeal, my grumbling +uncle, or, if you choose, to be torn in pieces by the tiger Clawnailia, +my cruel cousin, or to the mercy of anyone as cruel-hearted as +yourself, and if you can escape their terrible clutches, good and well. +I am sorry for you, and I am doubly sorry that talent like yours should +be so much abused." + +"I bow to your will, O King," said Crafticus meekly. + +The fox's wife and children now came forward to bid him farewell +forever. They were beautiful creatures, especially the little foxes, +and their cries were heart-rending. They looked wistfully into the +eyes of the condemned Crafticus, and placed their heads gently and +affectionately beside his drooping head. + +When Thunderpeal advanced by the counsellor's request to separate them, +he had much difficulty in pushing them away, and king Muffler's big +heart was touched with sorrow. + +Then Crafticus stood alone by the side of Thunderpeal, who waited +impatiently the signal to strike him down. + +"O king," said Crafticus, "may I speak one word?" + +"You may, but make haste, for my uncle's face is getting dark and +cloudy." + +"You gave me my choice of a slayer, O king?" + +"I did, but of one as cruel as yourself." + +"You placed me in their mercy, O king?" + +"I did, and I am very sorry for you, but the law must take its course." + +"Then, O king Muffler, I choose my wife." + +On hearing this the king's eyes opened wide, while Thunderpeal broke +into a roar of anger, but a flash of Muffler's eyes sent him howling +away. Then the king turned toward his counsellor and said-- + +"Well, well, isn't Crafticus clever? He catches at words as a lawyer +handles them among mankind. Who would have thought that he would turn +my words in his own favor?" Then Muffler laughed, and said--"he +deserves to escape. After all, it was only a goose, and the goose was +my own, and I can well afford the loss." And he laughed till his mane +shook. "Go, Crafticus," he added, "and be slain by the mercy of your +wife--by one indeed as cruel as yourself when it is a case of geese and +ganders." + +Crafticus bowed low and answered-- + +"I am deeply thankful, O king Muffler, for your justice and sympathy." + +"Before you go," said the king, "there is one command I desire to make." + +"I await your pleasure, O king." + +"Make a right use of your talents, my Crafticus--be straightforward, be +straightforward." + +"I will, my king, I will." + +Old Primeval smiled but said nothing. + +Then Crafticus left with a bound, and getting into the presence of his +wife and children, they killed him nearly--with kindness. + + + + +THE SONG-SPARROW. + +The song-sparrow sang a long sweet song. Then he stopped and looked +around. Butterflies and bees and other insects were on the wing +everywhere, floating, darting and dancing in the sunshine; but the bird +did not seek to disturb any of them, he had had a good breakfast of +berries, and he was happy. + +He might well be happy, not only for delicious food and glorious +sunshine and power to sing a lovely song, but for the fact that his +home was near. And in that home were his young ones--his tiny +children,--and his little wife. + +So the song-sparrow raised his rufous head, and opening his mouth, and +vibrating his throat, he sang again as if in thankfulness and praise. + +"Listen, Richard," said his little mate suddenly, and of course in her +own tongue, "listen, listen." She called him "Richard," but if he were +in a cage people would call him "Dickie." + +Richard stopped in the middle of his song, and bending down his head, +while turning his right eye toward a pretty cottage close by, he +listened attentively and with great delight. + +"Jenny," remarked he to his tiny wife, when the cottage song was done, +"Master George is at the open window, the beautiful day has stirred his +heart, and he has sung happily and well." + +"Yes," said Jenny, "this must be Saturday, for his tone is unusually +bright and happy." + +"It is always happy," answered Richard. + +"True," said Jenny, "but it is happier to-day." + +"Well, be it so, we won't differ, dear." + +"That is right, dear husband, we must show a good example to our +children;" and the mother-sparrow nestled her little ones lovingly. + +"There is only one thing that makes me anxious in this glad world," +remarked Richard as he looked down from the bush to the comfortable +nest in the grass. + +"What is it husband?" + +"I am afraid of that snake I saw gliding outside and round the fence +yesterday." + +"Ah, yes," replied the little mother, "it makes my flesh creep to think +of it; but I hope it won't venture into the garden." + +"I trust not," said Richard; "but if I were a man, and if I had a gun, +I should make short work of it." + +"Aren't guns wonderful things, husband? How they blow out fire and +smoke, and what a deafening noise they make!" + +"They are indeed wonderful, Jenny; but aren't they fearful? Do you +remember how the poor hare fell, although it was far away from the gun +and running like a railway train?" + +"I do, Richard; it tumbled over just as the fire burst out, and there +was such a big blood spot on its side. Oh, guns are dreadful things." + +"They are, Jenny, and we ought to be thankful that nobody around this +garden uses them," said Richard, with a look of relief. + +"Isn't Master George a fine boy?" remarked Jenny. + +"He is; he wouldn't hurt a fly--that is, pull off its legs and then its +head and torment it, as wicked youngsters do." + +"I love to see him in the garden," said Jenny; "somehow I feel safer +when he is near. He is so big compared with you, Richard, and so kind. +He comes gently towards our nest, and looks down on me with his +interesting, dark grey eyes; then he gets down on his knees, and +stretching out his forefinger he lightly strokes my head and wings, +saying as he does so--'Don't be frightened, birdie, I won't hurt you.' +I was scared at first, and jumped out and flew away; but I don't do +that now." + +"Yes, we know our friends," chimed in Richard, "and Master George is +one of them." + +The two birds went on speaking to each other this way in praise of the +kindly boy, and then the mother-bird said-- + +"Sing me another song, Richard; I never tire of hearing your voice. +Sing out, dear, with all your might, and make every one happy far and +near." + +Richard was about to open his beak and fill the air with melody, when +his quick eye detected something among the grass. He uttered a sharp +note of warning, and the mother sparrow shrank close into the nest. + +"The snake is coming," shouted Richard. But Jenny did not move, she +only kept flat and shuddered. + +"Come from the nest, and we will mislead the reptile," cried Richard. + +Then both birds flew around and at and over the snake, doing their +utmost to bewilder it; but it was no use--the cunning creature glided +on--it knew its helpless prey was near; and the poor parents were +frantic, as it raised its head and looked around. + + * * * * * + +"Mother," said George, as he looked into the garden through the open +window, "what can be wrong with our song-sparrows?" + +His mother came forward, and seeing the birds fluttering about +excitedly, she said-- + +"Run, George, there is a cat or some other enemy at the nest." + +Without a moment's delay the lad seized a cane, and running along the +garden-walk and jumping over flower-beds and bushes, he came to the +scene of the disturbance. He knew well where the nest was, and looking +to that spot he was horrified to see the snake bending over it with +arched neck and head, preparing to devour the helpless young +song-sparrows. Springing fearlessly forward like a hound, George smote +the snake on the head, and that one blow was enough. But grasping its +tail he jerked it back from the nest, and stamped upon its head, to +make sure that the life was gone. Then lifting it across his cane he +went to the fence, and flung it over in indignant disgust. + +Oh, how the parent song-sparrows rejoiced. The mother flew to the nest +to examine and fondle her young, while the father-bird went up on the +twig of a white rose-bush and sang a rapturous song of deliverance. + +"Ever since then the male sparrow has shown his gratitude to George in +a truly wonderful manner. When he goes into the garden the sparrow +will fly to him, sometimes alighting on his head, at other times on his +shoulder, all the while pouring out a tumultuous song of praise and +gratitude." + + * * * * * + +"How is it, Richard," said Jenny one day, "that nearly all these great +creatures called mankind look upon us as if we had very little +understanding in our head? Is it because we are so little and wear +feathers?" + +"Oh, no, it is because our language is different. In fact, they really +think we do not speak at all, and it seems to them that where there is +no speech there is little or no thought." + +"What language does Master George speak, Richard?" + +"English, dear, a beautiful language when well spoken and especially +when well sung." + +"And what language do we speak, Richard?" + +Sloping his head a little to the side, Richard thought for a moment and +then replied with a funny twinkle in his eye-- + +"Our language is Song-Sparrowish." + +"Dear me," said Jenny, "it must be greater than English, when it needs +such a big word. But Master George understands it, doesn't he?" + +"He does indeed, he does, because he is well acquainted with us. I +overheard him say the other day that he understood our ways well, and +that our musical language and gratitude were to him a great delight." + +"Here he comes," exclaimed Jenny. "See, he opens the garden-gate. I +do love to see his winsome, cheerful face." + +"And he is both brave and kind," answered Richard, clearing his throat +and preparing to deliver an eloquent speech in Song-Sparrowish. + +"Now raise your song of gratitude, dear, and sing your very best." + + * * * * * + +The above little story is founded on a fact recorded in the *_Courier +Journal_. + + + + +*A SONG-SPARROW'S GRATITUDE. + +It is a rare occurrence for animals in a wild state to select man for a +companion and friend, yet well-authenticated instances where this has +been done are a matter of record. The following incident is vouched +for by a young lady who is a close and accurate observer: + +"Last week my brother, a lad of 12, killed a snake which was just in +the act of robbing a song-sparrow's nest. Ever since then the male +sparrow has shown his gratitude to George in a truly wonderful manner. +When he goes into the garden the sparrow will fly to him, sometimes +alighting on his head, at other times on his shoulder, all the while +pouring out a tumultuous song of praise and gratitude. It will +accompany him about the garden, never leaving him until he reaches the +garden gate. George, as you know, is a quiet boy who loves animals, +and this may account in a degree for the sparrow's extraordinary +actions."--_Courier Journal_. + + + + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Fairy School of Castle Frank, by Grant Balfour + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FAIRY SCHOOL OF CASTLE FRANK *** + +***** This file should be named 33606.txt or 33606.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/3/6/0/33606/ + +Produced by Al Haines + +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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