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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a7b9c55 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #54734 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/54734) diff --git a/old/54734-0.txt b/old/54734-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 7eb2925..0000000 --- a/old/54734-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,17090 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Tales of Laughter, by -Kate Douglas Wiggin and Nora Archibald Smith - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Tales of Laughter - A third fairy book - -Author: Kate Douglas Wiggin - Nora Archibald Smith - -Release Date: May 16, 2017 [EBook #54734] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TALES OF LAUGHTER *** - - - - -Produced by Richard Tonsing and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - - - LAUGH NOR SMILE NOT, LITTLE FRIEND, - NOR THE FIRST TALE READ TO END, - TILL YOUR NAME BELOW IS SHOWN, - AND THE BOOK’S YOUR VERY OWN. - - -[Illustration] - - - - - _Tales of Laughter_ - - - - - MCCLURE’S LIBRARY OF CHILDREN’S CLASSICS - - ⁂ - - EDITED BY KATE DOUGLAS WIGGIN AND NORA ARCHIBALD SMITH - - - GOLDEN NUMBERS - - A BOOK OF VERSE FOR YOUTH - - ⁂ - - THE POSY RING - - A BOOK OF VERSE FOR CHILDREN - - ⁂ - - PINAFORE PALACE - - A BOOK OF RHYMES FOR THE NURSERY - - ⁂ - - _Library of Fairy Literature_ - - THE FAIRY RING - - ⁂ - - MAGIC CASEMENTS - - A SECOND FAIRY BOOK - - ⁂ - - OTHER VOLUMES TO FOLLOW - - - _Send to the publishers for Complete Descriptive Catalogue_ - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - TALES OF LAUGHTER - _A THIRD FAIRY BOOK_ - - - EDITED BY - - KATE DOUGLAS WIGGIN - - AND - - NORA ARCHIBALD SMITH - -[Illustration] - - NEW YORK - THE MCCLURE COMPANY - MCMVIII - - - - - _Copyright, 1908, by The McClure Company_ - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - _PUBLISHERS’ NOTE_ - - -_The McClure Company wish to make acknowledgment of their indebtedness -to the following publishers_: - -_G. P. Putnam’s Sons, for permission to use “The Greedy Cat,” “Father -Bruin in the Corner,” “The Pancake,” “The Death of Chanticleer,” -“Reynard Wants to Taste Horse Flesh,” “Bruin and Reynard Partners,” -“Pork and Honey,” and “Slip Root: Catch Reynard’s Foot,” from Tales from -the Field; “The Most Frugal of Men,” “The Moon Cake,” “The Ladle that -Fell from the Moon,” “The Young Head of the Family,” and “The Dreadful -Boar,” from Chinese Nights Entertainment._ - -_The American Book Company, for permission to use “Little Tuppen,” from -Fairy Stories and Fables._ - -_Little, Brown & Company, for permission to use “The Story of the Four -Little Children who Went Round the World,” from Edward Lear’s Nonsense -Books._ - -_F. A. Stokes Company, for permission to use “Little Black Mingo,” “The -Lad and the Fox,” “The Old Woman and the Tramp,” “The Cook and the -Crested Hen,” and “The Old Woman and the Fish,” from Fairy Tales from -the Swedish; “One’s Own Children Always Prettiest,” and “The Princess -whom Nobody Could Silence,” from Fairy Tales from the Far North._ - -_F. Warne & Company, for permission to use “The Money Box,” “The Happy -Family,” and “It is Quite True,” from Hans Andersen’s Fairy Tales._ - -_J. B. Lippincott, for permission to use “Manabozho and His Toe,” from -North American Indian Fairy Tales; “The Three Wishes,” “If Heaven Will -It,” and “The Fox and the Goose,” from Spanish Fairy Tales; “Hans in -Luck,” “The Fox and the Cat,” “The Fisherman and His Wife,” and “The -Adventures of Chanticleer and Partlet,” from Grimm’s Fairy Tales._ - -_Charles Scribner’s Sons, for permission to use “The Fox and the Dove,” -“The Fox and the Hedgehog,” “The Disappointed Bear,” and “Young -Neverfull,” from Russian Grandmother’s Wonder Stories._ - -_George Routledge & Sons, Ltd., for permission to use “The Flail which -Came from the Clouds,” “The Wren and the Bear,” “The Wolf and the Fox,” -“The Three Luck-Children,” “The Three Sluggards,” “The Cat and the Mouse -in Partnership,” “Old Sultan,” “The Shreds,” “The Fox and the Horse,” -“The Seven Swabians,” “The Giant and the Tailor,” and “The Little -Shepherd Boy,” from Grimm’s Household Stories._ - -_Joseph McDonough, for permission to use “How the Sun, the Moon and the -Wind went out to Dinner,” “Singh Rajah and the Cunning Little Jackals,” -“The Blind Man, the Deaf Man and the Donkey,” “The Alligator and the -Jackal,” and “The Selfish Sparrow and the Houseless Crows,” from Old -Deccan Days._ - -_A. L. Burt & Company, for permission to use “Gudbrand on the Hillside” -and “Nanny who Wouldn’t Go to Supper,” from Fairy Tales from the Far -North._ - - - - - A LAUGHING SONG - - - When the greenwoods laugh with the voice of joy, - And the dimpling stream runs laughing by; - When the air does laugh with our merry wit, - And the green hill laughs with the noise of it; - - When the meadows laugh with lively green, - And the grasshopper laughs in the merry scene; - When Mary and Susan and Emily - With their sweet round mouths sing “Ha, ha, he!” - - When the painted birds laugh in the shade, - Where our table with cherries and nuts is spread; - Come live and be merry and join with me - To sing the sweet chorus of “Ha, ha, he!” - - WILLIAM BLAKE. - - - - - _CONTENTS_ - - - PAGE - - THE RATS AND THEIR SON-IN-LAW (_French_) 3 - - THE MOUSE AND THE SAUSAGE (_French_) 6 - - THE THREE WISHES (_Spanish_) 7 - - THE FOX AND THE GOOSE (_Spanish_) 10 - - IF HEAVEN WILL IT (_Spanish_) 12 - - THE BOOBY (_Italian_) 14 - - THE MONTHS (_Italian_) 20 - - THE STONE IN THE COCK’S HEAD (_Italian_) 25 - - THE FOX AND THE CAT (_Cossack_) 30 - - THE STRAW OX (_Cossack_) 32 - - THE CAT, THE COCK, AND THE FOX (_Cossack_) 36 - - THE FOX AND THE DOVE (_Russian_) 39 - - THE FOX AND THE HEDGEHOG (_Russian_) 41 - - THE DISAPPOINTED BEAR (_Russian_) 43 - - YOUNG NEVERFULL (_Russian_) 45 - - HUDDEN AND DUDDEN AND DONALD O’NEARY (_Celtic_) 47 - - THE TAIL (_Celtic_) 54 - - JACK AND THE KING WHO WAS A GENTLEMAN (_Celtic_) 55 - - HANS IN LUCK (_German_) 62 - - THE FAMILY SERVANTS (_German_) 68 - - THE FLAIL WHICH CAME FROM THE CLOUDS (_German_) 69 - - THE SOLE’S MOUTH (_German_) 71 - - THE THREE BROTHERS (_German_) 72 - - THE WREN AND THE BEAR (_German_) 74 - - THE MUSICIANS OF BREMEN (_German_) 77 - - THE FOX AND THE CAT (_German_) 81 - - THE GOLDEN KEY (_German_) 82 - - DOCTOR KNOW-ALL (_German_) 83 - - THE FAIR CATHERINE AND PIF-PAF POLTRIE (_German_) 86 - - THE WOLF AND THE FOX (_German_) 88 - - DISCREET HANS (_German_) 90 - - KING THRUSH-BEARD (_German_) 93 - - THE THREE LUCK CHILDREN (_German_) 98 - - THE THREE SLUGGARDS (_German_) 101 - - THE FISHERMAN AND HIS WIFE (_German_) 102 - - THE NOSE-TREE (_German_) 111 - - THE ADVENTURES OF CHANTICLEER AND PARTLET (_German_) 118 - - THE GOLDEN GOOSE (_German_) 124 - - THE YOUNG GIANT (_German_) 129 - - THE SWEET SOUP (_German_) 137 - - SEVEN AT ONE BLOW (_German_) 138 - - THE CAT AND THE MOUSE IN PARTNERSHIP (_German_) 146 - - OLD SULTAN (_German_) 149 - - THE NAIL (_German_) 152 - - THE FOX AND THE HORSE (_German_) 153 - - THE GIANT AND THE TAILOR (_German_) 155 - - THE SPIDER AND THE FLEA (_German_) 157 - - THE LITTLE SHEPHERD BOY (_German_) 160 - - THE SEVEN SWABIANS (_German_) 162 - - THE SHREDS (_German_) 165 - - THE WOLF AND THE SEVEN KIDS (_German_) 166 - - THE ELVES AND THE SHOEMAKER (_German_) 170 - - KING WREN (_German_) 172 - - WHY THE BEAR HAS A STUMPY TAIL (_German_) 176 - - THREE WAYS TO BUILD A HOUSE (_German_) 177 - - HOW TO TELL A TRUE PRINCESS (_German_) 182 - - THE FIVE SERVANTS (_German_) 184 - - THE HARE AND THE FOX (_German_) 191 - - THE STORY OF ZIRAC (_Oriental_) 193 - - JOHNNY-CAKE (_English_) 197 - - THE WEE, WEE MANNIE (_Scottish_) 200 - - SIR GAMMER VANS (_English_) 203 - - TOM TIT TOT (_English_) 205 - - THE OLD WOMAN AND HER PIG (_English_) 211 - - THE STORY OF THE THREE LITTLE PIGS (_English_) 215 - - THE THREE SILLIES (_English_) 218 - - THE CAT AND THE MOUSE (_English_) 222 - - HEREAFTERTHIS (_English_) 224 - - TITTY MOUSE AND TATTY MOUSE (_English_) 228 - - THE MAGPIE’S NEST (_English_) 231 - - SCRAPEFOOT (_English_) 233 - - THE WISE MEN OF GOTHAM (_English_) 236 - - HENNY-PENNY (_English_) 241 - - A SON OF ADAM (_English_) 244 - - THE HAPPY FAMILY (_H. C. Andersen_) 246 - - THE BLIND MAN, THE DEAF MAN, AND THE DONKEY (_Southern India_) 250 - - THE ALLIGATOR AND THE JACKAL (_Southern India_) 258 - - WHY THE FISH LAUGHED (_Indian_) 263 - - THE SELFISH SPARROW AND THE HOUSELESS CROWS (_Southern India_) 269 - - THE LAMBIKIN (_Indian_) 271 - - THE TOWN MOUSE AND THE COUNTRY MOUSE (_Scandinavian_) 274 - - THE GREEDY CAT (_Scandinavian_) 278 - - WELL DONE: ILL PAID (_Scandinavian_) 284 - - REYNARD AND CHANTICLEER (_Scandinavian_) 287 - - FATHER BRUIN IN THE CORNER (_Scandinavian_) 289 - - WHY THE SEA IS SALT (_Scandinavian_) 291 - - GUDBRAND ON THE HILLSIDE (_Scandinavian_) 296 - - THE PANCAKE (_Scandinavian_) 301 - - THE DEATH OF CHANTICLEER (_Scandinavian_) 305 - - REYNARD WANTS TO TASTE HORSE-FLESH (_Scandinavian_) 309 - - BRUIN AND REYNARD PARTNERS (_Scandinavian_) 311 - - PORK AND HONEY (_Scandinavian_) 312 - - HOW REYNARD OUTWITTED BRUIN (_Scandinavian_) 314 - - NANNY WHO WOULDN’T GO HOME TO SUPPER (_Scandinavian_) 315 - - THE BOX WITH SOMETHING PRETTY IN IT (_Scandinavian_) 321 - - THE FARMER AND THE TROLL (_Scandinavian_) 322 - - ONE’S OWN CHILDREN ALWAYS PRETTIEST (_Scandinavian_) 323 - - THE PRINCESS WHOM NOBODY COULD SILENCE (_Scandinavian_) 324 - - THE MONEY-BOX (_H. C. Andersen_) 328 - - THE DARNING-NEEDLE (_H. C. Andersen_) 331 - - MASTER OF ALL MASTERS (_English_) 335 - - BELLING THE CAT (_English_) 336 - - THE MAGPIE AND HER CHILDREN (_English_) 338 - - THE COCK, THE CUCKOO, AND THE BLACK-COCK (_English_) 339 - - THE RACE BETWEEN HARE AND HEDGEHOG (_English_) 340 - - BRUNO’S STORY (_Lewis Carroll_) 344 - - THE BLUEBOTTLE WHO WENT COURTING (_English_) 346 - - HOW TWO BEETLES TOOK LODGINGS (_English_) 351 - - LITTLE TUPPEN (_Scandinavian_) 358 - - THE STORY OF THE FOUR LITTLE CHILDREN WHO WENT ROUND THE WORLD (_Edward Lear_) 361 - - THE HISTORY OF THE SEVEN FAMILIES OF THE LAKE PIPPLE-POPPLE (_Edward Lear_) 370 - - WEE ROBIN’S YULE-SONG (_Scottish_) 380 - - THE GIANT’S SHOES (_W. K. Clifford_) 382 - - THE FARMER AND THE MONEY-LENDER (_Indian_) 385 - - HOW THE SUN, THE MOON, AND THE WIND WENT OUT TO DINNER (_Southern India_) 388 - - SINGH RAJAH AND THE CUNNING LITTLE JACKALS (_Southern India_) 390 - - HARISARMAN (_Indian_) 393 - - IT IS QUITE TRUE (_H. C. Andersen_) 397 - - MANABOZHO AND HIS TOE (_North American Indian_) 400 - - THE MOST FRUGAL OF MEN (_Chinese_) 401 - - THE MOON-CAKE (_Chinese_) 403 - - THE LADLE THAT FELL FROM THE MOON (_Chinese_) 404 - - THE YOUNG HEAD OF THE FAMILY (_Chinese_) 407 - - A DREADFUL BOAR (_Chinese_) 412 - - THE OLD MAN AND THE DEVILS (_Japanese_) 415 - - THE WONDERFUL TEA-KETTLE (_Japanese_) 417 - - THE WONDERFUL MALLET (_Japanese_) 421 - - THE TONGUE-CUT SPARROW (_Japanese_) 425 - - BATTLE OF THE MONKEY AND THE CRAB (_Japanese_) 427 - - THE CUB’S TRIUMPH (_Japanese_) 429 - - THE SILLY JELLY-FISH (_Japanese_) 432 - - CHIN-CHIN KOBAKAMA (_Japanese_) 435 - - THE OLD WOMAN WHO LOST HER DUMPLINGS (_Japanese_) 438 - - THE THREE GOATS (_German_) 442 - - THE FOX TURNED SHEPHERD (_German_) 444 - - THE SEVEN BOYS AND THE MONSTER (_German_) 446 - - THE STORY OF LITTLE BLACK MINGO (_H. Bannerman_) 452 - - THE COCK AND THE CRESTED HEN (_Swedish_) 457 - - THE OLD WOMAN AND THE FISH (_Swedish_) 459 - - THE LAD AND THE FOX (_Swedish_) 462 - - THE OLD WOMAN AND THE TRAMP (_Swedish_) 463 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - _Tales of Laughter_ - - - - - _The Rats and their Son-in-Law_ - - -There once lived in Japan a rat and his wife, folk of noble race, who -had one beautiful daughter. They were exceedingly proud of her charms, -and dreamed, as parents will, of the grand marriage she was sure to make -in time. Proud of his pure rodent blood, the father saw no son-in-law -more to be desired than a young rat of ancient lineage, whose attentions -to his daughter were very marked. This match, however, brilliant as it -was, seemed not to the mother’s taste. Like many people who think -themselves made out of special clay, she had a very poor opinion of her -own kind, and was ambitious for an alliance with the highest circles. -_Ad astra!_ (To the stars!) was her motto, she always said, and really, -when one has a daughter of incomparable beauty, one may well hope for an -equally incomparable son-in-law. - -“Address yourself to the sun at once, then,” cried the impatient father -one day; “there is nothing above him, surely.” - -“Quite so; I had already thought of it,” she answered, “and since you, -too, are in sympathy with the idea, we will make our call to-morrow.” - -So, on the following morning the proud father and the haughty mother-rat -went together to present their lovely daughter to the orb of day. - -“Lord Sun,” said the mother, “let me present our only daughter, who is -so beautiful that there is nothing like her in the whole world. -Naturally we desire a son-in-law as wonderful as she, and, as you see, -we have come to you first of all.” - -“Really,” said the sun, “I am extremely flattered by your proposal, but -you do me too much honor; there is some one greater than I; it is the -cloud. Look, if you do not believe.” ... And at that moment the cloud -arrived, and with one waft of his folds extinguished the sun with all -his golden rays. - -“Very well; let us speak to the cloud, then,” said the mother-rat, not -in the least disconcerted. - -“Immensely honored, I am sure,” replied the cloud in his turn, “but you -are again mistaken; there is some one greater than I; it is the wind. -You shall see.” - -At the same moment along came the wind, and with one blow swept the -cloud out of sight, after which, overturning father, mother, and -daughter, he tumbled with them, pell-mell, at the foot of an old wall. - -“Quick, quick,” cried the mother-rat, struggling to her feet, “and let -us repeat our compliments to the wind.” - -“You’d better address yourself to the wall,” growled the wind roughly. -“You see very well he is greater than I, for he stops me and makes me -draw back.” - -No sooner had she heard these words than mother-rat faced about and -presented her daughter to the wall. Ah, but now the fair rat-maiden -imitated the wind; she drew back also. He whom she really adored in her -heart of hearts was the fascinating young rat who had paid his court to -her so well. However, to please her mother, she had consented to wed the -sun, in spite of his blinding rays, or the cloud, in spite of his sulky -look, even the wind, in spite of his brusque manner; but an old, broken -wall!... No! death would be better a thousand times. - -Fortunately the wall excused himself, like all the rest. “Certainly,” he -said, “I can stop the wind, who can sweep away the cloud, who can cover -up the sun, but there is some one greater than I: it is the rat, who can -pass through my body, and can even, if he chooses, reduce me to powder -with his teeth. Believe me, you need seek no better son-in-law; greater -than the rat, there is nothing in the world.” - -“Do you hear that, wife, do you hear it?” cried father-rat in triumph. -“Didn’t I always say so?” - -“Quite true! you always did,” returned the mother-rat in wonder, and -suddenly glowed with pride in her ancient name and lineage. - -So they all three went home, very happy and contented, and on the morrow -the lovely rat-maiden married her faithful rat-lover. - - - - - _The Mouse and the Sausage_ - - -Once upon a time a little mouse and a little sausage, who loved each -other like sisters, decided to live together, and made their -arrangements in such a way that every day one would go to walk in the -fields, or make purchases in town, while the other remained at home to -keep the house. - -One day, when the little sausage had prepared cabbage for dinner, the -little mouse, who had come back from town with a fine appetite, enjoyed -it so greatly that she exclaimed: “How delicious the cabbage is to-day, -my dear!” - -“Ah!” answered the little sausage, “that is because I popped myself into -the pot while it was cooking.” - -On the next day, as it was her turn to prepare the meals, the little -mouse said to herself: “Now I will do as much for my friend as she did -for me; we will have lentils for dinner, and I will jump into the pot -while they are boiling,” and she let the action follow the word, without -reflecting that a simple sausage can do some things which are out of the -reach of even the wisest mouse. - -When the sausage came home, she found the house lonely and silent. She -called again and again, “My little mouse! Mouse of my heart!” but no one -answered. Then she went to look at the lentils boiling on the stove, -and, alas! found within the pot her good little friend, who had perished -at the post of duty. - -Poor mousie, with the best intentions in the world, had stayed too long -at her cookery, and when she desired to climb out of the pot, had no -longer the strength to do so. - -And the poor sausage could never be consoled! That is why to-day, when -you put one in the pan or on the gridiron, you will hear her weep and -sigh, “M-my p-poor m-mouse! Ah, m-my p-poor m-mouse!” - - - - - _The Three Wishes_ - - -Many years ago there was an old married man, who, although poor, had -worked very diligently all his life on his little piece of ground. One -winter’s night, as this old man was seated with his wife in front of -their comfortable hearth in social chat, instead of giving thanks to God -for the benefits they enjoyed, they spent the time in enumerating the -good things possessed by their neighbors, and in wishing that they -belonged to them. - -“Instead of my little hut, which is on bad soil, and only fit to house a -donkey in, I would like to have the farm of old Polainas!” exclaimed the -old man. - -“And I,” added his wife, who was annoyed that he did not aspire higher, -“instead of that, would like to have our neighbor’s house, which is -nearly new.” - -“And I,” continued her husband, “instead of our old donkey, which can -scarcely carry an empty sack, would like to have Polainas’s mule!” - -“And I,” exclaimed the wife, “would like to have such a fat porker as -our neighbor has to kill! Some people seem only to wish for a thing in -order to get it. How I should like to see my wishes accomplished!” - -Scarcely had she uttered these words, than they beheld a most beautiful -little woman standing in front of the fire. She was so small that her -height could not have been more than eighteen inches, while she wore a -crown like a queen’s upon her head. Her tunic and veil were almost -transparent, and seemed made of white smoke, while the sparks from the -fire crackled and jumped like fireworks about her, and sparkled around -her as glittering spangles. - -In her hand she bore a little golden scepter, the end of which was -formed by a gleaming ruby. - -“I am the Fairy Fortunata,” said she to them; “I was passing by here, -and I have heard your complaints. I have so much anxiety to accomplish -your desires that I come to promise you the realization of three wishes: -one to you,” she said to the wife; “the other to you,” to the husband, -“and the third must be mutual and agreeable to the desire of you both. -This last I will agree to in person to-morrow, when I will return at -this time; and until then I leave you to think of what it shall be.” - -When she had said these words, the beautiful fairy sprang through the -flames and disappeared in a cloud of smoke. - -The delight of the worthy couple may be imagined, and the number of -wishes, numerous as suitors at the door of a minister, which presented -themselves to their minds. Their desires were so many that, not knowing -which to select, they determined to defer the definite decision to the -following day. After having had all the night to think the matter over, -they began to discuss entirely different things, and in a little while -their conversation recurred to their wealthy neighbors. - -“I was at their house to-day,” said the husband; “they were making black -puddings. Ah, such black puddings! It would have done you good to see -them!” - -“I would like to have one of them here,” replied the wife, “to roast on -the ashes for supper.” - -Scarcely had she uttered the words than there appeared upon the ashes -the most delicious-looking black pudding that could possibly be -imagined. - -The woman remained staring at it with open mouth and eyes starting out -of her head. But her husband jumped up in despair, and after striding up -and down the room, tearing his hair in desperation, said: “Through your -gluttony, you greedy woman, we have lost one of the wishes! Good -Heavens, what a woman this is! More stupid than a goose! It makes me -desperate; I detest you and the black pudding, too, and I wish it were -stuck on to your nose!” - -No sooner had he spoken than there was the black pudding hanging from -the place indicated! - -Then was the old man struck with horror and his wife with desperation! - -“You see what you have done, evil tongue!” exclaimed she, as she made -useless exertions to tear the appendage from her nose; “if I employed my -wish badly, at least it was to my own disadvantage, and not to the -injury of any one else; but the sin carries its punishment with it, for -I will not have any other wish, nor desire anything else than that the -black pudding be taken off my nose.” - -“Wife, for Heaven’s sake! What of the new house?” - -“Nothing!” - -“Wife, for Heaven’s sake, think of the farm!” - -“It does not matter.” - -“My dear, let us wish for a fortune, and then we will have a golden case -for the black pudding.” - -“I will not hear of it.” - -“Then you would have us left just as we were before?” - -“That is all that I wish for.” - -And for all that the man could say, nothing could alter his wife’s -determination, who grew more and more enraged with her double nose, and -could scarcely keep off the dog and the cat, who both wished to make -free with it. - -When, on the following night, the fairy appeared and asked them what was -their last wish, they said to her: “We see how blind and foolish it is -of men to fancy that the realization of their wishes will make them -happy.” - -Nor is happiness in the accomplishment of our wishes, but rather in the -not having any. He is rich who possesses what he wants; but happy is he -who wishes for nothing. - - - - - _The Fox and the Goose_ - - -A fox and a goose were very great friends. The goose, which, as you -know, is a very honest and industrious bird, said to the fox: - -“Friend fox, I have a little bit of property here, and if you like to -join with me, we will cultivate it between us.” - -“That would greatly please me,” answered the fox. - -“Then it will be necessary to till it together when the season arrives,” -said the goose. - -“Very well,” replied the fox. - -A little afterward, when they met, the goose said: - -“It is time to sow the seed.” - -“That is your business,” said the fox. “I have nothing to do with that.” - -Some months passed, when the goose said to the fox: - -“Friend, the grass is choking the wheat; it is necessary to weed the -field.” - -“Very well,” answered the fox, “you see to that; it is not my business.” - -A short time passed by, when the goose said to the fox: - -“Friend, the wheat is ripe, and must be reaped.” - -“All right,” replied the fox, “you attend to that; it is not my -business.” - -Then the goose, for all her good nature, began to be distrustful, and -told her friend the greyhound what had passed. - -The greyhound, who was very shrewd, saw at once that the fox was going -to play off one of his tricks upon the goose’s good nature, and said to -her: - -“Reap the wheat; put it in the barn, and hide me in a sheaf of corn, -without leaving more than one eye uncovered, so that I may see all that -may happen.” - -The goose did as the greyhound had said, and after a time the fox -arrived, and when he saw the barn filled with splendid wheat already -thrashed, he was very delighted, and, dancing about, sang: - - “Lió, lió, - The straw and wheat are mine! - Lió, lió, - The straw and wheat are mine!” - -As he said this, he approached the sheaf in which the greyhound was -concealed, and on seeing the eye among the straw, cried: - -“Ah, there’s a grape!” - -“But it is not ripe,” replied the greyhound, as he leaped out of his -hiding place, and killed the fox. - - - - - _If Heaven Will It_ - - -Once upon a time a Galician was returning to his home after having spent -some time in Seville. When he was close to his abode, he met some one -who inquired where he was going. - -“To my native place,” replied the Galician. - -“If Heaven will it,” answered the former. - -“Whether Heaven will it or no,” added the Galician to himself, already -seeing his village from afar, and being only separated from its -outskirts by a river. - -Scarcely had he muttered the words ere he fell into the water and was -changed into a frog. - -In this condition the poor man lived for three years, being in continual -danger from his spiteful foes, bad boys, leeches, and storks. At the end -of three years another Galician returning home happened to pass by -there, and a wayfarer chancing to ask him whither he was going, replied: - -“To my native place.” - -“If Heaven will it,” croaked a frog that poked its head up out of the -water. - -And when it had said this, the frog, which was the first Galician of the -tale, suddenly found itself once more a man. - -He went on his way gayer than Easter, and having met with another -traveler, who asked him whither he went, he answered him: - -“To my own place, if Heaven will it; to see my wife, if Heaven will it; -to see my children, if Heaven will it; to see my cow, if Heaven will it; -to sow my land, if Heaven will it; so that I may get a good harvest from -it, if Heaven will it.” - -And as he religiously added to everything, “If Heaven will it,” he was -allowed to see his wishes accomplished. He found his wife and children -well; his cow became the mother of a fine calf; he sowed his field, and -reaped a good harvest, and all because Heaven willed it. - - - - - _The Booby_ - - An ignorant man who associates with clever people has always been - more praised than a wise man who keeps the company of fools, for - as much profit and fame as a man gains from the former, so much - wealth and honor one may lose by the fault of the latter, and as - the proof of the pudding is in the eating, you will know from the - story that I am going to tell you whether my proposition is true. - - -There was once a man who was as rich as the sea, but as there never can -be any perfect happiness in this world, he had a son so idle and -good-for-nothing that he could not tell a carob from a cucumber. So, -being unable any longer to put up with his folly, he gave him a good -handful of crowns, and sent him to travel to the Levant, for he well -knew that seeing various countries and mixing with divers people works -genius, sharpens the judgment, and makes men expert. - -Moscione (for that was the name of the son) got on horseback and began -his journey toward Venice, the arsenal of the wonders of the world, to -embark on board some vessel bound for Cairo, and when he had traveled a -good day’s journey he met with a person who was standing fixed at the -foot of a poplar, to whom he said: “What is your name, my lad, whence -are you, and what is your trade?” And the lad replied: “My name is -Lightning, I am from Arrowland, and I can run like the wind.” “I should -like to see a proof of it,” said Moscione, and Lightning answered, “Wait -a moment, and you will see whether it is dust or flour.” - -When they had stood waiting a little while a doe came bounding over the -plain, and Lightning, letting her pass on some way, to give himself a -handicap, darted after her so rapidly and light of foot that he would -have gone over plains covered with flour without leaving the mark of his -shoe, and in four bounds he came up with her. Moscione, amazed at this -exploit, asked if he would come and live with him, and promised to pay -him a salary. - -So Lightning consented, and they went on their way together, but they -had not journeyed many miles when they met another youth, to whom -Moscione said: “What is your name, comrade, what country are you from, -and what’s your trade?” “My name,” replied the lad, “is Hare’s-ear, I am -from Vale Curious, and when I put my ear to the ground I hear all that -is passing in the world without stirring from the spot. I perceive the -monopolies and the agreements of tradespeople to raise the prices of all -things, the ill-offices of courtiers, the appointments of lawyers, the -plots of robbers, the reports of spies, the complaints of servants, the -gossiping of old women, and the oaths of service, so that neither -Lucian’s cocks nor Francois’s lantern discovered so much as my ears -can.” - -“If that be true,” said Moscione, “tell me what they are saying at my -home.” - -So the lad put his ear to the ground, and replied: “An old man is -talking to his wife and saying, ‘Praised be Sol in Lea, I have got rid -from my side of that fellow, Moscione, that nail in my heart, with his -face of old-fashioned crockery. By traveling through the world he will -at least become a man, and no longer be such a stupid donkey, such a -simpleton, such a lose-the-day fellow, such a——‘” - -“Stop, stop!” cried Moscione. “You told the truth, and I believe you, so -come along with me, for you have found the road to good luck.” - -“Well and good,” said the youth. So they all went on together and -traveled ten miles farther, when they met another man, to whom Moscione -said: “My brave fellow, where were you born and what can you do in the -world?” And the man answered: “My name is Shoot-straight, I am from -Castle Aim-well, and I can shoot with a crossbow so point-blank as to -hit a crab-apple in the middle.” - -“I should like to see a proof,” said Moscione, so the lad charged his -crossbow, took aim, and made a pea leap from the top of the stone -window. Moscione took him also, like the others, into his company, and -they traveled on another day’s journey, until they came to some people -who were building a large pier in the scorching heat of the sun, and who -might well say, “Boy, put water to the wind, for my heart is burning.” -So Moscione had compassion on them and said, “My masters, how is it you -have the heart to stand in this furnace, which is bound to roast a -buffalo?” And one of them answered: “Ah! we are as cool as roses, for we -have a young man here who blows upon us from behind in such a manner -that it seems as if the west wind were blowing.” “Let me see him, I -pray,” cried Moscione, and so the mason called the lad, and Moscione -said to him: “Tell me, by the life of your father, what is your name, -what country are you from, and what is your profession?” And the lad -replied: “My name is Blowblast, I am from Windy Land, and I can make all -the winds with my mouth. If you wish a zephyr, I will breathe one that -will send you into transports. If you wish for a squall, I will blow -down houses.” - -“Seeing is believing,” said Moscione, whereupon Blowblast breathed at -first quite gently, so that it seemed to be the wind that blows in -Posilippo toward evening; then, turning suddenly to some trees, he sent -forth such a furious blast that it uprooted a row of oaks. - -When Moscione saw this he took him for a companion, and, traveling on as -far again, he met another lad, to whom he said: “What is your name, if I -may make so bold? Whence are you, if one may ask, and what is your -trade, if it is a fair question?” And the lad answered, “My name is -Strongback, I am from Valentino, and I have such strength that I take a -mountain on my back, and it seems to me a mere feather.” “If that be the -case,” said Moscione, “you deserve to be a king of the custom house, and -you should be chosen for the standard-bearer on the first of May, but I -should like to see a proof of what you say.” Then Strongback began to -load himself with masses of rock, stumps of trees, and so many other -weights that a thousand large wagons could not have carried them, so, -when Moscione saw the feat, he persuaded the lad to join them. - -So they traveled on till they came to Fairflower, the king of which -place had a daughter who ran like the wind and could pass over the -waving corn without bending an ear, and the king had issued a -proclamation that whoever should overtake her in running should have her -to wife, but whoever was left behind should lose his head. - -Moscione arrived in this country and heard the proclamation. He went -straight to the king and offered to run with the daughter, making the -wise agreement either to win the race or leave his noddle there. But in -the morning he sent to inform the king that he was taken ill, and, being -unable to run himself, he would send another man in his place. “Come who -will,” said Ciennetella (for that was the king’s daughter), “I care not -a fig; it is all one to me.” - -So when the great square was filled with people come to see the race, -insomuch that the men swarmed like ants, and the windows and roofs were -all as full as an egg, Lightning came out and took his stand at the top -of the square waiting for the signal, and lo, forth came Ciennetella, -dressed in a little gown tucked half-way up to her knees, and a neat and -pretty little shoe with a single sole. Then they placed themselves -shoulder to shoulder, and, as soon as the Tarantará and the Too-too of -the trumpets was heard, off they darted, running at such a rate that -their hair touched their shoulders, and in truth they seemed just like -foxes with the greyhounds after them, horses broken loose from the -stable, dogs with kettles tied to their tails, or jackasses with furze -bushes behind them. But Lightning (as he was by name and nature) left -the princess more than a hand’s breadth behind him, and came first to -the goal. Then you should have heard the buzzing and shouting and cries -and the uproar, the whistling and clapping of all the people calling -out, “Hurrah, long live the stranger!” whereat Ciennetella’s face turned -as red as a schoolboy’s who is going to be whipped, and she stood lost -with shame and confusion at seeing herself vanquished. But as there were -to be two heats to the race, she fell to planning her revenge for this -affront, and, going home, she put a charm in her ring with such a power -that if any one had it on his finger, his legs would toddle so that he -would not be able to walk, much less to run, and she sent it as a -present to Lightning, begging him to wear it on his finger for love of -her. - -Hare’s-ear, who heard this trick plotted between the father and -daughter, said nothing, and wanted to see the upshot of the affair, and -when, at the trumpeting of the birds, they returned to the field, at the -usual signal they fell to plying their heels. But if Ciennetella was -like another Atalanta, Lightning had become like a shoulder-slipped ass -and a foundered horse, for he could not stir a step, but Shoot-straight, -who saw his coming danger, and heard from Hare’s-ear how matters stood, -laid hold on his crossbow and shot the arrow so exactly that it hit -Lightning’s finger, and out shot the stone from the ring in which the -virtue of the charm lay, whereupon his legs that had been tied were set -free, and with four good leaps he passed Ciennetella and won the race. -The king, seeing the palm thus carried off by this figure of a -blockhead, by a simpleton, the triumph of a fool, bethought himself -seriously whether or not he should give him his daughter, and taking -counsel with the wiseacres of his court, they replied that Ciennetella -was not a mouthful for the tooth of such a miserable dog and -lose-the-day bird, so that, without breaking his word, he might commute -the terms of his daughter with a gift of crowns, which would be more to -the taste of a poor beggar like Moscione than all the women in the -world. - -This advice pleased the king, and he asked Moscione how much money he -would take to consider a wife who had been promised. Then Moscione, -after consulting the others, said: “I will take as much gold and silver -as one of my comrades can carry on his back.” The king consented, -whereupon they brought Strongback, and on him began to lay bales of -ducats, large purses full of crowns, pails of copper money, and kettles -full of chains and rings, but the more they loaded him the firmer he -stood, just like a tower, so that the treasurer, the bankers, the -usurers, and the money dealers of the city did not suffice, and the king -sent to all of the great people in every direction to borrow their -silver candlesticks, basins, jugs, plates, brasses, and baskets, and yet -there was not enough to make up a full load. At length Moscione and his -companions went away, however, not laden, but tired and satisfied. - -When the counselors saw what heaps of stores these four miserable -fellows were carrying off, they said to the king that it was a great -piece of nonsense to load them with all the sinews of his kingdom, and -that it would be well to send people after them to lessen the load of -that Atlas who was carrying on his shoulders a world of treasure. The -king gave ear to this advice, and immediately despatched a party of -armed men, foot and horse, to overtake Moscione and his friends, but -Hare’s-ear, who had heard this counsel, informed his comrades, and while -the dust was rising to the sky from the tramping of those who were -coming to unload the rich cargo, Blowblast, seeing that things were come -to a bad pass, began to blow at such a rate that he not only made the -enemies fall flat on the ground, but he sent them flying more than a -mile distant, as a north wind does those people who pass through his -country. So, without meeting any more hindrances, Moscione arrived at -his father’s house, where he shared the booty with his companions, since -the saying goes, “A good deed deserves a good meed.” So he sent them -away content and happy, but he stayed with his father, rich beyond -measure, giving no lie to the saying, “Heaven sends biscuits to him who -has no teeth.” - - - - - _The Months_ - - It is a saying worthy to be written in letters as big as those on - a catafalque, that silence never harmed any one, and let it not be - imagined that those slanderers who never speak well of others, but - are always cutting and stinging and pinching and biting, ever gain - anything by their malice; for when the bags come to be shaken out, - it has always been seen, and is so still, that while the good word - gains love and profit, slander brings enmity and ruin, and when - you shall have heard how this happens, you will see I speak with - reason. - - -Once upon a time there were two brothers, Cianne, who was as rich as a -lord, and Lise, who had barely enough to live upon; but poor as one was -in fortune, so pitiful was the other in mind, for he would not have -given his brother a farthing were it to save his life; so that poor Lise -in despair left his country, and set out to wander over the world. And -he wandered on and on, till one wet and cold evening he came to an inn, -where he found twelve youths seated around a fire, who, when they saw -poor Lise benumbed with cold, partly from the severe season and partly -from his ragged clothes, invited him to sit down by the fire. - -Lise accepted the invitation, for he needed it greatly, and began to -warm himself, and as he was doing so, one of the young men, whose face -was such a picture of moroseness as to make you die of affright, said to -him: “What think you, countryman, of this weather?” - -“What do I think of it?” replied Lise. “I think that all the months of -the year perform their duty; but we, who know not what we would have, -wish to give less praise to Heaven, and, wanting to have things our own -way, we do not fish deeply enough to the bottom to find out whether what -comes into our fancy be good or evil, useful or hurtful. In winter when -it rains, we want the sun in Leo, and in the month of August the clouds -to discharge themselves; not reflecting that were this the case, the -seasons would be turned topsy-turvy, the seed sown would be lost, the -crops would be destroyed, the bodies of men would faint away, and nature -would go head over heels. Therefore, let us leave Heaven to its own -course; for it has made the tree to mitigate with wood the severity of -winter, and leaves to soften the heat of summer.” - -“You speak like Solomon!” said the youth; “but you cannot deny that this -month of March, in which we now are, is very impertinent to send all -this frost and rain, snow and hail, wind and storm, these fogs and -tempests and other troubles, that make one’s life a burden.” - -“You tell only the ill of this poor month,” replied Lise, “but do not -speak of the benefits it yields to us; for, by bringing forward the -spring, it commences the production of things, helps along the cause -with the sun, and leads him to the house of the rain.” - -The youth was greatly pleased at what Lise said, for he was in truth no -other than March himself, who had arrived at that inn with his eleven -brothers, and to reward Lise’s goodness, who had not found anything evil -to say of a month so sad that the shepherds do not like to mention it, -he gave him a beautiful little casket, saying, “Take this, and if you -want anything, only ask for it, and, opening this box, you will see it -before you.” Lise thanked the youth, with many expressions of respect, -and laying the little box under his head by way of a pillow, he went to -sleep. - -As soon, however, as the sun, with the pencil of his rays, had retouched -the dark shadows of the night, Lise took leave of the youth and set out -on his way. But he had hardly proceeded fifty steps from the inn, when, -opening the casket, he said: “Ah, my friend, I wish I had a litter lined -with cloth, and with a little fire inside, that I might travel warm and -comfortable through the snow!” No sooner had he uttered the words, than -there appeared a litter, with bearers, who, lifting him up, placed him -in it; whereupon he told them to carry him home. - -When the hour was come for food, Lise opened the little box and said: “I -wish for something to eat.” And instantly there appeared a profusion of -the choicest food; such a banquet that ten crowned kings might have -feasted on it. - -One evening, having come to a wood, which did not give admittance to the -sun, because he came through suspected places,[1] Lise opened the little -casket and said: “I should like to rest tonight on this beautiful spot, -where the river is making counterpoint on the stones as accompaniment to -the canto-fermo of the cool breezes.” And instantly there appeared, -under an oilcloth tent, a couch of fine scarlet, with down mattresses, -covered with a Spanish counterpane and sheets as light as a feather. -Then he asked for something to eat, and in a trice there was set out a -sideboard covered with silver and gold fit for a prince, and under -another tent a table spread with viands, the savory smell of which -extended a hundred miles. - -Footnote 1: - - Alluding to the quarantine which ships were subject to in coming from - the East. - -When he had eaten enough, he laid himself down to sleep, and as soon as -the cock, who is the spy of the sun, announced to his master that the -shades of night were worn and wearied, and it was now time for him, like -a skilful general, to fall upon the rear and make a slaughter of them, -Lise opened his little box and said: “I wish to have a handsome dress, -for today I shall see my brother, and I should like to make his mouth -water.” No sooner said than done; immediately a princely dress of the -richest black velvet appeared, with edgings of red camlet, and a lining -of yellow cloth embroidered all over, which looked like a field of -flowers; so, dressing himself, Lise got into the litter, and soon -reached his brother’s house. - -When Cianne saw his brother arrive with all his splendor and luxury, he -wished to know what good fortune had befallen him. Then Lise told him of -the youths whom he had met at the inn, and of the present they had made -him, but he kept to himself the conversation of the youths. - -Cianne was all impatience to get away from his brother, and told him to -go and rest himself, as he was no doubt tired. Then he started -post-haste, and soon arrived at the inn, where, finding the same youths, -he fell into chat with them. And when the youth asked him the same -question, what he thought of the month of March, Cianne, making a big -mouth, said: “Confound the miserable month! the enemy of the shepherds, -which stirs up all the ill-humors and brings sickness to our bodies—a -month of which, whenever we want to announce ruin to a man, we say, ‘Go; -March has shaved you,’ a month, in short, so hateful that it would be -the best fortune for the world, the greatest blessing to the earth, the -greatest gain to men, were it excluded from the band of brothers.” - -March, who heard himself thus slandered, suppressed his anger till the -morning, intending then to reward Cianne for his calumny; and when -Cianne wished to depart, he gave him a fine whip, saying to him, -“Whenever you wish for anything, only say, ‘Whip, give me an hundred!’ -and you shall see pearls strung upon a rush.” - -Cianne, thanking the youth, went his way in great haste, not wishing to -make trial of the whip until he reached home. But hardly had he set foot -in the house, when he went into a secret chamber, intending to hide the -money which he expected to receive from the whip, and he said, “Whip, -give me an hundred!” whereupon the whip gave him more than he looked -for, making counterpoint on his legs and face like a musical composer, -so that Lise, hearing his cries, came running out of the study; and when -he saw that the whip, like a runaway horse, could not stop itself, he -opened the little box and brought it to a standstill. Then he asked -Cianne what had happened to him, and, upon hearing his story, he told -him he had no one to blame but himself, for, like a blockhead, he alone -had caused his misfortune, acting like a camel that wanted to have horns -and lose his ears. He bade him mind another time and keep a bridle on -his tongue, which was the key that had opened to him the storehouse of -misfortune; for if he had spoken well of the youths, he would, perhaps, -have had the same good luck as himself, and he cautioned him especially -to speak well of every one in future, good words being a merchandise -that costs nothing, and usually brings profit that is not expected. In -conclusion, Lise comforted him, bidding him not seek more wealth than -Heaven had given him, that his little casket would suffice to fill the -houses of thirty misers, and Cianne should be master of all he -possessed, since, to the generous man, Heaven is treasurer, and he added -that, although another brother might have ill-will toward Cianne for the -cruelty with which he had treated him in his poverty, yet he reflected -that his avarice had been a favorable wind which had brought him to this -port, and therefore wished to show himself grateful for the benefit. - -When Cianne heard these things, he begged his brother’s pardon for his -past unkindness, and, entering into partnership, they enjoyed together -their good fortune, and from that time forward Cianne spoke well of -everything, however bad it might be. - - - - - _The Stone in the Cock’s Head_ - - -There was once in the City of Dark-Grotto a certain man named Minecco -Aniello, who was so persecuted by fortune that all his household goods -and movables consisted only of a short-legged cock, which he had reared -upon bread-crumbs. But one morning, being driven frantic with an -appetite (for hunger drives the wolf from the thicket), he took it into -his head to sell the cock; and, taking it to the market, he met two -thievish magicians, with whom he made a bargain, and sold it for half a -crown. They told him to take it to their house and they would count him -out the money, and they went their way, but Minecco Aniello, following -them, overheard them talking gibberish together and saying, “Who would -have told us that we would meet with such a piece of good luck, -Jennarone? This cock will make our fortune to a certainty by the stone -which, you know, he has in his pate. We will quickly have it set in a -ring, and then we shall have everything we could ask for.” “Be quiet, -Jacovuccio,” answered Jennarone; “I see myself rich, and can hardly -believe it; and I am longing to twist the cock’s neck, and give a kick -in the face of beggary; for in this world virtue without money goes for -nothing, and a man is judged of by his coat.” - -When Minecco Aniello, who had traveled about in the world and eaten -bread from more than one oven, heard this gibberish, he turned on his -heel and scampered off, and, running home, he twisted the cock’s neck, -and opening its head, found the stone, which he had instantly set in a -brass ring. Then, to make a trial of its virtue, he said: “I wish to -become a youth eighteen years old.” - -Hardly had he uttered the words, when his blood began to flow more -quickly, his nerves became stronger, his limbs firmer, his flesh -fresher, his eyes more fiery, his silver hairs were turned to gold; his -mouth, which was a sacked village, became peopled with teeth; his beard, -which was as thick as wood, became like a nursery garden; in short, he -was changed to a most beautiful youth. Then he said again: “I wish for a -splendid palace, and to marry a king’s daughter,” and lo, there -instantly appeared a palace of incredible magnificence, in which were -apartments that would amaze you, columns to astound you, pictures to -fill you with wonder; silver glittered around and gold was trodden under -foot; the jewels dazzled your eyes; the servants swarmed like ants, the -horses and carriages were not to be counted; in short, there was such a -display of riches that the king stared at the sight, and willingly gave -him his daughter, Nalalizia. - -Meanwhile the magicians, having discovered Minecco Aniello’s great -wealth, laid a plan to rob him of his good fortune; so they made a -pretty little doll, which played and danced by means of clockwork, and, -dressing themselves like merchants, they went to Pentella, the daughter -of Minecco Aniello, under pretext of selling it to her. When Pentella -saw the beautiful little thing, she asked them what price they put upon -it, and they replied that it could not be bought for money, but that she -might have it and welcome if she would only do them a favor, which was -to let them see the make of the ring which her father possessed, in -order to take a model and make another like it; then they would give her -the doll without any payment at all. - -Pentella, who had never heard the proverb, “Think well before you buy -anything cheap,” instantly accepted this offer, and bade them return the -next morning, when she promised to ask her father to lend her the ring. -So the magicians went away, and when her father returned home, Pentella -coaxed and caressed him, until at last she persuaded him to give her the -ring, making the excuse that she was sad at heart, and wished to divert -her mind a little. - -When the next day came, as soon as the scavenger of the sun swept the -last trace of the shades from the streets and squares of heaven, the -magicians returned, and no sooner had they the ring in their hands than -they instantly vanished, and not a trace of them was to be seen, so that -poor Pentella had like to have died with terror. - -But when the magicians came to a wood, where the branches of some of the -trees were dancing a sword dance, and the boughs of others were playing -together at hot-cockles, they desired the ring to break the spell by -which the old man had become young again, and instantly Minecco Aniello, -who was just at that minute in the presence of the king, was suddenly -seen to grow hoary, his hairs to whiten, his forehead to wrinkle, his -eyebrows to grow bristly, his eyes to sink in, his face to be furrowed, -his mouth to become toothless, his beard to grow bushy, his back to be -humped, his legs to tremble, and, above all, his glittering garments to -return to rags and tatters. - -The king, seeing this miserable beggar seated beside him at table, -ordered him to be instantly driven away with blows and hard words; -whereupon Aniello, thus suddenly fallen from his good luck, went weeping -to his daughter, and asked for the ring in order to set matters to -rights again. But when he heard the fatal trick of the false merchant, -he was ready to throw himself out of the window, cursing a thousand -times the ignorance of his daughter, who, for the sake of a silly doll, -had turned him into a miserable scarecrow, and for a paltry thing of -rags had brought him to rags himself, adding that he was resolved to go -wandering about the world, like a bad shilling, until he should get -tidings of those merchants. So saying, he threw a cloak about his neck -and a wallet on his back, drew his sandals on his feet, took a staff in -his hand, and, leaving his daughter all chilled and frozen, he set out -walking desperately on until he came to the kingdom of Deep-Hole, -inhabited by mice, where, having been taken for a big spy of the cats, -he was instantly led before Rosecone,[2] the king. The king at once -asked him who he was, whence he came, and what he was about in that -country; and Minecco Aniello, after first giving the king a -cheese-paring, in sign of tribute, related to him all his misfortunes, -one by one, and concluded by saying that he was resolved to continue his -toil and travel until he could get tidings of those thievish villains -who had robbed him of so precious a jewel, taking from him at once the -flower of his youth, the source of his wealth, and the prop of his -honor. - -Footnote 2: - - Nibbler. - -At these words Rosecone felt pity nibbling at his heart; and wishing to -comfort the poor man, he summoned the oldest mice to a council, and -asked their opinions on the misfortunes of Minecco Aniello, commanding -them to use all diligence and endeavor to obtain some tidings of those -false merchants. Now among the rest it happened that Rudolo and -Saltariello[3] were present, good mice who were used to the ways of the -world, and had lived for six years at a tavern of great resort hard by, -and they said to Aniello: “Be of good heart, comrade! Matters will turn -out better than you imagine. You must know that one day, when we were in -a room at the hostelry of the Horn, where the most famous men of the -world lodge and make merry, two persons from the Hook Castle came in, -who, after they had eaten their fill and had seen the bottom of their -flagon, fell to talking of a trick they had played a certain old man of -Dark-Grotto, and how they had cheated him out of a stone of great value, -which one of them, named Jennarone, said he would never take from his -finger, that he might not run the risk of losing it, as the old man’s -daughter had done.” - -Footnote 3: - - Nibbler and Skipjack. - -When Minecco Aniello heard this, he told the two mice that if they would -trust themselves to accompany him to the country where these rogues -lived, and recover the ring for him, he would give them a good lot of -cheese and salt meat, which they might eat and enjoy with his majesty, -the king. Then the two mice, after bargaining for a suitable reward, -offered to go over sea and mountain, and taking leave of his mousy -majesty, they set out. - -After journeying a long way, they arrived at Hook Castle, where the mice -told Minecco Aniello to remain under some trees on the brink of the -river, which, much like a leech, drew the moisture from the land and -discharged it into the sea. Then they went to seek the house of the -magicians; and, observing that Jennarone never took the ring from his -finger, they stood to gain the victory by stratagem; so, waiting till -night had dyed with purple grape-juice the sunburnt face of heaven, and -the magicians had gone to bed and were fast asleep, Rudolo began to -nibble the finger on which the ring was; whereupon Jennarone, feeling -the smart, took the ring off and laid it on a table at the bed’s head. -But as soon as Saltariello saw this, he bobbed the ring into his mouth, -and in four skips he was off to find Minecco Aniello, and with even -greater joy than the man at the gallows feels when the pardon arrives, -he instantly turned the magicians into two jackasses, and, throwing his -mantle over one of them, he bestrode him like a noble count; then he -loaded the other with cheese and bacon, and set off toward Deep-Hole, -where, having given presents to the king and his counselors, he thanked -them for all the good fortune he had received by their assistance, -praying Heaven that no mouse-trap might ever lay hold of them, that no -cat might ever harm them, and that no arsenic might ever poison them. -Then, leaving that country, Minecco Aniello returned to Dark-Grotto, -even more handsome than before, and was received by the king and his -daughter with the greatest affection of the heart, and having ordered -the two asses cast down from a rock, he lived happily with his wife, -never more taking the ring from his finger, that he might not again -commit such a folly. - - - - - _The Fox and the Cat_ - - -In a certain forest there once lived a fox, and near to the fox lived a -man who had a cat that had been a good mouser in its youth, but was now -old and half-blind. The man didn’t want puss any longer, but not liking -to kill him, took him out into the forest and lost him there. Then the -fox came up and said: - -“Why, Mr. Shaggy Matthew! How d’ye do? What brings you here?” - -“Alas!” said pussy, “my master loved me as long as I could bite, but now -that I can bite no longer, and have left off catching mice—and I used to -catch them finely once—he doesn’t like to kill me, but he has left me in -the wood, where I must perish miserably.” - -“No, dear pussy!” said the fox; “you leave it to me, and I’ll help you -get your daily bread.” - -“You are very good, dear little sister foxy!” said the cat, and the fox -built him a little shed with a garden round it to walk about in. - -Now one day the hare came to steal the man’s cabbage. -“Kreem-kreem-kreem!” he squeaked. But the cat popped his head out of the -window, and when he saw the hare, he put up his back and stuck up his -tail and said: - -“Ft-t-t-t-t-Frrrrrrr!” - -The hare was frightened and ran away and told the bear, the wolf, and -the wild boar all about it. - -“Never mind,” said the bear, “I tell you what, we’ll all four give a -banquet, and invite the fox and the cat, and do for the pair of them. -Now, look here! I’ll steal the man’s mead; and you, Mr. Wolf, steal his -fat-pot; and you, Mr. Wildboar, root up his fruit trees; and you, Mr. -Bunny, go and invite the fox and the cat to dinner.” - -So they made everything ready as the bear had said, and the hare ran off -to invite the guests. He came beneath the window and said: - -“We invite your little ladyship, Foxy-Woxy, together with Mr. Shaggy -Matthew, to dinner”—and back he ran again. - -“But you should have told them to bring their spoons with them,” said -the bear. - -“Oh, what a head I’ve got! if I didn’t quite forget!” cried the hare, -and back he went again, ran beneath the window, and cried: - -“Mind you bring your spoons!” - -“Very well,” said the fox. - -So the cat and the fox went to the banquet, and when the cat saw the -bacon, he put up his back and stuck out his tail and cried: - -“Mee-oo, mee-oo!” with all his might. But they thought he said: - -“Ma-lo, ma-lo!”[4] - -Footnote 4: - - What a little! what a little! - -“What!” said the bear, who was hiding behind the beeches with the other -beasts, “here have all we four been getting together all we could, and -this pig-faced cat calls it too little! What a monstrous cat he must be -to have such an appetite!” - -So they were all four very frightened, and the bear climbed up a tree, -and the others hid where they could. But when the cat saw the boar’s -bristles sticking out from behind the bushes he thought it was a mouse, -and put up his back again and cried: - -“Ft! ft! ft! Frrrrrrr!” - -Then they were more frightened than ever. And the boar went into a bush -still farther off, and the wolf went behind an oak, and the bear got -down from the tree, and climbed up into a bigger one, and the hare ran -right away. - -But the cat remained in the midst of all the good things and ate away at -the bacon, and the little fox gobbled up the honey, and they ate and ate -till they couldn’t eat any more, and then they both went home licking -their paws. - - - - - _The Straw Ox_ - - -There was once upon a time an old man and an old woman. The old man -worked in the fields as a pitch burner, while the old woman sat at home -and spun flax. They were so poor that they could save nothing at all; -all their earnings went in bare food, and when that was gone there was -nothing left. At last the old woman had a good idea. - -“Look, now, husband,” cried she, “make me a straw ox, and smear it all -over with tar.” - -“Why, you foolish woman!” said he, “what’s the good of an ox of that -sort?” - -“Never mind,” said she; “you just make it. I know what I am about.” - -What was the poor man to do? He set to work and made the ox of straw, -and smeared it all over with tar. - -The night passed away, and at early dawn the old woman took her distaff -and drove the straw ox out into the steppe to graze, and she herself sat -down behind a hillock and began spinning her flax, and cried: - -“Graze away, little ox, while I spin my flax; graze away, little ox, -while I spin my flax!” And while she spun, her head drooped down, and -she began to doze, and while she was dozing, from behind the dark wood -and from the back of the huge pines a bear came rushing out upon the ox -and said: - -“Who are you? Speak and tell me!” - -And the ox said: - -“A three-year-old heifer am I, made of straw and smeared with tar.” - -“Oh!” said the bear, “stuffed with straw and trimmed with tar, are you? -Then give me of your straw and tar, that I may patch up my ragged fur -again!” - -“Take some,” said the ox, and the bear fell upon him and began to tear -away at the tar. - -He tore and tore, and buried his teeth in it till he found he couldn’t -let go again. He tugged and he tugged, but it was no good, and the ox -dragged him gradually off, goodness knows where. Then the old woman -awoke, and there was no ox to be seen. “Alas! old fool that I am!” cried -she, “perchance it has gone home.” Then she quickly caught up her -distaff and spinning-board, threw them over her shoulders, and hastened -off home, and she saw that the ox had dragged the bear up to the fence, -and in she went to her old man. “Dad, dad!” she cried, “look, look! the -ox has brought us a bear. Come out and kill it!” Then the old man jumped -up, tore off the bear, tied him up, and threw him in the cellar. - -Next morning, between dark and dawn, the old woman took her distaff and -drove the ox into the steppe to graze. She herself sat down by a mound, -began spinning, and said: - -“Graze, graze away, little ox, while I spin my flax! Graze, graze away, -little ox, while I spin my flax!” And while she spun, her head drooped -down, and she dozed. And, lo! from behind the dark wood, from the back -of the huge pines, a gray wolf came rushing out upon the ox and said: - -“Who are you? Come, tell me!” - -“I am a three-year-old heifer, stuffed with straw and trimmed with tar,” -said the ox. - -“Oh, trimmed with tar, are you? Then give me of your tar to tar my -sides, that the dogs and the sons of dogs tear me not!” - -“Take some,” said the ox. And with that the wolf fell upon him and tried -to tear the tar off. He tugged and tugged, and tore with his teeth, but -could get none off. Then he tried to let go, and couldn’t; tug and worry -as he might, it was no good. When the old woman woke, there was no -heifer in sight. “Maybe my heifer has gone home!” she cried; “I’ll go -home and see.” When she got there she was astonished, for by the paling -stood the ox with the wolf still tugging at it. She ran and told her old -man, and her old man came and threw the wolf into the cellar also. - -On the third day the old woman again drove her ox into the pastures to -graze, and sat down by a mound and dozed off. Then a fox came running -up. “Who are you?” it asked the ox. - -“I’m a three-year-old heifer, stuffed with straw and daubed with tar.” - -“Then give me some of your tar to smear my sides with, when those dogs -and sons of dogs tear my hide!” - -“Take some,” said the ox. Then the fox fastened her teeth in him and -couldn’t draw them out again. The old woman told her old man, and he -took and cast the fox into the cellar in the same way. And after that -they caught Pussy Swiftfoot[5] likewise. - -Footnote 5: - - The hare. - -So when he had got them all safely the old man sat down on a bench -before the cellar and began sharpening a knife. And the bear said to -him: - -“Tell me, daddy, what are you sharpening your knife for?” - -“To flay your skin off, that I may make a leather jacket for myself and -a pelisse for my old woman.” - -“Oh, don’t flay me, daddy dear! Rather let me go, and I’ll bring you a -lot of honey.” - -“Very well, see you do it,” and he unbound and let the bear go. Then he -sat down on the bench and again began sharpening his knife. And the wolf -asked him: - -“Daddy, what are you sharpening your knife for?” - -“To flay off your skin, that I may make me a warm cap against the -winter.” - -“Oh! Don’t flay me, daddy dear, and I’ll bring you a whole herd of -little sheep.” - -“Well, see that you do it,” and he let the wolf go. - -Then he sat down, and began sharpening his knife again. The fox put out -her little snout, and asked him: - -“Be so kind, dear daddy, and tell me why you are sharpening your knife?” - -“Little foxes,” said the old man, “have nice skins that do capitally for -collars and trimmings, and I want to skin you!” - -“Oh! Don’t take my skin away, daddy dear, and I will bring you hens and -geese.” - -“Very well, see that you do it!” and he let the fox go. - -The hare now alone remained, and the old man began sharpening his knife -on the hare’s account. - -“Why do you do that?” asked puss, and he replied: - -“Little hares have nice little, soft, warm skins, which will make me -nice gloves and mittens against the winter!” - -“Oh, daddy dear! Don’t flay me, and I’ll bring you kale and good -cauliflower, if only you let me go!” - -Then he let the hare go also. - -Then they went to bed: but very early in the morning, when it was -neither dusk nor dawn, there was a noise in the doorway like “Durrrrrr!” - -“Daddy!” cried the old woman, “there’s some one scratching at the door; -go and see who it is!” - -The old man went out, and there was the bear carrying a whole hive full -of honey. The old man took the honey from the bear; but no sooner did he -lie down than again there was another “Durrrrr!” at the door. The old -man looked out and saw the wolf driving a whole flock of sheep into the -courtyard. Close on his heels came the fox, driving before him geese and -hens, and all manner of fowls; and last of all came the hare, bringing -cabbage and kale, and all manner of good food. And the old man was glad, -and the old woman was glad. And the old man sold the sheep and oxen, and -got so rich that he needed nothing more. As for the straw-stuffed ox, it -stood in the sun till it fell to pieces. - - - - - _The Cat, the Cock, and the Fox_ - - -There was once upon a time a cat and a cock, who agreed to live -together; so they built them a hut in a barnyard, and the cock kept -house while the cat went foraging for sausages. One day the fox came -running up: - -“Open the door, little cock!” cried she. - -“Pussy told me not to, little fox!” said the cock. - -“Open the door, little cock!” repeated the fox. - -“I tell you pussy told me not to, little fox!” - -At last, however, the cock grew tired of always saying “No!” so he -opened the door, and in the fox rushed, seized him in her jaws, and ran -off with him. Then the cock cried: - - “Help! pussy-pussy! - That foxy hussy - Has got me tight - With all her might. - Across her tail - My legs do trail - Along the bridge so stony!” - -The cat heard it, gave chase to the fox, rescued the cock, brought him -home, scolded him well, and said: - -“Now keep out of her jaws in the future if you don’t want to be killed -altogether!” - -Then the cat went out foraging for wheat, so that the cock might have -something to eat. He had scarcely gone when the sly she-fox again came -creeping up. - -“Dear little cock!” said she, “pray open the door!” - -“Nay, little fox! Pussy said I wasn’t to.” - -But the fox went on asking and asking till at last the cock let him in, -when the fox rushed at him, seized him by the neck, and ran off with -him. Then the cock cried out: - - “Help! pussy-pussy! - That foxy hussy - Has got me tight - With all her might. - Across her tail - My legs do trail - Along the bridge so stony!” - -The cat heard it, and again he ran after the fox and rescued the cock, -and gave the fox a sound drubbing. Then he said to the cock: - -“Now, mind you, never let her come in again, or she’ll eat you.” - -But the next time the cat went out, the she-fox came again, and said: - -“Dear little cock, open the door!” - -“No, little fox! Pussy said I wasn’t to.” - -But the fox begged and begged so piteously that at last the cock was -quite touched, and opened the door. Then the fox caught him by the -throat again, and ran away with him, and the cock cried: - - “Help! pussy-pussy! - That foxy hussy - Has got me tight - With all her might. - Across her tail - My legs do trail - Along the bridge so stony!” - -The cat heard it, and gave chase again. He ran and ran, but this time he -couldn’t catch the fox up; so he returned home and wept bitterly, -because he was now all alone. At last, however, he dried his tears and -got him a little fiddle, a little fiddle-bow, and a big sack, and went -to the fox’s hole and began to play: - - “Fiddle-de-dee! - The foxy so wee - Had daughters twice two, - And a little son too, - Oh, fiddle-de-dee! - Come, foxy, and see - My sweet minstrelsy!” - -Then the fox’s daughter said: - -“Mammy, I’ll go out and see who it is that is playing so nicely!” - -So out she skipped, but no sooner did pussy see her than he caught hold -of her and popped her into his sack. Then he played again: - - “Fiddle-de-dee! - The foxy so wee - Had daughters twice two, - And a little son too - Oh! Fiddle-de-dee! - Come, foxy, and see - My sweet minstrelsy!” - -Then the second daughter skipped out, and pussy caught her by the -forehead, and popped her into his sack, and went on playing and singing -till he had got all four daughters into his sack, and the little son -also. - -Then the old fox was left all alone, and she waited and waited, but not -one of them came back. At last she said to herself: - -“I’ll go out and call them home, for the cock is roasting, and the milk -pottage is simmering, and ‘tis high time we had something to eat.” - -So out she popped, and the cat pounced upon her and killed her too. Then -he went and drank up all the soup, and gobbled up all the pottage, and -then he saw the cock lying on a plate. - -“Come, shake yourself, cock!” said puss. - -So the cock shook himself, and got up, and the cat took the cock home, -and the dead foxes too. And when they got home they skinned them to make -nice beds to lie upon, and lived happily together in peace and plenty. -And as they laughed over the joke as a good joke, we may laugh over it -too. - - - - - _The Fox and the Dove_ - - -Once upon a time there was a dove who built her nest in a high tree. -Every year, about the time when her young ones were beginning to get -feathers, Reynard Sly-Boots would come along and say to the dove: - -“Give me your young ones to eat; throw them down to me of your own -accord, or I will gobble you up, as well as them!” - -The dove, frightened at the threat, would throw down the young birds and -thus it had happened year after year. - -Now one day, as the dove sat most melancholy upon her nest, a great bird -flew up and asked why she was so sad and downcast. And the dove answered -that it was because Reynard would soon come and eat up her young ones. - -Upon this the great bird replied, “Oh, you goose! Why do you throw them -down to him? Just bid your good friend to please give himself the -trouble to come after them. Then you’ll soon see him sneak away with his -tail between his legs, for Reynard cannot climb a tree.” - -So when the time came round and Reynard again presented himself, the -dove said to him, “If you want meat for dinner, just be so kind as to -come up and help yourself.” - -When the fox saw that he must go away empty he asked the dove who had -counseled her to speak thus, and she answered: - -“The great bird that has a nest yonder near the stream.” - -Reynard at once betook himself to the stream and remonstrated with the -great bird for building his nest in so exposed a place, asking what he -did in case of a high wind. - -The great bird answered, “When the wind blows from the right I turn to -the left; when it blows from the left I turn to the right.” - -“But what do you do when it blows from all sides?” asked the fox. - -“Then I stick my head under my wing,” said the great bird, showing how -he did it. But quick as a wink, when the great bird stuck his head under -his wing, Reynard Sly-Boots sprang upon him and seized him, saying: - -“You know how to give counsel to others, but not to advise yourself.” - -So he ate him up! - - - - - _The Fox and the Hedgehog_ - - -A hedgehog met Master Reynard in a field, and said to him, “Hello, -master! Whither away?” - -“Oh, I’m just loafing around!” answered the fox. - -“Tell me, now,” said Reynard to the hedgehog, after they had been -chatting a while, “how manifold is your understanding?” - -“Threefold,” answered the hedgehog. - -“Why, how is that?” asked the fox. - -“Why, you see, I have one sense above, one below, and the third -everywhere,” replied the hedgehog; and added: “And how manifold is your -understanding?” - -“Oh, mine is seventy-sevenfold,” answered the fox. - -“Well, well!” said the hedgehog. - -Thereupon they walked along through the fields, and so eagerly were they -talking that they gave no heed to the way, and presently stumbled into a -wolf’s den. Then was good counsel precious! How should they ever get out -of this scrape? - -Said Reynard to the hedgehog, “Come now, search around in your -head-piece for a means of getting out of this pickle.” - -“I should have done that before,” answered the hedgehog, “but I was -afraid that by and by you would curse me. How shall I, a little -hedgehog, with only a threefold understanding, devise anything better -than you, who have a seventy-sevenfold understanding?” - -However, after talking back and forth a long time, the hedgehog made -this suggestion: “Say, Reynard, just seize me by the ear and throw me up -out of the den, because I am the smaller.” - -“Yes, but how shall I get out?” - -“Oh, just stick up your tail, and I will pull you out!” - -So Reynard seized the hedgehog by the ear and tossed him up out of the -den. Then he called upon him to keep his word. “Hello, there, Gossip, -now pull me out!” - -“Do you know what,” answered the hedgehog, “I’ll tell you something. I -have only a threefold understanding, and yet I found a way of helping -myself. Now do you help yourself with your seventy-sevenfold -understanding.” - -By this time a peasant came along, and finding the fox in the den he -made short work with him. But the hedgehog crept away through the -thicket with his threefold understanding, while Reynard, with all his -seventy-sevenfold understanding, was carried off by the peasant. - - - - - _The Disappointed Bear_ - - -Once upon a time a little old woman, who was walking in the forest, -climbed up into a wild-cherry tree to gather cherries. Now, a bear -espied her, and he came under the tree and cried, “Come down, old woman, -that I may eat you!” - -“Go along with you!” answered the old woman. “Why should you eat a -scrawny old woman like me. Here, gnaw upon my shoe till I come down, and -I will take you to my house; I have two little children there, named -Janko and Mirko; they will make you a right savory dish. So have -patience till you get them.” - -So said the little old woman, and threw down one of her shoes. Master -Bruin gnawed and gnawed upon it, but the more he gnawed the hungrier he -grew. Greatly enraged, he screamed up to the old woman: - -“Come down, you old wench, and let me eat you!” - -“Just wait a little longer, till the old wench has gathered enough -cherries,” she answered. “Here, gnaw this other shoe a while; she’ll -soon come down and show you the way to her house.” So saying, she threw -down the other shoe. - -When Bruin found that the second shoe was no juicier than the first, he -made no further effort, but contented himself with thinking of the fat -little children at the old woman’s house. When she had gathered cherries -enough, down she came and went home, the bear tramping along behind her. - -When they reached the house the old woman said: “I’ll tell you what; -first let me give the children a good supper, that they may be all the -fatter; and meanwhile do you run about till evening to get up a better -appetite.” - -So Bruin went away and ran about in the woods all the rest of the day, -and at evening he came back to the hut. - -“Here I am, little mother!” he cried; “now bring out Janko and Mirko, -and see me polish them off. I am starving to death!” - -“Oho!” answered the little old woman from within; “Janko has made the -door fast with bolts, and I have just put Mirko to sleep. I couldn’t -think of waking him. And the little mother is so old and weak that she -can’t unbolt the door alone. Come some other day!” - -Then Master Bruin perceived that he had been fooled, and he walked -reluctantly away, with drooping snout and an empty stomach. - - - - - _Young Neverfull_ - - -A certain housewife had a young servant lad who devoured everything -eatable that lay in his way. He would rummage in the storeroom until he -smelled out something good, and would give himself no rest until he had -devoured it all. - -Now, the woman had a jar of preserved fruit, and, as she feared that the -youngster would eat it and leave her nothing to put into her pies, she -said to him: - -“My good boy, you have now eaten everything that I have except this jam, -and you have left this just as if you knew that it was poisoned. See how -kind Heaven is to have preserved you from it. One single spoonful is -enough to kill one instantly, so I warn you not to touch it unless you -want to die.” - -“Very well,” answered the boy. - -On the next Sunday, as the woman was getting ready to go to mass, she -said to the boy: “Cook the soup and boil the meat and roast this duck; -we will have a good dinner to-day. See that you have all done and ready -when I come home.” - -“Very well; it shall all be done,” answered the boy. - -When the woman was gone he cooked the soup and boiled the meat, and then -he put the duck upon the spit to roast. When he saw what a delicious -brown crisp was forming all over the duck, he thought, “It can roast -itself another one,” and ate the crisp all off. He turned the spit and -turned it, but the second brown crisp never came. - -When he saw this, he thought: “When the mistress comes home she will -pepper me well,” and he began to consider how he could escape a beating. -In his desperation he remembered the jar of poison against which his -mistress had warned him the day before. With a sudden resolution he went -into the storeroom and devoured the whole jarful of preserved fruit, and -then crouched down in a corner to wait for death. - -Presently his mistress came home and cried out angrily: “What have you -done to this duck?” She was about to belabor him well, when he cried: -“Ah, leave me in peace, dear mistress! I shall die in a minute, anyway, -for I have eaten up all the poison!” - -At this the woman broke out into a laugh and could not refuse to forgive -him. The duck and the preserves, however, were gone all the same. - - - - - _Hudden and Dudden and Donald O’Neary_ - - -There was once upon a time two farmers, and their names were Hudden and -Dudden. They had poultry in their yards, sheep on the uplands, and -scores of cattle in the meadow land alongside the river. But for all -that they weren’t happy, for just between their two farms there lived a -poor man by the name of Donald O’Neary. He had a hovel over his head and -a strip of grass that was barely enough to keep his one cow, Daisy, from -starving, and, though she did her best, it was but seldom that Donald -got a drink of milk or a roll of butter from Daisy. You would think -there was little here to make Hudden and Dudden jealous, but so it is, -the more one has the more one wants, and Donald’s neighbors lay awake of -nights scheming how they might get hold of his little strip of grass -land. Daisy, poor thing, they never thought of; she was just a bag of -bones. - -One day Hudden met Dudden, and they were soon grumbling as usual, and -all to the tune of “If only we could get that vagabond, Donald O’Neary, -out of the country.” - -“Let’s kill Daisy,” said Hudden at last; “if that doesn’t make him clear -out, nothing will.” - -No sooner said than agreed; and it wasn’t dark before Hudden and Dudden -crept up to the little shed where lay poor Daisy, trying her best to -chew the cud, though she hadn’t had as much grass in the day as would -cover your hand. And when Donald came to see if Daisy was all snug for -the night, the poor beast had only time to lick his hand once before she -died. - -Well, Donald was a shrewd fellow, and, downhearted though he was, began -to think if he could get any good out of Daisy’s death. He thought and -he thought, and the next day you might have seen him trudging off early -to the fair, Daisy’s hide over his shoulder, every penny he had jingling -in his pockets. Just before he got to the fair, he made several slits in -the hide, put a penny in each slit, walked into the best inn of the town -as bold as if it belonged to him, and, hanging the hide up to a nail in -the wall, sat down. - -“Some of your best whisky,” says he to the landlord. But the landlord -didn’t like his looks. “Is it fearing I won’t pay you, you are?” says -Donald; “why, I have a hide here that gives me all the money I want.” -And with that he hit it a whack with his stick, and out hopped a penny. -The landlord opened his eyes, as you may fancy. - -“What’ll you take for that hide?” - -“It’s not for sale, my good man.” - -“Will you take a gold piece?” - -“It’s not for sale, I tell you. Hasn’t it kept me and mine for years?” -and with that Donald hit the hide another whack, and out jumped a second -penny. - -Well, the long and the short of it was that Donald let the hide go, and, -that very evening, who but he should walk up to Hudden’s door? - -“Good-evening, Hudden. Will you lend me your best pair of scales?” - -Hudden stared and Hudden scratched his head, but he lent the scales. - -When Donald was safe at home, he pulled out his pocketful of bright -gold, and began to weigh each piece in the scales. But Hudden had put a -lump of butter at the bottom, and so the last piece of gold stuck fast -to the scales when he took them back to Hudden. - -If Hudden had stared before, he stared ten times more now, and no sooner -was Donald’s back turned, than he was off as hard as he could pelt to -Dudden’s. - -“Good-evening, Dudden. That vagabond, bad luck to him——” - -“You mean Donald O’Neary?” - -“And who else should I mean? He’s back here weighing out sackfuls of -gold.” - -“How do you know that?” - -“Here are my scales that he borrowed, and here’s a gold piece still -sticking to them.” - -Off they went together, and they came to Donald’s door. Donald had -finished making the last pile of ten gold pieces. And he couldn’t -finish, because a piece had stuck to the scales. - -In they walked without an “If you please” or “By your leave.” - -“Well, _I_ never!” that was all _they_ could say. - -“Good-evening, Hudden; good-evening, Dudden. Ah! you thought you had -played me a fine trick, but you never did me a better turn in all your -lives. When I found poor Daisy dead, I thought to myself, ‘Well, her -hide may fetch something’; and it did. Hides are worth their weight in -gold in the market just now.” - -Hudden nudged Dudden, and Dudden winked at Hudden. - -“Good-evening, Donald O’Neary.” - -“Good-evening, kind friends.” - -The next day there wasn’t a cow or a calf that belonged to Hudden or -Dudden but her hide was going to the fair in Hudden’s biggest cart, -drawn by Dudden’s strongest pair of horses. - -When they came to the fair, each one took a hide over his arm, and there -they were walking through the fair, bawling out at the top of their -voices: “Hides to sell! hides to sell!” - -Out came the tanner: - -“How much for your hides, my good men?” - -“Their weight in gold.” - -“It’s early in the day to come out of the tavern.” That was all the -tanner said, and back he went to his yard. - -“Hides to sell! Fine fresh hides to sell!” - -Out came the cobbler: - -“How much for your hides, my men?” - -“Their weight in gold.” - -“Is it making game of me you are? Take that for your pains,” and the -cobbler dealt Hudden a blow that made him stagger. - -Up the people came running from one end of the fair to the other. -“What’s the matter? What’s the matter?” cried they. - -“Here are a couple of vagabonds selling hides at their weight in gold,” -said the cobbler. - -“Hold ‘em fast; hold ‘em fast!” bawled the innkeeper, who was the last -to come up, he was so fat. “I’ll wager it’s one of the rogues who -tricked me out of thirty gold pieces yesterday for a wretched hide.” - -It was more kicks than halfpence that Hudden and Dudden got before they -were well on their way home again, and they didn’t run the slower -because all the dogs of the town were at their heels. - -Well, as you may fancy, if they loved Donald little before, they loved -him less now. - -“What’s the matter, friends?” said he, as he saw them tearing along, -their hats knocked in, and their coats torn off, and their faces black -and blue. “Is it fighting you’ve been? or mayhap you met the police, ill -luck to them?” - -“We’ll police you, you vagabond. It’s mighty smart you thought yourself, -deluding us with your lying tales.” - -“Who deluded you? Didn’t you see the gold with your own two eyes?” - -But it was no use talking. Pay for it he must and should. There was a -meal-sack handy, and into it Hudden and Dudden popped Donald O’Neary, -tied him up tight, ran a pole through the knot, and off they started for -the Brown Lake of the Bog, each with a pole-end on his shoulder, and -Donald O’Neary between. - -But the Brown Lake was far, the road was dusty, Hudden and Dudden were -sore and weary, and parched with thirst. There was an inn by the -roadside. - -“Let’s go in,” said Hudden; “I’m dead beat. It’s heavy he is for the -little he had to eat.” - -If Hudden was willing, so was Dudden. As for Donald, you may be sure his -leave wasn’t asked, but he was dumped down at the inn door for all the -world as if he had been a sack of potatoes. - -“Sit still, you vagabond,” said Dudden; “if we don’t mind waiting, you -needn’t.” - -Donald held his peace, but after a while he heard the glasses clink, and -Hudden singing away at the top of his voice. - -“I won’t have her, I tell you; I won’t have her!” said Donald. But -nobody heeded what he said. - -“I won’t have her, I tell you; I won’t have her!” said Donald; and this -time he said it louder; but nobody heeded what he said. - -“I won’t have her, I tell you; I won’t have her!” said Donald; and this -time he said it as loud as he could. - -“And who won’t you have, may I be so bold as to ask?” said a farmer, who -had just come up with a drove of cattle, and was turning in for a glass. - -“It’s the king’s daughter. They are bothering the life out of me to -marry her.” - -“You’re the lucky fellow. I’d give something to be in your shoes.” - -“Do you see that, now! Wouldn’t it be a fine thing for a farmer to be -marrying a princess, all dressed in gold and jewels?” - -“Jewels, do you say? Ah, now, couldn’t you take me with you?” - -“Well, you’re an honest fellow, and as I don’t care for the king’s -daughter, though she’s as beautiful as the day, and is covered with -jewels from top to toe, you shall have her. Just undo the cord and let -me out; they tied me up tight, as they knew I’d run away from her.” - -Out crawled Donald; in crept the farmer. - -“Now lie still, and don’t mind the shaking; it’s only rumbling over the -palace steps you’ll be. And maybe they’ll abuse you for a vagabond, who -won’t have the king’s daughter; but you needn’t mind that. Ah, it’s a -deal I’m giving up for you, sure as it is that I don’t care for the -princess.” - -“Take my cattle in exchange,” said the farmer; and you may guess it -wasn’t long before Donald was at their tails, driving them homeward. - -Out came Hudden and Dudden, and the one took one end of the pole, and -the other the other. - -“I’m thinking he’s heavier,” said Hudden. - -“Ah, never mind,” said Dudden; “it’s only a step now to the Brown Lake.” - -“I’ll have her now! I’ll have her now!” bawled the farmer from inside -the sack. - -“By my faith and you shall, though,” said Hudden, and he laid his stick -across the sack. - -“I’ll have her! I’ll have her!” bawled the farmer, louder than ever. - -“Well, here you are,” said Dudden, for they were now come to the Brown -Lake, and, unslinging the sack, they pitched it plump into the lake. - -“You’ll not be playing your tricks on us any longer,” said Hudden. - -“True for you,” said Dudden. “Ah, Donald, my boy, it was an ill day when -you borrowed my scales!” - -Off they went, with a light step and an easy heart, but when they were -near home, whom should they see but Donald O’Neary, and all around him -the cows were grazing, and the calves were kicking up their heels and -butting their heads together. - -“Is it you, Donald?” said Dudden. “Faith, you’ve been quicker than we -have.” - -“True for you, Dudden, and let me thank you kindly; the turn was good, -if the will was ill. You’ll have heard, like me, that the Brown Lake -leads to the Land of Promise. I always put it down as lies, but it is -just as true as my word. Look at the cattle.” - -Hudden stared, and Dudden gaped; but they couldn’t get over the cattle; -fine, fat cattle they were, too. - -“It’s only the worst I could bring up with me,” said Donald O’Neary; -“the others were so fat, there was no driving them. Faith, too, it’s -little wonder they didn’t care to leave, with grass as far as you could -see, and as sweet and juicy as fresh butter.” - -“Ah now, Donald, we haven’t always been friends,” said Dudden, “but, as -I was just saying, you were ever a decent lad, and you’ll show us the -way, won’t you?” - -“I don’t see that I’m called upon to do that; there is a power more -cattle down there. Why shouldn’t I have them all to myself?” - -“Faith, they may well say, the richer you get, the harder the heart. You -always were a neighborly lad, Donald. You wouldn’t wish to keep the luck -all to yourself?” - -“True for you, Hudden, though it’s a bad example you set me. But I’ll -not be thinking of old times. There is plenty for all there, so come -along with me.” - -Off they trudged, with a light heart and an eager step. When they came -to the Brown Lake the sky was full of little white clouds, and, if the -sky was full, the lake was as full. - -“Ah, now, look! there they are!” cried Donald, as he pointed to the -clouds in the lake. - -“Where? where?” cried Hudden, and “Don’t be greedy!” cried Dudden, as he -jumped his hardest to be up first with the fat cattle. But if he jumped -first, Hudden wasn’t long behind. - -They never came back. Maybe they got too fat, like the cattle. As for -Donald O’Neary, he had cattle and sheep all his days to his heart’s -content. - - - - - _The Tail_ - - -There was a shepherd once who went out to the hill to look after his -sheep. It was misty and cold, and he had much trouble to find them. At -last he had them all but one; and after much searching he found that -one, too, in a peat hag, half drowned; so he took off his plaid, and -bent down and took hold of the sheep’s tail and he pulled! The sheep was -heavy with water, and he could not lift her, so he took off his coat and -he _pulled!!_ but it was too much for him, so he spit on his hands, and -took a good hold of the tail and he PULLED!! and the tail broke! and if -it had not been for that this tale would have been a great deal longer. - - - - - _Jack and the King who was a Gentleman_ - - -Well, children: wanst upon a time, when pigs was swine, there was a poor -widdy woman lived all alone with her wan son Jack in a wee hut of a -house, that on a dark night ye might aisily walk over it by mistake, not -knowin’ at all, at all, it was there, barrin’ ye’d happen to strike yer -toe agin’ it. An’ Jack an’ his mother lived for lee an’ long, as happy -as hard times would allow them, in this wee hut of a house, Jack -sthrivin’ to ‘arn a little support for them both by workin’ out, an’ -doin’ wee turns back an’ forrid to the neighbors. But there was one -winter, an’ times come to look black enough for them—nothin’ to do, an’ -less to ate, an’ clothe themselves as best they might; an’ the winther -wore on, gettin’ harder an’ harder, till at length when Jack got up out -of his bed on a mornin’, an’ axed his mother to make ready the drop of -stirabout for their little brakwus as usual, “Musha, Jack, _a-mhic_,” -says his mother, says she, “the male-chist—thanks be to the Lord!—is as -empty as Paddy Ruadh’s donkey that used to ate his brakwus at -supper-time. It stood out long an’ well, but it’s empty at last, Jack, -an’ no sign of how we’re goin’ to get it filled again—only we trust in -the good Lord that niver yet disarted the widow and the orphan—He’ll not -see us wantin’, Jack.” - -“The Lord helps them that help themselves, mother,” says Jack back again -to her. - -“Thrue for ye, Jack,” says she, “but I don’t see how we’re goin’ to help -ourselves.” - -“He’s a mortial dead mule out an’ out that hasn’t a kick in him,” says -Jack. “An’, mother, with the help of Providence—not comparin’ the -Christian to the brute baste—I have a kick in me yet; if you thought ye -could only manage to sthrive along the best way you could for a week, or -maybe two weeks, till I get back again off a little journey I’d like to -undhertake.” - -“An’ may I make bould to ax, Jack,” says his mother to him, “where would -ye be afther makin’ the little journey to?” - -“You may that, then, mother,” says Jack. “It’s this: You know the King -of Munsther is a great jintleman entirely. It’s put on him, he’s so -jintlemanly, that he was niver yet known to make use of a wrong or -disrespectable word. An’ he prides himself on it so much that he has -sent word over all the known airth that he’ll give his beautiful -daughter—the loveliest picthur in all Munsther, an’ maybe in all -Irelan’, if we’d say it—an’ her weight in goold, to any man that in -three trials will make him use the unrespectful word, an’ say, ‘Ye’re a -liar!’ But every man that tries him, an’ fails, loses his head. All -sorts and descriptions of people, from prences an’ peers down to bagmen -an’ beggars, have come from all parts of the known world to thry for the -great prize, an’ all of them up to this has failed, an’ by consequence -lost their heads. But, mother dear,” says Jack, “where’s the use in a -head to a man if he can’t get mail for it to ate? So I’m goin’ to thry -me fortune, only axin’ your blissin’ an’ God’s blissin’ to help me on -the way.” - -“Why, Jack, _a-thaisge_,” says his mother, “it’s a dangersome task; but -as you remark, where’s the good of the head to ye when ye can’t get mail -to put in it? So I give ye my blissin’, an’ night, noon, an’ mornin’ -I’ll be prayin’ for ye to prosper.” - -An’ Jack set out, with his heart as light as his stomach, an’ his pocket -as light as them both together; but a man’ll not travel far in ould -Irelan’ (thanks be to God!) on the barefooted stomach—as we’ll call -it—or it’ll be his own fault if he does; an’ Jack didn’t want for plenty -of first-class aitin’ an’ dhrinkin’, lashin’s an’ laivin’s, and pressin’ -him to more. An’ in this way he thraveled away afore him for five long -days till he come to the King of Munsther’s castle. And when he was -comed there he rattled on the gate, an’ out come the king. - -“Well, me man,” says the king, “what might be your business here?” - -“I’m come here, your Kingship,” says Jack, mighty polite, an’ pullin’ -his forelock, be raison his poor ould mother had always insthructed him -in the heighth of good breedin’—“I’m come here, your R’yal Highness,” -says Jack, “to thry for yer daughter.” - -“Hum!” says the king. “Me good young man,” says he, “don’t ye think it a -poor thing to lose yer head?” - -“If I lose it,” says Jack, “sure one consolation ‘ill be that I’ll lose -it in a glorious cause.” - -An’ who do ye think would be listenin’ to this same deludherin’ speech -of Jack’s, from over the wall, but the king’s beautiful daughter -herself. She took an eyeful out of Jack, an’ right well plaised she was -with his appearance, for— - -“Father,” says she at once, “hasn’t the boy as good a right to get a -chance as another? What’s his head to you? Let the boy in,” says she. - -An’ sure enough, without another word, the king took Jack within the -gates, an’ handin’ him over to the sarvints, tould him to be well looked -afther an’ cared for till mornin’. - -Next mornin’ the king took Jack with him an’ fetched him out into the -yard. “Now then, Jack,” says he, “we’re goin’ to begin. We’ll drop into -the stables here, an’ I’ll give you your first chance.” - -So he took Jack into the stables an’ showed him some wondherful big -horses, the likes of which poor Jack never saw afore, an’ every one of -which was the heighth of the side wall of the castle an’ could step over -the castle walls, which were twenty-five feet high, without strainin’ -themselves. - -“Thems’ purty big horses, Jack,” says the king. “I don’t suppose ever ye -saw as big or as wondherful as them in yer life.” - -“Oh, they’re purty big, indeed,” says Jack, takin’ it as cool as if -there was nothin’ whatsomever astonishin’ to him about them. “They’re -purty big, indeed,” says Jack, “_for this counthry_. But at home with us -in Donegal we’d only count them little nags, shootable for the young -ladies to dhrive in pony-carriages.” - -“What!” says the king, “do ye mane to tell me ye have seen bigger in -Donegal?” - -“Bigger!” says Jack. “Phew! Blood alive, yer Kingship, I seen horses in -my father’s stable that could step over your horses without thrippin’. -My father owned one big horse—the greatest, I believe, in the world -again.” - -“What was he like?” says the king. - -“Well, yer Highness,” says Jack, “it’s quite beyond me to tell ye what -he was like. But I know when we wanted to mount it could only be done by -means of a step-laddher, with nine hundred and ninety steps to it, every -step a mile high, an’ you had to jump seven mile off the topmost step to -get on his back. He ate nine ton of turnips, nine ton of oats, an’ nine -ton of hay in the day, an’ it took ninety-nine men in the daytime, an’ -ninety-nine more in the night-time, carrying his feeds to him; an’ when -he wanted a drink, the ninety-nine men had to lead him to a lough that -was nine mile long, nine mile broad, an’ nine mile deep, an’ he used to -drink it dry every time,” says Jack, an’ then he looked at the king, -expectin’ he’d surely have to make a liar of him for that. - -But the king only smiled at Jack, an’ says he, “Jack, that was a -wonderful horse entirely, an’ no mistake.” - -Then he took Jack with him out into the garden for his second trial, an’ -showed him a bee-skep, the size of the biggest rick of hay ever Jack had -seen; an’ every bee in the skep was the size of a thrush, an’ the queeny -bee as big as a jackdaw. - -“Jack,” says the king, says he, “isn’t them wondherful bees? I’ll -warrant ye, ye never saw anything like them?” - -“Oh, they’re middlin’—middlin’ fairish,” says Jack—“_for this counthry_. -But they’re nothin’ at all to the bees we have in Donegal. If one of our -bees was flying across the fields,” says Jack, “and one of your bees -happened to come in its way, an’ fall into our bee’s eye, our bee would -fly to the skep, an’ ax another bee to take the mote out of his eye.” - -“Do you tell me so, Jack?” says the king. “You must have great monsthers -of bees.” - -“Monsthers!” says Jack. “Ah, yer Highness, monsthers is no name for some -of them. I remimber,” says Jack, says he, “a mighty great breed of bees -me father owned. They were that big that when my father’s new castle was -a-buildin’ (in the steddin’ of the old one which he consaived to be too -small for a man of his mains), and when the workmen closed in the roof, -it was found there was a bee inside, an’ the hall door not bein’ wide -enough, they had to toss the side wall to let it out. Then the queeny -bee—ah! she was a wondherful baste entirely!” says Jack. “Whenever she -went out to take the air she used to overturn all the ditches and hedges -in the country; the wind of her wings tossed houses and castles; she -used to swallow whole flower gardens; an’ one day she flew against a -ridge of mountains nineteen thousand feet high and knocked a piece out -from top to bottom, an’ it’s called Barnesmore Gap to this day. This -queeny bee was a great trouble an’ annoyance to my father, seein’ all -the harm she done the naybors round about; and once she took it in her -head to fly over to Englan’, an’ she created such mischief an’ -desolation there that the King of Englan’ wrote over to my father if he -didn’t come immaidiately an’ take home his queeny bee that was wrackin’ -an’ ruinin’ all afore her he’d come over himself at the head of all his -army and wipe my father off the face of the airth. So my father ordhered -me to mount our wondherful big horse that I tould ye about, an’ that -could go nineteen mile at every step, an’ go over to Englan’ an’ bring -home our queeny bee. An’ I mounted the horse an’ started, an’ when I -come as far as the sea I had to cross to get over to Englan’, I put the -horse’s two forefeet into my hat, an’ in that way he thrashed the sea -dry all the way across an’ landed me safely. When I come to the King of -Englan’ he had to supply me with nine hundred and ninety-nine thousand -men an’ ninety-nine thousand mile of chains an’ ropes to catch the -queeny bee an’ bind her. It took us nine years to catch her, nine more -to tie her, an’ nine years and nine millions of men to drag her home, -an’ the King of Englan’ was a beggar afther from that day till the day -of his death. Now, what do ye think of that bee?” says Jack, thinkin’ he -had the king this time, sure enough. - -But the king was a cuter one than Jack took him for, an’ he only smiled -again, an’ says he— - -“Well, Jack, that was a wondherful great queeny bee entirely.” - -Next, for poor Jack’s third an’ last chance, the king took him to show -him a wondherful field of beans he had, with every beanstalk fifteen -feet high, an’ every bean the size of a goose’s egg. - -“Well, Jack,” says the king, says he, “I’ll engage ye never saw more -wondherful beanstalks than them?” - -“Is it them?” says Jack. “Arrah, man, yer Kingship,” says he, “they may -be very good—_for this counthry_; but sure we’d throw them out of the -ground for useless afther-shoots in Donegal. I mind one beanstalk in -partickler, that my father had for a show an’ a cur’osity, that he used -to show as a great wondher entirely to sthrangers. It stood on -ninety-nine acres of ground, it was nine hundred mile high, an’ every -leaf covered nine acres. It fed nine thousand horses, nine thousand -mules, an’ nine thousand jackasses for nineteen years. He used to send -nine thousand harvestmen up the stalk in spring to cut and gather off -the soft branches at the top. They used to cut these off when they’d -reach up as far as them (which was always in the harvest time), an’ -throw them down, an’ nine hundred and ninety-nine horses an’ carts were -kept busy for nine months carting the stuff away. Then the harvestmen -always reached down to the foot of the stalk at Christmas again.” - -“Faix, Jack,” says the king, “it was a wondherful beanstalk, that, -entirely.” - -“You might say that,” says Jack, trying to make the most of it, for he -was now on his last leg. “You might say that,” says he. “Why, I mind one -year I went up the stalk with the harvestmen, an’ when I was nine -thousand mile up, doesn’t I miss my foot, and down I come. I fell feet -foremost, and sunk up to my chin in a whinstone rock that was at the -foot. There I was in a quandhary—but I was not long ruminatin’ till I -hauled out my knife, an’ cut off my head, an’ sent it home to look for -help. I watched after it, as it went away, an’ lo an’ behould ye, afore -it had gone half a mile I saw a fox set on it, and begin to worry it. -‘By this an’ by that,’ says I to meself, ‘but this is too bad!’—an’ I -jumped out an’ away as hard as I could run, to the assistance of my -head. An’ when I come up, I lifted my foot, an’ give the fox three -kicks, an’ knocked three kings out of him—every one of them a nicer an’ -a better jintleman than you.” - -“Ye’re a liar, an’ a rascally liar,” says the king. - -“More power to ye!” says Jack, givin’ three buck leaps clean into the -air, “an’ it’s proud I am to get you to confess it; for I have won yer -daughter.” - -Right enough, the king had to give up to Jack the daughter—an’ be the -same token, from the first time she clapped her two eyes on Jack she -wasn’t the girl to gainsay him—an’ her weight in goold. An’ they were -both of them marrid, an’ had such a weddin’ as surpassed all the -weddin’s ever was heerd tell of afore or since in that country or in -this. An’ Jack lost no time in sendin’ for his poor ould mother, an’ -neither herself nor Jack ever after knew what it was to be in want. An’ -may you an’ I never know that same naither. - - - - - _Hans in Luck_ - - -Hans had served his master for seven years, when he one day said to him: -“Master, my time is up; I want to go home to my mother; please give me -my wages.” - -His master answered, “You have served me well and faithfully, and as the -service has been, so shall the wages be.” And he gave him a lump of gold -as big as his head. - -Hans took out his pocket-handkerchief and tied up the gold in it, and -then slung the bundle over his shoulder, and started on his homeward -journey. - -As he walked along, just putting one foot before the other, a man on -horseback appeared, riding gaily and merrily along on his capering -steed. - -“Ah!” said Hans quite loud as he passed, “what a fine thing riding must -be. You are as comfortable as if you were in an arm-chair; you don’t -stumble over any stones; you save your shoes, and you get over the road -you hardly know how.” - -The horseman, who heard him, stopped and said: “Hallo, Hans, why are you -on foot?” - -“I can’t help myself,” said Hans, “for I have this bundle to carry home. -It is true that it is a lump of gold, but I can hardly hold my head up -for it, and it weighs down my shoulder frightfully.” - -“I’ll tell you what,” said the horseman, “we will change. I will give -you my horse, and you shall give me your bundle.” - -“With all my heart,” said Hans; “but you will be rarely weighted with -it.” - -The horseman dismounted, took the gold, and helped Hans up, put the -bridle into his hands, and said: “When you want to go very fast, you -must click your tongue and cry ‘Gee-up! Gee-up!’” - -Hans was delighted when he found himself so easily riding along on -horseback. After a time it occurred to him that he might be going -faster, and he began to click with his tongue, and to cry, “Gee-up! -Gee-up!” The horse broke into a gallop, and before Hans knew where he -was he was thrown off into a ditch which separated the fields from the -highroad. The horse would have run away if a peasant coming along the -road leading a cow, had not caught it. Hans felt himself all over, and -picked himself up; but he was very angry, and said to the peasant: -“Riding is poor fun at times, when you have a nag like mine, which -stumbles and throws you, and puts you in danger of breaking your neck. I -will never mount it again. I think much more of your cow there. You can -walk comfortably behind her, and you have her milk into the bargain -every day, as well as butter and cheese. What would I not give for a cow -like that!” - -“Well,” said the peasant, “if you have such a fancy for it as all that, -I will exchange the cow for the horse.” - -Hans accepted the offer with delight, and the peasant mounted the horse -and rode rapidly off. - -Hans drove his cow peacefully on, and thought what a lucky bargain he -had made. “If only I have a bit of bread, and I don’t expect ever to be -without it, I shall always have butter and cheese to eat with it. If I -am thirsty, I only have to milk my cow and I have milk to drink. My -heart! what more can you desire?” - -When he came to an inn he made a halt, and in his great joy he ate up -all the food he had with him, all his dinner and his supper, and he gave -the last coins he had for half a glass of beer. Then he went on farther -in the direction of his mother’s village, driving the cow before him. -The heat was very oppressive, and, as midday drew near, Hans found -himself on a heath which it took him an hour to cross. He was so hot and -thirsty that his tongue was parched and clung to the roof of his mouth. - -“This can easily be set to rights,” thought Hans. “I will milk my cow -and sup up the milk.” He tied her to a tree, and as he had no pail, he -used his leather cap instead; but, try as hard as he liked, not a single -drop of milk appeared. As he was very clumsy in his attempts, the -impatient animal gave him a severe kick on his forehead with one of her -hind legs. He was stunned by the blow, and fell to the ground, where he -lay for some time, not knowing where he was. - -Happily, just then a butcher came along the road, trundling a young pig -in a wheelbarrow. - -“What is going on here?” he cried, as he helped poor Hans up. - -Hans told him all that had happened. - -The butcher handed him his flask, and said: “Here, take a drink, it will -do you good. The cow can’t give any milk, I suppose; she must be too -old, and good for nothing but to be a beast of burden, or go to the -butcher.” - -“Oh, dear!” said Hans, smoothing his hair. “Now who would ever have -thought it! Killing the animal is all very well, but what kind of meat -will it be? For my part, I don’t like cow’s flesh; it’s not juicy -enough. Now, if one had a nice young pig like that, it would taste ever -so much better; and then, all the sausages!” - -“Listen, Hans!” then said the butcher; “for your sake I will exchange, -and let you have the pig instead of the cow.” - -“God reward your friendship!” said Hans, handing over the cow, as the -butcher untied the pig, and put the halter with which it was tied into -his hand. - -Hans went on his way, thinking how well everything was turning out for -him. Even if a mishap befell him, something else immediately happened to -make up for it. Soon after this, he met a lad carrying a beautiful white -goose under his arm. They passed the time of day, and Hans began to tell -him how lucky he was, and what successful bargains he had made. The lad -told him that he was taking the goose for a christening feast. “Just -feel it,” he went on, holding it up by the wings. “Feel how heavy it is; -it’s true they have been stuffing it for eight weeks. Whoever eats that -roast goose will have to wipe the fat off both sides of his mouth.” - -“Yes, indeed!” answered Hans, weighing it in his hand; “but my pig is no -light weight, either.” - -Then the lad looked cautiously about from side to side, and shook his -head. “Now, look here,” he began; “I don’t think it’s all quite straight -about your pig. One has just been stolen out of Schultze’s sty, in the -village I have come from. I fear, I fear it is the one you are leading. -They have sent people out to look for it, and it would be a bad business -for you if you were found with it; the least they would do, would be to -put you in the black hole.” - -Poor Hans was very much frightened at this. “Oh, dear! oh, dear!” he -said. “Do help me out of this trouble. You are more at home here; take -my pig, and let me have your goose.” - -“Well, I shall run some risk if I do, but I won’t be the means of -getting you into a scrape.” - -So he took the rope in his hand, and quickly drove the pig up a side -road; and honest Hans, relieved of his trouble, plodded on with the -goose under his arm. - -“When I really come to think it over,” he said to himself, “I have still -had the best of the bargain. First, there is the delicious roast goose, -and then all the fat that will drip out of it in cooking will keep us in -goose fat to eat on our bread for three months, at least; and, last of -all, there are the beautiful white feathers, which I will stuff my -pillow with, and then I shall need no rocking to send me to sleep. How -delighted my mother will be!” - -As he passed through the last village he came to a knife-grinder with -his cart, singing to his wheel as it buzzed merrily round— - - “Scissors and knives I grind so fast, - And hang up my cloak against the blast.” - -Hans stopped to look at him, and at last he spoke to him and said: “You -must be doing a good trade to be so merry over your grinding.” - -“Yes,” answered the grinder. “The work of one’s hands has a golden -foundation. A good grinder finds money whenever he puts his hand into -his pocket. But where did you buy that beautiful goose?” - -“I did not buy it; I exchanged my pig for it.” - -“And the pig?” - -“Oh, I got that instead of my cow.” - -“And the cow?” - -“I got that for a horse.” - -“And the horse?” - -“I gave a lump of gold as big as my head for it.” - -“And the gold?” - -“Oh, that was my wages for seven years’ service.” - -“You certainly have known how to manage your affairs,” said the grinder. -“Now, if you could manage to hear the money jingling in your pockets -when you got up in the morning, you would indeed have made your -fortune.” - -“How shall I set about that?” asked Hans. - -“You must be a grinder like me—nothing is needed for it but a whetstone; -everything else will come of itself. I have one here which certainly is -a little damaged, but you need not give me anything for it but your -goose. Are you willing?” - -“How can you ask me such a question?” said Hans. “Why, I shall be the -happiest person in the world. If I can have some money every time I put -my hand in my pocket, what more should I have to trouble about?” - -So he handed him the goose, and took the whetstone in exchange. - -“Now,” said the grinder, lifting up an ordinary large stone which lay -near on the road, “here is another good stone into the bargain. You can -hammer out all your old nails on it to straighten them. Take it, and -carry it off.” - -Hans shouldered the stone, and went on his way with a light heart, and -his eyes shining with joy. “I must have been born in a lucky hour!” he -cried; “everything happens just as I want it, and as it would happen to -a Sunday’s child.” - -In the mean time, as he had been on foot since daybreak, he began to -feel very tired, and he was also very hungry, as he had eaten all his -provisions at once, in his joy at his bargain over the cow. At last he -could hardly walk any farther, and he was obliged to stop every minute -to rest. Then the stones were frightfully heavy, and he could not get -rid of the thought that it would be very nice if he were not obliged to -carry them any farther. He dragged himself like a snail to a well in the -fields, meaning to rest and refresh himself with a draught of the cool -water. So as not to injure the stones by sitting on them, he laid them -carefully on the edge of the well. Then he sat down, and was about to -stoop down to drink when he inadvertently gave them a little push, and -both the stones fell straight into the water. - -When Hans saw them disappear before his very eyes he jumped for joy, and -then knelt down and thanked God, with tears in his eyes, for having -shown him this further grace, and relieved him of the heavy stones -(which were all that remained to trouble him) without giving him -anything to reproach himself with. “There is certainly no one under the -sun so happy as I,” he said. - -And so, with a light heart, free from every care, he bounded on home to -his mother. - - - - - _The Family Servants_ - - -“Where are you going to?” “To Walpe.” - -“I to Walpe, you to Walpe; so, so, together we go.” - -“Have you got a husband? How do you call your husband?” - -“Cham.” “My husband Cham, your husband Cham; I to Walpe, you to Walpe; -so, so, together we go.” - -“Have you got a child? How do you call your child?” - -“Grild.” “My child Grild, your child Grild; my husband Cham, your -husband Cham; I to Walpe, you to Walpe; so, so, together we go.” - -“Have you got a cradle? How do you call your cradle?” - -“Hippodadle.” “My cradle Hippodadle, your cradle Hippodadle; my child -Grild, your child Grild; my husband Cham, your husband Cham; I to Walpe, -you to Walpe; so, so, together we go.” - -“Have you got a man? How do you call your man?” - -“Do-as-well-as-you-can.” “My man Do-as-well-as-you-can, your man -Do-as-well-as-you-can; my cradle Hippodadle, your cradle Hippodadle; my -child Grild, your child Grild; my husband Cham, your husband Cham; I to -Walpe, you to Walpe; so, so, together we go.” - - - - - _The Flail which came from the Clouds_ - - -A countryman once drove his plow with a pair of oxen, and when he came -about the middle of his fields the horns of his two beasts began to -grow, and grow, till they were so high that when he went home he could -not get them into the stable-door. By good luck just then a Butcher -passed by, to whom he gave up his beasts, and struck a bargain, that he -should take to the Butcher a measure-full of turnip-seed, for every -grain of which the Butcher should give him a Brabant dollar. That is -what you may call a good bargain! The Countryman went home, and came -again, carrying on his back a measure of seed, out of which he dropped -one grain on the way. The Butcher, however, reckoned out for every seed -a Brabant dollar; and had not the Countryman lost one he would have -received a dollar more. Meanwhile the seed which he dropped on the road -had grown up to a fine tree, reaching into the clouds. So the Countryman -thought to himself he might as well see what the people in the clouds -were about. Up he climbed, and at the top he found a field with some -people thrashing oats; but while he was looking at them he felt the tree -shake beneath him, and, peeping downward, he perceived that some one was -on the point of chopping down the tree at the roots. “If I am thrown -down,” said the Countryman to himself, “I shall have a bad fall;” and, -quite bewildered, he could think of nothing else to save himself than to -make a rope with the oat straw, which lay about in heaps. He then seized -hold of a hatchet and flail which were near him, and let himself down by -his straw rope. He fell into a deep, deep hole in the earth, and found -it very lucky that he had brought the hatchet with him; for with it he -cut steps, and so mounted again into the broad daylight, bringing with -him the flail for a sign of the truth of his tale, which nobody, on that -account, was able to doubt! - -There is a wonderful adventure!!! - - - - - _The Sole’s Mouth_ - - -The Fishes once grew very discontented because no order was kept in -their dominions. None turned aside for the others, but each swam right -or left just as it pleased him, sometimes between those who wished to be -together, or else pushed them to one side, and the stronger ones gave -the weaker blows with their tails, which made them get out of the way as -fast as they could, or else they devoured them without more ceremony. -“How nice it would be,” thought the Fishes, “if we had a king who should -exercise the power of judging between us!” And so at last they assembled -together to choose a lord, who should be he who could swim the quickest -and render help best to the weaker fishes. - -So they laid themselves all in rank and file by the shore, and the Pike -gave a signal with his tail, on which they started off. Like an arrow -darted away the Pike, closely followed by the Herring, the Gudgeon, the -Perch, the Carp, and the rest. Even the Sole swam among them, hoping to -gain the prize. - -All at once a cry was heard, “The Herring is first, the Herring is -first!” “Who is first?” asked the flat, envious Sole in a vexed tone. -“Who is first?” - -“The Herring, the Herring!” was the reply. “The nak-ed Herring, the -nak-ed Herring!” cried the Sole disdainfully. - -And ever since that time the Sole’s mouth has been all awry as a -punishment for his wicked envy. - - - - - _The Three Brothers_ - - -There was once a man who had three sons, but no fortune except the house -he lived in. Now, each of them wanted to have the house after his death; -but their father was just as fond of one as of the other, and did not -know how to treat them all fairly. He did not want to sell the house, -because it had belonged to his forefathers, or he might have divided the -money between them. - -At last an idea came into his head, and he said to his sons: “Go out -into the world, and each learn a trade, and when you come home, the one -who makes best use of his handicraft shall have the house.” - -The sons were quite content with this plan, and the eldest decided to be -a farrier, the second a barber, and the third a fencing master. They -fixed a time when they would all meet at home again, and then they set -off. - -It so happened that they each found a clever master with whom they -learned their business thoroughly. The farrier shod the king’s horses, -and he thought, “I shall certainly be the one to have the house.” - -The barber shaved nobody but grand gentlemen, so he thought it would -fall to him. - -The fencing master got many blows, but he set his teeth, and would not -let himself be put out, because he thought, “If I am afraid of a blow, I -shall never get the house.” - -Now, when the given time had passed, they all went home together to -their father; but they did not know how to get a good opportunity of -showing off their powers, and sat down to discuss the matter. - -Suddenly a hare came running over the field. - -“Ah!” cried the barber, “she comes just in the nick of time.” - -He took up his bowl and his soap, and got his lather by the time the -hare came quite close, then he soaped her in full career, and shaved her -as she raced along, without giving her cut or missing a single hair. His -father, astonished, said: “If the others don’t look out, the house will -be yours.” - -Before long a gentleman came along in his carriage at full gallop. - -“Now, father, you shall see what I can do,” said the farrier, and he ran -after the carriage and tore the four shoes off the horse as he galloped -along, then, without stopping a second, shod him with new ones. - -“You are a fine fellow, indeed,” said his father. “You know your -business as well as your brother. I don’t know which I shall give the -house to at this rate.” - -Then the third one said: “Let me have a chance, too, father.” - -As it was beginning to rain, he drew his sword and swirled it round and -round his head, so that not a drop fell on him. Even when the rain grew -heavier, so heavy that it seemed as if it was being poured from the sky -out of buckets, he swung the sword faster and faster, and remained as -dry as if he had been under a roof. - -His father was amazed, and said: “You have done the best; the house is -yours.” - -Both the other brothers were quite satisfied with this decision, and as -they were all so devoted to one another, they lived together in the -house, and carried on their trades, by which they made plenty of money, -since they were so perfect in them. - -They lived happily together to a good old age, and when one fell ill and -died, the others grieved so much over him that they pined away and soon -after departed this life. - -Then, as they had been so fond of one another, they were all buried in -one grave. - - - - - _The Wren and the Bear_ - - -One summer’s day the bear and the wolf were walking in the forest, and -the bear heard a bird singing very sweetly, and said: “Brother Wolf, -what kind of bird is that which is singing so delightfully?” - -“That is the king of the birds, before whom we must do reverence,” -replied the wolf; but it was only the wren. - -“If that be so,” said the bear, “I should like to see his royal palace; -come, lead me to it.” “That cannot be as you like,” replied the wolf. -“You must wait till the queen returns.” Soon afterward the queen arrived -with some food in her bill, and the king, too, to feed their young ones, -and the bear would have gone off to see them, but the wolf, pulling his -ear, said: “No, you must wait till the queen and the king are both off -again.” - -So, after observing well the situation of the nest, the two tramped off, -but the bear had no rest, for he wished still to see the royal palace, -and after a short delay he set off to it again. He found the king and -queen absent, and, peeping into the nest, he saw five or six young birds -lying in it. “Is this the royal palace?” exclaimed the bear; “this -miserable place! You are no king’s children, but wretched young brats.” -“No, no, that we are not!” burst out the little wrens together in a -great passion, for to them this speech was addressed. “No, no, we are -born of honorable parents, and you, Mr. Bear, shall make your words -good!” At this speech the bear and the wolf were much frightened, and -ran back to their holes; but the little wrens kept up an unceasing -clamor till their parents’ return. As soon as they came back with food -in their mouths the little birds began, “We will none of us touch a -fly’s leg, but will starve rather, until you decide whether we are fine -and handsome children or not, for the bear has been here and insulted -us!” - -“Be quiet,” replied the king, “and that shall soon be settled.” And -thereupon he flew with his queen to the residence of the bear, and -called to him from the entrance, “Old grumbler, why have you insulted my -children? That shall cost you dear, for we will decide the matter by a -pitched battle.” - -War having thus been declared against the bear, all the four-footed -beasts were summoned: the ox, the ass, the cow, the goat, the stag, and -every animal on the face of the earth. The wren, on the other hand, -summoned every flying thing; not only the birds, great and small, but -also the gnat, the hornet, the bee, and the flies. - -When the time arrived for the commencement of the war, the wren king -sent out spies to see who was appointed commander-in-chief of the enemy. -The gnat was the most cunning of all the army, and he, therefore, buzzed -away into the forest where the enemy was encamped, and alighted on a -leaf of the tree beneath which the watchword was given out. There stood -the bear and called the fox to him, and said: “You are the most crafty -of animals, so you must be general, and lead us on.” “Well,” said the -fox, “but what sign shall we appoint?” Nobody answered. Then the fox -said: “I have a fine long bushy tail, which looks like a red feather at -a distance; if I hold this tail straight up, all is going well and you -must march after me; but if I suffer it to hang down, run away as fast -as you can.” As soon as the gnat heard all this she flew home and told -the wren king everything to a hair. - -When the day arrived for the battle to begin, the four-footed beasts all -came running along to the field, shaking the earth with their roaring -and bellowing. The wren king also came with his army, whirring and -buzzing and humming enough to terrify any one out of his senses. Then -the wren king sent the hornet forward to settle upon the fox’s tail and -sting it with all his power. As soon as the fox felt the first sting he -drew up his hind leg with the pain, still carrying, however, his tail as -high in the air as before; at the second sting he was obliged to drop it -a little bit; but at the third he could no longer bear the pain, but was -forced to drop his tail between his legs. As soon as the other beasts -saw this, they thought all was lost, and began to run each one to his -own hole; so the birds won the battle without difficulty. - -When all was over the wren king and his queen flew home to their -children, and cried out: “Rejoice! rejoice! we have won the battle; now -eat and drink as much as you please.” - -The young wrens, however, said: “Still we will not eat till the bear has -come to our nest and begged pardon, and admitted that we are fine and -handsome children.” - -So the wren king flew back to the cave of the bear, and called out, “Old -grumbler, you must come to the nest and beg pardon of my children for -calling them wretched young brats, else your ribs shall be crushed in -your body!” - -In great terror the bear crept out and begged pardon; and afterward the -young wrens, being now made happy in their minds, settled down to eating -and drinking, and I am afraid they were over-excited and kept up their -merriment far too late. - - - - - _The Musicians of Bremen_ - - -A certain man had a donkey that had served him faithfully for many long -years, but whose strength was so far gone that at last he was quite -unfit for work. So his master began to consider how much he could make -of the donkey’s skin, but the beast, perceiving that no good wind was -blowing, ran away along the road to Bremen. “There,” thought he, “I can -be town musician.” When he had run some way, he found a hound lying by -the roadside, yawning like one who was very tired. “What are you yawning -for now, you big fellow?” asked the ass. - -“Ah,” replied the hound, “because every day I grow older and weaker; I -cannot go any more to the hunt, and my master has well-nigh beaten me to -death, so that I took to flight; and now I do not know how to earn my -bread.” - -“Well, do you know,” said the ass, “I am going to Bremen, to be town -musician there; suppose you go with me and take a share in the music. I -will play on the lute, and you shall beat the kettledrums.” The dog was -satisfied, and off they set. - -Presently they came to a cat, sitting in the middle of the path, with a -face like three rainy days! “Now, then, old shaver, what has crossed -you?” asked the ass. - -“How can one be merry when one’s neck has been pinched like mine?” -answered the cat. “Because I am growing old, and my teeth are all worn -to stumps, and because I would rather sit by the fire and spin, than run -after mice, my mistress wanted to drown me; and so I ran away. But now -good advice is dear, and I do not know what to do.” - -“Go with us to Bremen. You understand nocturnal music, so you can be -town musician.” The cat consented, and went with them. The three -vagabonds soon came near a farmyard, where, upon the barn door, the cock -was sitting crowing with all his might. “You crow through marrow and -bone,” said the ass; “what do you do that for?” - -“That is the way I prophesy fine weather,” said the cock; “but, because -grand guests are coming for the Sunday, the housewife has no pity, and -has told the cook-maid to make me into soup for the morrow; and this -evening my head will be cut off. Now I am crowing with a full throat as -long as I can.” - -“Ah, but you, Red-comb,” replied the ass, “rather come away with us. We -are going to Bremen, to find there something better than death; you have -a good voice, and if we make music together it will have full play.” - -The cock consented to this plan, and so all four traveled on together. -They could not, however, reach Bremen in one day, and at evening they -came into a forest, where they meant to pass the night. The ass and the -dog laid themselves down under a large tree, the cat and the cock -climbed up into the branches, but the latter flew right to the top, -where he was most safe. Before he went to sleep he looked all round the -four quarters, and soon thought he saw a little spark in the distance; -so, calling his companions, he said they were not far from a house, for -he saw a light. The ass said: “If it is so, we had better get up and go -farther, for the pasturage here is very bad”; and the dog continued: -“Yes, indeed! a couple of bones with some meat on would be very -acceptable!” So they made haste toward the spot where the light was, and -which shone now brighter and brighter, until they came to a well-lighted -robber’s cottage. The ass, as the biggest, went to the window and peeped -in. “What do you see, Gray-horse?” asked the cock. “What do I see?” -replied the ass; “a table laid out with savory meats and drinks, with -robbers sitting around enjoying themselves.” - -“That would be the right sort of thing for us,” said the cock. - -“Yes, yes, I wish we were there,” replied the ass. Then these animals -took counsel together how they should contrive to drive away the -robbers, and at last they thought of a way. The ass placed his forefeet -upon the window ledge, the hound got on his back, the cat climbed up -upon the dog, and, lastly, the cock flew up and perched upon the head of -the cat. When this was accomplished, at a given signal they commenced -together to perform their music: the ass brayed, the dog barked, the cat -mewed, and the cock crew; and they made such a tremendous noise, and so -loud, that the panes of the window were shivered! Terrified at these -unearthly sounds, the robbers got up with great precipitation, thinking -nothing less than that some spirits had come, and fled off into the -forest, so the four companions immediately sat down at the table, and -quickly ate up all that was left, as if they had been fasting for six -weeks. - -As soon as they had finished, they extinguished the light, and each -sought for himself a sleeping-place, according to his nature and custom. -The ass laid himself down upon some straw, the hound behind the door, -the cat upon the hearth, near the warm ashes, and the cock flew up on a -beam which ran across the room. Weary with their long walk, they soon -went to sleep. - -At midnight the robbers perceived from their retreat that no light was -burning in their house, and all appeared quiet; so the captain said: “We -need not have been frightened into fits”; and, calling one of the band, -he sent him forward to reconnoiter. The messenger, finding all still, -went into the kitchen to strike a light, and, taking the glistening, -fiery eyes of the cat for live coals, he held a lucifer match to them, -expecting it to take fire. But the cat, not understanding the joke, flew -in his face, spitting and scratching, which dreadfully frightened him, -so that he made for the back door; but the dog, who laid there, sprang -up and bit his leg; and as he limped upon the straw where the ass was -stretched out, it gave him a powerful kick with its hind foot. This was -not all, for the cock, awaking at the noise, clapped his wings, and -cried from the beam: “Cock-a-doodle-doo, cock-a-doodle-do!” - -Then the robber ran back as well as he could to his captain, and said: -“Ah, my master, there dwells a horrible witch in the house, who spat on -me and scratched my face with her long nails; and then before the door -stands a man with a knife, who chopped at my leg; and in the yard there -lies a black monster, who beat me with a great wooden club; and besides -all, upon the roof sits a judge, who called out, ‘Bring the knave up, -do!’ so I ran away as fast as I could.” - -After this the robbers dared not again go near their house; but -everything prospered so well with the four town musicians of Bremen, -that they did not forsake their situation! And there they are to this -day, for anything I know. - - - - - _The Fox and the Cat_ - - -It happened once that the cat met Mr. Fox in the wood, and because she -thought he was clever and experienced in all the ways of the world, she -addressed him in a friendly manner. - -“Good-morning, dear Mr. Fox! how are you, and how do you get along in -these hard times?” - -The fox, full of pride, looked at the cat from head to foot for some -time, hardly knowing whether he would deign to answer or not. At last he -said: - -“Oh, you poor whisker-wiper, you silly piebald, you starveling -mouse-hunter! what has come into your head? How dare you ask me how I am -getting on? What sort of education have you had? How many arts are you -master of?” - -“Only one,” said the cat meekly. - -“And what might that one be?” asked the fox. - -“When the dogs run after me, I can jump into a tree and save myself.” - -“Is that all?” said the fox. “I am master of a hundred arts, and I have -a sackful of cunning tricks in addition. But I pity you. Come with me, -and I will teach you how to escape from the dogs.” - -Just then a huntsman came along with four hounds. The cat sprang -trembling into a tree, and crept stealthily up to the topmost branch, -where she was entirely hidden by twigs and leaves. - -“Open your sack, Mr. Fox! open your sack!” cried the cat, but the dogs -had gripped him, and held him fast. - -“Oh, Mr. Fox!” cried the cat, “you with your hundred arts, and your -sackful of tricks, are held fast, while I, with my one, am safe. Had you -been able to creep up here, you would not have lost your life.” - - - - - _The Golden Key_ - - -One winter, when a deep snow was lying on the ground, a poor boy had to -go out in a sledge to fetch wood. As soon as he had collected together a -sufficient quantity, he thought that before he returned home he would -make a fire to warm himself, because his limbs were so frozen. So, -sweeping the snow away, he made a clear space, and presently found a -small gold key. As soon as he picked it up, he began to think that where -there was a key there must also be a lock; and, digging in the earth, he -found a small iron chest. “I hope the key will fit,” thought he to -himself; “there are certainly great treasures in this box!” He looked -all over it, but could not find any keyhole; but at last he did discover -one, which was, however, so small that it could scarcely be seen. He -tried the key, and behold! it fitted exactly. Then he turned it once -round, and now, if you will wait until he has quite unlocked it, and -lifted up the lid, then we shall learn what wonderful treasures were in -the chest! - - - - - _Doctor Know-All_ - - -A long time ago there lived a peasant named “Crabb,” who one day drove -into a certain city his cart laden with a bundle of faggots, drawn by -two oxen. He soon found a purchaser for his wood in the person of a -learned doctor, who bought it for two dollars, and, while the money was -being counted out, the peasant, peeping in at the door, saw how -comfortably his customer was eating and drinking; and the thought -thereupon came into his head that he would like to be a professor, too. -So he waited a little while, and at last mustered courage to ask whether -he could not be a doctor. “Oh, yes,” replied the doctor, “that can soon -be managed!” - -“What must I do?” asked the peasant. - -“First of all, buy an A B C book, one which has a cock-a-doodle-do for a -frontispiece; secondly, sell your cart and oxen, and turn them into -money to buy good clothes with, and what else belongs to a doctor’s -appearance; lastly, let a sign be painted, with the words, ‘I am the -Doctor Know-All,’ and nail that over your house door.” - -The countryman did all that he was told, and after he had practised a -little time, but not to much purpose, a certain very wealthy baron had -some money stolen from him. Mention was made to the baron of Doctor -Know-All, who dwelt in such a village, and who would be sure to know -where the money was gone. As soon as the baron heard of him, he ordered -his horses put to his carriage and drove to the place where the doctor -lived. The baron inquired if he were the Doctor Know-All, and he -replying “Yes,” the baron said he must return with him and discover his -money. - -“Very well,” replied the doctor; “but my wife Gertrude must accompany -me.” - -To this the baron agreed, and, all being seated in the carriage, away -they drove back again. When they arrived at the house a splendid -collation was on the table, of which the doctor was invited to partake. -“Certainly,” said he, “but my wife Gertrude, too”; and he sat down with -her at the bottom of the table. As soon as the first servant entered -with a dish of delicate soup, the doctor poked his wife, saying, “He is -the first!” meaning he was the first who had brought in meat. But the -servant imagined he meant to say, “He is the first thief!” and because -he really was so, he felt very much disturbed, and told his comrades in -the kitchen, “The doctor knows all; we shall come off badly, for he has -said I am the first!” When the second servant heard this he felt afraid -to go; but he was obliged, and as soon as he entered the room with the -dish, the man poked his wife again, and said: “Gertrude, that is the -second!” This frightened the servant so much that he left the room as -soon as possible; and the third servant who entered fared no better, for -the doctor said to his wife, “That is the third!” The fourth servant had -to bring in a covered dish, and the baron said to the doctor he must -show his powers by telling truly what was in the dish. Now, there were -crabs in it, and the doctor looked at the dish for some minutes, -considering how to get out of the scrape. At last he cried out: “Oh, -poor _Crabb_ that I am!” When the baron heard this, he exclaimed: “Good! -he knows it! he knows, too, where my money is!” - -The servant, however, was terribly frightened; and he winked to the -doctor to follow him out. When he had done so, he found all four -servants there who had stolen the money, and were now so eager to get -off that they offered him a large sum if he would not betray them; for -if he did their necks would be in danger. They led him also to the place -where the money lay hid, and the doctor was so pleased that he gave them -the required promise, and then returned to the house, where he sat down -again at table, and, producing his book, said: “I will now look in my -book, baron, and discover the place where the money lies.” A fifth -servant, who had had a share in the robbery, wished to hear if the -doctor knew more, and so he crept up the chimney to listen. Below sat -the countryman, turning the leaves of his book backward and forward, -forward and backward, looking for the cock-a-doodle-doo. However, he -could not find it, and he at length exclaimed, “You must come out, for I -know you are in it!” This made the servant up the chimney believe he -meant him, and down he slipped, and came out, crying, “The man knows -all, the man knows all!” - -Then Doctor Know-All showed the baron where the money lay; but he said -nothing about who had stolen it, so that from both sides he received a -large sum of money as a reward, and, moreover, he became a very -celebrated character. - - - - - _The Fair Catherine and Pif-Paf Poltrie_ - - -“Good Day, Father Hollenthe. How do you do?” “Very well, I thank you, -Pif-paf Poltrie.” “May I marry your daughter?” “Oh, yes! if the mother -Malcho (_Milk-Cow_), the brother Hohenstolz (_High and Mighty_), the -sister Kâsetraut (_Cheese-maker_), and the fair Catherine are willing, -it may be so.” - -“Where is, then, the mother Malcho?” - -“In the stable, milking the cow.” - -“Good day, mother Malcho. How do you do?” “Very well, I thank you, -Pif-paf Poltrie.” “May I marry your daughter?” “Oh, yes! if the father -Hollenthe, the brother Hohenstolz, the sister Kâsetraut, and the fair -Catherine are willing, it may be so.” - -“Where is, then, the brother Hohenstolz?” - -“In the yard, chopping up the wood.” - -“Good day, brother Hohenstolz. How are you?” “Very well, I thank you, -Pif-paf Poltrie.” “May I marry your sister?” “Oh, yes! if the father -Hollenthe, the mother Malcho, the sister Kâsetraut, and the fair -Catherine are willing, it may be so.” - -“Where is, then, the sister Kâsetraut?” - -“In the garden, cutting the cabbages.” - -“Good day, sister Kâsetraut. How do you do?” “Very well, I thank you, -Pif-paf Poltrie.” “May I marry your sister?” “Oh, yes! if the father -Hollenthe, the mother Malcho, the brother Hohenstolz, and the fair -Catherine are willing, it may be so.” - -“Where is, then, the fair Catherine?” - -“In her chamber, counting out her pennies.” - -“Good day, fair Catherine. How do you do?” “Very well, I thank you, -Pif-paf Poltrie.” “Will you be my bride?” “Oh, yes! if the father -Hollenthe, the mother Malcho, the brother Hohenstolz, and the sister -Kâsetraut are willing, so am I.” - -“How much money have you, fair Catherine?” - -“Fourteen pennies in bare money, two and a half farthings owing to me, -half a pound of dried apples, a handful of prunes, and a handful of -roots; and don’t you call that a capital dowry? Pif-paf Poltrie, what -trade are you? Are you a tailor?” - -“Better than that.” - -“A shoemaker?” - -“Better still!” - -“A plowman?” - -“Better still!” - -“A joiner?” - -“Better still!” - -“A smith?” - -“Better still!” - -“A miller?” - -“Better still!” - -“Perhaps a broom-binder?” “Yes, so I am; now, is not that a pretty -trade?” - - - - - _The Wolf and the Fox_ - - -A wolf, once upon a time, caught a fox. It happened one day that they -were both going through the forest, and the wolf said to his companion: -“Get me some food, or I will eat you up.” - -The fox replied: “I know a farmyard where there are a couple of young -lambs, which, if you wish, we will fetch.” - -This proposal pleased the wolf, so they went, and the fox, stealing -first one of the lambs, brought it to the wolf, and then ran away. The -wolf devoured it quickly, but was not contented, and went to fetch the -other lamb by himself, but he did it so awkwardly that he aroused the -attention of the mother, who began to cry and bleat loudly, so that the -peasants ran up. There they found the wolf, and beat him so unmercifully -that he ran, howling and limping, to the fox, and said: “You have led me -to a nice place, for, when I went to fetch the other lamb, the peasants -came and beat me terribly!” - -“Why are you such a glutton, then?” asked the fox. - -The next day they went again into the fields, and the covetous wolf said -to the fox: “Get me something to eat now, or I will devour you!” - -The fox said he knew a country house where the cook was going that -evening to make some pancakes, and thither they went. When they arrived, -the fox sneaked and crept around round the house, until he at last -discovered where the dish was standing, out of which he stole six -pancakes, and took them to the wolf, saying, “There is something for you -to eat!” and then ran away. The wolf dispatched these in a minute or -two, and, wishing to taste some more, he went and seized the dish, but -took it away so hurriedly that it broke in pieces. The noise of its fall -brought out the woman, who, as soon as she saw the wolf, called her -people, who, hastening up, beat him with such a good will that he ran -home to the fox, howling, with two lame legs! “What a horrid place you -have drawn me into now,” cried he; “the peasants have caught me, and -dressed my skin finely!” - -“Why, then, are you such a glutton?” said the fox. - -When they went out again the third day, the wolf limping along with -weariness, he said to the fox: “Get me something to eat now, or I will -devour you!” - -The fox said he knew a man who had just killed a pig, and salted the -meat down in a cask in his cellar, and that they could get at it. The -wolf replied that he would go with him on condition that he helped him -if he could not escape. “Oh, of course I will, on mine own account!” -said the fox, and showed him the tricks and ways by which they could get -into the cellar. When they went in there was meat in abundance, and the -wolf was enraptured at the sight. The fox, too, had a taste, but kept -looking round while eating, and ran frequently to the hole by which they -had entered, to see if his body would slip through it easily. Presently -the wolf asked: “Why are you running about so, you fox, jumping in and -out?” “I want to see if any one is coming,” replied the fox cunningly; -“but mind you do not eat too much!” - -The wolf said he would not leave till the cask was quite empty; and -meanwhile the peasant, who had heard the noise made by the fox, entered -the cellar. The fox, as soon as he saw him, made a spring, and was -through the hole in a jiffy; and the wolf tried to follow his example, -but he had eaten so much that his body was too big for the opening, and -he stuck fast. Then came the peasant with a cudgel, and beat him sorely; -but the fox leaped away into the forest, very glad to get rid of the old -glutton. - - - - - _Discreet Hans_ - - -Hans’ mother asked: “Whither are you going, Hans?” “To Grethel’s,” -replied he. “Behave well, Hans.” “I will take care; good-by, mother.” -“Good-by, Hans.” - -Hans came to Grethel. “Good day,” said he. “Good day,” replied Grethel, -“what treasure do you bring to-day?” “I bring nothing. Have you anything -to give?” Grethel presented Hans with a needle. “Good-by,” said he. -“Good-by, Hans.” Hans took the needle, stuck it in a load of hay, and -walked home behind the wagon. - -“Good evening, mother.” “Good evening, Hans. Where have you been?” “To -Grethel’s.” “And what have you given her?” “Nothing; she has given me -something.” “What has Grethel given you?” “A needle,” said Hans. “And -where have you put it?” “In the load of hay.” “Then you have behaved -stupidly, Hans; you should put needles on your coat-sleeve.” “To behave -better, do nothing at all,” thought Hans. - -“Whither are you going, Hans?” “To Grethel’s, mother.” “Behave well, -Hans.” “I will take care; good-by, mother.” “Good-by, Hans.” - -Hans came to Grethel. “Good day,” said he. “Good day, Hans. What -treasure do you bring?” “I bring nothing. Have you anything to give?” -Grethel gave Hans a knife. “Good-by, Grethel.” “Good-by, Hans.” Hans -took the knife, put it in his sleeve, and went home. - -“Good evening, mother.” “Good evening, Hans. Where have you been?” “To -Grethel’s.” “And what did you take to her?” “I took nothing; she has -given to me.” “And what did she give you?” “A knife,” said Hans. “And -where have you put it?” “In my sleeve.” “Then you have behaved foolishly -again, Hans; you should put knives in your pocket.” “To behave better, -do nothing at all,” thought Hans. - -“Whither are you going, Hans?” “To Grethel’s, mother.” “Behave well, -Hans.” “I will take care; good-by, mother.” “Good-by, Hans.” - -Hans came to Grethel. “Good day, Grethel.” “Good day, Hans. What -treasure do you bring?” “I bring nothing. Have you anything to give?” -Grethel gave Hans a young goat. “Good-by, Grethel.” “Good-by, Hans.” -Hans took the goat, tied its legs, and put it in his pocket. - -Just as he reached home it was suffocated. “Good evening, mother.” “Good -evening, Hans. Where have you been?” “To Grethel’s.” “And what did you -take to her?” “I took nothing; she gave to me.” “And what did Grethel -give you?” “A goat.” “Where did you put it, Hans?” “In my pocket.” -“There you acted stupidly, Hans; you should have tied the goat with a -rope.” “To behave better, do nothing,” thought Hans. - -“Whither away, Hans?” “To Grethel’s, mother.” “Behave well, Hans.” “I’ll -take care; good-by, mother.” “Good-by, Hans.” - -Hans came to Grethel. “Good day,” said he. “Good day, Hans. What -treasure do you bring?” “I bring nothing. Have you anything to give?” -Grethel gave Hans a piece of bacon. “Good-by, Grethel.” “Good-by, Hans.” -Hans took the bacon, tied it with a rope, and swung it to and fro so -that the dogs came and ate it up. When he reached home he held the rope -in his hand, but there was nothing on it. - -“Good evening, mother,” said he. “Good evening, Hans. Where have you -been?” “To Grethel’s, mother.” “What did you take there?” “I took -nothing; she gave to me.” “And what did Grethel give you?” “A piece of -bacon,” said Hans. “And where have you put it?” “I tied it with a rope, -swung it about, and the dogs came and ate it up.” “There you acted -stupidly, Hans; you should have carried the bacon on your head.” “To -behave better, do nothing,” thought Hans. - -“Whither away, Hans?” “To Grethel’s, mother.” “Behave well, Hans.” “I’ll -take care; good-by, mother.” “Good-by, Hans.” - -Hans came to Grethel. “Good day,” said he. “Good day, Hans. What -treasure do you bring?” “I bring nothing. Have you anything to give?” -Grethel gave Hans a calf. “Good-by,” said Hans. “Good-by.” Hans took the -calf, set it on his head, and the calf scratched his face. - -“Good evening, mother.” “Good evening, Hans. Where have you been?” “To -Grethel’s.” “What did you take her?” “I took nothing; she gave to me.” -“And what did Grethel give you?” “A calf,” said Hans. “And what did you -do with it?” “I set it on my head, and it kicked my face.” “Then you -acted stupidly, Hans; you should have led the calf home, and put it in -the stall.” “To behave better, do nothing,” thought Hans. - -“Whither away, Hans?” “To Grethel’s, mother.” “Behave well, Hans.” “I’ll -take care; good-by, mother.” “Good-by, Hans.” - -Hans came to Grethel. “Good day,” said he. “Good day, Hans. What -treasure do you bring?” “I bring nothing. Have you anything to give?” -Grethel said: “I will go with you, Hans.” Hans tied a rope round -Grethel, led her home, put her in the stall, and made the rope fast; and -then he went to his mother. - -“Good evening, mother.” “Good evening, Hans. Where have you been?” “To -Grethel’s.” “What did you take her?” “I took nothing.” “What did Grethel -give you?” “She gave nothing; she came with me.” “And where have you -left her, then?” “I tied her with a rope, put her in the stall, and -threw in some grass.” “Then you acted stupidly, Hans; you should have -looked at her with friendly eyes.” “To behave better, do nothing,” -thought Hans; and then he went into the stall, and made sheep’s eyes at -Grethel. - -And after that Grethel became Hans’ wife. - - - - - _King Thrush-beard_ - - -A certain king had a daughter who was beautiful above all belief, but -withal so proud and haughty, that no suitor was good enough for her, and -she not only turned back every one who came, but also made game of them -all. Once the king proclaimed a great festival, and invited thereto from -far and near all the marriageable young men. When they arrived they were -all set in a row, according to their rank and standing: first the kings, -then the princes, the dukes, the marquesses, the earls, and, last of -all, the barons. Then the king’s daughter was led down the rows, but she -found something to make game of it all. One was too fat. “The wine-tub!” -said she. Another was too tall. “Long and lanky; has no grace,” she -remarked. A third was too short and fat. “Too stout to have any wits,” -said she. A fourth was too pale. “Like Death himself,” was her remark, -and a fifth, who had a great deal of color, she called “a cockatoo.” The -sixth was not straight enough, and him she called “a green log scorched -in the oven!” And so she went on, nicknaming every one of the suitors, -but she made particularly merry with a good young king whose chin had -grown rather crooked. “Ha, ha!” laughed she, “he has a chin like a -thrush’s beak”; and after that day he went by the name of Thrush-beard. - -The old king, however, when he saw that his daughter did nothing but -mock at and make sport of all the suitors who were collected, became -very angry, and swore that she should take the first decent beggar for a -husband who came to the gate. - -A couple of days after this a player came beneath the windows to sing -and earn some bounty if he could. As soon as the king saw him he ordered -him to be called up, and presently he came into the room in all his -dirty, ragged clothes, and sang before the king and princess, and when -he had finished he begged for a slight recompense. The king said: “Thy -song has pleased so much that I will give thee my daughter for a wife.” - -The princess was terribly frightened, but the king said: “I have taken -an oath, and mean to perform it, that I will give you to the first -beggar.” All her remonstrances were in vain; the priest was called, and -the princess was married in earnest to the player. When the ceremony was -performed, the king said: “Now, it cannot be suffered that you should -stop here with your husband, in my house; no! you must travel about the -country with him.” - -So the beggarman led her away, and she was forced to trudge along with -him on foot. As they came to a large forest, she asked: - - “To whom belongs this beautiful wood?” - -The echo replied: - - “King Thrush-beard the good! - Had you taken him, it had been thine.” - -“Ah, silly,” said she, - - “What a lot had been mine - Had I happily married King Thrush-beard!” - -Next they came to a meadow, and she asked: - -“To whom belongs this meadow so green?” - -“To King Thrush-beard,” was again the reply. - -Then they came to a great city, and she asked: - -“To whom does this beautiful town belong?” - -“To King Thrush-beard,” said one. - -“Ah, what a simpleton was I that I did not marry him when I had the -chance!” exclaimed the poor princess. - -“Come,” broke in the player, “it does not please me, I can tell you, -that you are always wishing for another husband; am I not good enough -for you?” - -By and by they came to a very small hut, and she said: “Ah, heavens, to -whom can this miserable, wretched hovel belong?” - -The player replied: “That is my house, where we shall live together.” - -The princess was obliged to stoop to get in at the door, and when she -was inside, she asked: “Where are the servants?” “What servants?” -exclaimed her husband. “You must yourself do all that you want done. Now -make a fire and put on some water, that you may cook my dinner, for I am -quite tired.” - -The princess, however, understood nothing about making fires or cooking, -and the beggar had to set to work himself, and as soon as they had -finished their scanty meal they went to bed. In the morning the husband -woke up his wife very early, that she might set the house to rights, and -for a couple of days they lived on in this way, and made an end of their -store. Then the husband said: “Wife, we must not go on in this way any -longer, stopping here, doing nothing; you must weave some baskets.” So -he went out and cut some osiers and brought them home, but when his wife -attempted to bend them the hard twigs wounded her hands and made them -bleed. “I see that won’t suit,” said her husband; “you had better spin, -perhaps that will do better.” - -So she sat down to spin, but the harsh thread cut her tender fingers -very badly, so that the blood flowed freely. “Do you see,” said the -husband, “how you are spoiling your work? I made a bad bargain in taking -you! Now I must try and make a business in pots and earthen vessels; you -shall sit in the market and sell them.” - -“Oh, if anybody out of my father’s dominions should come and see me in -the market selling pots,” thought the princess to herself, “how they -would laugh at me!” - -However, all her excuses were in vain; she must either do that or die of -hunger. - -The first time all went well, for the people bought of the princess, -because she was so pretty-looking, and not only gave her what she asked, -but some even laid down their money and left the pots behind. On her -earnings this day, they lived for some time as long as they lasted; and -then the husband purchased a fresh stock of pots. With these she placed -her stall at a corner of the market, offering them for sale. All at once -a drunken hussar came plunging down the street on his horse, and rode -right into the midst of her earthenware, and shattered it into a -thousand pieces. The accident, as well it might, set her a-weeping, and -in her trouble, not knowing what to do, she ran home crying: “Ah, what -will become of me; what will my good man say?” When she had told her -husband, he cried out: “Who ever would have thought of sitting at the -corner of the market to sell earthenware? but well I see you are not -accustomed to any ordinary work. There, leave off crying; I have been to -the king’s palace, and asked if they were not in want of a kitchen-maid; -and they have agreed to take you, and there you will live free of cost.” - -Now the princess became a kitchen-maid, and was obliged to do as the -cook bade her, and wash up the dirty things. Then she put a jar into -each of her pockets, and in them she took home what was left of what -fell to her share of the good things, and of these she and her husband -made their meals. Not many days afterward it happened that the wedding -of the king’s eldest son was to be celebrated, and the poor wife placed -herself near the door of the saloon to look on. As the lamps were lit -and guests more and more beautiful entered the room, and all dressed -most sumptuously, she reflected on her fate with a saddened heart, and -repented of the pride and haughtiness which had so humiliated and -impoverished her. Every now and then the servants threw her out of the -dishes morsels of rich delicacies which they carried in, whose fragrant -smells increased her regrets, and these pieces she put into her pockets -to carry home. Presently the king entered, clothed in silk and velvet, -and having a golden chain round his neck. As soon as he saw the -beautiful maiden standing at the door, he seized her by the hand and -would dance with her, but she, terribly frightened, refused; for she saw -it was King Thrush-beard, who had wooed her, and whom she had laughed -at. Her struggles were of no avail; he drew her into the ball-room, and -there tore off the band to which the pots were attached, so that they -fell down and the soup ran over the floor, while the pieces of meat, -etc., skipped about in all directions. When the fine folks saw this -sight they burst into one universal shout of laughter and derision, and -the poor girl was so ashamed that she wished herself a thousand fathoms -below the earth. She ran out at the door and would have escaped; but on -the steps she met a man, who took her back, and when she looked at him, -lo! it was King Thrush-beard again. He spoke kindly to her, and said: -“Be not afraid; I and the musician, who dwelt with you in the wretched -hut, are one; for love of you I have acted thus; and the hussar who rode -in among the pots was also myself. All this has taken place in order to -humble your haughty disposition, and to punish you for your pride, which -led you to mock me.” - -At these words she wept bitterly, and said: “I am not worthy to be your -wife, I have done you so great a wrong.” But he replied: “Those evil -days are passed; we will now celebrate our marriage.” - -Immediately after came the bridesmaids, and put on her the most -magnificent dresses; and then her father and his whole court arrived, -and wished her happiness on her wedding-day; and now commenced her true -joy as queen of the country of King Thrush-beard. - - - - - _The Three Luck-Children_ - - -There was once upon a time a father, who called his three sons to him, -and gave the first a cock, the second a scythe, and the third a cat, and -then addressed them thus: “I am very old, and my end draweth nigh, but I -wish to show my care for you before I die. Money I have not, and what I -now give you appears of little worth; but do not think that, for if each -of you use his gift carefully, and seek some country where such a thing -is not known, your fortunes will be made.” - -Soon after, the father died, and the eldest son set out on his travels -with his cock, but wherever he came, such a creature was already well -known. In the towns he saw it from afar, sitting upon the church -steeples, and turning itself round with the wind; and in the villages he -heard more than one crow, and nobody troubled himself about another, so -that it did not seem as if he would ever make his fortune by it. At -last, however, it fell out that he arrived on an island where the people -knew nothing about cocks, nor even how to divide their time. They knew, -certainly, when it was evening and morning, but at night, if they did -not sleep through it, they could not comprehend the time. “See,” said he -to them, “what a proud creature it is, what a fine red crown it wears on -its head, and it has spurs like a knight! Thrice during the night it -will crow at certain hours, and the third time it calls you may know the -sun will soon rise; but, if it crows by day, you may prepare then for a -change of weather.” - -The good people were well pleased, and the whole night they laid awake -and listened to the cock, which crowed loudly and clearly at two, four, -and six o’clock. The next day they asked if the creature were not for -sale, and how much he asked, and he replied: “As much gold as an ass can -bear.” “A ridiculously small sum,” said they, “for such a marvelous -creature!” and gave him readily what he asked. - -When he returned home with his money, his brothers were astonished, and -the second said he would also go out and see what luck his scythe would -bring him. But at first it did not seem likely that fortune would favor -him, for all the countrymen he met carried equally good scythes upon -their shoulders. At last, however, he also came to an island whose -people were ignorant of the use of scythes; for when a field of corn was -ripe, they planted great cannons and shot it down! In this way, it was -no uncommon thing that many of them shot quite over it; others hit the -ears instead of the stalks, and shot them quite away, so that a great -quantity was always ruined, and the most doleful lamentations ensued. -But our hero, when he arrived, mowed away so silently and quickly, that -the people held their breath and noses with wonder, and willingly gave -him what he desired, which was a horse laden with as much gold as it -could carry. - -On his return the third brother set out with his cat to try his luck, -and it happened to him exactly as it had done to the others; so long as -he kept on the old roads he met with no place which did not already -boast its cat; indeed, so many were there that the new-born kittens were -usually drowned. At last he voyaged to an island where, luckily for him, -cats were unknown animals; and yet, the mice were so numerous that they -danced upon the tables and chairs, whether the master of the house were -at home or not. These people complained continually of the plague, and -the king himself knew not how to deliver them from it; for in every -corner the mice were swarming, and destroyed what they could not carry -away in their teeth. The cat, however, on its arrival, commenced a grand -hunt; and so soon cleared a couple of rooms of the troublesome visitors, -that the people begged the king to buy it for the use of his kingdom. -The king gave willingly the price that was asked for the wonderful -animal, and the third brother returned home with a still larger -treasure, in the shape of a mule laden with gold. - -Meanwhile the cat was having capital sport in the royal palace with the -mice, and bit so many that the dead were not to be numbered. At last she -became very thirsty with the hot work, and stopped, and, raising her -head, cried: “Miau, miau!” At the unusual sound, the king, together with -all his courtiers, were much frightened, and in terror they ran out of -the castle. There the king held a council what it were best to do, and -at length it was resolved to send a herald to the cat, to demand that -she should quit the castle, or force would be used to make her. “For,” -said the councilors, “we would rather be plagued by the mice, to which -we are accustomed, than surrender ourselves a prey to this beast.” A -page was accordingly sent to the cat to ask whether she would quit the -castle in peace; but the cat, whose thirst had all the while been -increasing, replied nothing but “Miau, miau!” The page understood her to -say, “No, no!” and brought the king word accordingly. The councilors -agreed then that she should feel their power, and cannons were brought -out and fired, so that the castle was presently in flames. When the fire -reached the room where the cat was, she sprang out of the window, but -the besiegers ceased not until the whole was leveled with the ground. - - - - - _The Three Sluggards_ - - -A certain king had three sons, all of whom he loved so much that he did -not know which he should name to be king after him. When the day of his -death approached, he called them to his bedside, and thus spoke to them: -“Dear children, I have something on my mind that I wish to tell you; -whichever of you is the laziest, he shall be king when I am dead.” - -“Then, father, the kingdom belongs to me,” said the eldest son; “for I -am so lazy, that if I lie down to sleep, and tears come into my eyes, so -that I cannot close them, I yet go to sleep without wiping them away!” - -“The kingdom belongs to me,” cried the second son; “for I am so lazy -that when I sit by the fire to warm myself, I allow my boots to scorch -before I will draw away my feet!” - -But the third son said: “The kingdom is mine, father, for I am so lazy -that, were I about to be hanged, and even had I the rope round my neck, -and any one should give me a sharp sword to cut it with, I should suffer -myself to be swung off before I took the trouble to cut the rope!” - -As soon as the father heard this, he said to his youngest son: “You have -shown yourself the laziest of all, and you shall be king.” - - - - - _The Fisherman and his Wife_ - - -There was once a fisherman who lived with his wife in a miserable little -hovel close to the sea. He went to fish every day, and he fished and -fished, and at last one day, when he was sitting looking deep down into -the shining water, he felt something on his line. When he hauled it up -there was a great flounder on the end of the line. The flounder said to -him: “Look here, fisherman, don’t you kill me; I am no common flounder, -I am an enchanted prince! What good will it do you to kill me? I sha’n’t -be good to eat; put me back into the water, and leave me to swim about.” - -“Well,” said the fisherman, “you need not make so many words about it. I -am quite ready to put back a flounder that can talk.” And so saying, he -put back the flounder into the shining water, and it sank down to the -bottom, leaving a streak of blood behind it. - -Then the fisherman got up and went back to his wife in the hovel. -“Husband,” she said, “hast thou caught nothing today?” - -“No,” said the man; “all I caught was one flounder, and he said he was -an enchanted prince, so I let him go swim again.” - -“Didst thou not wish for anything then?” asked the good wife. - -“No,” said the man; “what was there to wish for?” - -“Alas!” said his wife; “isn’t it bad enough always to live in this -wretched hovel? Thou mightest at least have wished for a nice clean -cottage. Go back and call him; tell him I want a pretty cottage; he will -surely give us that!” - -“Alas,” said the man, “what am I to go back there for?” - -“Well,” said the woman, “it was thou who caught him and let him go -again; for certain he will do that for thee. Be off now!” - -The man was still not very willing to go, but he did not want to vex his -wife, and at last he went back to the sea. - -He found the sea no longer bright and shining, but dull and green. He -stood by it and said: - - “Flounder, flounder in the sea, - Prythee, hearken unto me: - My wife, Ilsebil, will have her own way - Whatever I wish, whatever _I_ say.” - -The flounder came swimming up, and said: “Well, what do you want?” - -“Alas!” said the man; “I had to call you, for my wife said I ought to -have wished for something, as I caught you. She doesn’t want to live in -our miserable hovel any longer; she wants a pretty cottage.” - -“Go home again, then,” said the flounder; “she has her wish fully.” - -The man went home and found his wife no longer in the old hut, but a -pretty little cottage stood in its place, and his wife was sitting on a -bench by the door. - -She took him by the hand, and said: “Come and look in here—isn’t this -much better?” - -They went inside and found a pretty sitting-room, and a bedroom with a -bed in it, a kitchen, and a larder furnished with everything of the best -in tin and brass, and every possible requisite. Outside there was a -little yard with chickens and ducks, and a little garden full of -vegetables and fruit. - -“Look!” said the woman, “is not this nice?” - -“Yes,” said the man; “and so let it remain. We can live here very -happily.” - -“We will see about that,” said the woman, and with that they ate -something and went to bed. - -Everything went well for a week or more, and then said the wife: -“Listen, husband; this cottage is too cramped, and the garden is too -small. The flounder might have given us a bigger house. I want to live -in a big stone castle. Go to the flounder, and tell him to give us a -castle.” - -“Alas, wife!” said the man; “the cottage is good enough for us; what -should we do with a castle?” - -“Never mind,” said his wife; “do thou but go to the flounder, and he -will manage it.” - -“Nay, wife,” said the man; “the flounder gave us the cottage. I don’t -want to go back; as likely as not he’ll be angry.” - -“Go, all the same,” said the woman. “He can do it easily enough, and -willingly into the bargain. Just go!” - -The man’s heart was heavy, and he was very unwilling to go. He said to -himself: “It’s not right.” But at last he went. - -He found the sea was no longer green; it was still calm, but dark violet -and gray. He stood by it and said: - - “Flounder, flounder in the sea, - Prythee, hearken unto me: - My wife, Ilsebil, will have her own way - Whatever I wish, whatever I say.” - -“Now, what do you want?” said the flounder. - -“Alas,” said the man, half scared, “my wife wants a big stone castle.” - -“Go home again,” said the flounder; “she is standing at the door of it.” - -Then the man went away, thinking he would find no house, but when he got -back he found a great stone palace, and his wife standing at the top of -the steps, waiting to go in. - -She took him by the hand and said: “Come in with me.” - -With that they went in and found a great hall paved with marble slabs, -and numbers of servants in attendance, who opened the great doors for -them. The walls were hung with beautiful tapestries, and the rooms were -furnished with golden chairs and tables, while rich carpets covered the -floors, and crystal chandeliers hung from the ceilings. The tables -groaned under every kind of delicate food and the most costly wines. -Outside the house there was a great courtyard, with stabling for horses, -and cows, and many fine carriages. Beyond this there was a great garden -filled with the loveliest flowers, and fine fruit trees. There was also -a park, half a mile long, and in it were stags and hinds, and hares, and -everything of the kind one could wish for. - -“Now,” said the woman, “is not this worth having?” - -“Oh, yes,” said the man; “and so let it remain. We will live in this -beautiful palace and be content.” - -“We will think about that,” said his wife, “and sleep upon it.” - -With that they went to bed. - -Next morning the wife woke up first; day was just dawning, and from her -bed she could see the beautiful country around her. Her husband was -still asleep, but she pushed him with her elbow, and said: “Husband, get -up and peep out of the window. See here, now, could we not be king over -all this land? Go to the flounder. We will be king.” - -“Alas, wife,” said the man, “what should we be king for? I don’t want to -be king.” - -“Ah,” said his wife, “if thou wilt not be king, I will. Go to the -flounder. I will be king.” - -“Alas, wife,” said the man, “whatever dost thou want to be king for? I -don’t like to tell him.” - -“Why not?” said the woman. “Go thou must. I will be king.” - -So the man went; but he was quite sad because his wife would be king. - -“It is not right,” he said; “it is not right.” - -When he reached the sea, he found it dark, gray, and rough, and -evil-smelling. He stood there and said: - - “Flounder, flounder in the sea, - Prythee, hearken unto me: - My wife, Ilsebil, will have her own way - Whatever I wish, whatever I say.” - -“Now, what does she want?” said the flounder. - -“Alas,” said the man, “she wants to be king now.” - -“Go back. She is king already,” said the flounder. - -So the man went back, and when he reached the palace he found that it -had grown much larger, and a great tower had been added, with handsome -decorations. There was a sentry at the door, and numbers of soldiers -were playing drums and trumpets. As soon as he got inside the house, he -found everything was marble and gold; and the hangings were of velvet, -with great golden tassels. The doors of the saloon were thrown wide -open, and he saw the whole court assembled. His wife was sitting on a -lofty throne of gold and diamonds; she wore a golden crown, and carried -in one hand a scepter of pure gold. On each side of her stood her ladies -in a long row, each one a head shorter than the next. - -He stood before her, and said: “Alas, wife, art thou now king?” - -“Yes,” she said; “now I am king.” - -He stood looking at her for some time, and then he said: “Ah, wife, it -is a fine thing for thee to be king; now we will not wish to be anything -more.” - -“Nay, husband,” she answered, quite uneasily, “I find the time hangs -very heavy on my hands. I can’t bear it any longer. Go back to the -flounder. King I am, but I must also be emperor.” - -“Alas, wife,” said the man, “why dost thou now want to be emperor?” - -“Husband,” she answered, “go to the flounder. Emperor I will be.” - -“Alas, wife,” said the man, “emperor he can’t make thee, and I won’t ask -him. There is only one emperor in the country; and emperor the flounder -cannot make thee, that he can’t.” - -“What?” said the woman. “I am king, and thou art but my husband. To him -thou must go, and that right quickly. If he can make a king, he can also -make an emperor. Emperor I will be, so quickly go.” - -He had to go, but he was quite frightened. And as he went, he thought: -“This won’t end well; emperor is too shameless. The flounder will make -an end of the whole thing.” - -With that he came to the sea, but now he found it quite black, and -heaving up from below in great waves. It tossed to and fro, and a sharp -wind blew over it, and the man trembled. So he stood there, and said: - - “Flounder, flounder in the sea, - Prythee, hearken unto me: - My wife, Ilsebil, will have her own way - Whatever I wish, whatever I say.” - -“What does she want now?” said the flounder. - -“Alas, flounder,” he said, “my wife wants to be emperor.” - -“Go back,” said the flounder. “She is emperor.” - -So the man went back, and when he got to the door, he found that the -whole palace was made of polished marble, with alabaster figures and -golden decorations. Soldiers marched up and down before the doors, -blowing their trumpets and beating their drums. Inside the palace, -counts, barons, and dukes walked about as attendants, and they opened to -him the doors, which were of pure gold. - -He went in, and saw his wife sitting on a huge throne made of solid -gold. It was at least two miles high. She had on her head a great golden -crown, set with diamonds, three yards high. In one hand she held the -scepter, and in the other the ball of empire. On each side of her stood -the gentlemen-at-arms in two rows, each one a little smaller than the -other, from giants two miles high, down to the tiniest dwarf no bigger -than my little finger. She was surrounded by princes and dukes. - -Her husband stood still, and said: “Wife, art thou now emperor?” - -“Yes,” said she; “now I am emperor.” - -Then he looked at her for some time, and said: “Alas, wife, how much -better off art thou for being emperor?” - -“Husband,” she said, “what art thou standing there for? Now I am -emperor, I mean to be pope! Go back to the flounder.” - -“Alas, wife,” said the man, “what wilt thou not want? Pope thou canst -not be. There is only one pope in Christendom. That’s more than the -flounder can do.” - -“Husband,” she said, “pope I will be; so go at once. I must be pope this -very day.” - -“No, wife,” he said, “I dare not tell him. It’s no good; it’s too -monstrous altogether. The flounder cannot make thee pope.” - -“Husband,” said the woman, “don’t talk nonsense. If he can make an -emperor, he can make a pope. Go immediately. I am emperor, and thou art -but my husband, and thou must obey.” - -So he was frightened, and went; but he was quite dazed. He shivered and -shook, and his knees trembled. - -A great wind arose over the land, the clouds flew across the sky, and it -grew as dark as night; the leaves fell from the trees, and the water -foamed and dashed upon the shore. In the distance the ships were being -tossed to and fro on the waves, and he heard them firing signals of -distress. There was still a little patch of blue in the sky among the -dark clouds, but toward the south they were red and heavy, as in a bad -storm. In despair, he stood and said: - - “Flounder, flounder in the sea, - Prythee, hearken unto me: - My wife, Ilsebil, will have her own way - Whatever I wish, whatever I say.” - -“Now, what does she want?” said the flounder. - -“Alas,” said the man, “she wants to be pope.” - -“Go back. Pope she is,” said the flounder. - -So back he went, and he found a great church, surrounded with palaces. -He pressed through the crowd, and inside he found thousands and -thousands of lights, and his wife, entirely clad in gold, was sitting on -a still higher throne, with three golden crowns upon her head, and she -was surrounded with priestly state. On each side of her were two rows of -candles, the biggest as thick as a tower, down to the tiniest little -taper. Kings and emperors were on their knees before her, kissing her -shoe. - -“Wife,” said the man, looking at her, “art thou now pope?” - -“Yes,” said she; “now I am pope.” - -So there he stood gazing at her, and it was like looking at a shining -sun. - -“Alas, wife,” he said, “art thou better off for being pope?” At first -she sat as stiff as a post, without stirring. Then he said: “Now, wife, -be content with being pope; higher thou canst not go.” - -“I will think about that,” said the woman, and with that they both went -to bed. Still she was not content, and could not sleep for her -inordinate desires. The man slept well and soundly, for he had walked -about a great deal in the day; but his wife could think of nothing but -what further grandeur she could demand. When the dawn reddened the sky, -she raised herself up in bed and looked out of the window, and when she -saw the sun rise she said: - -“Ha! can I not cause the sun and the moon to rise? Husband!” she cried, -digging her elbow into his side, “wake up and go to the flounder. I will -be lord of the universe.” - -Her husband, who was still more than half asleep, was so shocked that he -fell out of bed. He thought he must have heard wrong. He rubbed his eyes -and said: - -“Alas, wife, what didst thou say?” - -“Husband,” she said, “if I cannot be lord of the universe, and cause the -sun and moon to set and rise, I shall not be able to bear it. I shall -never have another happy moment.” - -She looked at him so wildly that it caused a shudder to run through him. - -“Alas, wife,” he said, falling on his knees before her, “the flounder -can’t do that. Emperor and pope he can make, but that is indeed beyond -him. I pray thee, control thyself and remain pope.” - -Then she flew into a terrible rage. Her hair stood on end; she panted -for breath, and screamed: - -“I won’t bear it any longer; wilt thou go?” - -Then he pulled on his trousers and tore away like a madman. Such a storm -was raging that he could hardly keep his feet; houses and trees quivered -and swayed, mountains trembled, and the rocks rolled into the sea. The -sky was pitchy black; it thundered and lightened, and the sea ran in -black waves, mountains high, crested with white foam. He shrieked out, -but could hardly make himself heard: - - “Flounder, flounder in the sea, - Prythee, hearken unto me: - My wife, Ilsebil, will have her own way - Whatever I wish, whatever I say.” - -“Now, what does she want?” asked the flounder. - -“Alas,” he said, “she wants to be Lord of the Universe.” - -“Now she must go back to her old hovel,” said the flounder; “and there -you will find her.” - -And there they are to this very day! - - - - - _The Nose-tree_ - - -Did you ever hear the story of the three poor soldiers who, after having -fought hard in the wars, set out on their road home, begging their way -as they went? - -They had journeyed on a long time, sick at heart with their bad luck at -thus being turned loose on the world in their old days, when one evening -they reached a deep, gloomy wood, through which lay their road. Night -came fast upon them, and they found that they must, however unwillingly, -sleep in this wood; so, to make all safe as they could, it was agreed -that two should lie down and sleep, while a third sat up and watched, -lest wild beasts should break in and tear them to pieces. When he was -tired he was to wake one of the others, and sleep in his turn; and so on -with the third, so as to share the work fairly among them. - -The two who were to rest first soon lay down and fell fast asleep; and -the other made himself a good fire under the trees, and sat down by its -side to keep watch. He had not sat long before, all of a sudden, up came -a little dwarf in a red jacket. “Who is there?” said he. “A friend,” -said the soldier. “What sort of a friend?” “An old, broken soldier,” -said the other, “with his two comrades, who have nothing left to live -on; come, sit down and warm yourself.” “Well, my worthy fellow,” said -the little man, “I will do what I can for you; take this and show it to -your comrades in the morning.” So he took out an old cloak and gave it -to the soldier, telling him that whenever he put it over his shoulders -anything that he wished for would be done for him. Then the little man -made him a bow and walked away. - -The second soldier’s turn to watch soon came, and the first laid him -down to sleep; but the second man had not sat by himself long before up -came the dwarf in the red jacket again. The soldier treated him in as -friendly a way as his comrade had done, and the little man gave him a -purse, which he told him would be always full of gold, let him draw as -much as he would out of it. - -Then the third soldier’s turn to watch came; and he also had little -Red-jacket for his guest, who gave him a wonderful horn, that drew -crowds around it whenever it was played, and made every one forget his -business to come and dance to its beautiful music. - -In the morning each told his story, and showed the gift he had got from -the elf: and as they all liked one another very much, and were old -friends, they agreed to travel together to see the world, and, for a -while, only to make use of the wonderful purse. And thus they spent -their time very joyously, till at last they began to be tired of this -roving life, and thought they should like to have a home of their own. -So the first soldier put his old cloak on and wished for a fine castle. -In a moment it stood before their eyes: fine gardens and green lawns -spread around it, and flocks of sheep and goats; herds of oxen were -grazing about; and out of the gate came a grand coach with three -dapple-gray horses, to meet them and bring them home. - -All this was very well for a time, but they found it would not do to -stay at home always; so they got together all their rich clothes, and -jewels, and money, and ordered their coach with three dapple-gray -horses, and set out on a journey to see a neighboring king. Now this -king had an only daughter, and as he saw the three soldiers traveling in -such grand style, he took them for king’s sons, and so gave them a kind -welcome. One day, as the second soldier was walking with the princess, -she saw that he had the wonderful purse in his hand. Then she asked him -what it was, and he was foolish enough to tell her—though, indeed, it -did not much signify what he said, for she was a fairy, and knew all the -wonderful things that the three soldiers had brought. Now this princess -was very cunning and artful; so she set to work and made a purse, so -like the soldier’s that no one would know the one from the other; and -then she asked him to come and see her, and made him drink some wine -that she had got ready for him, and which soon made him fall fast -asleep. Then she felt in his pocket, and took away the wonderful purse, -and left the one she had made in its place. - -The next morning the soldiers set out home; and soon after they reached -their castle, happening to want some money, they went to their purse for -it, and found something indeed in it; but to their great sorrow, when -they had emptied it, none came in the place of what they took. Then the -cheat was soon found out; for the second soldier knew where he had been, -and how he had told the story to the princess, and he guessed that she -had played him a trick. “Alas!” cried he, “poor wretches that we are, -what shall we do?” “Oh!” said the first soldier, “let no gray hairs grow -for this mishap; I will soon get the purse back.” So he threw his cloak -across his shoulders and wished himself in the princess’s chamber. - -There he found her sitting alone, telling up her gold, that fell around -her in a shower from the wonderful purse. - -But the soldier stood looking at her too long; for she turned around, -and the moment she saw him she started up and cried out with all her -force, “Thieves! thieves!” so that the whole court came running in and -tried to seize on him. The poor soldier now began to be dreadfully -frightened in his turn, and thought it was high time to make the best of -his way off; so, without thinking of the ready way of traveling that his -cloak gave him, he ran to the window, opened it, and jumped out; and -unluckily, in his haste, his cloak caught and was left hanging, to the -great joy of the princess, who knew its worth. - -The poor soldier made the best of his way home to his comrades on foot, -and in a very downcast mood; but the third soldier told him to keep up -his heart, and took his horn and blew a merry tune. At the first blast a -countless host of foot-and-horse came rushing to their aid, and they set -out to make war against their enemy. The king’s palace was at once -besieged, and he was told that he must give up the purse and cloak, or -that not one stone should be left upon another. So the king went into -his daughter’s chamber and talked with her; but she said, “Let me try -first if I cannot beat them one way or another.” So she thought of a -cunning scheme to over-reach them; and dressing herself out as a poor -girl, with a basket on her arm, she set out by night with her maid, and -went into the enemy’s camp, as if she wanted to sell trinkets. - -In the morning she began to ramble about, singing ballads so beautifully -that all the tents were left empty, and the soldiers ran round in -crowds, and thought of nothing but hearing her sing. Among the rest came -the soldier to whom the horn belonged, and as soon as she saw him she -winked to her maid, who slipped slyly through the crowd, and went into -his tent where it hung and stole it away. This done, they both got -safely back to the palace, the besieging army went away, the three -wonderful gifts were all left in the hands of the princess, and the -three soldiers were as penniless and forlorn as when little Red-jacket -found them in the wood. - -Poor fellows! they began to think what was now to be done. “Comrades,” -at last said the second soldier, who had had the purse, “we had better -part; we cannot live together, let each seek his bread as well as he -can.” So he turned to the right, and the other two went to the left, for -they said they would rather travel together. The second soldier strayed -on till he came to a wood (which happened to be the same wood where they -had met with so much good luck before), and he walked on a long time -till evening began to fall, when he sat down tired beneath a tree and -soon fell asleep. - -Morning dawned, and he was greatly delighted, on opening his eyes, to -see that the tree was laden with the most beautiful apples. He was -hungry enough, so he soon plucked and ate first one, then a second, then -a third apple. A strange feeling came over his nose; when he put the -apple to his mouth something was in the way. He felt it—it was his nose, -that grew and grew till it hung down to his breast. It did not stop -there—still it grew and grew. “Heavens!” thought he, “when will it have -done growing?” And well might he ask, for by this time it reached the -ground as he sat on the grass—and thus it kept creeping on till he could -not bear its weight or raise himself up; and it seemed as if it would -never end, for already it stretched its enormous length all through the -wood, over hill and dale. - -Meantime his comrades were journeying on, till on a sudden one of them -stumbled against something. “What can that be?” said the other. They -looked, and could think of nothing that it was like but a nose. “We will -follow it and find its owner, however,” said they. So they traced it up, -till at last they found their poor comrade, lying stretched along under -the apple-tree. - -What was to be done? They tried to carry him, but in vain. They caught -an ass that was passing, and raised him upon its back; but it was soon -tired of carrying such a load. So they sat down in despair, when before -long up came their old acquaintance, the dwarf with the red jacket. -“Why, how now, friend,” said he, laughing: “well, I must find a cure for -you, I see.” So he told them to gather a pear from another tree that -grew close by, and the nose would come right again. No time was lost; -and the nose, to the poor soldier’s joy, was soon brought to its proper -size. - -“I will do something more for you, still,” said the dwarf: “take some of -those pears and apples with you; whoever eats one of the apples will -have his nose grow like yours just now; but if you give him a pear, all -will come right again. Go to the princess, and get her to eat some of -your apples; her nose will grow twenty times as long as yours did: then -look sharp, and you will get what you want from her.” - -The friends thanked the dwarf very heartily for all his kindness; and it -was agreed that the poor soldier, who had already tried the power of the -apple, should follow out the suggestion. So he dressed himself up as a -gardener’s boy, and went to the king’s palace, and said he had apples to -sell, so fine and so beautiful as were never seen there before. Every -one that saw them was delighted, and wanted to taste; but he said they -were for the princess only; and she soon sent her maid to buy his stock. -They were so ripe and rosy that she soon began eating; and had not eaten -above a dozen before she too began to wonder what ailed her nose, for it -grew and grew down to the ground, out at the window, and over the -garden, and away, nobody knows where. - -Then the king made known to all his kingdom that whoever would heal her -of this dreadful disease should be richly rewarded. Many tried, but the -princess got no relief. And now the old soldier dressed himself up very -sprucely as a doctor, and said he would cure her. So he chopped up some -of the apple, and, to punish her a little more, gave her a dose, saying -he would call to-morrow and see her again. The morrow came, and, of -course, instead of being better, the nose had been growing on all night -as before; and the poor princess was in a dreadful fright. So the doctor -then chopped up a very little of the pear and gave her, and said he was -sure that would do good, and he would call again the next day. Next day -came, and the nose was, to be sure, a little smaller, but yet it was -bigger than when the doctor first began to meddle with it. - -Then he thought to himself, “I must frighten this cunning princess a -little more before I shall get what I want from her”; so he gave her -another dose of the apple, and said he would call on the morrow. The -morrow came, and the nose was ten times as bad as before. “My good -lady,” said the doctor, “something works against my medicine, and is too -strong for it; but I know by the force of my art what it is; you have -stolen goods about you, I am sure; and if you do not give them back, I -can do nothing for you.” But the princess denied very stoutly that she -had anything of the kind. “Very well,” said the doctor, “you may do as -you please, but I am sure I am right, and you will die if you do not own -it.” Then he went to the king, and told him how the matter stood. -“Daughter,” said he, “send back the cloak, the purse, and the horn, that -you stole from the right owners.” - -Then she ordered her maid to fetch all three, and gave them to the -doctor, and begged him to give them back to the soldiers; and the moment -he had them safe he gave her a whole pear to eat, and the nose came -right. And as for the doctor, he put on the cloak, wished the king and -all his court a good day, and was soon with his two friends, who lived -from that time happily at home in their palace, except when they took an -airing to see the world, in their coach with the three dapple-gray -horses. - - - - - _The Adventures of Chanticleer and Partlet_ - - - I. HOW THEY WENT TO THE HILLS TO EAT NUTS - -Chanticleer said to Partlet one day: “The nuts must be ripe; now we will -go up the hill together and have a good feast before the squirrel -carries them all off.” - -“All right,” said Partlet, “come along; we’ll have a fine time.” So they -went away up the hill, and, as it was a bright day, they stayed till -evening. - -Now whether they really had grown fat, or whether it was merely pride, I -do not know, but, whatever the reason, they would not walk home, and -Chanticleer had to make a little carriage of nut-shells. When it was -ready, Partlet took her seat in it, and said to Chanticleer, “Now you -get between the shafts.” - -“That’s all very fine,” said Chanticleer, “but I would sooner go home on -foot than put myself in harness. I will sit on the box and drive, but -draw it myself, I never will.” - -As they were squabbling over this, a duck quacked out: “You thievish -folk! Who told you to come to my nut-hill? Just you wait, you will -suffer for it.” - -Then she rushed at Chanticleer with open bill, but he was not to be -taken by surprise, and fell upon her with his spurs till she cried out -for grace. At last she allowed herself to be harnessed to the carriage. -Chanticleer seated himself on the box as coachman, and cried out -unceasingly: “Now, duck, run as fast as you can.” - -When they had driven a little way they met two foot passengers, a pin -and a needle, who called out: “Stop! stop!” They said it would soon be -pitch dark, and they couldn’t walk a step farther, the road was so -dirty; might they not have a lift? They had been to the Tailor’s Inn by -the gate, and had lingered over their beer. - -As they were both very thin, and did not take up much room, Chanticleer -allowed them to get in, but he made them promise not to tread either on -his toes or on Partlet’s. Late in the evening they came to an inn, and -as they did not want to drive any farther in the dark, and the duck was -getting rather uncertain on her feet, tumbling from side to side, they -drove in. - -The landlord at first made many objections to having them, and said the -house was already full; perhaps he thought they were not very grand -folk. But at last, by dint of persuasive words, and promising him the -egg which Mrs. Partlet had laid on the way, and also that he should keep -the duck, who laid an egg every day, he consented to let them stay the -night. - -Then they had a meal served to them, and feasted and passed the time in -rioting. - -In the early dawn, before it grew light and every one was asleep, -Partlet woke up Chanticleer, fetched the egg, pecked a hole in it, and -between them they ate it all up, and threw the shells on to the hearth. -Then they went to the needle, which was still asleep, seized it by the -head and stuck it in the cushion of the landlord’s arm-chair; the pin -they stuck in his towel, and then, without more ado, away they flew over -the heath. The duck, who preferred to sleep in the open air and had -stayed in the yard, heard them whizzing by, and bestirred herself. She -found a stream, and swam away down it; it was a much quicker way to get -on than being harnessed to a carriage. - -A couple of hours later the landlord, who was the first to leave his -pillow, got up and washed. When he took up the towel to dry himself, he -scratched his face and made a long red line from ear to ear. Then he -went to the kitchen to light his pipe, but when he stooped over the -hearth the egg-shells flew into his eye. - -“Everything goes to my head this morning,” he said angrily, as he -dropped on to the cushion of his grandfather’s arm-chair. But he quickly -bounded up again, and shouted, “Gracious me!” for the needle had run -into him, and this time not in the head. He grew furious, and his -suspicions immediately fell on the guests who had come in so late the -night before. When he went to look for them, they were nowhere to be -seen. Then he swore never to take such ragamuffins into his house again; -for they ate a great deal, paid nothing, and played tricks, by way of -thanks, into the bargain. - - - II. THE VISIT TO MR. KORBES - -Another day, when Partlet and Chanticleer were about to take a journey, -Chanticleer built a fine carriage with four red wheels, and harnessed -four little mice to it. Mrs. Partlet seated herself in it with -Chanticleer, and they drove off together. - -Before long they met a cat, who said, “Whither away?” - -Chanticleer answered: - - “All on our way - A visit to pay - To Mr. Korbes at home to-day.” - -“Take me with you,” said the cat. - -Chanticleer answered: “With pleasure; sit down behind, so that you don’t -fall out forward.” - - “When we’re off, away we roam, - To visit Mr. Korbes at home. - My wheels so red, pray have a care - From any splash of mud to spare. - Ye wheels sweep on with speed inclined, - Ye mice outstrip the whistling wind, - When we’re off, away to roam, - To visit Mr. Korbes at home.” - -Then came a millstone, an egg, a duck, a pin, and, last of all, a -needle. They all took their places in the carriage and went with the -rest. - -But when they arrived at Mr. Korbes’s house, he wasn’t in. The mice drew -the carriage into the coach-house, Partlet and Chanticleer flew on to a -perch, the cat sat down by the fire, the duck lay down by the well-pole. -The egg rolled itself up in the towel, the pin stuck itself into the -cushion, the needle sprang into the pillow on the bed, and the millstone -laid itself over the door. - -When Mr. Korbes came home, and went to the hearth to make a fire, the -cat threw ashes into his eyes. He ran into the kitchen to wash, and the -duck squirted water into his face; seizing the towel to dry himself, the -egg rolled out, broke, and stuck up one of his eyes. He wanted to rest, -and sat down in his arm-chair, when the pin pricked him. He grew very -angry, threw himself on the bed and laid his head on the pillow, when -the needle ran into him and made him cry out. In a fury he wanted to -rush into the open air, but when he got to the door, the millstone fell -on his head and killed him. What a bad man Mr. Korbes must have been! - - - III. THE DEATH OF PARTLET - -Partlet and Chanticleer went to the nut-hill on another occasion, and -they arranged that whichever of them found a nut should share it with -the other. - -Partlet found a huge nut, but said nothing about it, and meant to eat it -all herself; but the kernel was so big that she could not swallow it. It -stuck in her throat, and she was afraid she would be choked. She -shrieked: “Chanticleer, Chanticleer, run and fetch some water as fast as -you can, or I shall choke!” - -So Chanticleer ran as fast as he could to the well, and said: “Well, -well, you must give me some water! Partlet is out on the nut-hill; she -has swallowed a big nut, and is choking.” - -The well answered: “First you must run to my bride, and tell her to give -you some red silk.” - -Chanticleer ran to the bride, and said: “Bride, bride, give me some red -silk; I will give the silk to the well, and the well will give me some -water to take to Partlet, for she has swallowed a big nut and is -choking.” - -The bride answered: “Run first and fetch me a wreath which I left -hanging on a willow.” - -So Chanticleer ran to the willow, pulled the wreath off the branch, and -brought it to the bride. The bride gave him the red silk, which he took -to the well, and the well gave him the water for it. Then Chanticleer -took the water to Partlet; but as it happened, she had choked in the -meantime, and lay there dead and stiff. Chanticleer’s grief was so great -that he cried aloud, and all the animals came and condoled with him. - -Six mice built a little car to draw Partlet to the grave; and when the -car was ready they harnessed themselves to it and drew Partlet away. - -On the way, Reynard the fox joined them. “Where are you going, -Chanticleer?” said he. - -“I’m going to bury my wife, Partlet.” - -“May I go with you?” - - “Well, yes, if ride you will, you must jump up behind, - To carry weight in front, my horses aren’t inclined.” - -So the fox took a seat at the back, and he was followed by the wolf, the -bear, the stag, the lion, and all the other animals of the forest. The -procession went on till they came to a stream. - -“How shall we ever get over?” said Chanticleer. - -A straw was lying by the stream, and it said: “I will stretch myself -across, and then you can pass over upon me.” - -But when the six mice got on to the straw it collapsed, and the mice -fell into the water with it, and they were all drowned. So the -travelers’ difficulty was as great as ever. Then a coal came along and -said: “I am big enough; I will lie down and you can pass over me.” - -So the coal laid itself across the stream, but unfortunately it just -touched the water, hissed, went out, and was dead. A stone, seeing this, -had pity on them, and, wanting to help Chanticleer, laid itself over the -water. Now Chanticleer drew the car himself, and he just managed to get -across with Partlet. Next he wanted to pull the others over who were -hanging on behind, but it was too much for him, and the car fell back -and they all fell into the water and were drowned. - -So Chanticleer was left alone with the dead hen, and he dug a grave -himself and laid her in it. Then he made a mound over it, and seated -himself upon it and grieved till he died; and then they were all dead. - - - - - _The Golden Goose_ - - -There was once a man who had three sons. The youngest of them was called -Simpleton; he was scorned and despised by the others, and kept in the -background. - -The eldest son was going into the forest to cut wood, and, before he -started, his mother gave him a nice sweet cake and a bottle of wine to -take with him, so that he might not suffer from hunger or thirst. In the -wood he met a little, old, gray man, who bade him good day, and said: -“Give me a bit of the cake in your pocket, and let me have a drop of -your wine. I am so hungry and thirsty.” - -But the clever son said: “If I give you my cake and wine, I shan’t have -enough for myself. Be off with you!” - -He left the little man standing there, and went on his way. But he had -not been long at work, cutting down a tree, before he made a false -stroke, and dug the ax into his own arm, and he was obliged to go home -to have it bound up. - -Now, this was no accident; it was brought about by the little gray man. - -The second son now had to go into the forest to cut wood, and, like the -eldest, his mother gave him a sweet cake and a bottle of wine. In the -same way the little gray man met him, and asked for a piece of his cake -and a drop of his wine. But the second son made the same sensible -answer: “If I give you any, I shall have the less for myself. Be off out -of my way!” and he went on. - -His punishment, however, was not long delayed. After a few blows at the -tree, he hit his own leg, and had to be carried home. - -Then Simpleton said: “Let me go to cut the wood, father.” - -But his father said: “Your brothers have only come to harm by it; you -had better leave it alone. You know nothing about it.” But Simpleton -begged so hard to be allowed to go that at last his father said: “Well, -off you go then. You will be wiser when you have hurt yourself.” - -His mother gave him a cake which was mixed with water only and baked in -the ashes, and a bottle of sour beer. When he reached the forest, like -the others, he met the little gray man, who greeted him, and said: “Give -me a bit of your cake and a drop of your wine. I am so hungry and -thirsty.” - -Simpleton answered: “I have only a cake baked in the ashes, and some -sour beer; but, if you like such fare, we will sit down and eat it -together.” - -So they sat down; but when Simpleton pulled out his cake, it was a -sweet, nice cake, and his sour beer was turned into good wine. So they -ate and drank, and the little man said: “As you have such a kind heart, -and are willing to share your possessions, I will give you good luck. -There stands an old tree; cut it down, and you will find something at -the roots.” - -So saying, he disappeared. - -Simpleton cut down the tree, and when it fell, lo, and behold! a goose -was sitting among the roots, and its feathers were of pure gold. He -picked it up, and taking it with him, went to an inn, where he meant to -stay the night. The landlord had three daughters, who saw the goose, and -were very curious as to what kind of bird it could be, and wanted to get -one of its golden feathers. - -The eldest thought: “There will soon be some opportunity for me to pull -out one of the feathers,” and when Simpleton went outside, she took hold -of its wing to pluck out a feather; but her hand stuck fast, and she -could not get away. - -Soon after, the second sister came up, meaning also to pluck out one of -the golden feathers; but she had hardly touched her sister when she -found herself held fast. - -Lastly, the third one came, with the same intention, but the others -screamed out: “Keep away! For goodness sake, keep away!” - -But she, not knowing why she was to keep away, thought, “Why should I -not be there, if they are there?” - -So she ran up, but as soon as she touched her sisters she had to stay -hanging on to them, and they all had to pass the night like this. - -In the morning, Simpleton took up the goose under his arm, without -noticing the three girls hanging on behind, so they had to keep running -after, dodging his legs right and left. - -In the middle of the fields they met the parson, who, when he saw the -procession, cried out: “For shame, you bold girls! Why do you run after -the lad like that? Do you call that proper behavior?” - -Then he took hold of the hand of the youngest girl to pull her away; but -no sooner had he touched her than he felt himself held fast, and he, -too, had to run behind. - -Soon after the sexton came up, and, seeing his master the parson -treading on the heels of the three girls, cried out in amazement: -“Hallo, your Reverence! Whither away so fast? Don’t forget that we have -a christening!” - -So saying, he plucked the parson by the sleeve, and soon found that he -could not get away either. - -As this party of five, one behind the other, tramped on, two peasants -came along the road, carrying their hoes. The parson called them, and -asked them to set the sexton and himself free. But as soon as ever they -touched the sexton they were held fast, so now there were seven people -running behind Simpleton and his goose. - -By and by they reached a town where a king ruled whose only daughter was -so solemn that nothing and nobody could make her laugh. So the king had -proclaimed that whoever could bring her laughter should marry her. - -When Simpleton heard this he took his goose, with all his following, -before her, and when she saw these seven people running, one behind -another, she burst into fits of laughter, and seemed as if she could -never stop. - -Thereupon Simpleton asked her in marriage. But the king did not like him -for a son-in-law, and he made all sorts of conditions. First, he said -Simpleton must bring him a man who could drink up a cellar full of wine. - -Then Simpleton at once thought of the little gray man, who might be able -to help him, and he went out to the forest to look for him. On the very -spot where the tree that he had cut down had stood, he saw a man sitting -with a very sad face. Simpleton asked him what was the matter, and he -answered: - -“I am so thirsty, and I can’t quench my thirst. I hate cold water, and I -have already emptied a cask of wine; but what is a drop like that on a -burning stone?” - -“Well, there I can help you,” said Simpleton. “Come with me, and you -shall soon have enough to drink and to spare.” - -He led him to the king’s cellar, and the man set to upon the great -casks, and he drank and drank till his sides ached, and by the end of -the day the cellar was empty. - -Then again Simpleton demanded his bride. But the king was annoyed that a -wretched fellow called “Simpleton” should have his daughter, and he made -new conditions. He was now to find a man who could eat up a mountain of -bread. - -Simpleton did not reflect long, but went straight to the forest, and -there in the self-same place sat a man tightening a strap round his -body, and making a very miserable face. He said: “I have eaten up a -whole oven-full of rolls, but what is the good of that when any one is -as hungry as I am. I am never satisfied. I have to tighten my belt every -day if I am not to die of hunger.” - -Simpleton was delighted, and said: “Get up and come with me. You shall -have enough to eat.” - -Then he took him to the court, where the king had caused all the flour -in the kingdom to be brought together, and a huge mountain of bread to -be baked. The man from the forest sat down before it and began to eat, -and at the end of the day the whole mountain had disappeared. - -Now, for the third time, Simpleton asked for his bride. But again the -king tried to find an excuse, and demanded a ship which could sail on -land as well as at sea. - -“As soon as you can furnish it, you shall have my daughter,” he said. - -Simpleton went straight to the forest, and there sat the little gray man -to whom he had given his cake. The little man said: “I have eaten and -drunk for you, and now I will give you the ship, too. I do it all -because you were merciful to me.” - -Then he gave him the ship which could sail on land as well as at sea, -and when the king saw it he could no longer withhold his daughter. The -marriage was celebrated, and, at the king’s death, Simpleton inherited -the kingdom, and lived long and happily with his wife. - - - - - _The Young Giant_ - - -Once upon a time there lived a husbandman who had a son who, when he was -born, was no bigger than the length of a thumb, and who for many years -did not grow a hair’s breadth taller. - -One morning, just as the countryman was about to set out to plow his -field, little Thumbling said: - -“Father, I want to go, too.” - -“I dare say you do,” said the man; “but you are much better at home. If -I took you out I should be sure to lose you.” - -Thereupon Thumbling fell a-crying, and cried so much that at length his -father picked him up and put him in his pocket and set forth to his -work. - -When they reached the fields the man took his son out and set him down -on the ridge of a newly turned furrow, so that he might see the world -around him. Then suddenly from over the mountains a great giant came -striding toward them. - -“See, son,” said the husbandman, “here is an ogre coming to fetch you -away because you were naughty and cried this morning.” - -And the words had scarcely passed his lips when, in two great strides, -the giant had reached little Thumbling’s side and had picked him up in -his great hands and carried him away without uttering a sound. - -The poor father stood dumb with fear, for he thought he should never see -his little son again. - -The giant, however, treated little Thumbling very kindly in his house in -the woods. He kept him warm in his pocket, and fed him so heartily and -well that Thumbling became a young giant himself, tall, and broad. - -At the end of two years the old giant took him out into the woods to try -his strength. - -“Pull up that birch-tree for a staff to lean upon,” he said, and the -youth obeyed and pulled it up by the roots as if it had been a mere -weed. - -The old giant still thought he should like him to be stronger, so, after -taking great care of him for another two years, they again went out into -the wood. This time Thumbling playfully uprooted a stout old oak, and -the old giant, well pleased, cried: - -“Now you are a credit to me,” and took him back to the field where he -first found him. - -Here the young giant’s father happened to be just then plowing; so -Thumbling went up to him and said: - -“See, father, to what a great big man your son has grown!” - -But the peasant was afraid. - -“Be off with you! I don’t know you,” he cried. - -“But really and truly, father, I am your son,” he said. “Let me take the -plow, for I can guide it quite as well as you.” - -The father very unwillingly let go of the plow, for he was afraid of the -giant, and sat down to watch. Then Thumbling laid one hand on the -plowshare and straightway drove it so deep into the ground that the -peasant cried: - -“Now you will do more harm than good, if you drive so deep into the -earth.” - -Thereupon the young giant unharnessed the horses and began to draw the -plow himself, first saying: - -“Now, father, get you home and tell mother to cook a hearty meal, while -I just run round the field.” - -And in a very short time he had done what the peasant would have taken -two whole days to do. - -When all was finished, he laid plow, horse, and harrow over his -shoulders and carried them home as easily as though they were a truss of -hay. - -When he reached the house, he saw his mother sitting on a bench in the -courtyard. - -“Oh, who is this frightful monster of a man?” she cried. - -“That is our son,” said her husband. - -“I cannot believe that,” replied the woman, “for our child was a tiny -little thing,” and she begged the young giant to go away. - -However, he did not take any notice of what she said, for, after feeding -the horse in the stable, he came into the kitchen and sat himself down -upon the edge of the dresser. - -“Mother, mother,” he said, “I am so hungry. Give me my dinner.” - -“Here it is,” said his mother, and set two enormous dishes of smoking -stew upon the table. - -It would have been enough to last the husbandman and his wife for eight -whole days, but the giant ate it all up in five minutes, and then asked -if they could give him more. But the woman shook her head, and said they -had no more in the house. - -“Mother,” he said, “I am fainting with hunger. That was a mere bite.” - -The woman was so frightened at this that she ran and made some more stew -in the largest fish kettle. - -“Ah,” sighed the young giant, “this is something like a meal!” - -But when he had finished he still felt hungry, and said: - -“Well, father, I can see I shall starve if I come here to live. I will -go and seek my fortune in the wide world, if you can procure me a bar of -iron so strong that I cannot break it across my knee.” - -The peasant quickly harnessed his two horses to the wagon, and from the -smithy in the village he fetched an iron bar so heavy that the horses -could hardly drag it. This the giant tried across his knee. Snap! it -cracked in half, like a twig. - -Then the peasant took his wagon and four horses to the smithy and -brought back as heavy a bar as they could carry. But in a second the -giant had broken it into two pieces and tossed them each aside. - -“Father,” he said, “I need a stronger one yet. Take the wagon and eight -horses to the smithy, and fetch me back as heavy a one as they can -draw.” - -This the countryman did, and again the youth broke it in two as easily -as if he had cracked a nut. - -“Well, father, I see you cannot get me anything strong enough. I must go -and try my fortune without it.” - -So he turned blacksmith and journeyed for many miles, until he came to a -village, where dwelt a very grasping smith, who earned a great deal of -money, but who gave not a penny of it away. - -The giant stepped into his forge and asked if by any chance he were in -want of help. - -“What wages do you ask?” said the smith, looking the young man up and -down; for, thought he: “Here is a fine, powerful fellow, who surely will -be worth his salt.” - -“I don’t want money,” replied the giant. “But here’s a bargain: every -fortnight, when you give your workmen their wages, I will give you two -strokes across your shoulders. It will be just a little amusement for -me.” - -The cunning smith agreed very willingly, for, he thought, in this way he -would save a great deal of money. - -However, next morning when the new journeyman started work, with the -very first stroke he gave the red-hot iron, it shivered into a thousand -pieces, and the anvil buried itself so deep in the earth that he could -not pull it out again. - -“Here, fellow,” cried his master, “you won’t suit me; you are far too -clumsy. I must put an end to our bargain.” - -“Just as you please,” said the other, “but you must pay me for the work -I have done, so I will just give you one little tap on the shoulder.” - -With that he gave the greedy smith such a blow that it knocked him -flying over four hay-ricks. Then, picking up the stoutest iron bar he -could find for a walking-stick, he set forth once more on his travels. - -Presently he came to a farmhouse, where he inquired if they were in need -of a bailiff. Now, the farmer just happened to need a head man, so he -was engaged at once upon the same terms as he had arranged with the old -blacksmith. - -Next morning the farm servants were to go and fell trees in the wood, -but just as they were ready to start they found the new bailiff was -still in bed and fast asleep. - -They shook him and shouted at him, but he would not open his eyes; he -only grumbled at them and told them to be gone. - -“I shall have done my work and reached home long before you,” he said. - -So he stayed in bed for another two hours, then arose, and after eating -a hearty breakfast he started with his cart and horses for the wood. - -There was a narrow pathway through which he had to pass just before -entering the wood, and after he had led his horses through this he went -back and built up a barrier of brambles and furze and branches so thick -that no horse could possibly force its way through. - -Then he drove on and met his fellow-servants just leaving the wood on -their way home. - -“Drive on, my friends,” he said, “and I will be home before you even -now.” - -Then he pulled up a giant elm by its roots just on the border of the -woods, and laying it on his cart, he turned and quickly overtook the -others. - -There they were, staring helplessly at the great barricade which barred -their path, just as he had expected to find them. - -“Ha, ha!” he chuckled, “you might just as well have slept an hour or two -longer, for I told you you would not get home before me.” - -Then, shouldering the tree, the horse and the cart, he pushed a way -through the barrier as easily as if he had been carrying a bag of -feathers. - -When he got back to the farm he showed his new walking-stick, as he -called the tree, to his master. - -“Wife,” said the farmer, “we have indeed found a capital bailiff, and if -he does need more sleep than the others, he works much better.” - -So the months rolled by, until a whole year had come and gone, and the -time had arrived to pay the servants their wages. But the farmer was -overcome with fright when he remembered the blows the giant had to give -him. So he begged him to change his mind and accept his whole farm and -lands instead. - -“No,” said the giant, “I am a bailiff, and a bailiff I intend to remain, -so you must pay me the wages we agreed upon.” - -The farmer now obtained a promise that he would give him a fortnight to -think the matter over, and he secretly assembled all his friends and -neighbors to discuss what he should do. - -The only thing they could suggest was to slay the bailiff, and it was -arranged that he should be told to bring a cartload of millstones to the -edge of the well, and then the farmer was to send him down to the bottom -to clean it out. When the giant was safely at the bottom, all the -friends and neighbors would come and roll the millstones down upon him. - -Everything happened as had been planned, and when the bailiff was at the -bottom of the well the millstones were rolled in. As each one fell, the -water splashed over the top in a great wave. - -It seemed impossible that the bailiff should not be crushed to death, -but suddenly the neighbors heard him call out: - -“I say, you up there, shoo away the chickens; they are scattering the -gravel in my eyes!” - -Then he quickly finished his task, and presently jumped out of the well -with one of the millstones hanging round his neck. - -“Have not I got a handsome collar?” he said. - -Again the farmer was overcome with fear, and again he called together -all his friends and relations. The only thing they could think of was to -advise the farmer to send the bailiff to the haunted mill by night, and -order him to grind eight bushels of corn. “For,” said they, “no man who -has spent a night there has ever come out alive.” - -So the bailiff went and fetched the corn from the loft. He put two -bushels in his right-hand pocket, and two in his left, and the rest he -carried in a sack across his shoulders. - -When he reached the mill the miller told him it was haunted, and he had -best come to grind his corn in the daytime if he did not wish to lose -his life. - -“Tush, tush!” said the giant. “Make haste and leave me alone. Come back -in the morning, and I promise you will find me all safe and sound.” - -Then he entered the mill and emptied his sacks into the hopper, and by -twelve o’clock he had finished his work. Feeling a little weary, he sat -down to rest, but noticed with great interest the door opening very -slowly, all by itself. - -Then a table laden with rich food and wines came and set itself before -him. Still there was no living creature to be seen. Next the chairs came -and placed themselves round the festive board, and then he noticed -fingers handling the knives and forks and placing food upon the plates. - -The giant soon got tired of watching this, and as he felt quite ready -for a meal himself, he drew up his chair to the table and partook of a -hearty repast. - -Just as he finished he felt a breath of air blow out all the lights, and -then a thundering blow fell upon his head. - -“Well, I’m not going to put up with this,” he said. “If I feel any more -taps like that one I will just tap back.” - -Then a great battle raged, and blows fell thickly all around, but he -never let himself feel any fear, but only gave back as many as he could. - -When morning came the miller hastened to the mill expecting to find the -giant dead, but he was greeted with a hearty laugh. - -“Well, miller,” said the giant, “somebody has been slapping me in the -night, but I guess they have had as good blows as they have given, and I -have managed to eat a hearty supper into the bargain.” - -The miller was overjoyed to find the evil spell had been broken, and -begged the giant to accept some money as reward, but this he refused. -Slinging the meal on his shoulders, he went back to ask his wages from -the farmer. - -The farmer was furious to see his bailiff safe and sound again, and -paced his floor to and fro, shivering and shaking like a leaf. He felt -he could not breathe, so he threw the window open, and before he knew -what had happened the giant had sent him flying out of the window -straight over the hills into Nowhere Land. And as the farmer had not -waited to receive the second stroke, the giant gave it to his wife, and -she flew out to join her husband, and for aught I know they are flying -through the air still. - - - - - _The Sweet Soup_ - - -Once on a time there was a poor but very good little girl, who lived -alone with her mother, and when my story begins, they had nothing in the -house to eat. So the child went out into the forest, and there she met -an old woman, who already knew her distress, and who presented her with -a pot which had the following power. If one said to it, “Boil, little -pot!” it would cook sweet soup; and when one said: “Stop, little pot!” -it would immediately cease to boil. The little girl took the pot home to -her mother, and now their poverty and distresses were at an end, for -they could have sweet broth as often as they pleased. - -One day, however, the little girl went out, and in her absence the -mother said: “Boil, little pot!” So it began to cook, and she soon ate -all she wished; but when the poor woman wanted to have the pot stop, she -found she did not know the word. Away, therefore, the pot boiled, and -very quickly was over the edge; and as it boiled and boiled the kitchen -presently became full, then the house, and the next house, and soon the -whole street. It seemed likely to satisfy all the world, for, though -there was the greatest necessity to do so, nobody knew how to stop it. -At last, when only a very small cottage of all the village was left -unfilled with soup, the child returned and said at once: “Stop, little -pot!” - -Immediately it ceased to boil; but whoever wishes to enter the village -now must eat his way through the soup!!! - - - - - _Seven at one Blow_ - - -A tailor sat in his workroom one morning, stitching away busily at a -coat for the Lord Mayor. He whistled and sang so gaily that all the -little boys who passed the shop on their way to school thought what a -fine thing it was to be a tailor, and told one another that when they -grew to be men they’d be tailors, too. - -“How hungry I feel, to be sure!” cried the little man, at last; “but I’m -far too busy to trouble about eating. I must finish his lordship’s coat -before I touch a morsel of food,” and he broke once more into a merry -song. - -“Fine new jam for sale,” sang out an old woman, as she walked along the -street. - -“Jam! I can’t resist such a treat,” said the tailor; and, running to the -door, he shouted: “This way for jam, dame; show me a pot of your very -finest.” - -The woman handed him jar after jar, but he found fault with all. At last -he hit upon some to his liking. - -“And how many pounds will you take, sir?” - -“I’ll take four ounces,” he replied, in a solemn tone, “and mind you -give me good weight.” - -The old woman was very angry, for she had expected to sell several -pounds, at least; and she went off grumbling, after she had weighed out -the four ounces. - -“Now for a feed!” cried the little man, taking a loaf from the cupboard -as he spoke. He cut off a huge slice, and spread the jam on quite half -an inch thick; then he suddenly remembered his work. - -“It will never do to get jam on the Lord Mayor’s coat, so I’ll finish it -off before I take even one bite,” said he. So he picked up his work once -more, and his needle flew in and out like lightning. - -I am afraid the Lord Mayor had some stitches in his garment that were -quite a quarter of an inch long. - -The tailor glanced longingly at his slice of bread and jam once or -twice, but when he looked the third time it was quite covered with -flies, and a fine feast they were having off it. - -This was too much for the little fellow. Up he jumped, crying: - -“So you think I provide bread and jam for you, indeed! Well, we’ll very -soon see! Take that!” and he struck the flies such a heavy blow with a -duster that no fewer than seven lay dead upon the table, while the -others flew up to the ceiling in great haste. - -“Seven at one blow!” said the little man with great pride. “Such a brave -deed ought to be known all over the town, and it won’t be my fault if -folks fail to hear of it.” - -So he cut out a wide belt, and stitched on it in big golden letters the -words “Seven at one blow.” When this was done he fastened it round him, -crying: - -“I’m cut out for something better than a tailor, it’s quite clear. I’m -one of the world’s great heroes, and I’ll be off at once to seek my -fortune.” - -He glanced round the cottage, but there was nothing of value to take -with him. The only thing he possessed in the world was a small cheese. - -“You may as well come, too,” said he, stowing away the cheese in his -pocket, “and now I’m off.” - -When he got into the street the neighbors all crowded round him to read -the words on his belt. - -“Seven at one blow!” said they to one another. “What a blessing he’s -going; for it wouldn’t be safe to have a man about us who could kill -seven of us at one stroke.” - -You see, they didn’t know that the tailor had only killed flies; they -took it to mean men. - -He jogged along for some miles until he came to a hedge, where a little -bird was caught in the branches. - -“Come along,” said the tailor; “I’ll have you to keep my cheese -company”; so he caught the bird and put it carefully into his pocket -with the cheese. - -Soon he reached a lofty mountain, and he made up his mind to climb it -and see what was going on at the other side. When he reached the top, -there stood a huge giant, gazing down into the valley below. - -“Good day,” said the tailor. - -The giant turned round, and seeing nobody but the little tailor there, -he cried with scorn: - -“And what might you be doing here, might I ask? You’d best be off at -once.” - -“Not so fast, my friend,” said the little man; “read this.” - -“Seven at one blow,” read the giant, and he began to wish he’d been more -civil. - -“Well, I’m sure nobody would think it to look at you,” he replied; “but -since you are so clever, do this,” and he picked up a stone and squeezed -it until water ran out. - -“Do that! Why, it’s mere child’s play to me,” and the man took out his -cheese and squeezed it until the whey ran from it. “Now who is -cleverer?” asked the tailor. “You see, I can squeeze milk out, while you -only get water.” - -The giant was too surprised to utter a word for a few minutes; then, -taking up another stone, he threw it so high into the air that for a -moment they couldn’t see where it went; then down it fell to the ground -again. - -“Good!” said the tailor; “but I’ll throw a stone that won’t come back -again at all.” - -Taking the little bird from his pocket, he threw it into the air, and -the bird, glad to get away, flew right off and never returned. - -This sort of thing didn’t suit the giant at all, for he wasn’t used to -being beaten by any one. - -“Here’s something that you’ll never manage,” said he to the little man. -“Just come and help me to carry this fallen oak-tree for a few miles.” - -“Delighted!” said the tailor, “and I’ll take the end with the branches, -for it’s sure to be heavier.” - -“Agreed,” replied the giant, and he lifted the heavy trunk on to his -shoulder, while the tailor climbed up among the branches at the other -end, and sang with all his might, as though carrying a tree was nothing -to him. - -The poor giant, who was holding the tree-trunk and the little tailor as -well, soon grew tired. - -“I’m going to let it fall!” he shouted, and the tailor jumped down from -the branches, and pretended he had been helping all the time. - -“The idea of a man your size finding a tree too heavy to carry!” laughed -the little tailor. - -“You are a clever little fellow, and no mistake,” replied the giant, -“and if you’ll only come and spend the night in our cave, we shall be -delighted to have you.” - -“I shall have great pleasure in coming, my friend,” answered the little -tailor, and together they set off for the giant’s home. - -There were seven more giants in the cave, and each one of them was -eating a roasted pig for his supper. They gave the little man some food, -and then showed him a bed in which he might pass the night. It was so -big that, after tossing about for half an hour in it, the tailor thought -he would be more comfortable if he slept in the corner, so he crept out -without being noticed. - -In the middle of the night the giant stole out of bed and went up to the -one where he thought the little man was fast asleep. Taking a big bar of -iron, he struck such a heavy blow at it that he woke up all the other -giants. - -“Keep quiet, friends,” said he. “I’ve just killed the little scamp.” - -The tailor made his escape as soon as possible, and he journeyed on for -many miles, until he began to feel very tired, so he lay down under a -tree, and was soon fast asleep. When he awoke, he found a big crowd of -people standing round him. Up walked one very wise-looking old man, who -was really the king’s prime minister. - -“Is it true that you have killed seven at one blow?” he asked. - -“It is a fact,” answered the little tailor. - -“Then come with me to the king, my friend, for he’s been searching for a -brave man like you for some time past. You are to be made captain of his -army, and the king will give you a fine house to live in.” - -“That I will,” replied the little man. “It is just the sort of thing -that will suit me, and I’ll come at once.” - -He hadn’t been in the king’s service long before every one grew jealous -of him. The soldiers were afraid that, if they offended him, he would -make short work of them all, while the members of the king’s household -didn’t fancy the idea of making such a fuss over a stranger. - -So the soldiers went in a body to the king and asked that another -captain should be put over them, for they were afraid of this one. - -The king didn’t like to refuse, for fear they should all desert, and yet -he didn’t dare get rid of the captain, in case such a strong and brave -man should try to have his revenge. - -At last the king hit upon a plan. In some woods close by there lived two -giants, who were the terror of the country side; they robbed all the -travelers, and if any resistance was offered they killed the men on the -spot. - -Sending for the little tailor, he said: - -“Knowing you to be the bravest man in my kingdom, I want to ask a favor -of you. If you will kill these two giants, and bring me back proof that -they are dead, you shall marry the princess, my daughter, and have half -my kingdom. You shall also take one hundred men to help you, and you are -to set off at once.” - -“A hundred men, your majesty! Pray, what do I want with a hundred men? -If I can kill seven at one blow, I needn’t be afraid of two. I’ll kill -them fast enough, never fear.” - -The tailor chose ten strong men, and told them to await him on the -border of the wood, while he went on quite alone. He could hear the -giants snoring for quite half an hour before he reached them, so he knew -in which direction to go. - -He found the pair fast asleep under a tree, so he filled his pockets -with stones and climbed up into the branches over their heads. Then he -began to pelt one of the giants with the missiles, until after a few -minutes one of the men awoke. Giving the other a rough push, he cried: - -“If you strike me like that again, I’ll know the reason why.” - -“I didn’t touch you,” said the other giant crossly, and they were soon -fast asleep once more. - -Then the tailor threw stones at the other man, and soon he awoke as the -first had done. - -“What did you throw that at me for?” said he. - -“You are dreaming,” answered the other, “I didn’t throw anything.” - -No sooner were they fast asleep again, than the little man began to pelt -them afresh. - -Up they both sprang, and seizing each other, they began to fight in real -earnest. Not content with using their fists, they tore up huge trees by -the roots, and beat each other until very soon the pair lay dead on the -ground. - -Down climbed the little tailor, and taking his sword in his hand he -plunged it into each giant, and then went back to the edge of the forest -where the ten men were waiting for him. - -“They are as dead as two door nails,” shouted the little man. “I don’t -say that I had an easy task, for they tore up trees by their roots to -try to protect themselves with, but, of course, it was no good. What -were two giants to a man who has slain seven at one blow?” - -But the men wouldn’t believe it until they went into the forest and saw -the two dead bodies, lying each in a pool of blood, while the ground was -covered with uprooted trees. - -Back they went to the king, but instead of handing over half his -kingdom, as he had promised, his majesty told the little tailor that -there was still another brave deed for him to do before he got the -princess for his bride. - -“Just name it, then; I’m more than ready,” was the man’s reply. - -“You are to kill the famous unicorn that is running wild in the forest -and doing so much damage. When this is done you shall have your reward -at once.” - -“No trouble at all, your majesty. I’ll get rid of him in a twinkling.” - -He made the ten men wait for him at the entrance to the wood, as they -had done the first time, and taking a stout rope and a saw he entered -the forest alone. - -Up came the unicorn, but just as it was about to rush at the man he -darted behind a big tree. - -The unicorn dashed with such force against the tree that its horn was -caught quite fast and it was kept a prisoner. - -Taking his rope, he tied it tightly round the animal, and, after sawing -off the horn, back he went to the palace, leading the unicorn by his -side. - -But even then the king was not satisfied, and he made the little tailor -catch a wild boar that had been seen wandering in the woods. - -He took a party of huntsmen with him, but again he made them wait on the -outskirts of the forest while he went on by himself. - -The wild boar made a dash at the little tailor, but the man was too -quick for it. He slipped into a little building close by, with the -animal at his heels. Then, catching sight of a small window, he forced -his way out into the forest again, and while the boar, who was too big -and clumsy to follow, stood gazing at the spot where he had disappeared, -the tailor ran round and closed the door, keeping the animal quite -secure inside. Then he called the hunters, who shot the boar and carried -the body back to the palace. - -This time the king was obliged to keep his promise; so the little tailor -became a prince, and a grand wedding they had, too. - -When they had been married for about a couple of years, the princess -once overheard her husband talking in his sleep. - -“Boy, if you have put a patch on that waistcoat, take the Lord Mayor’s -coat home at once, or I’ll box your ears,” he said. - -“Oh, dear,” cried the princess, “to think that I’ve married a common -tailor! Whatever can I do to get rid of him?” - -So she told her father the story, and the king said she need not worry, -for he would find a way out of the difficulty. She was to leave the door -open that night, and while the tailor was sleeping, the king’s servants -should steal into the room, bind the tailor, and take him away to be -killed. - -The princess promised to see that everything was in readiness, and she -tripped about all day with a very light heart. - -She little knew that one of the tailor’s servants had overheard their -cruel plot, and carried the news straight to his master. - -That night, when the princess thought her husband was sleeping fast, she -crept to the door and opened it. - -To her great terror, the tailor began to speak. - -“Boy, take the Lord Mayor’s coat home, or I’ll box your ears. Haven’t I -killed seven at one blow? Haven’t I slain two giants, a unicorn, and a -wild boar? What do I care for the men who are standing outside my door -at this moment?” - -At these words off flew the men as though they had been shot from a gun, -and no more attempts were ever made on his life. So the princess had to -make the best of a bad job. - -He lived on, and when the old king died he ascended the throne in his -stead. So the brave little tailor became ruler over the whole kingdom; -and his motto throughout his whole life was, “Seven at one blow.” - - - - - _The Cat and the Mouse in Partnership_ - - -A cat having made the acquaintance of a mouse, told her so much of the -great love and affection that he had for her, that the mouse at last -consented to live in the same house with him, and to have their domestic -affairs in common. “But we must provide for the winter,” said the cat, -“or we shall be starved; you, little mouse, cannot go everywhere looking -for food, or you will meet with an accident.” - -This advice was followed, and a pot was brought with some grease in it. -However, when they had got it, they could not imagine where it should be -put; but at last, after a long consideration, the cat said: “I know no -better place to put it than in the church, for there no one dares to -steal anything; we will set it beneath the organ, and not touch it till -we really want it.” - -So the pot was put away in safety; but not long afterward the cat began -to wish for it again, so he spoke to the mouse and said: “I have to tell -you that I am asked by my aunt to stand godfather to a little son, white -with brown marks, whom she has just brought into the world, and so I -must go to the christening. Let me go out to-day, and do you stop at -home and keep house.” - -“Certainly,” answered the mouse; “pray, go; and if you eat anything -nice, think of me; I would also willingly drink a little of the sweet -red christening-wine.” - -But, alas! it was all a story; for the cat had no aunt, and had not been -asked to stand godfather to any one. He went straight to the church, -crept up to the grease pot, and licked it till he had eaten off the top; -then he took a walk on the roofs of the houses in the town, thinking -over his situation, and now and then stretching himself in the sun and -stroking his whiskers as often as he thought of his meal. When it was -evening he went home again, and the mouse said: “So you have come at -last; what a charming day you must have had!” - -“Yes,” answered the cat; “it went off very well!” - -“What have you named the kitten?” asked the mouse. - -“_Top-off!_” said the cat very quickly. - -“_Top-off!_” replied the mouse; “that is a curious and remarkable name; -is it common in your family?” - -“What does that matter?” said the cat; “it is not worse than -Crumb-stealer, as your children are called.” - -Not long afterward the cat felt the same longing as before, and said to -the mouse: “You must oblige me by taking care of the house once more by -yourself; I am again asked to stand godfather, and, since the youngster -has a white ring round his neck, I cannot get off the invitation.” So -the good little mouse consented, and the cat crept away behind the wall -to the church again, and ate half the contents of the grease-pot. -“Nothing tastes better than what one eats by one’s self,” said he, quite -contented with his day’s work; and when he came home the mouse asked how -this child was named. - -“_Half-out_,” answered the cat. - -“_Half-out!_ What do you mean? I never heard such a name before in my -life; I will wager anything it is not in the calendar,” but the cat -replied nothing. - -Pussy’s mouth soon began to water again at the recollection of the -feasting. “All good things come in threes,” said he to the mouse. “I am -again required to be godfather; this child is quite black, and has -little white claws, but not a single white hair on his body; such a -thing only happens once in two years, so pray excuse me this time.” - -“_Top-off! Half-out!_” answered the mouse; “those are such curious -names, they make me a bit suspicious.” - -“Ah!” replied the cat, “there you sit in your gray coat and long tail, -thinking nonsense. That comes of never going out.” - -The mouse busied herself during the cat’s absence in putting the house -in order, but meanwhile greedy puss licked the grease-pot clean out. -“When it is all done one will rest in peace,” thought he to himself, and -as soon as night came he went home fat and tired. The mouse, however, -again asked what name the third child had received. “It will not please -you any better,” answered the cat, “for he is called _All-out_.” - -“_All-out!_” exclaimed the mouse; “well, that is certainly the most -curious name by far. I have never yet seen it in print. _All-out!_ What -can that mean?” and, shaking her head, she rolled herself up and went to -sleep. - -After that nobody else asked the cat to stand godfather; but the winter -had arrived, and nothing more was to be picked up out of doors; so the -mouse bethought herself of their store of provision, and said, “Come, -friend cat, we will go to our grease-pot which we laid by; it will taste -well now.” - -“Yes, indeed,” replied the cat; “it will taste as well as if you stroked -your tongue against the window.” - -So they set out on their journey, and when they arrived at the church -the pot stood in its old place—but it was empty! “Ah,” said the mouse, -“I see what has happened; now I know you are indeed a faithful friend. -You have eaten the whole as you stood godfather; first _Top-off_, then -_Half-out_, then——” - -“Will you be quiet?” cried the cat. “Not a word, or I’ll eat you.” But -the poor mouse had “_All-out_” at her tongue’s end, and had scarcely -uttered it when the cat made a spring, seized her in his mouth, and -swallowed her. - -This happens every day in the world. - - - - - _Old Sultan_ - - -A certain peasant had a trusty dog called Sultan, who had grown quite -old in his service, and had lost all his teeth, so that he could not -hold anything fast. One day the peasant stood with his wife at the house -door and said: “This morning I shall shoot old Sultan, for he is no -longer of any use.” His wife, however, compassionating the poor animal, -replied: “Well, since he has served us so long and so faithfully, I -think we may very well afford him food for the rest of his life.” “Eh, -what?” replied her husband; “you are not very clever; he has not a tooth -in his head, and never a thief is afraid of him, so he must trot off. If -he has served us, he has also received his dinner every day.” - -The poor dog, lying stretched out in the sun not far from his master, -heard all he said, and was much troubled at learning that the morrow -would be his last day. He had one good friend, the wolf in the forest, -to whom he slipped at evening, and complained of the sad fate which -awaited him. “Be of good courage, my father,” said the wolf; “I will -help you out of your trouble. I have just thought of something. Early -to-morrow morning your master goes haymaking with his wife, and they -will take with them their child, because no one will be left in the -house, and while they are at work they will put him behind the hedge in -the shade, and set you by to watch him. I will then spring out of the -wood and steal away the child, and you must run after me hotly as if you -were pursuing me. I will let it fall, and you shall take it back to its -parents, who will then believe you have saved it, and they will be too -thankful to do you any injury; and so you will come into great favor, -and they will never let you want again.” - -This plan pleased the dog, and it was carried out exactly as proposed. -The father cried out when he saw the wolf running off with the child, -but as old Sultan brought it back he was highly pleased, and stroked -him, and said: “Not a hair of your head shall be touched; you shall eat -your meals in comfort to the end of your days.” He then told his wife to -go home and cook old Sultan some bread and broth, which would not need -biting, and also to bring the pillow out of his bed, that he might give -it to him for a resting-place. Henceforth old Sultan had as much as he -could wish for himself; and soon afterward the wolf visited him and -congratulated him on his prosperous circumstances. “But, my father,” -said he slyly, “you will close your eyes if I by accident steal away a -fat sheep from your master.” “Reckon not on that,” replied the dog; “my -master believes me faithful; I dare not give you what you ask.” The -wolf, however, thought he was not in earnest, and by night came slinking -into the yard to fetch away the sheep. But the peasant, to whom the dog -had communicated the design of the wolf, caught him and gave him a sound -thrashing with the flail. The wolf was obliged to scamper off, but he -cried out to the dog: “Wait a bit, you rascal, you shall pay for this!” - -The next morning the wolf sent the boar to challenge the dog, that they -might settle their affair in the forest. Old Sultan, however, could find -no other second than a cat, who had only three legs, and, as they went -out together, the poor cat limped along, holding her tail high in the -air from pain. The wolf and his second were already on the spot -selected, but as they saw their opponent coming they thought he was -bringing a great sabre with him, because they saw in front the erect -tail of the cat; and, whenever the poor animal hopped on its three legs, -they thought nothing else than that he was going to take up a great -stone to throw at them. Both of them, thereupon, became very nervous, -and the boar crept into a heap of dead leaves, and the wolf climbed up a -tree. As soon as the dog and cat arrived on the spot they wondered what -had become of their adversary. The wild boar, however, had not quite -concealed himself, for the tips of his ears were sticking out; and, -while the cat was considering them attentively, the boar twitched one of -them, and the cat took it for a mouse, and, making a spring, gave it a -good bite. At this the boar shook himself with a great cry, and ran -away, calling out, “There sits the guilty one, up in the tree!” The dog -and the cat looked up and saw the wolf, who was ashamed at himself for -being so fearful, and, begging the dog’s pardon, entered into treaty -with him. - - - - - _The Nail_ - - -A tradesman had once transacted a good day’s business at a fair, -disposed of all his goods, and filled his purse with gold and silver. He -prepared afterward to return, in order to reach home by the evening, so -he strapped his portmanteau, with the money in it, upon his horse’s -back, and rode off. At noon he baited in a small town, and as he was -about to set out again, the stable-boy who brought his horse said to -him: “Sir, a nail is wanting in the shoe on the left hind foot of your -animal.” - -“Let it be wanting,” replied the tradesman; “I am in a hurry and the -iron will doubtless hold the six hours I have yet to travel.” - -Late in the afternoon he had to dismount again, and feed his horse, and -at this place also the boy came and told him that a nail was wanting in -one of the shoes, and asked him whether he should take the horse to a -farrier. “No, no, let it be!” replied the master; “it will last out the -couple of hours that I have now to travel; I am in haste.” So saying he -rode off; but his horse soon began to limp, and from limping it came to -stumbling, and presently the beast fell down and broke its leg. -Thereupon the tradesman had to leave his unfortunate horse lying on the -road, to unbuckle the portmanteau, and to walk home with it upon his -shoulder, where he arrived at last late at night. - -“And all this misfortune,” said he to himself, “is owing to the want of -a nail. More haste, the less speed!” - - - - - _The Fox and the Horse_ - - -There was once a farmer who had a horse which served him faithfully till -he was too old to work any longer, and then his master would not give -him anything to eat, but said: “I cannot really find any use for you -now, but still I mean you well, and so, if you will show yourself strong -enough to bring home a lion, I will requite you; but now you must make -yourself scarce in this stable!” So saying, the farmer drove the poor -horse out; and he went with drooping head toward the forest to shelter -himself there from the weather. In among the trees he met a fox, who -asked him why he looked so careworn and walked so downcast. - -“Alas!” said the horse, “avarice and fidelity dwell not in the same -house together; my master has forgotten all the services which I have -rendered him for so many years, and, because I am unable now to work any -longer, he will not give me any fodder, but has driven me out of the -stable.” - -“Without any hope?” inquired the fox. - -“The hope is slight enough,” replied the horse; “he said that if I could -manage to bring him back a lion he would receive me; but he knows well I -cannot do that.” - -“Then I will help you,” replied the fox; “now lie down and stretch -yourself out, and do not stir, so that you may appear dead.” - -The horse, accordingly, did as he was bid, and the fox went to the lion, -whose den was not very far off, and said to him, “Near here lies a dead -horse; come with me and you may make a capital meal.” The lion -accompanied the fox, and when they came to the horse the fox said: -“Hist! listen to what I am about to say; you can have this beast at your -convenience; I will bind it to you by the tail, and you shall then drag -it away to your den, and devour it at your leisure.” This advice pleased -the lion, and, in order that the fox might knot the horse’s tail fast to -him, he stood with his back toward it, quite still. The fox, however, -cunningly tied the lion’s legs together with the hairs of the horse’s -tail, and pulled and knotted all so carefully that no strength could -have divided it. As soon as his work was finished the fox tapped the -horse on the shoulder, and cried, “Drag, my friend, drag!” The horse -jumped up at once and drew the lion away with him. The beast soon began -to roar, so that all the birds in the forest flew away in terror, but -the horse let him roar while he quietly dragged him to his master’s -door. Now, when the farmer saw this proof of the fidelity of his horse, -he thought better of his former resolution, and said to the faithful -animal: “You shall remain with me now, and live at your ease.” And so -the good horse had good meals and good treatment till he died. - - - - - _The Giant and the Tailor_ - - -A certain tailor, who was a large boaster but a very small performer, -took it once into his head to go and look about him in the world. As -soon as he could, he left his workshop, and traveled away over hills and -valleys, now on this road, and now on that; but still onward. After he -had gone some way, he perceived in the distance a steep mountain, and -behind it a lofty tower, which rose from the midst of a wild, dense -forest. “Good gracious!” cried the tailor, “what is this?” and driven by -his curiosity, he went rapidly toward the place. But he opened his mouth -and eyes wide enough when he got nearer; for the tower had legs, and -sprang in a trice over the steep hill, and stood up, a mighty giant, -before the tailor. “What are you about here, you puny fly-legs?” asked -the giant in a voice which rumbled on all sides like thunder. - -“I am trying to earn a piece of bread in this forest,” whispered the -tailor. - -“Well, then, it is time you entered my service,” said the giant -fiercely. - -“If it must be so, why not?” said the tailor humbly; “but what wage -shall I have?” “What wage shall you have?” repeated the giant -contemptuously; “listen and I will tell you: every year, three hundred -and sixty-five days, and one besides, if it be leap-year. Is that -right?” - -“Quite,” said the tailor; but thought to himself: “One must cut -according to his cloth; I will seek to make myself free very soon.” - -“Go, little rascal, and fetch me a glass of water!” cried the giant. - -“Why not the whole well, and its spring, too?” said the tailor, but -fetched as he was bid. “What! the well and its spring, too?” bellowed -the giant, who was rather cowardly and weak, and so began to be afraid, -thinking to himself: “This fellow can do more than roast apples; he has -a heap of courage. I must take care, or he will be too much of a servant -for me!” So, when the tailor returned with the water, the giant sent him -to fetch a couple of bundles of faggots from the forest, and bring them -home. “Why not the whole forest at one stroke, every tree, young and -old, knotty and smooth?” asked the tailor, and went away. “What! the -whole forest, and the well, too, and its spring!” murmured the -frightened giant in his beard; and he began to be still more afraid, and -believed that the tailor was too great a man for him, and not fit for -his servant. However, when the tailor returned with his load of faggots, -the giant told him to shoot two or three wild boars for their supper. -“Why not rather a thousand at one shot, and the rest afterward?” cried -the boaster. “What, what!” gasped the cowardly giant, terribly -frightened. “Oh, well! that is enough for to-day; you may go to sleep -now!” - -The poor giant, however, was so very much afraid of the little tailor -that he could not close his eyes all the night, but tossed about -thinking how to get rid of his servant, whom he regarded as an enchanter -conspiring against his life. With time comes counsel. The following -morning the giant and the dwarf went together to a marsh where a great -many willow-trees were growing. When they got there the giant said: -“Seat yourself on one of these willow rods, tailor; on my life I only -wish to see if you are in a condition to bend it down.” - -The boasting tailor climbed the tree, and perched himself on a bough, -and then, holding his breath, he made himself heavy enough thereby, to -bend the tree down. Soon, however, he had to take breath again, and -immediately, having been unfortunate enough to come without his goose in -his pocket, the bough flew up, and to the great joy of the giant, -carried the tailor with it so high into the air that he went out of -sight. And whether he has since fallen down again, or is yet flying -about in the air, I am unable to tell you satisfactorily. - - - - - _The Spider and the Flea_ - - -A spider and a Flea dwelt together in one house, and brewed their beer -in an egg-shell. One day, when the Spider was stirring it up, she fell -in and scalded herself. Thereupon the Flea began to scream. And then the -door asked: “Why are you screaming, Flea?” - -“Because little Spider has scalded herself in the beer-tub,” replied -she. - -Thereupon the door began to creak as if it were in pain; and a broom, -which stood in the corner, asked, “What are you creaking for, door?” - -“May I not creak?” it replied: - - “The little Spider’s scalt herself, - And the Flea weeps.” - -So the broom began to sweep industriously, and presently a little cart -came by, and asked the reason. “May I not sweep?” replied the broom: - - “The little Spider’s scalt herself, - And the Flea weeps; - The little door creaks with the pain,”— - -Thereupon the little cart said: “So will I run,” and began to run very -fast, past a heap of ashes, which cried out: “Why do you run, little -cart?” - -“Because,” replied the cart: - - “The little Spider’s scalt herself, - And the Flea weeps; - The little door creaks with the pain, - And the broom sweeps.” - -“Then,” said the ashes, “I will burn furiously.” Now, next the ashes -there grew a tree, which asked: “Little heap, why do you burn?” - -“Because,” was the reply: - - “The little Spider’s scalt herself, - And the Flea weeps; - The little door creaks with the pain, - And the broom sweeps; - The little cart runs on so fast,”— - -Thereupon the tree cried, “I will shake myself!” and went on shaking -till all its leaves fell off. - -A little girl passing by with a water-pitcher saw it shaking, and asked: -“Why do you shake yourself, little tree?” - -“Why may I not?” said the tree: - - “The little Spider’s scalt herself, - And the Flea weeps; - The little door creaks with the pain, - And the broom sweeps; - The little cart runs on so fast, - And the ashes burn.” - -Then the maiden said: “If so, I will break my pitcher”; and she threw it -down and broke it. - -At this the streamlet, from which she drew the water, asked: “Why do you -break your pitcher, my little girl?” - -“Why may I not?” she replied; for - - “The little Spider’s scalt herself, - And the Flea weeps; - The little door creaks with the pain, - And the broom sweeps; - The little cart runs on so fast, - And the ashes burn; - The little tree shakes down its leaves— - Now it is my turn!” - -“Ah, then,” said the streamlet, “now must I begin to flow.” And it -flowed and flowed along, in a great stream, which kept getting bigger -and bigger, until at last it swallowed up the little girl, the little -tree, the ashes, the cart, the broom, the door, the Flea, and, last of -all, the Spider, all together. - - - - - _The Little Shepherd Boy_ - - -Once upon a time there was a little shepherd boy who was famed far and -wide for the wise answers which he gave to all questions. Now the king -of the country heard of this lad, but he would not believe what was said -about him, so the boy was ordered to come to court. When he arrived the -king said to him: “If you can give me answers to each of the three -questions which I will now put to you, I will bring you up as my own -child, and you shall live here with me in my palace.” - -“What are these three questions?” asked the boy. - -“The first is, How many drops of water are there in the sea?” - -“My lord king,” replied the shepherd boy, “let all the waters be stopped -up on the earth, so that not one drop shall run into the sea before I -count it, and then I will tell you how many drops there are in the sea!” - -“The second question,” said the king, “is: How many stars are there in -the sky?” - -“Give me a large sheet of paper,” said the boy; and then he made in it -with a pin so many minute holes that they were far too numerous to see -or to count, and dazzled the eyes of whomsoever looked at them. This -done, he said: “So many stars are there in the sky as there are holes in -this paper; now count them.” But nobody was able. Thereupon the king -said: “The third question is: How many seconds are there in eternity?” - -“In Lower Pomerania is situate the adamantine mountain, one mile in -height, one mile in breadth, and one mile deep; and thither comes a bird -once in every thousand years which rubs its beak against the hill, and, -when the whole shall be rubbed away, then will the first second of -eternity be gone by.” - -“You have answered the three questions like a sage,” said the king, “and -from henceforward you shall live with me in my palace, and I will treat -you as my own child.” - - - - - _The Seven Swabians_ - - -There were once seven Swabians in company, the first of whom was named -Schulz, the second Jacky, the third Marli, the fourth Jergli, the fifth -Michael, the sixth Hans, and the seventh Veitli; and they all were -traveling in search of adventures, and for the performance of mighty -deeds. In order that they might not be without protection, they thought -fit to carry along with them a very long and strong pole. Upon this they -all seven held, and in front the boldest and most courageous man, who -was Schulz, walked, while the others followed behind, and Veitli was -last. - -One day in July, after they had traveled some distance, and had nearly -entered the village where they intended to pass the night, it happened -that just as they came to a large meadow a hornet or dragon-fly flew out -from behind a bush and hummed about the travelers in a warlike manner. -Schulz was frightened and almost let go the pole, and the perspiration -stood all over his body from terror. “Listen, listen!” he cried to his -companions; “I hear a trumpeting!” Jacky, who was last but one in the -row, and had got I know not what into his nose, exclaimed: “Something -certainly is at hand, for I can smell brimstone and powder!” At these -words Schulz sprang over a hedge, in a trice, in his haste to escape, -and, happening to alight on the prongs of a rake which was left in the -field by the haymakers, the handle sprang up and gave him an awkward -blow on the forehead. “Oh! oh! oh! woe is me!” cried Schulz; “take me -prisoner, I give myself up, I surrender!” The six others thereupon -jumped over the hedge too, and cried likewise: “We surrender if you -surrender! we surrender if you surrender!” - -At length, when they found no enemy came to bind and take them away, -they saw they were deceived, and in order that the tale might not be -told of them among the villagers, and they get laughed at and mocked, -they took an oath among themselves never to say anything about it unless -any one of them should open his mouth unawares. - -After this adventure they went farther, but the second danger they met -with must not be compared with the first. For after several days had -elapsed their road chanced to lead them through an unplowed field where -a hare was lying prone in the sun, with his ears pricked up to catch -every sound, and his large, glossy eyes wide open. The seven Swabians -were terribly frightened at the sight of this frightful, ferocious -animal, and they took counsel together what would be the least dangerous -plan to adopt, for if they fled away it was to be feared that the -monster would pursue them and cut them to pieces. So they resolved to -stand and have a great battle; for, said they, “Bravely dared is half -won!” All seven, therefore, grasped hold of their spear, Schulz being -among the foremost and Veitli hindmost. But Schulz wanted to have the -spear himself, whereupon Veitli flew into a passion and broke away. - -Then the rest advanced together upon the dragon, but first Schulz -crossed himself devoutly and invoked the assistance of Heaven. Then he -marched on, but as he approached the enemy he felt very fearful and -cried in great terror: “Han! hurlehau! han! hauhel!” This awoke the -hare, who sprang away quite frightened, and when Schulz saw it flee, he -jumped for joy and shouted: - - “Zounds, friends, what fools we are! - The frightful beast is but a hare!” - -After they had recovered from their fright the seven Swabians sought new -adventures, and by and by they arrived at the River Moselle, a smooth -and deep water, over which there are not many bridges; so that one must -cross in boats to the other side. The seven Swabians, however, were -ignorant of this, and they therefore shouted to a man who was working on -the other side of the river and asked him how they were to pass over. -But the man did not understand what they said on account of the distance -and his ignorance of their language, and so he asked in his dialect: -“Wat? wat?” With this Schulz imagined the man said, “Wade, wade through -the stream”; and, being foremost on the bank, he jumped into the river -and began to walk across. Soon he got out of his depth and sank in the -deep, driving current; but his hat was carried by the wind to the -opposite shore. As it reached there a frog perched himself on it, and -croaked: “Wat! wat! wat!” This noise the six other Swabians, who then -reached the bank, heard, and they said to one another: “Listen! does not -Schulz call us? Well, if he could wade across we can also.” With these -words each one jumped into the river, but they also all sank; and so it -happened that the frog caused the death of six Swabians, for nobody has -heard of or seen them ever since. - - - - - _The Shreds_ - - -Once upon a time there was a maiden who was very pretty, but lazy and -careless. When she used to spin, she was so impatient that, if there -chanced to be a little knot in the thread, she snapped off a long bit -with it and threw the pieces down on the ground near her. Now she had a -servant girl, who was industrious, and used to gather together the -shreds of thread, clean them, and weave them, till she made herself a -dress with them. - -A certain young man had fallen in love with this lazy maiden; and their -wedding-day was appointed. On the evening before, the industrious -servant girl kept dancing about in her fine dress, till the bride -exclaimed: - - “Ah! how the girl does jump about, - Dressed in my shreds and leavings!” - -When the bridegroom heard this, he asked the bride what she meant, and -she told him that the maid had worked herself a dress with the shreds of -thread which she had thrown away. As soon as the bridegroom heard this, -and saw the difference between the laziness of his intended and the -industry of her servant, he gave up the mistress and chose the maid for -his wife. - - - - - _The Wolf and the Seven Kids_ - - -There was once an old nanny-goat who had seven kids, and she was just as -fond of them as a mother of her children. One day she was going into the -woods to fetch some food for them, so she called them all up to her, and -said: - -“My dear children, I am going out into the woods. Beware of the wolf! If -once he gets into the house, he will eat you up, skin, and hair, and -all. The rascal often disguises himself, but you will know him by his -rough voice and his black feet.” - -The kids said: “Oh, we will be very careful, dear mother. You may be -quite happy about us.” - -Bleating tenderly, the old goat went off to her work. Before long, some -one knocked at the door, and cried: - -“Open the door, dear children! Your mother has come back and brought -something for each of you.” - -But the kids knew quite well by the voice that it was the wolf. - -“We won’t open the door!” they cried. “You are not our mother. She has a -soft, gentle voice; but yours is rough, and we are quite sure that you -are the wolf.” - -So he went away to a shop and bought a lump of chalk, which he ate, and -it made his voice quite soft. He went back, knocked at the door again, -and cried: - -“Open the door, dear children. Your mother has come back and brought -something for each of you.” - -But the wolf had put one of his paws on the window-sill, where the kids -saw it, and cried: - -“We won’t open the door. Our mother has not got a black foot as you -have; you are the wolf.” - -Then the wolf ran to a baker and said: “I have bruised my foot; please -put some dough on it.” And when the baker had put some dough on his -foot, he ran to the miller and said: “Strew some flour on my foot.” - -The miller thought, “The old wolf is going to take somebody in,” and -refused. - -But the wolf said: “If you don’t do it, I will eat you up.” - -So the miller was frightened, and whitened the wolf’s paws. People are -like that, you know. - -Now the wretch went for the third time to the door, and knocked and -said: - -“Open the door, children. Your dear mother has come home, and has -brought something for each of you out of the wood.” - -The kids cried: “Show us your feet first, that we may be sure you are -our mother.” - -He put his paws on the window-sill, and when the kids saw that these -were white, they believed all he said and opened the door. - -Alas! it was the wolf who walked in. They were terrified, and tried to -hide themselves. One ran under the table, the second jumped into bed, -the third into the oven, the fourth ran into the kitchen, the fifth got -into the cupboard, the sixth into the washtub, and the seventh hid in -the tall clock-case. But the wolf found them all but one, and made short -work of them. He swallowed one after the other, except the youngest one -in the clock-case, whom he did not find. When he had satisfied his -appetite, he took himself off, and lay down in a meadow outside, where -he soon fell asleep. - -Not long after the old nanny-goat came back from the woods. Oh, what a -terrible sight met her eyes! The house door was wide open, table, -chairs, and benches were overturned, the washing-bowl was smashed to -atoms, the covers and pillows torn from the bed. She searched all over -the house for her children, but nowhere were they to be found. She -called them by name, one by one, but no one answered. At last, when she -came to the youngest, a tiny voice cried: - -“I am here, dear mother, hidden in the clock-case.” - -She brought him out, and he told her that the wolf had come and devoured -all the others. - -You may imagine how she wept over her children. - -At last, in her grief, she went out, and the youngest kid ran by her -side. When they went into the meadow, there lay the wolf under a tree, -making the branches shake with his snores. They examined him from every -side, and they could plainly see movements within his distended body. - -“Ah, heavens!” thought the goat, “is it possible that my poor children, -whom he ate for his supper, should be still alive?” - -She sent the kid running to the house to fetch scissors, needles, and -thread. Then she cut a hole in the monster’s side, and, hardly had she -begun, when a kid popped out its head, and as soon as the hole was big -enough, all six jumped out, one after the other, all alive, and without -having suffered the least injury, for, in his greed, the monster had -swallowed them whole. You may imagine the mother’s joy. She hugged them, -and skipped about like a tailor on his wedding day. At last she said: - -“Go and fetch some big stones, children, and we will fill up the greedy -beast’s body while he is asleep.” - -Then the seven kids brought a lot of stones, as fast as they could carry -them, and stuffed the wolf with them till he could hold no more. The old -mother quickly sewed him up, without his having noticed anything, or -even moved. - -At last, when the wolf had had his sleep out, and got upon his legs, he -found he was very thirsty, and wished to go to the spring to drink. But -as soon as he began to move, the stones began to tumble about in his -body, and he cried out: - - “What rattles, what rattles - Against my poor bones? - Surely not little goats, - But only big stones!” - -And when he came to the brook he stooped down to drink, and the heavy -stones made him lose his balance so that he fell, and sank beneath the -water. - -As soon as the seven little goats saw this, they came running up, -singing aloud, “The wolf is dead! the wolf is dead!” and they danced for -joy around their mother by the side of the brook. - - - - - _The Elves and the Shoemaker_ - - -There was once a shoemaker who, through no fault of his own, had become -so poor that at last he had only leather enough left for one pair of -shoes. At evening he cut out the shoes which he intended to begin upon -the next morning, and since he had a good conscience, he lay down -quietly, said his prayers, and fell asleep. - -In the morning when he had prayed, as usual, and was preparing to sit -down to work, he found the pair of shoes standing finished on his table. -He was amazed, and could not understand it in the least. - -He took the shoes in his hand to examine them more closely. They were so -neatly sewn that not a stitch was out of place, and were as good as the -work of a master-hand. - -Soon after a purchaser came in, and as he was much pleased with the -shoes, he paid more than the ordinary price for them, so that the -shoemaker was able to buy leather for two pairs with the money. - -He cut them out in the evening, and next day, with fresh courage was -about to go to work; but he had no need to, for when he got up, the -shoes were finished, and buyers were not lacking. These gave him so much -money that he was able to buy leather for four pairs of shoes. - -Early next morning he found the four pairs finished, and so it went on; -what he cut out at evening was finished in the morning, so that he was -soon again in comfortable circumstances, and became a well-to-do man. - -Now it happened one evening, not long before Christmas, when he had cut -out shoes as usual, that he said to his wife: “How would it be if we -were to sit up to-night to see who it is that lends us such a helping -hand?” - -The wife agreed, lighted a candle, and they hid themselves in the corner -of the room behind the clothes which were hanging there. - -At midnight came two little naked men, who sat down at the shoemaker’s -table, took up the cut-out work, and began with their tiny fingers to -stitch, sew, and hammer so neatly and quickly, that the shoemaker could -not believe his eyes. They did not stop till everything was quite -finished, and stood complete on the table; then they ran swiftly away. - -The next day the wife said: “The little men have made us rich, and we -ought to show our gratitude. They run about with nothing on, and must -freeze with cold. Now I will make them little shirts, coats, waistcoats, -and hose, and will even knit them stout stockings, and you shall make -them each a pair of shoes.” - -The husband agreed, and at evening, when they had everything ready, they -laid out the presents on the table, and hid themselves to see how the -little men would behave. - -At midnight they came skipping in, and were about to set to work; but, -instead of the leather ready cut out, they found the charming little -clothes. - -At first they were surprised, then excessively delighted. With the -greatest speed they put on and smoothed down the pretty clothes, -singing: - - “Now we’re dressed so fine and neat, - Why cobble more for others’ feet?” - -Then they hopped and danced about, and leaped over chairs and tables and -out at the door. Henceforward, they came back no more, but the shoemaker -fared well as long as he lived, and had good luck in all his -undertakings. - - - - - _King Wren_ - - -Once upon a time the cuckoo gave a big tea-party. It was a grand affair, -I can tell you. Every bird of note was present, from the eagle down to -the sparrow. All the finches were there, the larks, crows, and swallows; -so how they managed to seat them all is more than I can tell. - -Now, the cuckoo was a wise old bird, and she never took a step of this -sort without a reason. You sometimes hear people say, “As silly as a -cuckoo,” but you may take my word for it, it is only because they know -nothing at all about her. - -Well, a bright idea had occurred to the cuckoo, and it was just this: -She thought it was high time the birds chose a king of their own. If -they had a king, you see, they might in time be able to have a “Court -Circular,” which would sound very grand. Besides, who knew but that in -the future some of her own family might even marry royalty? Yes, it was -a good idea, she thought, but the other birds would have to be consulted -first. - -So she gave a big tea-party, and fed them all up with the finest worms -and dainties to be had, just to put them into a good temper. - -Even the hungry sparrow finished eating at last—and you have no idea -what his appetite was like!—and then the cuckoo broke the news gently -that she thought they ought to have a king to manage their affairs for -them. - -Now this caused no end of commotion. And there they sat—fathers, -mothers, uncles, and cousins, all talking away at the same time. - -Just then the cock and hen passed by, taking a little airing. - -You must know that they had heard nothing about the teaparty. They were -just the cock and hen, and it did not matter much what they thought; so -they did not get an invitation. - -“Wat! wat!” cried the hen, when she heard the dreadful din. Of course -the cock understood her language, and knew that she was asking what was -going on. - -“I’ll find out, my dear,” he answered, and he inquired from a fat, green -frog. - -“They want to choose a king over the birds,” he told the hen, a minute -after. - -“Stuff and nonsense!” clucked the hen; only it did not sound quite like -that, because she spoke in her own language, you see. - -Well, the end of it all was that everybody was in favor of a king, save -the plover, and he cried: “I have been free all my life, and I’ll die -free!” Then away he flew to a dismal swamp, and was seen no more. - -So they agreed to meet again next morning, if it was fine. Their king -was to be the bird who could fly higher than all the rest, and they -wanted a fine day so that nobody could say afterward, “I could have -flown much higher, only it was so windy,” or something of the sort. - -The next day was perfect, so they all gathered together in a big meadow. -When the cuckoo had counted “Three,” they all rose up with one accord -into the air, making such a cloud of dust that for a moment you could -not see a thing. - -Higher and higher they flew, but one by one the little birds had to give -up, and in the end the eagle was the only bird left flying, and he -looked as though he had reached the sun itself. - -But a tiny little bird had joined them unasked, and he had not even a -name. - -Nobody noticed him hide himself among the feathers in the eagle’s back; -so when the cuckoo had counted three, up he went with the rest, although -they did not know it. - -Now, when the eagle saw that all the others had given up, he, too, began -to descend. Then out flew the little bird without a name, and up he -went, much higher still. - -“I am king! I am king!” cried the eagle, when he reached the ground. - -“Not at all,” replied the little bird without a name, “for I have flown -higher still,” and then down he came. - -“I am king! I am king!” he chirped, as soon as he got his breath again. - -“You crafty little creature!” they shouted, with one voice. “We will -have another test, and a fair one this time.” - -So the bird who could fall deepest into the earth was to be their king, -they said. - -Well, the cock set to work and began to grub a hole in the ground, while -the duck jumped down into a grave; but unluckily she sprained her foot, -and she waddled off, saying: “Bad work! Bad work!” - -But the little bird without a name crept right into a mouse-hole, and -cried shrilly: - -“I am king! I am king!” - -“Then we will show you how we treat our royalty!” cried the angry birds. -“We will keep you in the mouse-hole and starve you.” - -So they set the owl to keep watch over the hole during the night, and if -he let the bird go he was to be put to death on the spot. The others -were all so tired and weary that they flew home and went to bed. - -Now, when he had stared into the hole for two whole hours, the poor owl -began to feel very sleepy. So he went to sleep with one eye and watched -intently with the other, and all went well for a time. But as luck would -have it, when he shut one eye, after a while, he forgot to open the -other, and you may be sure the little bird without a name soon made his -escape from his prison. - -After that the poor owl never dared show his face again by day, for fear -the birds should put him to death. He flies about all night long, and he -is a great enemy of the little mice because they make such—to -him—unfortunate holes. - -As for that little bird without a name, he did not feel very safe -either, so he always hid in the hedges, and when he felt pretty secure -he would cry out: “I am king! I am king!” - -In time the other birds grew to call him the “Hedge king,” just for -scorn, and that means “Wren.” That is how he came by his name. - - - - - _Why the Bear has a Stumpy Tail_ - - -One winter’s day the bear met the fox, who came slinking along with a -string of fish he had stolen. - -“Hi! stop a minute! Where did you get those from?” demanded the bear. - -“Oh, my lord Bruin, I’ve been out fishing and caught them,” said the -fox. - -So the bear had a mind to learn to fish, too, and bade the fox tell him -how he was to set about it. - -“Oh, it is quite easy,” answered the fox, “and soon learned. You’ve only -got to go upon the ice, and cut a hole and stick your tail down through -it, and hold it there as long as you can. You’re not to mind if it -smarts a little; that’s when the fish bite. The longer you hold it -there, the more fish you’ll get; and then all at once out with it, with -a cross pull sideways and a strong pull, too.” - -Well, the bear did as the fox said, and though he felt very cold, and -his tail smarted very much, he kept it a long, long time down in the -hole, till at last it was frozen in, though of course he did not know -that. Then he pulled it out with a strong pull, and it snapped short -off, and that’s why Bruin goes about with a stumpy tail to this day! - - - - - _Three Ways to Build a House_ - - -There was once upon a time a pig who lived with her three children in a -large, comfortable, old-fashioned farmyard. The eldest of the little -pigs was called Browny, the second Whity, and the youngest and -best-looking, Blacky. Now, Browny was a very dirty little pig, and I am -sorry to say spent most of his time rolling and wallowing about in the -mud. He was never so happy as on a wet day, when the mud in the farmyard -was soft and thick and smooth. Then he would steal away from his -mother’s side, and finding the muddiest place in the yard, would roll -about in it and thoroughly enjoy himself. His mother often found fault -with him for this and would shake her head sadly and say: “Ah, Browny! -some day you will be sorry that you did not obey your old mother.” But -no words of advice or warning could cure Browny of his bad habits. - -Whity was quite a clever little pig, but she was greedy. She was always -thinking of her food and looking forward to her dinner; and when the -farm girl was seen carrying the pails across the yard, she would rise up -on her hind legs and dance and caper with excitement. As soon as the -food was poured into the trough she jostled Blacky and Browny out of the -way in her eagerness to get the best and biggest bits for herself. Her -mother often scolded her for her selfishness, and told her that some day -she would suffer for being so greedy. - -Blacky was a nice little pig, neither dirty nor greedy. He had nice -dainty ways, for a pig, and his skin was always as smooth and shining as -black satin. He was much cleverer than either Browny or Whity, and his -mother’s heart used to swell with pride when she heard the farmer’s -friends say to each other that some day the little black fellow would be -a prize pig. - -Now, the time came when the mother pig felt old and feeble and near her -end. One day she called the three little pigs around her and said: - -“My children, I feel that I am growing old and weak and that I shall not -live long. Before I die I should like to build a house for each of you, -as this dear old sty in which we have lived so happily will be given to -a new family of pigs, and you will have to turn out. Now, Browny, what -sort of a house would you like to have?” - -“A house of mud,” replied Browny, looking longingly at a wet puddle in -the corner of the yard. - -“And you, Whity?” said the mother pig in rather a sad voice, for she was -disappointed that Browny had made so foolish a choice. - -“A house of cabbage,” answered Whity, with a mouth full, and scarcely -raising her snout out of the trough in which she was grubbing for some -potato parings. - -“Foolish, foolish child!” said the mother pig, looking quite distressed. -“And you, Blacky,” turning to her youngest son, “what sort of a house -shall I order for you?” - -“A house of brick, please, mother, as it will be warm in winter, cool in -summer, and safe all the year round.” - -“That is a sensible little pig,” replied his mother, looking fondly at -him. “I will see that the three houses are made ready at once. And now -one last piece of advice. You have heard me talk of our old enemy, the -fox. When he hears that I am dead he is sure to try and get hold of you, -to carry you off to his den. He is very sly, and will no doubt disguise -himself and pretend to be a friend, but you must promise me not to let -him enter your houses on any pretext whatever,” and the little pigs -readily promised, for they had always had a great fear of the fox, of -whom they had heard many terrible tales. - -A short time afterward the old pig died, and the little pigs went to -live in their own houses. Browny was quite delighted with his soft mud -walls and with the clay floor, which soon looked like nothing but a big -mud pie. But that was what Browny enjoyed, and he was as happy as -possible, rolling about all day and making himself exceedingly dirty. -One day, as he was lying half asleep in the mud, he heard a soft knock -at his door and a gentle voice said: - -“May I come in, Master Browny? I want to see your beautiful new house.” - -“Who are you?” said Browny, starting up in great fright, for though the -voice sounded gentle, he felt sure it was a feigned voice and he feared -it was the fox. - -“I am a friend come to call on you,” answered the voice. - -“No, no,” replied Browny, “I don’t believe you are a friend. You are the -wicked fox, against whom our mother warned us. I won’t let you in.” - -“Oho! is that the way you answer me?” said the fox, speaking very -roughly in his natural voice. “We shall soon see who is master here,” -and with his paws he set to work and scraped a large hole in the soft -mud walls. A moment later he had jumped through it, and catching Browny -by the neck, flung him on his shoulders and trotted off with him to his -den. - -The next day, as Whity was munching a few leaves of cabbage out of the -corner of her house, the fox stole up to her door, determined to carry -her off to join her brother in his den. He began speaking to her in the -same feigned, gentle voice in which he had spoken to Browny; but it -frightened her very much when he said: - -“I am a friend come to visit you and to have some of your good cabbage -for my dinner.” - -“Please don’t touch it,” cried Whity in great distress. “The cabbages -are the walls of my house, and if you eat them you will make a hole, and -the wind and rain will come in and give me a cold. Do go away. I am sure -you are not a friend, but our wicked enemy the fox.” And poor Whity -began to whine and to whimper, and to wish that she had not been such a -greedy little pig and had chosen a more solid material than cabbages for -her house. But it was too late now, and in another minute the fox had -eaten his way through the cabbage walls and had caught the trembling, -shivering Whity and carried her off to his den. - -The next day the fox started off for Blacky’s house, because he had made -up his mind that he would get the three little pigs together in his den, -then kill them, and invite all his friends to a feast. But when he -reached the brick house he found that the door was bolted and barred, so -in his sly manner he began: “Do let me in, dear Blacky. I have brought -you a present of some eggs that I picked up in a farmyard on my way -here.” - -“No, no, Mr. Fox,” replied Blacky, “I am not going to open my door to -you. I know your cunning ways. You have carried off poor Browny and -Whity, but you are not going to get me.” - -At this the fox was so angry that he dashed with all his force against -the wall and tried to knock it down. But it was too strong and well -built; and though the fox scraped and tore at the bricks with his paws -he only hurt himself, and at last he had to give it up and limp away -with his fore paws all bleeding and sore. - -“Never mind!” he cried angrily as he went off. “I’ll catch you another -day, see if I don’t; and won’t I grind your bones to powder when I have -got you in my den!” And he snarled fiercely and showed his teeth. - -Next day Blacky had to go into the neighboring town to do some marketing -and to buy a big kettle. As he was walking home with it slung over his -shoulder he heard a sound of steps stealthily creeping after him. For a -moment his heart stood still with fear, and then a happy thought came to -him. He had just reached the top of a hill, and could see his own little -house nestling at the foot of it among the trees. In a moment he had -snatched the lid off the kettle and had jumped in himself. Coiling -himself round he lay quite snug in the bottom of the kettle, while with -his foreleg he managed to put the lid on, so that he was entirely -hidden. With a little kick from the inside he started the kettle off, -and down the hill it rolled full tilt; and when the fox came up, all -that he saw was a large black kettle spinning over the ground at a great -pace. Very much disappointed, he was just going to turn away when he saw -the kettle stop close to the little brick house, and in a moment Blacky -jumped out of it and escaped with it safely inside, when he barred and -bolted the door and put the shutter up over the window. - -“Oho!” exclaimed the fox to himself, “you think you will escape me that -way, do you? We shall soon see about that, my friend,” and very quietly -and stealthily he prowled round the house looking for some way to climb -on to the roof. - -In the mean time Blacky had filled the kettle with water, and having put -it on the fire, sat down quietly waiting for it to boil. Just as the -kettle was beginning to sing and steam to come out of the spout he heard -a sound like a soft, muffled step, patter, patter, patter overhead, and -the next moment the fox’s head and forepaws were seen coming down the -chimney. But Blacky very wisely had not put the lid on the kettle, and -with a yelp of pain the fox fell into the boiling water, and before he -could escape Blacky had popped the lid on and the fox was scalded to -death. - -As soon as he was sure that their wicked enemy was really dead and could -do them no further harm, Blacky started off to rescue Browny and Whity. -As he approached the den he heard piteous grunts and squeals from his -poor little brother and sister, who lived in constant terror of the fox -killing and eating them, but when they saw Blacky appear at the entrance -to the den their joy knew no bounds. He quickly found a sharp stone and -cut the cords by which they were tied to a stake in the ground, and then -all three started off together for Blacky’s house, where they lived -happily ever after; and Browny quite gave up rolling in the mud and -Whity ceased to be greedy, for they never forgot how nearly these faults -had brought them to an untimely end. - - - - - _How to Tell a True Princess_ - - -There was once upon a time a prince who wanted to marry a princess, but -she must be a true princess. So he traveled through the whole world to -find one, but there was always something against each. There were plenty -of princesses, but he could not find out if they were true princesses. -In every case there was some little defect, which showed the genuine -article was not yet found. So he came home again in very low spirits, -for he had wanted very much to have a true princess. One night there was -a dreadful storm; it thundered and lightened and the rain streamed down -in torrents. It was fearful! There was a knocking heard at the palace -gate, and the old king went to open it. - -There stood a princess outside the gate; but oh, in what a sad plight -she was from the rain and the storm! The water was running down from her -hair and her dress into the points of her shoes and out at the heels -again. And yet she said she was a true princess! - -“Well, we shall soon find that!” thought the old queen. But she said -nothing and went into the sleeping-room, took off all the bedclothes, -and laid a pea on the bottom of the bed. Then she put twenty mattresses -on top of the pea and twenty eider-down quilts on the top of the -mattresses. And this was the bed in which the princess was to sleep. - -The next morning she was asked how she had slept. - -“Oh, very badly!” said the princess. “I scarcely closed my eyes all -night! I am sure I don’t know what was in the bed. I lay on something so -hard that my whole body is black and blue. It is dreadful!” - -Now they perceived that she was a true princess, because she had felt -the pea through the twenty mattresses and the twenty eider-down quilts. - -No one but a true princess could be so sensitive. - -So the prince married her, for now he knew that at last he had got hold -of a true princess. And the pea was put into the Royal Museum, where it -is still to be seen if no one has stolen it. Now, this is a true story. - - - - - _The Five Servants_ - - -Once upon a time, in a country far away, there lived and ruled an old -queen who had such a wicked heart that she was not happy unless she was -working evil to others. She had one daughter who was very beautiful, and -whom she made use of to further her own evil plans; for, whenever a -suitor came to apply for her hand, the old queen set him an impossible -task, and chopped off his head without any pity when he could not -perform it. - -Now, in another country there lived a young prince who had heard of this -lovely girl, and he begged his father to let him go and try his luck. - -“Not a bit of it,” said the king. “You would only lose your head like -the rest.” - -But the prince was very anxious to go, and when he found his father was -firm, he fell ill and took to his bed for seven years, and not all the -doctors in the land could make him well again or restore his fallen -spirits. Then the father knew that the lad must die, unless he was -allowed to have his own way, so he said: - -“Get up, my son, and try your fate.” - -At these joyful words the boy jumped out of bed, quite recovered, and -you may be sure it was not long before he was ready for his journey and -on the road. - -One day, as he was swinging along over hill and dale, and fern and -brake, he saw a great big thing lying by the roadside. At first he -thought it was a huge animal, but as he drew nearer he saw that it was -really an enormously fat man, who was as round and jolly as you can -imagine. Seeing the traveler, he rose to his feet, and I do believe the -earth trembled as he did so. - -“If you are in need of a servant, take me, and you will not repent,” he -said, pulling off his cap and bowing. - -“Why, whatever should I do with such a fat fellow as you?” answered the -prince. - -“If I were three thousand times as fat it would not matter, so long as I -served you well,” said the man. - -“Hum! well, that is very true,” replied the prince. “You may come along, -and I dare say I shall be able to put you to some use.” - -So they journeyed on together, and presently they came upon a man lying -with his ear pressed to the ground. - -“What are you doing?” asked the prince. - -“I am listening,” answered the man. “I can hear everything that is going -on in the world, even the growing of the grass.” - -“Ah,” said the prince, “then you can tell me what you hear in the palace -of the old queen.” - -“I hear the cutting off of a suitor’s head.” - -“Come with me, then,” said the prince, “for I can see that you will be -useful.” - -A little farther on they came upon a pair of legs lying stretched on the -grass, but they were so long that the travelers had to walk an hour -before they came to the body, and then nearly another hour before they -reached the head. - -“Well, what a long strip of a chap you are!” said the prince. - -“Why, master, you have only seen me when I am lying down,” replied the -man. “Just you wait till I stand up. I am thrice as tall as the highest -mountain you have ever seen on your travels. Just let me come and be -your servant, and I promise that you will find me useful.” - -“Willingly,” answered the prince. - -Then they all went on their way again till they came to a wood, and here -they found a man who, though he was lying in the full heat of the sun, -was shivering and shaking so that it was a wonder his teeth did not fall -out of his head. - -“Why, my good man,” said the prince, “what makes you shiver so on this -hot day?” - -“Alas!” groaned the man, “the hotter the day the colder I am; the sun -freezes the very marrow in my bones; and when it is what you call cold, -I begin to grow hot, so that I nearly burn to death. I cannot bear cold -because it is so hot, nor heat because it is so cold.” - -“Well, you are an odd fellow,” said the prince. “Suppose you get up and -join my train?” So the man agreed. - -The next man they met was standing in a field turning his head from side -to side in a way that made your neck ache to watch him. - -“What are you looking for?” asked the prince. - -“I am looking for nothing,” answered the man. “But I have such keen -sight that I can see all over the world, through woods and forests, and -hills and mountains; nothing can escape my eyes.” - -“Well,” said the prince, “if you are willing to take service, join my -train, for I have need of such as you.” - -Then they all journeyed on together in a very merry fashion, for the -prince was light-hearted at the thought of his beautiful bride that was -to be. You see, he had quite made up his mind to get the better of the -wicked queen. Soon they reached the palace, and the prince presented -himself to the queen, and said: - -“I am come to ask the hand of your daughter in marriage. Set me what -task you like, so long as I may marry her when it is done.” - -“Three tasks I will set you,” said the queen, “and when they are done -you shall be her husband. First, you must find me the ring that I have -dropped in the sea near the palace.” - -The prince went home to his servants, and said: - -“Now is your chance to prove your worth. You must find me a ring that -lies at the bottom of the sea.” - -“I will see where it lies,” said the keen-sighted one; and suddenly he -shouted: “There it is; it lies on a rock at the bottom of the waves!” - -“I would soon fetch it, if I could see it,” said the long man. - -“I can arrange that,” chimed in the fat one, and he lay down beside the -sea and began to drink. - -And he drank and drank till the sea disappeared, and the bottom lay -stretched out before them as dry as a meadow. Then the long man took one -stride, and picked up the ring and brought it to the prince. - -The old queen was very much surprised to see the ring, but she concealed -her annoyance, and, leading the youth to the window, said: - -“In yonder field a hundred fat oxen are feeding. You must eat them all -before noon, and, in case you are thirsty, you must drink the contents -of the hundred casks of wine that are in the cellar.” - -“Certainly,” said the youth, cheerfully. “But I should like to invite a -friend to eat with me.” - -“Oh, by all means,” replied the old hag, with a smile. - -So the prince went to his friends and told them the news. - -“You will help me to-day?” he said, turning to the fat man; “and for -once you will have a good meal.” - -So they went straightway to the field where the oxen were, and in no -time at all the fat man had gobbled up every one, and still looked -hungry. Then the prince took him down to the cellar, and he quenched his -thirst with the hundred casks of wine. - -Again the youth presented himself to the witch, and astonished her with -the news that the task was done. - -“Oho! my fine fellow,” she grumbled to herself, “I will catch you yet. - -“To-night,” she added aloud, “I will bring the princess and leave her to -sit with you; but beware lest you fall asleep, for if I come at twelve -and find the princess gone, you are a lost man!” - -“That does not sound difficult,” thought the prince. “Surely I can keep -awake, if I want to.” - -So he told his servants what the third task was to be, and they all -agreed that a watch had better be kept, lest the old woman should play -some trick. - -At nightfall the old queen brought her daughter to the prince’s house -and returned to the palace. As soon as she was gone, the long man wound -himself around the house; the listener lay with his ear to the ground; -the fat one stood in the doorway, completely blocking the entrance, and -the keen-eyed one kept watch. Within sat the princess, silent as a -statue, the moonlight lighting up her beautiful face with a radiant -glory, so that the prince could only gaze at her in awe and wonder. So -far it was well; but at half past eleven a spell, cast by the old queen, -fell on them all, and they slept, and immediately the princess was -spirited away. - -At a quarter to twelve the spell lost its power, and they awoke to -discover what a calamity had fallen upon them. - -“Oh, woe is me! woe is me!” cried the prince. “What can save us now?” -and the faithful servants wept in unison. - -Suddenly the listener said: - -“Hark! be still, and I will listen.” - -They were quiet at once, and he listened for a moment. - -“I hear her bewailing her fate!” he cried. - -Then the keen-sighted man turned his head from side to side and cried -joyfully: - -“I see her sitting on a rock, three hundred miles away. Our long friend -can reach her in two strides.” - -“Willingly,” cried the man, and he was up and at the foot of the rock -before the others could look round. He took the princess in his arms, -and she was back in the prince’s house just one moment before twelve, -and they all sat down together and rejoiced. - -As the clock struck twelve, the old queen came creeping along, looking -very spiteful, as she thought she had really won this time; for was not -her daughter three hundred miles away? She was not, as we know, and when -the queen saw this she felt so angry she would like to have ordered all -their heads to be chopped off. - -“There must be some one here who is cleverer than I!” she screamed, and -then she fell to crying, but it was of no use. The prince was firm as a -rock, and she had to consent to the wedding; but she whispered to her -daughter: - -“His servants have done everything for him. Aren’t you ashamed to have a -husband who can do nothing at all for himself?” - -The daughter had a proud and haughty temper, and her pride began to rise -up angrily. So next day she commanded three hundred loads of wood to be -brought and piled up in the palace yard and set alight. Then she told -the prince that he had performed the tasks only by the help of his -servants, and before she would marry him some one must sit upon the -woodpile and stay there till it was burned out; for she thought no -servant would do so much for him, and he surely would have to do this -himself. However, she was wrong, for the freezing man claimed this as -his share of the work, and he mounted the woodpile without delay. - -For three days and three nights it blazed away, till only ashes were -left, and there stood the freezing man shivering like a jelly. - -“If it had burned much longer, I should have been benumbed with the -cold,” he said, with chattering teeth. - -Now, the princess saw that she could delay no longer, so they set off to -the church, but the queen made yet another attempt to prevent the -wedding. She called her attendants, and sent them to waylay the party -and kill every one but the princess. However, the listener had been -keeping his ears open, and he heard this order; so they put on more -speed and reached the church first, and were married. At the church door -the five servants took leave of their master and went out into the world -to try their fortune alone. - -The prince and his wife set forth on their homeward journey, and at the -end of the first day they came upon a village where a swineherd stood -feeding his pigs. - -“Do you know who I am?” said the prince to his wife. “Yonder man is my -father, and our duty now is to tend the pigs with him.” - -They went into the cottage, and during the night the prince took away -her splendid clothes, so that in the morning she had to put on an old -dress and shoes belonging to the swineherd’s wife. - -These were given to her grudgingly, and only for her husband’s sake, as -the woman told her. So the princess was now very miserable, and believed -that her husband was really a swineherd; but she determined to make the -best of it, and turn to and do her share of the work, and said to -herself: - -“It is a punishment for all my pride.” - -This went on for a week, and then she was so worn out that she sat down -by the wayside and burst into tears. Some kindly villagers asked her -what was the matter, and if she knew what her husband was? - -“He is a swineherd,” she answered, “and has just gone to market with -some of his pigs.” - -“Come with us, and we will show you where he is,” they said; and they -took her away over the hill to the king’s palace, and there in the hall -stood her husband surrounded by courtiers, and so richly dressed that -she did not know him, till he fell upon her neck, saying: - -“We have borne much for each other, now let us be happy.” - -Then there was great rejoicing, and the marriage-feast was celebrated, -and all I can say is, that I wish we had been there to share the -merrymaking. - - - - - _The Hare and the Fox_ - - -A hare and a Fox were traveling together. It was winter time. Not a -blade of grass was to be seen, not a bird or mouse stirred in the -fields. - -“It’s hungry weather,” said the Fox to the Hare. “I feel as hollow as an -egg-shell.” - -“And so do I,” replied the Hare. “I’m hungry enough to eat my own ears, -if only I could reach them.” - -When they had gone a little way they spied a peasant girl coming toward -them. She carried a basket, and out of the basket came a very pleasant -smell—the smell of hot rolls. - -“I tell you what,” said the Fox. “You lie down and pretend to be dead. -The girl will put down her basket to take you up for the sake of your -skin, for out of hare-skins they make gloves; then I’ll snatch the -rolls, and we shall have a splendid meal!” - -The Hare did as the Fox told him, fell down, and pretended to be dead, -while the Fox hid behind a snow-drift. The girl came along, saw the Hare -with his legs stretched out stiff and stark, put down her basket sure -enough, and stooped over the Hare. The Fox snatched up the basket and -scampered off with it. The Hare in a twinkling came to life, and -followed his companion. But he ran on ahead, and showed quite plainly -that he meant to keep the rolls all to himself. - -But that was not what the Hare had bargained for, you may guess. So when -they came to a little lake, he called out to the Fox: - -“What do you say to catching a dish of fish? Then we should have fish -and rolls to eat like any lord. Just dangle your tail down in the water; -the fish haven’t much to bite these days, so they’re bound to hang on to -your tail. You must make haste, though, before the lake freezes over.” - -Well, the Fox thought that a good idea. So he went to the lake, which -was just beginning to freeze, and dangled his tail in the water. In a -very short time the tail was frozen in. - -Now, the Hare took the basket and gobbled up the rolls one after the -other as comfortably as you please, right before the Fox’s face. - -“Wait till it thaws,” he said to the Fox. “Wait till the spring. Wait -till it thaws!” and then he ran away. - -And the Fox was so angry at the way he had been caught that he barked -and barked like a savage dog on a chain. - - - - - _The Story of Zirac_ - - -Once upon a time a raven, a rat, and a tortoise, having agreed to be -friends together, were having a pleasant chat when they saw a wild goat -making its way toward them with surprising swiftness. They took it for -granted by her speed that she was pursued by some hunter, and they at -once without ceremony separated, every one to take care of himself. The -tortoise slipped into the water, the rat crept into a hole, which he -fortunately found near at hand, and the raven hid himself among the -boughs of a very high tree. In the mean time the goat stopped quite -suddenly, and stood to rest herself by the side of a fountain, when the -raven, who had looked all round and perceived no one, called to the -tortoise, who immediately peeped above the water, and seeing the goat -afraid to drink, said: “Drink boldly, my friend, for the water is very -clear.” - -After the goat had done so, the tortoise continued: “Pray tell me what -is the reason you appear in such distress?” - -“Reason enough,” said the goat; “for I have just made my escape out of -the hands of a hunter, who pursued me with an eager chase.” - -“Come,” said the tortoise, “I am glad you are safe. I have an offer to -make you. If you like our company, stay here and be one of our friends; -you will find our hearts honest and our company useful to you. The sages -say that a number of friends lessens trouble.” - -After this short speech the raven and the rat joined in the invitation, -so that the goat at once promised to become one of them, each promising -the other to prove himself a real and true friend whatever might happen -in days to come. After this agreement these four friends lived in -perfect harmony for a very long time, and spent their time pleasantly -together. But one day, as the tortoise, the rat, and the raven were met, -as they used to do, by the side of the fountain, the goat was missing. -This gave great trouble to them, as they knew not what had happened. -They very soon came to a resolution, however, to seek for and assist the -goat, so the raven at once mounted into the air to see what discoveries -he could make; and looking round about him, at length, to his great -sorrow, saw at a distance the poor goat entangled in a hunter’s net. He -immediately dropped down in order to acquaint the rat and tortoise with -what he had seen; and you may be sure that these ill tidings caused -great grief. - -“What shall we do?” said they. - -“We have promised firm friendship to one another and lived very happily -together so long,” said the tortoise, “that it would be shameful to -break the bond and not act up to all we said. We cannot leave our -innocent and good-natured companion in this dire distress and great -danger. No! we must find some way to deliver our poor friend goat out of -captivity.” - -Said the raven to the rat, who was nicknamed Zirac: “Remember, O -excellent Zirac, there is none but thyself able to set our friend at -liberty; and the business must be quickly done for fear the huntsman -should lay his hands upon her.” - -“Doubt not,” replied Zirac, “but that I will do my best, so let us go at -once that no time may be lost.” - -On this the raven took up Zirac in his bill, and flew with him to the -place where the poor goat was confined in the net. No sooner had he -arrived than he at once commenced to gnaw the meshes of the net that -held the goat’s foot and had almost set him at liberty when the tortoise -arrived. - -As soon as the goat saw the tortoise she cried out with a loud voice: -“Oh, why have you ventured to come hither, friend tortoise?” - -“Because I could no longer bear your absence,” replied the tortoise. - -“Dear friend,” said the goat, “your coming to this place troubles me as -much as the loss of my own liberty; for if the hunter should happen to -come, what would you do to make your escape? For my part I am almost -free, and my being able to run will prevent me from falling into his -hands again; our friend the raven can find safety in flight, and Zirac -can run into any hole. Only you, who are so slow of foot, will become -the hunter’s prey.” No sooner had the goat thus spoken, when sure enough -the hunter appeared; but the goat, being free, swiftly ran away; the -raven mounted into the air, and Zirac slipped into a hole, and true -enough, as the goat had said, only the slow-paced tortoise remained -without help. - -When the hunter arrived he was a little surprised to see his net broken -and the goat missing. This was no small vexation to him, and caused him -to look closely around, to see if he could discover who had done the -mischief; and unfortunately, in thus searching, he spied the tortoise. - -“Oh! Oh!” said he. “Very good; I am glad to see you here. I find I shall -not go home empty-handed after all; here is a plump tortoise, and that -is worth something, I’m sure.” Thus saying, he took up the tortoise, put -it in a sack, threw the sack over his shoulder, and was soon trudging -home. - -After he had gone the three friends came out from their several -hiding-places, and met together, when, missing the tortoise, they at -once judged what had become of him. Then, uttering bitter cries and -lamentations, they shed torrents of tears. At length the raven broke the -silence, and said: “Dear friends, our moans and sorrow do not help the -tortoise. We must, if it be at all possible, devise some means of saving -his life. Our sages have often told us that there are three persons that -are never well known but on special occasions—men of courage in fight, -men of honesty in business, and a true friend in extreme necessity. We -find, alas! our dear companion the tortoise is in a sad condition, and -therefore we must, if possible, help him.” - -“It is first-class advice,” replied Zirac. “Now I think I know how it -can be done. Let our friend the goat go and show herself to the hunter, -who will then be certain to lay down the sack to run after her.” - -“All right,” said the goat, “I will pretend to be lame, and run limping -at a little distance before him, which will encourage him to follow me, -and thus draw him a good way from his sack, which will give Zirac time -to set our friend at liberty.” - -This plan appeared such a good one that it was at once approved of, and -immediately the goat ran halting before the hunter, and appeared to be -so feeble and faint that her pursuer thought he had her safe in his -clutches again, and so, laying down his sack, ran after the goat with -all his might. That cunning creature suffered him now and again almost -to come up to her, and then led him another wild-goose chase till at -last she had lured him out of sight; which Zirac seeing, began gnawing -the string that tied the mouth of the sack, and soon set free the -tortoise, who went at once and hid himself in a thick bush. - -At length the hunter, tired of running after his prey, gave up the -chase, and returned to take up his sack. - -“Here,” said he, “I have something safe; thou art not quite so swift as -that plaguing goat; and if thou wert, art too well confined here to find -the way to make thy little legs any use to thee.” So saying, he went to -the bag, but not finding the tortoise he was amazed, and thought himself -in a region of hobgoblins and spirits, since he had by some mysterious -means lost two valuable objects, a goat and a tortoise! He did not know, -you see, what wonders true friendship can work when all are pledged to -help one another. - -The four friends soon met together again, congratulated one another on -their escapes, made afresh their vows of friendship, and declared that -they would never separate until death parted them. - - - - - _Johnny-Cake_ - - -Once upon a time there was an old man, and an old woman, and a little -boy. One morning the old woman made a Johnny-cake, and put it in the -oven to bake. “You watch the Johnny-cake while your father and I go out -to work in the garden,” she said, so the old man and the old woman went -out and began to hoe potatoes, and left the little boy to tend the oven. -But he didn’t watch it all the time, and all of a sudden he heard a -noise, and he looked up and the oven door popped open, and out of the -oven jumped Johnny-cake, and went rolling along end over end, toward the -open door of the house. The little boy ran to shut the door, but -Johnny-cake was too quick for him and rolled through the door, down the -steps, and out into the road long before the little boy could catch him. -The little boy ran after him as fast as he could clip it, crying out to -his father and mother, who heard the uproar, and threw down their hoes -and gave chase too. But Johnny-cake outran all three a long way, and was -soon out of sight, while they had to sit down, all out of breath, on a -bank to rest. - -On went Johnny-cake, and by and by he came to two well-diggers, who -looked up from their work and called out: “Where ye going, Johnny-cake?” - -He said: “I’ve outrun an old man, and an old woman, and a little boy, -and I can outrun you too-o-o!” - -“Ye can, can ye? We’ll see about that,” said they; and they threw down -their picks and ran after him, but couldn’t catch up with him, and soon -they had to sit down by the roadside to rest. - -On ran Johnny-cake, and by and by he came to two ditch-diggers who were -digging a ditch. “Where ye going, Johnny-cake?” said they. He said: -“I’ve outrun an old man, and an old woman, and a little boy, and two -well-diggers, and I can outrun you too-o-o!” - -“Ye can, can ye? We’ll see about that!” said they; and they threw down -their spades, and ran after him too. But Johnny-cake soon outstripped -them also, and seeing they could never catch him, they gave up the chase -and sat down to rest. - -On went Johnny-cake, and by and by he came to a bear. The bear said: -“Where are ye going, Johnny-cake?” - -He said: “I’ve outrun an old man, and an old woman, and a little boy, -and two well-diggers, and two ditch-diggers, and I can outrun you -too-o-o!” - -“Ye can, can ye?” growled the bear. “We’ll see about that!” and trotted -as fast as his legs could carry him after Johnny-cake, who never stopped -to look behind him. Before long the bear was left so far behind that he -saw he might as well give up the hunt first as last, so he stretched -himself out by the roadside to rest. - -On went Johnny-cake, and by and by he came to a wolf. The wolf said: -“Where ye going, Johnny-cake?” - -He said: “I’ve outrun an old man, and an old woman, and a little boy, -and two well-diggers, and two ditch-diggers, and a bear, and I can -outrun you too-o-o!” - -“Ye can, can ye?” snarled the wolf. “We’ll see about that!” And he set -into a gallop after Johnny-cake, who went on and on so fast that the -wolf saw there was no hope of overtaking him, and he too lay down to -rest. - -On went Johnny-cake, and by and by he came to a fox that lay quietly in -a corner of the fence. The fox called out in a sharp voice, but without -getting up: “Where ye going, Johnny-cake?” - -He said: “I’ve outrun an old man, and an old woman, and a little boy, -and two well-diggers, and two ditch-diggers, a bear, and a wolf, and I -can outrun you too-o-o!” - -The Fox said: “I can’t quite hear you, Johnny-cake. Won’t you come a -little closer?” turning his head a little to one side. - -Johnny-cake stopped his race for the first time, and went a little -closer, and called out in a very loud voice: “_I’ve outrun an old man, -and an old woman, and a little boy, and two well-diggers, and two -ditch-diggers, and a bear, and a wolf, and I can outrun you too-o-o!_” - -“Can’t quite hear you; won’t you come a _little_ closer?” said the fox -in a feeble voice, as he stretched out his neck toward Johnny-cake, and -put one paw behind his ear. - -Johnny-cake came up close, and leaning toward the fox screamed out: -“I’VE OUTRUN AN OLD MAN, AND AN OLD WOMAN, AND A LITTLE BOY, AND TWO -WELL-DIGGERS, AND TWO DITCH-DIGGERS, AND A BEAR, AND A WOLF, AND I CAN -OUTRUN YOU TOO-O-O!” - -“You can, can you?” yelped the fox, and he snapped up the Johnny-cake in -his sharp teeth in the twinkling of an eye. - - - - - _The Wee, Wee Mannie_ - - -Once upon a time, when all big folks were wee ones and all lies were -true, there was a wee, wee Mannie that had a big, big coo. And out he -went to milk her of a morning, and said: - - “Hold still, my coo, my hinny, - Hold still, my hinny, my coo, - And ye shall have for your dinner - What but a milk white doo.” - -But the big, big coo wouldn’t hold still. “Hout!” said the wee, wee -Mannie: - - “Hold still, my coo, my dearie, - And fill my bucket wi’ milk, - And if ye’ll be no contrairy - I’ll gi’e ye a gown o’ silk.” - -But the big, big coo wouldn’t hold still. “Look at that, now!” said the -wee, wee Mannie: - - “What’s a wee, wee Mannie to do, - Wi’ such a big contrairy coo?” - -So off he went to his mother at the house. “Mither,” said he, “coo won’t -stand still, and wee, wee Mannie can’t milk big, big coo.” - -“Hout!” said his mother, “take stick and beat coo.” - -So off he went to get a stick from the tree, and said: - - “Break, stick, break, - And I’ll gi’e ye a cake.” - -But the stick wouldn’t break, so back he went to the house. - -“Mither,” said he, “coo won’t hold still, stick won’t break, wee, wee -Mannie can’t beat big, big coo.” - -“Hout!” said his mother, “go to the butcher and bid him kill coo.” - -So off he went to the butcher, and said: - - “Butcher, kill the big, big coo, - She’ll gi’e us no more milk noo.” - -But the butcher wouldn’t kill the coo without a silver penny, so back -the Mannie went to the house. “Mither,” said he, “coo won’t hold still, -stick won’t break, butcher won’t kill without a silver penny, and wee, -wee Mannie can’t milk big, big coo.” - -“Well,” said his mother, “go to the coo and tell her there’s a weary, -weary lady with long yellow hair weeping for a cup o’ milk.” - -So off he went and told the coo, but she wouldn’t hold still, so back he -went and told his mother. - -“Well,” said she, “tell the coo there’s a fine, fine laddie from the -wars sitting by the weary, weary lady with golden hair, and she weeping -for a sup o’ milk.” - -So off he went and told the coo, but she wouldn’t hold still, so back he -went and told his mother. - -“Well,” said his mother, “tell the big, big coo there’s a sharp, sharp -sword at the belt of the fine, fine laddie from the wars who sits beside -the weary, weary lady with the golden hair, and she weeping for a sup o’ -milk.” - -And he told the big, big coo, but she wouldn’t hold still. - -Then said his mother: “Run quick and tell her that her head’s going to -be cut off by the sharp, sharp sword in the hands of the fine, fine -laddie, if she doesn’t give the sup o’ milk the weary, weary lady weeps -for.” - -And wee, wee Mannie went off and told the big, big coo. - -And when coo saw the glint of the sharp, sharp sword in the hand of the -fine, fine laddie come from the wars, and the weary, weary lady weeping -for a sup o’ milk, she reckoned she’d better hold still; so wee, wee -Mannie milked big, big coo, and the weary, weary lady with the golden -hair hushed her weeping and got her sup o’ milk, and the fine, fine -laddie new come from the wars put by his sharp, sharp sword, and all -went well that didn’t go ill. - - - - - _Sir Gammer Vans_ - - -Last Sunday morning at six o’clock in the evening as I was sailing over -the tops of the mountains in my little boat, I met two men on horseback -riding on one mare: So I asked them: “Could they tell me whether the -little old woman was dead yet who was hanged last Saturday week for -drowning herself in a shower of feathers?” They said they could not -inform me positively, but if I went to Sir Gammer Vans he could tell me -all about it. - -“But how am I to know the house?” said I. - -“Ho, ‘tis easy enough,” said they, “for ‘tis a brick house built -entirely of flints, standing alone by itself in the middle of sixty or -seventy others just like it.” - -“Oh, nothing in the world is easier,” said I. - -“Nothing _can_ be easier,” said they: so I went on my way. Now this Sir -G. Vans was a giant, and a bottle-maker. And as all giants who _are_ -bottle-makers usually pop out of a little thumb-bottle from behind the -door, so did Sir G. Vans. - -“How d’ye do?” says he. - -“Very well, I thank you,” says I. - -“Have some breakfast with me?” - -“With all my heart,” says I. - -So he gave me a slice of beer, and a cup of cold veal; and there was a -little dog under the table that picked up all the crumbs. - -“Hang him,” says I. - -“No, don’t hang him,” says he; “for he killed a hare yesterday. And if -you don’t believe me, I’ll show you the hare alive in a basket.” - -So he took me into his garden to show me the curiosities. In one corner -there was a fox hatching eagle’s eggs; in another there was an iron -apple-tree, entirely covered with pears and lead; in the third there was -the hare which the dog killed yesterday alive in the basket; and in the -fourth there were twenty-four _hipper switches_ threshing tobacco, and -at the sight of me they threshed so hard that they drove the plug -through the wall, and through a little dog that was passing by on the -other side. I, hearing the dog howl, jumped over the wall; and turned it -as neatly inside out as possible, when it ran away as if it had not an -hour to live. Then he took me into the park to show me his deer; and I -remembered that I had a warrant in my pocket to shoot venison for his -majesty’s dinner. So I set fire to my bow, poised my arrow, and shot -among them. I broke seventeen ribs on one side, and twenty-one and a -half on the other; but my arrow passed clean through without ever -touching it, and the worst was I lost my arrow. However, I found it -again in the hollow of a tree. I felt it; it felt clammy. I smelt it; it -smelt honey. “Oh, ho,” said I, “here’s a bees’ nest,” when out sprang a -covey of partridges. I shot at them; some say I killed eighteen; but I -am sure I killed thirty-six, besides a dead salmon which was flying over -the bridge, of which I made the best apple-pie I ever tasted. - - - - - _Tom Tit Tot_ - - -Once upon a time there was a woman, and she baked five pies. And when -they came out of the oven, they were that over-baked the crusts were too -hard to eat. So she says to her daughter: - -“Darter,” says she, “put you them there pies on the shelf, and leave ‘em -there a little, and they’ll come again.” She meant, you know, the crust -would get soft. - -But the girl, she says to herself: “Well, if they’ll come again, I’ll -eat ‘em now.” And she set to work and ate ‘em all, first and last. - -Well, come supper-time the woman said: “Go you, and get one o’ them -there pies. I dare say they’ve come again now.” - -The girl went and she looked, and there was nothing but the dishes. So -back she came, and says she: “Noo, they ain’t come again.” - -“Not one of ‘em?” says the mother. - -“Not one of ‘em,” says she. - -“Well, come again, or not come again,” said the woman, “I’ll have one -for supper.” - -“But you can’t, if they ain’t come,” said the girl. - -“But I can,” says she. “Go you, and bring the best of ‘em.” - -“Best or worst,” says the girl, “I’ve ate ‘em all, and you can’t have -one till that’s come again.” - -Well, the woman she was done, and she took her spinning to the door to -spin, and as she span she sang: - - “My darter ha’ ate five, five pies to-day. - My darter ha’ ate five, five pies to-day.” - -The king was coming down the street, and he heard her sing, but what she -sang he couldn’t make out, so he stopped and said: - -“What was that you were singing, my good woman?” - -The woman was ashamed to let him hear what her daughter had been doing, -so she sang, instead of that: - - “My darter ha’ spun five, five skeins to-day. - My darter ha’ spun five, five skeins to-day.” - -“Stars o’ mine!” said the king, “I never heard tell of any one that -could do that.” - -Then he said: “Look you here, I want a wife, and I’ll marry your -daughter. But look you here,” says he, “eleven months out of the year -she shall have all she likes to eat, and all the gowns she likes to get, -and all the company she likes to keep; but the last month of the year -she’ll have to spin five skeins every day, and if she don’t I shall kill -her.” - -“All right,” says the woman; for she thought what a grand marriage that -was. And as for the five skeins, when the time came, there’d be plenty -of ways of getting out of it, and likeliest, he’d have forgotten all -about it. - -Well, so they were married. And for eleven months the girl had all she -liked to eat, and all the gowns she liked to get, and all the company -she liked to keep. - -But when the time was getting over, she began to think about the skeins -and to wonder if he had ‘em in mind. But not one word did he say about -‘em, and she thought he’d wholly forgotten ‘em. - -However, the last day of the last month he takes her to a room she’d -never set eyes on before. There was nothing in it but a spinning-wheel -and a stool. And says he: “Now, my dear, here you’ll be shut in -to-morrow with some victuals and some flax, and if you haven’t spun five -skeins by the night, your head’ll go off.” - -And away he went about his business. - -Well, she was that frightened, she’d always been such a gutless girl, -that she didn’t so much as know how to spin, and what was she to do -to-morrow with no one to come nigh her to help her? She sat down on a -stool in the kitchen, and law, how she did cry! - -However, all of a sudden she heard a sort of a knocking low down on the -door. She upped and oped it, and what should she see but a small little -black thing with a long tail, that look up at her right curious, and -that said: - -“What are you a-crying for?” - -“What’s that to you?” says she. - -“Never you mind,” that said, “but tell me what you’re a-crying for.” - -“That won’t do me no good if I do,” says she. - -“You don’t know that,” that said, and twirled that’s tail round. - -“Well,” says she, “that won’t do no harm, if that don’t do no good,” and -she upped and told about the pies, and the skeins, and everything. - -“This is what I’ll do,” says the little black thing: “I’ll come to your -window every morning and take the flax and bring it spun at night.” - -“What’s your pay?” says she. - -That looked out of the corner of that’s eyes, and that said: “I’ll give -you three guesses every night to guess my name, and if you haven’t -guessed it before the month’s up you shall be mine.” - -Well, she thought she’d be sure to guess that’s name before the month -was up. “All right,” says she, “I agree.” - -“All right,” that says, and law! how that twirled that’s tail. - -Well, the next day, her husband took her into the room, and there was -the flax and the day’s food. - -“Now, there’s the flax,” says he, “and if that ain’t spun up this night, -off goes your head.” And then he went out and locked the door. - -He’d hardly gone, when there was a knocking against the window. - -She upped and she oped it, and there sure enough was the little old -thing sitting on the ledge. - -“Where’s the flax?” says he. - -“Here it be,” says she. And she gave it to him. - -Well, come the evening a knocking came again to the window. She upped -and she oped it, and there was the little old thing with five skeins of -flax on his arm. - -“Here it be,” says he, and he gave it to her. - -“Now, what’s my name?” says he. - -“What, is that Bill?” says she. - -“Noo, that ain’t,” says he, and he twirled his tail. - -“Is that Ned?” says she. - -“Noo, that ain’t,” says he, and he twirled his tail. - -“Well, is that Mark?” says she. - -“Noo, that ain’t,” says he, and he twirled his tail harder, and away he -flew. - -Well, when her husband came in, there were the five skeins ready for -him. “I see I sha’n’t have to kill you to-night, my dear,” says he; -“you’ll have your food and your flax in the morning,” says he, and away -he goes. - -Well, every day the flax and the food were brought, and every day that -there little black impet used to come mornings and evenings. And all the -day the girl sat trying to think of names to say to it when it came at -night. But she never hit on the right one. And as it got toward the end -of the month, the impet began to look so maliceful, and that twirled -that’s tail faster and faster each time she gave a guess. - -At last it came to the last day but one. The impet came at night along -with the five skeins, and that said: - -“What, ain’t you got my name yet?” - -“Is that Nicodemus?” says she. - -“Noo, ‘tain’t,” that says. - -“Is that Sammee?” says she. - -“Noo, ‘tain’t,” that says. - -“A-well, is that Methusalem?” says she. - -“Noo, ‘tain’t that neither,” that says. - -Then that looks at her with that’s eyes like a coal o’ fire, and that -says: “Woman, there’s only to-morrow night, and then you’ll be mine!” -And away it flew. - -Well, she felt that horrid. However, she heard the king coming along the -passage. In he came, and when he sees the five skeins, he says, says he: - -“Well, my dear,” says he, “I don’t see but what you’ll have your skeins -ready to-morrow night as well, and as I reckon I sha’n’t have to kill -you, I’ll have supper in here to-night.” So they brought supper, and -another stool for him, and down the two sat. - -Well, he hadn’t eaten but a mouthful or so when he stops and begins to -laugh. - -“What is it?” says she. - -“A-why,” says he, “I was out a-hunting to-day, and I got away to a place -in the wood I’d never seen before. And there was an old chalk-pit. And I -heard a kind of a sort of humming. So I got off my hobby, and I went -right quiet to the pit, and I looked down. Well, what should there be -but the funniest little black thing you ever set eyes on. And what was -that doing, but that had a little spinning-wheel, and that was spinning -wonderful fast, and twirling that’s tail. And as that span that sang: - - “Nimmy nimmy not, - My name’s Tom Tit Tot.” - -Well, when the girl heard this, she felt as if she could have jumped out -of her skin for joy, but she didn’t say a word. - -Next day that there little thing looked so maliceful when he came for -the flax. And when night came, she heard that knocking against the -window-panes. She oped the window, and that come right in on the ledge. -That was grinning from ear to ear, and Oo! that’s tail was twirling -round so fast. - -“What’s my name?” that says, as that gave her the skeins. - -“Is that Solomon?” she says, pretending to be afeard. - -“Noo, ‘tain’t,” that says, and that came farther into the room. - -“Well, is that Zebedee?” says she again. - -“Noo, ‘tain’t,” says the impet. And then that laughed and twirled that’s -tail till you couldn’t hardly see it. - -“Take time, woman,” that says; “next guess, and you’re mine.” And that -stretched out that’s black hands at her. - -Well, she backed a step or two, and she looked at it, and then she -laughed out, and says she, pointing her finger at it: - - “Nimmy nimmy not, - Your name’s Tom Tit Tot.” - -Well, when that heard her, that gave an awful shriek, and away that flew -into the dark, and she never saw it any more. - - - - - _The Old Woman and her Pig_ - - -Once upon a time an old woman was sweeping her little house, when, to -her great joy, she found a silver sixpence. - -“What,” said she, “shall I do with this little sixpence? I think I will -go to market and buy a pig.” So the next day she went to market and -bought a nice little white pig. She tied a string to one of the pig’s -legs and began to drive him home. - -On the way the old woman and her pig came to a stile, and she said: - - “Please, pig, get over the stile.” - But the pig would not. - -Just then a little dog came trotting up, and the old woman said to him: - - “Dog, dog, bite pig; - Pig won’t get over the stile, - And I sha’n’t get home to-night.” - But the dog would not. - -So the old woman held up her stick, and said: - - “Stick, stick, beat dog; - Dog won’t bite pig; - Pig won’t get over the stile, - And I sha’n’t get home to-night.” - But the stick would not. - -So the old woman gathered some bits of wood together to make a fire, and -set them on fire, and then threw her stick into the fire and said: - - “Fire, fire, burn stick; - Stick won’t beat dog; - Dog won’t bite pig; - Pig won’t get over the stile, - And I sha’n’t get home to-night.” - But the fire would not. - -So the old woman fetched a pail of water that was standing near and -said: - - “Water, water, quench fire; - Fire won’t burn stick; - Stick won’t beat dog; - Dog won’t bite pig; - Pig won’t get over the stile, - And I sha’n’t get home to-night.” - But the water would not. - -Then the old woman saw an ox coming; so she said: - - “Ox, ox, drink water; - Water won’t quench fire; - Fire won’t burn stick; - Stick won’t beat dog; - Dog won’t bite pig; - Pig won’t go; - I see by the moonlight - It’s long past midnight; - Time pig and I were home an hour and a half ago.” - But the ox would not. - -So the old woman turned around and saw a butcher, and she said: - - “Butcher, butcher, kill ox; - Ox won’t drink water; - Water won’t quench fire; - Fire won’t burn stick; - Stick won’t beat dog; - Dog won’t bite pig; - Pig won’t go. - I see by the moonlight - It’s long past midnight; - Time pig and I were home an hour and a half ago.” - But the butcher would not. - -So the old woman took a rope out of her pocket, and said: - - “Rope, rope, hang butcher; - Butcher won’t kill ox; - Ox won’t drink water; - Water won’t quench fire; - Fire won’t burn stick; - Stick won’t beat dog; - Dog won’t bite pig; - Pig won’t go. - I see by the moonlight - It’s long past midnight; - Time pig and I were home an hour and a half ago.” - But the rope would not. - -Just then a large brown mouse ran across the meadow, and she said: - - “Mouse, mouse, gnaw rope; - Rope won’t hang butcher; - Butcher won’t kill ox; - Ox won’t drink water; - Water won’t quench fire; - Fire won’t burn stick; - Stick won’t beat dog; - Dog won’t bite pig; - Pig won’t go. - I see by the moonlight - It’s long past midnight; - Time pig and I were home an hour and a half ago.” - “Yes,” said the mouse, “I will, if you will give me some cheese.” - -So the old woman put her hand in her pocket and found a nice piece of -cheese; and when the mouse had eaten it: - - The mouse began to gnaw the rope, - The rope began to hang the butcher, - The butcher began to kill the ox, - The ox began to drink the water, - The water began to quench the fire, - The fire began to burn the stick, - The stick began to beat the dog, - The dog began to bite the pig, - And the pig began to go. - -But what time the old woman and her pig got home, you, nor I, nor nobody -knows. - - - - - _The Story of the Three Little Pigs_ - - -There was once an old sow with three little pigs, and as she had not -enough to keep them, she sent them out to seek their fortune. The first -that went off met a man with a bundle of straw, and said to him: - -“Please, man, give me that straw to build me a house.” - -Which the man did, and the little pig built a house with it. Presently -came along a wolf, and knocked at the door, and said: - -“Little pig, little pig, let me come in.” - -To which the pig answered: - -“No, no, by the hair of my chiny chin chin.” - -The wolf then answered to that: - -“Then I’ll huff, and I’ll puff, and I’ll blow your house in.” - -So he huffed, and he puffed, and he blew the house in, and ate up the -little pig. - -The second little pig met a man with a bundle of furze and said: - -“Please, man, give me that furze to build a house.” - -Which the man did, and the pig built his house. Then along came the -wolf, and said: - -“Little pig, little pig, let me come in.” - -“No, no, by the hair of my chiny chin chin.” - -“Then I’ll huff, and I’ll puff, and I’ll blow your house in.” - -So he huffed, and he puffed, and he puffed, and he huffed, and at last -he blew the house down, and he ate up the little pig. - -The third little pig met a man with a load of bricks, and said: - -“Please, man, give me those bricks to build a house with.” So the man -gave him the bricks, and he built his house with them. Then the wolf -came, as he did to the other little pigs, and said: - -“Little pig, little pig, let me come in.” - -“No, no, by the hair on my chiny chin chin.” - -“Then I’ll huff, and I’ll puff, and I’ll blow your house in.” - -Well, he huffed, and he puffed, and he huffed and he puffed, and he -puffed and he huffed; but he could _not_ get the house down. When he -found that he could not, with all his huffing and puffing, blow the -house down, he said: - -“Little pig, I know where there is a nice field of turnips.” - -“Where?” said the little pig. - -“Oh, in Mr. Smith’s home field, and if you will be ready to-morrow -morning I will call for you, and we will go together, and get some for -dinner.” - -“Very well,” said the little pig, “I will be ready. What time do you -mean to go?” - -“Oh, at six o’clock.” - -Well, the little pig got up at five, and got the turnips before the wolf -came (which he did about six), when he said: - -“Little pig, are you ready?” - -The little pig said: “Ready! I have been there and come back again, and -got a nice potful for dinner.” - -The wolf felt very angry at this, but thought that he would be even with -the little pig somehow or other, so he said: - -“Little pig, I know where there is a nice apple-tree.” - -“Where?” said the pig. - -“Down at Merry-garden,” replied the wolf, “and if you will not deceive -me I will come for you at five o’clock to-morrow and get some apples.” - -Well, the little pig bustled up the next morning at four o’clock, and -went off for the apples, hoping to get back before the wolf came; but he -had farther to go, and had to climb the tree, so that just as he was -scrambling down from it, he saw the wolf coming, which, as you may -suppose, frightened him very much. When the wolf came up he said: - -“Little pig, what! are you here before me? Are they nice apples?” - -“Yes, very,” said the little pig. “I will throw you down one.” - -And he threw it so far that, while the wolf was gone to pick it up, the -little pig jumped down and ran home. The next day the wolf came again, -and said to the little pig: - -“Little pig, there is a fair at Shanklin this afternoon. Will you go?” - -“Oh, yes,” said the pig, “I will go; what time shall you be ready?” - -“At three,” said the wolf. So the little pig went off before the time, -as usual, and got to the fair, and bought a butter-churn, which he was -going home with when he saw the wolf coming. Then he could not tell what -to do. So he got into the churn to hide, and by so doing it turned -round, and rolled down the hill with him inside, which frightened the -wolf so much that he ran home without going to the fair. He went to the -little pig’s house, and told him how frightened he had been by a great -round thing which came down the hill past him. Then the little pig said: - -“Hah, I frightened you then. I had been to the fair and bought a -butter-churn, and when I saw you, I got into it, and rolled down the -hill.” - -Then the wolf was very angry indeed, and declared he _would_ eat up the -little pig, and that he would get down the chimney after him. When the -little pig saw what he was about, he hung on the pot full of water, and -made up a blazing fire, and, just as the wolf was coming down, took off -the cover, and in fell the wolf; so the little pig put on the cover -again in an instant, boiled him up, and ate him for supper, and lived -happy ever afterward. - - - - - _The Three Sillies_ - - -Once upon a time there was a farmer and his wife who had one daughter, -and she was courted by a gentleman. Every evening he used to come and -see her, and stop to supper at the farmhouse, and the daughter used to -be sent down into the cellar to draw the beer for supper. So one evening -she had gone down to draw the beer, and she happened to look up at the -ceiling while she was drawing, and she saw a mallet stuck in one of the -beams. It must have been there a long, long time, but somehow or other -she had never noticed it before, and she began a-thinking. And she -thought it was very dangerous to have that mallet there, for she said to -herself: “Suppose him and me was to be married, and we was to have a -son, and he was to grow up to be a man, and come down into the cellar to -draw the beer, like as I’m doing now, and the mallet was to fall on his -head and kill him, what a dreadful thing it would be!” And she put down -the candle and the jug, and sat herself down and began a-crying. - -Well, they began to wonder up-stairs how it was that she was so long -drawing the beer, and her mother went down to see after her, and she -found her sitting on the settle crying, and the beer running over the -floor. “Why, whatever is the matter?” said her mother. “Oh, mother!” -says she, “look at that horrid mallet! Suppose we was to be married, and -was to have a son, and he was to grow up, and was to come down to the -cellar to draw the beer, and the mallet was to fall on his head and kill -him, what a dreadful thing it would be!” “Dear, dear! what a dreadful -thing it would be!” said the mother, and she sat her down aside of the -daughter and started a-crying too. Then after a bit the father began to -wonder that they didn’t come back, and he went down into the cellar to -look after them himself, and there they two sat a-crying, and the beer -running all over the floor. “Whatever is the matter?” says he. “Why,” -says the mother, “look at that horrid mallet. Just suppose, if our -daughter and her sweetheart was to be married, and was to have a son, -and he was to grow up, and was to come down into the cellar to draw the -beer, and the mallet was to fall on his head and kill him, what a -dreadful thing it would be!” “Dear, dear, dear! so it would!” said the -father, and he sat himself down aside of the other two, and started -a-crying. - -Now the gentleman got tired of stopping up in the kitchen by himself, -and at last he went down into the cellar too, to see what they were -after; and there they three sat a-crying side by side, and the beer -running all over the floor. And he ran straight and turned the tap. Then -he said: “Whatever are you three doing, sitting there crying, and -letting the beer run all over the floor?” “Oh!” says the father, “look -at that horrid mallet! Suppose you and our daughter was to be married, -and was to have a son, and he was to grow up, and was to come down into -the cellar to draw the beer, and the mallet was to fall on his head and -kill him!” And then they all started a-crying worse than before. But the -gentleman burst out a-laughing, and reached up and pulled out the -mallet, and then he said: “I’ve traveled many miles, and I never met -three such big sillies as you three before; and now I shall start out on -my travels again, and when I can find three bigger sillies than you -three, then I’ll come back and marry your daughter.” So he wished them -good-by and started off on his travels, and left them all crying because -the girl had lost her sweetheart. - -Well, he set out, and he traveled a long way, and at last he came to a -woman’s cottage that had some grass growing on the roof. And the woman -was trying to get her cow to go up a ladder to the grass, and the poor -thing durst not go. So the gentleman asked the woman what she was doing. -“Why, look-ye,” she said, “look at all that beautiful grass. I’m going -to get the cow on to the roof to eat it. She’ll be quite safe, for I -shall tie a string round her neck, and pass it down the chimney, and tie -it to my wrist as I go about the house, so she can’t fall off without my -knowing it.” “Oh, you poor silly!” said the gentleman, “you should cut -the grass and throw it down to the cow!” But the woman thought it was -easier to get the cow up the ladder than to get the grass down, so she -pushed her and coaxed her and got her up, and tied a string round her -neck, and passed it down the chimney, and fastened it to her own wrist. -And the gentleman went on his way, but he hadn’t gone far when the cow -tumbled off the roof, and hung by the string tied round her neck, and it -strangled her. And the weight of the cow tied to her wrist pulled the -woman up the chimney, and she stuck fast half-way and was smothered in -the soot. - -Well, that was one big silly. - -And the gentleman went on and on, and he went to an inn to stop the -night, and they were so full at the inn that they had to put him in a -double-bedded room, and another traveler was to sleep in the other bed. -The other man was a very pleasant fellow, and they got very friendly -together; but in the morning, when they were both getting up, the -gentleman was surprised to see the other hang his trousers on the knobs -of the chest of drawers and run across the room and try to jump into -them, and he tried over and over again, and couldn’t manage it; and the -gentleman wondered whatever he was doing it for. At last he stopped and -wiped his face with his handkerchief. “Oh, dear,” he says, “I do think -trousers are the most awkwardest kind of clothes that ever were. I can’t -think who could have invented such things. It takes me the best part of -an hour to get into mine every morning, and I get so hot! How do you -manage yours?” So the gentleman burst out a-laughing, and showed him how -to put them on; and he was very much obliged to him, and said he never -should have thought of doing it that way. - -So that was another big silly. - -Then the gentleman went on his travels again; and he came to a village, -and outside the village there was a pond, and round the pond was a crowd -of people. And they had got rakes, and brooms, and pitchforks, reaching -into the pond; and the gentleman asked what was the matter. “Why,” they -said, “matter enough! Moon’s tumbled into the pond, and we can’t rake -her out anyhow!” So the gentleman burst out a-laughing, and told them to -look up into the sky, and that it was only the shadow in the water. But -they wouldn’t listen to him, and abused him shamefully, and he got away -as quick as he could. - -So there was a whole lot of sillies bigger than those three sillies at -home. So the gentleman turned back home again and married the farmer’s -daughter, and if they didn’t live happy forever after, that’s nothing to -do with you or me. - - - - - _The Cat and the Mouse_ - - The Cat and the Mouse - Played in the malt-house. - The Cat bit the Mouse’s tail off. - - -“Pray, puss,” said the Mouse, “give me my long tail again.” - -“No,” said the Cat, “I’ll not give you your tail again till you go to -the cow and fetch me some milk.” - - First she leaped, and then she ran, - Till she came to the cow, and thus began: - -“Pray, cow, give me some milk that I may give to the Cat, so she may -give me my long tail again.” - -“No,” said the cow, “I will give you no milk till you go to the farmer -and get me some hay.” - - First she leaped, and then she ran, - Till she came to the farmer, and thus began: - -“Pray, farmer, give me some hay that I may give to the cow, so she may -give me some milk that I may give to the Cat, so she may give me my long -tail again.” - -“No,” says the farmer, “I’ll give you no hay till you go to the butcher -and fetch me some meat.” - - First she leaped, and then she ran, - Till she came to the butcher, and thus began: - -“Pray butcher, give me some meat that I may give to the farmer, so he -may give me some hay that I may give to the cow, so she may give me some -milk that I may give to the Cat, so she may give me my long tail again.” - -“No,” said the butcher, “I’ll give you no meat till you go to the baker -and fetch me some bread.” - - First she leaped, and then she ran, - Till she came to the baker, and thus began: - -“Pray, baker, give me some bread that I may give to the butcher, so he -may give me some meat that I may give to the farmer, so he may give me -some hay that I may give to the cow, so she may give me some milk that I -may give to the Cat, so she may give me my long tail again.” - - “Yes,” said the baker, “I’ll give you some bread, - But if you eat my meal, I’ll cut off your head.” - -The baker gave the Mouse bread, which she brought to the butcher; the -butcher gave the Mouse meat, which she brought to the farmer; the farmer -gave the Mouse hay, which she brought to the cow; the cow gave the Mouse -milk, which she brought to the Cat; and the Cat gave to the Mouse her -long tail again. - - - - - _Hereafterthis_ - - -Once upon a time there was a farmer called Jan, and he lived all alone -by himself in a little farmhouse. - -By and by he thought that he would like to have a wife to keep it all -vitty for him. - -So he went a-courting a fine maid, and he said to her: “Will you marry -me?” - -“That I will, to be sure,” said she. - -So they went to church and were wed. After the wedding was over, she got -up on his horse behind him, and he brought her home. And they lived as -happy as the day was long. - -One day Jan said to his wife: “Wife, can you milk-y?” - -“Oh, yes, Jan, I can milk-y. Mother used to milk-y when I lived home.” - -So he went to market and bought her ten red cows. All went well till one -day when she had driven them to the pond to drink, she thought they did -not drink fast enough. So she drove them right into the pond to make -them drink faster, and they were all drowned. - -When Jan came home she up and told him what she had done, and he said: -“Oh, well, there, never mind, my dear; better luck next time.” - -So they went on for a bit, and then one day Jan said to his wife: “Wife, -can you serve pigs?” - -“Oh, yes, Jan, I can serve pigs. Mother used to serve pigs when I lived -home.” - -So Jan went to market and bought her some pigs. All went well till one -day, when she had put their food into the trough, she thought they did -not eat fast enough, and she pushed their heads into the trough to make -them eat faster, and they were all choked. - -When Jan came home she up and told him what she had done, and he said: -“Oh, well, there, never mind, my dear; better luck next time.” - -So they went on for a bit, and then one day Jan said to his wife: “Wife, -can you bake-y?” - -“Oh, yes, Jan, I can bake-y. Mother used to bake-y when I lived home.” - -So he bought everything for his wife so that she could bake bread. All -went well for a bit, till one day she thought she would bake white bread -for a treat for Jan. So she carried her meal to the top of a high hill, -and let the wind blow on it, for she thought to herself that the wind -would blow out all the bran. But the wind blew away meal and bran and -all—so there was an end of it. - -When Jan came home, she up and told him what she had done, and he said: -“Oh, well, there, never mind, my dear; better luck next time.” - -So they went on for a bit, and then one day Jan said to his wife: “Wife, -can you brew-y?” - -“Oh, yes, Jan, I can brew-y. Mother used to brew-y when I lived home.” - -So he bought everything proper for his wife to brew ale with. All went -well for a bit, till one day when she had brewed her ale and put it in -the barrel, a big black dog came in and looked up in her face. She drove -him out of the house, but he stayed outside the door and still looked up -in her face. And she got so angry that she pulled out the plug of the -barrel, threw it at the dog, and said: “What dost look at me for? I be -Jan’s wife.” Then the dog ran down the road, and she ran after him to -chase him right away. When she came back again, she found that the ale -had all run out of the barrel, and so there was an end of it. - -When Jan came home, she up and told him what she had done, and he said: -“Oh, well, there, never mind, my dear; better luck next time.” - -So they went on for a bit, and then one day she thought to herself, -“’Tis time to clean up my house.” When she was taking down her big bed -she found a bag of groats on the tester. So when Jan came home, she up -and said to him: “Jan, what is that bag of groats on the tester for?” - -“That is for Hereafterthis, my dear.” - -Now, there was a robber outside the window, and he heard what Jan said. -Next day, he waited till Jan had gone to market, and then he came and -knocked at the door. “What do you please to want?” said Mally. - -“I am Hereafterthis,” said the robber. “I have come for the bag of -groats.” - -Now the robber was dressed like a fine gentleman, so she thought to -herself it was very kind of so fine a man to come for the bag of groats, -so she ran up-stairs and fetched the bag of groats, and gave it to the -robber and he went away with it. - -When Jan came home she said to him: “Jan, Hereafterthis has been for the -bag of groats.” - -“What do you mean, wife?” said Jan. - -So she up and told him, and he said: “Then I’m a ruined man, for that -money was to pay our rent with. The only thing we can do is to roam the -world over till we find the bag of groats.” Then Jan took the house-door -off its hinges, “That’s all we shall have to lie on,” he said. So Jan -put the door on his back, and they both set out to look for -Hereafterthis. Many a long day they went, and in the night Jan used to -put the door on the branches of a tree, and they would sleep on it. One -night they came to a big hill, and there was a high tree at the foot. So -Jan put the door up in it, and they got up in the tree and went to -sleep. By and by Jan’s wife heard a noise, and she looked to see what it -was. It was an opening of a door in the side of the hill. Out came two -gentlemen with a long table, and behind them fine ladies and lords, each -carrying a bag, and one of them was Hereafterthis with the bag of -groats. They sat round the table, and began to drink and talk and count -up all the money in the bags. So then Jan’s wife woke him up, and asked -what they should do. - -“Now’s our time,” said Jan, and he pushed the door off the branches, and -it fell right in the very middle of the table, and frightened the -robbers so that they all ran away. Then Jan and his wife got down from -the tree, took as many moneybags as they could carry on the door, and -went straight home. And Jan bought his wife more cows, and more pigs, -and they lived happy ever after. - - - - - _Titty Mouse and Tatty Mouse_ - - - Titty Mouse and Tatty Mouse both lived in a house, - Titty Mouse went a-leasing and Tatty Mouse went a-leasing, - So they both went a-leasing. - Titty Mouse leased an ear of corn, and Tatty Mouse leased an ear of - corn, - So they both leased an ear of corn. - Titty Mouse made a pudding, and Tatty Mouse made a pudding, - So they both made a pudding. - And Tatty Mouse put her pudding into the pot to boil, - But when Titty went to put hers in, the pot tumbled over, and scalded - her to death. - -Then Tatty sat down and wept, and a three-legged stool said: “Tatty, why -do you weep?” “Titty’s dead,” said Tatty, “and so I weep.” “Then,” said -the stool, “I’ll hop.” So the stool hopped. - -Then a broom in the corner of the room said: “Stool, why do you hop?” -“Oh!” said the stool, “Titty’s dead, and Tatty weeps, and so I hop.” -“Then,” said the broom, “I’ll sweep.” So the broom began to sweep. - -“Then,” said the door, “Broom, why do you sweep?” “Oh!” said the broom, -“Titty’s dead, and Tatty weeps, and the stool hops, and so I sweep.” -“Then,” said the door, “I’ll jar.” So the door jarred. - -“Then,” said the window, “Door, why do you jar?” “Oh!” said the door, -“Titty’s dead, and Tatty weeps, and the stool hops, and the broom -sweeps, and so I jar.” - -“Then,” said the window, “I’ll creak.” So the window creaked. Now there -was an old form outside the house, and when the window creaked, the form -said: “Window, why do you creak?” “Oh!” said the window, “Titty’s dead, -and Tatty weeps, and the stool hops, and the broom sweeps, the door -jars, and so I creak.” - -“Then,” said the old form, “I’ll run round the house.” Then the old form -ran round the house. Now there was a fine large walnut-tree growing by -the cottage, and the tree said to the form: “Form, why do you run round -the house?” “Oh!” said the form, “Titty’s dead, and Tatty weeps, and the -stool hops, and the broom sweeps, the door jars, and the window creaks, -and so I run round the house.” - -“Then,” said the walnut-tree, “I’ll shed my leaves.” So the walnut-tree -shed all its beautiful green leaves. Now there was a little bird perched -on one of the boughs of the tree, and when all the leaves fell, it said: -“Walnut-tree, why do you shed your leaves?” “Oh!” said the tree, -“Titty’s dead, and Tatty weeps, the stool hops, and the broom sweeps, -the door jars, and the window creaks, the old form runs round the house, -and so I shed my leaves.” - -“Then,” said the little bird, “I’ll moult all my feathers.” So he -moulted all his pretty feathers. Now there was a little girl walking -below, carrying a jug of milk for her brothers’ and sisters’ supper, and -when she saw the poor little bird moult all its feathers, she said: -“Little bird, why do you moult all your feathers?” “Oh!” said the little -bird, “Titty’s dead, and Tatty weeps, the stool hops, and the broom -sweeps, the door jars, and the window creaks, the old form runs round -the house, the walnut-tree sheds its leaves, and so I moult all my -feathers.” - -“Then,” said the little girl, “I’ll spill the milk.” So she dropped the -pitcher and spilt the milk. Now there was an old man just by on the top -of a ladder thatching a rick, and when he saw the little girl spill the -milk, he said: “Little girl, what do you mean by spilling the milk? Your -little brothers and sisters must go without their supper.” Then said the -little girl: “Titty’s dead, and Tatty weeps, the stool hops, and the -broom sweeps, the door jars, and the window creaks, the old form runs -round the house, the walnut-tree sheds all its leaves, the little bird -moults all its feathers, and so I spill the milk.” - -“Oh!” said the old man, “then I’ll tumble off the ladder and break my -neck.” So he tumbled off the ladder and broke his neck; and when the old -man broke his neck, the great walnut-tree fell down with a crash, and -upset the old form and house, and the house falling knocked the window -out, and the window knocked the door down, and the door upset the broom, -and the broom upset the stool, and poor little Tatty Mouse was buried -beneath the ruins. - - - - - _The Magpie’s Nest_ - - -Once upon a time all the birds of the air came to the Magpie and asked -her to teach them how to build nests, for the Magpie is the cleverest of -all at building. So she put them all around her and began to show them -how to do it. First of all she took some mud and made a sort of round -cake with it. - -“Oh, that’s how it’s done,” said the thrush; and away it flew, and so -that’s how thrushes build their nests. - -Then the Magpie took some twigs and arranged them around in the mud. - -“Now I know all about it,” said the blackbird, and off he flew; and -that’s how the blackbirds make their nests to this very day. - -Then the Magpie put another layer of mud over the twigs. - -“Oh, that’s quite obvious,” said the wise owl, and away he flew; and -owls have never made better nests since. - -After this the Magpie took some twigs and twined them around the -outside. - -“The very thing!” said the sparrow, and off he went; so sparrows make -rather slovenly nests to this day. - -Well, then Madge Magpie took some feathers and stuff and lined the nest -very comfortably with it. - -“That suits me,” cried the starling, and off he flew; and very -comfortable nests have starlings. - -So it went on, every bird taking away some knowledge of how to build -nests, but none of them waiting to the end. Meanwhile Madge Magpie went -on working and working without looking up till the only bird that -remained was the turtle-dove, and that hadn’t paid any attention all -along, but only kept on saying its silly cry: “Take two, Taffy, take -two-o-o-o.” - -At last the Magpie heard this just as she was putting a twig across. So -she said: “One’s enough.” - -But the turtle-dove kept on saying: “Take two, Taffy, take two-o-o-o.” - -Then the Magpie grew angry and said: “One’s enough, I tell you.” - -Still the turtle-dove cried: “Take two, Taffy, take two-o-o-o.” - -At last, and at last, the Magpie looked up and saw nobody near her but -the silly turtle-dove, and then she grew very angry and refused to teach -any more. - -And that is why all the birds build their nests in different ways up to -this day. Each one made off, you see, as soon as he thought he had -learned the Magpie’s secret, and each is perfectly contented with his -own way. - - - - - _Scrapefoot_ - - -Once upon a time, there were three bears who lived in a castle in a -great wood. One of them was a great big bear, and one was a middling -bear, and one was a little bear. And in the same wood there was a fox -who lived all alone. His name was Scrapefoot. Scrapefoot was very much -afraid of the bears, but for all that he wanted very much to know about -them. And one day as he went through the wood he found himself near the -bears’ castle, and he wondered whether he could get into the castle. He -looked all about him everywhere, and he could not see any one. So he -came on very quietly, till at last he came up to the door of the castle, -and he tried whether he could open it. Yes! the door was not locked, and -he opened it just a little way, and put his nose in and looked, and he -could not see any one. So then he opened it a little way farther, and -put one paw in, and then another paw, and another, and another, and then -he was all in the bears’ castle. He found he was in a great hall with -three chairs in it—one big, one middling, and one little chair; and he -thought he would like to sit down and rest and look about him; so he sat -down on the big chair. But he found it so hard and uncomfortable that it -made his bones ache, and he jumped down at once and got into the -middling chair, and he turned round and round in it, but he couldn’t -make himself comfortable. So then he went to the little chair and sat -down in it, and it was so soft and warm and comfortable that Scrapefoot -was quite happy; but all at once it broke to pieces under him and he -couldn’t put it together again! So he got up and began to look about him -again, and on one table he saw three saucers, of which one was very big, -one was middling, and one was quite a little saucer. Scrapefoot was very -thirsty, and he began to drink out of the big saucer. But he only just -tasted the milk in the big saucer, which was so sour and so horrid that -he would not taste another drop of it. Then he tried the middling -saucer, and he drank a little of that. He tried two or three mouthfuls, -but it was not nice, and then he left it and went to the little saucer, -and the milk in the little saucer was so sweet and so nice that he went -on drinking it till it was all gone. - -Then Scrapefoot thought he would like to go up-stairs; and he listened -and he could not hear any one. So up-stairs he went, and he found a -great room with three beds in it; one was a big bed, and one was a -middling bed, and one was a little white bed; and he climbed up into the -big bed, but it was so hard and lumpy and uncomfortable that he jumped -down again at once, and tried the middling bed. That was rather better, -but he could not lie comfortably in it, so after turning about a little -while he got up and went to the little bed; and that was so soft and so -warm and so nice that he fell fast asleep at once. - -And after a time the bears came home, and when they got into the hall -the big bear went to his chair and said: “WHO’S BEEN SITTING IN MY -CHAIR?” and the middling bear said: “WHO’S BEEN SITTING IN MY CHAIR?” -and the little bear said: “_Who’s been sitting in my chair and has -broken it all to pieces?_” And then they went to have their milk, and -the big bear said: “WHO’S BEEN DRINKING MY MILK?” and the middling bear -said: “WHO’S BEEN DRINKING MY MILK?” and the little bear said: “_Who’s -been drinking my milk and has drunk it all up?_” Then they went -up-stairs and into the bedroom, and the big bear said: “WHO’S BEEN -SLEEPING IN MY BED?” and the middling bear said: “WHO’S BEEN SLEEPING IN -MY BED?” and the little bear said: “_Who’s been sleeping in my bed?—and -see, here he is!_” So then the bears came and wondered what they should -do with him; and the big bear said: “Let’s hang him!” and then the -middling bear said: “Let’s drown him!” and then the little bear said: -“Let’s throw him out of the window.” And then the bears took him to the -window, and the big bear took two legs on one side and the middling bear -took two legs on the other side, and they swung him backward and -forward, backward and forward, and out of the window. Poor Scrapefoot -was so frightened, and he thought every bone in his body must be broken. -But he got up and first shook one leg—no, that was not broken; and then -another, and that was not broken; and another and another, and then he -wagged his tail and found there were no bones broken. So then he -galloped off home as fast as he could go, and never went near the bears’ -castle again. - - - - - _The Wise Men of Gotham_ - - - OF BUYING OF SHEEP - -There were two men of Gotham, and one of them was going to market to -Nottingham to buy sheep, and the other came from the market, and they -both met together upon Nottingham bridge. - -“Where are you going?” said the one who came from Nottingham. - -“Marry,” said he that was going to Nottingham, “I am going to buy -sheep.” - -“Buy sheep?” said the other, “and which way will you bring them home?” - -“Marry,” said the other, “I will bring them over this bridge.” - -“By Robin Hood,” said he that came from Nottingham, “but thou shalt -not.” - -“By Maid Marian,” said he that was going thither, “but I will.” - -“You will not,” said the one. - -“I will,” said the other. - -Then they beat their staves against the ground one against the other, as -if there had been a hundred sheep between them. - -“Hold in,” said one; “beware lest my sheep leap over the bridge.” - -“I care not,” said the other; “they shall not come this way.” - -“But they shall,” said the other. - -Then the other said: “If that thou make much to do, I will put my -fingers in thy mouth.” - -“Will you?” said the other. - -Now, as they were at their contention, another man of Gotham came from -the market with a sack of meal upon a horse, and seeing and hearing his -neighbors at strife about sheep, though there were none between them, -said: - -“Ah, fools! will you ever learn wisdom? Help me, and lay my sack upon my -shoulders.” - -They did so, and he went to the side of the bridge, unloosened the mouth -of the sack, and shook all his meal out into the river. - -“Now, neighbors,” he said, “how much meal is there in my sack?” - -“Marry,” said they, “there is none at all.” - -“Now, by my faith,” said he, “even as much wit as is in your two heads -to stir up strife about a thing you have not.” - -Which was the wisest of these three persons, judge yourself. - - - OF HEDGING A CUCKOO - -Once upon a time the men of Gotham would have kept the cuckoo so that -she might sing all the year, and in the midst of their town they made a -hedge round in compass, and they got a cuckoo, and put her into it, and -said: “Sing there all through the year, or thou shalt have neither meat -nor water.” The cuckoo, as soon as she perceived herself within the -hedge, flew away. “A vengeance on her!” said they. “We did not make our -hedge high enough.” - - - OF SENDING CHEESES - -There was a man of Gotham who went to the market at Nottingham to sell -cheese, and as he was going down the hill to Nottingham bridge, one of -his cheeses fell out of his wallet and rolled down the hill. “Ah, -gaffer,” said the fellow, “can you run to market alone? I will send one -after another after you.” Then he laid down his wallet and took out the -cheeses, and rolled them down the hill. Some went into one bush, and -some went into another. - -“I charge you all to meet me near the marketplace”; and when the fellow -came to the market to meet his cheeses, he stayed there till the market -was nearly done. Then he went about to inquire of his friends and -neighbors, and other men, if they did see his cheeses come to the -market. - -“Who should bring them?” said one of the market-men. - -“Marry, themselves,” said the fellow; “they know the way well enough.” - -And then he said: “A vengeance on them all. I did fear to see them run -so fast that they would run beyond the market. I am now fully persuaded -that they must be now almost at York.” Thereupon he forthwith hired a -horse to ride to York, to seek his cheeses where they were not, but to -this day no man can tell him of his cheeses. - - - OF DROWNING EELS - -When Good Friday came, the men of Gotham cast their heads together what -to do with their white herrings, their red herrings, their sprats, and -other salt fish. One consulted with the other, and agreed that such fish -should be cast into their pond (which was in the middle of the town), -that they might breed against the next year, and every man that had salt -fish left, cast them into the pool. - -“I have many white herrings,” said one. - -“I have many sprats,” said another. - -“I have many red herrings,” said the other. - -“I have much salt fish. Let all go into the pond or pool, and we shall -fare like lords next year.” - -At the beginning of next year following, the men drew near the pond to -have their fish, and there was nothing but a great eel. “Ah,” said they -all, “a mischief on this eel, for he has eaten up all our fish.” - -“What shall we do to him?” said one to the others. - -“Kill him,” said one. - -“Chop him into pieces,” said another. “Not so,” said another; “let us -drown him.” - -“Be it so,” said all. And they went to another pond, and cast the eel -into the pond. “Lie there and shift for yourself, for no help thou shalt -have from us”; and they left the eel to drown. - - - OF SENDING RENT - -Once on a time the men of Gotham had forgotten to pay their landlord. -One said to the other: “To-morrow is our pay-day, and whom shall we find -to send our money to our landlord?” - -The one said: “This day I have caught a hare, and he shall carry it, for -he is light of foot.” - -“Be it so,” said all; “he shall have a letter and a purse to put our -money in, and we shall direct him the right way.” So when the letters -were written and the money put in a purse, they tied it round the hare’s -neck, saying: “First you go to Lancaster, then you must go to -Loughborough, and Newarke is our landlord, and commend us to him, and -there are his dues.” - -The hare, as soon as he was out of their hands, ran on along the country -way. Some cried: “You must go to Lancaster first.” - -“Let the hare alone,” said another; “he can tell a nearer way than the -best of us all. Let him go.” - -Another said: “It is a subtle hare, let him alone; he will not keep the -highway for fear of dogs.” - - - OF COUNTING - -On a certain time there were twelve men of Gotham who went fishing, and -some went into the water and some on dry ground; and, as they were -coming back, one of them said: “We have ventured much this day wading; I -pray God that none of us that did come from home be drowned.” - -“Marry,” said one, “let us see about that. Twelve of us came out,” and -every man did count eleven, and the twelfth man did never count himself. - -“Alas!” said one to another, “one of us is drowned.” They went back to -the brook where they had been fishing, and looked up and down for him -that was drowned, and made great lamentation. A courtier came riding by, -and he did ask what they were seeking, and why they were so sorrowful. -“Oh,” said they, “this day we came to fish in this brook, and there were -twelve of us, and one is drowned.” - -“Why,” said the courtier, “count me how many of you there be,” and one -counted eleven and did not count himself. “Well,” said the courtier, -“what will you give me if I find the twelfth man?” - -“Sir,” said they, “all the money we have.” - -“Give me the money,” said the courtier; and he began with the first, and -gave him a whack over the shoulders that he groaned, and said, “There is -one,” and he served all of them that they groaned; but when he came to -the last he gave him a good blow, saying, “Here is the twelfth man.” - -“God bless you on your heart,” said all the company; “you have found our -neighbor.” - - - - - _Henny-Penny_ - - -One day Henny-penny was picking up corn in the corn-yard -when—whack!—something hit her upon the head. - -“Goodness gracious me!” says Henny-penny; “the sky’s a-going to fall; I -must go and tell the king.” - -So she went along, and she went along, and she went along till she met -Cocky-locky. “Where are you going, Henny-penny?” says Cocky-locky. “Oh! -I’m going to tell the king the sky’s a-falling,” says Henny-penny. “May -I come with you?” says Cocky-locky. “Certainly,” says Henny-penny. So -Henny-penny and Cocky-locky went to tell the king the sky was falling. - -They went along, and they went along, and they went along till they met -Ducky-daddles. “Where are you going to, Henny-penny and Cocky-locky?” -says Ducky-daddles. “Oh! we’re going to tell the king the sky’s -a-falling,” says Henny-penny and Cocky-locky. “May I come with you?” -says Ducky-daddles. “Certainly,” says Henny-penny and Cocky-locky. So -Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, and Ducky-daddles went to tell the king the -sky was a-falling. - -So they went along, and they went along, and they went along till they -met Goosey-poosey. “Where are you going to, Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, -and Ducky-daddles?” says Goosey-poosey. “Oh! we’re going to tell the -king the sky’s a-falling,” says Henny-penny and Cocky-locky and -Ducky-daddles. “May I come with you?” says Goosey-poosey. “Certainly,” -says Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, and Ducky-daddles. So Henny-penny, -Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, and Goosey-poosey went to tell the king the -sky was a-falling. - -So they went along, and they went along, and they went along till they -met Turkey-lurkey. “Where are you going, Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, -Ducky-daddles, and Goosey-poosey?” says Turkey-lurkey. “Oh! we’re going -to tell the king the sky’s a-falling,” says Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, -Ducky-daddles, and Goosey-poosey. “May I come with you, Henny-penny, -Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, and Goosey-poosey?” says Turkey-lurkey. “Oh, -certainly, Turkey-lurkey,” says Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, -and Goosey-poosey. So Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, -Goosey-poosey, and Turkey-lurkey all went to tell the king the sky was -a-falling. - -So they went along, and they went along, and they went along till they -met Foxy-woxy, and Foxy-woxy says to Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, -Ducky-daddles, Goosey-poosey, and Turkey-lurkey: “Where are you going, -Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, Goosey-poosey, and -Turkey-lurkey?” And Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, -Goosey-poosey, and Turkey-lurkey says to Foxy-woxey: “We’re going to -tell the king the sky’s a-falling.” “Oh! but this is not the way to the -king, Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, Goosey-poosey, and -Turkey-lurkey,” says Foxy-woxy; “I know the proper way; shall I show it -you?” “Oh, certainly, Foxy-woxy,” says Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, -Ducky-daddles, Goosey-poosey, and Turkey-lurkey. So Henny-penny, -Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, Goosey-poosey, Turkey-lurkey, and Foxy-woxy -all went to tell the king the sky was a-falling. - -So they went along, and they went along, and they went along till they -came to a narrow and dark hole. Now this was the door of Foxy-woxy’s -cave. But Foxy-woxy says to Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, -Goosey-poosey, and Turkey-lurkey: “This is the short way to the king’s -palace: you’ll soon get there if you follow me. I will go first and you -come after, Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, Goosey-poosey, and -Turkey-lurkey.” “Why, of course, certainly, without doubt, why not?” -says Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, Goosey-poosey, and -Turkey-lurkey. - -So Foxy-woxy went into his cave, and he didn’t go very far, but turned -round to wait for Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, -Goosey-poosey, and Turkey-lurkey. So at last Turkey-lurkey went through -the dark hole into the cave. He hadn’t got far when “Hrumph!” Foxy-woxy -snapped off Turkey-lurkey’s head and threw his body over his left -shoulder. Then Goosey-poosey went in, and “Hrumph!” off went her head -and Goosey-poosey was thrown beside Turkey-lurkey. Then Ducky-daddles -waddled down, and “Hrumph!” snapped Foxy-woxy, and Ducky-daddles’s head -was off, and Ducky-daddles was thrown alongside Turkey-lurkey and -Goosey-poosey. Then Cocky-locky strutted down into the cave, and he -hadn’t gone far when “Snap, Hrumph!” went Foxy-woxy, and Cocky-locky was -thrown alongside of Turkey-lurkey, Goosey-poosey, and Ducky-daddles. - -But Foxy-woxy had made two bites at Cocky-locky, and when the first snap -only hurt Cocky-locky, but didn’t kill him, he called out to -Henny-penny. So she turned tail and off she ran home, and she never told -the king the sky was a-falling. - - - - - _A Son of Adam_ - - -A man was working one day. It was very hot, and he was digging. By and -by he stopped to rest and wipe his face; and he grew very angry to think -he had to work so hard just because of Adam’s sin. So he complained -bitterly, and said some very hard words about Adam. - -It happened that his master heard him, and he asked: “Why do you blame -Adam? You’d ha’ done just like Adam, if you’d a-been in his place.” - -“No, I shouldn’t,” says the man. “I should ha’ know’d better.” - -“Well, I’ll try you,” says his master. “Come to me at dinner-time.” - -So come dinner-time, the man came, and his master took him into a room -where the table was a-set with good things of all sorts. And he said: -“Now, you can eat as much as ever you like from any of the dishes on the -table; but don’t touch the covered dish in the middle till I come back.” -And with that the master went out of the room and left the man there all -by himself. So the man began to taste some o’ this dish and some o’ -that, and enjoyed himself finely. But after a while, as his master -didn’t come back, he began to look at the covered dish, and to wonder -whatever was in it. And he wondered more and more, and he says to -himself: “It must be something very nice. Why shouldn’t I just look at -it? I won’t touch it. There can’t be any harm in just peeping.” So at -last he could hold back no longer, and he lifted up the cover a tiny -bit; but he couldn’t see anything. Then he lifted it up a bit more, and -out popped a mouse. The man tried to catch it; but it ran away and -jumped off the table and he ran after it. It ran first into one corner, -and then, just as he thought he’d got it, into another, and under the -table, and all about the room. And the man made such a clatter, jumping -and banging and running round after the mouse, a-trying to catch it, -that at last his master came in. - -“Ah!” he said; “never you blame Adam again, my man!” - - - - - _The Happy Family_ - - -The largest green leaf in this country is certainly the burdock leaf. If -you hold it in front of you, it is large enough for an apron; and if you -hold it over your head, it is almost as good as an umbrella, it is so -wonderfully large. A burdock never grows alone; where it grows, there -are many more, and it is a splendid sight; and all this splendor is good -for snails. Grand people in olden times used to have the great white -snails made into fricassees; and when they had eaten them, they would -say: “Oh, what a delicious dish!” for these people really thought them -good. Such snails lived on burdock leaves, and for them the burdock was -planted. - -There was once an old estate where no one now lived to require snails; -indeed, the owners had all died out, but the burdock still flourished; -it grew over all the beds and walks of the garden—its growth had no -check—till it became at last quite a forest of burdocks. Here and there -stood an apple- or a plum-tree; but for this, nobody would have thought -the place had ever been a garden. It was burdock from one end to the -other; and here lived the last two surviving snails. They knew not -themselves how old they were; but they could remember the time when -there were a great many more of them, and that they were descended from -a family which came from foreign lands, and that the whole forest had -been planted for them and theirs. They had never been away from the -garden; but they knew that another place once existed in the world, -called the Duke’s Palace Castle, in which some of their relations had -been boiled till they became black, and were then laid on a silver dish; -but what was done afterward they did not know. Besides, they could not -imagine exactly how it felt to be boiled and placed on a silver dish; -but no doubt it was something very fine and highly genteel. Neither the -cockchafer, nor the toad, nor the earthworm, whom they questioned about -it, could give them the least information; for none of their relations -had ever been cooked or served on a silver dish. The old white snails -were the most aristocratic race in the world—they knew that. The forest -had been planted for them, and the nobleman’s castle had been built -solely that they might be cooked and laid on silver dishes. - -They lived quite retired and very happily; and as they had no children -of their own, they had adopted a little common snail, which they brought -up as their own child. The little one would not grow, for he was only a -common snail; but the old people, particularly the mother snail, -declared that she could easily see how he grew; and when the father said -he could not perceive it, she begged him to feel the little snail’s -shell, and he did so, and found that the mother was right. - -One day it rained very fast. “Listen, what a drumming there is on the -burdock leaves; tum, tum, tum; tum, tum, tum,” said the father snail. - -“There come the drops,” said the mother; “they are trickling down the -stalks. We shall have it very wet here presently. I am very glad we have -such good houses, and that the little one has one of his own. There has -been really more done for us than for any other creature; it is quite -plain that we are the most noble people in the world. We have houses -from our birth, and the burdock forest has been planted for us. I should -very much like to know how far it extends, and what lies beyond it.” - -“There can be nothing better than we have here,” said the father snail; -“I wish for nothing more.” - -“Yes, but I do,” said the mother; “I should like to be taken to the -palace, and boiled, and laid upon a silver dish, as was done to all our -ancestors; and you may be sure it must be something very uncommon.” - -“The nobleman’s castle, perhaps, has fallen to decay,” said the snail -father, “or the burdock wood may have grown over it, so that those who -live there cannot get out. You need not be in a hurry; you are always so -impatient, and the youngster is getting just the same. He has been three -days creeping to the top of that stalk. I feel quite giddy when I look -at him.” - -“You must not scold him,” said the mother snail; “he creeps so very -carefully. He will be the joy of our home; and we old folks have nothing -else to live for. But have you ever thought where we are to get a wife -for him? Do you think that farther out in the wood there may be others -of our race?” - -“There may be black snails, no doubt,” said the old snail; “black snails -without houses; though they are vulgar and conceited too. But we can -give the ants a commission; they run here and there, as if they all had -much business to get through. They, most likely, will know of a wife for -our youngster.” - -“I certainly know a most beautiful bride,” said one of the ants; “but I -fear it would not do, for she is a queen.” - -“That does not matter,” said the old snail. “Has she a house?” - -“She has a palace,” replied the ant, “a most beautiful ant-palace with -seven hundred passages.” - -“Thank you,” said the mother snail; “but our boy shall not go to live in -an ant-hill. If you know of nothing better, we will give the commission -to the white gnats; they fly about in rain and sunshine; they know the -burdock wood from one end to the other.” - -“We have a wife for him,” said the gnats; “a hundred man-steps from -here, there is a little snail with a house, sitting on a -gooseberry-bush; she is quite alone, and old enough to be married. It is -only a hundred man-steps from here.” - -“Then let her come to him,” said the old people. “He has the whole -burdock forest; she has only a bush.” - -So they brought the little lady-snail. She took eight days to perform -the journey; but that was just as it ought to be, for it showed her to -be one of the right breeding. And then they had a wedding. Six glowworms -gave as much light as they could; but in other respects it was all very -quiet; for the old snails could not bear festivities or a crowd. But a -beautiful speech was made by the mother snail. The father could not -speak; he was too much overcome. Then they gave the whole burdock forest -to the young snails as an inheritance, and repeated what they had so -often said, that it was the finest place in the world, and that if they -led upright and honorable lives, and their family increased, they and -their children might some day be taken to the nobleman’s palace, to be -boiled black, and laid on a silver dish. And when they had finished -speaking, the old couple crept into their houses, and came out no more; -for they slept. - -The young snail pair now ruled in the forest, and had a numerous -progeny. But as the young ones were never boiled or laid in silver -dishes, they concluded that the castle had fallen into decay, and that -all the people in the world were dead; and as nobody contradicted them, -they thought they must be right. And the rain fell upon the burdock -leaves, to play the drum for them, and the sun shone to paint colors on -the burdock forest for them, and they were very happy; the whole family -was entirely and perfectly happy. - - HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN. - - - - - _The Blind Man, the Deaf Man, and the Donkey_ - - -A blind Man and a Deaf Man once entered into partnership. The Deaf Man -was to see for the Blind Man, and the Blind Man was to hear for the Deaf -Man. - -One day both went to a nautch[6] together. The Deaf Man said: “The -dancing is very good, but the music is not worth listening to”; and the -Blind Man said: “On the contrary, I think the music very good, but the -dancing is not worth looking at.” - -Footnote 6: - - Musical and dancing entertainment. - -After this they went together for a walk in the jungle, and there found -a Dhobee’s Donkey that had strayed away from its owner, and a great big -chattee (such as Dhobees boil clothes in), which the Donkey was carrying -with him. - -The Deaf Man said to the Blind Man: “Brother, here are a Donkey and a -Dhobee’s great big chattee, with nobody to own them! Let us take them -with us—they may be useful to us some day.” “Very well,” said the Blind -Man; “we will take them with us.” So the Blind Man and the Deaf Man went -on their way, taking the Donkey and the great big chattee with them. A -little farther on they came to an ant’s nest, and the Deaf Man said to -the Blind Man: “Here are a number of very fine black ants, much larger -than any I ever saw before. Let us take some of them home to show our -friends.” “Very well,” answered the Blind Man; “we will take them as a -present to our friends.” So the Deaf Man took a silver snuff-box out of -his pocket, and put four or five of the finest black ants into it; which -done, they continued their journey. - -But before they had gone very far a terrible storm came on. It thundered -and lightened and rained and blew with such fury that it seemed as if -the whole heavens and earth were at war. “Oh dear! oh dear!” cried the -Deaf Man, “how dreadful this lightning is! Let us make haste and get to -some place of shelter.” “I don’t see that it’s dreadful at all,” -answered the Blind Man; “but the thunder is very terrible; we had better -certainly seek some place of shelter.” - -Now, not far off was a lofty building, which looked exactly like a fine -temple. The Deaf Man saw it, and he and the Blind Man resolved to spend -the night there; and having reached the place, they went in and shut the -door, taking the Donkey and the great big chattee with them. But this -building, which they mistook for a temple, was in truth no temple at -all, but the house of a very powerful Rakshas;[7] and hardly had the -Blind Man, the Deaf Man, and the Donkey got inside and fastened the -door, than the Rakshas, who had been out, returned home. To his -surprise, he found the door fastened and heard people moving about -inside his house. “Ho! ho!” cried he to himself, “some men have got in -here, have they? I’ll soon make mince-meat of them.” So he began to roar -in a voice louder than the thunder, and to cry: “Let me into my house -this minute, you wretches; let me in, let me in, I say,” and to kick the -door and batter it with his great fists. But though his voice was very -powerful, his appearance was still more alarming, insomuch that the Deaf -Man, who was peeping at him through a chink in the wall, felt so -frightened that he did not know what to do. But the Blind Man was very -brave (because he couldn’t see), and went up to the door and called out: -“Who are you, and what do you mean by coming battering at the door in -this way and at this time of night?” - -Footnote 7: - - A kind of ogre. - -“I’m a Rakshas,” answered the Rakshas angrily, “and this is my house. -Let me in this instant or I’ll kill you.” All this time the Deaf Man, -who was watching the Rakshas, was shivering and shaking in a terrible -fright, but the Blind Man was very brave (because he couldn’t see), and -he called out again: “Oh, you’re a Rakshas, are you? Well, if you’re -Rakshas, I’m Bakshas; and Bakshas is as good as Rakshas.” “Bakshas!” -roared the Rakshas. “Bakshas! Bakshas! What nonsense is this? There is -no such creature as a Bakshas!” “Go away,” replied the Blind Man, “and -don’t dare to make any further disturbance, lest I punish you with a -vengeance; for know that I’m Bakshas, and Bakshas is Rakshas’s father.” -“My father?” answered the Rakshas. “Heavens and earth! Bakshas, and my -father! I never heard such an extraordinary thing in my life. You my -father; and in there! I never knew my father was called Bakshas!” - -“Yes,” replied the Blind Man; “go away instantly, I command you, for I -am your father Bakshas.” “Very well,” answered the Rakshas (for he began -to get puzzled and frightened); “but if you are my father, let me first -see your face.” (For he thought: “Perhaps they are deceiving me.”) The -Blind Man and the Deaf Man didn’t know what to do; but at last they -opened the door a very tiny chink and poked the Donkey’s nose out. When -the Rakshas saw it he thought to himself: “Bless me, what a terribly -ugly face my father Bakshas has!” He then called out: “O father Bakshas, -you have a very big, fierce face; but people have sometimes very big -heads and very little bodies. Pray let me see your body as well as head -before I go away.” Then the Blind Man and the Deaf Man rolled the great, -big Dhobee’s chattee with a thundering noise past the chink in the door, -and the Rakshas, who was watching attentively, was very much surprised -when he saw this great black thing rolling along the floor, and he -thought: “In truth, my father Bakshas has a very big body as well as a -big head. He’s big enough to eat me up altogether. I’d better go away.” -But still he could not help being a little doubtful, so he cried: “O -Bakshas, father Bakshas! you have indeed got a very big head and a very -big body; but do, before I go away, let me hear you scream,” for all -Rakshas scream fearfully. Then the cunning Deaf Man (who was getting -less frightened) pulled the silver snuff-box out of his pocket, and took -the black ants out of it, and put one black ant in the Donkey’s right -ear, and another black ant in the Donkey’s left ear, and another and -another. The ants pinched the poor Donkey’s ears dreadfully, and the -Donkey was so hurt and frightened he began to bellow as loud as he -could: “Eh augh! eh augh! eh augh! augh! augh!” and at this terrible -noise the Rakshas fled away in a great fright, saying: “Enough, enough, -father Bakshas! the sound of your voice would make the most refractory -obedient.” And no sooner had he gone than the Deaf Man took the ants out -of the Donkey’s ears, and he and the Blind Man spent the rest of the -night in peace and comfort. - -Next morning the Deaf Man woke the Blind Man early, saying: “Awake, -brother, awake; here we are indeed in luck! The whole floor is covered -with heaps of gold and silver and precious stones.” And so it was, for -the Rakshas owned a vast amount of treasure, and the whole house was -full of it. “That is a good thing,” said the Blind Man. “Show me where -it is and I will help you to collect it.” So they collected as much -treasure as possible and made four great bundles of it. The Blind Man -took one great bundle, the Deaf Man took another, and, putting the other -two great bundles on the Donkey, they started off to return home. But -the Rakshas, whom they had frightened away the night before, had not -gone very far off, and was waiting to see what his father Bakshas might -look like by daylight. He saw the door of his house open and watched -attentively, when out walked—only a Blind Man, a Deaf Man, and a Donkey, -who were all three laden with large bundles of his treasure. The Blind -Man carried one bundle, the Deaf Man carried another bundle, and two -bundles were on the Donkey. - -The Rakshas was extremely angry, and immediately called six of his -friends to help him kill the Blind Man, the Deaf Man, and the Donkey, -and recover the treasure. - -The Deaf Man saw them coming (seven great Rakshas, with hair a yard long -and tusks like an elephant’s), and was dreadfully frightened; but the -Blind Man was very brave (because he couldn’t see), and said: “Brother, -why do you lag behind in that way?” “Oh!” answered the Deaf Man, “there -are seven great Rakshas with tusks like an elephant’s coming to kill us! -What can we do?” “Let us hide the treasure in the bushes,” said the -Blind Man; “and do you lead me to a tree; then I will climb up first, -and you shall climb up afterward, and so we shall be out of their way.” -The Deaf Man thought this good advice; so he pushed the Donkey and the -bundles of treasure into the bushes, and led the Blind Man to a high -soparee-tree that grew close by; but he was a very cunning man, this -Deaf Man, and instead of letting the Blind Man climb up first and -following him, he got up first and let the Blind Man clamber after, so -that he was farther out of harm’s way than his friend. - -When the Rakshas arrived at the place and saw them both perched out of -reach in the soparee-tree, he said to his friends: “Let us get on each -other’s shoulders; we shall then be high enough to pull them down.” So -one Rakshas stooped down, and the second got on his shoulders, and the -third on his, and the fourth on his, and the fifth on his, and the sixth -on his; and the seventh and the last Rakshas (who had invited all the -others) was just climbing up when the Deaf Man (who was looking over the -Blind Man’s shoulder) got so frightened that in his alarm he caught hold -of his friend’s arm, crying: “They’re coming, they’re coming!” The Blind -Man was not in a very secure position, and was sitting at his ease, not -knowing how close the Rakshas were. The consequence was, that when the -Deaf Man gave him this unexpected push, he lost his balance and tumbled -down on to the neck of the seventh Rakshas, who was just then climbing -up. The Blind Man had no idea where he was, but thought he had got on to -the branch of some other tree; and, stretching out his hand for -something to catch hold of, caught hold of the Rakshas’s two great ears, -and pinched them very hard in his surprise and fright. The Rakshas -couldn’t think what it was that had come tumbling down upon him; and the -weight of the Blind Man upsetting his balance, down he also fell to the -ground, knocking down in their turn the sixth, fifth, fourth, third, -second, and first Rakshas, who all rolled one over another, and lay in a -confused heap at the foot of the tree together. - -Meanwhile the Blind Man called out to his friend: “Where am I? What has -happened? Where am I? Where am I?” The Deaf Man (who was safe up in the -tree) answered: “Well done, brother! never fear! never fear! You’re all -right, only hold on tight. I’m coming down to help you.” But he had not -the least intention of leaving his place of safety. However, he -continued to call out: “Never mind, brother; hold on as tight as you -can. I’m coming, I’m coming,” and the more he called out, the harder the -Blind Man pinched the Rakshas’s ears, which he mistook for some kind of -palm branches. - -The six other Rakshas, who had succeeded, after a good deal of kicking, -in extricating themselves from their unpleasant position, thought they -had had quite enough of helping their friend, and ran away as fast as -they could; and the seventh, thinking from their going that the danger -must be greater than he imagined, and being, moreover, very much afraid -of the mysterious creature that sat on his shoulders, put his hands to -the back of his ears and pushed off the Blind Man, and then (without -staying to see who or what he was) followed his six companions as fast -as he could. - -As soon as all the Rakshas were out of sight, the Deaf Man came down -from the tree, and, picking up the Blind Man, embraced him, saying: “I -could not have done better myself. You have frightened away all our -enemies, but you see I came to help you as fast as possible.” He then -dragged the Donkey and the bundles of treasure out of the bushes, gave -the Blind Man one bundle to carry, took the second himself, and put the -remaining two on the Donkey, as before. This done, the whole party set -off to return home. But when they had got nearly out of the jungle the -Deaf Man said to the Blind Man: “We are now close to the village; but if -we take all this treasure home with us, we shall run great risk of being -robbed. I think our best plan would be to divide it equally; then you -can take care of your half, and I will take care of mine, and each one -can hide his share here in the jungle, or wherever pleases him best.” -“Very well,” said the Blind Man; “do you divide what we have in the -bundles into two equal portions, keeping one half yourself and giving me -the other.” The cunning Deaf Man, however, had no intention of giving up -half of the treasure to the Blind Man; so he first took his own bundle -of treasure and hid it in the bushes, and then he took the two bundles -off the Donkey and hid them in the bushes; and he took a good deal of -treasure out of the Blind Man’s bundle, which he also hid. Then, taking -the small quantity that remained, he divided it into two equal portions, -and placing half before the Blind Man and half in front of himself, -said: “There, brother, is your share to do what you please with.” The -Blind Man put out his hand, but when he felt what a very little heap of -treasure it was, he got very angry, and cried: “This is not fair—you are -deceiving me; you have kept almost all the treasure for yourself and -only given me a very little.” “Oh, oh! how can you think so?” answered -the Deaf Man; “but if you will not believe me, feel for yourself. See, -my heap of treasure is no larger than yours.” - -The Blind Man put out his hands again to feel how much his friend had -kept; but in front of the Deaf Man lay only a very small heap, no larger -than what he had himself received. At this he got very cross, and said: -“Come, come, this won’t do. You think you can cheat me in this way -because I am blind; but I’m not so stupid as all that. I carried a great -bundle of treasure, you carried a great bundle of treasure, and there -were two great bundles on the Donkey. Do you mean to pretend that all -that made no more treasure than these two little heaps! No, indeed; I -know better than that.” “Stuff and nonsense!” answered the Deaf Man. -“Stuff or no stuff,” continued the other, “you are trying to take me in, -and I won’t be taken in by you.” “No, I’m not,” said the Deaf Man. “Yes, -you are,” said the Blind Man; and so they went on bickering, scolding, -growling, contradicting, until the Blind Man got so enraged that he gave -the Deaf Man a tremendous box on the ear. The blow was so violent that -it made the Deaf Man hear! The Deaf Man, very angry, gave his neighbor -in return so hard a blow in the face that it opened the Blind Man’s -eyes! - -So the Deaf Man could hear as well as see, and the Blind Man could see -as well as hear! This astonished them both so much that they became good -friends at once. The Deaf Man confessed to having hidden the bulk of the -treasure, which he thereupon dragged forth from its place of -concealment, and, having divided it equally, they went home and enjoyed -themselves. - - - - - _The Alligator and the Jackal_ - - -A hungry Jackal once went down to the riverside in search of little -crabs, bits of fish, and whatever else he could find for his dinner. Now -it chanced that in this river there lived a great big Alligator, who, -being also very hungry, would have been extremely glad to eat the -Jackal. - -The Jackal ran up and down, here and there, but for a long time could -find nothing to eat. At last, close to where the Alligator was lying -among some tall bulrushes under the clear, shallow water, he saw a -little crab sidling along as fast as his legs could carry him. The -Jackal was so hungry that when he saw this he poked his paw into the -water to try and catch the crab, when snap! the old Alligator caught -hold of him. “Oh dear!” thought the Jackal to himself, “what can I do? -This great, big Alligator has caught my paw in his mouth, and in another -minute he will drag me down by it under the water and kill me. My only -chance is to make him think he has made a mistake.” So he called out in -a cheerful voice: “Clever Alligator, clever Alligator, to catch hold of -a bulrush root instead of my paw! I hope you find it very tender.” The -Alligator, who was so buried among the bulrushes that he could hardly -see, thought, on hearing this: “Dear me, how tiresome! I fancied I had -caught hold of the Jackal’s paw; but there he is, calling out in a -cheerful voice. I suppose I must have seized a bulrush root instead, as -he says,” and he let the Jackal go. - -The Jackal ran away as fast as he could, crying: “O wise Alligator, wise -Alligator! So you let me go again!” Then the Alligator was very much -vexed, but the Jackal had run away too far to be caught. Next day the -Jackal returned to the riverside to get his dinner as before; but -because he was very much afraid of the Alligator he called out: -“Whenever I go to look for my dinner, I see the nice little crabs -peeping up through the mud; then I catch them and eat them. I wish I -could see one now.” - -The Alligator, who was buried in the mud at the bottom of the river, -heard every word. So he popped the little point of his snout above it, -thinking: “If I do but just show the tip of my nose, the Jackal will -take me for a crab and put in his paw to catch me, and as soon as ever -he does I’ll gobble him up.” - -But no sooner did the Jackal see the little tip of the Alligator’s nose -than he called out: “Aha, my friend! there you are. No dinner for me in -this part of the river, then, I think.” And so saying, he ran farther on -and fished for his dinner a long way from that place. The Alligator was -very angry at missing his prey a second time, and determined not to let -him escape again. - -So on the following day, when his little tormentor returned to the -waterside, the Alligator hid himself close to the bank, in order to -catch him if he could. Now the Jackal was rather afraid of going near -the river, for he thought: “Perhaps the Alligator will catch me to-day.” -But yet, being hungry, he did not wish to go without his dinner; so to -make all as safe as he could, he cried: “Where are all the little crabs -gone? There is not one here and I am so hungry; and generally, even when -they are under water, one can see them going bubble, bubble, bubble, and -all the little bubbles go pop! pop! pop!” On hearing this the Alligator, -who was buried in the mud under the river bank, thought: “I will pretend -to be a little crab.” And he began to blow, “Puff, puff, puff! Bubble, -bubble, bubble!” and all the great bubbles rushed to the surface of the -river and burst there, and the waters eddied round and round like a -whirlpool; and there was such a commotion when the huge monster began to -blow bubbles in this way that the Jackal saw very well who must be -there, and he ran away as fast as he could, saying: “Thank you, kind -Alligator, thank you; thank you! Indeed, I would not have come here had -I known you were so close.” - -This enraged the Alligator extremely; it made him quite cross to think -of being so often deceived by a little Jackal, and he said to himself: -“I will be taken in no more. Next time I will be very cunning.” So for a -long time he waited and waited for the Jackal to return to the -riverside; but the Jackal did not come, for he had thought to himself: -“If matters go on in this way, I shall some day be caught and eaten by -the wicked old Alligator. I had better content myself with living on -wild figs,” and he went no more near the river, but stayed in the -jungles and ate wild figs, and roots which he dug up with his paws. - -When the Alligator found this out, he determined to try and catch the -Jackal on land; so, going under the largest of the wild fig-trees, where -the ground was covered with the fallen fruit, he collected a quantity of -it together, and, burying himself under the great heap, waited for the -Jackal to appear. But no sooner did the cunning little animal see this -great heap of wild figs all collected together than he thought: “That -looks very like my friend the Alligator.” And to discover if it were so -or not, he called out: “The juicy little wild figs I love to eat always -tumble down from the tree, and roll here and there as the wind drives -them; but this great heap of figs is quite still; these cannot be good -figs; I will not eat any of them.” “Ho, ho!” thought the Alligator, “is -that all? How suspicious this Jackal is! I will make the figs roll about -a little, then, and when he sees that, he will doubtless come and eat -them.” - -So the great beast shook himself, and all the heap of little figs went -roll, roll, roll—some a mile this way, some a mile that, farther than -they had ever rolled before or than the most blustering wind could have -driven them. - -Seeing this, the Jackal scampered away, saying: “I am so much obliged to -you, Alligator, for letting me know you are there, for indeed I should -hardly have guessed it. You were so buried under that heap of figs.” The -Alligator, hearing this, was so angry that he ran after the Jackal, but -the latter ran very, very fast away, too quickly to be caught. - -Then the Alligator said to himself: “I will not allow that little wretch -to make fun of me another time and then run away out of reach; I will -show him that I can be more cunning than he fancies.” And early the next -morning he crawled as fast as he could to the Jackal’s den (which was a -hole in the side of a hill) and crept into it, and hid himself, waiting -for the Jackal, who was out, to return home. But when the Jackal got -near the place, he looked about him and thought: “Dear me! the ground -looks as if some heavy creature had been walking over it, and here are -great clods of earth knocked down from each side of the door of my den, -as if a very big animal had been trying to squeeze himself through it. I -certainly will not go inside until I know that all is safe there.” So he -called out: “Little house, pretty house, my sweet little house, why do -you not give an answer when I call? If I come, and all is safe and -right, you always call out to me. Is anything wrong, that you do not -speak?” - -Then the Alligator, who was inside, thought: “If that is the case I had -better call out, that he may fancy all is right in his house.” And in as -gentle a voice as he could, he said: “Sweet little Jackal.” - -At hearing these words the Jackal felt quite frightened, and thought to -himself: “So the dreadful old Alligator is there. I must try to kill him -if I can, for if I do not he will certainly catch and kill me some day.” -He therefore answered: “Thank you, my dear little house. I like to hear -your pretty voice. I am coming in in a minute, but first I must collect -firewood to cook my dinner.” And he ran as fast as he could, and dragged -all the dry branches and bits of stick he could find close up to the -mouth of the den. Meantime, the Alligator inside kept as quiet as a -mouse, but he could not help laughing a little to himself as he thought: -“So I have deceived this tiresome little Jackal at last. In a few -minutes he will run in here, and then won’t I snap him up!” - -When the Jackal had gathered together all the sticks he could find and -put them round the mouth of his den, he set them on fire and pushed them -as far into it as possible. There was such a quantity of them that they -soon blazed up into a great fire, and the smoke and flames filled the -den and smothered the wicked old Alligator and burned him to death, -while the little Jackal ran up and down outside dancing for joy and -singing: - -“How do you like my house, my friend? Is it nice and warm? Ding-dong! -ding-dong! The Alligator is dying! ding-dong, ding-dong! He will trouble -me no more. I have defeated my enemy! Ring-a-ting! ding-a-ting! -ding-ding-dong!” - - - - - _Why the Fish Laughed_ - - -As a certain fisherwoman passed by a palace crying her fish, the queen -appeared at one of the windows and beckoned her to come near and show -what she had. At that moment a very big fish jumped about in the bottom -of the basket. - -“Is it a he or a she?” inquired the queen. “I wish to purchase a -she-fish.” - -On hearing this the fish laughed aloud. - -“It’s a he,” replied the fisherwoman, and proceeded on her rounds. - -The queen returned to her room in a great rage; and on coming to see her -in the evening, the king noticed that something had disturbed her. - -“Are you indisposed?” he said. - -“No; but I am very much annoyed at the strange behavior of a fish. A -woman brought me one to-day, and on my inquiring whether it was a male -or female, the fish laughed most rudely.” - -“A fish laugh! Impossible! You must be dreaming.” - -“I am not a fool. I speak of what I have seen with my own eyes and have -heard with my own ears.” - -“Passing strange! Be it so. I will inquire concerning it.” - -On the morrow the king repeated to his vizier what his wife had told -him, and bade him investigate the matter, and be ready with a -satisfactory answer within six months, on pain of death. The vizier -promised to do his best, though he felt almost certain of failure. For -five months he labored indefatigably to find a reason for the laughter -of the fish. He sought everywhere and from every one. The wise and -learned, and they who were skilled in magic and in all manner of -trickery, were consulted. Nobody, however, could explain the matter; and -so he returned broken-hearted to his house, and began to arrange his -affairs in prospect of certain death, for he had had sufficient -experience of the king to know that his majesty would not go back from -his threat. Among other things, he advised his son to travel for a time, -until the king’s anger should have somewhat cooled. - -The young fellow, who was both clever and handsome, started off -whithersoever Kismet might lead him. He had been gone some days, when he -fell in with an old farmer, who also was on a journey to a certain -village. Finding the old man very pleasant, he asked him if he might -accompany him, professing to be on a visit to the same place. The old -farmer agreed, and they walked along together. The day was hot, and the -way was long and weary. - -“Don’t you think it would be pleasanter if you and I sometimes gave each -other a lift?” said the youth. - -“What a fool the man is!” thought the old farmer. - -Presently they passed through a field of corn ready for the sickle, and -looking like a sea of gold as it waved to and fro in the breeze. - -“Is this eaten or not?” said the young man. - -Not understanding his meaning, the old man replied: “I don’t know.” - -After a little while the two travelers arrived at a big village, where -the young man gave his companion a clasp-knife, and said: “Take this, -friend, and get two horses with it; but mind and bring it back, for it -is very precious.” - -The old man, looking half amused and half angry, pushed back the knife, -muttering something to the effect that his friend was either a fool -himself, or else trying to play the fool with him. The young man -pretended not to notice his reply, and remained almost silent till they -reached the city, a short distance outside which was the old farmer’s -house. They walked about the bazaar and went to the mosque, but nobody -saluted them or invited them to come in and rest. - -“What a large cemetery!” exclaimed the young man. - -“What does the man mean,” thought the old farmer, “calling this largely -populated city a cemetery?” - -On leaving the city their way led through a graveyard where a few people -were praying beside a tomb and distributing _chapatis_ and _kulchas_ to -passers-by, in the name of their beloved dead. They beckoned to the two -travelers and gave them as much as they would. - -“What a splendid city this is!” said the young man. - -“Now, the man must surely be demented!” thought the old farmer. “I -wonder what he will do next? He will be calling the land water, and the -water land; and be speaking of light where there is darkness, and of -darkness when it is light.” However, he kept his thoughts to himself. - -Presently they had to wade through a stream that ran along the edge of -the cemetery. The water was rather deep, so the old farmer took off his -shoes and pajamas and crossed over; but the young man waded through it -with his shoes and pajamas on. - -“Well! I never did see such a perfect fool, both in word and in deed,” -said the old man to himself. - -However, he liked the fellow; and thinking that he would amuse his wife -and daughter, he invited him to come and stay at his house as long as he -had occasion to remain in the village. - -“Thank you very much,” the young man replied; “but let me first inquire, -if you please, whether the beam of your house is strong.” - -The old farmer left him in despair, and entered his house laughing. - -“There is a man in yonder field,” he said, after returning their -greetings. “He has come the greater part of the way with me, and I -wanted him to put up here as long as he had to stay in this village. But -the fellow is such a fool that I cannot make anything out of him. He -wants to know if the beam of this house is all right. The man must be -mad!” and saying this, he burst into a fit of laughter. - -“Father,” said the farmer’s daughter, who was a very sharp and wise -girl, “this man, whosoever he is, is no fool, as you deem him. He only -wishes to know if you can afford to entertain him.” - -“Oh, of course,” replied the farmer. “I see. Well, perhaps you can help -me to solve some of his other mysteries. While we were walking together -he asked whether he should carry me or I should carry him, as he thought -that would be a pleasanter mode of proceeding.” - -“Most assuredly,” said the girl; “he meant that one of you should tell a -story to beguile the time.” - -“Oh, yes. Well, we were passing through a corn-field, when he asked me -whether it was eaten or not.” - -“And didn’t you know the meaning of this, father? He simply wished to -know if the man was in debt or not; because, if the owner of the field -was in debt, then the produce of the field was as good as eaten to him; -that is, it would have to go to his creditors.” - -“Yes, yes, yes, of course! Then, on entering a certain village, he bade -me take his clasp-knife and get two horses with it, and bring back the -knife again to him.” - -“Are not two stout sticks as good as two horses for helping one along on -the road? He only asked you to cut a couple of sticks and be careful not -to lose his knife.” - -“I see,” said the farmer. “While we were walking over the city we did -not see anybody that we knew, and not a soul gave us a scrap of anything -to eat, till we were passing the cemetery; but there some people called -to us and put into our hands some _chapatis_ and _kulchas_; so my -companion called the city a cemetery, and the cemetery a city.” - -“This also is to be understood, father, if one thinks of the city as the -place where everything is to be obtained, and of inhospitable people as -worse than the dead. The city, though crowded with people, was as if -dead, as far as you were concerned; while, in the cemetery, which is -crowded with the dead, you were saluted by kind friends and provided -with bread.” - -“True, true!” said the astonished farmer. “Then, just now, when we were -crossing the stream, he waded through it without taking off his shoes -and pajamas.” - -“I admire his wisdom,” replied the girl. “I have often thought how -stupid people were to venture into that swiftly flowing stream and over -those sharp stones with bare feet. The slightest stumble and they would -fall, and be wetted from head to foot. This friend of yours is a most -wise man. I should like to see him and speak to him.” - -“Very well,” said the farmer; “I will go and find him, and bring him -in.” - -“Tell him, father, that our beams are strong enough, and then he will -come in. I’ll send on ahead a present to the man, to show him that we -can afford to have him for our guest.” - -Accordingly she called a servant and sent him to the young man with a -present of a basin of _ghee_, twelve _chapatis_, and a jar of milk, and -the following message: “O friend, the moon is full; twelve months make a -year, and the sea is overflowing with water.” - -Half-way the bearer of this present and message met his little son, who, -seeing what was in the basket, begged his father to give him some of the -food. His father foolishly complied. Presently he saw the young man, and -gave him the rest of the present and the message. - -“Give your mistress my salaam,” he replied, “and tell her that the moon -is new, and that I can find only eleven months in the year, and the sea -is by no means full.” - -Not understanding the meaning of these words, the servant repeated them -word for word, as he had heard them, to his mistress; and thus his theft -was discovered, and he was severely punished. After a little while the -young man appeared with the old farmer. Great attention was shown to -him, and he was treated in every way as if he were the son of a great -man, although his humble host knew nothing of his origin. At length he -told them everything—about the laughing of the fish, his father’s -threatened execution, and his own banishment—and asked their advice as -to what he should do. - -“The laughing of the fish,” said the girl, “which seems to have been the -cause of all this trouble, indicates that there is a man in the palace -who is plotting against the king’s life.” - -“Joy, joy!” exclaimed the vizier’s son. “There is yet time for me to -return and save my father from an ignominious and unjust death, and the -king from danger.” - -The following day he hastened back to his own country, taking with him -the farmer’s daughter. Immediately on arrival he ran to the palace and -informed his father of what he had heard. The poor vizier, now almost -dead from the expectation of death, was at once carried to the king, to -whom he repeated the news that his son had just brought. - -“Never!” said the king. - -“But it must be so, your majesty,” replied the vizier; “and in order to -prove the truth of what I have heard, I pray you to call together all -the maids in your palace and order them to jump over a pit, which must -be dug. We’ll soon find out whether there is any man there.” - -The king had the pit dug, and commanded all the maids belonging to the -palace to try to jump it. All of them tried, but only one succeeded. -That one was found to be a man! - -Thus was the queen satisfied, and the faithful old vizier saved. - -Afterward, as soon as could be, the vizier’s son married the old -farmer’s daughter; and a most happy marriage it was. - - - - - _The Selfish Sparrow and the Houseless Crows_ - - -A sparrow once built a nice little house for herself, and lined it well -with wool and protected it with sticks, so that it resisted equally the -summer sun and the winter rains. A Crow who lived close by had also -built a house, but it was not such a good one, being only made of a few -sticks laid one above another on the top of a prickly-pear hedge. The -consequence was that one day, when there was an unusually heavy shower, -the Crow’s nest was washed away, while the Sparrow’s was not at all -injured. - -In this extremity the Crow and her mate went to the Sparrow, and said: -“Sparrow, Sparrow, have pity on us and give us shelter, for the wind -blows and the rain beats, and the prickly-pear hedge-thorns stick into -our eyes.” But the Sparrow answered: “I’m cooking the dinner; I cannot -let you in now; come again presently.” - -In a little while the Crows returned and said: “Sparrow, Sparrow, have -pity on us and give us shelter, for the wind blows and the rain beats, -and the prickly-pear hedge-thorns stick into our eyes.” The Sparrow -answered: “I’m eating my dinner; I cannot let you in now; come again -presently.” - -The Crows flew away, but in a little while returned, and cried once -more: “Sparrow, Sparrow, have pity on us and give us shelter, for the -wind blows and the rain beats, and the prickly-pear hedge-thorns stick -into our eyes.” The Sparrow replied: “I’m washing the dishes; I cannot -let you in now; come again presently.” - -The Crows waited a while and then called out: “Sparrow, Sparrow, have -pity on us and give us shelter, for the wind blows and the rain beats, -and the prickly-pear hedge-thorns stick into our eyes.” But the Sparrow -would not let them in; she only answered: “I’m sweeping the floor; I -cannot let you in now; come again presently.” - -Next time the Crows came and cried: “Sparrow, Sparrow, have pity on us -and give us shelter, for the wind blows and the rain beats, and the -prickly-pear hedge-thorns stick into our eyes.” She answered: “I’m -making the beds; I cannot let you in now; come again presently.” - -So, on one pretense or another she refused to help the poor birds. At -last, when she and her children had had their dinner, and she had -prepared and put away the dinner for next day, and had put all the -children to bed and gone to bed herself, she cried to the Crows: “You -may come in now and take shelter for the night.” The Crows came in, but -they were much vexed at having been kept out so long in the wind and the -rain, and when the Sparrow and all her family were asleep, the one said -to the other: “This selfish Sparrow had no pity on us; she gave us no -dinner, and would not let us in till she and all her children were -comfortably in bed; let us punish her.” So the two Crows took all the -nice dinner the Sparrow had prepared for herself and her children to eat -the next day, and flew away with it. - - - - - _The Lambikin_ - - -Once upon a time there was a wee, wee Lambikin, who frolicked about on -his little tottery legs, and enjoyed himself amazingly. - -Now one day he set off to visit his granny, and was jumping with joy to -think of all the good things he should get from her, when whom should he -meet but a jackal, who looked at the tender young morsel and said: -“Lambikin! Lambikin! I’ll EAT YOU!” - -But Lambikin only gave a little frisk, and said: - - “To granny’s house I go, - Where I shall fatter grow, - Then you can eat me so.” - -The jackal thought this reasonable, and let Lambikin pass. - -By and by he met a vulture, and the vulture, looking hungrily at the -tender morsel before him, said: “Lambikin! Lambikin! I’ll EAT YOU!” - -But Lambikin only gave a little frisk, and said: - - “To granny’s house I go, - Where I shall fatter grow, - Then you can eat me so.” - -The vulture thought this reasonable, and let Lambikin pass. - -And by and by he met a tiger, and then a wolf, and a dog, and an eagle; -and all these, when they saw the tender little morsel, said: “Lambikin! -Lambikin! I’ll EAT YOU!” - -But to all of them Lambikin replied, with a little frisk: - - “To granny’s house I go, - Where I shall fatter grow, - Then you can eat me so.” - -At last he reached his granny’s house, and said, all in a hurry: “Granny -dear, I’ve promised to get very fat; so, as people ought to keep their -promises, please put me into the corn-bin _at once_.” - -So his granny said he was a good boy, and put him into the corn-bin, and -there the greedy little Lambikin stayed for seven days, and ate, and -ate, and ate, until he could scarcely waddle, and his granny said he was -fat enough for anything, and must go home. But cunning little Lambikin -said that would never do, for some animal would be sure to eat him on -the way back, he was so plump and tender. - -“I’ll tell you what you must do,” said Master Lambikin; “you must make a -little drumikin out of the skin of my little brother who died, and then -I can sit inside and trundle along nicely, for I’m as tight as a drum -myself.” - -So his granny made a nice little drumikin out of his brother’s skin, -with the wool inside, and Lambikin curled himself up snug and warm in -the middle, and trundled away gaily. Soon he met the eagle, who called -out: - - “Drumikin! Drumikin! - Have you seen Lambikin?” - -And Mr. Lambikin, curled up in his soft warm nest, replied: - - “Fallen into the fire, and so will you - On, little Drumikin. Tum-pa, tum-too!” - -“How very annoying!” sighed the eagle, thinking regretfully of the -tender morsel he had let slip. - -Meanwhile Lambikin trundled along, laughing to himself, and singing: - - “Tum-pa, tum-too; - Tum-pa, tum-too!” - -Every animal and bird he met asked him the same question: - - “Drumikin! Drumikin! - Have you seen Lambikin?” - -And to each of them the little slyboots replied: - - “Fallen into the fire, and so will you - On, little Drumikin. Tum-pa, tum-too; - Tum-pa, tum-too; tum-pa, tum-too!” - -Then they all sighed to think of the tender little morsel they had let -slip. - -At last the jackal came limping along, for all his sorry looks as sharp -as a needle, and he too called out: - - “Drumikin! Drumikin! - Have you seen Lambikin?” - -And Lambikin, curled up in his snug little nest, replied gaily: - - “Fallen into the fire, and so will you - On, little Drumikin. Tum-pa——” - -But he never got any farther, for the jackal recognized his voice at -once, and cried: “Hullo! you’ve turned yourself inside out, have you? -Just you come out of that!” - -Whereupon he tore open drumikin and gobbled up Lambikin. - - - - - _The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse_ - - -Once upon a time a Town Mouse met a Country Mouse on the outskirts of a -wood. The Country Mouse was sitting under a hazel thicket plucking nuts. - -“Busy harvesting, I see,” said the Town Mouse. “Who would think of our -meeting in this out-of-the-way part of the world?” - -“Just so,” said the Country Mouse. - -“You are gathering nuts for your winter store?” said the Town Mouse. - -“I am obliged to do so if we intend having anything to live upon during -the winter,” said the Country Mouse. - -“The husk is big and the nut full this year, enough to satisfy any -hungry body,” said the Town Mouse. - -“Yes, you are right there,” said the Country Mouse; and then she related -how well she lived and how comfortable she was at home. - -The Town Mouse maintained that she was the better off, but the Country -Mouse said that nowhere could one be so well off as in the woods and -hills. The Town Mouse, however, declared she was best off; and as they -could not agree on this point they promised to visit each other at -Christmas; then they could see for themselves which was really the more -comfortable. - -The first visit was to be paid by the Town Mouse. - -Now, although the Country Mouse had moved down from the mountains for -the winter, the road to her house was long and tiring, and one had to -travel up hill and down dale; the snow lay thick and deep, so the Town -Mouse found it hard work to get on, and she became both tired and hungry -before she reached the end of her journey. - -“How nice it will be to get some food,” she thought. - -The Country Mouse had scraped together the best she had. There were nut -kernels, polypody, and other sorts of roots, and many other good things -which grow in woods and fields. She kept it all in a hole far under -ground, so the frost could not reach it, and close by was a running -spring, open all the winter, so she could drink as much water as she -liked. There was an abundance of all she had, and they ate both well and -heartily; but the Town Mouse thought it was very poor fare indeed. - -“One can, of course, keep body and soul together on this,” said she; -“but I don’t think much of it. Now you must be good enough to visit me -and taste what we have.” - -Yes, that her hostess would, and before long she set out. The Town Mouse -had gathered together all the scraps from the Christmas fare which the -woman of the house had dropped on the floor during the holidays—bits of -cheese, butter, and tallow ends, cake-crumbs, pastry, and many other -good things. In the dish under the ale-tap she had drink enough; in -fact, the place was full of all kinds of dainties. - -They ate and fared well; the Country Mouse seemed never to have enough; -she had never tasted such delicacies. But then she became thirsty, for -she found the food both strong and rich, and now she wanted something to -drink. - -“We haven’t far to go for the beer we shall drink,” said the Town Mouse, -and jumped upon the edge of the dish and drank till she was no longer -thirsty; she did not drink too much, for she knew the Christmas beer was -strong. The Country Mouse, however, thought the beer a splendid drink; -she had never tasted anything but water, so she took one sip after -another, but as she could not stand strong drink she became dizzy before -she left the dish. - -The drink got into her head and down into her toes and she began running -and jumping about from one beer-barrel to the other, and to dance and -tumble about on the shelves among the cups and mugs; she squeaked and -squealed as if she were intoxicated. - -“You must not carry on as if you had just come from the backwoods and -make such a row and noise,” said the Town Mouse; “the master of the -house is a bailiff, and he is very strict indeed,” she said. - -The Country Mouse said she didn’t care either for bailiffs or beggars. -But the cat sat at the top of the cellar steps, lying in wait, and heard -all the chatter and noise. When the woman of the house went down to draw -some beer and lifted the trap-door the cat slipped by into the cellar -and struck its claws into the Country Mouse. Then there was quite -another sort of dance. - -The Town Mouse slid back into her hole and sat in safety looking on, -while the Country Mouse suddenly became sober when she felt the claws of -the cat in her back. - -“Oh, my dear bailiff, oh, dearest bailiff, be merciful and spare my life -and I will tell you a fairy tale,” she said. - -“Well, go on,” said the cat. - -“Once upon a time there were two little mice,” said the Country Mouse, -squeaking slowly and pitifully, for she wanted to make the story last as -long as she could. - -“Then they were not lonely,” said the cat dryly and curtly. - -“And they had a steak which they were going to fry.” - -“Then they could not starve,” said the cat. - -“And they put it out on the roof to cool,” said the Country Mouse. - -“Then they did not burn themselves,” said the cat. - -“But there came a fox and a crow and ate it all up,” said the Country -Mouse. - -“Then I’ll eat you,” said the cat. But just at that moment the woman -shut the trap-door with a slam, which so startled the cat that she let -go her hold of the mouse. One bound and the Country Mouse found herself -in the hole with the Town Mouse. - -From there a passage led out into the snow, and you may be sure the -Country Mouse did not wait long before she set out homeward. - -“And this is what you call living at ease and being well off,” she said -to the Town Mouse. “Heaven preserve me from having such a fine place and -such a master! Why, I only just got away with my life!” - - - - - _The Greedy Cat_ - - -Once on a time there was a man who had a Cat, and she was so awfully -big, and such a beast to eat, he couldn’t keep her any longer. So she -was to go down to the river with a stone round her neck, but before she -started she was to have a meal of meat. So the goody set before her a -bowl of porridge and a little trough of fat. That the creature crammed -into her, and ran off and jumped through the window. Outside stood the -goodman by the barndoor threshing. - -“Good day, goodman,” said the Cat. - -“Good day, pussy,” said the goodman; “have you had any food to-day?” - -“Oh, I’ve had a little, but I’m ‘most fasting,” said the Cat; “it was -only a bowl of porridge and a trough of fat—and, now I think of it, I’ll -take you too,” and so she took the goodman and gobbled him up. - -When she had done that, she went into the byre, and there sat the goody -milking. - -“Good day, goody,” said the Cat. - -“Good day, pussy,” said the goody; “are you here, and have you eaten up -your food yet?” - -“Oh, I’ve eaten a little to-day, but I’m ‘most fasting,” said pussy; “it -was only a bowl of porridge, and a trough of fat, and the goodman—and, -now I think of it, I’ll take you too,” and so she took the goody and -gobbled her up. - -“Good day, you cow at the manger,” said the Cat to Daisy the cow. - -“Good day, pussy,” said the bell-cow; “have you had any food to-day?” - -“Oh, I’ve had a little, but I’m ‘most fasting,” said the Cat; “I’ve only -had a bowl of porridge, and a trough of fat, and the goodman, and the -goody—and, now I think of it, I’ll take you too,” and so she took the -cow and gobbled her up. - -Then off she set into the home-field, and there stood a man picking up -leaves. - -“Good day, you leaf-picker in the field,” said the Cat. - -“Good day, pussy; have you had anything to eat to-day?” said the -leaf-picker. - -“Oh, I’ve had a little, but I’m ‘most fasting,” said the Cat; “it was -only a bowl of porridge, and a trough of fat, and the goodman, and the -goody, and Daisy the cow—and, now I think of it, I’ll take you too.” So -she took the leaf-picker and gobbled him up. - -Then she came to a heap of stones, and there stood a stoat and peeped -out. - -“Good day, Mr. Stoat of Stoneheap,” said the Cat. - -“Good day, Mrs. Pussy; have you had anything to eat to-day?” - -“Oh, I’ve had a little, but I’m ‘most fasting,” said the Cat; “it was -only a bowl of porridge, and a trough of fat, and the goodman, and the -goody, and the cow, and the leaf-picker—and, now I think of it, I’ll -take you too.” So she took the stoat and gobbled him up. - -When she had gone a bit farther, she came to a hazel-brake, and there -sat a squirrel gathering nuts. - -“Good day, Sir Squirrel of the Brake,” said the Cat. - -“Good day, Mrs. Pussy; have you had anything to eat to-day?” - -“Oh, I’ve had a little, but I’m ‘most fasting,” said the Cat; “it was -only a bowl of porridge, and a trough of fat, and the goodman, and the -goody, and the cow, and the leaf-picker, and the stoat—and, now I think -of it, I’ll take you too.” So she took the squirrel and gobbled him up. - -When she had gone a little farther, she saw Reynard the fox, who was -prowling about by the woodside. - -“Good day, Reynard Slyboots,” said the Cat. - -“Good day, Mrs. Pussy; have you had anything to eat to-day?” - -“Oh, I’ve had a little, but I’m ‘most fasting,” said the Cat; “it was -only a bowl of porridge, and a trough of fat, and the goodman, and the -goody, and the cow, and the leaf-picker, and the stoat, and the -squirrel—and, now I think of it, I’ll take you too.” So she took Reynard -and gobbled him up. - -When she had gone a little farther she met Long Ears, the hare. - -“Good day, Mr. Hopper the hare,” said the Cat. - -“Good day, Mrs. Pussy; have you had anything to eat today?” - -“Oh, I’ve had a little, but I’m ‘most fasting,” said the Cat; “it was -only a bowl of porridge, and a trough of fat, and the goodman, and the -goody, and the cow, and the leaf-picker, and the stoat, and the -squirrel, and the fox—and, now I think of it, I’ll take you too.” So she -took the hare and gobbled him up. - -When she had gone a bit farther she met a wolf. - -“Good day, you Greedy Graylegs,” said the Cat. - -“Good day, Mrs. Pussy; have you had anything to eat to-day?” - -“Oh, I’ve had a little, but I’m ‘most fasting,” said the Cat; “it was -only a bowl of porridge, and a trough of fat, and the goodman, and the -goody, and the cow, and the leaf-picker, and the stoat, and the -squirrel, and the fox, and the hare—and, now I think of it, I may as -well take you too.” So she took and gobbled up Graylegs too. - -So she went on into the wood, and when she had gone far and farther than -far, o’er hill and dale, she met a bear-cub. - -“Good day, you bare-breeched bear,” said the Cat. - -“Good day, Mrs. Pussy,” said the bear-cub; “have you had anything to eat -to-day?” - -“Oh, I’ve had a little, but I’m ‘most fasting,” said the Cat; “it was -only a bowl of porridge, and a trough of fat, and the goodman, and the -goody, and the cow, and the leaf-picker, and the stoat, and the -squirrel, and the fox, and the hare, and the wolf—and, now I think of -it, I may as well take you too.” And so she took the bear-cub and -gobbled him up. - -When the Cat had gone a bit farther, she met a she-bear, who was tearing -away at a stump till the splinters flew, so angry was she at having lost -her cub. - -“Good day, you Mrs. Bruin,” said the Cat. - -“Good day, Mrs. Pussy; have you had anything to eat to-day?” - -“Oh, I’ve had a little, but I’m ‘most fasting,” said the Cat; “it was -only a bowl of porridge, and a trough of fat, and the goodman, and the -goody, and the cow, and the leaf-picker, and the stoat, and the -squirrel, and the fox, and the hare, and the wolf, and the bear-cub—and, -now I think of it, I’ll take you too,” and so she took Mrs. Bruin and -gobbled her up too. - -When the Cat got still farther on, she met Baron Bruin himself. - -“Good day, you Baron Bruin,” said the Cat. - -“Good day, Mrs. Pussy,” said Bruin; “have you had anything to eat -to-day?” - -“Oh, I’ve had a little, but I’m ‘most fasting,” said the Cat; “it was -only a bowl of porridge, and a trough of fat, and the goodman, and the -goody, and the cow, and the leaf-picker, and the stoat, and the -squirrel, and the fox, and the hare, and the wolf, and the bear-cub, and -the she-bear—and, now I think of it, I’ll take you too,” and so she took -Bruin and ate him up too. - -So the Cat went on and on, and farther than far, till she came to the -abodes of men again, and there she met a bridal train on the road. - -“Good day, you bridal train on the king’s highway,” said she. - -“Good day, Mrs. Pussy; have you had anything to eat to-day?” - -“Oh, I’ve had a little, but I’m ‘most fasting,” said the Cat; “it was -only a bowl of porridge, and a trough of fat, and the goodman, and the -goody, and the cow, and the leaf-picker, and the stoat, and the -squirrel, and the fox, and the hare, and the wolf, and the bear-cub, and -the she-bear, and the he-bear—and, now I think of it, I’ll take you -too,” and so she rushed at them, and gobbled up both the bride and -bridegroom, and the whole train, with the cook and the fiddler, and the -horses and all. - -When she had gone still farther, she came to a church, and there she met -a funeral. - -“Good day, you funeral train,” said she. - -“Good day, Mrs. Pussy; have you had anything to eat to-day?” - -“Oh, I’ve had a little, but I’m ‘most fasting,” said the Cat; “it was -only a bowl of porridge, and a trough of fat, and the goodman, and the -goody, and the cow, and the leaf-picker, and the stoat, and the -squirrel, and the fox, and the hare, and the wolf, and the bear-cub, and -the she-bear, and the he-bear, and the bride and bridegroom, and the -whole train—and, now, I don’t mind if I take you too,” and so she fell -on the funeral train and gobbled up both the body and the bearers. - -Now when the Cat had got the body in her, she was taken up to the sky, -and when she had gone a long, long way, she met the moon. - -“Good day, Mrs. Moon,” said the Cat. - -“Good day, Mrs. Pussy; have you had anything to eat to-day?” - -“Oh, I’ve had a little, but I’m ‘most fasting,” said the Cat; “it was -only a bowl of porridge, and a trough of fat, and the goodman, and the -goody, and the cow, and the leaf-picker, and the stoat, and the -squirrel, and the fox, and the hare, and the wolf, and the bear-cub, and -the she-bear, and the he-bear, and the bride and bridegroom, and the -whole train, and the funeral train—and, now I think of it, I don’t mind -if I take you too,” and so she seized hold of the moon, and gobbled her -up, both new and full. - -So the Cat went a long way still, and then she met the sun. - -“Good day, you sun in heaven.” - -“Good day, Mrs. Pussy,” said the sun; “have you had anything to eat -to-day?” - -“Oh, I’ve had a little, but I’m ‘most fasting,” said the Cat; “it was -only a bowl of porridge, and a trough of fat, and the goodman, and the -goody, and the cow, and the leaf-picker, and the stoat, and the -squirrel, and the fox, and the hare, and the wolf, and the bear-cub, and -the she-bear, and the he-bear, and the bride and bridegroom, and the -whole train, and the funeral train, and the moon—and, now I think of it, -I don’t mind if I take you too,” and so she rushed at the sun in heaven -and gobbled him up. - -So the cat went far and farther than far, till she came to a bridge, and -on it she met a big billy-goat. - -“Good day, you Billy-goat on Broad-bridge,” said the Cat. - -“Good day, Mrs. Pussy; have you had anything to eat to-day?” said the -billy-goat. - -“Oh, I’ve had a little, but I’m ‘most fasting; I’ve only had a bowl of -porridge, and a trough of fat, and the goodman, and the goody in the -byre, and Daisy the cow at the manger, and the leaf-picker in the -home-field, and Mr. Stoat of Stoneheap, and Sir Squirrel of the Brake, -and Reynard Slyboots, and Mr. Hopper the hare, and Greedy Graylegs the -wolf, and Bare-breech the bear-cub, and Mrs. Bruin, and Baron Bruin, and -a bridal train on the king’s highway, and a funeral at the church, and -Lady Moon in the sky, and Lord Sun in heaven—and, now I think of it, -I’ll take you too.” - -“That we’ll fight about,” said the billy-goat, and butted at the Cat -till she fell right over the bridge into the river, and there she burst. - -So they all crept out one after the other, and went about their -business, and were just as good as ever, all that the Cat had gobbled -up. The goodman of the house, and the goody in the byre, and Daisy the -cow at the manger, and the leaf-picker in the home-field, and Mr. Stoat -of Stoneheap, and Sir Squirrel of the Brake, and Reynard Slyboots, and -Mr. Hopper the hare, and Greedy Graylegs the wolf, and Bare-breech the -bear-cub, and Mrs. Bruin, and Baron Bruin, and the bridal train on the -highway, and the funeral train at the church, and Lady Moon in the sky, -and Lord Sun in heaven. - - - - - _Well Done: Ill Paid_ - - -Once upon a time there was a man who had to drive his sledge to the wood -for fuel, and a bear met him on the way. - -“Hand over your horse,” growled the bear, “or I’ll kill all your sheep -by summer.” - -“Oh, Heaven help me!” said the man. “There’s not a stick of firewood in -the house; you must let me drive home a load of fuel, else we shall be -frozen to death. I’ll bring the horse to you to-morrow morning.” - -Yes; on these terms he might drive the wood home, that was a bargain; -but Bruin said, if he didn’t come back, he should lose all his sheep by -summer. - -So the man got the wood on the sledge and rattled homeward, but he -wasn’t over-pleased with his bargain, you may fancy. - -So just then a fox met him. “Why, what’s the matter?” said the fox. “Why -are you so down in the mouth?” - -“Oh, if you want to know,” said the man, “I met a bear up yonder in the -wood, and I had to give my word to him to bring Dobbin back to-morrow, -at this very hour; for if he didn’t get him, he said he would tear all -my sheep to death by summer.” - -“Stuff! Nothing worse than that?” said the fox. “If you’ll give me your -fattest wether I’ll soon set you free; see if I don’t.” - -Yes, the man gave his word, and swore he would keep it true. - -“Well, when you come with Dobbin, to-morrow, for the bear,” said the -fox, “I’ll make a clatter up in the heap of stones yonder, and so, when -the bear asks what that noise is, you must say it is Peter the Marksman, -who is the best shot in the world. And after that you must help -yourself.” - -Now, next day, off set the man, and when he met the bear something began -to make a clatter up in the heap of stones. - -“Hist, hist! what’s that?” said the bear. - -“Oh, that’s Peter the Marksman, to be sure,” said the man. “He’s the -best shot in the world; I know him by his voice.” - -“Have you seen any bear about here, Eric?” shouted out a voice in the -wood. - -“Say no,” said the bear. - -“No, I haven’t seen any,” said Eric. - -“What’s that, then, that stands alongside your sledge?” bawled out the -voice in the wood. - -“Say it’s an old fir-stump,” said the bear. - -“Oh, it’s only an old fir-stump,” said the man. - -“Such fir-stumps we take in our country and roll them on our sledges,” -bawled out the voice. “If you can’t do it yourself, I’ll come and help -you.” - -“Say you can help yourself, and roll me up on the sledge,” said the -bear. - -“No, thank ye, I can help myself well enough,” said the man, and rolled -the bear on the sledge. - -“Such fir-stumps we always bind fast on our sledges in our part of the -world,” bawled out the voice. “Shall I come and help you?” - -“Say you can help yourself, and bind me fast, do,” said the bear. - -“No, thanks, I can help myself well enough,” said the man, who set to -binding Bruin fast with all the ropes he had, so that at last the bear -couldn’t stir a paw. - -“Such fir-stumps we always drive our ax into, in our part of the world,” -bawled out the voice, “for then we guide them better going down steep -pitches.” - -“Pretend to drive the ax into me, do now,” said the bear. - -Then the man took up his ax, and at one blow split the bear’s skull, so -that Bruin lay dead in a trice; and so the man and the fox were great -friends, and on the best of terms. - -But when they came near the farm, the fox said: “I’ve no mind to go -right home with you, for I can’t say I like your dogs; so I’ll just wait -here, and you can bring the wether to me; but mind you pick out one nice -and fat.” - -Yes, the man would be sure to do that, and thanked the fox much for his -help. So when he had put the horse into the stable he went across to the -sheep-pen. - -“Where are you going?” asked his wife. - -“Oh, I am only going over to the sheep-pen to fetch a fat ram for that -good fox who saved our horse,” said the man, “as I have promised him -one.” - -“Why on earth give that thief of a fox any ram?” said the woman. “We -have got the horse quite safe and the bear besides, and the fox has -stolen more geese from us than the ram is worth; or, if he hasn’t -already taken them, he is sure to do so some time. No, take the most -savage pair of those dogs of yours and let them loose on him, then -perhaps we’ll get rid of that thieving old rascal,” said the woman. - -The man thought this was sensible advice and took two of his savage red -dogs, put them in a bag and set out with them. - -“Have you got the ram?” said the fox. - -“Yes, come and fetch it,” said the man, undoing the string round the bag -and setting the dogs at the fox. - -“Ugh!” said the fox, bounding away, “the old saying: ‘Well done: ill -paid,’ is only too true; and now I find it is also true that one’s -relations are one’s worst enemies,” and he panted as he saw the red dogs -at his heels. - - - - - _Reynard and Chanticleer_ - - -Once on a time there was a cock who stood on a dungheap and crew and -flapped his wings. Then the fox came by. - -“Good day,” said Reynard. “I heard you crowing so nicely; but you can -stand on one leg and crow, and wink your eyes?” - -“Oh, yes,” said Chanticleer, “I can do that very well.” So he stood on -one leg and crew; but he winked only with one eye, and when he had done -that he made himself big and flapped his wings, as though he had done a -great thing. - -“Very pretty, to be sure,” said Reynard. “Almost as pretty as when the -parson preaches in church; but can you stand on one leg and wink both -your eyes at once? I hardly think you can.” - -“Can’t I, though!” said Chanticleer, and stood on one leg, and winked -both his eyes and crew. But Reynard caught hold of him, took him by the -throat, and threw him over his back, so that he was off to the wood -before he had crowed his crow out, as fast as Reynard could lay legs to -the ground. - -When they had come under an old spruce fir, Reynard threw Chanticleer on -the ground, and set his paw on his breast, and was going to take a bite. - -“You are a heathen, Reynard!” said Chanticleer. “Good Christians say -grace, and ask a blessing before they eat.” - -But Reynard would be no heathen. God forbid it! So he let go his hold, -and was about to fold his paws over his breast and say grace—when pop! -up flew Chanticleer into a tree. - -“You sha’n’t get off, for all that,” said Reynard to himself. So he went -away, and came again with a few chips which the woodcutters had left. -Chanticleer peeped and peered to see what they could be. - -“What in the world have you there?” he asked. - -“These are letters I have just got,” said Reynard. “Won’t you help me to -read them, for I don’t know how to read writing?” - -“I’d be so happy, but I dare not read them now,” said Chanticleer, “for -here comes a hunter. I see him, I see him, as I sit by the tree-trunk.” - -When Reynard heard Chanticleer chattering about a hunter, he took to his -heels as quick as he could. - -So this time Reynard was made game of again! - - - - - _Father Bruin in the Corner_ - - -Once on a time there was a man who lived far, far away in the wood. He -had many, many goats and sheep, but never a one could he keep for fear -of Graylegs, the wolf. - -At last he said: “I’ll soon trap Grayboots,” and so he set to work -digging a pitfall. When he had dug it deep enough, he put a pole down in -the midst of the pit, and on the top of the pole he set a board, and on -the board he put a little dog. Over the pit itself he spread boughs and -branches and leaves, and other rubbish, and a-top of all he strewed -snow, so that Graylegs might not see there was a pit underneath. - -So when it got on in the night, the little dog grew weary of sitting -there. “Bow-wow, bow-wow,” it said, and bayed at the moon. Just then up -came a fox, slouching and sneaking, and thought here was a fine time for -marketing, and with that gave a jump—head over heels down into the -pitfall. - -And when it got a little farther on in the night, the little dog got so -weary and hungry, and it fell to yelping and howling. “Bow-wow, -bow-wow,” it cried out. Just at that very moment up came Graylegs, -trotting and trotting. He, too, thought he should get a fat steak, and -he, too, made a spring—head over heels down into the pitfall. - -When it was getting on toward gray dawn in the morning, down fell snow, -with a north wind, and it grew so cold that the little dog stood and -froze, and shivered and shook; it was so weary and so hungry. “Bow-wow, -bow-wow, bow-wow,” it called out, and barked and yelped and howled. Then -up came a bear, tramping and tramping along, and thought to himself how -he could get a morsel for breakfast at the very top of the morning, and -so he thought and thought among the boughs and branches till he too went -bump—head over heels down into the pitfall. - -So when it got a little farther on in the morning, an old beggar wife -came walking by, who toddled from farm to farm with a bag on her back. -When she set eyes on the little dog that stood there and howled, she -couldn’t help going near to look and see if any wild beasts had fallen -into the pit during the night. So she crawled up on her knees and peeped -down into it. - -“Art thou come into the pit at last, Reynard?” she said to the fox, for -he was the first she saw; “a very good place, too, for such a hen-roost -robber as thou. And thou, too, Graypaw,” she said to the wolf; “many a -goat and sheep hast thou torn and rent, and now thou shalt be plagued -and punished to death. Bless my heart! Thou, too, Bruin! Art thou, too, -sitting in this room, thou mare-flayer? Thee, too, will we strip, and -thee shall we flay, and thy skull shall be nailed up on the wall.” All -this the old lass screeched out as she bent over toward the bear. But -just then her bag fell over her ears, and dragged her down, and slap! -down went the old crone—head over heels into the pitfall. - -So there they all four sat and glared at one another, each in a -corner—the fox in one, Graylegs in another, Bruin in a third, and the -old crone in a fourth. - -But as soon as it was broad daylight, Reynard began to peep and peer, -and to twist and turn about, for he thought he might as well try to get -out. - -But the old lass cried out: “Canst thou not sit still, thou whirligig -thief, and not go twisting and turning? Only look at Father Bruin -himself in the corner, how he sits as grave as a judge,” for now she -thought she might as well make friends with the bear. But just then up -came the man who owned the pitfall. First he drew up the old wife, and -after that he slew all the beasts, and spared neither Father Bruin -himself in the corner, nor Graylegs, nor Reynard the whirligig thief. -That night, at least, he thought he had made a good haul. - - - - - _Why the Sea is Salt_ - - -Once upon a time, long, long ago, there were two brothers, the one rich -and the other poor. When Christmas eve came the poor one had not a bite -in the house, either of meat or bread; so he went to his brother and -begged him, in Heaven’s name, to give him something for Christmas Day. -It was by no means the first time that the brother had been forced to -give something to him, and he was not better pleased at being asked now -than he generally was. - -“If you will do what I ask you, you shall have a whole ham,” said he. -The poor one immediately thanked him and promised this. - -“Well, here is the ham, and now you must go straight to Dead Man’s -Hall,” said the rich brother, throwing the ham to him. - -“Well, I will do what I have promised,” said the other, and he took the -ham and set off. He went on and on for the livelong day, and at -nightfall he came to a place where there was a bright light. - -“I have no doubt this is the place,” thought the man with the ham, and -he drew near an old man with a long white beard who was standing in the -outhouse chopping Yule-logs. - -“Good evening,” said the man with the ham. - -“Good evening to you. Where are you going at this late hour?” said the -man. - -“I am going to Dead Man’s Hall, if only I am in the right track,” -answered the poor man. - -“Oh, yes, you are right enough, for it is here,” said the old man. “When -you get inside they will all want to buy your ham, for they don’t get -much meat to eat there. But you must not sell it unless you can get for -it the hand-mill which stands behind the door. When you come out again I -will teach you how to stop the hand-mill, which is useful for almost -everything.” - -So the man with the ham thanked the other for his good advice and rapped -at the door. - -When he got in, everything happened just as the old man had said it -would: all the people, great and small, came round him like ants on an -ant-hill, and each tried to outbid the other for the ham. - -“By rights my old woman and I ought to have it for our Christmas dinner, -but since you have set your hearts upon it I must just give it up to -you,” said the man. “But if I sell it I will have the hand-mill which is -standing there behind the door.” - -At first they would not hear to this, and haggled and bargained with the -man, but he stuck to what he had said, and the people were forced to -give him the hand-mill. When the man came out again into the yard he -asked the old wood-cutter how he was to stop the hand-mill, and when he -had learned that, he thanked him and set off home with all the speed he -could, but did not get there until after the clock had struck twelve on -Christmas eve. - -“But where in the world have you been?” said the old woman. “Here I have -sat waiting hour after hour, and have not even two sticks to lay across -each other under the Christmas porridge-pot.” - -“Oh, I could not come before. I had something of importance to see -about, and a long way to go, too; but now you shall just see!” said the -man, and then he set the hand-mill on the table and bade it first grind -light, then a tablecloth, and then meat, and beer, and everything else -that was good for a Christmas eve’s supper; and the mill ground all that -he ordered. “Bless me!” said the old woman as one thing after another -appeared; and she wanted to know where her husband had got the mill -from, but he would not tell her that. - -“Never mind where I got it. You can see that it is a good one, and the -water that turns it will never freeze,” said the man. So he ground meat -and drink and all kinds of good things to last all Christmastide, and on -the third day he invited all his friends to come to a feast. - -Now, when the rich brother saw all that there was at the banquet, and in -the house, he was both vexed and angry, for he grudged everything his -brother had. “On Christmas eve he was so poor that he came to me and -begged for a trifle, for Heaven’s sake, and now he gives a feast as if -he were both a count and a king!” thought he. “But tell me, I pray you, -where you got your riches from?” said he to his brother. - -“From behind the door,” said he who owned the mill, for he did not -choose to satisfy his brother on that point; but later in the evening, -when he had taken a drop too much, he could not refrain from telling how -he had come by the hand-mill. “There you see what has brought me all my -wealth!” said he, and brought out the mill and made it grind first one -thing and then another. When the brother saw that, he insisted on having -the mill, and after a great deal of persuasion got it; but he had to -give three hundred dollars for it, and the poor brother was to keep it -till the haymaking was over, for he thought: “If I keep it as long as -that, I can make it grind meat and drink that will last many a long -year.” During that time you may imagine that the mill did not grow -rusty, and when hay-harvest came the rich brother got it, but the other -had taken good care not to teach him how to stop it. It was evening when -the rich man got the mill home, and in the morning he bade his wife go -out and spread the hay after the mowers, and he would attend to the -house himself that day. - -So when dinner-time drew near he set the mill on the kitchen table and -said: “Grind herrings and milk pottage, and do it both quickly and -well.” - -So the mill began to grind herrings and milk pottage, and first all the -dishes and tubs were filled, and then the food came out all over the -kitchen floor. The man twisted and turned the mill and did all he could -to make it stop, but howsoever he turned and screwed, it went on -grinding, and in a short time the pottage rose so high that the man was -like to be drowned. So he threw open the parlor door, but it was not -long before the mill had ground the parlor full too, and it was with -difficulty and danger that the man could go through the stream of -pottage and get hold of the door-latch. When he had the door open he did -not stay long in the room, but ran out, and the herrings and pottage -came after him, and streamed out over both farm and field. Now, the -wife, who was out spreading the hay, began to think dinner was long in -coming, and said to the women and the mowers: “Though the master does -not call us home, we may as well go. It may be that he finds he is not -good at making pottage, and I should do well to help him.” So they began -to straggle homeward, but when they had got a little way up the hill -they met the herrings and pottage and bread, all pouring forth and -winding about one over the other, and the man himself in front of the -flood. “Would to Heaven that each of you had a hundred stomachs! Take -care that you are not drowned in the pottage,” he cried as he went by -them as if mischief were at his heels, down to where his brother dwelt. -Then he begged him, for pity’s sake, to take the mill back again, and -that in an instant, “for,” said he, “if it grind one hour more the whole -district will be destroyed by herrings and pottage.” But the brother -would not take it until the other paid him three hundred dollars, and -that he was obliged to do. Now the poor brother had both the money and -the mill again. So it was not long before he had a farmhouse much finer -than that in which his brother lived, but the mill ground him so much -money that he covered it with plates of gold; and the farmhouse lay -close by the seashore, so it shone and glittered far out to sea. Every -one who sailed by there now had to put in to visit the rich man in the -gold farmhouse, and every one wanted to see the wonderful mill, for the -report of it spread far and wide, and there was no one who had not heard -tell of it. - -After a long, long time a skipper came who wished to see the mill. He -asked if it could make salt. “Yes, it could make salt,” said he who -owned it, and when the skipper heard that he wished with all his might -and main to have the mill, let it cost what it might, for, he thought, -if he had it he would get off having to sail far away over the perilous -sea for freights of salt. At first the man would not hear of parting -with it, but the skipper begged and prayed, and at last the man sold it -to him, and got many, many thousand dollars for it. When the skipper had -the mill on his back he did not long stay there, for he was so afraid -that the man would change his mind, and he had no time to ask how he was -to stop its grinding, but got on board his ship as fast as he could. - -When he had gone a little way out to sea he took the mill on deck. -“Grind salt, and grind both quickly and well,” said the skipper. So the -mill began to grind salt till it spouted out like water, and when the -skipper had the ship filled he wanted to stop the mill, but whichever -way he turned it and howsoever much he tried it went on grinding, and -the heap of salt grew higher and higher, until at last the ship sank. -There lies the mill at the bottom of the sea, and still, day by day, it -grinds on; and that is why the sea is salt. - - - - - _Gudbrand on the Hillside_ - - -There was once upon a time a man whose name was Gudbrand. He had a farm -which lay far away up on the side of a hill, and therefore they called -him Gudbrand on the hillside. - -He and his wife lived so happily together, and agreed so well, that -whatever the man did the wife thought it so well done that no one could -do it better. No matter what he did, she thought it was always the right -thing. - -They lived on their own farm, and had a hundred dollars at the bottom of -their chest and two cows in their cow-shed. One day the woman said to -Gudbrand: - -“I think we ought to go to town with one of the cows and sell it, so -that we may have some ready money by us. We are pretty well off, and -ought to have a few shillings in our pocket like other people. The -hundred dollars in the chest we mustn’t touch, but I can’t see what we -want with more than one cow, and it will be much better for us, as I -shall have only one to look after instead of the two I have now to mind -and feed.” - -Yes, Gudbrand thought, that was well and sensibly spoken. He took the -cow at once and went to town to sell it; but when he got there no one -would buy the cow. - -“Ah, well!” thought Gudbrand, “I may as well take the cow home again. I -know I have both stall and food for it, and the way home is no longer -than it was here.” So he strolled homeward again with the cow. - -When he had got a bit on the way he met a man who had a horse to sell, -and Gudbrand thought it was better to have a horse than a cow, and so he -changed the cow for the horse. - -When he had gone a bit farther he met a man who was driving a fat pig -before him, and then he thought it would be better to have a fat pig -than a horse, and so he changed with the man. - -He now went a bit farther, and then he met a man with a goat, and so he -thought it was surely better to have a goat than a pig, and changed with -the man who had the goat. - -Then he went a long way, till he met a man who had a sheep. He changed -with him, for he thought it was always better to have a sheep than a -goat. - -When he had got a bit farther he met a man with a goose, and so he -changed the sheep for the goose. And when he had gone a long, long way -he met a man with a cock. He changed the goose with him, for he thought -this wise: “It is surely better to have a cock than a goose.” - -He walked on till late in the day, when he began to feel hungry. So he -sold the cock for sixpence and bought some food for himself. “For it is -always better to keep body and soul together than to have a cock,” -thought Gudbrand. - -He then set off again homeward till he came to his neighbor’s farm, and -there he went in. - -“How did you get on in town?” asked the people. - -“Oh, only so-so,” said the man. “I can’t boast of my luck, nor can I -grumble at it either.” And then he told them how it had gone with him -from first to last. - -“Well, you’ll have a fine reception when you get home to your wife,” -said the man. “Heaven help you! I should not like to be in your place.” - -“I think I might have fared much worse,” said Gudbrand; “but whether I -have fared well or ill, I have such a kind wife that she never says -anything, no matter what I do.” - -“Aye, so you say; but you won’t get me to believe it,” said the -neighbor. - -“Shall we have a wager on it?” said Gudbrand. “I have a hundred dollars -in my chest at home. Will you lay the same?” - -So they made the wager and Gudbrand remained there till the evening, -when it began to get dark, and then they went together to the farm. - -The neighbor was to remain outside the door and listen while Gudbrand -went in to his wife. - -“Good evening!” said Gudbrand when he came in. - -“Good evening!” said the wife. “Heaven be praised you are back again.” - -“Yes, here I am!” said the man. And then the wife asked him how he had -got on in town. - -“Oh, so-so,” answered Gudbrand. “Not much to brag of. When I came to -town no one would buy the cow, so I changed it for a horse.” - -“Oh, I’m so glad of that,” said the woman. “We are pretty well off and -we ought to drive to church like other people, and when we can afford to -keep a horse I don’t see why we should not have one. Run out, children, -and put the horse in the stable.” - -“Well, I haven’t got the horse, after all,” said Gudbrand; “for when I -had got a bit on the way I changed it for a pig.” - -“Dear me!” cried the woman, “that’s the very thing I should have done -myself. I’m so glad of that, for now we can have some bacon in the house -and something to offer people when they come to see us. What do we want -with a horse? People would only say we had become so grand that we could -no longer walk to church. Run out, children, and let the pig in.” - -“But I haven’t got the pig either,” said Gudbrand, “for when I had got a -bit farther on the road I changed it into a milch goat.” - -“Dear! dear! how well you manage everything!” cried the wife. “When I -really come to think of it, what do I want with the pig? People would -only say: ‘Over yonder they eat up everything they have.’ No, now I have -a goat I can have both milk and cheese and keep the goat into the -bargain. Let in the goat, children.” - -“But I haven’t got the goat either,” said Gudbrand. “When I got a bit on -the way I changed the goat and got a fine sheep for it.” - -“Well!” returned the woman, “you do everything just as I should wish -it—just as if I had been there myself. What do we want with a goat? I -should have to climb up hill and down dale to get it home at night. No, -when I have a sheep I can have wool and clothes in the house and food as -well. Run out, children, and let in the sheep.” - -“But I haven’t got the sheep any longer,” said Gudbrand, “for when I had -got a bit on the way I changed it for a goose.” - -“Well, thank you for that!” said the woman; “and many thanks, too! What -do I want with a sheep? I have neither wheel nor spindle, and I do not -care either to toil and drudge making clothes; we can buy clothes now as -before. Now I can have goose-fat, which I have so long been wishing for, -and some feathers to stuff that little pillow of mine. Run, children, -and let in the goose.” - -“Well, I haven’t got the goose either,” said Gudbrand. “When I had got a -bit farther on the way I changed it for a cock.” - -“Well, I don’t know how you can think of it all!” cried the woman. “It’s -just as if I had done it all myself. A cock! Why, it’s just the same as -if you’d bought an eight-day clock, for every morning the cock will crow -at four, so we can be up in good time. What do we want with a goose? I -can’t make goose-fat and I can easily fill my pillow with some soft -grass. Run, children, and let in the cock.” - -“But I haven’t the cock either,” said Gudbrand; “for when I had got a -bit farther I became so terribly hungry I had to sell the cock for -sixpence and get some food to keep body and soul together.” - -“Heaven be praised you did that!” cried the woman. “Whatever you do, you -always do the very thing I could have wished. Besides, what did we want -with the cock? We are our own masters and can lie as long as we like in -the mornings. Heaven be praised! As long as I have got you back again, -who manage everything so well, I shall neither want cock, nor goose, nor -pig, nor cows.” - -Gudbrand then opened the door. “Have I won the hundred dollars now?” he -asked. And the neighbor was obliged to confess that he had. - - - - - _The Pancake_ - - -Once on a time there was a goody who had seven hungry bairns, and she -was frying a Pancake for them. It was a sweet-milk Pancake, and there it -lay in the pan bubbling and frizzling so thick and good, it was a sight -for sore eyes to look at. And the bairns stood round about, and the -goodman sat by and looked on. - -“Oh, give me a bit of Pancake, mother, dear; I am so hungry,” said one -bairn. - -“Oh, darling mother,” said the second. - -“Oh, darling, good mother,” said the third. - -“Oh, darling, good, nice mother,” said the fourth. - -“Oh, darling, pretty, good, nice mother,” said the fifth. - -“Oh, darling, pretty, good, nice, clever mother,” said the sixth. - -“Oh, darling, pretty, good, nice, clever, sweet mother,” said the -seventh. - -So they begged for the Pancake all round, the one more prettily than the -other; for they were so hungry and so good. - -“Yes, yes, bairns, only bide a bit till it turns itself”—she ought to -have said, “till I can get it turned”—“and then you shall all have -some—a lovely sweet-milk Pancake; only look how fat and happy it lies -there.” - -When the Pancake heard that it got afraid, and in a trice it turned -itself all of itself, and tried to jump out of the pan; but it fell back -into it again t’other side up, and so when it had been fried a little on -the other side, too, till it got firmer in its flesh, it sprang out on -the floor, and rolled off like a wheel through the door and down the -hill. - -“Holloa! Stop, Pancake!” and away went the goody after it, with the -frying-pan in one hand and the ladle in the other, as fast as she could, -and her bairns behind her, while the goodman limped after them last of -all. - -“Hi! won’t you stop? Seize it. Stop, Pancake,” they all screamed out, -one after the other, and tried to catch it on the run and hold it; but -the Pancake rolled on and on, and in the twinkling of an eye it was so -far ahead that they couldn’t see it, for the Pancake was faster on its -feet than any of them. - -So when it had rolled a while it met a man. - -“Good day, Pancake,” said the man. - -“God bless you, Manny-panny!” said the Pancake. - -“Dear Pancake,” said the man, “don’t roll so fast; stop a little and let -me eat you.” - -“When I have given the slip to Goody-poody, and the goodman, and seven -squalling children, I may well slip through your fingers, Manny-panny,” -said the Pancake, and rolled on and on till it met a hen. - -“Good day, Pancake,” said the hen. - -“The same to you, Henny-penny,” said the Pancake. - -“Pancake, dear, don’t roll so fast; bide a bit and let me eat you up,” -said the hen. - -“When I have given the slip to Goody-poody, and the goodman, and seven -squalling children, and Manny-panny, I may well slip through your claws, -Henny-penny,” said the Pancake, and so it rolled on like a wheel down -the road. - -Just then it met a cock. - -“Good day, Pancake,” said the cock. - -“The same to you, Cocky-locky,” said the Pancake. - -“Pancake, dear, don’t roll so fast, but bide a bit and let me eat you -up.” - -“When I have given the slip to Goody-poody, and the goodman, and seven -squalling children, and to Manny-panny, and Henny-penny, I may well slip -through your claws, Cocky-locky,” said the Pancake, and off it set -rolling away as fast as it could; and when it had rolled a long way it -met a duck. - -“Good day, Pancake,” said the duck. - -“The same to you, Ducky-lucky.” - -“Pancake, dear, don’t roll away so fast; bide a bit and let me eat you -up.” - -“When I have given the slip to Goody-poody, and the goodman, and seven -squalling children, and Manny-panny, and Henny-penny, and Cocky-locky, I -may well slip through your fingers, Ducky-lucky,” said the Pancake, and -with that it took to rolling and rolling faster than ever; and when it -had rolled a long, long while, it met a goose. - -“Good day, Pancake,” said the goose. - -“The same to you, Goosey-poosey.” - -“Pancake, dear, don’t roll so fast; bide a bit and let me eat you up.” - -“When I have given the slip to Goody-poody, and the goodman, and seven -squalling children, and Manny-panny, and Henny-penny, and Cocky-locky, -and Ducky-lucky, I can well slip through your feet, Goosey-poosey,” said -the Pancake, and off it rolled. - -So when it had rolled a long, long way farther, it met a gander. - -“Good day, Pancake,” said the gander. - -“The same to you, Gander-pander,” said the Pancake. - -“Pancake, dear, don’t roll so fast; bide a bit and let me eat you up.” - -“When I have given the slip to Goody-poody, and the goodman, and seven -squalling children, and Manny-panny, and Henny-penny, and Cocky-locky, -and Ducky-lucky, and Goosey-poosey, I may well slip through your feet, -Gander-pander,” said the Pancake, and it rolled off as fast as ever. - -So when it had rolled a long, long time, it met a pig. - -“Good day, Pancake,” said the pig. - -“The same to you, Piggy-wiggy,” said the Pancake, which, without a word -more, began to roll and roll like mad. - -“Nay, nay,” said the pig, “you needn’t be in such a hurry; we two can -then go side by side and see each other over the wood; they say it is -not too safe in there.” - -The Pancake thought there might be something in that, and so they kept -company. But when they had gone awhile, they came to a brook. As for -Piggy, he was so fat he swam safely across, it was nothing to him; but -the poor Pancake couldn’t get over. - -“Seat yourself on my snout,” said the pig, “and I’ll carry you over.” - -So the Pancake did that. - -“Ouf, ouf,” said the pig, and swallowed the Pancake at one gulp; and -then, as the poor Pancake could go no farther, why—this story can go no -farther either. - - - - - _The Death of Chanticleer_ - - -Once on a time there was a cock and a hen, who walked out into the field -and scratched, and scraped, and scrabbled. All at once Chanticleer found -a burr of hop, and Partlet found a barley-corn; and they said they would -make malt and brew Yule ale. - -“Oh, I pluck barley, and I malt malt, and I brew ale, and the ale is -good,” cackled Dame Partlet. - -“Is the wort strong enough?” crew Chanticleer; and as he crowed he flew -up on the edge of the cask, and tried to have a taste; but just as he -bent over to drink a drop he took to flapping his wings, and so he fell -head over heels into the cask and was drowned. When Dame Partlet saw -that, she clean lost her wits, and flew up into the chimney-corner, and -fell a-screaming and screeching out. “Harm in the house! harm in the -house!” she screeched out all in a breath, and there was no stopping -her. - -“What ails you, Dame Partlet, that you sit there sobbing and sighing?” -said the handquern. - -“Why not,” said Dame Partlet, “when Goodman Chanticleer has fallen into -the cask and drowned himself, and lies dead? That’s why I sigh and sob.” - -“Well, if I can do naught else, I will grind and groan,” said the -handquern; and so it fell to grinding as fast as it could. - -When the chair heard that it said: - -“What ails you, handquern, that you grind and groan so fast and oft?” - -“Why not, when Goodman Chanticleer has fallen into the cask and drowned -himself, and Dame Partlet sits in the ingle and sighs and sobs? That’s -why I grind and groan,” said the handquern. - -“If I can do naught else I will crack,” said the chair; and with that he -fell to creaking and cracking. - -When the door heard that it said: - -“What’s the matter? Why do you creak and crack so, Mr. Chair?” - -“Why not?” said the chair. “Goodman Chanticleer has fallen into the cask -and drowned himself; Dame Partlet sits in the ingle sighing and sobbing, -and the handquern grinds and groans. That’s why I creak and crackle, and -croak and crack.” - -“Well,” said the door, “if I can do naught else, I can rattle and bang, -and whistle and slam”; and with that it began to open and shut, and bang -and slam; it deaved one to hear, and all one’s teeth chattered. - -All this the stove heard, and it opened its mouth and called out: - -“Door! door! why all this slamming and banging?” - -“Why not,” said the door, “when Goodman Chanticleer has fallen into the -cask and drowned himself; Dame Partlet sits in the ingle sighing and -sobbing; the handquern grinds and groans, and the chair creaks and -cracks. That’s why I bang and slam.” - -“Well,” said the stove, “if I can do naught else, I can smolder and -smoke”; and so it fell a-smoking and steaming till the room was all in a -cloud. - -The ax saw this as it stood outside, and peeped with its shaft through -the window. - -“What’s all this smoke about, Mrs. Stove?” said the ax in a sharp voice. - -“Why not,” said the stove, “when Goodman Chanticleer has fallen into the -cask and drowned himself; Dame Partlet sits in the ingle sighing and -sobbing; the handquern grinds and groans; the chair creaks and cracks, -and the door bangs and slams. That’s why I smoke and steam.” - -“Well, if I can do naught else, I can rive and rend,” said the ax; and -with that it fell to riving and rending all around about. - -This the aspen stood by and saw. - -“Why do you rive and rend everything so, Mr. Ax?” said the aspen. - -“Goodman Chanticleer has fallen into the ale-cask and drowned himself,” -said the ax; “Dame Partlet sits in the ingle sighing and sobbing; the -handquern grinds and groans; the chair creaks and cracks; the door slams -and bangs, and the stove smokes and steams. That’s why I rive and rend -all about.” - -“Well, if I can do naught else,” said the aspen, “I can quiver and quake -in all my leaves”; so it grew all of a quake. - -The birds saw this, and twittered out: - -“Why do you quiver and quake, Miss Aspen?” - -“Goodman Chanticleer has fallen into the ale-cask and drowned himself,” -said the aspen, with a trembling voice; “Dame Partlet sits in the ingle -sighing and sobbing; the handquern grinds and groans; the chair creaks -and cracks; the door slams and bangs; the stove steams and smokes, and -the ax rives and rends. That’s why I quiver and quake.” - -“Well, if we can do naught else, we will pluck off all our feathers,” -said the birds; and with that they fell a-pilling and plucking -themselves till the room was full of feathers. - -This the master stood by and saw; and, when the feathers flew about like -fun, he asked the birds: - -“Why do you pluck off all your feathers, you birds?” - -“Oh, Goodman Chanticleer has fallen into the ale-cask and drowned -himself,” twittered out the birds; “Dame Partlet sits sighing and -sobbing in the ingle; the handquern grinds and groans; the chair creaks -and cracks; the door slams and bangs; the stove smokes and steams; the -ax rives and rends, and the aspen quivers and quakes. That’s why we are -pilling and plucking all our feathers off.” - -“Well, if I can do nothing else, I can tear the brooms asunder,” said -the man; and with that he fell tearing and tossing the brooms till the -birch-twigs flew about east and west. - -The goody stood cooking porridge for supper, and saw all this. - -“Why, man!” she called out, “what are you tearing the brooms to bits -for?” - -“Oh,” said the man, “Goodman Chanticleer has fallen into the ale-vat and -drowned himself; Dame Partlet sits sighing and sobbing in the ingle; the -handquern grinds and groans; the chair cracks and creaks; the door slams -and bangs; the stove smokes and steams; the ax rives and rends; the -aspen quivers and quakes; the birds are pilling and plucking all their -feathers off, and that’s why I am tearing the besoms to bits.” - -“So, so!” said the goody; “then I’ll dash the porridge over all the -walls,” and she did it; for she took one spoonful after the other, and -dashed it against the walls, so that no one could see what they were -made of for very porridge. - -That was how they drank the burial ale after Goodman Chanticleer, who -fell into the brewing-vat and was drowned; and, if you don’t believe it, -you may set off thither and have a taste both of the ale and the -porridge. - - - - - _Reynard Wants to Taste Horse-flesh_ - - -One day as Bruin lay by a horse which he had slain, and was hard at work -eating it, Reynard came along that way, and came up spying about and -licking his lips, to see if he might get a taste of the horse-flesh. So -he doubled and turned till he got just behind Bruin’s back, and then he -jumped on the other side of the carcass and snapped a mouthful as he ran -by. Bruin was not slow either, for he made a grab at Reynard and caught -the tip of his red brush in his paw; and ever since then Reynard’s brush -is white at the tip, as any one may see. - -But that day Bruin was merry, and called out: - -“Bide a bit, Reynard, and come hither, and I’ll tell you how to catch a -horse for yourself.” - -Yes, Reynard was ready enough to learn, but he did not for all that -trust himself to go very close to Bruin. - -“Listen,” said Bruin. “When you see a horse asleep, basking in the -sunshine, you must mind and bind yourself fast by the hair of his tail -to your brush, and then you must make your teeth meet in the flesh of -his thigh.” - -As you may fancy, it was not long before Reynard found out a horse that -lay asleep in the sunshine, and then he did as Bruin had told him; for -he knotted and bound himself well into the hair of his tail, and made -his teeth meet in the horse’s thigh. - -Up sprang the horse, and began to kick and rear and gallop, so that -Reynard was dashed against stock and stone, and got battered black and -blue, so that he was not far off losing both wit and sense. And while -the horse galloped, they passed Jack Longears, the hare. - -“Whither away so fast, Reynard?” cried Jack Longears. - -“Post-haste, on business of life and death, dear Jack,” cried Reynard. - -And with that Jack stood upon his hind-legs, and laughed till his sides -ached and his jaws split right up to his ears. It was so funny to see -Reynard ride post-haste. - -But you must know, since that ride Reynard has never thought of catching -a horse for himself. For that once at least it was Bruin who had the -best of it in wit, though they do say he is nearly always as -simple-minded as the trolls. - - - - - _Bruin and Reynard Partners_ - - -Once on a time Bruin and Reynard were to own a field in common. They had -a little clearing up in the wood, and the first year they sowed rye. - -“Now we must share the crop as is fair and right,” said Reynard. “If you -like to have the root, I’ll take the top.” - -Yes, Bruin was ready to do that; but when they had threshed out the -crop, Reynard got all the corn, but Bruin got nothing but roots and -rubbish. He did not like that at all, but Reynard said it was how they -had agreed to share it. - -“This year I have the gain,” said Reynard; “next year it will be your -turn. Then you shall have the top, and I shall have to put up with the -root.” - -But when the spring came, and it was time to sow, Reynard asked Bruin -what he thought of turnips. - -“Aye, aye!” said Bruin, “that’s better food than corn”; and so Reynard -thought also. But when harvest came Reynard got the roots, while Bruin -got the turnip-tops. And then Bruin was so angry with Reynard that he -put an end at once to his partnership with him. - - - - - _Pork and Honey_ - - -At dawn the other day, when Bruin came tramping over the bog with a fat -pig, Reynard sat up on a stone by the moor-side. - -“Good day, grandsire,” said the fox. “What’s that so nice that you have -there?” - -“Pork,” said Bruin. - -“Well, I have got a dainty bit too,” said Reynard. - -“What is that?” asked the bear. - -“The biggest wild bee’s comb I ever saw in my life,” said Reynard. - -“Indeed, you don’t say so,” said Bruin, who grinned and licked his lips, -he thought it would be so nice to taste a little honey. At last he said: -“Shall we swap our fare?” - -“Nay, nay!” said Reynard, “I can’t do that.” - -The end was that they made a bet, and agreed to name three trees. If the -fox could say them off faster than the bear, he was to have leave to -take one bite of the bacon; but if the bear could say them faster, he -was to have leave to take one sup out of the comb. Greedy Bruin thought -he was sure to sup out all the honey at one breath. - -“Well,” said Reynard, “it’s all fair and right, no doubt, but all I say -is, if I win, you shall be bound to tear off the bristles where I am to -bite.” - -“Of course,” said Bruin, “I’ll help you, as you can’t help yourself.” - -So they were to begin and name the trees. - -“FIR, SCOTCH FIR, SPRUCE,” growled out Bruin, for he was gruff in his -tongue, that he was. But for all that he only named two trees, for fir -and Scotch fir are both the same. - -“_Ash_, _Aspen_, _Oak_,” screamed Reynard, so that the wood rang again. - -So he had won the wager, and down he ran and took the heart out of the -pig at one bite, and was just running off with it. But Bruin was angry -because Reynard had taken the best bit out of the whole pig, and so he -laid hold of his tail and held him fast. - -“Stop a bit, stop a bit,” he said, and was wild with rage. - -“Never mind,” said the fox, “it’s all right; let me go, grandsire, and -I’ll give you a taste of my honey.” - -When Bruin heard that, he let go his hold, and away went Reynard after -the honey. - -“Here, on this honeycomb,” said Reynard, “lies a leaf, and under this -leaf is a hole, and that hole you are to suck.” - -As he said this he held up the comb under the bear’s nose, took off the -leaf, jumped up on a stone, and began to gibber and laugh, for there was -neither honey nor honeycomb, but a wasp’s nest, as big as a man’s head, -full of wasps, and out swarmed the wasps and settled on Bruin’s head, -and stung him in his eyes and ears, and mouth and snout. And he had such -hard work to rid himself of them that he had no time to think of -Reynard. - -And that’s why, ever since that day, Bruin is so afraid of wasps. - - - - - _How Reynard Outwitted Bruin_ - - -Once on a time there was a bear, who sat on a hillside in the sun and -slept. Just then Reynard came slouching by and caught sight of him. - -“There you sit taking your ease, grandsire,” said the fox. “Now, see if -I don’t play you a trick.” So he went and caught three field-mice and -laid them on a stump close under Bruin’s nose, and then he bawled out -into his ear, “Bo! Bruin, here’s Peter the Hunter, just behind this -stump”; and as he bawled this out he ran off through the wood as fast as -ever he could. - -Bruin woke up with a start, and when he saw the three little mice, he -was as mad as a March hare, and was going to lift up his paw and crush -them, for he thought it was they who had bellowed in his ear. - -But just as he lifted it he caught sight of Reynard’s tail among the -bushes by the woodside, and away he set after him, so that the underwood -crackled as he went, and, to tell the truth, Bruin was so close upon -Reynard that he caught hold of his off hind-foot just as he was crawling -into an earth under a pine-root. So there was Reynard in a pinch; but -for all that he had his wits about him, for he screeched out, “SLIP THE -PINE-ROOT AND CATCH REYNARD’S FOOT,” and so the silly bear let his foot -slip and laid hold of the root instead. But by that time Reynard was -safe inside the earth, and called out: - -“I cheated you that time, too, didn’t I, grandsire?” - -“Out of sight isn’t out of mind,” growled Bruin down the earth, and was -wild with rage. - - - - - _Nanny Who Wouldn’t Go Home to Supper_ - - -There was once upon a time a woman who had a son and a goat. The son was -called Espen and the goat was called Nanny. But they were not good -friends, and did not get on together, for the goat was perverse and -wayward, as goats will be, and she would never go home at the right time -for her supper. So it happened one evening that Espen went out to fetch -her home, and when he had been looking for her awhile, he saw Nanny -high, high up on a crag. - -“My dear Nanny, you must not stay any longer up there; you must come -home now, it is just supper-time. I am so hungry and want my supper.” - -“No, I sha’n’t,” said Nanny, “not before I have finished the grass on -this tussock, and that tussock—and this and that tussock.” - -“Then I’ll go and tell mother,” said the lad. - -“That you may, and then I shall be left to eat in peace,” said Nanny. - -So Espen went and told his mother. - -“Go to the fox and ask him to bite Nanny,” said his mother. - -The lad went to the fox. “My dear fox, bite Nanny, for Nanny won’t come -home in time. I am so hungry, and I want my supper,” said Espen. - -“No, I don’t want to spoil my snout on pig’s bristles and goat’s beard,” -said the fox. - -So the lad went and told his mother. - -“Well, go to the wolf,” said his mother. - -The lad went to the wolf. “My dear wolf, tear the fox, for the fox won’t -bite Nanny, and Nanny won’t come home in time. I am so hungry, and I -want my supper.” - -“No,” said the wolf, “I won’t wear out my paws and teeth on a skinny -fox.” - -So the lad went and told his mother. - -“Well, go to the bear and ask him to slay the wolf,” said the mother. - -The lad went to the bear. “My dear bear, slay the wolf, for the wolf -won’t tear the fox, and the fox won’t bite Nanny, and Nanny won’t come -home in time. I am so hungry and want my supper.” - -“No, that I won’t,” said the bear; “I don’t want to wear out my claws -for that.” - -So the lad went and told his mother. - -“Well, go to the Finn and ask him to shoot the bear.” - -The lad went to the Finn. “My dear Finn, shoot the bear, for the bear -won’t slay the wolf, the wolf won’t tear the fox, the fox won’t bite -Nanny, and Nanny won’t come home in time. I am so hungry and want my -supper.” - -“No, I will not,” said the Finn; “I am not going to shoot away my -bullets for that.” - -So the lad went and told his mother. - -“Well, go to the fir,” said his mother, “and ask it to crush the Finn.” - -The lad went to the fir-tree. “My dear fir, crush the Finn, for the Finn -won’t shoot the bear, the bear won’t slay the wolf, the wolf won’t tear -the fox, the fox won’t bite Nanny, and Nanny won’t come home in time. I -am so hungry and want my supper.” - -“No, I will not,” said the fir; “I am not going to break my boughs for -that.” - -So the lad went and told his mother. - -“Well, go to the fire,” said his mother, “and ask it to burn the fir.” - -The lad went to the fire. “My dear fire, burn the fir, for the fir won’t -crush the Finn, the Finn won’t shoot the bear, the bear won’t slay the -wolf, the wolf won’t tear the fox, the fox won’t bite Nanny, and Nanny -won’t come home in time. I am so hungry and want my supper.” - -“No, I will not,” said the fire; “I am not going to burn myself out for -that.” - -So the lad went and told his mother. - -“Well, go to the water, and ask it to quench the fire,” she said. - -The lad went to the water. “My dear water, quench the fire, for the fire -won’t burn the fir, the fir won’t crush the Finn, the Finn won’t shoot -the bear, the bear won’t slay the wolf, the wolf won’t tear the fox, the -fox won’t bite Nanny, and Nanny won’t come home in time. I am so hungry -and want my supper.” - -“No, I will not,” said the water; “I am not going to waste myself for -that.” - -So the lad went and told his mother. - -“Well, go to the ox,” said she, “and ask him to drink up the water.” - -The lad went to the ox. “My dear ox, drink up the water, for the water -won’t quench the fire, the fire won’t burn the fir, the fir won’t crush -the Finn, the Finn won’t shoot the bear, the bear won’t slay the wolf, -the wolf won’t tear the fox, the fox won’t bite Nanny, and Nanny won’t -come home in time. I am so hungry and want my supper.” - -“No, I will not,” said the ox; “I am not going to burst myself for -that.” - -So the lad went and told his mother. - -“Well, go to the yoke,” said she, “and ask it to throttle the ox.” - -The lad went to the yoke. “My dear yoke, throttle the ox, for the ox -won’t drink the water, the water won’t quench the fire, the fire won’t -burn the fir, the fir won’t crush the Finn, the Finn won’t shoot the -bear, the bear won’t slay the wolf, the wolf won’t tear the fox, the fox -won’t bite Nanny, and Nanny won’t come home in time. I am so hungry and -want my supper.” - -“No, I will not,” said the yoke; “I am not going to break myself in two -for that.” - -So the lad went and told his mother. - -“Well, go to the ax,” said she, “and tell it to split the yoke.” - -The lad went to the ax. “My dear ax, split the yoke, for the yoke won’t -throttle the ox, the ox won’t drink the water, the water won’t quench -the fire, the fire won’t burn the fir, the fir won’t crush the Finn, the -Finn won’t shoot the bear, the bear won’t slay the wolf, the wolf won’t -tear the fox, the fox won’t bite Nanny, and Nanny won’t come home in -time, I am so hungry and want my supper.” - -“No, I will not,” said the ax; “I am not going to blunt my edge for -that.” - -So the lad went and told his mother. - -“Well, go to the smith,” said she, “and ask him to hammer the ax.” - -The lad went to the smith. “My dear smith, hammer the ax, for the ax -won’t split the yoke, the yoke won’t throttle the ox, the ox won’t drink -the water, the water won’t quench the fire, the fire won’t burn the fir, -the fir won’t crush the Finn, the Finn won’t shoot the bear, the bear -won’t slay the wolf, the wolf won’t tear the fox, the fox won’t bite -Nanny, and Nanny won’t come home in time. I am so hungry and want my -supper.” - -“No, I will not,” said the smith; “I’ll not burn my coals and wear out -my sledge-hammers for that.” - -So the lad went and told his mother. - -“Well, go to the rope,” said she, “and ask it to hang the smith.” - -The lad went to the rope. “My dear rope, hang the smith, for the smith -won’t hammer the ax, the ax won’t split the yoke, the yoke won’t -throttle the ox, the ox won’t drink the water, the water won’t quench -the fire, the fire won’t burn the fir, the fir won’t crush the Finn, the -Finn won’t shoot the bear, the bear won’t slay the wolf, the wolf won’t -tear the fox, the fox won’t bite Nanny, and Nanny won’t come home in -time. I am so hungry and want my supper.” - -“No, I will not,” said the rope; “I am not going to break in two for -that.” - -So the lad went and told his mother. - -“Well, go to the mouse,” said she, “and ask her to gnaw the rope.” - -The lad went to the mouse. “My dear mouse, gnaw the rope, for the rope -won’t hang the smith, the smith won’t hammer the ax, the ax won’t split -the yoke, the yoke won’t throttle the ox, the ox won’t drink the water, -the water won’t quench the fire, the fire won’t burn the fir, the fir -won’t crush the Finn, the Finn won’t shoot the bear, the bear won’t slay -the wolf, the wolf won’t tear the fox, the fox won’t bite Nanny, and -Nanny won’t come home in time. I am so hungry and want my supper.” - -“No, I will not,” said the mouse; “I am not going to wear out my teeth -for that.” - -So the lad went and told his mother. - -“Well, go to the cat,” said she, “and ask her to catch the mouse.” - -The lad went to the cat. “My dear cat, catch the mouse, for the mouse -won’t gnaw the rope, the rope won’t hang the smith, the smith won’t -hammer the ax, the ax won’t split the yoke, the yoke won’t throttle the -ox, the ox won’t drink the water, the water won’t quench the fire, the -fire won’t burn the fir, the fir won’t crush the Finn, the Finn won’t -shoot the bear, the bear won’t slay the wolf, the wolf won’t tear the -fox, the fox won’t bite Nanny, and Nanny won’t come home in time. I am -so hungry and want my supper.” - -“Yes, but give me a drop of milk for my kittens and then—” said the cat. - -Yes, that she should have. So the cat caught the mouse, and the mouse -gnawed the rope, and the rope hanged the smith, and the smith hammered -the ax, and the ax split the yoke, and the yoke throttled the ox, and -the ox drank the water, and the water quenched the fire, and the fire -burned the fir, and the fir crushed the Finn, and the Finn shot the -bear, and the bear slew the wolf, and the wolf tore the fox, and the fox -bit Nanny, and Nanny took to her heels, scampered home, and ran against -the barn wall and broke one of her legs. - -“M—a—h—a—h!” bleated the goat. There she lay, and if she isn’t dead she -is still limping about on three legs. But Espen said it served her -right, because she would not come home in time for supper that day. - - - - - _The Box With Something Pretty In It_ - - -Once on a time there was a little boy who was out walking on the road, -and when he had walked a bit he found a box. - -“I am sure there must be something pretty in this box,” he said to -himself; but however much he turned it, and however much he twisted it, -he was not able to get it open. - -But when he had walked a bit farther, he found a little tiny key. Then -he grew tired and sat down, and all at once he thought what fun it would -be if the key fitted the box, for it had a little keyhole in it. So he -took the little key out of his pocket, and then he blew first into the -pipe of the key, and afterward into the keyhole, and then he put the key -into the keyhole and turned it. “Snap!” it went within the lock; and -when he tried the hasp, the box was open. - -But can you guess what there was in the box? Why, a cow’s tail; and if -the cow’s tail had been longer, this story would have been longer too. - - - - - _The Farmer and the Troll_ - - -A troll once lived in a little hill that stood in the corner of a farm. -Thinking that the ground should not lie idle the Farmer came one day and -began to plow it up. He had hardly begun, when the Troll appeared and -asked: - -“How dare you plow in the roof of my house?” - -“I did not know it was the roof of your house,” returned the Farmer. “I -thought it a pity to let such a good piece of land lie idle, and I think -so still. Let me make an agreement with you.” - -“What is your agreement?” said the Troll. - -“Well, let me see. I will plow, sow, and reap the ground every year, and -we will take the produce year and year about. One year you will take -what grows above ground, and I will take what grows below. Then we can -change around, and I will take what grows above ground, and you, what -grows below. What do you say?” - -“Very well,” answered the Troll; “that will satisfy me.” - -The agreement was then made; but the crafty Farmer took care to sow -carrots the year the Troll was to have what grew above ground, and corn -the year the Troll was to have what grew below. So the poor elf got only -carrot-tops and corn-roots. However, he was content, and the Farmer and -he lived for years amicably under this arrangement. - - - - - _One’s Own Children Always Prettiest_ - - -Once upon a time a man went out shooting in a forest, and there he met a -woodcock. - -“Pray, don’t shoot my children,” cried the woodcock. - -“What are your children like?” asked the man. - -“Mine are the prettiest children in the forest,” answered the woodcock. - -“I suppose I mustn’t shoot them, then,” said the man. - -When he came back he carried in his hand a whole string of young -woodcocks which he had shot. - -“Oh, dear, oh, dear! Why, you have shot my children after all!” wept the -woodcock. - -“Are these yours?” said the man. “Why, I shot the ugliest I could find.” - -“Yes, yes,” answered the woodcock; “but don’t you know that every one -thinks his own children the prettiest?” - - - - - _The Princess Whom Nobody Could Silence_ - - -There was once upon a time a king, and he had a daughter who would -always have the last word; she was so perverse and contrary in her -speech that no one could silence her. So the king therefore promised -that he who could outwit the Princess should have her in marriage and -half the kingdom besides. There were plenty of those who wanted to try, -I can assure you; for it isn’t every day that a princess and half a -kingdom are to be had. - -The gate to the palace hardly ever stood still. The suitors came in -swarms and flocks from east and west, both riding and walking. But there -was no one who could silence the Princess. At last the king announced -that those who tried and did not succeed should be branded on both ears -with a large iron; he would not have all this running about the palace -for nothing. - -So there were three brothers who had also heard about the Princess, and -as they were rather badly off at home, they thought they would try their -luck and see if they could win the Princess and half the kingdom. They -were good friends, and so they agreed to set out together. - -When they had got a bit on the way Ashiepattle found a dead magpie. - -“I have found something! I have found something!” cried he. - -“What have you found?” asked the brothers. - -“I have found a dead magpie,” said he. - -“Faugh! throw it away; what can you do with that?” said the other two, -who always believed they were the wisest. - -“Oh, I’ve nothing else to do. I can easily carry it,” said Ashiepattle. - -When they had gone on a bit farther Ashiepattle found an old willow -twig, which he picked up. - -“I have found something! I have found something!” he cried. - -“What have you found now?” said the brothers. - -“I have found a willow twig,” said he. - -“Pooh! what are you going to do with that? Throw it away,” said the two. - -“I have nothing else to do. I can easily carry it with me,” said -Ashiepattle. - -When they had gone still farther he found a broken saucer, which he also -picked up. - -“Here lads, I have found something! I have found something!” said he. - -“Well, what have you found now?” asked the brothers. - -“A broken saucer,” said he. - -“Pshaw! Is it worth while dragging that along with you too? Throw it -away!” said the brothers. - -“Oh, I’ve nothing else to do. I can easily carry it with me,” said -Ashiepattle. - -When they had gone a little bit farther he found a crooked goat-horn, -and soon after he found the fellow to it. - -“I have found something! I have found something, lads!” said he. - -“What have you found now?” said the others. - -“Two goat-horns,” answered Ashiepattle. - -“Ugh! Throw them away! What are you going to do with them?” said they. - -“Oh, I have nothing else to do. I can easily carry them with me,” said -Ashiepattle. - -In a little while he found a wedge. - -“I say, lads, I have found something! I have found something!” he cried. - -“You are everlastingly finding something! What have you found now?” -asked the two eldest. - -“I have found a wedge,” he answered. - -“Oh, throw it away! What are you going to do with it?” said they. - -“Oh, I have nothing else to do. I can easily carry it with me,” said -Ashiepattle. - -As he went across the king’s fields, which had been freshly manured, he -stooped down and took up an old boot-sole. - -“Hullo, lads! I have found something! I have found something!” said he. - -“Heaven grant you may find a little sense before you get to the palace!” -said the two. “What is it you have found now?” - -“An old boot-sole,” said he. - -“Is that anything worth picking up? Throw it away! What are you going to -do with it?” said the brothers. - -“Oh, I have nothing else to do. I can easily carry it with me, and—who -knows?—it may help me to win the Princess and half the kingdom,” said -Ashiepattle. - -“Yes, you look a likely one, don’t you?” said the other two. So they -went in to the Princess, the eldest first. - -“Good day!” said he. - -“Good day to you!” answered she, with a shrug. - -“It’s terribly hot here,” said he. - -“It’s hotter in the fire,” said the Princess. The branding-iron was -lying waiting in the fire. - -When he saw this he was struck speechless, and so it was all over with -him. - -The second brother fared no better. - -“Good day!” said he. - -“Good day to you,” said she, with a wriggle. - -“It’s terribly hot here!” said he. - -“It’s hotter in the fire,” said she. With that he lost both speech and -wits, and so the iron had to be brought out. - -Then came Ashiepattle’s turn. - -“Good day!” said he. - -“Good day to you!” said she, with a shrug and a wriggle. - -“It is very nice and warm here!” said Ashiepattle. - -“It’s warmer in the fire,” she answered. She was in no better humor now -she saw the third suitor. - -“Then there’s a chance for me to roast my magpie on it,” said he, -bringing it out. - -“I’m afraid it will sputter,” said the Princess. - -“No fear of that! I’ll tie this willow twig round it,” said the lad. - -“You can’t tie it tight enough,” said she. - -“Then I’ll drive in a wedge,” said the lad, and brought out the wedge. - -“The fat will be running off it,” said the Princess. - -“Then I’ll hold this under it,” said the lad, and showed her the broken -saucer. - -“You are so crooked in your speech,” said the Princess. - -“No, I am not crooked,” answered the lad; “but this is crooked”; and he -brought out one of the goat-horns. - -“Well, I’ve never seen the like!” cried the Princess. - -“Here you see the like,” said he, and brought out the other horn. - -“It seems you have come here to wear out my soul!” she said. - -“No, I have not come here to wear out your soul, for I have one here -which is already worn out,” answered the lad, and brought out the old -boot-sole. - -The Princess was so dumfounded at this that she was completely silenced. - -“Now you are mine!” said Ashiepattle, and so he got her and half the -kingdom into the bargain. - - - - - _The Money-box_ - - -In a nursery where a number of toys lay scattered about, a Money-box -stood on the top of a very high wardrobe. It was made of clay in the -shape of a pig, and had been bought of the potter. In the back of the -pig was a slit, and this slit had been enlarged with a knife, so that -dollars, or crown pieces, might slip through; and, indeed, there were -two crown pieces in the box, besides a number of pence. The money-pig -was stuffed so full that it could no longer rattle, which is the highest -state of perfection to which a money-pig can attain. There he stood upon -the cupboard, high and lofty, looking down upon everything else in the -room. He knew very well that he had enough inside him to buy up all the -other toys, and this gave him a very good opinion of his own value. The -rest thought of this fact also, although they did not speak of it, for -there were so many other things to talk about. A large doll, still -handsome, though rather old, for her neck had been mended, lay inside -one of the drawers which was partly open. She called out to the others: -“Let us have a game at being men and women; that is worth playing at.” - -Upon this there was a great uproar; even the engravings, which hung in -frames on the wall, turned round in their excitement, and showed that -they had a wrong side to them, although they had not the least intention -to expose themselves in this way, or to object to the game. It was late -at night, but as the moon shone through the windows, they had light at a -cheap rate, and as the game was now to begin, all were invited to take -part in it, even the children’s wagon, which certainly belonged to the -coarser playthings. “Each has its own value,” said the wagon; “we cannot -all be noblemen; there must be some to do the work.” - -The money-pig was the only one who received a written invitation. He -stood so high that they were afraid he would not accept a verbal -message. But in his reply he said that, if he had to take a part, he -must enjoy the sport from his own home; they were to arrange for him to -do so; and so they did. The little toy theater was therefore put up in -such a way that the money-pig could look directly into it. Some wanted -to begin with a comedy, and afterward to have a tea-party and a -discussion for mental improvement, but they commenced with the latter -first. The rocking-horse spoke of training and races; the wagon, of -railways and steam-power, for these subjects belonged to each of their -professions, and it was right they should talk of them. The clock talked -politics—“tick, tick”; he professed to know what was the time of day, -but there was a whisper that he did not go correctly. The bamboo cane -stood by, looking stiff and proud—he was vain of his brass ferrule and -silver top; and on the sofa lay two worked cushions, pretty but stupid. -When the play at the little theater began, the rest sat and looked on; -they were requested to applaud and stamp, and the whip to crack, when -they felt gratified with what they saw. But the riding-whip said he -never cracked for old people, only for the young who were not yet -married. “I crack for everybody,” said the cracker. - -“Yes, and a fine noise you make,” thought the audience, as the play went -on. - -It was not worth much, but it was very well played, and all the -characters turned their painted sides to the audience, for they were -made only to be seen on one side. The acting was wonderful, excepting -that sometimes they came out beyond the lamps, because the wires were a -little too long. The doll, whose neck had been darned, was so excited -that the place in her neck burst, and the money-pig declared he must do -something for one of the players, as they had all pleased him so much. -So he made up his mind to mention one of them in his will, as the one to -be buried with him in the family vault, whenever that event should -happen. They all enjoyed the comedy so much that they gave up all -thoughts of the teaparty, and only carried out their idea of -intellectual amusement, which they called playing at men and women; and -there was nothing wrong about it, for it was only play. All the while, -each one thought most of himself, or of what the money-pig could be -thinking. His thoughts were on (as he supposed) a very distant time—of -making his will, and of his burial, and of when it might all come to -pass. Certainly sooner than he expected—for all at once down he came -from the top of the press, fell on the ground, and was broken to pieces. -Then the pennies hopped and danced about in the most amusing manner. The -little ones twirled round like tops, and the large ones rolled away as -far as they could, especially one of the great silver crown pieces who -had often wanted to go out into the world, and now he had his wish as -well as all the rest of the money. The pieces of the money-pig were -thrown into the dust-bin, and the next day there stood a new money-pig -on the cupboard, but it had not a farthing in its inside yet, and -therefore it could not rattle like the old one. This was the beginning -with him, and we will make it the end of our story. - - HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN. - - - - - _The Darning-Needle_ - - -Once upon a time there was a Darning-needle which thought itself so fine -and grand it ought to have been a sewing-needle. - -“Be careful,” it said to the fingers which held it. “Be sure you don’t -let me fall, for I am so thin you will never find me again.” - -“That’s what you think,” said the fingers, as they closed firmly round -its body. - -“Look out! I am followed by my train,” said the Darning-needle, and a -long thread came trailing behind it; but the thread had no knot in it. - -The fingers guided the needle straight toward the cook’s slipper. - -There was a little tear in the leather, and it must be mended. - -“This sort of work is quite beneath me,” said the Needle; “I can never -do it. I shall break—I know I shall!” And break it did. “Did not I tell -you I was too slender for such a task?” asked the Darning-needle. - -“There, now you are good for nothing,” said the fingers; but they still -held the needle firmly, and soon they had fixed a ball of sealing-wax on -the top. - -The cook now used it as a pin to fasten her scarf. - -“Ho, ho! So I’m a scarf-pin now! I always knew I should make my way in -the world. Worth always tells in the end,” said the Needle. And it -chuckled to itself, although you could not see it do so. A -darning-needle never lets you see it laugh. - -This one sat bolt upright and gazed in all directions, just as if it -were riding in a state carriage. - -“Might I be allowed to inquire if you are made of gold?” it asked of its -neighbor—a pin. “You have a very bright look, and a head of your own, -though it is ridiculously small. You must do your best to grow a bit. Of -course, it is not every one who is decorated with a ball of red -sealing-wax!” - -The Darning-needle drew itself up so proudly as it said this, that it -overbalanced and fell out of the scarf into the sink, which the cook at -that moment was rinsing down. - -“Now I am going to see the world,” thought the Needle. “I hope I shall -not lose myself.” But lose itself it did. And as it was washed through a -long, greasy pipe and carried away into the gutter, it said: “I am not -coarse and strong enough to hold my own in this world, but I know who -and what I am, and that’s a great comfort.” - -And the Darning-needle kept its proud bearing, and did not lose its -bright way of looking at things, although all sorts of objects passed -over it—chips of wood, and pieces of straw, and old newspaper. - -“Look how they sail!” it said. “But they little know what lies beneath -them. I stick fast here, and there goes a chip, a mere chip, looking as -if it thought it was all the world. And there’s a straw floating by, -too. How it whirls round and round; it had better take care lest it run -against a stone. Ah! and now there is a piece of newspaper. Giving -itself such airs, too! as if all that was printed on it was not -forgotten long ago. I have to sit still, patiently and alone; but I know -who I am, and that I shall continue still to be, and that is a great -comfort.” - -One day a piece of glass bottle lay beside the Darning-needle, and -because it glittered so splendidly the needle thought it must certainly -be a diamond; so it spoke and introduced itself. - -“Good morning,” it said. “I am a scarf-pin. I believe I have the -pleasure of speaking to a diamond?” - -“Yes, I am a member of that family, I believe,” was the answer. - -And thus they both thought each other very superior, and spoke together -of the vanity and pride of the world. - -“I lived in a girl’s work-box,” the Darning-needle said. “She was a -cook, and had five fingers on each hand; but I never saw anything so -conceited as those fingers in my life! And after all is said and done, -they were only there to take me out and put me back into the box again.” - -“Were they very aristocratic, then?” the piece of glass asked. - -“Aristocratic? No; but very proud. They were brothers, all born fingers, -and they kept to themselves. They were various heights, too. The -first—named the Thumb—was short and broad, and held himself rather aloof -from the others. He only had one joint in his back, so could only make -one bow; but he said a man could not be a soldier unless he possessed -one like him on his hand. The second was called Sweet-tooth, and was -used to put into sweet and sour dishes, to point to the sky and the -stars, and to make the down-strokes of the pen when the fingers wrote a -letter. Long-one was the third, and could look over all the heads of the -others. Ringold, the fourth, wore a golden belt round his waist; and the -last one of all was Playboy, who never did a stroke of work, and was -proud of it. But I had to leave them,” said the Needle; “they could do -nothing but boast.” - -“And now here we sit and glitter,” murmured the piece of glass. - -But at that moment the water came rushing along the gutter and carried -off the piece of glass in its arms. - -“He has received promotion already,” said the Darning-needle. “It is my -pride that stands in my way. I am so very fine, and I am quite right to -keep myself to myself,” and it sat up erect and proud, and was filled -with great thoughts. “I surely must be the child of some sunbeam,” it -thought. “I am so very fine, and the sunbeams always seem to me to be -trying to find me beneath the water. Perhaps I am too slender for my -mother to be able to see me. I’m sure if I had my old eye that was -broken off I should cry. But I won’t; it’s not well-bred to cry.” - -Then one day some ragamuffins came poking in the gutter to find -farthings and old nails, and other such precious things. It was very -muddy and dirty, but they only enjoyed it the better for that. - -“Ugh!” cried one, as the Darning-needle ran into his finger. “Ugh! you -great ugly fellow!” - -“I am a miss, and not a fellow!” shrieked the Darning-needle; but no one -heard it. - -The ball of sealing-wax had fallen off, and the needle had turned quite -black, but it felt more pleased with itself than ever, for one looks so -much slimmer in black. - -“Here, let us stick it into this egg-shell!” they called, and the -Darning-needle was fixed firmly. - -“These white walls must be very becoming to me,” the Darning-needle -thought. “I shall show up well against them, and shall certainly be seen -at last. I hope I shall not become seasick or break.” - -But the Darning-needle became neither seasick, nor did it break. A steel -stomach is a good preventive against seasickness; and it did not forget -that it was something better than a mere man. - -“Really, the finer one is, the more one can bear,” it thought. - -“C-r-r-rack!” groaned the egg-shell, as the wheels of a cart passed over -it. - -“Gracious heavens! how it presses!” gasped the Darning-needle. “I do -believe I am going to be seasick, after all. I shall break!” - -But, although the heavy cart rolled over it, it did not break, only lay -stretched full length in the mud, and there it may stay, for there is no -more of its story worth listening to. - - HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN. - - - - - _Master of All Masters_ - - -A girl once went to the fair to hire herself for a servant. At last a -funny-looking old gentleman engaged her, and took her home to his house. -When she got there, he told her that he had something to teach her, for -that in his house he had his own names for things. - -He said to her: “What will you call me?” - -“Master or mister, or whatever you please, sir,” says she. - -He said: “You must call me ‘Master of all Masters.’ And what would you -call this?” pointing to his bed. - -“Bed or couch, or whatever you please, sir.” - -“No, that’s my ‘barnacle.’ And what do you call these?” said he, -pointing to his pantaloons. - -“Breeches or trousers, or whatever you please, sir.” - -“You must call them ‘squibs and crackers.’ And what would you call her?” -pointing to the cat. - -“Cat or kit, or whatever you please, sir.” - -“You must call her ‘white-faced simminy.’ And this, now,” showing the -fire, “what would you call this?” - -“Fire or flame, or whatever you please, sir.” - -“You must call it ‘hot cockalorum.’ And what, this?” he went on, -pointing to the water. - -“Water or wet, or whatever you please, sir.” - -“No, ‘pondalorum’ is its name. And what do you call all this?” asked he, -as he pointed to the house. - -“House or cottage, or whatever you please, sir.” - -“You must call it ‘high topper mountain.’” - -That very night the servant woke her master up in a fright and said: -“Master of all Masters, get out of your barnacle and put on your squibs -and crackers. For white-faced simminy has got a spark of hot cockalorum -on its tail, and unless you get some pondalorum, high topper mountain -will be all on hot cockalorum.” ... That’s all. - - - - - _Belling the Cat_ - - -Once upon a time the mice sat in council and talked of how they might -outwit their enemy, the Cat. But good advice was scarce, and in vain the -president called upon all the most experienced mice present to find a -way. - -At last a very young mouse held up two fingers and asked to be allowed -to speak, and as soon as he could get permission he said: - -“I’ve been thinking for a long time why the Cat is such a dangerous -enemy. Now, it’s not so much because of her quickness, though people -make so much fuss about that. If we could only _notice_ her in time, -I’ve no doubt we’re nimble enough to jump into our holes before she -could do us any harm. It’s in her velvet paws, there’s where she hides -her cruel claws till she gets us in her clutches—that’s where her power -lies. With those paws she can tread so lightly that we can’t hear her -coming. And so, while _we_ are still dancing heedlessly about the place, -she creeps close up, and before we know where we are she pounces down on -us and has us in her clutches. Well, then, it’s my opinion we ought to -hang a bell round her neck to warn us of her coming while there’s yet -time.” - -Every one applauded this proposal, and the council decided that it -should be carried out. - -Now the question to be settled was, who should undertake to fasten the -bell round the Cat’s neck? - -The president declared that no one could be better fitted for the task -than he who had given such excellent advice. - -But at that the young mouse became quite confused and stammered an -excuse. He was too young for the deed, he said. He didn’t know the Cat -well enough. His grandfather, who knew her better, would be more suited -to the job. - -But the grandfather declared that just because he knew the Cat very well -he would take good care not to attempt such a task. - -And the long and the short of it was that no other mouse would undertake -the duty; and so this clever proposal was never carried out, and the Cat -remained mistress of the situation. - - - - - _The Magpie and her Children_ - - -Said a Magpie to her children: “It’s high time you learned to look for -your own food; it is indeed.” - -And with that she turned the whole lot of them out of their nest and -took them into the fields. - -But the Magpie’s children didn’t care about that. - -“We’d rather go back to our nest!” they cried. “It’s so comfortable to -have you bringing our food to us in your beak!” - -“I dare say!” said their mother. “But you’re big enough to feed -yourselves. I was turned out of the nest when I was much younger, I can -tell you that!” - -“But people will kill us with their bows and arrows,” said the young -magpies. - -“No fear of that!” replied their mother. “People can’t shoot without -taking aim, and that takes time. When you see them raising their bows to -their faces, ready to draw, you must just fly away!” - -“We might do that,” said the children; “but if some one were to throw a -stone at us, he wouldn’t have to take aim.” - -“Well, you’ll see him stooping down to pick up the stone,” said the old -Magpie. - -“But supposing he carries a stone in his hand, ready?” - -“Why, if you’re sharp enough to think of that,” said their mother, -“you’re sharp enough to take care of yourselves!” - -And with that she flew away and left them. - - - - - _The Cock, the Cuckoo, and the Black-cock_ - - -Once upon a time the Cock, the Cuckoo, and the Black-cock bought a cow -between them. But when they came to share it, and couldn’t agree which -should buy the others out, they settled among them that he who woke -first in the morning should have the cow. - -So the Cock woke first. - - “Now the cow’s mine! - Now the cow’s mine! - Hurrah! Hurrah!” - -he crew, and so pleased was he that in his excitement he awoke the -Cuckoo. - - “Half cow! - Half cow!” - -sang the Cuckoo, and woke up the Black-cock. - - “A like share, a like share; - Dear friends, that’s only fair; - Saw see, see saw!” - -That’s what the Black-cock said. - -And now can you tell me which of them ought to have the cow? - - - - - _The Race Between Hare and Hedgehog_ - - -It was once upon a time on a Saturday morning in autumn, while the -barley-fields were still in bloom. - -The sun was shining, the morning wind was blowing over the stubble, the -larks were singing high in the air, the bees were buzzing in the barley -blossoms, and the people were going blithely about their day’s work; in -short, all the world was happy, and the Hedgehog, too. - -The Hedgehog stood in front of his door with folded arms, looked at the -weather, and hummed a tune as only a hedgehog can hum on a Saturday -morning. - -Now, as he stood there humming, he thought to himself all at once that, -while his wife was washing and dressing the children, he might as well -go for a little walk in the fields and see how his turnips were getting -on. - -The turnips grew near his house, and he and his family ate as many of -them as ever they wanted, and so he looked upon them quite naturally as -his property. - -Well, the Hedgehog slammed his door and started for the turnip-field. He -hadn’t got very far, and was just sauntering round the brier-bush that -stood outside the field, when he met the Hare, who was out on the same -errand—namely, to look at his cabbages. - -When the Hedgehog caught sight of the Hare, he gave him a pleasant “Good -morning.” - -But the Hare, who was a very aristocratic person in his own way, and -very high and mighty in his manner, didn’t answer the Hedgehog’s -greeting, but said, with a nasty sneer: - -“What are you running about the fields for so early in the morning?” - -“I’m out walking,” said the Hedgehog. - -“Walking?” grinned the Hare. “I should have thought you could use your -legs for something better!” - -This remark annoyed the Hedgehog, for, though he was a good-natured -fellow enough, he was touchy on the subject of his legs, which were, by -nature, bandy. - -“I suppose,” he said tartly, “you think your legs are better than mine?” - -“That I do,” said the Hare. - -“It remains to be seen,” said the Hedgehog. “I bet you that if we two -were to run a race I should outstrip you.” - -“Absurd!” cried the Hare. “You with your crooked legs! But if you’re so -anxious to try, I’ve no objection. What do you wager?” - -“A golden guinea,” said the Hedgehog. - -“Done!” said the Hare. “We’ll start right away!” - -“Oh, don’t be in such a hurry,” said the Hedgehog. “I haven’t had my -breakfast yet, and I feel a bit faint. I’ll come back here in an hour.” - -So away he trotted, for the Hare made no objection. - -Then he thought to himself: - -“The Hare thinks a lot of his long legs, but I’ll get the better of him -all the same. For all his haughty ways, he’s not so very clever, and -I’ll make him pay; see if I don’t.” - -As soon as he got home, he said to his wife: - -“Quick! go and get dressed. You must come out with me.” - -“What’s the matter?” said his wife. - -“I’ve wagered the Hare a golden guinea. I’m to run a race with him, and -I want you to be there.” - -“Good gracious me!” cried the Hedgehog’s wife. “Have you lost your -senses? How can you think of racing the Hare?” - -“Don’t be so quick with your words, woman,” said the Hedgehog. “That’s -my affair; you mustn’t meddle with what you don’t understand. Look -sharp; put on your things, and come along.” - -What was the wife to do? She had to obey, whether she wanted to or not. - -On the way to the field, the Hedgehog said: - -“Now, listen to what I’m going to tell you. In that plowed field over -there we’re to run our race. The Hare will run in one furrow, and I in -the other. We begin at the top. Now, all you’ve got to do is to stand at -the other end of my furrow, and directly the Hare arrives, you call out -to him: - -“‘Here I am already!’” - -With that they reached the field. The Hedgehog told his wife where to -stand, and went on to the other end. - -The Hare was there waiting for him. - -“Shall we start?” asked the Hare. - -“Right,” said the Hedgehog. - -“Now then!” - -Each took up his place. - -The Hare counted: - -“One, two, three!” - -And away he went like the wind. - -But the Hedgehog took about three paces, then he went back, ducked down -in his furrow, and stood there as comfortably as you please, and -laughing as if he would split his sides. - -Now, the moment the Hare came rushing up to the other end, the -Hedgehog’s wife called out to him: - -“Here I am already!” - -The Hare was quite taken aback, for he made sure it was the Hedgehog -himself who was sitting there calling to him, since, as every one knows, -a hedgehog’s wife looks exactly like her husband. - -“There’s something not quite right here,” said the Hare. “We must run -again back to the starting-point.” - -And away he flew like the wind. But the Hedgehog’s wife never moved. - -When the Hare got to the other end, the Hedgehog called out: - -“Here I am already!” - -But the Hare, quite beside himself with jealousy, shouted: - -“We must run again!” - -“Right!” said the Hedgehog. “As often as you like.” - -And so the Hare went on, running backward and forward seventy-three -times, and every time the Hedgehog got the better of him. Every time the -Hare arrived at one end or the other, the Hedgehog or his wife called -out: - -“Here I am already!” - -But the seventy-fourth time the Hare dropped down dead tired before he -got half-way. So the Hedgehog took his golden guinea, and he and his -wife went home very well pleased with themselves. And so my tale is -finished. - - - - - _Bruno’s Story_ - - [_From “Sylvie and Bruno.”_] - - -“Once there were a mouse and a crocodile and a man and a goat and a -lion,” said Bruno. - -“And the mouse found a shoe, and it thought it were a mouse-trap. So it -got right in, and it stayed in ever so long.” - -“Why did it stay in?” - -“‘Cause it thought it couldn’t get out again,” Bruno explained. “It were -a clever mouse. It knew it couldn’t get out of traps.” - -“But why did it go in, then?” - -“No matter why!” said Bruno decisively; “and it jamp, and it jamp, and -at last it got right out again. And it looked at the mark in the shoe. -And the man’s name were in it. So it knew it wasn’t its own shoe. - -So the mouse gave the man his shoe. And the man were welly glad, ‘cause -he hadn’t got but one shoe, and he were hopping to get the other. - -And the man took the goat out of the sack.... No, I know oo hasn’t heard -of the sack before, and oo won’t again.... And he said to the goat: ‘Oo -will walk about here till I comes back.’ And he went and he tumbled into -a deep hole. And the goat walked round and round. And it walked under -the tree. And it wug its tail. And it looked up in the tree. And it sang -a sad little song. Oo never heard such a sad little song! - -It singed it right froo. I _sawed_ it singing with its long beard. - -And when it had singed all the song, it ran away—for to get along to -look for the man, oo know. And the crocodile got along after it—for to -bite it, oo know. And the mouse got along after the crocodile.” - -“Wasn’t the crocodile running?” - -“He wasn’t running,” said Bruno, “and he wasn’t crawling. He went -struggling along like a portmanteau. And he held his chin ever so high -in the air——” - -“What did he do that for?” - -“‘Cause he hadn’t got a toofache!” said Bruno. “Can’t oo make out -_nuffin_ wizout I ‘splain it? Why, if he’d had a toofache, a course he’d -have held his head down—like this—and he’d have put a lot of warm -blankets round it!” - -“Did he have any blankets?” - -“Course he had blankets,” said Bruno. “Does oo think crocodiles goes -walks wisout blankets? And he frowned with his eyebrows. And the goat -was welly flightened at his eyebrows.” - -“I’d never be afraid of eyebrows.” - -“I should think oo _would_, though, if they’d got a crocodile fastened -to them, like these had!” - -And so the man jamp, and he jamp, and at last he got right out of the -hole. - -And he runned away—for to look for the goat, oo know. And he heard the -lion grunting. - -And its mouth were like a large cupboard. And it had plenty of room in -its mouth. And the lion runned after the man—for to eat him, oo know. -And the mouse runned after the lion. - -“And first he caught the crocodile, and then he didn’t catch the lion. -And when he’d caught the crocodile, what does oo think he did—‘cause -he’d got pincers in his pocket? Why, he wrenched out that crocodile’s -toof!” - -“Which tooth?” - -“The toof he were going to bite the goat with, a course!” - -“And what became of the man?” - -“Well, the lion springed at him. But it came so slow, it were three -weeks in the air——” - -“Did the man wait for it all that time?” - -“Course he didn’t. He sold his house, and he packed up his things, while -the lion were coming. And he went and he lived in another town. So the -lion ate the wrong man.” - - LEWIS CARROLL. - - - - - _The Bluebottle Who Went Courting_ - - -A gay young Bluebottle went out courting. - -And first he flew into the king’s palace to woo the king’s daughter. - -Now, she was the most beautiful princess in all the world, and had a -thousand suitors at her feet. - -So the Bluebottle came and settled on her hand, and sang: - - “Zum, zum, zoo, - I want to marry you!” - -But the princess didn’t understand the song. She only saw a great -bluebottle fly, and she tried to flick it off her hand. But the -Bluebottle sat fast. Then the princess cried out: - -“Here’s a great horrid fly on my hand, and it won’t move! Quick! some -one take it away!” - -At that, you may be sure, all the suitors came running up, and made -grabs at the Bluebottle; and the cleverest of them caught him between -his finger and thumb and nearly crushed the life out of him. But he -managed to wriggle free, and in his flight he flew at the king himself -and settled right on the tip of the royal nose. - -Then the king gave a terrific snort and hit the Bluebottle such a blow -that if it hadn’t just missed him he would certainly have been killed. - -By this time, I can tell you, the Bluebottle was in such a state that he -didn’t know whether he was on his head or his heels. So he buzzed round -and round the room, and was chased from one courtier to the other, and -dashed his wings against the window-panes, and at last the king threw -his scepter at him, and the scepter hit the fattest duchess in the room, -and bounded off and struck the Bluebottle on the head. - -You may fancy how that confused the poor thing! And so he flew into the -fireplace, and got his left wing scorched, and he only just managed to -crawl up the chimney by the skin of his teeth. - -But a maiden bluebottle, who was distantly related to his family, nursed -his wing for him, and so pretty soon he was as gay as ever. Then he -said: - -“Very well, if I can’t have the princess, I’ll have the next best -thing.” - -And so he flew into the king’s stable and sat himself down right on the -back of the princess’s favorite mare. - - “Zum, zum, zoo, - I want to marry you!” - -he hummed. - -But the mare took not the least notice of his song. She only shifted her -feet irritably, for the Bluebottle tickled her. - - “Zum, zum, zoo, - I want to marry you!” - -repeated the Bluebottle, quite boldly. - -At that the mare gave a flick of her tail and hit the Bluebottle slap! -bang! right in the middle of his bright azure waistcoat, so that he was -sent spinning in among the straw that littered the floor. - -So there he lay, buzzing mournfully, till the maiden bluebottle came -along and rubbed him all over, and put him on his feet again. - -And pretty soon he was gayer than ever, and thought how he would go -courting once more. - -“Better stick to your own station,” said his lady friend. - -But he only tossed his head and sniffed scornfully. - -And then he put on a brand-new waistcoat and flew into the king’s -kitchen, where the princess’s favorite cat lay purring on the hearth. - -And the Bluebottle lost no time at all, but crept straight into the -cat’s right ear and sang his song: - - “Zum, zum, zoo, - I want to marry you!” - -Now, the cat had just been dreaming the most delicious dream about the -fattest mouse you can think of, and the buzzing in her ear just woke her -up in the most exciting part. - -And so, you may guess, she wasn’t in the best of tempers. - -Whether she heard the Bluebottle’s proposal of marriage or not, I really -can’t say. If she did, you may be sure it didn’t please her, for she -just made a snatch with her paw and grabbed him by the leg. - -Now, it would have been all up with him if the maiden relative hadn’t -flown up in the very nick of time and tickled the cat’s nose. - -Very well, that made the cat sneeze so violently that she let go of the -Bluebottle’s leg, and so he flew away. But his leg was broken; and the -doctor came every day for a week, and then he sent in his bill. And the -maiden friend brought all her savings rolled up in an old stocking of -her mother’s. And so the Bluebottle paid the doctor, and there was an -end of that. - -Now, would you believe it, the Bluebottle was so young and giddy that -his leg was scarcely well before he began to wonder where he should go -courting next. - -“When there are so many old maids in the world,” said he, “it’s a -bachelor’s duty to look round for a wife. I do it out of charity.” - -“Charity begins at home,” said his lady friend, and blushed in a modest -way. - -But the Bluebottle was not the kind of person to take a hint. So he just -put on another new waistcoat, and away he flew into the woods. - -And there a fine young lady woodpecker was hopping about digging for -worms in a ladylike manner. - -“Now, here is a person after my own heart,” said the Bluebottle. “She -doesn’t wait for us men to bring her food; she just helps herself. I -might do worse than marry her.” - -And without a minute’s hesitation he began to buzz round and round the -woodpecker, singing his old song: - - “Zum, zum, zoo, - I want to marry you!” - -When the woodpecker caught sight of him, she cocked her tail in a -knowing way. - -“Change of food is as good as change of air,” said she, and gave a peck -that nearly finished the Bluebottle there and then, and tore his right -wing from end to end. - -So there he was, sprawling on his back with his legs curled up in agony, -for a torn wing is no trifle. And now the woodpecker would certainly -have gobbled him up; but just then the faithful maiden friend, who had -followed the Bluebottle because he was bound to get into mischief, -hurried up. When she saw the state of things, she didn’t stop twice to -think, but took a dead leaf and dropped it right over the Bluebottle. - -Now, when the woodpecker saw the maiden Bluebottle, she took her for the -bachelor, and gave another peck. But the maiden flew away and hid behind -a fern, and so the woodpecker went back to her worms. - -“Oh! Oh! I’m dead! I’m dead!” groaned the Bluebottle under the leaf. - -“Nonsense!” said his lady friend. “Rubbish doesn’t die so easily!” - -You see, she was severe because her pride had been hurt. - -“Oh, dear, kind friend, don’t fly away and leave me!” begged the -Bluebottle meekly. - -“You’ve flown away and left me often enough,” said the lady friend. - -“I’ll never do it again as long as I live!” cried he. - -“You couldn’t if you wanted to,” said she, and stroked the broken wing. - -“Oh, why wasn’t I content with a bluebottle bride?” groaned he. - -“No lady bluebottle will look at you now,” said she, “for you’ll always -fly lame as long as you live.” - -“Oh, won’t you take pity on me?” asked the poor Bluebottle, who felt -thoroughly humble by this time. - -Then his lady friend put her own strong wing under his broken one. - -“I’ll marry you—out of charity,” she said, and flew away with him. - - - - - _How Two Beetles Took Lodgings_ - - -Once upon a time there was a worthy set of ants, who lived together as -happily as possible in their little town at the foot of a fine old -oak-tree. - -They were honest, peaceable folk, and always did as the three queen ants -who ruled over them told them to do. - -The young men stayed quietly at home until it was time for them to get -married, and the young ladies, who had nothing else to do, did the same. - -As for the working people—But here’s a curious state of things! You’ll -never find a working “man” in an ant city as long as you live, for all -the workers are females, even the soldiers, you may take my word for -that! - -Well, as for these, they were at it morning, noon, and night, digging -and building and fetching food for the whole town, looking after the -eggs—of which there were so many you could never have counted them—and -seeing that all the baby ants were quite happy and comfortable. - -Now, things would have gone on very well indeed if other people had only -left these worthy ants alone. But they did not—and this is where my -story really begins. - -One fine day a set of ants belonging to quite another tribe came to the -forest, and built themselves a town not far from the first. - -And these ants—it grieves me to write it—were far from peaceful and -honest like their neighbors. To tell the truth, they were nothing more -nor less than robbers. - -They had not been very long in the place before their soldiers—all -womenfolk, too!—made a raid on the town of the mild and harmless ants, -and carried off all the girl babies they could lay hands on. And the -moment the children were old enough to work, they were made into slaves, -and had to do all the roughest and hardest work. - -Well, you may guess there was sorrow in the town of the peaceful ants. -They were too weak to fight their foes, and so they just had to sit down -and bear it as best they could. - -Now, what happened once, happened again, and yet again, till at last the -harmless ants made up their minds to move and build themselves a new -city in another part of the forest. - -And so they did. But it was all of no use, for the robbers followed -them, and then the same thing happened all over again. So soon as there -was a fine, fat, promising bunch of girl babies in the town, the robbers -came and carried them into slavery. - -One misfortune followed fast upon another. Not long after the ants had -moved into their new town, a beetle and his wife came stalking in, and -demanded lodgings in the queen’s palace. - -They were smartly dressed in blue and green coats of the latest cut, but -they carried no baggage except a tooth-brush, that stuck out of the -Beetle’s wife’s pocket. This was suspicious, and they looked so hungry -and thirsty, into the bargain, that it was not to be wondered at that -the poor queen ant pulled a long face. - -“We’re traveling for pleasure,” said the Beetle’s wife, “and we shall -have much pleasure in staying here as long as we like.” - -With that she walked straight up to the best bedroom, said she hoped the -sheets were aired, and went to bed, while her husband talked pleasantly -with the three queens, and ate three dozen new-laid ants’ eggs for his -supper. - -The unhappy queens soon saw what kind of visitors they had got. The -Beetles made themselves at home everywhere—in the palace and out of -it—and called for whatever they wanted. The working ants had to wait on -them hand and foot. There was the Beetle’s shaving water to be got first -thing in the morning, and the Beetle’s wife’s cup of milk fresh from the -cow. For ants, you must know, keep their cows, just as human beings do, -though the milk of the ant cow is more like sugar water than anything -else we have. - -Then there never was any one who could do with so many meals in the -course of a single day as that Beetle and his wife. They just ate and -drank from morning to night, and it was all the ants could do to keep -the palace larder stocked. - -All the choicest morsels, the finest seeds and salads the workers could -bring fell to the Beetles’ share, while the queens got what was left. - -There was no peace and quiet in the town. The Beetles pried into every -hole and corner, spread themselves in everybody’s parlor, and paraded -the streets singing and whistling when quiet folks wanted to rest. - -But, what was worst of all, they showed never a sign of moving on. - -“I thought you said you were traveling,” the bravest of the queens -ventured to remark at last. - -“Why, so we were!” said the Beetles. “But one must settle down some time -or other, and your air really suits us very well.” - -“Did you hear that?” whispered one young working ant to another. - -The two had come to the palace with a pitcher of milk just in time to -listen to the conversation. - -“They’ll never leave us,” said the second ant. - -“Not unless some one takes steps,” returned the first ant. - -“And, pray, whose steps, and why?” asked the second. - -“You always were stupid,” said the first one, and gave her waist a -twitch—which is a way ants have when they are put out. “Now, if some one -were to take my advice,” she went on, “but there’s nobody in all the -town with two pennyworth of spirit. Nobody would take my advice.” - -“I suppose you couldn’t take it yourself?” asked the second ant, who -really was not quite as stupid as people thought. - -“It never occurred to me,” said the first ant; “but now you mention it, -perhaps I might.” - -And then the first ant thought and thought, and the end of it was that -she slipped out of the town so soon as her day’s work was finished and -strolled away toward the town where the robber ants lived. - -And presently a fierce old soldier-ant came marching out at the gate. - -Then the little worker’s heart beat very fast, and she turned as pale as -an ant can turn. - -“‘Nothing venture, nothing win,’” she said to herself, and walked -straight up to the soldier. - -“Hallo! Who are you?” said the soldier. - -“Oh, I’m a neighbor of yours, from Beechtown,” said the little ant. “I’m -just taking a stroll before supper.” - -“A stroll before supper!” cried the soldier, staring very hard. “You -don’t seem to have much work to do over there.” - -“Why, no, I can’t say I have,” said the little ant. - -“But I can see by your dress you’re a servant,” said the soldier-woman. - -“So I am,” said the little ant. “But we servants of Beechtown have an -easy place. A bit of dusting now and then, and a little light -needlework; that’s all.” - -“I heard a very different story only the other day,” said the soldier. - -“Ah, but everything’s changed since the Beetles came,” said the little -worker. “They do all the dirty work; and, my goodness! they can work, -you may take my word for that! It’s worth something, I can tell you, to -have two fine Beetles like that in the town!” - -“Aha!” thought the soldier-woman to herself, “here’s something for us!” - -And she was so taken up with thinking that she forgot to bid the little -ant good night, and there and then she marched straight back to her town -to tell the general what she had heard. - -But the little ant went home well pleased with herself. And, sure -enough, what she expected would happen did happen. - -The robber-ants, as soon as they heard the soldier’s story, were as -eager as possible to carry off the two Beetles who could work so well. - -And to prevent any fuss and bother, this is what they did: - -They took a great pitcher of ant-cow’s milk and mixed with it a few -drops of the poison, which, as every one knows, an ant always carries -about with her in her poison-bag. Then twelve soldiers took the pitcher -to Beechtown and waited outside the gate for the Beetles to come out. -And directly they saw them coming they put down the pitcher and hid -behind a mountain of dead leaves. - -But the Beetles drank up the sweet stuff till there was not a drop left -at the bottom of the pail, and immediately the poison began to work, and -both the Beetle and his wife fell back in a heap on to the grass, and -there they lay, and could stir neither hand nor foot. - -The robbers, you may fancy, lost no time, bundled the pair on to a stout -rhubarb leaf, and dragged them away to their own city as fast as they -could go. - -Now, scarcely had they got them there when the poison began to wear -off—for ants’ poison is not very strong, you see—and pretty soon the -Beetle’s wife sat up and pinched her husband. It was not long before he -sat up, too; and by and by those two were as clear in their heads and as -firm on their legs as any two beetles ever were. - -And now there was an unpleasant surprise in store for the robber-ants. -When the Beetle’s wife had looked round a bit, she said to her husband: - -“Why, it seems comfortable enough here. I don’t think we’ll trouble to -go back to Beechtown. I think this will suit us very well.” - -“Well, well, we’ll just see what the cooking’s like,” said he, and went -straight to the palace where the six queen-ants who ruled over the -robbers lived. He just said: “How-d’ye-do?” to the queens in an off-hand -way, and then he sat down and helped himself to all the dishes he could -find in the larder. - -His wife, she did the same, and between them they finished all the food -there was. - -And so they went on, just as they were used to doing in Beechtown, and -it did not take the robbers long to find out the mistake they had made. - -The Beetles had never done a day’s work in their lives, and they had no -notion of beginning now, just because the robbers expected it. - -When they heard how they had been carried off, and why, they thought the -whole affair a very good joke, and laughed and laughed till they grew -purple in the face, and had to slap each other on the back to keep from -choking. - -The robbers, you may believe me, were as angry as angry could be. They -coaxed and they threatened, but neither the Beetle nor his wife would do -a stroke of work. On the contrary, they took such a deal of waiting upon -that the robbers were driven well-nigh crazy, and racked their brains -for a way to get rid of them. - -But the Beetles liked their new quarters very well, and there they -stopped. - -So things went on, till at last the robbers made up their minds to give -the Beetles the slip. And one dark night, while they were asleep, they -packed their trunks and left the town. But the gate wanted oiling, and -creaked so as they swung it open that the Beetle’s wife got nightmare -and woke up. - -In a minute, you may be sure, she had found out what was going on, and -had wakened her husband. Then the two crept very softly out at the gate -and kept the ants at a comfortable distance. - -So the end of it all was that, though the robbers went far into the -forest, many leagues from their old town, they had no sooner finished -building the new one than in marched the Beetles, and went on in their -old way as though nothing had happened. - -Now, the robbers had settled so far away from Beechtown that it was not -worth their while to come and steal the children of the harmless ants, -for they found another town nearer to hand. - -And so the harmless ants lived together quite happily and peacefully -once more, and the clever little worker, to whom they owed their good -fortune, was raised to great honor and glory. - -But the robbers had to make the best of the Beetles, for get rid of them -they never could. And if ever you should be passing that way, why, I -make no doubt you’ll find them there still. - - - - - _Little Tuppen_ - - -One day an old hen whose name was Cluck-cluck went into the woods with -her little chick Tuppen to get some blueberries to eat. But a berry -stuck fast in the little one’s throat, and he fell upon the ground, -choking and gasping. Cluck-cluck, in great fright, ran to fetch some -water for him. - -She ran to the Spring and said: “My dear Spring, please give me some -water. I want it for my little chick Tuppen, who lies choking and -gasping under the blueberry-bush in the green woods.” - -The Spring said: “I will give you some water if you will bring me a -cup.” - -Then Cluck-cluck ran to the Oak-tree and said: “Dear Oak-tree, please -give me a cup. I want it for the Spring; and then the Spring will give -me water for my little chick Tuppen, who lies choking and gasping under -the blueberry-bush in the green woods.” - -The Oak-tree said: “I will give you a cup if some one will shake my -branches.” - -Then Cluck-cluck ran to Maid Marian, the wood-cutter’s child, and said: -“Dear Maid Marian, please shake the Oak-tree’s branches; and then the -Oak-tree will give me a cup, and I will give the cup to the Spring, and -the Spring will give me water for my little chick Tuppen, who lies -choking and gasping under the blueberry-bush in the green woods.” - -The wood-cutter’s child, Maid Marian, said: “I will shake the Oak-tree’s -branches if you will give me some shoes.” - -Then Cluck-cluck ran to the Shoemaker and said: “Dear Shoemaker, please -give me some shoes. I want them for Maid Marian, the wood-cutter’s -child; for then Maid Marian will shake the Oak-tree’s branches, and the -Oak-tree will give me a cup, and I will give the cup to the Spring, and -the Spring will give me water for my little chick Tuppen, who lies -choking and gasping under the blueberry-bush in the green woods.” - -The Shoemaker said: “I will give you some shoes if you will give me some -leather.” - -Then Cluck-cluck ran to Moo-moo, the ox, and said: “Dear Moo-moo, please -give me some leather. I want it for the Shoemaker; for then the -Shoemaker will give me some shoes, and I will give the shoes to Maid -Marian, and Maid Marian will shake the Oak-tree’s branches, and the -Oak-tree will give me a cup, and I will give the cup to the Spring, and -the Spring will give me water for my little chick Tuppen, who lies -choking and gasping under the blueberry-bush in the green woods.” - -The ox, Moo-moo, said: “I will give you some leather if you will give me -some corn.” - -Then Cluck-cluck ran to the Farmer and said: “Dear Farmer, please give -me some corn. I want it for Moo-moo, the ox; for then the ox will give -me some leather, and I will give the leather to the Shoemaker, and the -Shoemaker will give me shoes, and I will give the shoes to Maid Marian, -and Maid Marian will shake the Oak-tree’s branches, and the Oak-tree -will give me a cup, and I will give the cup to the Spring, and the -Spring will give me water for my little chick Tuppen, who lies choking -and gasping under the blueberry-bush in the green woods.” - -The Farmer said: “I will give you some corn if you will give me a plow.” - -Then Cluck-cluck ran to the Blacksmith and said: “Dear Blacksmith, -please give me a plow. I want it for the Farmer; for then the Farmer -will give me some corn, and I will give the corn to the ox, and the ox -will give me leather, and I will give the leather to the Shoemaker, and -the Shoemaker will give me shoes, and I will give the shoes to Maid -Marian, and Maid Marian will shake the Oak-tree’s branches, and the -Oak-tree will give me a cup, and I will give the cup to the Spring, and -the Spring will give me water for my little chick Tuppen, who lies -choking and gasping under the blueberry-bush in the green woods.” - -The Blacksmith said: “I will give you a plow if you will give me some -iron.” - -Then Cluck-cluck ran to the busy little dwarfs who live under the -mountains, and have all the iron that is found in the mines. “Dear, dear -dwarfs,” she said, “please give me some of your iron. I want it for the -Blacksmith; for then the Blacksmith will give me a plow, and I will give -the plow to the Farmer, and the Farmer will give me corn, and I will -give the corn to the ox, and the ox will give me leather, and I will -give the leather to the Shoemaker, and the Shoemaker will give me shoes, -and I will give the shoes to Maid Marian, and Maid Marian will shake the -Oak-tree’s branches, and the Oak-tree will give me a cup, and I will -give the cup to the Spring, and the Spring will give me water for my -little chick Tuppen, who lies choking and gasping under the -blueberry-bush in the green woods.” - -The little dwarfs who live under the mountains had pity on poor -Cluck-cluck, and they gave her a great heap of red iron-ore from their -mines. - -Then she gave the iron to the Blacksmith, and the plow to the Farmer, -and the corn to the ox, and the leather to the Shoemaker, and the shoes -to Maid Marian; and Maid Marian shook the Oak-tree, and the Spring got -the acorn cup, and Cluck-cluck carried it full of water to her little -chick Tuppen. - -Then little Tuppen drank the water, and was well again, and ran chirping -and singing in the long grass as if nothing had happened to him. - - - - - _The Story of the Four Little Children Who Went Round the World_ - - [_From “Nonsense Stories.”_] - - -Once upon a time, a long while ago, there were four little people whose -names were Violet, Slingsby, Guy, and Lionel; and they all thought they -should like to see the world. So they bought a large boat to sail quite -round the world by sea, and then they were to come back on the other -side by land. The boat was painted blue with green spots, and the sail -was yellow with red stripes; and, when they set off, they only took a -small cat to steer and look after the boat, besides an elderly -quangle-wangle, who had to cook the dinner and make the tea; for which -purposes they took a large kettle. - -For the first ten days they sailed on beautifully, and found plenty to -eat, as there were lots of fish; and they had only to take them out of -the sea with a long spoon, when the quangle-wangle instantly cooked -them; and the pussy-cat was fed with the bones, with which she expressed -herself pleased on the whole; so that all the party was very happy. - -During the daytime Violet chiefly occupied herself in putting salt water -into a churn, while her three brothers churned it violently in the hope -that it would turn into butter, which it seldom, if ever, did; and in -the evening they all retired into the tea-kettle, where they all managed -to sleep very comfortably, while pussy and the quangle-wangle managed -the boat. - -After a time they saw some land at a distance; and, when they came to -it, they found it was an island made of water quite surrounded by earth. -Besides that, it was bordered by evanescent isthmuses, with a great -gulf-stream running about all over it; so that it was perfectly -beautiful, and contained only a single tree, five hundred and three feet -high. - -When they had landed, they walked about, but found, to their great -surprise, that the island was quite full of veal-cutlets and -chocolate-drops, and nothing else. So they all climbed up the single -high tree to discover, if possible, if there were any people; but having -remained on the top of the tree for a week, and not seeing anybody, they -naturally concluded that there were no inhabitants; and accordingly, -when they came down, they loaded the boat with two thousand veal-cutlets -and a million of chocolate-drops; and these afforded them sustenance for -more than a month, during which time they pursued their voyage with the -utmost delight and apathy. - -After this they came to a shore where there were no less than sixty-five -great red parrots with blue tails, sitting on a rail all of a row, and -all fast asleep. And I am sorry to say that the pussy-cat and the -quangle-wangle crept softly, and bit off the tail-feathers of all the -sixty-five parrots, for which Violet reproved them both severely. - -Notwithstanding which, she proceeded to insert all the feathers—two -hundred and sixty in number—in her bonnet; thereby causing it to have a -lovely and glittering appearance, highly prepossessing and efficacious. - -The next thing that happened to them was in a narrow part of the sea, -which was so entirely full of fishes that the boat could go on no -farther; so they remained there about six weeks, till they had eaten -nearly all the fishes, which were soles, and all ready cooked, and -covered with shrimp-sauce, so that there was no trouble whatever. And as -the few fishes who remained uneaten complained of the cold, as well as -of the difficulty they had in getting any sleep on account of the -extreme noise made by the arctic bears and the tropical turnspits, which -frequented the neighborhood in great numbers, Violet most amiably -knitted a small woolen frock for several of the fishes, and Slingsby -administered some opium-drops to them; through which kindness they -became quite warm, and slept soundly. - -Then they came to a country which was wholly covered with immense -orange-trees of a vast size, and quite full of fruit. So they all -landed, taking with them the tea-kettle, intending to gather some of the -oranges and place them in it. But, while they were busy about this, a -most dreadfully high wind rose, and blew out most of the parrot-tail -feathers from Violet’s bonnet. That, however, was nothing compared with -the calamity of the oranges falling down on their heads by millions and -millions, which thumped and bumped and bumped and thumped them all so -seriously that they were obliged to run as hard as they could for their -lives; besides that, the sound of the oranges rattling on the tea-kettle -was of the most fearful and amazing nature. - -Nevertheless, they got safely to the boat, although considerably vexed -and hurt; and the quangle-wangle’s right foot was so knocked about that -he had to sit with his head in his slipper for at least a week. - -This event made them all for a time rather melancholy, and perhaps they -might never have become less so had not Lionel, with a most praiseworthy -devotion and perseverance, continued to stand on one leg, and whistle to -them in a loud and lively manner; which diverted the whole party so -extremely that they gradually recovered their spirits, and agreed that, -whenever they should reach home, they would subscribe toward a -testimonial to Lionel, entirely made of gingerbread and raspberries, as -an earnest token of their sincere and grateful infection. - -After sailing on calmly for several more days they came to another -country, where they were much pleased and surprised to see a countless -multitude of white mice with red eyes, all sitting in a great circle, -slowly eating custard-pudding with the most satisfactory and polite -demeanor. - -And as the four travelers were rather hungry, being tired of eating -nothing but soles and oranges for so long a period, they held a council -as to the propriety of asking the mice for some of their pudding in a -humble and affecting manner, by which they could hardly be otherwise -than gratified. It was agreed, therefore, that Guy should go and ask the -mice, which he immediately did; and the result was, that they gave a -walnut-shell only half full of custard diluted with water. Now, this -displeased Guy, who said: “Out of such a lot of pudding as you have got, -I must say, you might have spared a somewhat larger quantity.” But no -sooner had he finished speaking than the mice turned round at once, and -sneezed at him in an appalling and vindictive manner (and it is -impossible to imagine a more scroobious and unpleasant sound than that -caused by the simultaneous sneezing of many millions of angry mice); so -that Guy rushed back to the boat, having first shied his cap into the -middle of the custard-pudding, by which means he completely spoiled the -mice’s dinner. - -By and by the four children came to a country where there were no -houses, but only an incredibly innumerable number of large bottles -without corks, and of a dazzling and sweetly susceptible blue color. -Each of these blue bottles contained a bluebottle fly; and all these -interesting animals live continually together in the most copious and -rural harmony; nor perhaps in many parts of the world is such perfect -and abject happiness to be found. Violet and Slingsby and Guy and Lionel -were greatly struck with this singular and instructive settlement; and, -having previously asked permission of the bluebottle flies (which was -most courteously granted), the boat was drawn up to the shore, and they -proceeded to make tea in front of the bottles; but, as they had no -tea-leaves, they merely placed some pebbles in the hot water; and the -quangle-wangle played some tunes over it on an accordion, by which, of -course, tea was made directly, and of the very best quality. - -The four children then entered into conversation with the bluebottle -flies, who discoursed in a placid and genteel manner, though with a -slightly buzzing accent, chiefly owing to the fact that they each held a -small clothes-brush between their teeth, which naturally occasioned a -fizzy, extraneous utterance. - -“Why,” said Violet, “would you kindly inform us, do you reside in -bottles; and, if in bottles at all, why not, rather, in green or purple, -or, indeed, in yellow bottles?” - -To which questions a very aged bluebottle fly answered: “We found -the bottles here all ready to live in; that is to say, our -great-great-great-great-great-grandfathers did, so we occupied them -at once. And, when the winter comes on, we turn the bottles upside -down, and consequently rarely feel the cold at all; and you know -very well that this could not be the case with bottles of any other -color than blue.” - -“Of course it could not,” said Slingsby. “But, if we may take the -liberty of inquiring, on what do you chiefly subsist?” - -“Mainly on oyster-patties,” said the bluebottle fly; “and, when these -are scarce, on raspberry vinegar and Russian leather boiled down to a -jelly.” - -“How delicious!” said Guy. - -To which Lionel added, “Huzz!” And all the bluebottle flies said, -“Buzz!” - -At this time an elderly fly said it was the hour for the evening song to -be sung; and, on a signal being given, all the bluebottle flies began to -buzz at once in a sumptuous and sonorous manner, the melodious and -mucilaginous sounds echoing all over the waters, and resounding across -the tumultuous tops of the transitory titmice upon the intervening and -verdant mountains with a serene and sickly suavity only known to the -truly virtuous. The moon was shining slobaciously from the -star-bespangled sky, while her light irrigated the smooth and shiny -sides and wings and backs of the bluebottle flies with a peculiar and -trivial splendor, while all nature cheerfully responded to the cerulean -and conspicuous circumstances. - -In many long-after years the four little travelers looked back to that -evening as one of the happiest in all their lives; and it was already -past midnight when—the sail of the boat having been set up by the -quangle-wangle, the tea-kettle and churn placed in their respective -positions, and the pussy-cat stationed at the helm—the children each -took a last and affectionate farewell of the bluebottle flies, who -walked down in a body to the water’s edge to see the travelers embark. - -As a token of parting respect and esteem, Violet made a courtesy quite -down to the ground, and stuck one of her few remaining parrot-tail -feathers into the back hair of the most pleasing of the bluebottle -flies; while Slingsby, Guy, and Lionel offered them three small boxes, -containing, respectively, black pins, dried figs, and Epsom salts; and -thus they left that happy shore forever. - -Overcome by their feelings, the four little travelers instantly jumped -into the tea-kettle and fell fast asleep. But all along the shore, for -many hours, there was distinctly heard a sound of severely suppressed -sobs, and of a vague multitude of living creatures using their -pocket-handkerchiefs in a subdued simultaneous snuffle, lingering sadly -along the walloping waves as the boat sailed farther and farther away -from the land of the happy bluebottle flies. - -Nothing particular occurred for some days after these events, except -that, as the travelers were passing a low tract of sand, they perceived -an unusual and gratifying spectacle; namely, a large number of crabs and -crawfish—perhaps six or seven hundred—sitting by the waterside, and -endeavoring to disentangle a vast heap of pale pink worsted, which they -moistened at intervals with a fluid composed of lavender-water and -white-wine negus. - -“Can we be of any service to you, oh, crusty crabbies?” said the four -children. - -“Thank you kindly,” said the crabs consecutively. “We are trying to make -some worsted mittens, but do not know how.” - -On which Violet, who was perfectly acquainted with the art of -mitten-making, said to the crabs, “Do your claws unscrew, or are they -fixtures?” - -“They are all made to unscrew,” said the crabs; and forthwith they -deposited a great pile of claws close to the boat, with which Violet -uncombed all the pale pink worsted, and then made the loveliest mittens -with it you can imagine. These the crabs, having resumed and screwed on -their claws, placed cheerfully upon their wrists and walked away rapidly -on their hind-legs, warbling songs with a silvery voice and in a minor -key. - -After this the four little people sailed on again till they came to a -vast and wide plain of astonishing dimensions, on which nothing whatever -could be discovered at first; but, as the travelers walked onward, there -appeared in the extreme and dim distance a single object, which on a -nearer approach, and on an accurately cutaneous inspection, seemed to be -somebody in a large white wig, sitting on an arm-chair made of -sponge-cakes and oyster-shells. “It does not quite look like a human -being,” said Violet doubtfully; nor could they make out what it really -was till the quangle-wangle (who had previously been round the world) -exclaimed softly in a loud voice, “It is the coöperative cauliflower!” - -And so, in truth, it was; and they soon found that what they had taken -for an immense wig was in reality the top of the cauliflower, and that -he had no feet at all, being able to walk tolerably well with a -fluctuating and graceful movement on a single cabbage-stalk—an -accomplishment which naturally saved him the expense of stockings and -shoes. - -Presently, while the whole party from the boat was gazing at him with -mingled affection and disgust, he suddenly arose, and, in a somewhat -plumdomphious manner, hurried off toward the setting sun—his steps -supported by two superincumbent confidential cucumbers, and a large -number of water-wagtails proceeding in advance of him by three and three -in a row—till he finally disappeared on the brink of the western sky in -a crystal cloud of sudorific sand. - -So remarkable a sight, of course, impressed the four children very -deeply; and they returned immediately to their boat with a strong sense -of undeveloped asthma and a great appetite. - -Shortly after this the travelers were obliged to sail directly below -some high overhanging rocks, from the top of one of which a particularly -odious little boy, dressed in rose-colored knickerbockers, and with a -pewter plate upon his head, threw an enormous pumpkin at the boat, by -which it was instantly upset. - -But this upsetting was of no consequence, because all the party knew how -to swim very well; and, in fact, they preferred swimming about till -after the moon rose, when, the water growing chilly, they -sponge-taneously entered the boat. Meanwhile the quangle-wangle threw -back the pumpkin with immense force, so that it hit the rocks where the -malicious little boy in rose-colored knickerbockers was sitting, when, -being quite full of lucifer-matches, the pumpkin exploded -surreptitiously into a thousand bits; whereon the rocks instantly took -fire, and the odious little boy became unpleasantly hotter and hotter -and hotter, till his knickerbockers were turned quite green, and his -nose was burned off. - -Two or three days after this had happened they came to another place, -where they found nothing at all except some wide and deep pits full of -mulberry-jam. This is the property of the tiny, yellow-nosed apes who -abound in these districts, and who store up the mulberry-jam for their -food in winter, when they mix it with pellucid pale periwinkle-soup, and -serve it out in Wedgwood china bowls, which grow freely all over that -part of the country. Only one of the yellow-nosed apes was on the spot, -and he was fast asleep; yet the four travelers and the quangle-wangle -and pussy were so terrified by the violence and sanguinary sound of his -snoring that they merely took a small cupful of the jam, and returned to -reëmbark in their boat without delay. - -What was their horror on seeing the boat (including the churn and the -tea-kettle) in the mouth of an enormous seeze pyder, an aquatic and -ferocious creature truly dreadful to behold, and, happily, only met with -in those excessive longitudes! In a moment the beautiful boat was bitten -into fifty-five thousand million hundred billion bits; and it instantly -became quite clear that Violet, Slingsby, Guy, and Lionel could no -longer preliminate their voyage by sea. - -The four travelers were therefore obliged to resolve on pursuing their -wanderings by land; and, very fortunately, there happened to pass by at -that moment an elderly rhinoceros, on which they seized; and, all four -mounting on his back—the quangle-wangle sitting on his horn, and holding -on by his ears, and the pussy-cat swinging at the end of his tail—they -set off, having only four small beans and three pounds of mashed -potatoes to last through their whole journey. - -They were, however, able to catch numbers of the chickens and turkeys -and other birds who incessantly alighted on the head of the rhinoceros -for the purpose of gathering the seeds of the rhododendron plants which -grew there; and these creatures they cooked in the most translucent and -satisfactory manner by means of a fire lighted on the end of the -rhinoceros’s back. A crowd of kangaroos and gigantic cranes accompanied -them, from feelings of curiosity and complacency; so that they were -never at a loss for company, and went onward, as it were, in a sort of -profuse and triumphant procession. - -Thus in less than eighteen weeks they all arrived safely at home, where -they were received by their admiring relatives with joy tempered with -contempt, and where they finally resolved to carry out the rest of their -traveling plans at some more favorable opportunity. - -As for the rhinoceros, in token of their grateful adherence, they had -him killed and stuffed directly, and then set him up outside the door of -their father’s house as a diaphanous door-scraper. - - EDWARD LEAR. - - - - - _The History of the Seven Families of the Lake Pipple-Popple_ - - [_From “Nonsense Stories.”_] - - - CHAPTER I - INTRODUCTORY - -In former days—that is to say, once upon a time—there lived in the Land -of Gramble-blamble seven families. They lived by the side of the great -Lake Pipple-popple (one of the seven families, indeed, lived _in_ the -lake), and on the outskirts of the city of Tosh, which, excepting when -it was quite dark, they could see plainly. The names of all these places -you have probably heard of; and you have only not to look in your -geography books to find out all about them. - -Now, the seven families who lived on the borders of the great Lake -Pipple-popple were as follows in the next chapter. - - - CHAPTER II - THE SEVEN FAMILIES - -There was a family of two old parrots and seven young parrots. - -There was a family of two old storks and seven young storks. - -There was a family of two old geese and seven young geese. - -There was a family of two old owls and seven young owls. - -There was a family of two old guinea-pigs and seven young guinea-pigs. - -There was a family of two old cats and seven young cats. - -And there was a family of two old fishes and seven young fishes. - - - CHAPTER III - THE HABITS OF THE SEVEN FAMILIES - -The parrots lived upon the soffsky-poffsky trees, which were beautiful -to behold, and covered with blue leaves; and they fed upon fruit, -artichokes, and striped beetles. - -The storks walked in and out of the Lake Pipple-popple, and ate frogs -for breakfast, and buttered toast for tea; but on account of the extreme -length of their legs they could not sit down, and so they walked about -continually. - -The geese, having webs to their feet, caught quantities of flies, which -they ate for dinner. - -The owls anxiously looked after mice, which they caught and made into -sago-puddings. - -The guinea-pigs toddled about the gardens, and ate lettuces and Cheshire -cheese. - -The cats sat still in the sunshine, and fed upon sponge biscuits. - -The fishes lived in the lake, and fed chiefly on boiled periwinkles. - -And all these seven families lived together in the utmost fun and -felicity. - - - CHAPTER IV - THE CHILDREN OF THE SEVEN FAMILIES ARE SENT AWAY - -One day all the seven fathers and the seven mothers of the seven -families agreed that they would send their children out to see the -world. - -So they called them all together, and gave them each eight shillings and -some good advice, some chocolate-drops, and a small green morocco -pocket-book to set down their expenses in. - -They then particularly entreated them not to quarrel; and all the -parents sent off their children with a parting injunction. - -“If,” said the old parrots, “you find a cherry, do not fight about who -should have it.” - -“And,” said the old storks, “if you find a frog, divide it carefully -into seven bits, but on no account quarrel about it.” - -And the old geese said to the seven young geese: “Whatever you do, be -sure you do not touch a plum-pudding flea.” - -And the old owls said: “If you find a mouse, tear him up into seven -slices, and eat him cheerfully, but without quarreling.” - -And the old guinea-pigs said: “Have a care that you eat your lettuces, -should you find any, not greedily, but calmly.” - -And the old cats said: “Be particularly careful not to meddle with a -clangle-wangle if you should see one.” - -And the old fishes said: “Above all things, avoid eating a blue -boss-woss, for they do not agree with fishes, and give them a pain in -their toes.” - -So all the children of each family thanked their parents, and, making in -all forty-nine polite bows, they went into the wide world. - - - CHAPTER V - THE HISTORY OF THE SEVEN YOUNG PARROTS - -The seven young parrots had not gone far when they saw a tree with a -single cherry on it, which the oldest parrot picked instantly; but the -other six, being extremely hungry, tried to get it also. On which all -the seven began to fight; and they - - scuffled, - and huffled, - and ruffled, - and shuffled, - and puffled, - and muffled, - and buffled, - and duffled, - and fluffled, - and guffled, - and bruffled, and - - screamed, and shrieked, and squealed, and -squeaked, and clawed, and snapped, and bit, and bumped, and thumped, and -dumped, and flumped each other, till they were all torn into little -bits; and at last there was nothing left to record this painful incident -except the cherry and seven small green feathers. - -And that was the vicious and voluble end of the seven young parrots. - - - CHAPTER VI - THE HISTORY OF THE SEVEN YOUNG STORKS - -When the seven young storks set out, they walked or flew for fourteen -weeks in a straight line, and for six weeks more in a crooked one; and -after that they ran as hard as they could for one hundred and eight -miles; and after that they stood still, and made a himmeltanious -chatter-clatter-blattery noise with their bills. - -About the same time they perceived a large frog, spotted with green, and -with a sky-blue stripe under each ear. - -So, being hungry, they immediately flew at him, and were going to divide -him into seven pieces when they began to quarrel as to which of his legs -should be taken off first. One said this, and another said that; and -while they were all quarreling, the frog hopped away. And when they saw -that he was gone they began to - - chatter-clatter, - blatter-platter, - patter-blatter, - matter-clatter, - flatter-quatter, - - more violently than ever; and after they had fought for a -week they pecked each other all to little pieces, so that at last -nothing was left of any of them except their bills. - -And that was the end of the seven young storks. - - - CHAPTER VII - THE HISTORY OF THE SEVEN YOUNG GEESE - -When the seven young geese began to travel, they went over a large -plain, on which there was but one tree, and that was a very bad one. - -So four of them went up to the top of it, and looked about them; while -the other three waddled up and down, and repeated poetry, and their last -six lessons in arithmetic, geography, and cookery. - -Presently they perceived, a long way off, an object of the most -interesting and obese appearance, having a perfectly round body exactly -resembling a boiled plum-pudding, with two little wings and a beak, and -three feathers growing out of his head, and only one leg. - -So, after a time, all the seven young geese said to each other: “Beyond -all doubt this beast must be a plum-pudding flea!” - -On which they incautiously began to sing aloud: - - “Plum-pudding flea, - Plum-pudding flea, - Wherever you be, - Oh! come to our tree, - And listen, oh! listen, oh! listen to me!” - -And no sooner had they sung this verse than the plum-pudding flea began -to hop and skip on his one leg with the most dreadful velocity, and came -straight to the tree, where he stopped, and looked about him in a vacant -and voluminous manner. - -On which the seven young geese were greatly alarmed, and all of a -tremble-bemble; so one of them put out his long neck and just touched -him with the tip of his bill; but no sooner had he done this than the -plum-pudding flea skipped and hopped about more and more, and higher and -higher; after which he opened his mouth, and, to the great surprise and -indignation of the seven geese, began to bark so loudly, and furiously, -and terribly that they were totally unable to bear the noise; and by -degrees every one of them suddenly tumbled down quite dead. - -So that was the end of the seven young geese. - - - CHAPTER VIII - THE HISTORY OF THE SEVEN YOUNG OWLS - -When the seven young owls set out, they sat every now and then on the -branches of old trees, and never went far at one time. - -And one night, when it was quite dark, they thought they heard a mouse; -but, as the gas-lamps were not lighted, they could not see him. - -So they called out, “Is that a mouse?” - -On which a mouse answered, “Squeaky-peeky-weeky! yes, it is!” - -And immediately all the young owls threw themselves off the tree, -meaning to alight on the ground; but they did not perceive that there -was a large well below them, into which they all fell superficially, and -were every one of them drowned in less than half a minute. - -So that was the end of the seven young owls. - - - CHAPTER IX - THE HISTORY OF THE SEVEN YOUNG GUINEA-PIGS - -The seven young guinea-pigs went into a garden full of gooseberry-bushes -and tiggory-trees, under one of which they fell asleep. When they awoke -they saw a large lettuce, which had grown out of the ground while they -had been sleeping, and which had an immense number of green leaves. At -which they all exclaimed: - - “Lettuce! O lettuce - Let us, O let us, - O lettuce-leaves, - O let us leave this tree, and eat - Lettuce, O let us, lettuce-leaves!” - -And instantly the seven young guinea-pigs rushed with such extreme force -against the lettuce-plant, and hit their heads so vividly against its -stalk, that the concussion brought on directly an incipient transitional -inflammation of their noses, which grew worse and worse, and worse and -worse, till it incidentally killed them—all seven. - -And that was the end of the seven young guinea-pigs. - - - CHAPTER X - THE HISTORY OF THE SEVEN YOUNG CATS - -The seven young cats set off on their travels with great delight and -rapacity. But, on coming to the top of a high hill, they perceived at a -long distance off a clangle-wangle (or, as it is more properly written, -clangel-wangel); and, in spite of the warning they had had, they ran -straight up to it. - -(Now, the clangle-wangles are most dangerous and delusive beasts, and by -no means commonly to be met with. They live in the water as well as on -land, using their long tails as a sail when in the former element. Their -speed is extreme, but their habits of life are domestic and superfluous, -and their general demeanor pensive and pellucid. On summer evenings they -may sometimes be observed near the Lake Pipple-popple, standing on their -heads, and humming their national melodies. They subsist entirely on -vegetables, excepting when they eat veal or mutton, or pork or beef, or -fish or saltpetre.) - -The moment the clangle-wangle saw the seven young cats approach, he ran -away; and as he ran straight on for four months, and the cats, though -they continued to run, could never overtake him, they all gradually -_died_ of fatigue and exhaustion, and never afterward recovered. - -And this was the end of the seven young cats. - - - CHAPTER XI - THE HISTORY OF THE SEVEN YOUNG FISHES - -The seven young fishes swam across the Lake Pipple-popple, and into the -river, and into the ocean, where, most unhappily for them, they saw on -the fifteenth day of their travels, a bright-blue boss-woss, and -instantly swam after him. But the blue boss-woss plunged into a - - perpendicular, - spicular, - orbicular, - quadrangular, - - circular depth of soft mud; where, in fact, his house was. - -And the seven young fishes, swimming with great and uncomfortable -velocity, plunged also into the mud quite against their will, and, not -being accustomed to it, were all suffocated in a very short period. - -And that was the end of the seven young fishes. - - - CHAPTER XII - OF WHAT OCCURRED SUBSEQUENTLY - - After it was known that the - seven young parrots, - and the seven young storks, - and the seven young geese, - and the seven young owls, - and the seven young guinea-pigs, - and the seven young cats, - and the seven young fishes, - -were all dead, then the frog, and the plum-pudding flea, and the mouse, -and the clangle-wangle, and the blue boss-woss all met together to -rejoice over their good fortune. And they collected the seven feathers -of the seven young parrots, and the seven bills of the seven young -storks, and the lettuce, and the cherry; and having placed the latter on -the lettuce, and the other objects in a circular arrangement at their -base, they danced a hornpipe round all these memorials until they were -quite tired, after which they gave a tea-party, and a garden-party, and -a ball, and a concert, and then returned to their respective homes full -of joy and respect, sympathy, satisfaction, and disgust. - - - CHAPTER XIII - OF WHAT BECAME OF THE PARENTS OF THE FORTY-NINE CHILDREN - - But when the two old parrots, - and the two old storks, - and the two old geese, - and the two old owls, - and the two old guinea-pigs, - and the two old cats, - and the two old fishes - -became aware, by reading in the newspapers, of the calamitous extinction -of the whole of their families, they refused all further sustenance; -and, sending out to various shops, they purchased great quantities of -cayenne pepper and brandy and vinegar and blue sealing-wax, besides -seven immense glass bottles with air-tight stoppers. And, having done -this, they ate a light supper of brown bread and Jerusalem artichokes, -and took an affecting and formal leave of the whole of their -acquaintance, which was very numerous and distinguished and select and -responsible and ridiculous. - - - CHAPTER XIV - CONCLUSION - -And after this they filled the bottles with the ingredients for -pickling, and each couple jumped into a separate bottle; by which -effort, of course, they all died immediately, and became thoroughly -pickled in a few minutes, having previously made their wills (by the -assistance of the most eminent lawyers of the district), in which they -left strict orders that the stoppers of the seven bottles should be -carefully sealed up with the blue sealing-wax they had purchased; and -that they themselves, in the bottles, should be presented to the -principal museum of the city of Tosh, to be labeled with parchment or -any other anti-congenial succedaneum, and to be placed on a marble table -with silver-gilt legs, for the daily inspection and contemplation, and -for the perpetual benefit, of the pusillanimous public. - -And if you ever happen to go to Gramble-blamble, and visit that museum -in the city of Tosh, look for them on the ninety-eighth table in the -four hundred and twenty-seventh room of the right-hand corridor of the -left wing of the central quadrangle of that magnificent building; for, -if you do not, you certainly will not see them. - - EDWARD LEAR. - - - - - _Wee Robin’s Yule-Song_ - - -There was an auld gray Pussie Baudrons, and she gaed awa’ down by a -waterside, and there she saw a Wee Robin Redbreast hoppin’ on a brier; -and Pussie Baudrons says: “Where’s tu gaun, Wee Robin?” And Wee Robin -says: “I’m gaun awa’ to the king to sing him a sang this guid Yule -morning.” And Pussie Baudrons says: “Come here, Wee Robin, and I’ll let -you see a bonny white ring round my neck.” But Wee Robin says: “Na, na! -gray Poussie Baudrons, na, na! Ye worry’t the wee mousie, but ye’se no -worry me.” So Wee Robin flew awa’ till he came to a fail fauld-dike -(_turf wall_), and there he saw a gray greedy gled (_hawk_) sitting. And -gray greedy gled says: “Where’s tu gaun, Wee Robin?” And Wee Robin says: -“I’m gaun awa’ to the king to sing him a sang this guid Yule morning.” -And gray greedy gled says: “Come here, Wee Robin, and I’ll let ye see a -bonny feather in my wing.” But Wee Robin says: “Na, na! gray greedy -gled, na, na! Ye pookit (_pecked_) a’ the wee lintie, but ye’se no pook -me.” So Wee Robin flew awa’ till he came to the cleuch (_hollow_) o’ a -craig, and there he saw slee Tod Lowrie (_sly fox_) sitting. And slee -Tod Lowrie says: “Where’s tu gaun, Wee Robin?” And Wee Robin says: “I’m -gaun awa’ to the king to sing him a sang this guid Yule morning.” And -slee Tod Lowrie says: “Come here, Wee Robin, and I’ll let ye see a bonny -spot on the tap o’ my tail.” But Wee Robin says: “Na, na! slee Tod -Lowrie, na, na! Ye worry’t the wee lammie, but ye’se no worry me.” So -Wee Robin flew awa’ till he came to a bonny burn-side, and there he saw -a wee callant sitting. And the wee callant says: “Where’s tu gaun, Wee -Robin?” And Wee Robin says: “I’m gaun awa’ to the king to sing him a -sang this guid Yule morning.” And the wee callant says: “Come here, Wee -Robin, and I’ll gie ye a wheen grand moolins (_crumbs_) out o’ my -pooch.” But Wee Robin says: “Na, na! wee callant, na, na! Ye speldert -(_knocked down_) the gowdspink (_goldfinch_), but ye’se no spelder me.” -So Wee Robin flew awa’ till he came to the king; and there he sat on a -winnock sole (_plowshare_), and sang the king a bonny sang. And the king -says to the queen: “What’ll we gie to Wee Robin for singing us this -bonny sang?” And the queen says to the king: “I think we’ll gie him the -wee wran to be his wife.” So Wee Robin and the wee wran were married, -and the king, and the queen, and a’ the court danced at the waddin’; -syne he flew awa’ home to his ain waterside, and hoppit on a brier. - - _Attributed to_ ROBERT BURNS. - - - - - _The Giant’s Shoes_ - - -Once upon a time there was a large giant who lived in a small castle; at -least he didn’t all of him live there, but he managed things in this -wise. From his earliest youth up, his legs had been of a surreptitiously -small size, unsuited to the rest of his body; so he sat upon the -southwest wall of the castle with his legs inside, and his right foot -came out of the east gate, and his left foot out of the north gate, -while his gloomy but spacious coat tails covered up the south and the -west gates; and in this way the castle was defended against all comers, -and was deemed impregnable by the military authorities. This, however, -as we shall soon see, was not the case, for the giant’s boots were -inside as well as his legs, but, as he had neglected to put them on in -the giddy days of his youth, he was never afterward able to do so, -because there was not enough room. And in this bootless but compact -manner he passed his time. - -The giant slept for three weeks at a time, and two days after he woke -his breakfast was brought to him, consisting of bright brown horses -sprinkled on his bread and butter. Besides his boots, the giant had a -pair of shoes, and in one of them his wife lived when she was at home; -on other occasions she lived in the other shoe. She was a sensible, -practical kind of woman, with two wooden legs and a clothes-horse; but -in other respects not rich. The wooden legs were kept pointed at the end -in order that, if the giant were dissatisfied with his breakfast, he -might pick up any stray people that were within reach, using his wife as -a fork. This annoyed the inhabitants of the district, so that they built -their church in a southwestern direction from the castle behind the -giant’s back, that he might not be able to pick them up as they went in. -But those who stayed outside to play pitch-and-toss were exposed to -great danger and sufferings. - -Now, in the village there were two brothers of altogether different -tastes and dispositions, and talents, and peculiarities, and -accomplishments, and in this way they were discovered not to be the same -person. The elder of them was most marvelously good at singing, and -could sing the Old Hundredth an old hundred times without stopping. -Whenever he did this, he stood on one leg and tied the other round his -neck to avoid catching cold and spoiling his voice, but the neighbors -fled. And he was also a rare hand at making guava dumplings out of three -cats and a shoe-horn, which is an accomplishment seldom met with. But -his brother was a more meager, magnanimous person, and his chief -accomplishment was to eat a wagon-load of hay overnight, and wake up -thatched in the morning. - -The whole interest of this story depends upon the fact that the giant’s -wife’s clothes-horse broke in consequence of a sudden thaw, being made -of organ-pipes. So she took off her wooden legs and stuck them in the -ground, tying a string from the top of one to the top of the other, and -hung out her clothes to dry on that. Now, this was astutely remarked by -the two brothers, who therefore went up in front of the giant after he -had had his breakfast. The giant called out, “Fork! fork!” but his wife, -trembling, hid herself in the more recondite toe of the second shoe. -Then the singing brother began to sing, but he had not taken into -account the pious disposition of the giant, who instantly joined in the -psalm; and this caused the singing brother to burst his head off, but, -as it was tied by the leg, he did not lose it altogether. - -But the other brother, being well thatched on account of the quantity of -hay he had eaten overnight, lay down between the great toe of the giant -and the next, and wriggled. So the giant, being unable to bear tickling -in the feet, kicked out in an orthopædal manner; whereupon the castle -broke, and he fell backward, and was impaled upon the sharp steeple of -the church. So they put a label on him on which was written: “Nudipes -Gigantens.” - -That’s all. - - WILLIAM KINGDON CLIFFORD. - - - - - _The Farmer and the Money-Lender_ - - -There was once a Farmer who suffered much at the hands of a -Money-lender. Good harvests or bad the Farmer was always poor, the -Money-lender rich. At the last, when he hadn’t a farthing left, the -Farmer went to the Money-lender’s house and said: “You can’t squeeze -water from a stone, and, as you have nothing to get by me now, you might -tell me the secret of becoming rich.” - -“My friend,” returned the Money-lender piously, “riches come from -Ram—ask _him_.” - -“Thank you, I will!” replied the simple Farmer; so he prepared three -girdle-cakes to last him on the journey, and set out to find Ram. - -First he met a Brahman, and to him he gave a cake, asking him to point -out the road to Ram; but the Brahman only took the cake, and went on his -way without a word. Next the Farmer met a yogi, or devotee, and to him -he gave a cake, without receiving any help in return. At last he came -upon a poor man sitting under a tree, and finding out he was hungry the -kindly Farmer gave him his last cake, and, sitting down to rest beside -him, entered into conversation. - -“And where are you going?” asked the poor man, at length. - -“Oh, I have a long journey before me, for I am going to find Ram!” -replied the Farmer. “I don’t suppose you could tell me which way to go?” - -“Perhaps I can,” said the poor man, smiling, “for _I_ am Ram! What do -you want of me?” - -Then the Farmer told the whole story, and Ram, taking pity on him, gave -him a conch-shell, and showed him how to blow it in a particular way, -saying: “Remember! whatever you wish for, you have only to blow the -conch that way, and your wish will be fulfilled. Only, have a care of -that Money-lender, for even magic is not proof against his wiles!” - -The Farmer went back to his village rejoicing. In fact, the Money-lender -noticed his high spirits at once, and said to himself: “Some good -fortune must have befallen the stupid fellow, to make him hold his head -so jauntily.” Therefore he went over to the simple Farmer’s house, and -congratulated him on his good fortune in such cunning words, pretending -to have heard all about it, that before long the Farmer found himself -telling the whole story—all except the secret of blowing the conch, for, -with all his simplicity, the Farmer was not quite such a fool as to tell -that. - -Nevertheless, the Money-lender determined to have the conch by hook or -by crook, and, as he was villain enough not to stick at trifles, he -waited for a favorable opportunity and stole the conch. - -But, after nearly bursting himself with blowing the conch in every -conceivable way, he was obliged to give up the secret as a bad job. -However, being determined to succeed, he went back to the Farmer, and -said coolly: “Look here! I’ve got your conch, but I can’t use it; you -haven’t got it, so it’s clear you can’t use it either. Business is at a -standstill unless we make a bargain. Now, I promise to give you back -your conch, and never to interfere with your using it, on one condition, -which is this—whatever you get from it, I am to get double.” - -“Never!” cried the Farmer; “that would be the old business all over -again!” - -“Not at all!” replied the wily Money-lender; “you will have your share! -Now, don’t be a dog in the manger, for, if _you_ get all you want, what -can it matter to you if _I_ am rich or poor?” - -At last, though it went sorely against the grain to be of any benefit to -a Money-lender, the Farmer was forced to yield, and from that time, no -matter what he gained by the power of the conch, the Money-lender gained -double. And the knowledge that this was so, preyed upon the Farmer’s -mind day and night, so that he had no satisfaction out of anything. - -At last there came a very dry season—so dry that the Farmer’s crops -withered for want of rain. Then he blew his conch, and wished for a well -to water them, and lo! there was the well, _but the Money-lender had -two_!—two beautiful new wells! This was too much for any Farmer to -stand; and our friend brooded over it, and brooded over it, till at last -a bright idea came into his head. He seized the conch, blew it loudly, -and cried out: “Oh, Ram! I wish to be blind of one eye!” And so he was, -in a twinkling, but the Money-lender, of course, was blind of both, and -in trying to steer his way between the two new wells he fell into one, -and was drowned. - -Now, this true story shows that a Farmer once got the better of a -Money-lender—but only by losing one of his eyes. - - - - - _How the Sun, the Moon, and the Wind Went Out to Dinner_ - - -One day the Sun, the Moon, and the Wind went out to dine with their -uncle and aunt, the thunder and lightning. Their mother (one of the most -distant stars you see far up in the sky) waited alone for her children’s -return. - -Now both the Sun and the Wind were greedy and selfish. They enjoyed the -great feast that had been prepared for them, without a thought of saving -any of it to take home to their mother; but the gentle Moon did not -forget her. Of every dainty dish that was brought round, she placed a -small portion under one of her beautiful long finger-nails, that the -Star might also have a share in the treat. - -On their return, their mother, who had kept watch for them all night -long with her little bright eye, said: “Well, children, what have you -brought home for me?” Then the Sun (who was the eldest) said: “I have -brought nothing home for you. I went out to enjoy myself with my -friends, not to fetch a dinner for my mother!” And the Wind said: -“Neither have I brought anything home for you, mother. You could hardly -expect me to bring a collection of good things for you when I merely -went out for my own pleasure.” But the Moon said: “Mother, fetch a -plate; see what I have brought you.” And, shaking her hands, she -showered down such a choice dinner as never was seen before. - -Then the Star turned to the Sun and spoke thus: “Because you went out to -amuse yourself with your friends, and feasted and enjoyed yourself -without any thought of your mother at home, you shall be cursed. -Henceforth, your rays shall ever be hot and scorching, and shall burn -all that they touch. And men shall hate you and cover their heads when -you appear.” - -(And that is why the Sun is so hot to this day.) - -Then she turned to the Wind and said: “You also, who forgot your mother -in the midst of your selfish pleasures, hear your doom. You shall always -blow in the hot, dry weather, and shall parch and shrivel all living -things. And men shall detest and avoid you from this very time.” - -(And that is why the Wind in the hot weather is still so disagreeable.) - -But to the Moon she said: “Daughter, because you remembered your mother, -and kept for her a share in your own enjoyment, from henceforth you -shall be ever cool, and calm, and bright. No noxious glare shall -accompany your pure rays, and men shall always call you ‘blessed.’” - -(And that is why the Moon’s light is so soft, and cool, and beautiful -even to this day.) - - - - - _Singh Rajah and the Cunning Little Jackals_ - - -Once upon a time, in a great jungle, there lived a great lion. He was -rajah of all the country round, and every day he used to leave his den, -in the deepest shadow of the rocks, and roar with a loud, angry voice; -and when he roared, the other animals in the jungle, who were all his -subjects, got very much frightened and ran here and there; and Singh -Rajah would pounce upon them and kill them, and gobble them up for his -dinner. - -This went on for a long, long time until, at last, there were no living -creatures left in the jungle but two little jackals—a Rajah Jackal and a -Ranee Jackal—husband and wife. - -A very hard time of it the poor little jackals had, running this way and -that to escape the terrible Singh Rajah; and every day the little Ranee -Jackal would say to her husband: “I am afraid he will catch us to-day; -do you hear how he is roaring? Oh, dear! oh, dear!” And he would answer -her: “Never fear; I will take care of you. Let us run on a mile or two. -Come; come quick, quick, quick!” And they would both run away as fast as -they could. - -After some time spent in this way, they found, however, one fine day, -that the lion was so close upon them that they could not escape. Then -the little Ranee Jackal said: “Husband, husband, I feel much frightened. -The Singh Rajah is so angry he will certainly kill us at once. What can -we do?” But he answered: “Cheer up; we can save ourselves yet. Come, and -I’ll show you how we may manage it.” - -So what did these cunning little jackals do but they went to the great -lion’s den; and, when he saw them coming, he began to roar and shake his -mane, and he said: “You little wretches, come and be eaten at once! I -have had no dinner for three whole days, and all that time I have been -running over hill and dale to find you. Ro-a-ar! Ro-a-ar! Come and be -eaten, I say!” and he lashed his tail and gnashed his teeth, and looked -very terrible indeed. Then the Jackal Rajah, creeping quite close up to -him, said: “Oh, great Singh Rajah, we all know you are our master, and -we would have come at your bidding long ago; but, indeed, sir, there is -a much bigger rajah even than you in this jungle, and he tried to catch -hold of us and eat us up, and frightened us so much that we were obliged -to run away.” - -“What do you mean?” growled Singh Rajah. “There is no king in this -jungle but me!” “Ah, sire,” answered the jackal, “in truth one would -think so, for you are very dreadful. Your very voice is death. But it is -as we say, for we, with our own eyes, have seen one with whom you could -not compete—whose equal you can no more be than we are yours—whose face -is as flaming fire, his step as thunder, and his power supreme.” “It is -impossible!” interrupted the old lion; “but show me this rajah of whom -you speak so much, that I may destroy him instantly!” - -Then the little jackals ran on before him until they reached a great -well, and, pointing down to his own reflection in the water, they -said: “See, sire, there lives the terrible king of whom we spoke.” -When Singh Rajah looked down the well he became very angry, for he -thought he saw another lion there. He roared and shook his great mane, -and the shadow lion shook his and looked terribly defiant. At last, -beside himself with rage at the violence of his opponent, Singh Rajah -sprang down to kill him at once, but no other lion was there—only the -treacherous reflection—and the sides of the well were so steep that he -could not get out again to punish the two jackals, who peeped over the -top. After struggling for some time in the deep water, he sank to rise -no more. And the little jackals threw stones down upon him from above, -and danced round and round the well, singing: “Ao! Ao! Ao! Ao! The -king of the forest is dead, is dead! We have killed the great lion who -would have killed us! Ao! Ao! Ao! Ao! Ring-a-ting—ding-a-ting! -Ring-a-ting—ding-a-ting! Ao! Ao! Ao!” - - - - - _Harisarman_ - - -There was a certain Brahman in a certain village, named Harisarman. He -was poor and foolish and in evil case for want of employment, and he had -very many children, that he might reap the fruit of his misdeeds in a -former life. He wandered about begging with his family, and at last he -reached a certain city, and entered the service of a rich householder -called Sthuladatta. His sons became keepers of Sthuladatta’s cows and -other property, and his wife a servant to him, and he himself lived near -his house, performing the duty of an attendant. One day there was a -feast on account of the marriage of the daughter of Sthuladatta, largely -attended by many friends of the bridegroom and merry-makers. Harisarman -hoped that he would be able to fill himself up to the throat with ghee -and flesh and other dainties, and get the same for his family, in the -house of his patron. While he was anxiously expecting to be fed, no one -thought of him. - -Then he was distressed at getting nothing to eat, and he said to his -wife at night: “It is owing to my poverty and stupidity that I am -treated with such disrespect here; so I will pretend by means of an -artifice to possess a knowledge of magic, so that I may become an object -of respect to this Sthuladatta; so, when you get an opportunity, tell -him that I possess magical knowledge.” He said this to her, and after -turning the matter over in his mind, while people were asleep he took -away from the house of Sthuladatta a horse on which his master’s -son-in-law rode. He placed it in concealment at some distance, and in -the morning the friends of the bridegroom could not find the horse, -though they searched in every direction. Then, while Sthuladatta was -distressed at the evil omen, and searching for the thieves who had -carried off the horse, the wife of Harisarman came and said to him: “My -husband is a wise man, skilled in astrology and magical sciences; he can -get the horse back for you—why do you not ask him?” When Sthuladatta -heard that, he called Harisarman, who said, “Yesterday I was forgotten, -but to-day, now the horse is stolen, I am called to mind,” and -Sthuladatta then propitiated the Brahman with these words, “I forgot -you, forgive me,” and asked him to tell him who had taken away their -horse. Then Harisarman drew all kinds of pretended diagrams, and said: -“The horse has been placed by thieves on the boundary line south from -this place. It is concealed there, and before it is carried off to a -distance, as it will be at close of day, go quickly and bring it.” When -they heard that, many men ran and brought the horse quickly, praising -the discernment of Harisarman. Then Harisarman was honored by all men as -a sage, and dwelt there in happiness, honored by Sthuladatta. - -Now, as days went on, much treasure, both of gold and jewels, had been -stolen by a thief from the palace of the king. As the thief was not -known, the king quickly summoned Harisarman on account of his reputation -for knowledge of magic. And he, when summoned, tried to gain time, and -said, “I will tell you to-morrow,” and then he was placed in a chamber -by the king and carefully guarded. And he was sad because he had -pretended to have knowledge. Now, in that palace there was a maid named -Jihva (which means Tongue), who, with the assistance of her brother, had -stolen that treasure from the interior of the palace. She, being alarmed -at Harisarman’s knowledge, went at night and applied her ear to the door -of that chamber in order to find out what he was about. And Harisarman, -who was alone inside, was at that very moment blaming his own tongue, -that had made a vain assumption of knowledge. He said: “Oh, tongue, what -is this that you have done through your greediness? Wicked one, you will -soon receive punishment in full.” When Jihva heard this, she thought, in -her terror, that she had been discovered by this wise man, and she -managed to get in where he was, and, falling at his feet, she said to -the supposed wizard: “Brahman, here I am, that Jihva whom you have -discovered to be the thief of the treasure, and after I took it I buried -it in the earth in a garden behind the palace, under a pomegranate tree. -So spare me, and receive the small quantity of gold which is in my -possession.” - -When Harisarman heard that, he said to her proudly: “Depart, I know all -this; I know the past, present, and future, but I will not denounce you, -being a miserable creature that has implored my protection. But whatever -gold is in your possession you must give back to me.” When he said this -to the maid, she consented, and departed quickly. But Harisarman -reflected in his astonishment: “Fate brings about, as if in sport, -things impossible; for, when calamity was so near, who would have -thought chance would have brought us success? While I was blaming my -jihva, the thief Jihva suddenly flung herself at my feet. Secret crimes -manifest themselves by means of fear.” Thus thinking, he passed the -night happily in the chamber. And in the morning he brought the king, by -some skilful parade of pretended knowledge, into the garden and led him -up to the treasure, which was buried under the pomegranate tree, and -said that the thief had escaped with a part of it. Then the king was -pleased, and gave him the revenue of many villages. - -But the minister, named Devajnanin, whispered in the king’s ear: “How -can a man possess such knowledge unattainable by men without having -studied the books of magic? You may be certain that this is a specimen -of the way he makes a dishonest livelihood, by having a secret -intelligence with thieves. It will be much better to test him by some -new artifice.” Then the king of his own accord brought a covered pitcher -into which he had thrown a frog, and said to Harisarman: “Brahman, if -you can guess what there is in this pitcher, I will do you great honor -to-day.” When the Brahman Harisarman heard that, he thought that his -last hour had come, and he called to mind the pet name of “Froggie,” -which his father had given him in his childhood in sport; and, impelled -by luck, he called to himself by his pet name, lamenting his hard fate, -and suddenly called out: “This is a fine pitcher for you, Froggie; it -will soon become the swift destroyer of your helpless self.” The people -there, when they heard him say that, raised a shout of applause, because -his speech chimed in so well with the object presented to him, and -murmured: “Ah! a great sage; he knows even about the frog!” Then the -king, thinking that this was all due to knowledge of divination, was -highly delighted, and gave Harisarman the revenue of more villages, with -gold, an umbrella, and state carriages of all kinds. So Harisarman -prospered in the world. - - - - - _It Is Quite True_ - - -“What a dreadful story!” exclaimed a hen; “it so frightened me that I -did not dare to sleep alone in the hen-house all night. I was glad there -were so many of us.” And she began to relate to the other hens who were -on the roosting-perch above, the story she had heard, till their -feathers stood on end, and even the cock let his comb droop, it was so -dreadful. - -But we will begin at the beginning, and discover what really had -happened in the hen-house on the other side of the town. - -One evening just before sunset the hens as usual went early to roost, -and among them was a pretty hen with white feathers and short legs, who -laid regularly such fine eggs that she was very valuable, and much -esteemed by all her relations. - -As this hen was flying up in the hen-house to the roosting-perch, she -either pecked or scratched herself with her beak till one of her -feathers fell off. - -“There goes another,” she said good humoredly; “how beautiful I shall -look if one falls off every time I scratch myself.” This white hen was -not only very much esteemed, but also the merriest of all the hens in -the hen-house. - -But she forgot all about the fallen feather, and was soon asleep. - -It became quite dark. The hens were seated side by side near each other -on the perch, but one of them could not sleep, for she had partly heard -what the white hen said. - -The wakeful hen stayed and thought, and then said to her next neighbor: -“Have you heard? I name no one, but a hen has plucked out all her -feathers, and is not fit to be seen. If I were the cock, I should -despise her.” - -The gossiping hen soon after left the hen-house, and went to visit an -owl who lived just opposite with her husband and children. The owl -families have very sharp ears, and they heard every word that their -neighbor the hen said, and the little ones rolled their eyes about while -the mother owl fanned herself with her wings. - -“To repeat just what you have been told is nothing,” continued the hen, -“but I really and truly heard what was said with my own ears, and people -must hear a great deal, even if they do disapprove. It is about a hen -who has forgotten what was due to herself in her high position; she has -pulled out all her feathers, and then allowed the world to see her in -that bare condition.” - -“_Prenez garde aux enfants_,” said the owl father, “all this is not fit -for the children to hear.” - -“I will just fly over and tell my neighbor,” said the mother owl; “she -is a very highly esteemed owl, and worthy of our acquaintance.” - -“Hu! hu! uhu!” howled the children, as the mother flew away and passed -by her neighbors, the pigeons, who were in the pigeon-house. - -“Have you heard—have you heard about the hen that has plucked off all -her feathers, and is going about quite bare? She will freeze to death, -if she is not dead already.” - -“Ooo! Ooo!” cooed the pigeons. - -“I heard of it in the neighboring farm-yard,” said another; “I have as -good as seen it with my own eyes. The story is really so improper that -no one cares to relate it, but it is certainly true.” - -“We believe it, we believe every word,” said the pigeons, and they flew -down cooing to the farm-yard, and exclaimed: - -“Have you heard about the hen?” - -“The hen! why, people now say there are two hens who have plucked off -all their feathers; yet one of them is not like the first, who did not -wish to be seen, for she has positively tried to attract the attention -of everybody.” - -“It was a daring game; however, they caught cold, and are both dead from -a fever.” - -“Wake up! wake up!” crowed the cock as he flew out of the hen-house to -the palings. Sleep was still in his eyes, yet he stood and crowed -lustily. - -“Listen,” said the hen. “There is a cock in the next farm who has -unluckily lost three of his wives; they had plucked off all their -feathers, and died of cold.” - -“Go away!” he exclaimed. “I will not hear it—it is an ugly story. Send -it away!” - -“Send it away!” hissed the bat, while the hens cackled and the cock -crowed. - -“Send it away! send it away!” and so the story flew from one farm-yard -to another, until it came back at last to the place where the original -circumstance occurred. - -“There are five hens,” thus _now_ ran the story, “who have plucked off -all their feathers, at least so they say; and it made the cock so -unhappy that he became quite thin. And he has pecked himself so -dreadfully ever since from indignation and shame that at last he has -fallen down and died, covered with blood. For these hens had not only -disgraced his family, but occasioned a great loss to his owner.” - -And the hen who had really lost the one feather naturally could not -recognize her own story, but she was a sensible, worthy hen, and she -said: - -“I despise these cackling hens; however, there shall be no more -tittle-tattle of this sort. When people have a secret among themselves -to gossip about in future, I will find it out, and send it to the -newspapers, so that it may travel through the whole land and be heard of -by everybody. - -“This will just serve these cackling hens and their families right.” - -And the newspapers took it up and so altered the wonderful story that at -the last “it _was_ actually true”—“ONE LITTLE FEATHER HAD BECOME FIVE -HENS!” - - HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN. - - - - - _Manabozho and his Toe_ - - -Manabozho, the great wizard of the Indians, was so powerful that he -began to think there was nothing he could not do. Very wonderful were -many of his feats, and he grew more conceited day by day. Now, it -chanced that one day he was walking about amusing himself by exercising -his extraordinary powers, and at length he came to an encampment where -one of the first things he noticed was a child lying in the sunshine, -curled up with its toe in its mouth. - -Manabozho looked at the child for some time, and wondered at its -extraordinary posture. - -“I have never seen a child before lie like that,” said he to himself, -“but I could lie like it.” - -So saying, he put himself down beside the child, and, taking his right -foot in his hand, drew it toward his mouth. When he had brought it as -near as he could, it was yet a considerable distance away from his lips. - -“I will try the left foot,” said Manabozho. He did so, and found that he -was no better off; neither of his feet could he get to his mouth. He -curled and twisted, and bent his large limbs, and gnashed his teeth in -rage to find that he could not get his toe to his mouth. All, however, -was vain. - -At length he rose, worn out with his exertions and passion, and walked -slowly away in a very ill humor, which was not lessened by the sound of -the child’s laughter, for Manabozho’s efforts had awakened it. - -“Ah, ah!” said Manabozho, “shall I be mocked by a child?” - -He did not, however, revenge himself on his victor, but on his way -homeward, meeting a boy who did not treat him with proper respect, he -transformed him into a cedar-tree. - -“At least,” said Manabozho, “I can do something.” - - - - - _The Most Frugal of Men_ - - -A man who was considered the most frugal of all the dwellers in a -certain kingdom heard of another man who was the most frugal in the -whole world. He said to his son thereupon: “We, indeed, live upon -little, but if we were more frugal still, we might live upon nothing at -all. It will be well worth while for us to get instructions in economy -from the Most Frugal of Men.” The son agreed, and the two decided that -the son should go and inquire whether the master in economic science -would take pupils. An exchange of presents being a necessary preliminary -to closer intercourse, the father told the son to take the smallest of -coins, one farthing, and to buy a sheet of paper of the cheapest sort. -The boy, by bargaining, got two sheets of paper for the farthing. The -father put away one sheet, cut the other sheet in halves, and on one -half drew a picture of a pig’s head. This he put into a large covered -basket, as if it were the thing which it represented—the usual gift sent -in token of great respect. The son took the basket, and after a long -journey reached the abode of the most frugal man in the world. - -The master of the house was absent, but his son received the traveler, -learned his errand, and accepted the offering. Having taken from the -basket the picture of the pig’s head, he said courteously to his -visitor: “I am sorry that we have nothing in the house that is worthy to -take the place of the pig’s head in your basket. I will, however, -signify our friendly reception of it by putting in four oranges for you -to take home with you.” - -Thereupon the young man, without having any oranges at hand, made the -motions necessary for putting the fruit into the basket. The son of the -most frugal man in the kingdom then took the basket and went to his -father to tell of thrift surpassing his own. - -When the most frugal man in the world returned home, his son told him -that a visitor had been there, having come from a great distance to take -lessons in economy. The father inquired what offering he brought as an -introduction, and the son showed the small outline of the pig’s head on -thin brown paper. The father looked at it, and then asked his son what -he had sent as a return present. The son told him he had merely made the -motions necessary for transferring four oranges, and showed how he had -clasped the imaginary fruit and deposited it in the visitor’s basket. -The father immediately flew into a terrible rage and boxed the boy’s -ears, exclaiming: “You extravagant wretch! With your fingers thus far -apart you appeared to give him large oranges. Why didn’t you measure out -small ones?” - - - - - _The Moon-Cake_ - - -A little boy had a cake that a big boy coveted. Designing to get the -cake without making the little boy cry so loud as to attract his -mother’s attention, the big boy remarked that the cake would be prettier -if it were more like the moon. The little boy thought that a cake like -the moon must be desirable, and on being assured by the big boy that he -had made many such, he handed over his cake for manipulation. The big -boy took out a mouthful, leaving a crescent with jagged edge. The little -boy was not pleased by the change, and began to whimper; whereupon the -big boy pacified him by saying that he would make the cake into a -half-moon. So he nibbled off the horns of the crescent, and gnawed the -edge smooth; but when the half-moon was made, the little boy perceived -that there was hardly any cake left, and he again began to snivel. The -big boy again diverted him by telling him that, if he did not like so -small a moon, he should have one that was just the size of the real orb. -He then took the cake, and explained that, just before the new moon is -seen, the old moon disappears. Then he swallowed the rest of the cake -and ran off, leaving the little boy waiting for the new moon. - - - - - _The Ladle that Fell from the Moon_ - - -Once there was an old woman who lived on what she got by wile from her -relatives and neighbors. Her husband’s brother lived alone with his only -son, in a house near hers, and when the son brought home a wife the old -woman went to call on the bride. During the call she inquired of the -bride whether she had not, since her arrival in the house, heard a -scratching at night among the boxes containing her wedding outfit. The -bride said she had not. A few days later the old woman came again, and -during the visit the bride remarked that, before the matter was -mentioned, she had heard no scratching among her boxes, but that since -that time she had listened for it, and had heard it every night. The old -woman advised her to look carefully after her clothing, saying that -there were evidently many mice in the house, and that she would be -likely at any time to find her best garments nibbled into shreds. The -old woman knew there was no cat in the house, but she inquired whether -there was one, and on hearing that there was not, she offered to lend -the young woman her own black-and-white cat, saying that it would soon -extirpate all the mice. The bride accepted the loan, and the old woman -brought the cat, and left it in the bride’s apartment. After a few hours -the cat disappeared, and the bride, supposing it to have gone home, made -no search for it. It did, indeed, go home, and the old woman secretly -disposed of it; but several days later she came to the young woman and -said that, when she lent the cat, her house had been free from mice, but -that, as soon as the cat was gone, the mice came and multiplied so fast -that now everything was overrun by them, and she would be obliged to -take the cat home again. The young woman told her that the cat went away -the same day that it came, and she had supposed it had gone home. The -old woman said it had not, and that nothing could compensate her for the -loss of it, for she had reared it herself; that there was never before -seen such a cat for catching mice; that a cat, spotted as that one was, -was seldom found; and that it was of the rare breed which gave rise to -the common saying: - - A coal-black cat, with snowy loins, - Is worth its weight in silver coins. - -and that the weight of her cat was two hundred ounces. - -The young woman was greatly surprised by this estimate of the value of -the lost cat, and went to her father-in-law and related all that had -occurred. The father-in-law, knowing the character of the old woman, -could neither eat nor sleep, so harassed was he by the expectation that -she would worry his daughter-in-law till the two hundred ounces of -silver should be paid. The young woman, being a new-comer, thought but -lightly of the matter, till the old woman came again and again to make -mention of the cat. When it became apparent that she must defend -herself, the young woman asked her father-in-law if he had ever lent -anything to the old woman; and when he said he could not remember having -lent anything, she begged him to think carefully, and see if he could -not recall the loan of a tool, a dish, or a fagot. He finally -recollected that he had lent to her an old wooden ladle, but he said it -originally cost but a few farthings, and was certainly not worth -speaking about. - -The next time the old woman came to dun for the amount due for her cat, -the young woman asked her to return the borrowed ladle. The old woman -said that the ladle was old and valueless; that she had allowed the -children to play with it, and that they had dropped it in the dirt, -where it had lain until she had picked it up and used it for kindlings. -The bride responded: “You expect to enrich yourself and your family by -means of your cat. I and my family also want money. Since you cannot -give back the ladle, we will both go before the magistrate and present -our cases. If your cat is adjudged to be worth more than my ladle, I -will pay you the excess; and if my ladle be worth more than your cat, -then you must pay me.” Being sure that the cat would, by any judge, be -considered of greater value than the ladle, the old woman agreed to the -proposition, and the two went before the magistrate. The young woman -courteously gave precedence to the elder, and allowed her to make the -accusation. The old woman set forth her case, and claimed two hundred -ounces of silver as a compensation for the loss of the cat. When she had -concluded her statement, the judge called on the young woman for her -defense. She said she could not disprove the statement, but that the -claim was offset by a ladle that had been borrowed by the plaintiff. -There was a common saying: - - In the moon overhead, at its full, you can see - The trunk, branch, and leaf of a cinnamon tree. - -A branch from this tree had one night been blown down before her -father-in-law’s door, and he had had a ladle made from the wood. -Whatever the ladle was put into never diminished by use. Whether wine, -oil, rice, or money, the bulk remained the same if no ladle beside this -one were used in dipping it. A foreign innkeeper, hearing of this ladle, -came and offered her father-in-law three thousand ounces of silver for -it, but the offer was refused. And this ladle was the one that the -plaintiff had borrowed and destroyed. - -The magistrate, on hearing this defense, understood that the cat had -been a pretext for extortion, and decided that the two claims offset -each other, so that no payment was due from either one. - - - - - _The Young Head of the Family_ - - -There was once a family consisting of a father, his three sons, and his -two daughters-in-law. The two daughters-in-law, wives of the two elder -sons, had but recently been brought into the house, and were both from -one village a few miles away. Having no mother-in-law living, they were -obliged to appeal to their father-in-law whenever they wished to visit -their former homes, and as they were lonesome and homesick they -perpetually bothered the old man by asking leave of absence. - -Vexed by these constant petitions, he set himself to invent a method of -putting an end to them, and at last gave them leave in this wise: “You -are always begging me to allow you to go and visit your mothers, and -thinking that I am very hard-hearted because I do not let you go. Now -you may go, but only upon condition that when you come back you will -each bring me something I want. The one shall bring me some fire wrapped -in paper, and the other some wind in a paper. Unless you promise to -bring me these, you are never to ask me to let you go home; and if you -go, and fail to get these for me, you are never to come back.” - -The old man did not suppose that these conditions would be accepted, but -the girls were young and thoughtless, and in their anxiety to get away -did not consider the impossibility of obtaining the articles required. -So they made ready with speed, and in great glee started off on foot to -visit their mothers. After they had walked a long distance, chatting -about what they should do and whom they should see in their native -village, the high heel of one of them slipped from under her foot, and -she fell down. Owing to this mishap both stopped to adjust the misplaced -footgear, and while doing this the conditions under which alone they -could return to their husbands came to mind, and they began to cry. - -While they sat there crying by the roadside a young girl came riding -along from the fields on a water buffalo. She stopped and asked them -what was the matter, and whether she could help them. They told her she -could do them no good; but she persisted in offering her sympathy and -inviting their confidence, till they told her their story, and then she -at once said that if they would go home with her she would show them a -way out of their trouble. Their case seemed so hopeless to themselves, -and the child was so sure of her own power to help them, that they -finally accompanied her to her father’s house, where she showed them how -to comply with their father-in-law’s demand. - -For the first a paper lantern only would be needed. When lighted it -would be a fire, and its paper surface would compass the blaze, so that -it would truly be “some fire wrapped in paper.” For the second a paper -fan would suffice. When flapped, wind would issue from it, and the “wind -wrapped in paper” could thus be carried to the old man. - -The two young women thanked the wise child, and went on their way -rejoicing. After a pleasant visit to their old homes, they took a -lantern and a fan, and returned to their father-in-law’s house. As soon -as he saw them he began to vent his anger at their light regard for his -commands, but they assured him that they had perfectly obeyed him, and -showed him that what they had brought fulfilled the conditions -prescribed. Much astonished, he inquired how it was that they had -suddenly become so astute, and they told him the story of their journey, -and of the little girl who had so opportunely come to their relief. He -inquired whether the little girl was already betrothed, and, finding -that she was not, engaged a go-between to see if he could get her for a -wife for his youngest son. - -Having succeeded in securing the girl as a daughter-in-law, he brought -her home, and told all the rest of the family that as there was no -mother in the house, and as this girl had shown herself to be possessed -of extraordinary wisdom, she should be the head of the household. - -The wedding festivities being over, the sons of the old man made ready -to return to their usual occupations on the farm; but, according to -their father’s order, they came to the young bride for instructions. She -told them that they were never to go to or from the fields empty-handed. -When they went they must carry fertilizers of some sort for the land, -and when they returned they must bring bundles of sticks for fuel. They -obeyed, and soon had the land in fine condition, and so much fuel -gathered that none need be bought. When there were no more sticks, -roots, or weeds to bring, she told them to bring stones instead; and -they soon accumulated an immense pile of stones, which were heaped in a -yard near their house. - -One day an expert in the discovery of precious stones came along, and -saw in this pile a block of jade of great value. In order to get -possession of this stone at a small cost, he undertook to buy the whole -heap, pretending that he wished to use them in building. The little head -of the family asked an exorbitant price for them, and, as he could not -induce her to take less, he promised to pay her the sum she asked, and -to come two days later to bring the money and to remove the stones. That -night the girl thought about the reason for the buyer’s being willing to -pay so large a sum for the stones, and concluded that the heap must -contain a gem. The next morning she sent her father-in-law to invite the -buyer to supper, and she instructed the men of her family in regard to -his entertainment. The best of wine was to be provided, and the -father-in-law was to induce him to talk of precious stones, and to -cajole him into telling in what way they were to be distinguished from -other stones. - -The head of the family, listening behind a curtain, heard how the -valuable stone in her heap could be discovered. She hastened to find and -remove it from the pile; and, when her guest had recovered from the -effect of the banquet, he saw that the value had departed from his -purchase. He went to negotiate again with the seller, and she conducted -the conference with such skill that she obtained the price originally -agreed upon for the heap of stones, and a large sum besides for the one -in her possession. - -The family, having become wealthy, built an ancestral hall of fine -design and elaborate workmanship, and put the words “No Sorrow” as an -inscription over the entrance. Soon after, a mandarin passed that way, -and, noticing this remarkable inscription, had his sedan-chair set down, -that he might inquire who were the people that professed to have no -sorrow. He sent for the head of the family, was much surprised on seeing -so young a woman thus appear, and remarked: “Yours is a singular family. -I have never before seen one without sorrow, nor one with so young a -head. I will fine you for your impudence. Go and weave me a piece of -cloth as long as this road.” - -“Very well,” responded the little woman; “so soon as your Excellency -shall have found the two ends of the road, and informed me as to the -number of feet in its length, I will at once begin the weaving.” - -Finding himself at fault, the mandarin added, “And I also fine you as -much oil as there is water in the sea.” - -“Certainly,” responded the woman; “as soon as you shall have measured -the sea, and sent me correct information as to the number of gallons, I -will at once begin to press out the oil from my beans.” - -“Indeed,” said the mandarin, “since you are so sharp, perhaps you can -penetrate my thoughts. If you can, I will fine you no more. I hold this -pet quail in my hand; now tell me whether I mean to squeeze it to death, -or to let it fly in the air.” - -“Well,” said the woman, “I am an obscure commoner, and you are a famed -magistrate; if you are no more knowing than I, you have no right to fine -me at all. Now I stand with one foot on one side my threshold and the -other foot on the other side; tell me whether I mean to go in or come -out. If you cannot guess my riddle, you should not require me to guess -yours.” - -Being unable to guess her intention the mandarin took his departure, and -the family lived long in opulence and good repute under its chosen head. - - - - - _A Dreadful Boar_ - - -A poor old woman who lived with her one little granddaughter in a wood -was out gathering sticks for fuel, and found a green stalk of -sugar-cane, which she added to her bundle. She presently met an elf in -the form of a wild Boar, that asked her for the cane, but she declined -giving it to him, saying that, at her age, to stoop and to rise again -was to earn what she picked up, and that she was going to take the cane -home, and let her little granddaughter suck its sap. The Boar, angry at -her refusal, said that he would, during the coming night, eat her -granddaughter instead of the cane, and went off into the wood. - -When the old woman reached her cabin she sat down by the door and -wailed, for she knew she had no means of defending herself against the -Boar. While she sat crying, a vender of needles came along and asked her -what was the matter. She told him, and he said that all he could do for -her was to give her a box of needles. This he did, and went on his way. -The old woman stuck the needles thickly over the lower half of her door, -on its outer side, and then she went on crying. Just then a man came -along with a basket of crabs, heard her lamentations, and stopped to -inquire what ailed her. She told him, and he said he knew no help for -her, but he would do the best he could for her by giving her half his -crabs. The old woman put the crabs in her water-jar, behind her door, -and again sat down and cried. A farmer soon came along from the fields, -leading his ox, and he also asked the cause of her distress and heard -her sad story. He said he was sorry he could not think of any way of -preventing the evil she expected, but that he would leave his ox to stay -all night with her, as it might be a sort of company for her in her -loneliness. She led the ox into her cabin, tied it to the head of her -bedstead, gave it some straw, and then cried again. - -A courier, returning on horseback from a neighboring town, next passed -her door, and dismounted to inquire what troubled her. Having heard her -tale, he said he would leave his horse to stay with her, and make the ox -more contented. So she tied the horse to the foot of her bed, and, -thinking how surely evil was coming upon her with the night, she burst -out crying anew. A boy just then came along with a snapping-turtle that -he had caught, and stopped to ask what had happened to her. On learning -the cause of her weeping, he said it was of no use to contend against -sprites, but that he would give her his snapping-turtle as a proof of -his sympathy. She took the turtle, tied it in front of her bedstead, and -continued to cry. - -Some men who were carrying mill-stones then came along, inquired into -her trouble, and expressed their compassion by giving her a mill-stone, -which they rolled into her back yard. A little later a man arrived -carrying hoes and pickax, and asked her why she was crying so hard. She -told him her grief, and he said he would gladly help her if he could, -but he was only a well-digger, and could do nothing for her other than -to dig her a well. She pointed out a place in the middle of her back -yard, and he went to work and quickly dug a well. - -On his departure the old woman cried again, until a paper-seller came -and inquired what was the matter. When she had told him, he gave her a -large sheet of white paper, as a token of pity, and she laid it smoothly -over the mouth of the well. - -Nightfall came; the old woman shut and barred her door, put her -granddaughter snugly on the wall-side of the bed, and then lay down -beside her, to await the foe. - -At midnight the Boar came, and threw himself against the door to break -it in. The needles wounded him sorely, so that when he had gained an -entrance he was heated and thirsty, and went to the water-jar to drink. -When he thrust in his snout the crabs attacked him, clung to his -bristles and pinched his ears, till he rolled over and over to -disencumber himself. Then in a rage he approached the front of the bed, -but the snapping-turtle nipped his tail, and made him retreat under the -feet of the horse, who kicked him over to the ox, who tossed him back to -the horse; and thus beset, he was glad to escape to the back yard to -take a rest, and to consider the situation. Seeing a clean paper spread -on the ground, he went to lie upon it, and fell into the well. The old -woman heard the fall, rushed out, rolled the mill-stone down on him, and -crushed him. - - - - - _The Old Man and the Devils_ - - -A long time ago there was an old man who had a big lump on the right -side of his face. One day he went into the mountain to cut wood, when -the rain began to pour and the wind to blow so very hard that, finding -it impossible to return home, and filled with fear, he took refuge in -the hollow of an old tree. While sitting there doubled up and unable to -sleep, he heard the confused sound of many voices in the distance -gradually approaching to where he was. He said to himself: “How strange! -I thought I was all alone in the mountain, but I hear the voices of many -people.” So, taking courage, he peeped out, and saw a great crowd of -strange-looking beings. Some were red, and dressed in green clothes; -others were black, and dressed in red clothes; some had only one eye; -others had no mouth; indeed, it is quite impossible to describe their -varied and strange looks. They kindled a fire, so that it became as -light as day. They sat down in two cross-rows, and began to drink wine -and make merry just like human beings. They passed the wine-cup around -so often that many of them soon drank too much. One of the young devils -got up and began to sing a merry song and to dance; so also many others; -some danced well, others badly. One said: “We have had uncommon fun -tonight, but I would like to see something new.” - -Then the old man, losing all fear, thought he would like to dance, and -saying, “Let come what will, if I die for it, I will have a dance, too,” -crept out of the hollow tree and, with his cap slipped over his nose and -his ax sticking in his belt, began to dance. The devils in great -surprise jumped up, saying, “Who is this?” but the old man advancing and -receding, swaying to and fro, and posturing this way and that way, the -whole crowd laughed and enjoyed the fun, saying: “How well the old man -dances! You must always come and join us in our sport; but, for fear you -might not come, you must give us a pledge that you will.” So the devils -consulted together, and, agreeing that the lump on his face, which was a -token of wealth, was what he valued most highly, demanded that it should -be taken. The old man replied: “I have had this lump many years, and -would not without good reason part with it; but you may have it, or an -eye, or my nose either if you wish.” So the devils laid hold of it, -twisting and pulling, and took it off without giving him any pain, and -put it away as a pledge that he would come back. Just then the day began -to dawn, and the birds to sing, so the devils hurried away. - -The old man felt his face and found it quite smooth, and not a trace of -the lump left. He forgot all about cutting wood, and hastened home. His -wife, seeing him, exclaimed in great surprise, “What has happened to -you?” So he told her all that had befallen him. - -Now, among the neighbors there was another old man who had a big lump on -the left side of his face. Hearing all about how the first old man had -got rid of his misfortune, he determined that he would also try the same -plan. So he went and crept into the hollow tree, and waited for the -devils to come. Sure enough, they came just as he was told, and they sat -down, drank wine, and made merry just as they did before. The second old -man, afraid and trembling, crept out of the hollow tree. The devils -welcomed him, saying: “The old man has come; now let us see him dance.” -This old fellow was awkward, and did not dance as well as the other, so -the devils cried out: “You dance badly, and are getting worse and worse; -we will give you back the lump which we took from you as a pledge.” Upon -this, one of the devils brought the lump, and stuck it on the other side -of his face; so the poor old fellow returned home with a lump on each -side. - - - - - _The Wonderful Tea-Kettle_ - - -A long, long time ago, at the temple of Morinji, in the province of -Kotsuke, there lived an old priest. - -This old priest was very fond of the ceremonial preparing and drinking -of tea known as _Chanoyu_; indeed, it was his chief interest and -pleasure in life to conduct this ceremony. - -One day he chanced to find in a second-hand shop a very nice-looking old -Tea-kettle, which he bought and took home with him, highly pleased by -its fine shape and artistic appearance. - -Next day he brought out his new purchase, and sat for a long time -turning it round on this side and on that, and admiring it. - -“You are a regular beauty, that’s what you are,” he said; “I shall -invite all my friends to the _Chanoyu_, and how astonished they will be -at finding such an exquisite kettle as this!” - -He placed his treasure on the top of a box where he could see it to the -best advantage, and sat admiring it and planning how he should invite -his guests. After a while he became drowsy and began to nod, and at last -fell forward, his head on his desk, fast asleep. - -Then a wonderful transformation took place. The Tea-kettle began to -move. From its spout appeared a hairy head; at the other side out came a -fine bushy tail; next, four feet made themselves visible, while fine fur -seemed gradually to cover the surface of the kettle. At last, jumping -off the box, it began capering about the room for all the world just -like a badger. - -Three young novices, pupils of the priest, who were at study in the next -room, heard the noise; and, when one of them peeped through the sliding -doors, what was his astonishment to see the Tea-kettle on four feet -dancing up and down the room! - -He cried out: “Oh! what a wonderful thing! The Tea-kettle is changed -into a badger!” - -“What!” said the second novice. “Do you mean to say that the Tea-kettle -is turned into a badger? What nonsense!” So saying, he pushed his -companion to one side and peeped in, but he also was terrified by what -he saw, and screamed: “It’s a goblin! It’s coming at us; let us run -away!” - -The third novice was not so easily frightened. - -“Come, this is rather fun,” said he; “how the creature does jump, to be -sure! I will rouse the master, and let him see, too.” - -So he went into the room and shook the priest, crying: “Wake! Master, -wake! A strange thing has happened.” - -“What’s the matter?” said the old man, drowsily rubbing his eyes, “what -a noisy fellow you are!” - -“Any one would be noisy when such a strange thing as this is going on,” -said the novice. “Only look, master, your Tea-kettle has got feet, and -is running about.” - -“What! what! what! What’s that you say?” asked the priest again. “The -kettle got feet! What’s this! Let me see!” - -But by the time the old man was thoroughly roused, the Tea-kettle had -turned into its ordinary shape, and stood quietly on its box again. - -“What foolish young fellows you are!” said the priest. “There stands a -kettle on the top of a box; surely there is nothing very strange in -that. No, no, I have heard of the rolling-pin that grew a pair of wings -and flew away, but, long as I have lived, never have I heard before of a -tea-kettle walking about on its own feet. You will never make me believe -that.” - -But for all that, the priest was a little uneasy in his mind, and kept -thinking of the incident all that day. When evening came, and he was -alone in his room, he took down the kettle, filled it with water, and -set it upon the embers to boil, intending to make some tea. But, as soon -as the water began to boil, “Hot! hot!” cried the kettle, and jumped off -the fire. - -“Help! help!” cried the priest, terrified out of his wits. But when the -novices rushed to his help, the kettle at once resumed its natural form; -so one of them, seizing a stick, cried, “We’ll soon find out whether -it’s alive or not,” and began beating it with might and main. There was -evidently no life in the thing, and only a metallic clang! clang! -responded to his lusty blows. - -Then the old priest heartily repented having bought the mischievous -Tea-kettle, and was debating in his own mind how he should get rid of it -when who should drop in but the tinker? - -“Here’s the very man,” thought the priest. A bargain was soon struck; -the tinker bought the Tea-kettle for a few coppers, and carried it home, -well pleased with his purchase. - -Before going to bed he took another look at it, and found it still -better than he had at first thought, so he went to sleep that night in -the best of spirits. - -In the midst of a pleasant dream the tinker suddenly started up, -thinking he heard somebody moving in the room, but, when he opened his -eyes and looked about, he could see nobody. - -“It was only a dream, I suppose,” said he to himself as he turned over -and went to sleep again. - -But he was disturbed once more by some one calling: “Tinker! tinker! Get -up! get up!” - -This time he sprang up, wide awake, and lo and behold! there was the -Tea-kettle, with the head, tail, feet, and fur of a badger strutting up -and down the room! - -“Goblin! goblin!” shrieked the tinker. But the Tea-kettle laughed and -said: - -“Don’t be frightened, my dear tinker. I am not a goblin, only a -wonderful tea-kettle. My name is _Bumbuku-Chagama_, and I will bring -good luck to any one who treats me well; but, of course, I don’t like to -be set on the fire, and then beaten with sticks, as happened to me up at -the temple yesterday.” - -“How can I please you, then?” asked the tinker. “Shall I keep you in a -box?” - -“Oh! no, no!” answered the Tea-kettle; “I like nice sweet things to eat, -and sometimes a little wine to drink, just like yourself. Will you keep -me in your house and feed me? And, as I would not be a burden upon you, -I will work for you in any way you like.” - -To this the tinker agreed. - -Next morning he provided a good feast for _Bumbuku_, who then spoke: - -“I certainly am a wonderful and accomplished Tea-kettle, and my advice -is that you take me round the country as a show, with accompaniments of -singing and music.” - -The tinker, thinking well of this advice, at once started a show, which -he named the _Bumbuku-Chagama_. The lucky Tea-kettle at once made the -affair a success, for not only did he walk about on four legs, but he -danced the tight rope, and went through all kinds of acrobatic -performances, ending by making a profound bow to the spectators, and -begging for their future patronage. - -The fame of these performances soon spread abroad, and the theater was -filled daily to overflowing until, at length, even the princes of the -land sent to order the tinker and his kettle to come to them, and the -show would take place, to the great delight of the princesses and ladies -of the court. - -At last the tinker grew so rich that he retired from business, and, -wishing his faithful kettle also to be at rest, he took it back, -together with a large share of his wealth, to the temple of Morinji, -where it was laid up as a precious treasure and, some say, even -worshiped as a saint. - - - - - _The Wonderful Mallet_ - - -Once upon a time there were two brothers. The elder was an honest and -good man, but he was very poor, while the younger, who was dishonest and -stingy, had managed to pile up a large fortune. The name of the elder -was Kané, and that of the younger was Chô. - -Now, one day Kané went to Chô’s house, and begged for the loan of some -seed-rice and some silkworms’ eggs, for last season had been -unfortunate, and he was in want of both. - -Chô had plenty of good rice and excellent silkworms’ eggs, but he was -such a miser that he did not want to lend them. At the same time, he -felt ashamed to refuse his brother’s request, so he gave him some -worm-eaten musty rice and some dead eggs, which he felt sure would never -hatch. - -Kané, never suspecting that his brother would play him such a shabby -trick, put plenty of mulberry leaves with the eggs, to be food for the -silkworms when they should appear. Appear they did, and throve and grew -wonderfully, much better than those of the stingy brother, who was angry -and jealous when he heard of it. - -Going to Kané’s house one day, and finding his brother was out, Chô took -a knife and killed all the silkworms, cutting each poor little creature -in two; then he went home without having been seen by anybody. - -When Kané came home he was dismayed to find his silkworms in this state, -but he did not suspect who had done him this bad trick, and tried to -feed them with mulberry leaves as before. The silkworms came to life -again, and doubled the number, for now each half was a living worm. They -grew and throve, and the silk they spun was twice as much as Kané had -expected. So now he began to prosper. - -The envious Chô, seeing this, cut all his own silkworms in half, but, -alas! they did not come to life again, so he lost a great deal of money, -and became more jealous than ever. - -Kané also planted the rice-seed which he had borrowed from his brother, -and it sprang up, and grew and flourished far better than Chô’s had -done. - -The rice ripened well, and he was just intending to cut and harvest it -when a flight of thousands upon thousands of swallows came and began to -devour it. Kané was much astonished, and shouted and made as much noise -as he could in order to drive them away. They flew away, indeed, but -came back immediately, so that he kept driving them away, and they kept -flying back again. - -At last he pursued them into a distant field, where he lost sight of -them. He was by this time so hot and tired that he sat down to rest. By -little and little his eyes closed, his head dropped upon a mossy bank, -and he fell fast asleep. - -Then he dreamed that a merry band of children came into the field, -laughing and shouting. They sat down upon the ground in a ring, and one -who seemed the eldest, a boy of fourteen or fifteen, came close to the -bank on which he lay asleep, and, raising a big stone near his head, -drew from under it a small wooden Mallet. - -Then in his dream Kané saw this big boy stand in the middle of the ring -with the Mallet in his hand, and ask the children each in turn, “What -would you like the Mallet to bring you?” The first child answered, “A -kite.” The big boy shook the Mallet, upon which appeared immediately a -fine kite with tail and string all complete. The next cried, “A -battledore.” Out sprang a splendid battledore and a shower of -shuttlecocks. Then a little girl shyly whispered, “A doll.” The Mallet -was shaken, and there stood a beautifully dressed doll. “I should like -all the fairy-tale books that have ever been written in the whole -world,” said a bright-eyed intelligent maiden, and no sooner had she -spoken than piles upon piles of beautiful books appeared. And so at last -the wishes of all the children were granted, and they stayed a long time -in the field with the things the Mallet had given them. At last they got -tired, and prepared to go home; the big boy first carefully hiding the -Mallet under the stone from whence he had taken it. Then all the -children went away. - -Presently Kané awoke, and gradually remembered his dream. In preparing -to rise he turned round, and there, close to where his head had lain, -was the big stone he had seen in his dream. “How strange!” he thought, -expecting he hardly knew what; he raised the stone, and there lay the -Mallet! - -He took it home with him, and, following the example of the children he -had seen in his dream, shook it, at the same time calling out, “Gold” or -“Rice,” “Silk” or “Saké.” Whatever he called for immediately flew out of -the Mallet, so that he could have everything he wanted, and as much of -it as he liked. - -Kané being now a rich and prosperous man, Chô was of course jealous of -him, and determined to find a magic mallet which would do as much for -him. He came, therefore, to Kané and borrowed seed-rice, which he -planted and tended with care, being impatient for it to grow and ripen -soon. - -It grew well and ripened soon, and now Chô watched daily for the -swallows to appear. And, to be sure, one day a flight of swallows came -and began to eat up the rice. - -Chô was delighted at this, and drove them away, pursuing them to the -distant field where Kané had followed them before. There he lay down, -intending to go to sleep as his brother had done, but the more he tried -to go to sleep the wider awake he seemed. - -Presently the band of children came skipping and jumping, so he shut his -eyes and pretended to be asleep, but all the time watched anxiously what -the children would do. They sat down in a ring, as before, and the big -boy came close to Chô’s head and lifted the stone. He put down his hand -to lift the Mallet, but no mallet was there. - -One of the children said, “Perhaps that lazy old farmer has taken our -Mallet.” So the big boy laid hold of Chô’s nose, which was rather long, -and gave it a good pinch, and all the other children ran up and pinched -and pulled his nose, and the nose itself got longer and longer; first it -hung down to his chin, then over his chest, next down to his knees, and -at last to his very feet. - -It was in vain that Chô protested his innocence; the children pinched -and pummeled him to their hearts’ content, then capered round him, -shouting and laughing, and making game of him, and so at last went away. - -Now Chô was left alone, a sad and angry man. Holding his long nose -painfully in both hands, he slowly took his way toward his brother -Kané’s house. Here he related all that had happened to him from the very -day when he had behaved so badly about the seed-rice and silkworms’ -eggs. He humbly begged his brother to pardon him, and, if possible, do -something to restore his unfortunate nose to its proper size. - -The kind-hearted Kané pitied him, and said: “You have been dishonest and -mean, and selfish and envious, and that is why you have got this -punishment. If you promise to behave better for the future, I will try -what can be done.” - -So saying, he took the Mallet and rubbed Chô’s nose with it gently, and -the nose gradually became shorter and shorter until at last it came back -to its proper shape and size. But ever after, if at any time Chô felt -inclined to be selfish and dishonest, as he did now and then, his nose -began to smart and burn, and he fancied he felt it beginning to grow. So -great was his terror of having a long nose again that these symptoms -never failed to bring him back to his good behavior. - - - - - _The Tongue-Cut Sparrow_ - - -Once upon a time a cross old woman laid some starch in a basin, -intending to put it in the clothes in her washtub; but a Sparrow that a -woman, her neighbor, kept as a pet, ate it up. Seeing this, the cross -old woman seized the Sparrow and, saying “You hateful thing!” cut its -tongue and let it go. - -When the neighbor woman heard that her pet Sparrow had got its tongue -cut for its offense, she was greatly grieved, and set out with her -husband over mountains and plains to find where it had gone, crying: -“Where does the tongue-cut Sparrow stay? Where does the tongue-cut -Sparrow stay?” - -At last they found its home. When the Sparrow saw that its old master -and mistress had come to see it, it rejoiced, and brought them into its -house and thanked them for their kindness in old times. It spread a -table for them, and loaded it with _sake_ and fish till there was no -more room, and made its wife and children and grandchildren all serve -the table. - -At last, throwing away its drinking-cup, it danced a jig called the -Sparrow’s dance, and thus they spent the day. When it began to grow -dark, and there was talk of going home, the Sparrow brought out two -wicker baskets and said: “Will you take the heavy one, or shall I give -you the light one?” The old people replied: “We are old, so give us the -light one; it will be easier to carry it.” The Sparrow then gave them -the light basket, and they returned with it to their home. “Let us open -and see what is in it,” they said. And when they had opened it and -looked, they found gold and silver and jewels and rolls of silk. They -never expected anything like this. The more they took out, the more they -found inside. The supply was inexhaustible, so that the house at once -became rich and prosperous. When the cross old woman who had cut the -Sparrow’s tongue saw this, she was filled with envy, and went and asked -her neighbor where the Sparrow lived, and all about the way. “I will go, -too,” she said, and at once set out on her search. - -Again the Sparrow brought out two wicker baskets, and asked as before: -“Will you take the heavy one, or shall I give you the light one?” - -Thinking the treasure would be great in proportion to the weight of the -basket, the old woman replied, “Let me have the heavy one.” - -Receiving this, she started home with it on her back, the sparrows -laughing at her as she went. It was as heavy as a stone, and hard to -carry, but at last she got back with it to her house. - -Then, when she took off the lid and looked in, a whole troop of -frightful creatures came bouncing out from the inside, and at once they -caught her up and flew away with her. - - - - - _Battle of the Monkey and the Crab_ - - -A Monkey and a Crab once met when going round a mountain. - -The Monkey had picked up a persimmon-seed, and the Crab had a piece of -toasted rice-cake. The Monkey, seeing this, and wishing to get something -that could be turned to good account at once, said, “Pray, exchange that -rice-cake for this persimmon-seed.” The Crab, without a word, gave up -his cake, and took the persimmon-seed and planted it. At once it sprung -up, and soon became a tree so high one had to look far up to see it. The -tree was full of persimmons, but the Crab had no means of climbing it, -so he asked the Monkey to scramble up and get the fruit for him. The -Monkey got up on a limb of the tree and began to eat the persimmons. The -unripe ones he threw at the Crab, but all the ripe and good ones he put -in his pouch. The Crab under the tree thus got his shell badly bruised, -and only by good luck escaped into his hole, where he lay distressed -with pain, and not able to get up. Now, when the relatives and household -of the Crab heard how matters stood, they were surprised and angry, and -declared war, and attacked the Monkey, who, leading forth a numerous -following, bade defiance to the other party. The crabs, finding -themselves unable to meet and cope with this force, became still more -exasperated and enraged, and retreated into their hole and held a -council of war. Then came a rice-mortar, a pestle, a bee, and an egg, -and together they devised a deep-laid plot to be avenged. - -First, they requested that peace be made with the crabs; and thus they -induced the king of the monkeys to enter their hole unattended, and -seated him on the hearth. The Monkey, not suspecting any plot, took the -_hibashi_, or poker, to stir up the slumbering fire, when bang! went the -egg, which was lying hidden in the ashes, and burned the Monkey’s arm. -Surprised and alarmed, he plunged his arm into the pickle-tub in the -kitchen to relieve the pain of the burn. Then the bee which was hidden -near the tub stung him sharply in his face, already wet with tears. -Without waiting to brush off the bee, and howling bitterly, he rushed -for the back door; but just then some seaweed entangled his legs and -made him slip. Then down came the pestle, tumbling on him from a shelf, -and the mortar, too, came rolling down on him from the roof of the porch -and broke his back, and so weakened him that he was unable to rise up. -Then out came the crabs in a crowd, and brandishing on high their -pinchers they pinched the Monkey so sorely that he begged them for -forgiveness and promised never to repeat his meanness and treachery. - - - - - _The Cub’s Triumph_ - - -Once upon a time there lived in a forest a badger and a mother fox with -one little Cub. - -There were no other beasts in the wood, because the hunters had killed -them all with bows and arrows, or by setting snares. The deer, and the -wild boar, the hares, the weasels, and the stoats—even the bright little -squirrels—had been shot, or had fallen into traps. At last, only the -badger and the fox, with her young one, were left, and they were -starving, for they dared not venture from their holes for fear of the -traps. - -They did not know what to do, or where to turn for food. At last the -badger said: - -“I have thought of a plan. I will pretend to be dead. You must change -yourself into a man, and take me into the town and sell me. With the -money you get for me, you must buy food and bring it into the forest. -When I get a chance I will run away, and come back to you, and we will -eat our dinner together. Mind you wait for me, and don’t eat any of it -until I come. Next week it will be your turn to be dead, and my turn to -sell—do you see?” - -The fox thought this plan would do very well; so, as soon as the badger -had lain down and pretended to be dead, she said to her little Cub: - -“Be sure not to come out of the hole until I come back. Be very good and -quiet, and I will soon bring you some nice dinner.” - -She then changed herself into a wood-cutter, took the badger by the -heels and swung him over her shoulders, and trudged off into the town. -There she sold the badger for a fair price, and with the money bought -some fish, some _tofu_,[8] and some vegetables. She then ran back to the -forest as fast as she could, changed herself into a fox again, and crept -into her hole to see if little Cub was all right. Little Cub was there, -safe enough, but very hungry, and wanted to begin upon the _tofu_ at -once. - -Footnote 8: - - Curd made from white beans. - -“No, no,” said the mother fox. “Fair play’s a jewel. We must wait for -the badger.” - -Soon the badger arrived, quite out of breath with running so fast. - -“I hope you haven’t been eating any of the dinner,” he panted. “I could -not get away sooner. The man you sold me to, brought his wife to look at -me, and boasted how cheap he had bought me. You should have asked twice -as much. At last they left me alone, and then I jumped up and ran away -as fast as I could.” - -The badger, the fox, and the Cub now sat down to dinner, and had a fine -feast, the badger taking care to get the best bits for himself. - -Some days after, when all the food was finished, and they had begun to -get hungry again, the badger said to the fox: - -“Now it’s your turn to die.” So the fox pretended to be dead, and the -badger changed himself into a hunter, shouldered the fox, and went off -to the town, where he made a good bargain, and sold her for a nice -little sum of money. - -You have seen already that the badger was greedy and selfish. What do -you think he did now? He wished to have all the money, and all the food -it would buy for himself, so he whispered to the man who had bought the -fox: - -“That fox is only pretending to be dead; take care he doesn’t run away.” - -“We’ll soon settle that,” said the man, and he knocked the fox on the -head with a big stick, and killed her. - -The badger next laid out the money in buying all the nice things he -could think of. He carried them off to the forest, and there ate them -all up himself, without giving one bit to the poor little Cub, who was -all alone, crying for its mother, very sad, and very hungry. - -Poor little motherless Cub! But, being a clever little fox, he soon -began to put two and two together, and at last felt quite sure that the -badger had, in some way, caused the loss of his mother. - -He made up his mind that he would punish the badger; and, as he was not -big enough or strong enough to do it by force, he was obliged to try -another plan. - -He did not let the badger see how angry he was with him, but said in a -friendly way: - -“Let us have a game of changing ourselves into men. If you can change -yourself so cleverly that I cannot find you out, you will have won the -game; but, if I change myself so that you cannot find me out, then I -shall have won the game. I will begin, if you like; and, you may be -sure, I shall turn myself into somebody very grand while I am about it.” - -The badger agreed. So then, instead of changing himself at all, the -cunning little Cub just went and hid himself behind a tree, and watched -to see what would happen. Presently there came along the bridge leading -into the town a nobleman, seated in a sedan-chair, a great crowd of -servants and men at arms following him. - -The badger was quite sure that this must be the fox, so he ran up to the -sedan-chair, put in his head, and cried: - -“I’ve found you out! I’ve won the game!” - -“A badger! A badger! Off with his head,” cried the nobleman. - -So one of the retainers cut off the badger’s head with one blow of his -sharp sword, the little Cub all the time laughing unseen behind the -tree. - - - - - _The Silly Jelly-Fish_ - - -Once upon a time the king of the dragons, who had till then lived as a -bachelor, took it into his head to get married. His bride was a young -dragonette just sixteen years old—lovely enough, in very sooth, to -become the wife of a king. Great were the rejoicings on the occasion. -The fishes, both great and small, came to pay their respects, and to -offer gifts to the newly wedded pair; and for some days all was feasting -and merriment. - -But, alas! even dragons have their trials. Before a month had passed, -the young dragon queen fell ill. The doctors dosed her with every -medicine that was known to them, but all to no purpose. At last they -shook their heads, declaring that there was nothing more to be done. The -illness must take its course, and she would probably die. But the sick -queen said to her husband: - -“I know of something that will cure me. Only fetch me a live monkey’s -liver to eat, and I shall get well at once.” - -“A live monkey’s liver!” exclaimed the king. “What are you thinking of, -my dear? Why! you forget that we dragons live in the sea, while monkeys -live far away from here, among the forest trees on land. A monkey’s -liver! Why! darling, you must be mad.” Hereupon the young dragon queen -burst into tears. “I only ask you for one small thing,” whimpered she, -“and you won’t get it for me. I always thought you didn’t really love -me. Oh! I wish I had stayed at home with my own m-m-m-mama and my own -papa-a-a-a!” Here her voice choked with sobs, and she could say no more. - -Well, of course the dragon king did not like to have it thought that he -was unkind to his beautiful young wife. So he sent for his trusty -servant, the Jelly-fish, and said: “It is rather a difficult job, but -what I want you to try to do is to swim across to the land, and persuade -a live monkey to come here with you. In order to make the monkey willing -to come, you can tell him how much nicer everything is here in -dragon-land than away where he lives. But what I really want him for is -to cut out his liver, and use it as medicine for your young mistress, -who, as you know, is dangerously ill.” - -So the Jelly-fish went off on his strange errand. In those days he was -just like any other fish, with eyes, and fins, and a tail. He even had -little feet, which made him able to walk on the land as well as to swim -in the water. It did not take him many hours to swim across to the -country where the monkeys lived; and, fortunately, there just happened -to be a fine monkey skipping about among the branches of the trees near -the place where he landed. So the Jelly-fish said: “Mr. Monkey, I have -come to tell you of a country far more beautiful than this. It lies -beyond the waves, and is called dragon-land. There is pleasant weather -there all the year round; there is always plenty of ripe fruit on the -trees, and there are none of those mischievous creatures called men. If -you will come with me, I will take you there. Just get on my back.” - -The monkey thought it would be fun to see a new country. So he leaped on -to the Jelly-fish’s back, and off they started across the water. But -when they had gone about half-way, he began to fear that perhaps there -might be some hidden danger, for it seemed so odd to be fetched suddenly -in that way by a stranger. So he said to the Jelly-fish: “What made you -think of coming for me?” The Jelly-fish answered: “My master, the king -of the dragons, wants you in order to cut out your liver, and give it as -medicine to his wife, the queen, who is sick.” - -“Oh! that’s your little game, is it?” thought the monkey. But he kept -his thoughts to himself, and only said: “Nothing could please me better -than to be of service to their Majesties, but it so happens that I left -my liver hanging to a branch of that big chestnut-tree where you found -me skipping about. A liver is a thing that weighs a good deal, so I -generally take it out, and play about without it during the daytime. We -must go back for it.” The Jelly-fish agreed that there was nothing else -to be done under the circumstances; for, silly creature that he was, he -did not see that the monkey was telling a story in order to avoid -getting killed, and having his liver used as medicine for the fanciful -young dragon queen. - -When they reached the shore of monkey-land again, the monkey bounded off -the Jelly-fish’s back, and up to the topmost branch of the chestnut-tree -in less than no time. Then he said: “I do not see my liver here. Perhaps -somebody has taken it away. But I will look for it. You, meantime, had -better go back and tell your master what has happened. He might be -anxious about you if you did not get home before dark.” - -So the Jelly-fish started off a second time, and when he got home he -told the dragon king everything just as it had happened. But the king -flew into a passion with him for his stupidity, and hallooed to his -officers, saying: “Away with this fellow! Take him, and beat him to a -jelly! Don’t let a single bone remain unbroken in his body!” So the -officers seized him and beat him, as the king had commanded. That is the -reason why, to this very day, jelly-fishes have no bones, but are just -nothing more than a mass of pulp. - -As for the dragon queen, when she found she could not have the monkey’s -liver, why, she made up her mind that the I only thing to do was to get -well without it. - - - - - _Chin-Chin Kobakama_ - - -Once there was a little girl who was very pretty, but also very lazy. -Her parents were rich, and had a great many servants; and these servants -were very fond of the little girl, and did everything for her which she -ought to have been able to do for herself. Perhaps this was what made -her so lazy. When she grew up into a beautiful woman she still remained -lazy; but as the servants always dressed and undressed her, and arranged -her hair, she looked very charming, and nobody thought about her faults. - -At last she was married to a brave warrior, and went away with him to -live in another house where there were but few servants. She was sorry -not to have as many servants as she had had at home, because she was -obliged to do several things for herself which other folks had always -done for her, and it was a great deal of trouble to her to dress -herself, and take care of her own clothes, and keep herself looking neat -and pretty to please her husband. But as he was a warrior, and often had -to be far away from home with the army, she could sometimes be just as -lazy as she wished, and her husband’s parents were very old and -good-natured, and never scolded her. - -Well, one night while her husband was away with the army, she was -awakened by queer little noises in her room. By the light of a big paper -lantern she could see very well, and she saw strange things. - -Hundreds of little men, dressed just like Japanese warriors, but only -about one inch high, were dancing all around her pillow. They wore the -same kind of dress her husband wore on holidays (_Kamishimo_, a long -robe with square shoulders), and their hair was tied up in knots, and -each wore two tiny swords. They all looked at her as they danced, and -laughed, and they all sang the same song over and over again: - - Chin-chin Kobakama, - Yomo fuké sōro— - Oshizumare, Hime-gimi!— - Ya ton ton!— - -Which meant: “We are the Chin-chin Kobakama; the hour is late; sleep, -honorable, noble darling!” - -The words seemed very polite, but she soon saw that the little men were -only making cruel fun of her. They also made ugly faces at her. - -She tried to catch some of them, but they jumped about so quickly that -she could not. Then she tried to drive them away, but they would not go, -and they never stopped singing: - - Chin-chin Kobakama ... - -and laughing at her. Then she knew they were little fairies, and became -so frightened that she could not even cry out. They danced around her -until morning; then they all vanished suddenly. - -She was ashamed to tell anybody what had happened, because, as she was -the wife of a warrior, she did not wish anybody to know how frightened -she had been. - -Next night, again, the little men came and danced; and they came also -the night after that, and every night, always at the same hour, which -the old Japanese used to call the “hour of the ox”; that is, about two -o’clock in the morning by our time. At last she became very sick, -through want of sleep and through fright. But the little men would not -leave her alone. - -When her husband came back home he was very sorry to find her sick in -bed. At first she was afraid to tell him what had made her ill, for fear -that he would laugh at her. But he was so kind, and coaxed her so -gently, that after a while she told him what happened every night. - -He did not laugh at her at all, but looked very serious for a time. Then -he asked: - -“At what time do they come?” - -She answered, “Always at the same hour—the ‘hour of the ox.’” - -“Very well,” said her husband; “to-night I shall hide, and watch for -them. Do not be frightened.” - -So that night the warrior hid himself in a closet in the sleeping-room, -and kept watch through a chink between the sliding doors. - -He waited and watched until the “hour of the ox.” Then, all at once, the -little men came up through the mats, and began their dance and their -song: - - Chin-chin Kobakama, - Yomo fuké Sōro.... - -They looked so queer, and danced in such a funny way, that the warrior -could scarcely keep from laughing. But he saw his young wife’s -frightened face; and then, remembering that nearly all Japanese ghosts -and goblins are afraid of a sword, he drew his blade and rushed out of -the closet, and struck at the little dancers. Immediately they all -turned into—what do you think? - - _Toothpicks!_ - -There were no more little warriors—only a lot of old toothpicks -scattered over the mats. - -The young wife had been too lazy to put her toothpicks away properly; -and every day, after having used a new toothpick, she would stick it -down between the mats on the floor, to get rid of it. So the little -fairies who take care of the floor-mats became angry with her, and -tormented her. - -Her husband scolded her, and she was so ashamed that she did not know -what to do. A servant was called, and the toothpicks were taken away and -burned, and after that the little men never came back again. - - - - - _The Old Woman who Lost her Dumplings_ - - -Long, long ago there was a funny old woman who liked to laugh and to -make dumplings of rice-flour. - -One day, while she was preparing some dumplings for dinner, she let one -fall, and it rolled into a hole in the earthen floor of her little -kitchen and disappeared. The old woman tried to reach it by putting her -hand down the hole, and all at once the earth gave way, and the old -woman fell in. - -She fell quite a distance, but was not a bit hurt; and when she got up -on her feet again, she saw that she was standing on a road just like the -road before her house. It was quite light down there; and she could see -plenty of rice-fields, but no one in them. How all this happened I -cannot tell you, but it seems that the old woman had fallen into another -country. - -The road she had fallen upon sloped very much; so, after having looked -for her dumpling in vain, she thought that it must have rolled farther -away down the hill. She ran down the road to look, crying: “My dumpling! -my dumpling! Where is that dumpling of mine?” - -After a little while she saw a stone image standing by the roadside, and -she said, calling it by its name: - -“O _Jizō San_, did you see my dumpling?” - -_Jizō_ answered: - -“Yes, I saw your dumpling rolling by me down the road. But you had -better not go any farther, because there is a wicked _oni_ living down -there who eats people.” - -But the old woman only laughed, and ran on farther down the road, -crying: “My dumpling! my dumpling! Where is that dumpling of mine?” And -she came to another statue of _Jizō_, and asked it: - -“O kind _Jizō_, did you see my dumpling?” - -And _Jizō_ said: - -“Yes, I saw your dumpling go by a little while ago. But you must not run -any farther, because there is a wicked _oni_ down there who eats -people.” - -But she only laughed and ran on, still crying out: “My dumpling! my -dumpling! Where is that dumpling of mine?” And she came to a third -_Jizō_, and asked it: - -“O dear _Jizō_, did you see my dumpling?” - -But _Jizō_ said: - -“Don’t talk about your dumpling now. Here is the _oni_ coming. Squat -down here behind my sleeve, and don’t make any noise.” - -Presently the _oni_ came very close, and stopped and bowed to _Jizō_, -and said: - -“Good day, _Jizō_ San!” - -_Jizō_ said good day, too, very politely. - -Then the _oni_ suddenly snuffed the air two or three times in a -suspicious way, and cried out: “_Jizō San, Jizō San!_ I smell a smell of -mankind somewhere—don’t you?” - -“Oh!” said _Jizō_, “perhaps you are mistaken.” - -“No, no!” said the _oni_ after snuffing the air again; “I smell a smell -of mankind.” - -Then the old woman could not help laughing—“_Te-he-he!_”—and the oni -immediately reached down his big hairy hand behind _Jizō’s_ sleeve, and -pulled her out—still laughing, “_Te-he-he!_” - -“Ah! ha!” cried the _oni_. - -Then _Jizō_ said: - -“What are you going to do with that good old woman? You must not hurt -her.” - -“I won’t,” said the _oni_; “but I will take her home with me to cook for -us.” - -“_Te-he-he!_” laughed the old woman. - -“Very well,” said _Jizō_, “but you must really be kind to her. If you -are not, I shall be very angry.” - -“I won’t hurt her at all,” promised the _oni_; “and she will only have -to do a little work for us every day. Good-by, _Jizō San_.” - -Then the _oni_ took the old woman far down the road till they came to a -wide deep river, where there was a boat. He put her into the boat, and -took her across the river to his house. It was a very large house. He -led her at once into the kitchen, and told her to cook some dinner for -himself and the other _oni_ who lived with him. And he gave her a small -wooden rice-paddle, and said: - -“You must always put only one grain of rice into the pot, and, when you -stir that one grain of rice in the water with this paddle, the grain -will multiply until the pot is full.” - -So the old woman put just one rice-grain into the pot, as the _oni_ told -her, and began to stir it with the paddle; and, as she stirred, the one -grain became two, then four, then eight, then sixteen, thirty-two, -sixty-four, and so on. Every time she moved the paddle the rice -increased in quantity, and in a few minutes the great pot was full. - -After that, the funny old woman stayed a long time in the house of the -_oni_, and every day cooked food for him and for all his friends. The -_oni_ never hurt or frightened her, and her work was made quite easy by -the magic paddle, although she had to cook a very, very great quantity -of rice, because an oni eats much more than any human being eats. - -But she felt lonely, and always wished very much to go back to her own -little house, and make her dumplings; and one day, when the _oni_ were -all out somewhere, she thought she would try to run away. - -She first took the magic paddle and slipped it under her girdle, and -then she went down to the river. No one saw her, and the boat was there. -She got into it and pushed off, and, as she could row very well, she was -soon far away from the shore. - -But the river was very wide, and she had not rowed more than one-fourth -of the way across when the _oni_, all of them, came back to the house. - -They found that their cook was gone, and the magic paddle, too. They ran -down to the river at once, and saw the old woman rowing away very fast. - -Perhaps they could not swim; at all events, they had no boat, and they -thought the only way they could catch the funny old woman would be to -drink up all the water of the river before she got to the other bank. So -they knelt down, and began to drink so fast that, before the old woman -had got half-way over, the water had become quite low. - -But the old woman kept on rowing until the water had got so shallow that -the _oni_ stopped drinking, and began to wade across. Then she dropped -her oar, took the magic paddle from her girdle, and shook it at the -_oni_, and made such funny faces that the _oni_ all burst out laughing. - -But, the moment they laughed, all the water came up that they had drunk, -and so the river became full again. The _oni_ could not cross, and the -funny old woman got safely over to the other side, and ran away up the -road as fast as she could. She never stopped running until she found -herself at home again. - -After that she was very happy, for she could make dumplings whenever she -pleased. Besides, she had the magic paddle to make rice for her. She -sold her dumplings to her neighbors and passengers, and in quite a short -time she became rich. - - - - - _The Three Goats_ - - -Once upon a time there were three goats that were sent to some -pasture-lands in order to be fattened, and all three happened to be -named Brausewind. On their road to the pasture there was a bridge across -a river which they must pass, and under the bridge lived a gigantic and -horrible spirit, whose eyes were as large as two pewter plates, and -whose nose was as long as the handle of a hoe. - -The youngest goat Brausewind first came along, and stepped upon the -bridge. - -“Creak, creak!” complained the bridge. - -“Who is tripping over my bridge?” cried the elf underneath. - -“Oh! it is only the smallest of the goats named Brausewind,” said the -goat in a very shrill voice. - -“Then I shall come and fetch you,” cried the elf. - -“Nay, do not come for me, for I am still so little,” said the goat; -“wait a bit, till the second Brausewind comes, for he is much larger -than I am.” - -“Very well,” quoth the elf. - -After a while the other goat Brausewind came along, and he began to go -over the bridge. - -“_Creaky creak!_” cried the bridge again. - -“Who is tramping over my bridge?” cried the elf. - -“Oh! it is only the second goat Brausewind; I am going to the -pasture-lands to get a little fatter,” answered the goat, but in a less -soft voice than the first. - -“Then I shall come and fetch you,” said the elf. - -“Nay, do not take me, but wait a bit till the large goat Brausewind -comes, for he is a great deal bigger than I am.” - -“Very well,” replied the elf. - -It was not long before the big goat Brausewind reached the same spot. - -“CREAK, CREAK!” went the bridge, as if it were going to split. - -“Who comes thundering over my bridge?” cried the elf. - -“The big goat Brausewind,” said the goat in a gruff voice. - -“Then I shall come and fetch you,” cried the elf. - - “Well, come if you like; I’ve two spears in my head, - With which I can easily strike you dead. - Yes, come if you like; and with thundering stones - I shiver to powder your brains and your bones,” - -replied the goat; and, butting at the elf, he easily broke every bone in -his body, after which he threw him into the river, and followed the -other goats to the pastures. - -And here the goats grew so very, very, very fat that they were not able -to come home again; and, unless they have grown thinner since, they are -probably there still. - - - - - _The Fox Turned Shepherd_ - - -There was once a farmer’s wife who rode out to try and find a shepherd. -She happened to meet a bear on the way, and the bear inquired whither -she was going. - -“Oh, I’m going to hire a shepherd,” answered she. - -“Will you take me for a shepherd?” asked the bear. - -“Yes,” said the woman, “provided you can call the sheep properly.” - -“Ho—o—y!” growled the bear. - -“No,” said the woman on hearing this, “I can’t hire you,” and on she -went. - -Soon after she met a wolf. “Where are you going?” asked the wolf. - -“Oh, I’m going to hire a shepherd,” answered the woman. - -“Will you take me for a shepherd?” asked the wolf. - -“Yes, if you can call the sheep properly,” replied the woman. - -“Uh—uh!” howled the wolf. - -“No, I can’t hire you,” said the woman. - -A little farther on she met a Fox. “Where are you going?” asked he. - -“Oh, I’m only going to hire a shepherd,” answered the woman. - -“Will you take me for a shepherd?” asked the Fox. - -“Yes, provided you can but call the sheep properly,” replied the woman. - -“Dil—dal—holom!” cried the Fox in a pretty, proper tone. - -“Yes, I will hire you,” said the woman; and she took him for a shepherd -to watch over the cattle. - -The first day, on driving the cattle to the meadows, the Fox ate up all -the goats. On the second day he made a dainty meal upon the sheep, and -on the third day it was the turn for the cows to be eaten. - -On returning home in the evening, the woman asked him where he had left -the cattle. “Their heads are in the brook, and their bones are in the -bushes,” replied the Fox. The farmer’s wife was just then at the -butter-tub, busy making butter; still, she wanted to go and see for -herself how things stood. While she went to look, the Fox put his head -into the butter-tub and drank up all the cream. - -When the woman came back and saw what he had done, she was so -exasperated that she seized a clot of cream that still remained in the -tub and flung it at the Fox, so that it made a spot upon his tail. And -this is the reason why the Fox’s tail has a white tip. - - - - - _The Seven Boys and the Monster_ - - -It was Saturday afternoon, and Caspar, Michael, Fritz, and little Bessy -were playing before their house, when presently little Hans came running -toward them, and breathlessly cried: - -“What have I seen? what have I seen?” - -“What have you seen, then?” exclaimed all the children with one voice, -collecting around him. - -“A monster! a frightful monster!” answered Hans, wiping the sweat from -his brow. - -“You are afraid of your own shadow, fearful Hans,” said Caspar -mockingly; “perhaps your neighbor’s black cat has turned her fiery eyes -on you again.” - -“I am not afraid of my shadow,” answered Hans angrily; “had you only -been there, your ridicule would soon have vanished. A cat is not a bit -like a grasshopper—a fearful great grasshopper, on which one could -ride!” - -At this the children wondered very much; and when Hans related that he -had seen the monster in the shepherd’s hut in the field—that it had -horns, and such a voice that the whole hut trembled—they almost believed -him; and little Fritz thought: “Who knows if it is not one of the -rhinoceroses of which Herr Gulmann told us yesterday?” - -“Has the monster done you any harm?” asked little Bessy. - -“No,” answered Hans; “when I screamed, it shrank back into its house.” - -“But I must go and see it,” said Caspar; “and, if you will all follow, I -will go now.” - -The children determined to go, but little Hans said: - -“I will not go unarmed!” - -So Caspar mounted his horse-stick, put on his helmet, and buckled his -saber to his side; Michael took his gun, Fritz the drum, and little Hans -his lance. - -“You must remain at home, little Bessy,” said Hans; “I won’t bear the -blame if the monster hurts you.” - -“But I want to go with you,” answered little Bessy, almost crying; “and, -if you will not take me, I will tell my mother.” - -“Let her go, then,” said Fritz; “but remember, Bessy, you must always -keep ten yards behind.” - -Thus, having armed themselves, they took courage, and Caspar thought: -“Oh, if we could only catch the monster, dead or alive! Ah! here come -Peter, and Frank, and George—they can also go with us, but they must -take the great bean-pole out of the garden, that we may be able to -attack the monster at a distance.” - -Now the little army set itself in motion. Caspar on “Roho” (for so his -horse was named) came first, as commander; then came Hans with the -spear, Fritz with the drum, Michael with the gun, and lastly, Peter, -Frank, and George, with the pole. Little Bessy came ten yards behind -them. All were full of courage, and they sang: - - The general on his horse comes first, - And next the spear and drum; - The soldier, with his gun; and three - Armed with a bean-pole come. - But Bessy marches after all, - That unto her no harm may fall. - -When they came to the little wood through which one must go in order to -get to the great meadow where the shepherd’s cot stands, Hans cried out -all at once, his flag nearly falling from his hand: - -“Did you not hear a noise?” - -“Yes!” cried all, trembling; but Fritz had still courage enough to say: - -“Bessy must remain behind.” - -Then they whispered to one another, “The monster, perhaps, has hidden -here”; but they dared not run away, for fear the monster should fall on -them from behind, and they resolved to lie on the ground and listen. So -they laid down all apart, and presently they whispered: - -“Hans trembles very much.” - -After a long time Fritz asked: - -“Have you heard nothing, Caspar?” - -“No,” said he, and the others also said “no”; and Frank thought, -perhaps, it was only the wind. At this they took courage, and, in order -to show they were not afraid, they sang: - - O wind, in the wood whistle all the day long, - We’ll whistle as boldly, we’ll whistle as strong, - -and they began to whistle, with all their strength, against the wind. - -When they had come out of the wood they saw the shepherd’s hut standing -quite alone; in the distance the sheep were peacefully feeding, and -their little bells sounded merrily along the meadows. Only an old ram -saw the young band of heroes, and it ventured nearer in order to look -wonderingly. But Caspar rode against it, brandishing his sword, which -made the ram bleat and gallop away. - -“Now is the time!” said Caspar; “we will first walk three times round -the hut, but no one must make any noise!” - -“Bessy still stops behind!” cried Fritz, out of the strength of his -love. - -“Once more I say,” exclaimed Caspar loudly and forcibly, “no one must -make a noise. We will now walk around, and when we are about to attack, -Fritz shall give the signal with his drum.” - -So they began to walk round the hut, but they marched round much oftener -than three times, and each time they stopped at the same place. - -“We cannot go round any more,” said Caspar, “we must attack the monster -from some place. Do you hide first, behind the oak-tree, one behind -another, that the monster may not see you; I will step on to the wheel -there, and look in at the window, but—mind you are all ready at the -first call.” - -As they hid themselves behind the oak, he walked slowly with drawn sword -to the hut, and little Hans whispered behind the tree: - -“If there should be a wolf in the hut! Do you remember the story of -‘Little Red Riding-hood’?” - -This made them very much afraid, and they held the faster to one -another. Only Frank dared look out to see how their captain got on. - -He had arrived at the hut, and, having fastened his horse to a stake, he -mounted the wheel in order to look through the window. But—what a -monster!—a great bearded beast with horns sprang with a loud cry at him; -and Caspar, pale as death from terror, fell back, and could scarcely -cry: - -“Help! help!—the monster!” - -As he called out, Franz said, “It has a beard and horns, and such a -voice!” and Hans, who stood next to the oak, fell back on the rest, and -one after the other fell to the ground. - -Fritz picked himself up first, and called to Caspar from afar: - -“Has he eaten you up yet, dear Caspar?” - -“Who?” cried Caspar, springing up, “who?” And out of the hut sounded -again the cry; it shook the door, and all fell back again. A goat came -running up, with playful jumps, to our heroes. - -“Herr Gulmann’s sick goat!” cried out all, “which, since the day before -yesterday, we have not seen in the schoolyard.” - -“Did I not say so?” cried Caspar. “But, ah, fearful Hans! where is the -monster?” - -“That must still be within,” protested Hans. “You also have seen it.” - -“We will look again,” cried the enraged Caspar, in anger; “but, as the -monster has not eaten the goat, it is no cannibal. Just come here, and -stand around while Hans and I go in; and do you hold the bar of the -door, that the monster may not come out.” - -All were, in spite of their former terror, become courageous; still, -Hans would willingly have gone back if he had not disliked to be called -“fearful Hans.” He placed himself, therefore, at the door, behind -Caspar, holding his banner before his eyes, and pressing it close to -him. But Caspar did not remark that Hans had placed himself behind him; -and Hans, on the other hand, did not see Caspar turn himself angrily and -quickly round, the hut being very dark; and it so happened that he -overturned Hans and fell over him. - -“The monster! the monster!” cried Hans; and Caspar exclaimed, too, “The -monster! the monster!” for each thought that it had overthrown him. With -the quickness of lightning they sprang up again, in order to escape -through the door, but those outside only held the bar faster from -terror; and Hans and Caspar kicked with such violence against the wood -that the others cried, “The monster! the monster!” - -But this time it was not a goat, but the specter, which every one -sometimes sees and feels. This our hero, Caspar, very soon found out; -and springing up, he stamped thrice on the ground with his foot, and -seizing poor Hans by the collar, he shook him angrily, and cried out in -a voice nearly choked with rage: - -“You are a coward! you are a coward!” - -“Dear Caspar, let me go; I will not do it again!” - -“Hans, you are a coward!” replied Caspar, for the third time shaking -him. - -But as little Hans said, “I will certainly show you a monster!” and as -the others begged for his life, he let him loose, stamped again on the -ground, and exclaimed: - -“Oh, I would have commanded a band of heroes; I would have caught the -monster, and led it in triumph home, but now it is gone, and you are the -cause!” - -But meanwhile the goat, which at first had so frightened them, -approached again, and performed various playful capers to induce them to -play with it. This increased Caspar’s rage, who would have seized the -animal and beaten it; but it ran back, and then lowering its horns -rushed against Caspar, not very softly. This excited him the more; he -made a bold spring, seized the brute by the hair, and mounted it, in -order the better to hold it; but, lo! the goat ran wildly away with him, -with mad jumps through the wood, past shrieking Bessy, away into the -village, where the people pointed their fingers at him mockingly. - -Where did the goat stop?—for Caspar, while he lives, will not forget -this! It easily found the way to the schoolhouse where it once joyfully -fed, and flying to the yard, where the affrighted dog tried to seize it, -it rushed into the school at the principal entrance, and stood suddenly -in the schoolroom, where Herr Gulmann was correcting the exercises of -his scholars. He heard the tremendous noise and outcry, and putting on -his spectacles he discovered all! - -What further happened I will omit, out of pity for Caspar, who may read -this history some time. Only this must I mention: that Herr Gulmann made -him read and explain on Monday morning, for a religious exercise, the -history of David and Goliath, and soon after he unwillingly related the -story of the Seven Suabians, who allowed themselves to be conquered by a -hare, and at that seven little boys blushed very deeply. I believe, -however, that seven times seven-and-seventy little boys would blush at -this story I have just told if it had happened to them! - - - - - _The Story of Little Black Mingo_ - - -Once upon a time there was a little black girl, and her name was Little -Black Mingo. - -She had no father and mother, so she had to live with a horrid cross old -woman called Black Noggy, who used to scold her every day, and sometimes -beat her with a stick, even though she had done nothing naughty. - -One day Black Noggy called her, and said: “Take this chatty down to the -river and fill it with water, and come back as fast as you can—_quick -now_!” - -So Little Black Mingo took the chatty and ran down to the river as fast -as she could, and began to fill it with water, when cr-r-rrrack!!! -bang!!! a horrible big mugger poked its nose up through the bottom of -the chatty and said: “Ha, ha! Little Mingo, I’m going to eat you up!” - -Little Black Mingo did not say anything. She turned and ran away as fast -as ever she could, and the mugger ran after her. But the broken chatty -round his neck caught his paws, so he could not overtake her. - -But when she got back to Black Noggy, and told her how the mugger had -broken the chatty, Black Noggy was fearfully angry. “You naughty girl,” -she said, “you have broken the chatty yourself. I have a good mind to -beat you.” And if she had not been in such a hurry for the water she -_would_ have beaten her. - -Then she went and fetched the great big chatty that the dhobi used to -boil the clothes in. “Take this,” said she, “and mind you don’t break -it, or I _will_ beat you.” - -“But I can’t carry that when it is full of water,” said Little Black -Mingo. - -“You must go twice, and bring it half-full each time,” said Black Noggy. - -So Little Black Mingo took the dhobi’s great big chatty, and started -again to go to the river. But first she went to a little bank above the -river, and peeped up and down to see if she could see the old mugger -anywhere. But she could not see him, for he was hiding under the very -bank she was standing on, and, though his tail stuck out a little, she -never saw him at all. - -She would have liked to run home, but she was too much afraid that Black -Noggy would beat her. - -So Little Black Mingo crept down to the river, and began to fill the big -chatty with water. And while she was filling it the mugger came creeping -softly down behind her and caught her by the leg, saying: “Aha, Little -Black Mingo, now I’ve got you.” - -And Little Black Mingo said: “Oh! please don’t eat me up, great big -mugger!” - -“What will you give me if I don’t eat you up?” said the mugger. But -Little Black Mingo was so poor she had nothing to give. So the mugger -caught her in his great cruel mouth and swam away with her to an island -in the middle of the river, and set her down beside a huge pile of eggs. - -“Those are my eggs,” said he; “to-morrow a little mugger will come out -of each, and then we will have a great feast, and we will eat you up.” - -Then he waddled off to catch fish for himself, and left Little Black -Mingo alone beside the big pile of eggs. - -And Little Black Mingo sat down on a big stone and hid her face in her -hands, and cried bitterly, because she couldn’t swim, and she didn’t -know how to get away. - -Presently she heard a queer little squeaky noise that sounded like -“Squeak, squeak, squeak!!! Oh, Little Black Mingo, help me, or I shall -be drowned.” She got up and looked to see what was calling, and she saw -a bush coming floating down the river with something wriggling and -scrambling about in it, and as it came near she saw that it was a -mongoose that was in the bush. So she waded out as far as she could, and -caught hold of the bush and pulled it in, and the poor mongoose crawled -up her arm on to her shoulder, and she carried him to shore. - -When they got to shore the mongoose shook himself, and Little Black -Mingo wrung out her petticoat, and so they both very soon got dry. - -The mongoose then began to poke about for something to eat, and very -soon he found the great big pile of muggers’ eggs. “Oh, joy!” said he, -“what’s this?” - -“Those are muggers’ eggs,” said Little Black Mingo. - -“I’m not afraid of muggers!” said the mongoose; and he sat down and -began to crack the eggs, and eat the little muggers as they came out. -And he threw the shells into the water, so that the old mugger should -not see that any one had been eating them. But he was careless, and he -left one egg-shell on the edge, and he was hungry, and he ate so many -that the pile got much smaller, and when the old mugger came back he saw -at once that some one had been meddling with them. - -So he ran to Little Black Mingo, and said, “How dare you eat my eggs?” - -“Indeed, indeed, I didn’t,” said Little Black Mingo. - -“Then who could it have been?” said the mugger, and he ran back to the -eggs as fast as he could, and, sure enough, when he got back he found -the mongoose had eaten a whole lot more!! - -Then he said to himself, “I must stay beside my eggs till they are -hatched into little muggers, or the mongoose will eat them all.” So he -curled himself into a ring round the eggs and went to sleep. - -But while he was asleep the mongoose came to eat some more of the eggs, -and ate as many as he wanted, and when the mugger woke this time, oh! -_what_ a rage he was in, for there were only six eggs left! He roared so -loud that all the little muggers inside the shells gnashed their teeth, -and tried to roar, too. - -Then he said: “I know what I’ll do. I’ll fetch Little Black Mingo’s big -chatty, and cover my eggs with that; then the mongoose won’t be able to -get at them.” So he swam across to the shore, and fetched the dhobi’s -big chatty, and covered the eggs with it. “Now, you wicked little -mongoose, come and eat my eggs if you can,” said he, and he went off -quite proud and happy. - -By and by the mongoose came back, and he was terribly disappointed when -he found the eggs all covered with the big chatty. - -So he ran off to Little Black Mingo, and asked her to help him, and -Little Black Mingo came and took the big chatty off the eggs, and the -mongoose ate them, every one. - -“Now,” said he, “there will be no little muggers to make a feast for -to-morrow.” - -“No,” said Little Black Mingo, “but the mugger will eat me all by -himself, I am afraid.” - -“No, he won’t,” said the mongoose, “for we will sail away together in -the big chatty before he comes back.” - -So he climbed on to the edge of the chatty, and Little Black Mingo -pushed the chatty out into the water, and then she clambered into it and -paddled with her two hands as hard as she could, and the big chatty just -sailed beautifully. - -So they got across safely, and Little Black Mingo filled the chatty -half-full of water and took it on her head, and they went up the bank -together. - -But when the mugger came back, and found only empty egg-shells, he was -fearfully angry. He roared and he raged, and he howled and he yelled, -till the whole island shook, and his tears ran down his cheeks and -pattered on the sand like rain. - -So he started to chase Little Black Mingo and the mongoose, and he swam -across the river as fast as ever he could, and when he was half-way -across he saw them landing, and as he landed they hurried over the first -ridge. - -So he raced after them, but they ran, and just before he caught them -they got into the house, and banged the door in his face. Then they shut -all the windows, so he could not get in anywhere. - -“All right,” said he, “you will have to come out some time, and then I -will catch you both, and eat you up.” - -So he hid behind the back of the house and waited. - -Now, Black Noggy was just coming home from the bazaar with a tin of -kerosene on her head and a box of matches in her hand. - -And when he saw her the mugger rushed out and gobbled her up, kerosene -tin, matches, and all!!! - -When Black Noggy found herself in the mugger’s dark inside, she wanted -to see where she was, so she felt for the match-box, and took out a -match and lit it. But the mugger’s teeth had made holes in the kerosene -tin, so that the flame of the match caught the kerosene, and BANG!! the -kerosene exploded, and blew the old mugger and Black Noggy into little -bits. - -At the fearful noise Little Black Mingo and the mongoose came running -out, and there they found Black Noggy and the old mugger all blown to -bits. - -So Little Black Mingo and the mongoose got the nice little house for -their very own, and there they lived happy ever after. And Little Black -Mingo got the mugger’s head for her seat, and the mongoose got Black -Noggy’s handkerchief for his. But he was so wee he used to put it on the -mugger’s nose, and there they sat, and had their tea every evening. - - HELEN BANNERMAN. - - - - - _The Cock and the Crested Hen_ - - -There was once a Cock who had a whole farm-yard of hens to look after -and manage; and among them was a tiny little Crested Hen. She thought -she was altogether too grand to be in company with the other hens, for -they looked so old and shabby; she wanted to go out and strut about all -by herself, so that people could see how fine she was, and admire her -pretty crest and beautiful plumage. - -So one day when all the hens were strutting about on the dust-heap and -showing themselves off, and picking and clucking, as they were wont to -do, this desire seized her, and she began to cry: - -“Cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck, over the fence! cluck, cluck, cluck, over -the fence!” and wanted to get away. - -The Cock stretched his neck and shook his comb and feathers, and cried: - -“Go not there!” And all the old hens cackled: - -“Go-go-go-go not there!” - -But she set off for all that; and was not a little proud when she got -away, and could go about pluming and showing herself off quite alone. - -Just then a hawk began to fly round in a circle above her, and all of a -sudden he swooped down upon her. The Cock, as he stood on top of the -dust-heap, stretching his neck and peering first with one eye and then -with the other, had long noticed him, and cried with all his might: - -“Come, come, come and help! Come, come, come and help!” till the people -came running to see what was the matter. They frightened the hawk so -that he let go the Hen, and had to be satisfied with her tuft and her -finest feathers, which he had plucked from her. And then, you may be -sure, she lost no time in running home; she stretched her neck, and -tripped along, crying: - -“See, see, see, see how I look! See, see, see, see how I look!” - -The Cock came up to her in his dignified way, drooped one of his wings, -and said: - -“Didn’t I tell you?” - -From that time the Hen did not consider herself too good to be in the -company of the old hens on the dust-heap. - - - - - _The Old Woman and the Fish_ - - -There was once upon a time an old woman who lived in a miserable cottage -on the brow of a hill overlooking the town. Her husband had been dead -for many years, and her children were in service round about the parish, -so she felt rather lonely and dreary by herself, and otherwise she was -not particularly well off either. - -But when it has been ordained that one shall live, one cannot think of -one’s funeral; and so one has to take the world as it is, and still be -satisfied; and that was about all the old woman could console herself -with. But that the road up which she had to carry the pails from the -well should be so heavy; and that the ax should have such a blunt and -rusty edge, so that it was only with the greatest difficulty that she -could cut the little firewood she had; and that the stuff she was -weaving was not sufficient—all this grieved her greatly, and caused her -to complain from time to time. - -So one day, when she had pulled the bucket up from the well, she -happened to find a small pike in the bucket, which did not at all -displease her. - -“Such fish does not come into my pot every day,” she said; and now she -could have a really grand dish, she thought. But the fish that she had -got this time was no fool; it had the gift of speech, that it had. - -“Let me go!” said the fish. - -The old woman began to stare, you may be sure. Such a fish she had never -before seen in this world. - -“Are you so much better than other fish, then?” she said, “and too good -to be eaten?” - -“Wise is he who does not eat all he gets hold of,” said the fish; “only -let me go, and you shall not remain without reward for your trouble.” - -“I like a fish in the bucket better than all those frisking about free -and frolicsome in the lakes,” said the old woman. “And what one can -catch with one hand, one can also carry to one’s mouth,” she said. - -“That may be,” said the fish; “but if you do as I tell you, you shall -have three wishes.” - -“Wish in one fist, and pour water in the other, and you’ll soon see -which you will get filled first,” said the woman. “Promises are well -enough, but keeping them is better, and I sha’n’t believe much in you -till I have got you in the pot,” she said. - -“You should mind that tongue of yours,” said the fish, “and listen to my -words. Wish for three things, and then you’ll see what will happen,” he -said. - -Well, the old woman knew well enough what she wanted to wish, and there -might not be so much danger in trying how far the fish would keep his -word, she thought. - -She then began thinking of the heavy hill up from the well. - -“I would wish that the pails could go of themselves to the well and home -again,” she said. - -“So they shall,” said the fish. - -Then she thought of the ax, and how blunt it was. - -“I would wish that whatever I strike shall break right off,” she said. - -“So it shall,” said the fish. - -And then she remembered that the stuff she was weaving was not long -enough. - -“I would wish that whatever I pull shall become long,” she said. - -“That it shall,” said the fish. “And now, let me down into the well -again.” - -Yes, that she would, and all at once the pails began to shamble up the -hill. - -“Dear me, did you ever see anything like it?” The old woman became so -glad and pleased that she slapped herself across the knees. - -Crack, crack! it sounded; and then both her legs fell off, and she was -left sitting on the top of the lid over the well. - -Now came a change. She began to cry and wail, and the tears started from -her eyes, whereupon she began blowing her nose with her apron, and as -she tugged at her nose it grew so long, so long, that it was terrible to -see. - -That is what she got for her wishes! Well, there she sat, and there she -no doubt still sits, on the lid of the well. And if you want to know -what it is to have a long nose, you had better go there and ask her, for -she can tell you all about it, she can. - - - - - _The Lad and the Fox_ - - -There was once upon a time a little lad, who was on his way to church, -and when he came to a clearing in the forest he caught sight of a fox, -that was lying on the top of a big stone so fast asleep that he did not -know the lad had seen him. - -“If I kill that fox,” said the lad, taking a heavy stone in his fist, -“and sell the skin, I shall get money for it, and with that money I -shall buy some rye, and that rye I shall sow in father’s corn-field at -home. When the people who are on their way to church pass by my field of -rye they’ll say: ‘Oh, what splendid rye that lad has got!’ Then I shall -say to them: ‘I say, keep away from my rye!’ But they won’t heed me. -Then I shall shout to them: ‘I say, keep away from my rye!’ But still -they won’t take any notice of me. Then I shall scream with all my might: -‘Keep away from my rye!’ and then they’ll listen to me.” - -But the lad screamed so loudly that the fox woke up and made off at once -for the forest, so that the lad did not even get as much as a handful of -his hair. - -No; it’s best always to take what you can reach, for of undone deeds you -should never screech, as the saying goes. - - - - - _The Old Woman and the Tramp_ - - -There was once a tramp who went plodding his way through a forest. The -distance between the houses was so great that he had little hope of -finding a shelter before the night set in. But all of a sudden he saw -some lights between the trees. He then discovered a cottage, where there -was a fire burning on the hearth. How nice it would be to roast one’s -self before that fire, and to get a bite of something, he thought; and -so he dragged himself toward the cottage. - -Just then an old woman came toward him. - -“Good evening, and well met!” said the tramp. - -“Good evening,” said the woman. “Where do you come from?” - -“South of the sun, and east of the moon,” said the tramp; “and now I am -on the way home again, for I have been all over the world with the -exception of this parish,” he said. - -“You must be a great traveler, then,” said the woman. “What may be your -business here?” - -“Oh, I want a shelter for the night,” he said. - -“I thought as much,” said the woman; “but you may as well get away from -here at once, for my husband is not at home, and my place is not an -inn,” she said. - -“My good woman,” said the tramp, “you must not be so cross and -hard-hearted, for we are both human beings, and should help one another, -as it is written.” - -“Help one another?” said the woman, “help? Did you ever hear such a -thing? Who’ll help me, do you think? I haven’t got a morsel in the -house! No, you’ll have to look for quarters elsewhere,” she said. - -But the tramp was like the rest of his kind; he did not consider himself -beaten at the first rebuff. Although the old woman grumbled and -complained as much as she could, he was just as persistent as ever, and -went on begging and praying like a starved dog, until at last she gave -in, and he got permission to lie on the floor for the night. - -That was very kind, he thought, and he thanked her for it. - -“Better on the floor without sleep, than suffer cold in the forest -deep,” he said; for he was a merry fellow, this tramp, and was always -ready with a rhyme. - -When he came into the room he could see that the woman was not so badly -off as she had pretended; but she was a greedy and stingy woman of the -worst sort, and was always complaining and grumbling. - -He now made himself very agreeable, of course, and asked her in his most -insinuating manner for something to eat. - -“Where am I to get it from?” said the woman. “I haven’t tasted a morsel -myself the whole day.” - -But the tramp was a cunning fellow, he was. - -“Poor old granny, you must be starving,” he said. “Well, well, I suppose -I shall have to ask you to have something with me, then?” - -“Have something with you!” said the woman. “You don’t look as if you -could ask any one to have anything! What have you got to offer one, I -should like to know?” - -“He who far and wide does roam sees many things not known at home; and -he who many things has seen has wits about him and senses keen,” said -the tramp. “Better dead than lose one’s head! Lend me a pot, granny!” - -The old woman now became very inquisitive, as you may guess, and so she -let him have a pot. - -He filled it with water and put it on the fire, and then he blew with -all his might till the fire was burning fiercely all round it. Then he -took a four-inch nail from his pocket, turned it three times in his -hand, and put it into the pot. - -The woman stared with all her might. - -“What’s this going to be?” she asked. - -“Nail broth,” said the tramp, and began to stir the water with the -porridge-stick. - -“Nail broth?” asked the woman. - -“Yes, nail broth,” said the tramp. - -The old woman had seen and heard a good deal in her time, but that -anybody could have made broth with a nail, well, she had never heard the -like before. - -“That’s something for poor people to know,” she said, “and I should like -to learn how to make it.” - -“That which is not worth having will always go a-begging,” said the -tramp, but if she wanted to learn how to make it she had only to watch -him, he said, and went on stirring the broth. - -The old woman squatted on the ground, her hands clasping her knees, and -her eyes following his hand as he stirred the broth. - -“This generally makes good broth,” he said; “but this time it will very -likely be rather thin, for I have been making broth the whole week with -the same nail. If one only had a handful of sifted oatmeal to put in, -that would make it all right,” he said. “But what one has to go without, -it’s no use thinking more about,” and so he stirred the broth again. - -“Well, I think I have a scrap of flour somewhere,” said the old woman, -and went out to fetch some, and it was both good and fine. - -The tramp began putting the flour into the broth, and went on stirring, -while the woman sat staring now at him and then at the pot until her -eyes nearly burst their sockets. - -“This broth would be good enough for company,” he said, putting in one -handful of flour after another. “If I had only a bit of salted beef and -a few potatoes to put in, it would be fit for gentlefolks, however -particular they might be,” he said. “But what one has to go without, -it’s no use thinking more about.” - -When the old woman really began to think it over, she thought she had -some potatoes, and perhaps a bit of beef as well; and these she gave the -tramp, who went on stirring, while she sat and stared as hard as ever. - -“This will be grand enough for the best in the land,” he said. - -“Well, I never!” said the woman; “and just fancy—all with a nail!” - -He was really a wonderful man, that tramp! He could do more than drink a -sup and turn the tankard up, he could. - -“If one had only a little barley and a drop of milk, we could ask the -king himself to have some of it,” he said; “for this is what he has -every blessed evening—that I know, for I have been in service under the -king’s cook,” he said. - -“Dear me! Ask the king to have some! Well, I never!” exclaimed the -woman, slapping her knees. She was quite awestruck at the tramp and his -grand connections. - -“But what one has to go without, it’s no use thinking more about,” said -the tramp. - -And then she remembered she had a little barley; and as for milk, well, -she wasn’t quite out of that, she said, for her best cow had just -calved. And then she went to fetch both the one and the other. - -The tramp went on stirring, and the woman sat staring, one moment at him -and the next at the pot. - -Then all at once the tramp took out the nail. - -“Now it’s ready, and now we’ll have a real good feast,” he said. “But to -this kind of soup the king and the queen always take a dram or two, and -one sandwich at least. And then they always have a cloth on the table -when they eat,” he said. “But what one has to go without, it’s no use -thinking more about.” - -But by this time the old woman herself had begun to feel quite grand and -fine, I can tell you; and if that was all that was wanted to make it -just as the king had it, she thought it would be nice to have it exactly -the same way for once, and play at being king and queen with the tramp. -She went straight to a cupboard and brought out the brandy bottle, dram -glasses, butter and cheese, smoked beef and veal, until at last the -table looked as if it were decked out for company. - -Never in her life had the old woman had such a grand feast, and never -had she tasted such broth, and just fancy, made only with a nail! - -She was in such a good and merry humor at having learned such an -economical way of making broth that she did not know how to make enough -of the tramp who had taught her such a useful thing. - -So they ate and drank, and drank and ate, until they became both tired -and sleepy. - -The tramp was now going to lie down on the floor. But that would never -do, thought the old woman; no, that was impossible. “Such a grand person -must have a bed to lie in,” she said. - -He did not need much pressing. “It’s just like the sweet Christmas -time,” he said, “and a nicer woman I never came across. Ah, well! Happy -are they who meet with such good people,” said he; and he lay down on -the bed and went asleep. - -And next morning, when he woke, the first thing he got was coffee and a -dram. - -When he was going, the old woman gave him a bright dollar piece. - -“And thanks, many thanks, for what you have taught me,” she said. “Now I -shall live in comfort, since I have learned how to make broth with a -nail.” - -“Well, it isn’t very difficult if one only has something good to add to -it,” said the tramp as he went his way. - -The woman stood at the door staring after him. - -“Such people don’t grow on every bush,” she said. - - - THE END - - - - - McCLURE’S LIBRARY OF CHILDREN’S CLASSICS - - “THE CRIMSON CLASSICS” - - EDITED BY - - Kate Douglas Wiggin - - AND - - Nora Archibald Smith - - -The problem of children’s reading is one of the greatest with which -parents and teachers are confronted. It is the purpose of this series to -provide the very best literature in every field for the use of children -and young people of all ages,—poetry, fairy lore, fables, nursery -rhymes, short entertaining stories, etc., etc. To accomplish this -purpose the editors have spared no trouble and the publishers no -expense, to the end that this series may take its place permanently in -the home and in the school library, superseding all others less complete -and less carefully selected with reference to the mental and spiritual -needs and the simple æsthetic tastes of children. A full description of -the five volumes already published will be found on the following pages. - - - PINAFORE PALACE - - A BOOK OF RHYMES FOR THE NURSERY - -This volume is absolutely unique in scope and conception. It is a -collection of all the best nursery rhymes, nonsense verses, guessing -games, lullabies and slumber songs for the delectation of the very -littlest readers, just as The Posy Ring was designed for children a -little older, and GOLDEN NUMBERS for their brothers and sisters who are -beginning to grow up and to prepare for school and college. The editors -have, as in the case of the former volumes in the series, gone through -the entire field of available material, and drawn upon many sources that -are remote or inaccessible for the general reader. In this way they have -been able to recover many a veritable little masterpiece of nursery -lore, as well as to bring together all the old favorites from Mother -Goose and other collections in a form at once compact and comprehensive. -Teachers of kindergartens everywhere, as well as mothers with children -to entertain at home, will welcome this little book and keep it on the -most convenient shelf of the nursery bookcase. “Every home, large or -small, poor or rich,” writes Mrs. Wiggin in her delightful INTRODUCTION -TO THE MOTHER IN PINAFORE PALACE; and, she adds later, “no greater love -for a task nor happiness in doing it, no more ardent wish to please a -child or meet a mother’s need, ever went into a book than has been -brought into this volume.” - - _$1.50_ - - - MAGIC CASEMENTS - - A SECOND FAIRY BOOK - -This volume, a companion to “The Fairy Ring,” completes that volume and -makes, with it, the most exhaustive collection of fairy lore available -for young readers. The editors, with their unerring gift for selection -which in itself amounts to genius, have gathered those stories which -have in them the greatest degree of that glamour which, in the language -of Keats, opens “magic casements” on the world of Fairyland. These -stories are for the most part longer and more elaborate than those in -the preceding volume and are designed for slightly older readers. - - - THE FAIRY RING - -Designed by its editors to be the standard fairy book for children. The -educational value of the fairy story cannot be denied in its healthy -stimulation of the child’s imaginative powers. Here the collections of -Grimm, Andersen, Joseph Jacobs, Laboulaye, Perrault, and Dasent have -yielded their richest stores, but the editors have not confined -themselves to these better-known sources. They have gone far afield, -read and examined all existing books of fairy literature, sifting all -the material till they have made a generous selection which is inclusive -of the very best that has ever been written. - - “Can hardly fail to prove the most popular anthology of its kind - ever published.” _Boston Herald._ - - _Each volume beautifully printed and bound; about 450 pages: Gilt - top; postpaid, $1.50_ - - - GOLDEN NUMBERS - - A BOOK OF VERSE FOR YOUTH - -The best anthology of English verse ever prepared for young people from -the ages of 12 to 17. It is composed entirely of the finest examples of -English poetical literature, selected with special reference to the -requirements of young people of the grammar and high school age. - - “The book will charm the child for the moment; it will educate his - tastes without awakening the suspicion that he is at school, and - it will enrich his memory for all time to come.” _Outlook._ - - _With an introduction by Kate Douglas Wiggin, and interleaves. - Cloth, 500 pages; postpaid, $2.17; net, $2.00_ - - - THE POSY RING - - A BOOK OF VERSE FOR CHILDREN - -A companion volume to “Golden Numbers,” suitable for children from the -ages of 7 to 12. The compilers have drawn largely on the works of -Longfellow, Stevenson, Lewis Carroll, Eugene Field, Mary Mapes Dodge and -James Whitcomb Riley. Every poem will give delight to the child, and -also to the mother who would read them to the little ones. - - “Into its pages have been gathered the cream of poetry for - children.” _Boston Transcript._ - - _Printed in very large, readable type. Cloth, postpaid, $1.37; - net, $1.25_ - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES - - - 1. Changed ‘shall everything’ to ‘shall have everything’ on p. 25. - 2. Changed ‘of in all’ to ‘of it all’ on p. 93. - 3. Silently corrected typographical errors. - 4. Retained anachronistic and non-standard spellings as printed. - 5. 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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. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Tales of Laughter - A third fairy book - -Author: Kate Douglas Wiggin - Nora Archibald Smith - -Release Date: May 16, 2017 [EBook #54734] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TALES OF LAUGHTER *** - - - - -Produced by Richard Tonsing and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<div class='tnotes covernote'> - -<p class='c000'><strong>Transcriber's Note:</strong></p> - -<p class='c000'>The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.</p> - -</div> - -<div class='lg-container-b c001'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'><span class='color_green'>LAUGH NOR SMILE NOT, LITTLE FRIEND,</span></div> - <div class='line'><span class='color_green'>NOR THE FIRST TALE READ TO END,</span></div> - <div class='line'><span class='color_green'>TILL YOUR NAME BELOW IS SHOWN,</span></div> - <div class='line'><span class='color_green'>AND THE BOOK’S YOUR VERY OWN.</span></div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='figcenter id001'> -<img src='images/i_001.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -<div class='ph1'> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c001'> - <div><cite>Tales of Laughter</cite></div> - </div> -</div> - -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c001'> - <div><span class='sc'>McCLURE’S LIBRARY OF CHILDREN’S CLASSICS</span></div> - <div class='c002'>⁂</div> - <div class='c002'>EDITED BY KATE DOUGLAS WIGGIN AND NORA ARCHIBALD SMITH</div> - <div class='c003'>GOLDEN NUMBERS</div> - <div class='c002'>A BOOK OF VERSE FOR YOUTH</div> - <div class='c002'>⁂</div> - <div class='c002'>THE POSY RING</div> - <div class='c002'>A BOOK OF VERSE FOR CHILDREN</div> - <div class='c002'>⁂</div> - <div class='c002'>PINAFORE PALACE</div> - <div class='c002'>A BOOK OF RHYMES FOR THE NURSERY</div> - <div class='c002'>⁂</div> - <div class='c002'><em>Library of Fairy Literature</em></div> - <div class='c002'>THE FAIRY RING</div> - <div class='c002'>⁂</div> - <div class='c002'>MAGIC CASEMENTS</div> - <div class='c002'>A SECOND FAIRY BOOK</div> - <div class='c002'>⁂</div> - <div class='c002'>OTHER VOLUMES TO FOLLOW</div> - <div class='c003'><em>Send to the publishers for Complete Descriptive Catalogue</em></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c002' /> -</div> - -<div> - <h1 class='c004'><span class='sc'>Tales of Laughter</span><br /> <span class='xlarge'><em>A THIRD FAIRY BOOK</em></span></h1> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>EDITED BY</div> - <div class='c002'><span class='large'>KATE DOUGLAS WIGGIN</span></div> - <div class='c002'><span class='small'>AND</span></div> - <div class='c002'><span class='large'>NORA ARCHIBALD SMITH</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='figcenter id002'> -<img src='images/i_006.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>NEW YORK</div> - <div><span class='sc'>THE McCLURE COMPANY</span></div> - <div>MCMVIII</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c005'><em>Copyright, 1908, by The McClure Company</em></div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c002' /> -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_v'>v</span> - <h2 class='c006'><em>PUBLISHERS’ NOTE</em></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c007'><em>The McClure Company wish to make acknowledgment of -their indebtedness to the following publishers</em>:</p> - -<p class='c000'><em>G. P. Putnam’s Sons, for permission to use “The Greedy -Cat,” “Father Bruin in the Corner,” “The Pancake,” “The -Death of Chanticleer,” “Reynard Wants to Taste Horse -Flesh,” “Bruin and Reynard Partners,” “Pork and Honey,” -and “Slip Root: Catch Reynard’s Foot,” from Tales from -the Field; “The Most Frugal of Men,” “The Moon Cake,” -“The Ladle that Fell from the Moon,” “The Young Head -of the Family,” and “The Dreadful Boar,” from Chinese -Nights Entertainment.</em></p> - -<p class='c000'><em>The American Book Company, for permission to use “Little -Tuppen,” from Fairy Stories and Fables.</em></p> - -<p class='c000'><em>Little, Brown & Company, for permission to use “The -Story of the Four Little Children who Went Round the -World,” from Edward Lear’s Nonsense Books.</em></p> - -<p class='c000'><em>F. A. Stokes Company, for permission to use “Little Black -Mingo,” “The Lad and the Fox,” “The Old Woman and -the Tramp,” “The Cook and the Crested Hen,” and “The -Old Woman and the Fish,” from Fairy Tales from the -Swedish; “One’s Own Children Always Prettiest,” and “The -Princess whom Nobody Could Silence,” from Fairy Tales -from the Far North.</em></p> - -<p class='c000'><em>F. Warne & Company, for permission to use “The Money -Box,” “The Happy Family,” and “It is Quite True,” from -Hans Andersen’s Fairy Tales.</em></p> - -<p class='c000'><em>J. B. Lippincott, for permission to use “Manabozho and -His Toe,” from North American Indian Fairy Tales; “The -Three Wishes,” “If Heaven Will It,” and “The Fox and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_vi'>vi</span>the Goose,” from Spanish Fairy Tales; “Hans in Luck,” -“The Fox and the Cat,” “The Fisherman and His Wife,” -and “The Adventures of Chanticleer and Partlet,” from -Grimm’s Fairy Tales.</em></p> - -<p class='c000'><em>Charles Scribner’s Sons, for permission to use “The Fox -and the Dove,” “The Fox and the Hedgehog,” “The Disappointed -Bear,” and “Young Neverfull,” from Russian Grandmother’s -Wonder Stories.</em></p> - -<p class='c000'><em>George Routledge & Sons, Ltd., for permission to use -“The Flail which Came from the Clouds,” “The Wren -and the Bear,” “The Wolf and the Fox,” “The Three Luck-Children,” -“The Three Sluggards,” “The Cat and the Mouse -in Partnership,” “Old Sultan,” “The Shreds,” “The Fox -and the Horse,” “The Seven Swabians,” “The Giant and the -Tailor,” and “The Little Shepherd Boy,” from Grimm’s -Household Stories.</em></p> - -<p class='c000'><em>Joseph McDonough, for permission to use “How the Sun, -the Moon and the Wind went out to Dinner,” “Singh Rajah -and the Cunning Little Jackals,” “The Blind Man, the Deaf -Man and the Donkey,” “The Alligator and the Jackal,” and -“The Selfish Sparrow and the Houseless Crows,” from Old -Deccan Days.</em></p> - -<p class='c000'><em>A. L. Burt & Company, for permission to use “Gudbrand -on the Hillside” and “Nanny who Wouldn’t Go to Supper,” -from Fairy Tales from the Far North.</em></p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_vii'>vii</span> - <h2 class='c006'>A LAUGHING SONG</h2> -</div> - -<div class='lg-container-b c003'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>When the greenwoods laugh with the voice of joy,</div> - <div class='line'>And the dimpling stream runs laughing by;</div> - <div class='line'>When the air does laugh with our merry wit,</div> - <div class='line'>And the green hill laughs with the noise of it;</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>When the meadows laugh with lively green,</div> - <div class='line'>And the grasshopper laughs in the merry scene;</div> - <div class='line'>When Mary and Susan and Emily</div> - <div class='line'>With their sweet round mouths sing “Ha, ha, he!”</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>When the painted birds laugh in the shade,</div> - <div class='line'>Where our table with cherries and nuts is spread;</div> - <div class='line'>Come live and be merry and join with me</div> - <div class='line'>To sing the sweet chorus of “Ha, ha, he!”</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line in36'><span class='sc'>William Blake.</span></div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_ix'>ix</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>CONTENTS</cite></h2> -</div> - -<table class='table0' summary='CONTENTS'> - <tr> - <th class='c008'></th> - <th class='c009'>PAGE</th> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Rats and their Son-in-Law</span> (<em>French</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_3'>3</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Mouse and the Sausage</span> (<em>French</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_6'>6</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Three Wishes</span> (<em>Spanish</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_7'>7</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Fox and the Goose</span> (<em>Spanish</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_10'>10</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>If Heaven Will It</span> (<em>Spanish</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_12'>12</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Booby</span> (<em>Italian</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_14'>14</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Months</span> (<em>Italian</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_20'>20</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Stone in the Cock’s Head</span> (<em>Italian</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_25'>25</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Fox and the Cat</span> (<em>Cossack</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_30'>30</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Straw Ox</span> (<em>Cossack</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_32'>32</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Cat, the Cock, and the Fox</span> (<em>Cossack</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_36'>36</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Fox and the Dove</span> (<em>Russian</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_39'>39</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Fox and the Hedgehog</span> (<em>Russian</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_41'>41</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Disappointed Bear</span> (<em>Russian</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_43'>43</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>Young Neverfull</span> (<em>Russian</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_45'>45</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>Hudden and Dudden and Donald O’Neary</span> (<em>Celtic</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_47'>47</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Tail</span> (<em>Celtic</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_54'>54</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>Jack and the King who was a Gentleman</span> (<em>Celtic</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_55'>55</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>Hans in Luck</span> (<em>German</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_62'>62</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Family Servants</span> (<em>German</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_68'>68</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Flail which came from the Clouds</span> (<em>German</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_69'>69</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Sole’s Mouth</span> (<em>German</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_71'>71</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Three Brothers</span> (<em>German</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_72'>72</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Wren and the Bear</span> (<em>German</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_74'>74</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Musicians of Bremen</span> (<em>German</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_77'>77</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Fox and the Cat</span> (<em>German</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_81'>81</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Golden Key</span> (<em>German</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_82'>82</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>Doctor Know-All</span> (<em>German</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_83'>83</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Fair Catherine and Pif-Paf Poltrie</span> (<em>German</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_86'>86</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Wolf and the Fox</span> (<em>German</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_88'>88</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>Discreet Hans</span> (<em>German</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_90'>90</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_x'>x</span><span class='sc'>King Thrush-beard</span> (<em>German</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_93'>93</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Three Luck Children</span> (<em>German</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_98'>98</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Three Sluggards</span> (<em>German</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_101'>101</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Fisherman and his Wife</span> (<em>German</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_102'>102</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Nose-tree</span> (<em>German</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_111'>111</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Adventures of Chanticleer and Partlet</span> (<em>German</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_118'>118</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Golden Goose</span> (<em>German</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_124'>124</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Young Giant</span> (<em>German</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_129'>129</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Sweet Soup</span> (<em>German</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_137'>137</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>Seven at one Blow</span> (<em>German</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_138'>138</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Cat and the Mouse in Partnership</span> (<em>German</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_146'>146</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>Old Sultan</span> (<em>German</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_149'>149</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Nail</span> (<em>German</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_152'>152</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Fox and the Horse</span> (<em>German</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_153'>153</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Giant and the Tailor</span> (<em>German</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_155'>155</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Spider and the Flea</span> (<em>German</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_157'>157</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Little Shepherd Boy</span> (<em>German</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_160'>160</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Seven Swabians</span> (<em>German</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_162'>162</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Shreds</span> (<em>German</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_165'>165</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Wolf and the Seven Kids</span> (<em>German</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_166'>166</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Elves and the Shoemaker</span> (<em>German</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_170'>170</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>King Wren</span> (<em>German</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_172'>172</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>Why the Bear has a Stumpy Tail</span> (<em>German</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_176'>176</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>Three Ways to Build a House</span> (<em>German</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_177'>177</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>How to Tell a True Princess</span> (<em>German</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_182'>182</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Five Servants</span> (<em>German</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_184'>184</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Hare and the Fox</span> (<em>German</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_191'>191</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Story of Zirac</span> (<em>Oriental</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_193'>193</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>Johnny-Cake</span> (<em>English</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_197'>197</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Wee, Wee Mannie</span> (<em>Scottish</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_200'>200</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>Sir Gammer Vans</span> (<em>English</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_203'>203</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>Tom Tit Tot</span> (<em>English</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_205'>205</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Old Woman and her Pig</span> (<em>English</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_211'>211</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Story of the Three Little Pigs</span> (<em>English</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_215'>215</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Three Sillies</span> (<em>English</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_218'>218</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Cat and the Mouse</span> (<em>English</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_222'>222</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>Hereafterthis</span> (<em>English</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_224'>224</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>Titty Mouse and Tatty Mouse</span> (<em>English</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_228'>228</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Magpie’s Nest</span> (<em>English</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_231'>231</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>Scrapefoot</span> (<em>English</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_233'>233</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_xi'>xi</span><span class='sc'>The Wise Men of Gotham</span> (<em>English</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_236'>236</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>Henny-Penny</span> (<em>English</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_241'>241</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>A Son of Adam</span> (<em>English</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_244'>244</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Happy Family</span> (<em>H. C. Andersen</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_246'>246</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Blind Man, the Deaf Man, and the Donkey</span> (<em>Southern India</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_250'>250</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Alligator and the Jackal</span> (<em>Southern India</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_258'>258</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>Why the Fish Laughed</span> (<em>Indian</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_263'>263</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Selfish Sparrow and the Houseless Crows</span> (<em>Southern India</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_269'>269</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Lambikin</span> (<em>Indian</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_271'>271</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse</span> (<em>Scandinavian</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_274'>274</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Greedy Cat</span> (<em>Scandinavian</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_278'>278</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>Well Done: Ill Paid</span> (<em>Scandinavian</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_284'>284</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>Reynard and Chanticleer</span> (<em>Scandinavian</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_287'>287</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>Father Bruin in the Corner</span> (<em>Scandinavian</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_289'>289</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>Why the Sea is Salt</span> (<em>Scandinavian</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_291'>291</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>Gudbrand on the Hillside</span> (<em>Scandinavian</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_296'>296</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Pancake</span> (<em>Scandinavian</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_301'>301</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Death of Chanticleer</span> (<em>Scandinavian</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_305'>305</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>Reynard Wants to Taste Horse-flesh</span> (<em>Scandinavian</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_309'>309</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>Bruin and Reynard Partners</span> (<em>Scandinavian</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_311'>311</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>Pork and Honey</span> (<em>Scandinavian</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_312'>312</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>How Reynard Outwitted Bruin</span> (<em>Scandinavian</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_314'>314</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>Nanny Who Wouldn’t Go Home to Supper</span> (<em>Scandinavian</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_315'>315</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Box With Something Pretty In It</span> (<em>Scandinavian</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_321'>321</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Farmer and the Troll</span> (<em>Scandinavian</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_322'>322</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>One’s Own Children Always Prettiest</span> (<em>Scandinavian</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_323'>323</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Princess Whom Nobody Could Silence</span> (<em>Scandinavian</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_324'>324</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Money-Box</span> (<em>H. C. Andersen</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_328'>328</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Darning-Needle</span> (<em>H. C. Andersen</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_331'>331</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>Master of All Masters</span> (<em>English</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_335'>335</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>Belling the Cat</span> (<em>English</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_336'>336</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Magpie and her Children</span> (<em>English</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_338'>338</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Cock, the Cuckoo, and the Black-cock</span> (<em>English</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_339'>339</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Race Between Hare and Hedgehog</span> (<em>English</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_340'>340</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>Bruno’s Story</span> (<em>Lewis Carroll</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_344'>344</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Bluebottle Who Went Courting</span> (<em>English</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_346'>346</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>How Two Beetles Took Lodgings</span> (<em>English</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_351'>351</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>Little Tuppen</span> (<em>Scandinavian</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_358'>358</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_xii'>xii</span><span class='sc'>The Story of the Four Little Children Who Went Round the World</span> (<em>Edward Lear</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_361'>361</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The History of the Seven Families of the Lake Pipple-Popple</span> (<em>Edward Lear</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_370'>370</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>Wee Robin’s Yule-Song</span> (<em>Scottish</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_380'>380</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Giant’s Shoes</span> (<em>W. K. Clifford</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_382'>382</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Farmer and the Money-Lender</span> (<em>Indian</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_385'>385</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>How the Sun, the Moon, and the Wind Went Out to Dinner</span> (<em>Southern India</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_388'>388</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>Singh Rajah and the Cunning Little Jackals</span> (<em>Southern India</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_390'>390</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>Harisarman</span> (<em>Indian</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_393'>393</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>It Is Quite True</span> (<em>H. C. Andersen</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_397'>397</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>Manabozho and his Toe</span> (<em>North American Indian</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_400'>400</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Most Frugal of Men</span> (<em>Chinese</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_401'>401</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Moon-Cake</span> (<em>Chinese</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_403'>403</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Ladle that Fell from the Moon</span> (<em>Chinese</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_404'>404</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Young Head of the Family</span> (<em>Chinese</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_407'>407</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>A Dreadful Boar</span> (<em>Chinese</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_412'>412</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Old Man and the Devils</span> (<em>Japanese</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_415'>415</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Wonderful Tea-Kettle</span> (<em>Japanese</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_417'>417</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Wonderful Mallet</span> (<em>Japanese</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_421'>421</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Tongue-Cut Sparrow</span> (<em>Japanese</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_425'>425</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>Battle of the Monkey and the Crab</span> (<em>Japanese</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_427'>427</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Cub’s Triumph</span> (<em>Japanese</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_429'>429</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Silly Jelly-Fish</span> (<em>Japanese</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_432'>432</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>Chin-Chin Kobakama</span> (<em>Japanese</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_435'>435</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Old Woman who Lost her Dumplings</span> (<em>Japanese</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_438'>438</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Three Goats</span> (<em>German</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_442'>442</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Fox Turned Shepherd</span> (<em>German</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_444'>444</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Seven Boys and the Monster</span> (<em>German</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_446'>446</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Story of Little Black Mingo</span> (<em>H. Bannerman</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_452'>452</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Cock and the Crested Hen</span> (<em>Swedish</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_457'>457</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Old Woman and the Fish</span> (<em>Swedish</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_459'>459</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Lad and the Fox</span> (<em>Swedish</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_462'>462</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c008'><span class='sc'>The Old Woman and the Tramp</span> (<em>Swedish</em>)</td> - <td class='c009'><a href='#Page_463'>463</a></td> - </tr> -</table> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c002' /> -</div> -<div class='ph1'> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c001'> - <div><cite>Tales of Laughter</cite></div> - </div> -</div> - -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_3'>3</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Rats and their Son-in-Law</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>There once lived in Japan a rat and his wife, folk of -noble race, who had one beautiful daughter. They -were exceedingly proud of her charms, and dreamed, -as parents will, of the grand marriage she was sure to make -in time. Proud of his pure rodent blood, the father saw no -son-in-law more to be desired than a young rat of ancient -lineage, whose attentions to his daughter were very marked. -This match, however, brilliant as it was, seemed not to the -mother’s taste. Like many people who think themselves made -out of special clay, she had a very poor opinion of her own -kind, and was ambitious for an alliance with the highest circles. -<i><span lang="la" xml:lang="la">Ad astra!</span></i> (To the stars!) was her motto, she always -said, and really, when one has a daughter of incomparable -beauty, one may well hope for an equally incomparable -son-in-law.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Address yourself to the sun at once, then,” cried the impatient -father one day; “there is nothing above him, surely.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Quite so; I had already thought of it,” she answered, “and -since you, too, are in sympathy with the idea, we will make our -call to-morrow.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So, on the following morning the proud father and the -haughty mother-rat went together to present their lovely -daughter to the orb of day.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Lord Sun,” said the mother, “let me present our only -daughter, who is so beautiful that there is nothing like her -in the whole world. Naturally we desire a son-in-law as -wonderful as she, and, as you see, we have come to you -first of all.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Really,” said the sun, “I am extremely flattered by your -proposal, but you do me too much honor; there is some one -<span class='pageno' id='Page_4'>4</span>greater than I; it is the cloud. Look, if you do not believe.” ... -And at that moment the cloud arrived, and with one -waft of his folds extinguished the sun with all his golden rays.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Very well; let us speak to the cloud, then,” said the mother-rat, -not in the least disconcerted.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Immensely honored, I am sure,” replied the cloud in his -turn, “but you are again mistaken; there is some one greater -than I; it is the wind. You shall see.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>At the same moment along came the wind, and with one -blow swept the cloud out of sight, after which, overturning -father, mother, and daughter, he tumbled with them, pell-mell, -at the foot of an old wall.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Quick, quick,” cried the mother-rat, struggling to her feet, -“and let us repeat our compliments to the wind.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You’d better address yourself to the wall,” growled the -wind roughly. “You see very well he is greater than I, for he -stops me and makes me draw back.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>No sooner had she heard these words than mother-rat faced -about and presented her daughter to the wall. Ah, but now -the fair rat-maiden imitated the wind; she drew back also. -He whom she really adored in her heart of hearts was the fascinating -young rat who had paid his court to her so well. -However, to please her mother, she had consented to wed the -sun, in spite of his blinding rays, or the cloud, in spite of his -sulky look, even the wind, in spite of his brusque manner; but -an old, broken wall!... No! death would be better a thousand -times.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Fortunately the wall excused himself, like all the rest. “Certainly,” -he said, “I can stop the wind, who can sweep away -the cloud, who can cover up the sun, but there is some one -greater than I: it is the rat, who can pass through my body, -and can even, if he chooses, reduce me to powder with his -teeth. Believe me, you need seek no better son-in-law; greater -than the rat, there is nothing in the world.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Do you hear that, wife, do you hear it?” cried father-rat -in triumph. “Didn’t I always say so?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Quite true! you always did,” returned the mother-rat in -<span class='pageno' id='Page_5'>5</span>wonder, and suddenly glowed with pride in her ancient name -and lineage.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So they all three went home, very happy and contented, and -on the morrow the lovely rat-maiden married her faithful rat-lover.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_6'>6</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Mouse and the Sausage</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Once upon a time a little mouse and a little sausage, who -loved each other like sisters, decided to live together, -and made their arrangements in such a way that every -day one would go to walk in the fields, or make purchases in -town, while the other remained at home to keep the house.</p> - -<p class='c000'>One day, when the little sausage had prepared cabbage for -dinner, the little mouse, who had come back from town with a -fine appetite, enjoyed it so greatly that she exclaimed: “How -delicious the cabbage is to-day, my dear!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Ah!” answered the little sausage, “that is because I -popped myself into the pot while it was cooking.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>On the next day, as it was her turn to prepare the meals, -the little mouse said to herself: “Now I will do as much for -my friend as she did for me; we will have lentils for dinner, -and I will jump into the pot while they are boiling,” and she -let the action follow the word, without reflecting that a simple -sausage can do some things which are out of the reach of even -the wisest mouse.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When the sausage came home, she found the house lonely -and silent. She called again and again, “My little mouse! -Mouse of my heart!” but no one answered. Then she went to -look at the lentils boiling on the stove, and, alas! found within -the pot her good little friend, who had perished at the post -of duty.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Poor mousie, with the best intentions in the world, had -stayed too long at her cookery, and when she desired to climb -out of the pot, had no longer the strength to do so.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And the poor sausage could never be consoled! That is why -to-day, when you put one in the pan or on the gridiron, you -will hear her weep and sigh, “M-my p-poor m-mouse! Ah, -m-my p-poor m-mouse!”</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_7'>7</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Three Wishes</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Many years ago there was an old married man, who, -although poor, had worked very diligently all his -life on his little piece of ground. One winter’s -night, as this old man was seated with his wife in front of -their comfortable hearth in social chat, instead of giving thanks -to God for the benefits they enjoyed, they spent the time in -enumerating the good things possessed by their neighbors, and -in wishing that they belonged to them.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Instead of my little hut, which is on bad soil, and only fit -to house a donkey in, I would like to have the farm of old -Polainas!” exclaimed the old man.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And I,” added his wife, who was annoyed that he did not -aspire higher, “instead of that, would like to have our neighbor’s -house, which is nearly new.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And I,” continued her husband, “instead of our old donkey, -which can scarcely carry an empty sack, would like to have -Polainas’s mule!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And I,” exclaimed the wife, “would like to have such a -fat porker as our neighbor has to kill! Some people seem only -to wish for a thing in order to get it. How I should like to -see my wishes accomplished!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Scarcely had she uttered these words, than they beheld a -most beautiful little woman standing in front of the fire. She -was so small that her height could not have been more than -eighteen inches, while she wore a crown like a queen’s upon -her head. Her tunic and veil were almost transparent, and -seemed made of white smoke, while the sparks from the fire -crackled and jumped like fireworks about her, and sparkled -around her as glittering spangles.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In her hand she bore a little golden scepter, the end of -which was formed by a gleaming ruby.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_8'>8</span>“I am the Fairy Fortunata,” said she to them; “I was -passing by here, and I have heard your complaints. I have so -much anxiety to accomplish your desires that I come to promise -you the realization of three wishes: one to you,” she said -to the wife; “the other to you,” to the husband, “and the -third must be mutual and agreeable to the desire of you both. -This last I will agree to in person to-morrow, when I will -return at this time; and until then I leave you to think of what -it shall be.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>When she had said these words, the beautiful fairy sprang -through the flames and disappeared in a cloud of smoke.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The delight of the worthy couple may be imagined, and the -number of wishes, numerous as suitors at the door of a minister, -which presented themselves to their minds. Their desires -were so many that, not knowing which to select, they -determined to defer the definite decision to the following day. -After having had all the night to think the matter over, they -began to discuss entirely different things, and in a little while -their conversation recurred to their wealthy neighbors.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I was at their house to-day,” said the husband; “they were -making black puddings. Ah, such black puddings! It would -have done you good to see them!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I would like to have one of them here,” replied the wife, -“to roast on the ashes for supper.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Scarcely had she uttered the words than there appeared -upon the ashes the most delicious-looking black pudding that -could possibly be imagined.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The woman remained staring at it with open mouth and eyes -starting out of her head. But her husband jumped up in -despair, and after striding up and down the room, tearing his -hair in desperation, said: “Through your gluttony, you greedy -woman, we have lost one of the wishes! Good Heavens, what -a woman this is! More stupid than a goose! It makes me -desperate; I detest you and the black pudding, too, and I wish -it were stuck on to your nose!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>No sooner had he spoken than there was the black pudding -hanging from the place indicated!</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_9'>9</span>Then was the old man struck with horror and his wife with -desperation!</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You see what you have done, evil tongue!” exclaimed she, -as she made useless exertions to tear the appendage from her -nose; “if I employed my wish badly, at least it was to my own -disadvantage, and not to the injury of any one else; but -the sin carries its punishment with it, for I will not have any -other wish, nor desire anything else than that the black pudding -be taken off my nose.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Wife, for Heaven’s sake! What of the new house?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Nothing!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Wife, for Heaven’s sake, think of the farm!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It does not matter.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“My dear, let us wish for a fortune, and then we will have -a golden case for the black pudding.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I will not hear of it.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Then you would have us left just as we were before?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That is all that I wish for.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>And for all that the man could say, nothing could alter his -wife’s determination, who grew more and more enraged with -her double nose, and could scarcely keep off the dog and the -cat, who both wished to make free with it.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When, on the following night, the fairy appeared and asked -them what was their last wish, they said to her: “We see how -blind and foolish it is of men to fancy that the realization of -their wishes will make them happy.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Nor is happiness in the accomplishment of our wishes, but -rather in the not having any. He is rich who possesses what -he wants; but happy is he who wishes for nothing.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_10'>10</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Fox and the Goose</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>A fox and a goose were very great friends. The -goose, which, as you know, is a very honest and -industrious bird, said to the fox:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Friend fox, I have a little bit of property here, and if you -like to join with me, we will cultivate it between us.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That would greatly please me,” answered the fox.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Then it will be necessary to till it together when the -season arrives,” said the goose.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Very well,” replied the fox.</p> - -<p class='c000'>A little afterward, when they met, the goose said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It is time to sow the seed.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That is your business,” said the fox. “I have nothing to -do with that.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Some months passed, when the goose said to the fox:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Friend, the grass is choking the wheat; it is necessary to -weed the field.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Very well,” answered the fox, “you see to that; it is not -my business.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>A short time passed by, when the goose said to the fox:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Friend, the wheat is ripe, and must be reaped.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“All right,” replied the fox, “you attend to that; it is not -my business.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then the goose, for all her good nature, began to be distrustful, -and told her friend the greyhound what had passed.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The greyhound, who was very shrewd, saw at once that the -fox was going to play off one of his tricks upon the goose’s -good nature, and said to her:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Reap the wheat; put it in the barn, and hide me in a sheaf -of corn, without leaving more than one eye uncovered, so that -I may see all that may happen.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_11'>11</span>The goose did as the greyhound had said, and after a time -the fox arrived, and when he saw the barn filled with splendid -wheat already thrashed, he was very delighted, and, dancing -about, sang:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line in6'>“Lió, lió,</div> - <div class='line'>The straw and wheat are mine!</div> - <div class='line in6'>Lió, lió,</div> - <div class='line'>The straw and wheat are mine!”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>As he said this, he approached the sheaf in which the greyhound -was concealed, and on seeing the eye among the straw, -cried:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Ah, there’s a grape!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But it is not ripe,” replied the greyhound, as he leaped -out of his hiding place, and killed the fox.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_12'>12</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>If Heaven Will It</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Once upon a time a Galician was returning to his home -after having spent some time in Seville. When he was -close to his abode, he met some one who inquired where -he was going.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“To my native place,” replied the Galician.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“If Heaven will it,” answered the former.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Whether Heaven will it or no,” added the Galician to himself, -already seeing his village from afar, and being only separated -from its outskirts by a river.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Scarcely had he muttered the words ere he fell into the -water and was changed into a frog.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In this condition the poor man lived for three years, being -in continual danger from his spiteful foes, bad boys, leeches, -and storks. At the end of three years another Galician returning -home happened to pass by there, and a wayfarer chancing -to ask him whither he was going, replied:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“To my native place.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“If Heaven will it,” croaked a frog that poked its head up -out of the water.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And when it had said this, the frog, which was the -first Galician of the tale, suddenly found itself once more -a man.</p> - -<p class='c000'>He went on his way gayer than Easter, and having met with -another traveler, who asked him whither he went, he answered -him:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“To my own place, if Heaven will it; to see my wife, if -Heaven will it; to see my children, if Heaven will it; to see -my cow, if Heaven will it; to sow my land, if Heaven will -it; so that I may get a good harvest from it, if Heaven -will it.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_13'>13</span>And as he religiously added to everything, “If Heaven will -it,” he was allowed to see his wishes accomplished. He found -his wife and children well; his cow became the mother of a -fine calf; he sowed his field, and reaped a good harvest, and -all because Heaven willed it.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_14'>14</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Booby</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c010'>An ignorant man who associates with clever people has always been -more praised than a wise man who keeps the company of fools, for as -much profit and fame as a man gains from the former, so much -wealth and honor one may lose by the fault of the latter, and as -the proof of the pudding is in the eating, you will know from the story -that I am going to tell you whether my proposition is true.</p> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>There was once a man who was as rich as the sea, -but as there never can be any perfect happiness in this -world, he had a son so idle and good-for-nothing that -he could not tell a carob from a cucumber. So, being unable -any longer to put up with his folly, he gave him a good handful -of crowns, and sent him to travel to the Levant, for he well -knew that seeing various countries and mixing with divers -people works genius, sharpens the judgment, and makes men -expert.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Moscione (for that was the name of the son) got on horseback -and began his journey toward Venice, the arsenal of the -wonders of the world, to embark on board some vessel bound -for Cairo, and when he had traveled a good day’s journey -he met with a person who was standing fixed at the foot of a -poplar, to whom he said: “What is your name, my lad, whence -are you, and what is your trade?” And the lad replied: “My -name is Lightning, I am from Arrowland, and I can run like -the wind.” “I should like to see a proof of it,” said Moscione, -and Lightning answered, “Wait a moment, and you will see -whether it is dust or flour.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>When they had stood waiting a little while a doe came -bounding over the plain, and Lightning, letting her pass on -some way, to give himself a handicap, darted after her so -rapidly and light of foot that he would have gone over plains -<span class='pageno' id='Page_15'>15</span>covered with flour without leaving the mark of his shoe, and -in four bounds he came up with her. Moscione, amazed at -this exploit, asked if he would come and live with him, and -promised to pay him a salary.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So Lightning consented, and they went on their way together, -but they had not journeyed many miles when they met -another youth, to whom Moscione said: “What is your name, -comrade, what country are you from, and what’s your trade?” -“My name,” replied the lad, “is Hare’s-ear, I am from Vale -Curious, and when I put my ear to the ground I hear all that -is passing in the world without stirring from the spot. I -perceive the monopolies and the agreements of tradespeople -to raise the prices of all things, the ill-offices of courtiers, the -appointments of lawyers, the plots of robbers, the reports of -spies, the complaints of servants, the gossiping of old women, -and the oaths of service, so that neither Lucian’s cocks nor -Francois’s lantern discovered so much as my ears can.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“If that be true,” said Moscione, “tell me what they are saying -at my home.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So the lad put his ear to the ground, and replied: “An old -man is talking to his wife and saying, ‘Praised be Sol in Lea, -I have got rid from my side of that fellow, Moscione, that nail -in my heart, with his face of old-fashioned crockery. By traveling -through the world he will at least become a man, and no -longer be such a stupid donkey, such a simpleton, such a lose-the-day -fellow, such a——‘”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Stop, stop!” cried Moscione. “You told the truth, and I -believe you, so come along with me, for you have found the -road to good luck.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well and good,” said the youth. So they all went on together -and traveled ten miles farther, when they met another -man, to whom Moscione said: “My brave fellow, where were -you born and what can you do in the world?” And the man -answered: “My name is Shoot-straight, I am from Castle Aim-well, -and I can shoot with a crossbow so point-blank as to hit -a crab-apple in the middle.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I should like to see a proof,” said Moscione, so the lad -<span class='pageno' id='Page_16'>16</span>charged his crossbow, took aim, and made a pea leap from the -top of the stone window. Moscione took him also, like the -others, into his company, and they traveled on another day’s -journey, until they came to some people who were building a -large pier in the scorching heat of the sun, and who might well -say, “Boy, put water to the wind, for my heart is burning.” -So Moscione had compassion on them and said, “My masters, -how is it you have the heart to stand in this furnace, which is -bound to roast a buffalo?” And one of them answered: “Ah! -we are as cool as roses, for we have a young man here who -blows upon us from behind in such a manner that it seems as -if the west wind were blowing.” “Let me see him, I pray,” -cried Moscione, and so the mason called the lad, and Moscione -said to him: “Tell me, by the life of your father, what is your -name, what country are you from, and what is your profession?” -And the lad replied: “My name is Blowblast, I am -from Windy Land, and I can make all the winds with my -mouth. If you wish a zephyr, I will breathe one that will send -you into transports. If you wish for a squall, I will blow down -houses.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Seeing is believing,” said Moscione, whereupon Blowblast -breathed at first quite gently, so that it seemed to be the wind -that blows in Posilippo toward evening; then, turning suddenly -to some trees, he sent forth such a furious blast that it uprooted -a row of oaks.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When Moscione saw this he took him for a companion, and, -traveling on as far again, he met another lad, to whom he said: -“What is your name, if I may make so bold? Whence are -you, if one may ask, and what is your trade, if it is a fair question?” -And the lad answered, “My name is Strongback, I -am from Valentino, and I have such strength that I take a -mountain on my back, and it seems to me a mere feather.” “If -that be the case,” said Moscione, “you deserve to be a king of -the custom house, and you should be chosen for the standard-bearer -on the first of May, but I should like to see a proof of -what you say.” Then Strongback began to load himself with -masses of rock, stumps of trees, and so many other weights -<span class='pageno' id='Page_17'>17</span>that a thousand large wagons could not have carried them, -so, when Moscione saw the feat, he persuaded the lad to join -them.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So they traveled on till they came to Fairflower, the king of -which place had a daughter who ran like the wind and could -pass over the waving corn without bending an ear, and the -king had issued a proclamation that whoever should overtake -her in running should have her to wife, but whoever was left -behind should lose his head.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Moscione arrived in this country and heard the proclamation. -He went straight to the king and offered to run with the -daughter, making the wise agreement either to win the race or -leave his noddle there. But in the morning he sent to inform -the king that he was taken ill, and, being unable to run himself, -he would send another man in his place. “Come who will,” -said Ciennetella (for that was the king’s daughter), “I care -not a fig; it is all one to me.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So when the great square was filled with people come to see -the race, insomuch that the men swarmed like ants, and the -windows and roofs were all as full as an egg, Lightning came -out and took his stand at the top of the square waiting for the -signal, and lo, forth came Ciennetella, dressed in a little gown -tucked half-way up to her knees, and a neat and pretty little -shoe with a single sole. Then they placed themselves shoulder -to shoulder, and, as soon as the Tarantará and the Too-too of -the trumpets was heard, off they darted, running at such a rate -that their hair touched their shoulders, and in truth they seemed -just like foxes with the greyhounds after them, horses broken -loose from the stable, dogs with kettles tied to their tails, or -jackasses with furze bushes behind them. But Lightning (as -he was by name and nature) left the princess more than a -hand’s breadth behind him, and came first to the goal. Then -you should have heard the buzzing and shouting and cries -and the uproar, the whistling and clapping of all the people -calling out, “Hurrah, long live the stranger!” whereat Ciennetella’s -face turned as red as a schoolboy’s who is going to -be whipped, and she stood lost with shame and confusion at -<span class='pageno' id='Page_18'>18</span>seeing herself vanquished. But as there were to be two heats -to the race, she fell to planning her revenge for this affront, -and, going home, she put a charm in her ring with such a -power that if any one had it on his finger, his legs would toddle -so that he would not be able to walk, much less to run, and she -sent it as a present to Lightning, begging him to wear it on his -finger for love of her.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Hare’s-ear, who heard this trick plotted between the father -and daughter, said nothing, and wanted to see the upshot of -the affair, and when, at the trumpeting of the birds, they returned -to the field, at the usual signal they fell to plying their -heels. But if Ciennetella was like another Atalanta, Lightning -had become like a shoulder-slipped ass and a foundered horse, -for he could not stir a step, but Shoot-straight, who saw his -coming danger, and heard from Hare’s-ear how matters stood, -laid hold on his crossbow and shot the arrow so exactly that it -hit Lightning’s finger, and out shot the stone from the ring in -which the virtue of the charm lay, whereupon his legs that -had been tied were set free, and with four good leaps he passed -Ciennetella and won the race. The king, seeing the palm thus -carried off by this figure of a blockhead, by a simpleton, the -triumph of a fool, bethought himself seriously whether or not -he should give him his daughter, and taking counsel with the -wiseacres of his court, they replied that Ciennetella was not a -mouthful for the tooth of such a miserable dog and lose-the-day -bird, so that, without breaking his word, he might commute -the terms of his daughter with a gift of crowns, which -would be more to the taste of a poor beggar like Moscione than -all the women in the world.</p> - -<p class='c000'>This advice pleased the king, and he asked Moscione how -much money he would take to consider a wife who had been -promised. Then Moscione, after consulting the others, said: -“I will take as much gold and silver as one of my comrades -can carry on his back.” The king consented, whereupon they -brought Strongback, and on him began to lay bales of ducats, -large purses full of crowns, pails of copper money, and kettles -full of chains and rings, but the more they loaded him the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_19'>19</span>firmer he stood, just like a tower, so that the treasurer, the -bankers, the usurers, and the money dealers of the city did not -suffice, and the king sent to all of the great people in every -direction to borrow their silver candlesticks, basins, jugs, -plates, brasses, and baskets, and yet there was not enough to -make up a full load. At length Moscione and his companions -went away, however, not laden, but tired and satisfied.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When the counselors saw what heaps of stores these four -miserable fellows were carrying off, they said to the king that -it was a great piece of nonsense to load them with all the sinews -of his kingdom, and that it would be well to send people after -them to lessen the load of that Atlas who was carrying on his -shoulders a world of treasure. The king gave ear to this -advice, and immediately despatched a party of armed men, foot -and horse, to overtake Moscione and his friends, but Hare’s-ear, -who had heard this counsel, informed his comrades, and -while the dust was rising to the sky from the tramping of those -who were coming to unload the rich cargo, Blowblast, seeing -that things were come to a bad pass, began to blow at such -a rate that he not only made the enemies fall flat on the ground, -but he sent them flying more than a mile distant, as a north -wind does those people who pass through his country. So, -without meeting any more hindrances, Moscione arrived at his -father’s house, where he shared the booty with his companions, -since the saying goes, “A good deed deserves a good meed.” -So he sent them away content and happy, but he stayed with -his father, rich beyond measure, giving no lie to the saying, -“Heaven sends biscuits to him who has no teeth.”</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_20'>20</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Months</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c010'>It is a saying worthy to be written in letters as big as those on a -catafalque, that silence never harmed any one, and let it not be imagined -that those slanderers who never speak well of others, but are always -cutting and stinging and pinching and biting, ever gain anything by -their malice; for when the bags come to be shaken out, it has always -been seen, and is so still, that while the good word gains love and -profit, slander brings enmity and ruin, and when you shall have heard -how this happens, you will see I speak with reason.</p> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Once upon a time there were two brothers, Cianne, who -was as rich as a lord, and Lise, who had barely enough -to live upon; but poor as one was in fortune, so pitiful -was the other in mind, for he would not have given his brother -a farthing were it to save his life; so that poor Lise in despair -left his country, and set out to wander over the world. And -he wandered on and on, till one wet and cold evening he came -to an inn, where he found twelve youths seated around a fire, -who, when they saw poor Lise benumbed with cold, partly -from the severe season and partly from his ragged clothes, invited -him to sit down by the fire.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Lise accepted the invitation, for he needed it greatly, and -began to warm himself, and as he was doing so, one of the -young men, whose face was such a picture of moroseness as -to make you die of affright, said to him: “What think you, -countryman, of this weather?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What do I think of it?” replied Lise. “I think that all -the months of the year perform their duty; but we, who know -not what we would have, wish to give less praise to Heaven, -and, wanting to have things our own way, we do not fish deeply -enough to the bottom to find out whether what comes into our -fancy be good or evil, useful or hurtful. In winter when it -<span class='pageno' id='Page_21'>21</span>rains, we want the sun in Leo, and in the month of August the -clouds to discharge themselves; not reflecting that were this -the case, the seasons would be turned topsy-turvy, the seed -sown would be lost, the crops would be destroyed, the -bodies of men would faint away, and nature would go -head over heels. Therefore, let us leave Heaven to its -own course; for it has made the tree to mitigate with wood -the severity of winter, and leaves to soften the heat of -summer.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You speak like Solomon!” said the youth; “but you cannot -deny that this month of March, in which we now are, is -very impertinent to send all this frost and rain, snow and hail, -wind and storm, these fogs and tempests and other troubles, -that make one’s life a burden.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You tell only the ill of this poor month,” replied Lise, “but -do not speak of the benefits it yields to us; for, by bringing -forward the spring, it commences the production of things, -helps along the cause with the sun, and leads him to the house -of the rain.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The youth was greatly pleased at what Lise said, for he was -in truth no other than March himself, who had arrived -at that inn with his eleven brothers, and to reward Lise’s -goodness, who had not found anything evil to say of a -month so sad that the shepherds do not like to mention it, -he gave him a beautiful little casket, saying, “Take this, and -if you want anything, only ask for it, and, opening this box, -you will see it before you.” Lise thanked the youth, with -many expressions of respect, and laying the little box under his -head by way of a pillow, he went to sleep.</p> - -<p class='c000'>As soon, however, as the sun, with the pencil of his rays, -had retouched the dark shadows of the night, Lise took leave -of the youth and set out on his way. But he had hardly proceeded -fifty steps from the inn, when, opening the casket, he -said: “Ah, my friend, I wish I had a litter lined with cloth, -and with a little fire inside, that I might travel warm and comfortable -through the snow!” No sooner had he uttered the -words, than there appeared a litter, with bearers, who, lifting -<span class='pageno' id='Page_22'>22</span>him up, placed him in it; whereupon he told them to carry him -home.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When the hour was come for food, Lise opened the -little box and said: “I wish for something to eat.” And -instantly there appeared a profusion of the choicest food; -such a banquet that ten crowned kings might have feasted -on it.</p> - -<p class='c000'>One evening, having come to a wood, which did not give -admittance to the sun, because he came through suspected -places,<a id='r1' /><a href='#f1' class='c011'><sup>[1]</sup></a> Lise opened the little casket and said: “I should like -to rest tonight on this beautiful spot, where the river is making -counterpoint on the stones as accompaniment to the canto-fermo -of the cool breezes.” And instantly there appeared, -under an oilcloth tent, a couch of fine scarlet, with down mattresses, -covered with a Spanish counterpane and sheets as light -as a feather. Then he asked for something to eat, and in a -trice there was set out a sideboard covered with silver and -gold fit for a prince, and under another tent a table spread -with viands, the savory smell of which extended a hundred -miles.</p> - -<div class='footnote' id='f1'> -<p class='c000'><span class='label'><a href='#r1'>1</a>. </span>Alluding to the quarantine which ships were subject to in coming -from the East.</p> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>When he had eaten enough, he laid himself down to sleep, -and as soon as the cock, who is the spy of the sun, announced -to his master that the shades of night were worn and wearied, -and it was now time for him, like a skilful general, to fall -upon the rear and make a slaughter of them, Lise opened his -little box and said: “I wish to have a handsome dress, for today -I shall see my brother, and I should like to make his mouth -water.” No sooner said than done; immediately a princely -dress of the richest black velvet appeared, with edgings of red -camlet, and a lining of yellow cloth embroidered all over, which -looked like a field of flowers; so, dressing himself, Lise got into -the litter, and soon reached his brother’s house.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When Cianne saw his brother arrive with all his splendor -and luxury, he wished to know what good fortune had befallen -him. Then Lise told him of the youths whom he had -<span class='pageno' id='Page_23'>23</span>met at the inn, and of the present they had made him, but he -kept to himself the conversation of the youths.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Cianne was all impatience to get away from his brother, and -told him to go and rest himself, as he was no doubt tired. -Then he started post-haste, and soon arrived at the inn, where, -finding the same youths, he fell into chat with them. And -when the youth asked him the same question, what he thought -of the month of March, Cianne, making a big mouth, said: -“Confound the miserable month! the enemy of the shepherds, -which stirs up all the ill-humors and brings sickness to our -bodies—a month of which, whenever we want to announce -ruin to a man, we say, ‘Go; March has shaved you,’ a month, -in short, so hateful that it would be the best fortune for the -world, the greatest blessing to the earth, the greatest gain to -men, were it excluded from the band of brothers.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>March, who heard himself thus slandered, suppressed his -anger till the morning, intending then to reward Cianne for his -calumny; and when Cianne wished to depart, he gave him a -fine whip, saying to him, “Whenever you wish for anything, -only say, ‘Whip, give me an hundred!’ and you shall see pearls -strung upon a rush.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Cianne, thanking the youth, went his way in great haste, not -wishing to make trial of the whip until he reached home. But -hardly had he set foot in the house, when he went into a secret -chamber, intending to hide the money which he expected to -receive from the whip, and he said, “Whip, give me an hundred!” -whereupon the whip gave him more than he looked -for, making counterpoint on his legs and face like a musical -composer, so that Lise, hearing his cries, came running out -of the study; and when he saw that the whip, like a runaway -horse, could not stop itself, he opened the little box and brought -it to a standstill. Then he asked Cianne what had happened to -him, and, upon hearing his story, he told him he had no one -to blame but himself, for, like a blockhead, he alone had caused -his misfortune, acting like a camel that wanted to have horns -and lose his ears. He bade him mind another time and keep -a bridle on his tongue, which was the key that had opened to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_24'>24</span>him the storehouse of misfortune; for if he had spoken well -of the youths, he would, perhaps, have had the same good luck -as himself, and he cautioned him especially to speak well of -every one in future, good words being a merchandise that costs -nothing, and usually brings profit that is not expected. In conclusion, -Lise comforted him, bidding him not seek more wealth -than Heaven had given him, that his little casket would suffice -to fill the houses of thirty misers, and Cianne should be master -of all he possessed, since, to the generous man, Heaven is -treasurer, and he added that, although another brother might -have ill-will toward Cianne for the cruelty with which he had -treated him in his poverty, yet he reflected that his avarice had -been a favorable wind which had brought him to this port, -and therefore wished to show himself grateful for the benefit.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When Cianne heard these things, he begged his brother’s -pardon for his past unkindness, and, entering into partnership, -they enjoyed together their good fortune, and from that -time forward Cianne spoke well of everything, however bad -it might be.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_25'>25</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Stone in the Cock’s Head</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>There was once in the City of Dark-Grotto a certain -man named Minecco Aniello, who was so persecuted -by fortune that all his household goods and movables -consisted only of a short-legged cock, which he had reared -upon bread-crumbs. But one morning, being driven frantic -with an appetite (for hunger drives the wolf from the thicket), -he took it into his head to sell the cock; and, taking it to the -market, he met two thievish magicians, with whom he made a -bargain, and sold it for half a crown. They told him to -take it to their house and they would count him out the -money, and they went their way, but Minecco Aniello, following -them, overheard them talking gibberish together and -saying, “Who would have told us that we would meet with -such a piece of good luck, Jennarone? This cock will make -our fortune to a certainty by the stone which, you know, he -has in his pate. We will quickly have it set in a ring, and -then we shall have<a id='t25'></a> everything we could ask for.” “Be quiet, Jacovuccio,” -answered Jennarone; “I see myself rich, and can -hardly believe it; and I am longing to twist the cock’s neck, -and give a kick in the face of beggary; for in this world virtue -without money goes for nothing, and a man is judged of -by his coat.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>When Minecco Aniello, who had traveled about in the world -and eaten bread from more than one oven, heard this gibberish, -he turned on his heel and scampered off, and, running home, -he twisted the cock’s neck, and opening its head, found the -stone, which he had instantly set in a brass ring. Then, to -make a trial of its virtue, he said: “I wish to become a youth -eighteen years old.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Hardly had he uttered the words, when his blood began to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_26'>26</span>flow more quickly, his nerves became stronger, his limbs firmer, -his flesh fresher, his eyes more fiery, his silver hairs were -turned to gold; his mouth, which was a sacked village, became -peopled with teeth; his beard, which was as thick as wood, became -like a nursery garden; in short, he was changed to a -most beautiful youth. Then he said again: “I wish for a splendid -palace, and to marry a king’s daughter,” and lo, there instantly -appeared a palace of incredible magnificence, in which -were apartments that would amaze you, columns to astound -you, pictures to fill you with wonder; silver glittered around -and gold was trodden under foot; the jewels dazzled your eyes; -the servants swarmed like ants, the horses and carriages were -not to be counted; in short, there was such a display of riches -that the king stared at the sight, and willingly gave him his -daughter, Nalalizia.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Meanwhile the magicians, having discovered Minecco Aniello’s -great wealth, laid a plan to rob him of his good fortune; -so they made a pretty little doll, which played and danced by -means of clockwork, and, dressing themselves like merchants, -they went to Pentella, the daughter of Minecco Aniello, under -pretext of selling it to her. When Pentella saw the beautiful -little thing, she asked them what price they put upon it, and -they replied that it could not be bought for money, but that -she might have it and welcome if she would only do them a -favor, which was to let them see the make of the ring which -her father possessed, in order to take a model and make another -like it; then they would give her the doll without any payment -at all.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Pentella, who had never heard the proverb, “Think well -before you buy anything cheap,” instantly accepted this offer, -and bade them return the next morning, when she promised -to ask her father to lend her the ring. So the magicians went -away, and when her father returned home, Pentella coaxed -and caressed him, until at last she persuaded him to give her -the ring, making the excuse that she was sad at heart, and -wished to divert her mind a little.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When the next day came, as soon as the scavenger of the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_27'>27</span>sun swept the last trace of the shades from the streets and -squares of heaven, the magicians returned, and no sooner had -they the ring in their hands than they instantly vanished, and -not a trace of them was to be seen, so that poor Pentella had -like to have died with terror.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But when the magicians came to a wood, where the branches -of some of the trees were dancing a sword dance, and the -boughs of others were playing together at hot-cockles, they -desired the ring to break the spell by which the old man had -become young again, and instantly Minecco Aniello, who was -just at that minute in the presence of the king, was suddenly -seen to grow hoary, his hairs to whiten, his forehead to -wrinkle, his eyebrows to grow bristly, his eyes to sink in, -his face to be furrowed, his mouth to become toothless, his -beard to grow bushy, his back to be humped, his legs to -tremble, and, above all, his glittering garments to return to -rags and tatters.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The king, seeing this miserable beggar seated beside him at -table, ordered him to be instantly driven away with blows and -hard words; whereupon Aniello, thus suddenly fallen from -his good luck, went weeping to his daughter, and asked for the -ring in order to set matters to rights again. But when he heard -the fatal trick of the false merchant, he was ready to throw -himself out of the window, cursing a thousand times the ignorance -of his daughter, who, for the sake of a silly doll, had -turned him into a miserable scarecrow, and for a paltry thing -of rags had brought him to rags himself, adding that he was -resolved to go wandering about the world, like a bad shilling, -until he should get tidings of those merchants. So saying, he -threw a cloak about his neck and a wallet on his back, drew -his sandals on his feet, took a staff in his hand, and, leaving -his daughter all chilled and frozen, he set out walking desperately -on until he came to the kingdom of Deep-Hole, inhabited -by mice, where, having been taken for a big spy of the cats, he -was instantly led before Rosecone,<a id='r2' /><a href='#f2' class='c011'><sup>[2]</sup></a> the king. The king at once -asked him who he was, whence he came, and what he was -<span class='pageno' id='Page_28'>28</span>about in that country; and Minecco Aniello, after first giving -the king a cheese-paring, in sign of tribute, related to him all -his misfortunes, one by one, and concluded by saying that he -was resolved to continue his toil and travel until he could get -tidings of those thievish villains who had robbed him of so -precious a jewel, taking from him at once the flower of his -youth, the source of his wealth, and the prop of his honor.</p> - -<div class='footnote' id='f2'> -<p class='c000'><span class='label'><a href='#r2'>2</a>. </span>Nibbler.</p> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>At these words Rosecone felt pity nibbling at his heart; and -wishing to comfort the poor man, he summoned the oldest mice -to a council, and asked their opinions on the misfortunes of -Minecco Aniello, commanding them to use all diligence and -endeavor to obtain some tidings of those false merchants. Now -among the rest it happened that Rudolo and Saltariello<a id='r3' /><a href='#f3' class='c011'><sup>[3]</sup></a> were -present, good mice who were used to the ways of the world, -and had lived for six years at a tavern of great resort hard by, -and they said to Aniello: “Be of good heart, comrade! Matters -will turn out better than you imagine. You must know -that one day, when we were in a room at the hostelry of the -Horn, where the most famous men of the world lodge and -make merry, two persons from the Hook Castle came in, who, -after they had eaten their fill and had seen the bottom of their -flagon, fell to talking of a trick they had played a certain old -man of Dark-Grotto, and how they had cheated him out of a -stone of great value, which one of them, named Jennarone, -said he would never take from his finger, that he might not -run the risk of losing it, as the old man’s daughter had done.”</p> - -<div class='footnote' id='f3'> -<p class='c000'><span class='label'><a href='#r3'>3</a>. </span>Nibbler and Skipjack.</p> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>When Minecco Aniello heard this, he told the two mice that -if they would trust themselves to accompany him to the country -where these rogues lived, and recover the ring for him, he -would give them a good lot of cheese and salt meat, which -they might eat and enjoy with his majesty, the king. Then -the two mice, after bargaining for a suitable reward, offered -to go over sea and mountain, and taking leave of his mousy -majesty, they set out.</p> - -<p class='c000'>After journeying a long way, they arrived at Hook Castle, -where the mice told Minecco Aniello to remain under some -<span class='pageno' id='Page_29'>29</span>trees on the brink of the river, which, much like a leech, drew -the moisture from the land and discharged it into the sea. -Then they went to seek the house of the magicians; and, observing -that Jennarone never took the ring from his finger, -they stood to gain the victory by stratagem; so, waiting till -night had dyed with purple grape-juice the sunburnt face of -heaven, and the magicians had gone to bed and were fast -asleep, Rudolo began to nibble the finger on which the ring -was; whereupon Jennarone, feeling the smart, took the ring -off and laid it on a table at the bed’s head. But as soon as Saltariello -saw this, he bobbed the ring into his mouth, and in four -skips he was off to find Minecco Aniello, and with even greater -joy than the man at the gallows feels when the pardon arrives, -he instantly turned the magicians into two jackasses, and, -throwing his mantle over one of them, he bestrode him like a -noble count; then he loaded the other with cheese and bacon, -and set off toward Deep-Hole, where, having given presents to -the king and his counselors, he thanked them for all the good -fortune he had received by their assistance, praying Heaven -that no mouse-trap might ever lay hold of them, that no cat -might ever harm them, and that no arsenic might ever poison -them. Then, leaving that country, Minecco Aniello returned -to Dark-Grotto, even more handsome than before, and was received -by the king and his daughter with the greatest affection -of the heart, and having ordered the two asses cast down from -a rock, he lived happily with his wife, never more taking the -ring from his finger, that he might not again commit such a -folly.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_30'>30</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Fox and the Cat</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>In a certain forest there once lived a fox, and near to the -fox lived a man who had a cat that had been a good -mouser in its youth, but was now old and half-blind. -The man didn’t want puss any longer, but not liking to kill -him, took him out into the forest and lost him there. Then -the fox came up and said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Why, Mr. Shaggy Matthew! How d’ye do? What brings -you here?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Alas!” said pussy, “my master loved me as long as I -could bite, but now that I can bite no longer, and have left off -catching mice—and I used to catch them finely once—he -doesn’t like to kill me, but he has left me in the wood, where -I must perish miserably.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No, dear pussy!” said the fox; “you leave it to me, and -I’ll help you get your daily bread.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You are very good, dear little sister foxy!” said the cat, -and the fox built him a little shed with a garden round it to -walk about in.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now one day the hare came to steal the man’s cabbage. -“Kreem-kreem-kreem!” he squeaked. But the cat popped his -head out of the window, and when he saw the hare, he put up -his back and stuck up his tail and said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Ft-t-t-t-t-Frrrrrrr!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The hare was frightened and ran away and told the bear, -the wolf, and the wild boar all about it.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Never mind,” said the bear, “I tell you what, we’ll all four -give a banquet, and invite the fox and the cat, and do for the -pair of them. Now, look here! I’ll steal the man’s mead; and -you, Mr. Wolf, steal his fat-pot; and you, Mr. Wildboar, root -up his fruit trees; and you, Mr. Bunny, go and invite the fox -and the cat to dinner.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_31'>31</span>So they made everything ready as the bear had said, and the -hare ran off to invite the guests. He came beneath the window -and said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We invite your little ladyship, Foxy-Woxy, together with -Mr. Shaggy Matthew, to dinner”—and back he ran again.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But you should have told them to bring their spoons with -them,” said the bear.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, what a head I’ve got! if I didn’t quite forget!” cried -the hare, and back he went again, ran beneath the window, -and cried:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Mind you bring your spoons!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Very well,” said the fox.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So the cat and the fox went to the banquet, and when the -cat saw the bacon, he put up his back and stuck out his tail -and cried:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Mee-oo, mee-oo!” with all his might. But they thought -he said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Ma-lo, ma-lo!”<a id='r4' /><a href='#f4' class='c011'><sup>[4]</sup></a></p> - -<div class='footnote' id='f4'> -<p class='c000'><span class='label'><a href='#r4'>4</a>. </span>What a little! what a little!</p> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>“What!” said the bear, who was hiding behind the beeches -with the other beasts, “here have all we four been getting together -all we could, and this pig-faced cat calls it too little! -What a monstrous cat he must be to have such an appetite!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So they were all four very frightened, and the bear climbed -up a tree, and the others hid where they could. But when the -cat saw the boar’s bristles sticking out from behind the bushes -he thought it was a mouse, and put up his back again and -cried:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Ft! ft! ft! Frrrrrrr!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then they were more frightened than ever. And the boar -went into a bush still farther off, and the wolf went behind an -oak, and the bear got down from the tree, and climbed up into -a bigger one, and the hare ran right away.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But the cat remained in the midst of all the good things and -ate away at the bacon, and the little fox gobbled up the honey, -and they ate and ate till they couldn’t eat any more, and then -they both went home licking their paws.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_32'>32</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Straw Ox</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>There was once upon a time an old man and an old -woman. The old man worked in the fields as a pitch -burner, while the old woman sat at home and spun -flax. They were so poor that they could save nothing at all; -all their earnings went in bare food, and when that was gone -there was nothing left. At last the old woman had a good -idea.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Look, now, husband,” cried she, “make me a straw ox, -and smear it all over with tar.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Why, you foolish woman!” said he, “what’s the good of -an ox of that sort?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Never mind,” said she; “you just make it. I know what -I am about.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>What was the poor man to do? He set to work and made -the ox of straw, and smeared it all over with tar.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The night passed away, and at early dawn the old woman -took her distaff and drove the straw ox out into the steppe to -graze, and she herself sat down behind a hillock and began -spinning her flax, and cried:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Graze away, little ox, while I spin my flax; graze away, -little ox, while I spin my flax!” And while she spun, her head -drooped down, and she began to doze, and while she was dozing, -from behind the dark wood and from the back of the huge -pines a bear came rushing out upon the ox and said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Who are you? Speak and tell me!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>And the ox said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“A three-year-old heifer am I, made of straw and smeared -with tar.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh!” said the bear, “stuffed with straw and trimmed with -tar, are you? Then give me of your straw and tar, that I may -patch up my ragged fur again!”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_33'>33</span>“Take some,” said the ox, and the bear fell upon him and -began to tear away at the tar.</p> - -<p class='c000'>He tore and tore, and buried his teeth in it till he found he -couldn’t let go again. He tugged and he tugged, but it was -no good, and the ox dragged him gradually off, goodness -knows where. Then the old woman awoke, and there was -no ox to be seen. “Alas! old fool that I am!” cried she, -“perchance it has gone home.” Then she quickly caught -up her distaff and spinning-board, threw them over her shoulders, -and hastened off home, and she saw that the ox had -dragged the bear up to the fence, and in she went to her -old man. “Dad, dad!” she cried, “look, look! the ox has -brought us a bear. Come out and kill it!” Then the old -man jumped up, tore off the bear, tied him up, and threw -him in the cellar.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Next morning, between dark and dawn, the old woman took -her distaff and drove the ox into the steppe to graze. She herself -sat down by a mound, began spinning, and said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Graze, graze away, little ox, while I spin my flax! Graze, -graze away, little ox, while I spin my flax!” And while she -spun, her head drooped down, and she dozed. And, lo! from -behind the dark wood, from the back of the huge pines, a gray -wolf came rushing out upon the ox and said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Who are you? Come, tell me!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I am a three-year-old heifer, stuffed with straw and -trimmed with tar,” said the ox.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, trimmed with tar, are you? Then give me of your tar -to tar my sides, that the dogs and the sons of dogs tear me -not!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Take some,” said the ox. And with that the wolf fell upon -him and tried to tear the tar off. He tugged and tugged, and -tore with his teeth, but could get none off. Then he tried to -let go, and couldn’t; tug and worry as he might, it was no -good. When the old woman woke, there was no heifer in -sight. “Maybe my heifer has gone home!” she cried; “I’ll -go home and see.” When she got there she was astonished, -for by the paling stood the ox with the wolf still tugging at it. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_34'>34</span>She ran and told her old man, and her old man came and threw -the wolf into the cellar also.</p> - -<p class='c000'>On the third day the old woman again drove her ox into the -pastures to graze, and sat down by a mound and dozed off. -Then a fox came running up. “Who are you?” it asked -the ox.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’m a three-year-old heifer, stuffed with straw and daubed -with tar.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Then give me some of your tar to smear my sides with, -when those dogs and sons of dogs tear my hide!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Take some,” said the ox. Then the fox fastened her teeth -in him and couldn’t draw them out again. The old woman -told her old man, and he took and cast the fox into the cellar -in the same way. And after that they caught Pussy Swiftfoot<a id='r5' /><a href='#f5' class='c011'><sup>[5]</sup></a> -likewise.</p> - -<div class='footnote' id='f5'> -<p class='c000'><span class='label'><a href='#r5'>5</a>. </span>The hare.</p> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>So when he had got them all safely the old man sat down on -a bench before the cellar and began sharpening a knife. And -the bear said to him:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Tell me, daddy, what are you sharpening your knife for?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“To flay your skin off, that I may make a leather jacket for -myself and a pelisse for my old woman.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, don’t flay me, daddy dear! Rather let me go, and -I’ll bring you a lot of honey.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Very well, see you do it,” and he unbound and let the -bear go. Then he sat down on the bench and again began -sharpening his knife. And the wolf asked him:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Daddy, what are you sharpening your knife for?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“To flay off your skin, that I may make me a warm cap -against the winter.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh! Don’t flay me, daddy dear, and I’ll bring you a -whole herd of little sheep.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, see that you do it,” and he let the wolf go.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then he sat down, and began sharpening his knife again. -The fox put out her little snout, and asked him:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Be so kind, dear daddy, and tell me why you are sharpening -your knife?”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_35'>35</span>“Little foxes,” said the old man, “have nice skins that do -capitally for collars and trimmings, and I want to skin you!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh! Don’t take my skin away, daddy dear, and I will -bring you hens and geese.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Very well, see that you do it!” and he let the fox go.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The hare now alone remained, and the old man began sharpening -his knife on the hare’s account.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Why do you do that?” asked puss, and he replied:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Little hares have nice little, soft, warm skins, which will -make me nice gloves and mittens against the winter!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, daddy dear! Don’t flay me, and I’ll bring you kale -and good cauliflower, if only you let me go!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then he let the hare go also.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then they went to bed: but very early in the morning, when -it was neither dusk nor dawn, there was a noise in the doorway -like “Durrrrrr!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Daddy!” cried the old woman, “there’s some one scratching -at the door; go and see who it is!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The old man went out, and there was the bear carrying a -whole hive full of honey. The old man took the honey from -the bear; but no sooner did he lie down than again there was -another “Durrrrr!” at the door. The old man looked out and -saw the wolf driving a whole flock of sheep into the courtyard. -Close on his heels came the fox, driving before him -geese and hens, and all manner of fowls; and last of all came -the hare, bringing cabbage and kale, and all manner of good -food. And the old man was glad, and the old woman was glad. -And the old man sold the sheep and oxen, and got so rich that -he needed nothing more. As for the straw-stuffed ox, it stood -in the sun till it fell to pieces.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_36'>36</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Cat, the Cock, and the Fox</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>There was once upon a time a cat and a cock, who -agreed to live together; so they built them a hut in a -barnyard, and the cock kept house while the cat went -foraging for sausages. One day the fox came running up:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Open the door, little cock!” cried she.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Pussy told me not to, little fox!” said the cock.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Open the door, little cock!” repeated the fox.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I tell you pussy told me not to, little fox!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>At last, however, the cock grew tired of always saying -“No!” so he opened the door, and in the fox rushed, seized -him in her jaws, and ran off with him. Then the cock cried:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Help! pussy-pussy!</div> - <div class='line'>That foxy hussy</div> - <div class='line'>Has got me tight</div> - <div class='line'>With all her might.</div> - <div class='line'>Across her tail</div> - <div class='line'>My legs do trail</div> - <div class='line'>Along the bridge so stony!”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>The cat heard it, gave chase to the fox, rescued the cock, -brought him home, scolded him well, and said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Now keep out of her jaws in the future if you don’t want -to be killed altogether!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then the cat went out foraging for wheat, so that the cock -might have something to eat. He had scarcely gone when the -sly she-fox again came creeping up.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Dear little cock!” said she, “pray open the door!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Nay, little fox! Pussy said I wasn’t to.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>But the fox went on asking and asking till at last the cock -let him in, when the fox rushed at him, seized him by the neck, -and ran off with him. Then the cock cried out:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'><span class='pageno' id='Page_37'>37</span>“Help! pussy-pussy!</div> - <div class='line'>That foxy hussy</div> - <div class='line'>Has got me tight</div> - <div class='line'>With all her might.</div> - <div class='line'>Across her tail</div> - <div class='line'>My legs do trail</div> - <div class='line'>Along the bridge so stony!”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>The cat heard it, and again he ran after the fox and rescued -the cock, and gave the fox a sound drubbing. Then he said to -the cock:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Now, mind you, never let her come in again, or she’ll eat -you.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>But the next time the cat went out, the she-fox came again, -and said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Dear little cock, open the door!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No, little fox! Pussy said I wasn’t to.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>But the fox begged and begged so piteously that at last the -cock was quite touched, and opened the door. Then the fox -caught him by the throat again, and ran away with him, and -the cock cried:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Help! pussy-pussy!</div> - <div class='line'>That foxy hussy</div> - <div class='line'>Has got me tight</div> - <div class='line'>With all her might.</div> - <div class='line'>Across her tail</div> - <div class='line'>My legs do trail</div> - <div class='line'>Along the bridge so stony!”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>The cat heard it, and gave chase again. He ran and ran, but -this time he couldn’t catch the fox up; so he returned home -and wept bitterly, because he was now all alone. At last, however, -he dried his tears and got him a little fiddle, a little fiddle-bow, -and a big sack, and went to the fox’s hole and began to -play:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Fiddle-de-dee!</div> - <div class='line'>The foxy so wee</div> - <div class='line'>Had daughters twice two,</div> - <div class='line'>And a little son too,</div> - <div class='line'><span class='pageno' id='Page_38'>38</span>Oh, fiddle-de-dee!</div> - <div class='line'>Come, foxy, and see</div> - <div class='line'>My sweet minstrelsy!”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>Then the fox’s daughter said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Mammy, I’ll go out and see who it is that is playing so -nicely!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So out she skipped, but no sooner did pussy see her than he -caught hold of her and popped her into his sack. Then he -played again:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Fiddle-de-dee!</div> - <div class='line'>The foxy so wee</div> - <div class='line'>Had daughters twice two,</div> - <div class='line'>And a little son too</div> - <div class='line'>Oh! Fiddle-de-dee!</div> - <div class='line'>Come, foxy, and see</div> - <div class='line'>My sweet minstrelsy!”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>Then the second daughter skipped out, and pussy caught her -by the forehead, and popped her into his sack, and went on -playing and singing till he had got all four daughters into his -sack, and the little son also.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then the old fox was left all alone, and she waited and -waited, but not one of them came back. At last she said to -herself:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’ll go out and call them home, for the cock is roasting, -and the milk pottage is simmering, and ‘tis high time we had -something to eat.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So out she popped, and the cat pounced upon her and killed -her too. Then he went and drank up all the soup, and gobbled -up all the pottage, and then he saw the cock lying on a plate.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Come, shake yourself, cock!” said puss.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So the cock shook himself, and got up, and the cat took the -cock home, and the dead foxes too. And when they got home -they skinned them to make nice beds to lie upon, and lived -happily together in peace and plenty. And as they laughed -over the joke as a good joke, we may laugh over it too.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_39'>39</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Fox and the Dove</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Once upon a time there was a dove who built her nest in -a high tree. Every year, about the time when her young -ones were beginning to get feathers, Reynard Sly-Boots -would come along and say to the dove:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Give me your young ones to eat; throw them down to me -of your own accord, or I will gobble you up, as well as them!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The dove, frightened at the threat, would throw down the -young birds and thus it had happened year after year.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now one day, as the dove sat most melancholy upon her nest, -a great bird flew up and asked why she was so sad and downcast. -And the dove answered that it was because Reynard -would soon come and eat up her young ones.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Upon this the great bird replied, “Oh, you goose! Why -do you throw them down to him? Just bid your good friend -to please give himself the trouble to come after them. Then -you’ll soon see him sneak away with his tail between his legs, -for Reynard cannot climb a tree.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So when the time came round and Reynard again presented -himself, the dove said to him, “If you want meat for dinner, -just be so kind as to come up and help yourself.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>When the fox saw that he must go away empty he asked -the dove who had counseled her to speak thus, and she answered:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“The great bird that has a nest yonder near the stream.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Reynard at once betook himself to the stream and remonstrated -with the great bird for building his nest in so exposed -a place, asking what he did in case of a high wind.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The great bird answered, “When the wind blows from the -right I turn to the left; when it blows from the left I turn to -the right.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_40'>40</span>“But what do you do when it blows from all sides?” asked -the fox.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Then I stick my head under my wing,” said the great bird, -showing how he did it. But quick as a wink, when the great -bird stuck his head under his wing, Reynard Sly-Boots sprang -upon him and seized him, saying:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You know how to give counsel to others, but not to advise -yourself.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So he ate him up!</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_41'>41</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Fox and the Hedgehog</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>A hedgehog met Master Reynard in a field, and -said to him, “Hello, master! Whither away?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, I’m just loafing around!” answered the fox.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Tell me, now,” said Reynard to the hedgehog, after they -had been chatting a while, “how manifold is your understanding?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Threefold,” answered the hedgehog.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Why, how is that?” asked the fox.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Why, you see, I have one sense above, one below, and the -third everywhere,” replied the hedgehog; and added: “And -how manifold is your understanding?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, mine is seventy-sevenfold,” answered the fox.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, well!” said the hedgehog.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Thereupon they walked along through the fields, and so -eagerly were they talking that they gave no heed to the way, -and presently stumbled into a wolf’s den. Then was good -counsel precious! How should they ever get out of this -scrape?</p> - -<p class='c000'>Said Reynard to the hedgehog, “Come now, search around -in your head-piece for a means of getting out of this pickle.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I should have done that before,” answered the hedgehog, -“but I was afraid that by and by you would curse me. How -shall I, a little hedgehog, with only a threefold understanding, -devise anything better than you, who have a seventy-sevenfold -understanding?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>However, after talking back and forth a long time, the hedgehog -made this suggestion: “Say, Reynard, just seize me by the -ear and throw me up out of the den, because I am the smaller.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, but how shall I get out?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, just stick up your tail, and I will pull you out!”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_42'>42</span>So Reynard seized the hedgehog by the ear and tossed him -up out of the den. Then he called upon him to keep his word. -“Hello, there, Gossip, now pull me out!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Do you know what,” answered the hedgehog, “I’ll tell you -something. I have only a threefold understanding, and yet I -found a way of helping myself. Now do you help yourself -with your seventy-sevenfold understanding.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>By this time a peasant came along, and finding the fox in the -den he made short work with him. But the hedgehog crept -away through the thicket with his threefold understanding, -while Reynard, with all his seventy-sevenfold understanding, -was carried off by the peasant.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_43'>43</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Disappointed Bear</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Once upon a time a little old woman, who was walking -in the forest, climbed up into a wild-cherry tree to -gather cherries. Now, a bear espied her, and he came -under the tree and cried, “Come down, old woman, that I -may eat you!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Go along with you!” answered the old woman. “Why -should you eat a scrawny old woman like me. Here, gnaw -upon my shoe till I come down, and I will take you to my -house; I have two little children there, named Janko and -Mirko; they will make you a right savory dish. So have -patience till you get them.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So said the little old woman, and threw down one of her -shoes. Master Bruin gnawed and gnawed upon it, but the -more he gnawed the hungrier he grew. Greatly enraged, he -screamed up to the old woman:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Come down, you old wench, and let me eat you!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Just wait a little longer, till the old wench has gathered -enough cherries,” she answered. “Here, gnaw this -other shoe a while; she’ll soon come down and show you -the way to her house.” So saying, she threw down the -other shoe.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When Bruin found that the second shoe was no juicier than -the first, he made no further effort, but contented himself with -thinking of the fat little children at the old woman’s house. -When she had gathered cherries enough, down she came and -went home, the bear tramping along behind her.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When they reached the house the old woman said: “I’ll tell -you what; first let me give the children a good supper, that -they may be all the fatter; and meanwhile do you run about -till evening to get up a better appetite.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_44'>44</span>So Bruin went away and ran about in the woods all the rest -of the day, and at evening he came back to the hut.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Here I am, little mother!” he cried; “now bring out -Janko and Mirko, and see me polish them off. I am starving -to death!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oho!” answered the little old woman from within; “Janko -has made the door fast with bolts, and I have just put Mirko -to sleep. I couldn’t think of waking him. And the little -mother is so old and weak that she can’t unbolt the door alone. -Come some other day!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then Master Bruin perceived that he had been fooled, and -he walked reluctantly away, with drooping snout and an empty -stomach.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_45'>45</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>Young Neverfull</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>A certain housewife had a young servant lad who -devoured everything eatable that lay in his way. He -would rummage in the storeroom until he smelled -out something good, and would give himself no rest until he -had devoured it all.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now, the woman had a jar of preserved fruit, and, as she -feared that the youngster would eat it and leave her nothing -to put into her pies, she said to him:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“My good boy, you have now eaten everything that I have -except this jam, and you have left this just as if you knew that -it was poisoned. See how kind Heaven is to have preserved -you from it. One single spoonful is enough to kill one instantly, -so I warn you not to touch it unless you want to die.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Very well,” answered the boy.</p> - -<p class='c000'>On the next Sunday, as the woman was getting ready to go -to mass, she said to the boy: “Cook the soup and boil the meat -and roast this duck; we will have a good dinner to-day. See -that you have all done and ready when I come home.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Very well; it shall all be done,” answered the boy.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When the woman was gone he cooked the soup and boiled -the meat, and then he put the duck upon the spit to roast. -When he saw what a delicious brown crisp was forming all -over the duck, he thought, “It can roast itself another one,” -and ate the crisp all off. He turned the spit and turned it, but -the second brown crisp never came.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When he saw this, he thought: “When the mistress comes -home she will pepper me well,” and he began to consider how -he could escape a beating. In his desperation he remembered -the jar of poison against which his mistress had warned him -the day before. With a sudden resolution he went into the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_46'>46</span>storeroom and devoured the whole jarful of preserved fruit, -and then crouched down in a corner to wait for death.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Presently his mistress came home and cried out angrily: -“What have you done to this duck?” She was about to belabor -him well, when he cried: “Ah, leave me in peace, dear -mistress! I shall die in a minute, anyway, for I have eaten up -all the poison!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>At this the woman broke out into a laugh and could not refuse -to forgive him. The duck and the preserves, however, -were gone all the same.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_47'>47</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>Hudden and Dudden and Donald O’Neary</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>There was once upon a time two farmers, and their -names were Hudden and Dudden. They had poultry -in their yards, sheep on the uplands, and scores of -cattle in the meadow land alongside the river. But for all that -they weren’t happy, for just between their two farms there -lived a poor man by the name of Donald O’Neary. He had -a hovel over his head and a strip of grass that was barely -enough to keep his one cow, Daisy, from starving, and, though -she did her best, it was but seldom that Donald got a drink -of milk or a roll of butter from Daisy. You would think there -was little here to make Hudden and Dudden jealous, but so it -is, the more one has the more one wants, and Donald’s neighbors -lay awake of nights scheming how they might get hold -of his little strip of grass land. Daisy, poor thing, they never -thought of; she was just a bag of bones.</p> - -<p class='c000'>One day Hudden met Dudden, and they were soon grumbling -as usual, and all to the tune of “If only we could get that -vagabond, Donald O’Neary, out of the country.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Let’s kill Daisy,” said Hudden at last; “if that doesn’t -make him clear out, nothing will.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>No sooner said than agreed; and it wasn’t dark before Hudden -and Dudden crept up to the little shed where lay poor -Daisy, trying her best to chew the cud, though she hadn’t had -as much grass in the day as would cover your hand. And -when Donald came to see if Daisy was all snug for the night, -the poor beast had only time to lick his hand once before -she died.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Well, Donald was a shrewd fellow, and, downhearted though -<span class='pageno' id='Page_48'>48</span>he was, began to think if he could get any good out of Daisy’s -death. He thought and he thought, and the next day you -might have seen him trudging off early to the fair, Daisy’s -hide over his shoulder, every penny he had jingling in his -pockets. Just before he got to the fair, he made several slits -in the hide, put a penny in each slit, walked into the best inn -of the town as bold as if it belonged to him, and, hanging the -hide up to a nail in the wall, sat down.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Some of your best whisky,” says he to the landlord. But -the landlord didn’t like his looks. “Is it fearing I won’t pay -you, you are?” says Donald; “why, I have a hide here that -gives me all the money I want.” And with that he hit it a -whack with his stick, and out hopped a penny. The landlord -opened his eyes, as you may fancy.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What’ll you take for that hide?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It’s not for sale, my good man.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Will you take a gold piece?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It’s not for sale, I tell you. Hasn’t it kept me and mine for -years?” and with that Donald hit the hide another whack, and -out jumped a second penny.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Well, the long and the short of it was that Donald let the -hide go, and, that very evening, who but he should walk up -to Hudden’s door?</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good-evening, Hudden. Will you lend me your best pair -of scales?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Hudden stared and Hudden scratched his head, but he lent -the scales.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When Donald was safe at home, he pulled out his pocketful -of bright gold, and began to weigh each piece in the scales. -But Hudden had put a lump of butter at the bottom, and so -the last piece of gold stuck fast to the scales when he took them -back to Hudden.</p> - -<p class='c000'>If Hudden had stared before, he stared ten times more now, -and no sooner was Donald’s back turned, than he was off as -hard as he could pelt to Dudden’s.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good-evening, Dudden. That vagabond, bad luck to -him——”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_49'>49</span>“You mean Donald O’Neary?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And who else should I mean? He’s back here weighing -out sackfuls of gold.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“How do you know that?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Here are my scales that he borrowed, and here’s a gold -piece still sticking to them.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Off they went together, and they came to Donald’s door. -Donald had finished making the last pile of ten gold pieces. -And he couldn’t finish, because a piece had stuck to the scales.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In they walked without an “If you please” or “By your -leave.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, <em>I</em> never!” that was all <em>they</em> could say.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good-evening, Hudden; good-evening, Dudden. Ah! you -thought you had played me a fine trick, but you never did me -a better turn in all your lives. When I found poor Daisy dead, -I thought to myself, ‘Well, her hide may fetch something’; -and it did. Hides are worth their weight in gold in the market -just now.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Hudden nudged Dudden, and Dudden winked at Hudden.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good-evening, Donald O’Neary.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good-evening, kind friends.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The next day there wasn’t a cow or a calf that belonged to -Hudden or Dudden but her hide was going to the fair in Hudden’s -biggest cart, drawn by Dudden’s strongest pair of horses.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When they came to the fair, each one took a hide over his -arm, and there they were walking through the fair, bawling -out at the top of their voices: “Hides to sell! hides to sell!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Out came the tanner:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“How much for your hides, my good men?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Their weight in gold.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It’s early in the day to come out of the tavern.” That was -all the tanner said, and back he went to his yard.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Hides to sell! Fine fresh hides to sell!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Out came the cobbler:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“How much for your hides, my men?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Their weight in gold.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Is it making game of me you are? Take that for your -<span class='pageno' id='Page_50'>50</span>pains,” and the cobbler dealt Hudden a blow that made him -stagger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Up the people came running from one end of the fair to the -other. “What’s the matter? What’s the matter?” cried they.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Here are a couple of vagabonds selling hides at their -weight in gold,” said the cobbler.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Hold ‘em fast; hold ‘em fast!” bawled the innkeeper, who -was the last to come up, he was so fat. “I’ll wager it’s one of -the rogues who tricked me out of thirty gold pieces yesterday -for a wretched hide.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>It was more kicks than halfpence that Hudden and Dudden -got before they were well on their way home again, and they -didn’t run the slower because all the dogs of the town were -at their heels.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Well, as you may fancy, if they loved Donald little before, -they loved him less now.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What’s the matter, friends?” said he, as he saw them tearing -along, their hats knocked in, and their coats torn off, and -their faces black and blue. “Is it fighting you’ve been? or -mayhap you met the police, ill luck to them?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We’ll police you, you vagabond. It’s mighty smart you -thought yourself, deluding us with your lying tales.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Who deluded you? Didn’t you see the gold with your -own two eyes?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>But it was no use talking. Pay for it he must and should. -There was a meal-sack handy, and into it Hudden and Dudden -popped Donald O’Neary, tied him up tight, ran a pole through -the knot, and off they started for the Brown Lake of the Bog, -each with a pole-end on his shoulder, and Donald O’Neary -between.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But the Brown Lake was far, the road was dusty, Hudden -and Dudden were sore and weary, and parched with thirst. -There was an inn by the roadside.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Let’s go in,” said Hudden; “I’m dead beat. It’s heavy he -is for the little he had to eat.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>If Hudden was willing, so was Dudden. As for Donald, you -may be sure his leave wasn’t asked, but he was dumped down -<span class='pageno' id='Page_51'>51</span>at the inn door for all the world as if he had been a sack of -potatoes.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Sit still, you vagabond,” said Dudden; “if we don’t mind -waiting, you needn’t.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Donald held his peace, but after a while he heard the glasses -clink, and Hudden singing away at the top of his voice.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I won’t have her, I tell you; I won’t have her!” said Donald. -But nobody heeded what he said.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I won’t have her, I tell you; I won’t have her!” said Donald; -and this time he said it louder; but nobody heeded what -he said.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I won’t have her, I tell you; I won’t have her!” said Donald; -and this time he said it as loud as he could.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And who won’t you have, may I be so bold as to ask?” -said a farmer, who had just come up with a drove of cattle, -and was turning in for a glass.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It’s the king’s daughter. They are bothering the life out -of me to marry her.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You’re the lucky fellow. I’d give something to be in your -shoes.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Do you see that, now! Wouldn’t it be a fine thing for a -farmer to be marrying a princess, all dressed in gold and -jewels?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Jewels, do you say? Ah, now, couldn’t you take me with -you?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, you’re an honest fellow, and as I don’t care for the -king’s daughter, though she’s as beautiful as the day, and is -covered with jewels from top to toe, you shall have her. Just -undo the cord and let me out; they tied me up tight, as they -knew I’d run away from her.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Out crawled Donald; in crept the farmer.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Now lie still, and don’t mind the shaking; it’s only -rumbling over the palace steps you’ll be. And maybe they’ll -abuse you for a vagabond, who won’t have the king’s daughter; -but you needn’t mind that. Ah, it’s a deal I’m giving up for -you, sure as it is that I don’t care for the princess.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Take my cattle in exchange,” said the farmer; and you -<span class='pageno' id='Page_52'>52</span>may guess it wasn’t long before Donald was at their tails, -driving them homeward.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Out came Hudden and Dudden, and the one took one end of -the pole, and the other the other.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’m thinking he’s heavier,” said Hudden.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Ah, never mind,” said Dudden; “it’s only a step now to -the Brown Lake.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’ll have her now! I’ll have her now!” bawled the farmer -from inside the sack.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“By my faith and you shall, though,” said Hudden, and he -laid his stick across the sack.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’ll have her! I’ll have her!” bawled the farmer, louder -than ever.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, here you are,” said Dudden, for they were now come -to the Brown Lake, and, unslinging the sack, they pitched it -plump into the lake.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You’ll not be playing your tricks on us any longer,” said -Hudden.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“True for you,” said Dudden. “Ah, Donald, my boy, it -was an ill day when you borrowed my scales!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Off they went, with a light step and an easy heart, but when -they were near home, whom should they see but Donald -O’Neary, and all around him the cows were grazing, and the -calves were kicking up their heels and butting their heads together.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Is it you, Donald?” said Dudden. “Faith, you’ve been -quicker than we have.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“True for you, Dudden, and let me thank you kindly; the -turn was good, if the will was ill. You’ll have heard, like me, -that the Brown Lake leads to the Land of Promise. I always -put it down as lies, but it is just as true as my word. Look at -the cattle.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Hudden stared, and Dudden gaped; but they couldn’t get -over the cattle; fine, fat cattle they were, too.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It’s only the worst I could bring up with me,” said Donald -O’Neary; “the others were so fat, there was no driving them. -Faith, too, it’s little wonder they didn’t care to leave, with -<span class='pageno' id='Page_53'>53</span>grass as far as you could see, and as sweet and juicy as fresh -butter.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Ah now, Donald, we haven’t always been friends,” said -Dudden, “but, as I was just saying, you were ever a decent -lad, and you’ll show us the way, won’t you?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I don’t see that I’m called upon to do that; there is a power -more cattle down there. Why shouldn’t I have them all to -myself?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Faith, they may well say, the richer you get, the harder -the heart. You always were a neighborly lad, Donald. You -wouldn’t wish to keep the luck all to yourself?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“True for you, Hudden, though it’s a bad example you set -me. But I’ll not be thinking of old times. There is plenty for -all there, so come along with me.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Off they trudged, with a light heart and an eager step. -When they came to the Brown Lake the sky was full of little -white clouds, and, if the sky was full, the lake was as full.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Ah, now, look! there they are!” cried Donald, as he -pointed to the clouds in the lake.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Where? where?” cried Hudden, and “Don’t be greedy!” -cried Dudden, as he jumped his hardest to be up first with the -fat cattle. But if he jumped first, Hudden wasn’t long behind.</p> - -<p class='c000'>They never came back. Maybe they got too fat, like the -cattle. As for Donald O’Neary, he had cattle and sheep all his -days to his heart’s content.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_54'>54</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Tail</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>There was a shepherd once who went out to the hill -to look after his sheep. It was misty and cold, and -he had much trouble to find them. At last he had -them all but one; and after much searching he found that one, -too, in a peat hag, half drowned; so he took off his plaid, and -bent down and took hold of the sheep’s tail and he pulled! The -sheep was heavy with water, and he could not lift her, so he -took off his coat and he <em>pulled!!</em> but it was too much for him, -so he spit on his hands, and took a good hold of the tail and he -<span class='fss'>PULLED!!</span> and the tail broke! and if it had not been for that -this tale would have been a great deal longer.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_55'>55</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>Jack and the King who was a Gentleman</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Well, children: wanst upon a time, when pigs was -swine, there was a poor widdy woman lived all alone -with her wan son Jack in a wee hut of a house, that -on a dark night ye might aisily walk over it by mistake, not -knowin’ at all, at all, it was there, barrin’ ye’d happen to strike -yer toe agin’ it. An’ Jack an’ his mother lived for lee an’ -long, as happy as hard times would allow them, in this wee hut -of a house, Jack sthrivin’ to ‘arn a little support for them both -by workin’ out, an’ doin’ wee turns back an’ forrid to the -neighbors. But there was one winter, an’ times come to look -black enough for them—nothin’ to do, an’ less to ate, an’ clothe -themselves as best they might; an’ the winther wore on, gettin’ -harder an’ harder, till at length when Jack got up out of his -bed on a mornin’, an’ axed his mother to make ready the drop -of stirabout for their little brakwus as usual, “Musha, Jack, -<em>a-mhic</em>,” says his mother, says she, “the male-chist—thanks be -to the Lord!—is as empty as Paddy Ruadh’s donkey that used -to ate his brakwus at supper-time. It stood out long an’ well, -but it’s empty at last, Jack, an’ no sign of how we’re goin’ to -get it filled again—only we trust in the good Lord that niver -yet disarted the widow and the orphan—He’ll not see us wantin’, -Jack.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“The Lord helps them that help themselves, mother,” says -Jack back again to her.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Thrue for ye, Jack,” says she, “but I don’t see how we’re -goin’ to help ourselves.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“He’s a mortial dead mule out an’ out that hasn’t a kick in -him,” says Jack. “An’, mother, with the help of Providence—not -comparin’ the Christian to the brute baste—I have a kick -<span class='pageno' id='Page_56'>56</span>in me yet; if you thought ye could only manage to sthrive along -the best way you could for a week, or maybe two weeks, till -I get back again off a little journey I’d like to undhertake.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“An’ may I make bould to ax, Jack,” says his mother to -him, “where would ye be afther makin’ the little journey to?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You may that, then, mother,” says Jack. “It’s this: You -know the King of Munsther is a great jintleman entirely. It’s -put on him, he’s so jintlemanly, that he was niver yet known to -make use of a wrong or disrespectable word. An’ he prides -himself on it so much that he has sent word over all the known -airth that he’ll give his beautiful daughter—the loveliest picthur -in all Munsther, an’ maybe in all Irelan’, if we’d say it—an’ -her weight in goold, to any man that in three trials will -make him use the unrespectful word, an’ say, ‘Ye’re a liar!’ -But every man that tries him, an’ fails, loses his head. All -sorts and descriptions of people, from prences an’ peers down -to bagmen an’ beggars, have come from all parts of the known -world to thry for the great prize, an’ all of them up to this -has failed, an’ by consequence lost their heads. But, mother -dear,” says Jack, “where’s the use in a head to a man if he -can’t get mail for it to ate? So I’m goin’ to thry me fortune, -only axin’ your blissin’ an’ God’s blissin’ to help me on the -way.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Why, Jack, <em>a-thaisge</em>,” says his mother, “it’s a dangersome -task; but as you remark, where’s the good of the head -to ye when ye can’t get mail to put in it? So I give ye my -blissin’, an’ night, noon, an’ mornin’ I’ll be prayin’ for ye to -prosper.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>An’ Jack set out, with his heart as light as his stomach, an’ -his pocket as light as them both together; but a man’ll not -travel far in ould Irelan’ (thanks be to God!) on the barefooted -stomach—as we’ll call it—or it’ll be his own fault if he -does; an’ Jack didn’t want for plenty of first-class aitin’ an’ -dhrinkin’, lashin’s an’ laivin’s, and pressin’ him to more. An’ -in this way he thraveled away afore him for five long days -till he come to the King of Munsther’s castle. And when he -was comed there he rattled on the gate, an’ out come the king.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_57'>57</span>“Well, me man,” says the king, “what might be your business -here?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’m come here, your Kingship,” says Jack, mighty polite, -an’ pullin’ his forelock, be raison his poor ould mother had -always insthructed him in the heighth of good breedin’—“I’m -come here, your R’yal Highness,” says Jack, “to thry for yer -daughter.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Hum!” says the king. “Me good young man,” says he, -“don’t ye think it a poor thing to lose yer head?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“If I lose it,” says Jack, “sure one consolation ‘ill be that -I’ll lose it in a glorious cause.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>An’ who do ye think would be listenin’ to this same deludherin’ -speech of Jack’s, from over the wall, but the king’s -beautiful daughter herself. She took an eyeful out of Jack, -an’ right well plaised she was with his appearance, for—</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Father,” says she at once, “hasn’t the boy as good a right -to get a chance as another? What’s his head to you? Let the -boy in,” says she.</p> - -<p class='c000'>An’ sure enough, without another word, the king took Jack -within the gates, an’ handin’ him over to the sarvints, tould -him to be well looked afther an’ cared for till mornin’.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Next mornin’ the king took Jack with him an’ fetched him -out into the yard. “Now then, Jack,” says he, “we’re goin’ -to begin. We’ll drop into the stables here, an’ I’ll give you -your first chance.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So he took Jack into the stables an’ showed him some wondherful -big horses, the likes of which poor Jack never saw -afore, an’ every one of which was the heighth of the side wall -of the castle an’ could step over the castle walls, which were -twenty-five feet high, without strainin’ themselves.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Thems’ purty big horses, Jack,” says the king. “I don’t -suppose ever ye saw as big or as wondherful as them in yer -life.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, they’re purty big, indeed,” says Jack, takin’ it as cool -as if there was nothin’ whatsomever astonishin’ to him about -them. “They’re purty big, indeed,” says Jack, “<em>for this counthry</em>. -But at home with us in Donegal we’d only count them -<span class='pageno' id='Page_58'>58</span>little nags, shootable for the young ladies to dhrive in pony-carriages.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What!” says the king, “do ye mane to tell me ye have -seen bigger in Donegal?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Bigger!” says Jack. “Phew! Blood alive, yer Kingship, -I seen horses in my father’s stable that could step over your -horses without thrippin’. My father owned one big horse—the -greatest, I believe, in the world again.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What was he like?” says the king.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, yer Highness,” says Jack, “it’s quite beyond me to -tell ye what he was like. But I know when we wanted to -mount it could only be done by means of a step-laddher, with -nine hundred and ninety steps to it, every step a mile high, an’ -you had to jump seven mile off the topmost step to get on his -back. He ate nine ton of turnips, nine ton of oats, an’ nine -ton of hay in the day, an’ it took ninety-nine men in the daytime, -an’ ninety-nine more in the night-time, carrying his feeds -to him; an’ when he wanted a drink, the ninety-nine men had -to lead him to a lough that was nine mile long, nine mile broad, -an’ nine mile deep, an’ he used to drink it dry every time,” says -Jack, an’ then he looked at the king, expectin’ he’d surely have -to make a liar of him for that.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But the king only smiled at Jack, an’ says he, “Jack, that -was a wonderful horse entirely, an’ no mistake.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then he took Jack with him out into the garden for his -second trial, an’ showed him a bee-skep, the size of the biggest -rick of hay ever Jack had seen; an’ every bee in the -skep was the size of a thrush, an’ the queeny bee as big as -a jackdaw.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Jack,” says the king, says he, “isn’t them wondherful bees? -I’ll warrant ye, ye never saw anything like them?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, they’re middlin’—middlin’ fairish,” says Jack—“<em>for -this counthry</em>. But they’re nothin’ at all to the bees we have -in Donegal. If one of our bees was flying across the fields,” -says Jack, “and one of your bees happened to come in its way, -an’ fall into our bee’s eye, our bee would fly to the skep, an’ -ax another bee to take the mote out of his eye.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_59'>59</span>“Do you tell me so, Jack?” says the king. “You must -have great monsthers of bees.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Monsthers!” says Jack. “Ah, yer Highness, monsthers -is no name for some of them. I remimber,” says Jack, says he, -“a mighty great breed of bees me father owned. They were -that big that when my father’s new castle was a-buildin’ (in -the steddin’ of the old one which he consaived to be too small -for a man of his mains), and when the workmen closed in the -roof, it was found there was a bee inside, an’ the hall door not -bein’ wide enough, they had to toss the side wall to let it out. -Then the queeny bee—ah! she was a wondherful baste entirely!” -says Jack. “Whenever she went out to take the air -she used to overturn all the ditches and hedges in the country; -the wind of her wings tossed houses and castles; she used to -swallow whole flower gardens; an’ one day she flew against a -ridge of mountains nineteen thousand feet high and knocked -a piece out from top to bottom, an’ it’s called Barnesmore Gap -to this day. This queeny bee was a great trouble an’ annoyance -to my father, seein’ all the harm she done the naybors -round about; and once she took it in her head to fly over to -Englan’, an’ she created such mischief an’ desolation there that -the King of Englan’ wrote over to my father if he didn’t come -immaidiately an’ take home his queeny bee that was wrackin’ -an’ ruinin’ all afore her he’d come over himself at the head of -all his army and wipe my father off the face of the airth. So -my father ordhered me to mount our wondherful big horse that -I tould ye about, an’ that could go nineteen mile at every step, -an’ go over to Englan’ an’ bring home our queeny bee. An’ I -mounted the horse an’ started, an’ when I come as far as the -sea I had to cross to get over to Englan’, I put the horse’s two -forefeet into my hat, an’ in that way he thrashed the sea dry -all the way across an’ landed me safely. When I come to the -King of Englan’ he had to supply me with nine hundred and -ninety-nine thousand men an’ ninety-nine thousand mile of -chains an’ ropes to catch the queeny bee an’ bind her. It took -us nine years to catch her, nine more to tie her, an’ nine years -and nine millions of men to drag her home, an’ the King of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_60'>60</span>Englan’ was a beggar afther from that day till the day of his -death. Now, what do ye think of that bee?” says Jack, thinkin’ -he had the king this time, sure enough.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But the king was a cuter one than Jack took him for, an’ he -only smiled again, an’ says he—</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, Jack, that was a wondherful great queeny bee entirely.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Next, for poor Jack’s third an’ last chance, the king took -him to show him a wondherful field of beans he had, with every -beanstalk fifteen feet high, an’ every bean the size of a goose’s -egg.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, Jack,” says the king, says he, “I’ll engage ye never -saw more wondherful beanstalks than them?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Is it them?” says Jack. “Arrah, man, yer Kingship,” says -he, “they may be very good—<em>for this counthry</em>; but sure we’d -throw them out of the ground for useless afther-shoots in -Donegal. I mind one beanstalk in partickler, that my father -had for a show an’ a cur’osity, that he used to show as a great -wondher entirely to sthrangers. It stood on ninety-nine acres -of ground, it was nine hundred mile high, an’ every leaf covered -nine acres. It fed nine thousand horses, nine thousand -mules, an’ nine thousand jackasses for nineteen years. He -used to send nine thousand harvestmen up the stalk in spring -to cut and gather off the soft branches at the top. They used -to cut these off when they’d reach up as far as them (which was -always in the harvest time), an’ throw them down, an’ nine -hundred and ninety-nine horses an’ carts were kept busy for -nine months carting the stuff away. Then the harvestmen always -reached down to the foot of the stalk at Christmas again.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Faix, Jack,” says the king, “it was a wondherful beanstalk, -that, entirely.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You might say that,” says Jack, trying to make the most -of it, for he was now on his last leg. “You might say that,” -says he. “Why, I mind one year I went up the stalk with the -harvestmen, an’ when I was nine thousand mile up, doesn’t I -miss my foot, and down I come. I fell feet foremost, and sunk -up to my chin in a whinstone rock that was at the foot. There -<span class='pageno' id='Page_61'>61</span>I was in a quandhary—but I was not long ruminatin’ till I -hauled out my knife, an’ cut off my head, an’ sent it home to -look for help. I watched after it, as it went away, an’ lo an’ -behould ye, afore it had gone half a mile I saw a fox set on it, -and begin to worry it. ‘By this an’ by that,’ says I to meself, -‘but this is too bad!’—an’ I jumped out an’ away as hard as I -could run, to the assistance of my head. An’ when I come up, -I lifted my foot, an’ give the fox three kicks, an’ knocked three -kings out of him—every one of them a nicer an’ a better jintleman -than you.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Ye’re a liar, an’ a rascally liar,” says the king.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“More power to ye!” says Jack, givin’ three buck leaps -clean into the air, “an’ it’s proud I am to get you to confess it; -for I have won yer daughter.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Right enough, the king had to give up to Jack the daughter—an’ -be the same token, from the first time she clapped her -two eyes on Jack she wasn’t the girl to gainsay him—an’ her -weight in goold. An’ they were both of them marrid, an’ had -such a weddin’ as surpassed all the weddin’s ever was heerd -tell of afore or since in that country or in this. An’ Jack lost -no time in sendin’ for his poor ould mother, an’ neither herself -nor Jack ever after knew what it was to be in want. An’ may -you an’ I never know that same naither.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_62'>62</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>Hans in Luck</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Hans had served his master for seven years, when he -one day said to him: “Master, my time is up; I want -to go home to my mother; please give me my wages.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>His master answered, “You have served me well and faithfully, -and as the service has been, so shall the wages be.” And -he gave him a lump of gold as big as his head.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Hans took out his pocket-handkerchief and tied up the gold -in it, and then slung the bundle over his shoulder, and started -on his homeward journey.</p> - -<p class='c000'>As he walked along, just putting one foot before the other, -a man on horseback appeared, riding gaily and merrily along -on his capering steed.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Ah!” said Hans quite loud as he passed, “what a fine -thing riding must be. You are as comfortable as if you were -in an arm-chair; you don’t stumble over any stones; you save -your shoes, and you get over the road you hardly know how.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The horseman, who heard him, stopped and said: “Hallo, -Hans, why are you on foot?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I can’t help myself,” said Hans, “for I have this bundle to -carry home. It is true that it is a lump of gold, but I can -hardly hold my head up for it, and it weighs down my shoulder -frightfully.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’ll tell you what,” said the horseman, “we will change. -I will give you my horse, and you shall give me your bundle.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“With all my heart,” said Hans; “but you will be rarely -weighted with it.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The horseman dismounted, took the gold, and helped Hans -up, put the bridle into his hands, and said: “When you want -to go very fast, you must click your tongue and cry ‘Gee-up! -Gee-up!’”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_63'>63</span>Hans was delighted when he found himself so easily riding -along on horseback. After a time it occurred to him that he -might be going faster, and he began to click with his tongue, -and to cry, “Gee-up! Gee-up!” The horse broke into a gallop, -and before Hans knew where he was he was thrown off into a -ditch which separated the fields from the highroad. The -horse would have run away if a peasant coming along the road -leading a cow, had not caught it. Hans felt himself all over, -and picked himself up; but he was very angry, and said to the -peasant: “Riding is poor fun at times, when you have a nag -like mine, which stumbles and throws you, and puts you in -danger of breaking your neck. I will never mount it again. I -think much more of your cow there. You can walk comfortably -behind her, and you have her milk into the bargain every -day, as well as butter and cheese. What would I not give for -a cow like that!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well,” said the peasant, “if you have such a fancy for it as -all that, I will exchange the cow for the horse.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Hans accepted the offer with delight, and the peasant -mounted the horse and rode rapidly off.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Hans drove his cow peacefully on, and thought what a lucky -bargain he had made. “If only I have a bit of bread, and I -don’t expect ever to be without it, I shall always have butter -and cheese to eat with it. If I am thirsty, I only have to milk -my cow and I have milk to drink. My heart! what more can -you desire?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>When he came to an inn he made a halt, and in his great joy -he ate up all the food he had with him, all his dinner and his -supper, and he gave the last coins he had for half a glass of -beer. Then he went on farther in the direction of his mother’s -village, driving the cow before him. The heat was very oppressive, -and, as midday drew near, Hans found himself on a -heath which it took him an hour to cross. He was so hot -and thirsty that his tongue was parched and clung to the roof -of his mouth.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“This can easily be set to rights,” thought Hans. “I will -milk my cow and sup up the milk.” He tied her to a tree, and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_64'>64</span>as he had no pail, he used his leather cap instead; but, try as -hard as he liked, not a single drop of milk appeared. As he -was very clumsy in his attempts, the impatient animal gave him -a severe kick on his forehead with one of her hind legs. He -was stunned by the blow, and fell to the ground, where he lay -for some time, not knowing where he was.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Happily, just then a butcher came along the road, trundling -a young pig in a wheelbarrow.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What is going on here?” he cried, as he helped poor -Hans up.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Hans told him all that had happened.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The butcher handed him his flask, and said: “Here, take a -drink, it will do you good. The cow can’t give any milk, I suppose; -she must be too old, and good for nothing but to be a -beast of burden, or go to the butcher.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, dear!” said Hans, smoothing his hair. “Now who -would ever have thought it! Killing the animal is all very -well, but what kind of meat will it be? For my part, I don’t -like cow’s flesh; it’s not juicy enough. Now, if one had a nice -young pig like that, it would taste ever so much better; and -then, all the sausages!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Listen, Hans!” then said the butcher; “for your sake I -will exchange, and let you have the pig instead of the cow.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“God reward your friendship!” said Hans, handing over -the cow, as the butcher untied the pig, and put the halter with -which it was tied into his hand.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Hans went on his way, thinking how well everything was -turning out for him. Even if a mishap befell him, something -else immediately happened to make up for it. Soon after this, -he met a lad carrying a beautiful white goose under his arm. -They passed the time of day, and Hans began to tell him how -lucky he was, and what successful bargains he had made. The -lad told him that he was taking the goose for a christening -feast. “Just feel it,” he went on, holding it up by the wings. -“Feel how heavy it is; it’s true they have been stuffing it for -eight weeks. Whoever eats that roast goose will have to wipe -the fat off both sides of his mouth.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_65'>65</span>“Yes, indeed!” answered Hans, weighing it in his hand; -“but my pig is no light weight, either.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then the lad looked cautiously about from side to side, and -shook his head. “Now, look here,” he began; “I don’t think -it’s all quite straight about your pig. One has just been stolen -out of Schultze’s sty, in the village I have come from. I fear, -I fear it is the one you are leading. They have sent people out -to look for it, and it would be a bad business for you if you -were found with it; the least they would do, would be to put -you in the black hole.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Poor Hans was very much frightened at this. “Oh, dear! -oh, dear!” he said. “Do help me out of this trouble. You -are more at home here; take my pig, and let me have your -goose.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, I shall run some risk if I do, but I won’t be the means -of getting you into a scrape.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So he took the rope in his hand, and quickly drove the pig -up a side road; and honest Hans, relieved of his trouble, plodded -on with the goose under his arm.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“When I really come to think it over,” he said to himself, -“I have still had the best of the bargain. First, there is the -delicious roast goose, and then all the fat that will drip out of -it in cooking will keep us in goose fat to eat on our bread for -three months, at least; and, last of all, there are the beautiful -white feathers, which I will stuff my pillow with, and then I -shall need no rocking to send me to sleep. How delighted my -mother will be!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>As he passed through the last village he came to a knife-grinder -with his cart, singing to his wheel as it buzzed merrily -round—</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Scissors and knives I grind so fast,</div> - <div class='line'>And hang up my cloak against the blast.”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>Hans stopped to look at him, and at last he spoke to him and -said: “You must be doing a good trade to be so merry over -your grinding.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes,” answered the grinder. “The work of one’s hands -<span class='pageno' id='Page_66'>66</span>has a golden foundation. A good grinder finds money whenever -he puts his hand into his pocket. But where did you buy -that beautiful goose?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I did not buy it; I exchanged my pig for it.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And the pig?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, I got that instead of my cow.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And the cow?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I got that for a horse.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And the horse?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I gave a lump of gold as big as my head for it.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And the gold?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, that was my wages for seven years’ service.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You certainly have known how to manage your affairs,” -said the grinder. “Now, if you could manage to hear the -money jingling in your pockets when you got up in the morning, -you would indeed have made your fortune.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“How shall I set about that?” asked Hans.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You must be a grinder like me—nothing is needed for it -but a whetstone; everything else will come of itself. I have -one here which certainly is a little damaged, but you need not -give me anything for it but your goose. Are you willing?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“How can you ask me such a question?” said Hans. “Why, -I shall be the happiest person in the world. If I can have some -money every time I put my hand in my pocket, what more -should I have to trouble about?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So he handed him the goose, and took the whetstone in -exchange.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Now,” said the grinder, lifting up an ordinary large stone -which lay near on the road, “here is another good stone into -the bargain. You can hammer out all your old nails on it to -straighten them. Take it, and carry it off.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Hans shouldered the stone, and went on his way with a light -heart, and his eyes shining with joy. “I must have been born -in a lucky hour!” he cried; “everything happens just as I want -it, and as it would happen to a Sunday’s child.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>In the mean time, as he had been on foot since daybreak, he -began to feel very tired, and he was also very hungry, as he -<span class='pageno' id='Page_67'>67</span>had eaten all his provisions at once, in his joy at his bargain -over the cow. At last he could hardly walk any farther, and he -was obliged to stop every minute to rest. Then the stones were -frightfully heavy, and he could not get rid of the thought that -it would be very nice if he were not obliged to carry them any -farther. He dragged himself like a snail to a well in the fields, -meaning to rest and refresh himself with a draught of the cool -water. So as not to injure the stones by sitting on them, he -laid them carefully on the edge of the well. Then he sat down, -and was about to stoop down to drink when he inadvertently -gave them a little push, and both the stones fell straight into -the water.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When Hans saw them disappear before his very eyes he -jumped for joy, and then knelt down and thanked God, with -tears in his eyes, for having shown him this further grace, and -relieved him of the heavy stones (which were all that remained -to trouble him) without giving him anything to reproach himself -with. “There is certainly no one under the sun so happy -as I,” he said.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And so, with a light heart, free from every care, he bounded -on home to his mother.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_68'>68</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Family Servants</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>“Where are you going to?” “To Walpe.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I to Walpe, you to Walpe; so, so, together -we go.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Have you got a husband? How do you call your husband?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Cham.” “My husband Cham, your husband Cham; I to -Walpe, you to Walpe; so, so, together we go.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Have you got a child? How do you call your child?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Grild.” “My child Grild, your child Grild; my husband -Cham, your husband Cham; I to Walpe, you to Walpe; so, so, -together we go.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Have you got a cradle? How do you call your cradle?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Hippodadle.” “My cradle Hippodadle, your cradle Hippodadle; -my child Grild, your child Grild; my husband Cham, -your husband Cham; I to Walpe, you to Walpe; so, so, together -we go.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Have you got a man? How do you call your man?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Do-as-well-as-you-can.” “My man Do-as-well-as-you-can, -your man Do-as-well-as-you-can; my cradle Hippodadle, your -cradle Hippodadle; my child Grild, your child Grild; my husband -Cham, your husband Cham; I to Walpe, you to Walpe; -so, so, together we go.”</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_69'>69</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Flail which came from the Clouds</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>A countryman once drove his plow with a pair -of oxen, and when he came about the middle of his -fields the horns of his two beasts began to grow, -and grow, till they were so high that when he went home he -could not get them into the stable-door. By good luck just -then a Butcher passed by, to whom he gave up his beasts, and -struck a bargain, that he should take to the Butcher a measure-full -of turnip-seed, for every grain of which the Butcher should -give him a Brabant dollar. That is what you may call a good -bargain! The Countryman went home, and came again, carrying -on his back a measure of seed, out of which he dropped -one grain on the way. The Butcher, however, reckoned out -for every seed a Brabant dollar; and had not the Countryman -lost one he would have received a dollar more. Meanwhile the -seed which he dropped on the road had grown up to a fine tree, -reaching into the clouds. So the Countryman thought to himself -he might as well see what the people in the clouds were -about. Up he climbed, and at the top he found a field with -some people thrashing oats; but while he was looking at them -he felt the tree shake beneath him, and, peeping downward, -he perceived that some one was on the point of chopping down -the tree at the roots. “If I am thrown down,” said the -Countryman to himself, “I shall have a bad fall;” and, quite -bewildered, he could think of nothing else to save himself than -to make a rope with the oat straw, which lay about in heaps. -He then seized hold of a hatchet and flail which were near him, -and let himself down by his straw rope. He fell into a deep, -deep hole in the earth, and found it very lucky that he had -<span class='pageno' id='Page_70'>70</span>brought the hatchet with him; for with it he cut steps, and so -mounted again into the broad daylight, bringing with him the -flail for a sign of the truth of his tale, which nobody, on that -account, was able to doubt!</p> - -<p class='c000'>There is a wonderful adventure!!!</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_71'>71</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Sole’s Mouth</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>The Fishes once grew very discontented because no -order was kept in their dominions. None turned aside -for the others, but each swam right or left just as it -pleased him, sometimes between those who wished to be together, -or else pushed them to one side, and the stronger ones -gave the weaker blows with their tails, which made them get -out of the way as fast as they could, or else they devoured -them without more ceremony. “How nice it would be,” -thought the Fishes, “if we had a king who should exercise the -power of judging between us!” And so at last they assembled -together to choose a lord, who should be he who could swim -the quickest and render help best to the weaker fishes.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So they laid themselves all in rank and file by the shore, and -the Pike gave a signal with his tail, on which they started off. -Like an arrow darted away the Pike, closely followed by the -Herring, the Gudgeon, the Perch, the Carp, and the rest. Even -the Sole swam among them, hoping to gain the prize.</p> - -<p class='c000'>All at once a cry was heard, “The Herring is first, the -Herring is first!” “Who is first?” asked the flat, envious -Sole in a vexed tone. “Who is first?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“The Herring, the Herring!” was the reply. “The nak-ed -Herring, the nak-ed Herring!” cried the Sole disdainfully.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And ever since that time the Sole’s mouth has been all awry -as a punishment for his wicked envy.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_72'>72</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Three Brothers</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>There was once a man who had three sons, but no -fortune except the house he lived in. Now, each of -them wanted to have the house after his death; but -their father was just as fond of one as of the other, and did -not know how to treat them all fairly. He did not want to sell -the house, because it had belonged to his forefathers, or he -might have divided the money between them.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At last an idea came into his head, and he said to his sons: -“Go out into the world, and each learn a trade, and when you -come home, the one who makes best use of his handicraft shall -have the house.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The sons were quite content with this plan, and the eldest -decided to be a farrier, the second a barber, and the third a -fencing master. They fixed a time when they would all meet -at home again, and then they set off.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It so happened that they each found a clever master with -whom they learned their business thoroughly. The farrier shod -the king’s horses, and he thought, “I shall certainly be the one -to have the house.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The barber shaved nobody but grand gentlemen, so he -thought it would fall to him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The fencing master got many blows, but he set his teeth, and -would not let himself be put out, because he thought, “If I -am afraid of a blow, I shall never get the house.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now, when the given time had passed, they all went home -together to their father; but they did not know how to get a -good opportunity of showing off their powers, and sat down -to discuss the matter.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Suddenly a hare came running over the field.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Ah!” cried the barber, “she comes just in the nick of -time.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_73'>73</span>He took up his bowl and his soap, and got his lather by the -time the hare came quite close, then he soaped her in full -career, and shaved her as she raced along, without giving her -cut or missing a single hair. His father, astonished, said: -“If the others don’t look out, the house will be yours.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Before long a gentleman came along in his carriage at full -gallop.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Now, father, you shall see what I can do,” said the farrier, -and he ran after the carriage and tore the four shoes off the -horse as he galloped along, then, without stopping a second, -shod him with new ones.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You are a fine fellow, indeed,” said his father. “You know -your business as well as your brother. I don’t know which I -shall give the house to at this rate.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then the third one said: “Let me have a chance, too, -father.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>As it was beginning to rain, he drew his sword and swirled -it round and round his head, so that not a drop fell on him. -Even when the rain grew heavier, so heavy that it seemed as -if it was being poured from the sky out of buckets, he swung -the sword faster and faster, and remained as dry as if he had -been under a roof.</p> - -<p class='c000'>His father was amazed, and said: “You have done the best; -the house is yours.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Both the other brothers were quite satisfied with this decision, -and as they were all so devoted to one another, they -lived together in the house, and carried on their trades, by -which they made plenty of money, since they were so perfect -in them.</p> - -<p class='c000'>They lived happily together to a good old age, and when -one fell ill and died, the others grieved so much over him that -they pined away and soon after departed this life.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then, as they had been so fond of one another, they were -all buried in one grave.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_74'>74</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Wren and the Bear</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>One summer’s day the bear and the wolf were walking in -the forest, and the bear heard a bird singing very sweetly, -and said: “Brother Wolf, what kind of bird is that -which is singing so delightfully?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That is the king of the birds, before whom we must do -reverence,” replied the wolf; but it was only the wren.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“If that be so,” said the bear, “I should like to see his royal -palace; come, lead me to it.” “That cannot be as you like,” -replied the wolf. “You must wait till the queen returns.” Soon -afterward the queen arrived with some food in her bill, and -the king, too, to feed their young ones, and the bear would -have gone off to see them, but the wolf, pulling his ear, said: -“No, you must wait till the queen and the king are both off -again.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So, after observing well the situation of the nest, the two -tramped off, but the bear had no rest, for he wished still to see -the royal palace, and after a short delay he set off to it again. -He found the king and queen absent, and, peeping into the nest, -he saw five or six young birds lying in it. “Is this the royal -palace?” exclaimed the bear; “this miserable place! You are -no king’s children, but wretched young brats.” “No, no, that -we are not!” burst out the little wrens together in a great passion, -for to them this speech was addressed. “No, no, we are -born of honorable parents, and you, Mr. Bear, shall make your -words good!” At this speech the bear and the wolf were -much frightened, and ran back to their holes; but the little -wrens kept up an unceasing clamor till their parents’ return. -As soon as they came back with food in their mouths the little -birds began, “We will none of us touch a fly’s leg, but will -starve rather, until you decide whether we are fine and handsome -<span class='pageno' id='Page_75'>75</span>children or not, for the bear has been here and insulted -us!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Be quiet,” replied the king, “and that shall soon be settled.” -And thereupon he flew with his queen to the residence of the -bear, and called to him from the entrance, “Old grumbler, why -have you insulted my children? That shall cost you dear, for -we will decide the matter by a pitched battle.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>War having thus been declared against the bear, all the four-footed -beasts were summoned: the ox, the ass, the cow, the goat, -the stag, and every animal on the face of the earth. The wren, -on the other hand, summoned every flying thing; not only the -birds, great and small, but also the gnat, the hornet, the bee, -and the flies.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When the time arrived for the commencement of the war, -the wren king sent out spies to see who was appointed commander-in-chief -of the enemy. The gnat was the most cunning -of all the army, and he, therefore, buzzed away into the forest -where the enemy was encamped, and alighted on a leaf of the -tree beneath which the watchword was given out. There stood -the bear and called the fox to him, and said: “You are the most -crafty of animals, so you must be general, and lead us on.” -“Well,” said the fox, “but what sign shall we appoint?” Nobody -answered. Then the fox said: “I have a fine long bushy -tail, which looks like a red feather at a distance; if I hold this -tail straight up, all is going well and you must march after me; -but if I suffer it to hang down, run away as fast as you can.” -As soon as the gnat heard all this she flew home and told the -wren king everything to a hair.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When the day arrived for the battle to begin, the four-footed -beasts all came running along to the field, shaking the earth -with their roaring and bellowing. The wren king also came -with his army, whirring and buzzing and humming enough to -terrify any one out of his senses. Then the wren king sent the -hornet forward to settle upon the fox’s tail and sting it with -all his power. As soon as the fox felt the first sting he drew -up his hind leg with the pain, still carrying, however, his tail as -high in the air as before; at the second sting he was obliged to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_76'>76</span>drop it a little bit; but at the third he could no longer bear the -pain, but was forced to drop his tail between his legs. As soon -as the other beasts saw this, they thought all was lost, and began -to run each one to his own hole; so the birds won the battle -without difficulty.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When all was over the wren king and his queen flew home -to their children, and cried out: “Rejoice! rejoice! we have -won the battle; now eat and drink as much as you please.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The young wrens, however, said: “Still we will not eat till -the bear has come to our nest and begged pardon, and admitted -that we are fine and handsome children.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So the wren king flew back to the cave of the bear, and -called out, “Old grumbler, you must come to the nest and beg -pardon of my children for calling them wretched young brats, -else your ribs shall be crushed in your body!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>In great terror the bear crept out and begged pardon; and -afterward the young wrens, being now made happy in their -minds, settled down to eating and drinking, and I am afraid -they were over-excited and kept up their merriment far too -late.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_77'>77</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Musicians of Bremen</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>A certain man had a donkey that had served him -faithfully for many long years, but whose strength was -so far gone that at last he was quite unfit for work. So -his master began to consider how much he could make of the -donkey’s skin, but the beast, perceiving that no good wind was -blowing, ran away along the road to Bremen. “There,” -thought he, “I can be town musician.” When he had run -some way, he found a hound lying by the roadside, yawning -like one who was very tired. “What are you yawning for now, -you big fellow?” asked the ass.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Ah,” replied the hound, “because every day I grow older -and weaker; I cannot go any more to the hunt, and my master -has well-nigh beaten me to death, so that I took to flight; and -now I do not know how to earn my bread.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, do you know,” said the ass, “I am going to Bremen, -to be town musician there; suppose you go with me and take -a share in the music. I will play on the lute, and you shall beat -the kettledrums.” The dog was satisfied, and off they set.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Presently they came to a cat, sitting in the middle of the -path, with a face like three rainy days! “Now, then, old -shaver, what has crossed you?” asked the ass.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“How can one be merry when one’s neck has been pinched -like mine?” answered the cat. “Because I am growing old, -and my teeth are all worn to stumps, and because I would -rather sit by the fire and spin, than run after mice, my mistress -wanted to drown me; and so I ran away. But now good advice -is dear, and I do not know what to do.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Go with us to Bremen. You understand nocturnal music, so -you can be town musician.” The cat consented, and went with -them. The three vagabonds soon came near a farmyard, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_78'>78</span>where, upon the barn door, the cock was sitting crowing with -all his might. “You crow through marrow and bone,” said the -ass; “what do you do that for?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That is the way I prophesy fine weather,” said the cock; -“but, because grand guests are coming for the Sunday, the -housewife has no pity, and has told the cook-maid to make me -into soup for the morrow; and this evening my head will be -cut off. Now I am crowing with a full throat as long as -I can.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Ah, but you, Red-comb,” replied the ass, “rather come away -with us. We are going to Bremen, to find there something -better than death; you have a good voice, and if we make music -together it will have full play.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The cock consented to this plan, and so all four traveled on -together. They could not, however, reach Bremen in one day, -and at evening they came into a forest, where they meant to -pass the night. The ass and the dog laid themselves down -under a large tree, the cat and the cock climbed up into the -branches, but the latter flew right to the top, where he was -most safe. Before he went to sleep he looked all round the four -quarters, and soon thought he saw a little spark in the distance; -so, calling his companions, he said they were not far -from a house, for he saw a light. The ass said: “If it is so, -we had better get up and go farther, for the pasturage here -is very bad”; and the dog continued: “Yes, indeed! a couple -of bones with some meat on would be very acceptable!” So they -made haste toward the spot where the light was, and which -shone now brighter and brighter, until they came to a well-lighted -robber’s cottage. The ass, as the biggest, went to the -window and peeped in. “What do you see, Gray-horse?” -asked the cock. “What do I see?” replied the ass; “a table -laid out with savory meats and drinks, with robbers sitting -around enjoying themselves.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That would be the right sort of thing for us,” said the cock.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, yes, I wish we were there,” replied the ass. Then -these animals took counsel together how they should contrive -to drive away the robbers, and at last they thought of a way. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_79'>79</span>The ass placed his forefeet upon the window ledge, the hound -got on his back, the cat climbed up upon the dog, and, lastly, -the cock flew up and perched upon the head of the cat. When -this was accomplished, at a given signal they commenced together -to perform their music: the ass brayed, the dog barked, -the cat mewed, and the cock crew; and they made such a tremendous -noise, and so loud, that the panes of the window were -shivered! Terrified at these unearthly sounds, the robbers got -up with great precipitation, thinking nothing less than that some -spirits had come, and fled off into the forest, so the four companions -immediately sat down at the table, and quickly ate up -all that was left, as if they had been fasting for six weeks.</p> - -<p class='c000'>As soon as they had finished, they extinguished the light, and -each sought for himself a sleeping-place, according to his -nature and custom. The ass laid himself down upon some -straw, the hound behind the door, the cat upon the hearth, near -the warm ashes, and the cock flew up on a beam which ran -across the room. Weary with their long walk, they soon went -to sleep.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At midnight the robbers perceived from their retreat that no -light was burning in their house, and all appeared quiet; so the -captain said: “We need not have been frightened into fits”; -and, calling one of the band, he sent him forward to reconnoiter. -The messenger, finding all still, went into the kitchen -to strike a light, and, taking the glistening, fiery eyes of the cat -for live coals, he held a lucifer match to them, expecting it to -take fire. But the cat, not understanding the joke, flew in his -face, spitting and scratching, which dreadfully frightened him, -so that he made for the back door; but the dog, who laid there, -sprang up and bit his leg; and as he limped upon the straw -where the ass was stretched out, it gave him a powerful kick -with its hind foot. This was not all, for the cock, awaking at -the noise, clapped his wings, and cried from the beam: “Cock-a-doodle-doo, -cock-a-doodle-do!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then the robber ran back as well as he could to his captain, -and said: “Ah, my master, there dwells a horrible witch in the -house, who spat on me and scratched my face with her long -<span class='pageno' id='Page_80'>80</span>nails; and then before the door stands a man with a knife, who -chopped at my leg; and in the yard there lies a black monster, -who beat me with a great wooden club; and besides all, upon -the roof sits a judge, who called out, ‘Bring the knave up, do!’ -so I ran away as fast as I could.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>After this the robbers dared not again go near their house; -but everything prospered so well with the four town musicians -of Bremen, that they did not forsake their situation! And there -they are to this day, for anything I know.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_81'>81</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Fox and the Cat</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>It happened once that the cat met Mr. Fox in the wood, -and because she thought he was clever and experienced -in all the ways of the world, she addressed him in a -friendly manner.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good-morning, dear Mr. Fox! how are you, and how do -you get along in these hard times?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The fox, full of pride, looked at the cat from head to foot -for some time, hardly knowing whether he would deign to answer -or not. At last he said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, you poor whisker-wiper, you silly piebald, you starveling -mouse-hunter! what has come into your head? How dare -you ask me how I am getting on? What sort of education -have you had? How many arts are you master of?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Only one,” said the cat meekly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And what might that one be?” asked the fox.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“When the dogs run after me, I can jump into a tree and -save myself.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Is that all?” said the fox. “I am master of a hundred -arts, and I have a sackful of cunning tricks in addition. But -I pity you. Come with me, and I will teach you how to escape -from the dogs.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Just then a huntsman came along with four hounds. The -cat sprang trembling into a tree, and crept stealthily up to the -topmost branch, where she was entirely hidden by twigs and -leaves.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Open your sack, Mr. Fox! open your sack!” cried the cat, -but the dogs had gripped him, and held him fast.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, Mr. Fox!” cried the cat, “you with your hundred arts, -and your sackful of tricks, are held fast, while I, with my one, -am safe. Had you been able to creep up here, you would not -have lost your life.”</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_82'>82</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Golden Key</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>One winter, when a deep snow was lying on the ground, a -poor boy had to go out in a sledge to fetch wood. As -soon as he had collected together a sufficient quantity, -he thought that before he returned home he would make a fire -to warm himself, because his limbs were so frozen. So, sweeping -the snow away, he made a clear space, and presently found -a small gold key. As soon as he picked it up, he began to think -that where there was a key there must also be a lock; and, digging -in the earth, he found a small iron chest. “I hope the -key will fit,” thought he to himself; “there are certainly great -treasures in this box!” He looked all over it, but could not -find any keyhole; but at last he did discover one, which was, -however, so small that it could scarcely be seen. He tried the -key, and behold! it fitted exactly. Then he turned it once -round, and now, if you will wait until he has quite unlocked -it, and lifted up the lid, then we shall learn what wonderful -treasures were in the chest!</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_83'>83</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>Doctor Know-All</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>A long time ago there lived a peasant named -“Crabb,” who one day drove into a certain city his -cart laden with a bundle of faggots, drawn by two -oxen. He soon found a purchaser for his wood in the person -of a learned doctor, who bought it for two dollars, and, while -the money was being counted out, the peasant, peeping in at -the door, saw how comfortably his customer was eating and -drinking; and the thought thereupon came into his head that -he would like to be a professor, too. So he waited a little while, -and at last mustered courage to ask whether he could not be -a doctor. “Oh, yes,” replied the doctor, “that can soon be -managed!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What must I do?” asked the peasant.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“First of all, buy an A B C book, one which has a cock-a-doodle-do -for a frontispiece; secondly, sell your cart and oxen, -and turn them into money to buy good clothes with, and what -else belongs to a doctor’s appearance; lastly, let a sign be -painted, with the words, ‘I am the Doctor Know-All,’ and nail -that over your house door.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The countryman did all that he was told, and after he had -practised a little time, but not to much purpose, a certain very -wealthy baron had some money stolen from him. Mention was -made to the baron of Doctor Know-All, who dwelt in such a -village, and who would be sure to know where the money was -gone. As soon as the baron heard of him, he ordered his horses -put to his carriage and drove to the place where the doctor -lived. The baron inquired if he were the Doctor Know-All, -and he replying “Yes,” the baron said he must return with -him and discover his money.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Very well,” replied the doctor; “but my wife Gertrude -must accompany me.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_84'>84</span>To this the baron agreed, and, all being seated in the carriage, -away they drove back again. When they arrived at the -house a splendid collation was on the table, of which the doctor -was invited to partake. “Certainly,” said he, “but my wife -Gertrude, too”; and he sat down with her at the bottom of the -table. As soon as the first servant entered with a dish of delicate -soup, the doctor poked his wife, saying, “He is the first!” -meaning he was the first who had brought in meat. But the -servant imagined he meant to say, “He is the first thief!” and -because he really was so, he felt very much disturbed, and told -his comrades in the kitchen, “The doctor knows all; we shall -come off badly, for he has said I am the first!” When the -second servant heard this he felt afraid to go; but he was -obliged, and as soon as he entered the room with the dish, the -man poked his wife again, and said: “Gertrude, that is the -second!” This frightened the servant so much that he left the -room as soon as possible; and the third servant who entered -fared no better, for the doctor said to his wife, “That is the -third!” The fourth servant had to bring in a covered dish, -and the baron said to the doctor he must show his powers by -telling truly what was in the dish. Now, there were crabs in it, -and the doctor looked at the dish for some minutes, considering -how to get out of the scrape. At last he cried out: “Oh, poor -<em>Crabb</em> that I am!” When the baron heard this, he exclaimed: -“Good! he knows it! he knows, too, where my money is!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The servant, however, was terribly frightened; and he -winked to the doctor to follow him out. When he had done so, -he found all four servants there who had stolen the money, -and were now so eager to get off that they offered him a large -sum if he would not betray them; for if he did their necks -would be in danger. They led him also to the place where the -money lay hid, and the doctor was so pleased that he gave -them the required promise, and then returned to the house, -where he sat down again at table, and, producing his book, -said: “I will now look in my book, baron, and discover the -place where the money lies.” A fifth servant, who had had a -share in the robbery, wished to hear if the doctor knew more, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_85'>85</span>and so he crept up the chimney to listen. Below sat the countryman, -turning the leaves of his book backward and forward, -forward and backward, looking for the cock-a-doodle-doo. -However, he could not find it, and he at length exclaimed, -“You must come out, for I know you are in it!” This made -the servant up the chimney believe he meant him, and down he -slipped, and came out, crying, “The man knows all, the man -knows all!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then Doctor Know-All showed the baron where the money -lay; but he said nothing about who had stolen it, so that from -both sides he received a large sum of money as a reward, and, -moreover, he became a very celebrated character.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_86'>86</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Fair Catherine and Pif-Paf Poltrie</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>“Good Day, Father Hollenthe. How do you do?” -“Very well, I thank you, Pif-paf Poltrie.” “May I -marry your daughter?” “Oh, yes! if the mother -Malcho (<em>Milk-Cow</em>), the brother Hohenstolz (<em>High and -Mighty</em>), the sister Kâsetraut (<em>Cheese-maker</em>), and the fair -Catherine are willing, it may be so.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Where is, then, the mother Malcho?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“In the stable, milking the cow.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day, mother Malcho. How do you do?” “Very -well, I thank you, Pif-paf Poltrie.” “May I marry your -daughter?” “Oh, yes! if the father Hollenthe, the brother -Hohenstolz, the sister Kâsetraut, and the fair Catherine are -willing, it may be so.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Where is, then, the brother Hohenstolz?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“In the yard, chopping up the wood.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day, brother Hohenstolz. How are you?” “Very -well, I thank you, Pif-paf Poltrie.” “May I marry your sister?” -“Oh, yes! if the father Hollenthe, the mother Malcho, -the sister Kâsetraut, and the fair Catherine are willing, it may -be so.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Where is, then, the sister Kâsetraut?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“In the garden, cutting the cabbages.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day, sister Kâsetraut. How do you do?” “Very -well, I thank you, Pif-paf Poltrie.” “May I marry your sister?” -“Oh, yes! if the father Hollenthe, the mother Malcho, -the brother Hohenstolz, and the fair Catherine are willing, it -may be so.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Where is, then, the fair Catherine?”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_87'>87</span>“In her chamber, counting out her pennies.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day, fair Catherine. How do you do?” “Very -well, I thank you, Pif-paf Poltrie.” “Will you be my bride?” -“Oh, yes! if the father Hollenthe, the mother Malcho, the -brother Hohenstolz, and the sister Kâsetraut are willing, so -am I.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“How much money have you, fair Catherine?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Fourteen pennies in bare money, two and a half farthings -owing to me, half a pound of dried apples, a handful of prunes, -and a handful of roots; and don’t you call that a capital -dowry? Pif-paf Poltrie, what trade are you? Are you a -tailor?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Better than that.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“A shoemaker?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Better still!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“A plowman?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Better still!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“A joiner?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Better still!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“A smith?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Better still!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“A miller?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Better still!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Perhaps a broom-binder?” “Yes, so I am; now, is not -that a pretty trade?”</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_88'>88</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Wolf and the Fox</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>A wolf, once upon a time, caught a fox. It happened -one day that they were both going through the forest, -and the wolf said to his companion: “Get me -some food, or I will eat you up.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The fox replied: “I know a farmyard where there are a -couple of young lambs, which, if you wish, we will fetch.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>This proposal pleased the wolf, so they went, and the fox, -stealing first one of the lambs, brought it to the wolf, and then -ran away. The wolf devoured it quickly, but was not contented, -and went to fetch the other lamb by himself, but he did -it so awkwardly that he aroused the attention of the mother, -who began to cry and bleat loudly, so that the peasants ran up. -There they found the wolf, and beat him so unmercifully that -he ran, howling and limping, to the fox, and said: “You have -led me to a nice place, for, when I went to fetch the other lamb, -the peasants came and beat me terribly!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Why are you such a glutton, then?” asked the fox.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The next day they went again into the fields, and the covetous -wolf said to the fox: “Get me something to eat now, or -I will devour you!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The fox said he knew a country house where the cook was going -that evening to make some pancakes, and thither they went. -When they arrived, the fox sneaked and crept around round the -house, until he at last discovered where the dish was standing, -out of which he stole six pancakes, and took them to the wolf, -saying, “There is something for you to eat!” and then ran -away. The wolf dispatched these in a minute or two, and, -wishing to taste some more, he went and seized the dish, but -took it away so hurriedly that it broke in pieces. The noise of -its fall brought out the woman, who, as soon as she saw the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_89'>89</span>wolf, called her people, who, hastening up, beat him with such -a good will that he ran home to the fox, howling, with two -lame legs! “What a horrid place you have drawn me into -now,” cried he; “the peasants have caught me, and dressed my -skin finely!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Why, then, are you such a glutton?” said the fox.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When they went out again the third day, the wolf limping -along with weariness, he said to the fox: “Get me something -to eat now, or I will devour you!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The fox said he knew a man who had just killed a pig, and -salted the meat down in a cask in his cellar, and that they could -get at it. The wolf replied that he would go with him on condition -that he helped him if he could not escape. “Oh, of -course I will, on mine own account!” said the fox, and showed -him the tricks and ways by which they could get into the cellar. -When they went in there was meat in abundance, and the -wolf was enraptured at the sight. The fox, too, had a taste, -but kept looking round while eating, and ran frequently to the -hole by which they had entered, to see if his body would slip -through it easily. Presently the wolf asked: “Why are you -running about so, you fox, jumping in and out?” “I want -to see if any one is coming,” replied the fox cunningly; “but -mind you do not eat too much!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The wolf said he would not leave till the cask was quite -empty; and meanwhile the peasant, who had heard the noise -made by the fox, entered the cellar. The fox, as soon as he -saw him, made a spring, and was through the hole in a jiffy; -and the wolf tried to follow his example, but he had eaten so -much that his body was too big for the opening, and he stuck -fast. Then came the peasant with a cudgel, and beat him -sorely; but the fox leaped away into the forest, very glad to -get rid of the old glutton.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_90'>90</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>Discreet Hans</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Hans’ mother asked: “Whither are you going, -Hans?” “To Grethel’s,” replied he. “Behave well, -Hans.” “I will take care; good-by, mother.” “Good-by, -Hans.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Hans came to Grethel. “Good day,” said he. “Good day,” -replied Grethel, “what treasure do you bring to-day?” “I -bring nothing. Have you anything to give?” Grethel presented -Hans with a needle. “Good-by,” said he. “Good-by, -Hans.” Hans took the needle, stuck it in a load of hay, and -walked home behind the wagon.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good evening, mother.” “Good evening, Hans. Where -have you been?” “To Grethel’s.” “And what have you -given her?” “Nothing; she has given me something.” -“What has Grethel given you?” “A needle,” said Hans. -“And where have you put it?” “In the load of hay.” “Then -you have behaved stupidly, Hans; you should put needles on -your coat-sleeve.” “To behave better, do nothing at all,” -thought Hans.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Whither are you going, Hans?” “To Grethel’s, mother.” -“Behave well, Hans.” “I will take care; good-by, mother.” -“Good-by, Hans.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Hans came to Grethel. “Good day,” said he. “Good day, -Hans. What treasure do you bring?” “I bring nothing. -Have you anything to give?” Grethel gave Hans a knife. -“Good-by, Grethel.” “Good-by, Hans.” Hans took the -knife, put it in his sleeve, and went home.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good evening, mother.” “Good evening, Hans. Where -have you been?” “To Grethel’s.” “And what did you take -to her?” “I took nothing; she has given to me.” “And what -did she give you?” “A knife,” said Hans. “And where -<span class='pageno' id='Page_91'>91</span>have you put it?” “In my sleeve.” “Then you have behaved -foolishly again, Hans; you should put knives in your pocket.” -“To behave better, do nothing at all,” thought Hans.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Whither are you going, Hans?” “To Grethel’s, mother.” -“Behave well, Hans.” “I will take care; good-by, mother.” -“Good-by, Hans.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Hans came to Grethel. “Good day, Grethel.” “Good day, -Hans. What treasure do you bring?” “I bring nothing. -Have you anything to give?” Grethel gave Hans a young goat. -“Good-by, Grethel.” “Good-by, Hans.” Hans took the goat, -tied its legs, and put it in his pocket.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Just as he reached home it was suffocated. “Good evening, -mother.” “Good evening, Hans. Where have you been?” -“To Grethel’s.” “And what did you take to her?” “I took -nothing; she gave to me.” “And what did Grethel give you?” -“A goat.” “Where did you put it, Hans?” “In my pocket.” -“There you acted stupidly, Hans; you should have tied the -goat with a rope.” “To behave better, do nothing,” thought -Hans.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Whither away, Hans?” “To Grethel’s, mother.” “Behave -well, Hans.” “I’ll take care; good-by, mother.” “Good-by, -Hans.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Hans came to Grethel. “Good day,” said he. “Good day, -Hans. What treasure do you bring?” “I bring nothing. -Have you anything to give?” Grethel gave Hans a piece of -bacon. “Good-by, Grethel.” “Good-by, Hans.” Hans took -the bacon, tied it with a rope, and swung it to and fro so that -the dogs came and ate it up. When he reached home he held -the rope in his hand, but there was nothing on it.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good evening, mother,” said he. “Good evening, Hans. -Where have you been?” “To Grethel’s, mother.” “What did -you take there?” “I took nothing; she gave to me.” “And -what did Grethel give you?” “A piece of bacon,” said Hans. -“And where have you put it?” “I tied it with a rope, swung -it about, and the dogs came and ate it up.” “There you acted -stupidly, Hans; you should have carried the bacon on your -head.” “To behave better, do nothing,” thought Hans.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_92'>92</span>“Whither away, Hans?” “To Grethel’s, mother.” “Behave -well, Hans.” “I’ll take care; good-by, mother.” “Good-by, -Hans.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Hans came to Grethel. “Good day,” said he. “Good day, -Hans. What treasure do you bring?” “I bring nothing. -Have you anything to give?” Grethel gave Hans a calf. -“Good-by,” said Hans. “Good-by.” Hans took the calf, set -it on his head, and the calf scratched his face.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good evening, mother.” “Good evening, Hans. Where -have you been?” “To Grethel’s.” “What did you take her?” -“I took nothing; she gave to me.” “And what did Grethel -give you?” “A calf,” said Hans. “And what did you do -with it?” “I set it on my head, and it kicked my face.” -“Then you acted stupidly, Hans; you should have led the calf -home, and put it in the stall.” “To behave better, do nothing,” -thought Hans.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Whither away, Hans?” “To Grethel’s, mother.” “Behave -well, Hans.” “I’ll take care; good-by, mother.” “Good-by, -Hans.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Hans came to Grethel. “Good day,” said he. “Good day, -Hans. What treasure do you bring?” “I bring nothing. -Have you anything to give?” Grethel said: “I will go with -you, Hans.” Hans tied a rope round Grethel, led her home, -put her in the stall, and made the rope fast; and then he went -to his mother.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good evening, mother.” “Good evening, Hans. Where -have you been?” “To Grethel’s.” “What did you take her?” -“I took nothing.” “What did Grethel give you?” “She gave -nothing; she came with me.” “And where have you left her, -then?” “I tied her with a rope, put her in the stall, and threw -in some grass.” “Then you acted stupidly, Hans; you should -have looked at her with friendly eyes.” “To behave better, do -nothing,” thought Hans; and then he went into the stall, and -made sheep’s eyes at Grethel.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And after that Grethel became Hans’ wife.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_93'>93</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>King Thrush-beard</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>A certain king had a daughter who was beautiful -above all belief, but withal so proud and haughty, that -no suitor was good enough for her, and she not only -turned back every one who came, but also made game of them -all. Once the king proclaimed a great festival, and invited -thereto from far and near all the marriageable young men. -When they arrived they were all set in a row, according to -their rank and standing: first the kings, then the princes, the -dukes, the marquesses, the earls, and, last of all, the barons. -Then the king’s daughter was led down the rows, but she -found something to make game of it<a id='t93'></a> all. One was too fat. -“The wine-tub!” said she. Another was too tall. “Long and -lanky; has no grace,” she remarked. A third was too short and -fat. “Too stout to have any wits,” said she. A fourth was -too pale. “Like Death himself,” was her remark, and a fifth, -who had a great deal of color, she called “a cockatoo.” The -sixth was not straight enough, and him she called “a green log -scorched in the oven!” And so she went on, nicknaming every -one of the suitors, but she made particularly merry with a good -young king whose chin had grown rather crooked. “Ha, ha!” -laughed she, “he has a chin like a thrush’s beak”; and after -that day he went by the name of Thrush-beard.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The old king, however, when he saw that his daughter did -nothing but mock at and make sport of all the suitors who were -collected, became very angry, and swore that she should take -the first decent beggar for a husband who came to the gate.</p> - -<p class='c000'>A couple of days after this a player came beneath the windows -to sing and earn some bounty if he could. As soon as -the king saw him he ordered him to be called up, and presently -he came into the room in all his dirty, ragged clothes, and sang -<span class='pageno' id='Page_94'>94</span>before the king and princess, and when he had finished he -begged for a slight recompense. The king said: “Thy song -has pleased so much that I will give thee my daughter for a -wife.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The princess was terribly frightened, but the king said: “I -have taken an oath, and mean to perform it, that I will give -you to the first beggar.” All her remonstrances were in vain; -the priest was called, and the princess was married in earnest -to the player. When the ceremony was performed, the king -said: “Now, it cannot be suffered that you should stop here -with your husband, in my house; no! you must travel about the -country with him.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So the beggarman led her away, and she was forced to -trudge along with him on foot. As they came to a large -forest, she asked:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“To whom belongs this beautiful wood?”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>The echo replied:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“King Thrush-beard the good!</div> - <div class='line'>Had you taken him, it had been thine.”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>“Ah, silly,” said she,</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“What a lot had been mine</div> - <div class='line'>Had I happily married King Thrush-beard!”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>Next they came to a meadow, and she asked:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“To whom belongs this meadow so green?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“To King Thrush-beard,” was again the reply.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then they came to a great city, and she asked:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“To whom does this beautiful town belong?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“To King Thrush-beard,” said one.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Ah, what a simpleton was I that I did not marry him when -I had the chance!” exclaimed the poor princess.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Come,” broke in the player, “it does not please me, I can -tell you, that you are always wishing for another husband; am -I not good enough for you?”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_95'>95</span>By and by they came to a very small hut, and she said: “Ah, -heavens, to whom can this miserable, wretched hovel belong?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The player replied: “That is my house, where we shall live -together.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The princess was obliged to stoop to get in at the door, and -when she was inside, she asked: “Where are the servants?” -“What servants?” exclaimed her husband. “You must yourself -do all that you want done. Now make a fire and put on -some water, that you may cook my dinner, for I am quite -tired.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The princess, however, understood nothing about making -fires or cooking, and the beggar had to set to work himself, -and as soon as they had finished their scanty meal they went -to bed. In the morning the husband woke up his wife very -early, that she might set the house to rights, and for a couple -of days they lived on in this way, and made an end of their -store. Then the husband said: “Wife, we must not go on in -this way any longer, stopping here, doing nothing; you must -weave some baskets.” So he went out and cut some osiers and -brought them home, but when his wife attempted to bend them -the hard twigs wounded her hands and made them bleed. “I -see that won’t suit,” said her husband; “you had better spin, -perhaps that will do better.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So she sat down to spin, but the harsh thread cut her tender -fingers very badly, so that the blood flowed freely. “Do you -see,” said the husband, “how you are spoiling your work? I -made a bad bargain in taking you! Now I must try and make -a business in pots and earthen vessels; you shall sit in the market -and sell them.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, if anybody out of my father’s dominions should come -and see me in the market selling pots,” thought the princess to -herself, “how they would laugh at me!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>However, all her excuses were in vain; she must either do -that or die of hunger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The first time all went well, for the people bought of the -princess, because she was so pretty-looking, and not only gave -her what she asked, but some even laid down their money and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_96'>96</span>left the pots behind. On her earnings this day, they lived for -some time as long as they lasted; and then the husband purchased -a fresh stock of pots. With these she placed her stall -at a corner of the market, offering them for sale. All at once -a drunken hussar came plunging down the street on his horse, -and rode right into the midst of her earthenware, and shattered -it into a thousand pieces. The accident, as well it might, -set her a-weeping, and in her trouble, not knowing what to do, -she ran home crying: “Ah, what will become of me; what will -my good man say?” When she had told her husband, he -cried out: “Who ever would have thought of sitting at the -corner of the market to sell earthenware? but well I see you -are not accustomed to any ordinary work. There, leave off -crying; I have been to the king’s palace, and asked if they were -not in want of a kitchen-maid; and they have agreed to take -you, and there you will live free of cost.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now the princess became a kitchen-maid, and was obliged to -do as the cook bade her, and wash up the dirty things. Then -she put a jar into each of her pockets, and in them she took -home what was left of what fell to her share of the good things, -and of these she and her husband made their meals. Not many -days afterward it happened that the wedding of the king’s eldest -son was to be celebrated, and the poor wife placed herself -near the door of the saloon to look on. As the lamps were lit -and guests more and more beautiful entered the room, and all -dressed most sumptuously, she reflected on her fate with a -saddened heart, and repented of the pride and haughtiness -which had so humiliated and impoverished her. Every now -and then the servants threw her out of the dishes morsels of -rich delicacies which they carried in, whose fragrant smells -increased her regrets, and these pieces she put into her pockets -to carry home. Presently the king entered, clothed in silk and -velvet, and having a golden chain round his neck. As soon as -he saw the beautiful maiden standing at the door, he seized her -by the hand and would dance with her, but she, terribly frightened, -refused; for she saw it was King Thrush-beard, who had -wooed her, and whom she had laughed at. Her struggles were -<span class='pageno' id='Page_97'>97</span>of no avail; he drew her into the ball-room, and there tore off -the band to which the pots were attached, so that they fell -down and the soup ran over the floor, while the pieces of meat, -etc., skipped about in all directions. When the fine folks saw -this sight they burst into one universal shout of laughter and -derision, and the poor girl was so ashamed that she wished -herself a thousand fathoms below the earth. She ran out at -the door and would have escaped; but on the steps she met a -man, who took her back, and when she looked at him, lo! it was -King Thrush-beard again. He spoke kindly to her, and said: -“Be not afraid; I and the musician, who dwelt with you in the -wretched hut, are one; for love of you I have acted thus; and -the hussar who rode in among the pots was also myself. All -this has taken place in order to humble your haughty disposition, -and to punish you for your pride, which led you to -mock me.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>At these words she wept bitterly, and said: “I am not worthy -to be your wife, I have done you so great a wrong.” But he -replied: “Those evil days are passed; we will now celebrate -our marriage.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Immediately after came the bridesmaids, and put on her the -most magnificent dresses; and then her father and his whole -court arrived, and wished her happiness on her wedding-day; -and now commenced her true joy as queen of the country of -King Thrush-beard.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_98'>98</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Three Luck-Children</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>There was once upon a time a father, who called his -three sons to him, and gave the first a cock, the second -a scythe, and the third a cat, and then addressed them -thus: “I am very old, and my end draweth nigh, but I wish to -show my care for you before I die. Money I have not, and -what I now give you appears of little worth; but do not think -that, for if each of you use his gift carefully, and seek some -country where such a thing is not known, your fortunes will -be made.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Soon after, the father died, and the eldest son set out on his -travels with his cock, but wherever he came, such a creature -was already well known. In the towns he saw it from afar, -sitting upon the church steeples, and turning itself round with -the wind; and in the villages he heard more than one crow, and -nobody troubled himself about another, so that it did not seem -as if he would ever make his fortune by it. At last, however, -it fell out that he arrived on an island where the people knew -nothing about cocks, nor even how to divide their time. They -knew, certainly, when it was evening and morning, but at night, -if they did not sleep through it, they could not comprehend the -time. “See,” said he to them, “what a proud creature it is, -what a fine red crown it wears on its head, and it has spurs like -a knight! Thrice during the night it will crow at certain hours, -and the third time it calls you may know the sun will soon rise; -but, if it crows by day, you may prepare then for a change of -weather.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The good people were well pleased, and the whole night they -laid awake and listened to the cock, which crowed loudly and -clearly at two, four, and six o’clock. The next day they asked -if the creature were not for sale, and how much he asked, and -he replied: “As much gold as an ass can bear.” “A ridiculously -<span class='pageno' id='Page_99'>99</span>small sum,” said they, “for such a marvelous creature!” -and gave him readily what he asked.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When he returned home with his money, his brothers were -astonished, and the second said he would also go out and see -what luck his scythe would bring him. But at first it did not -seem likely that fortune would favor him, for all the countrymen -he met carried equally good scythes upon their shoulders. -At last, however, he also came to an island whose people were -ignorant of the use of scythes; for when a field of corn was -ripe, they planted great cannons and shot it down! In this way, -it was no uncommon thing that many of them shot quite over -it; others hit the ears instead of the stalks, and shot them quite -away, so that a great quantity was always ruined, and the most -doleful lamentations ensued. But our hero, when he arrived, -mowed away so silently and quickly, that the people held their -breath and noses with wonder, and willingly gave him what he -desired, which was a horse laden with as much gold as it could -carry.</p> - -<p class='c000'>On his return the third brother set out with his cat to try his -luck, and it happened to him exactly as it had done to the -others; so long as he kept on the old roads he met with no -place which did not already boast its cat; indeed, so many were -there that the new-born kittens were usually drowned. At last -he voyaged to an island where, luckily for him, cats were unknown -animals; and yet, the mice were so numerous that they -danced upon the tables and chairs, whether the master of the -house were at home or not. These people complained continually -of the plague, and the king himself knew not how to deliver -them from it; for in every corner the mice were swarming, -and destroyed what they could not carry away in their teeth. -The cat, however, on its arrival, commenced a grand hunt; and -so soon cleared a couple of rooms of the troublesome visitors, -that the people begged the king to buy it for the use of his -kingdom. The king gave willingly the price that was asked -for the wonderful animal, and the third brother returned home -with a still larger treasure, in the shape of a mule laden with -gold.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_100'>100</span>Meanwhile the cat was having capital sport in the royal palace -with the mice, and bit so many that the dead were not to be -numbered. At last she became very thirsty with the hot work, -and stopped, and, raising her head, cried: “Miau, miau!” At -the unusual sound, the king, together with all his courtiers, -were much frightened, and in terror they ran out of the castle. -There the king held a council what it were best to do, and at -length it was resolved to send a herald to the cat, to demand -that she should quit the castle, or force would be used to make -her. “For,” said the councilors, “we would rather be plagued -by the mice, to which we are accustomed, than surrender ourselves -a prey to this beast.” A page was accordingly sent to the -cat to ask whether she would quit the castle in peace; but the -cat, whose thirst had all the while been increasing, replied nothing -but “Miau, miau!” The page understood her to say, “No, -no!” and brought the king word accordingly. The councilors -agreed then that she should feel their power, and cannons were -brought out and fired, so that the castle was presently in flames. -When the fire reached the room where the cat was, she sprang -out of the window, but the besiegers ceased not until the whole -was leveled with the ground.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_101'>101</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Three Sluggards</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>A certain king had three sons, all of whom he loved -so much that he did not know which he should name -to be king after him. When the day of his death approached, -he called them to his bedside, and thus spoke to them: -“Dear children, I have something on my mind that I wish to -tell you; whichever of you is the laziest, he shall be king when -I am dead.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Then, father, the kingdom belongs to me,” said the eldest -son; “for I am so lazy, that if I lie down to sleep, and tears -come into my eyes, so that I cannot close them, I yet go to -sleep without wiping them away!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“The kingdom belongs to me,” cried the second son; “for I -am so lazy that when I sit by the fire to warm myself, I allow -my boots to scorch before I will draw away my feet!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>But the third son said: “The kingdom is mine, father, for I -am so lazy that, were I about to be hanged, and even had I -the rope round my neck, and any one should give me a sharp -sword to cut it with, I should suffer myself to be swung off before -I took the trouble to cut the rope!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>As soon as the father heard this, he said to his youngest -son: “You have shown yourself the laziest of all, and you -shall be king.”</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_102'>102</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Fisherman and his Wife</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>There was once a fisherman who lived with his wife -in a miserable little hovel close to the sea. He went -to fish every day, and he fished and fished, and at last -one day, when he was sitting looking deep down into the shining -water, he felt something on his line. When he hauled it -up there was a great flounder on the end of the line. The -flounder said to him: “Look here, fisherman, don’t you kill -me; I am no common flounder, I am an enchanted prince! -What good will it do you to kill me? I sha’n’t be good to eat; -put me back into the water, and leave me to swim about.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well,” said the fisherman, “you need not make so many -words about it. I am quite ready to put back a flounder that -can talk.” And so saying, he put back the flounder into the -shining water, and it sank down to the bottom, leaving a streak -of blood behind it.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then the fisherman got up and went back to his wife in the -hovel. “Husband,” she said, “hast thou caught nothing today?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No,” said the man; “all I caught was one flounder, and -he said he was an enchanted prince, so I let him go swim -again.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Didst thou not wish for anything then?” asked the good -wife.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No,” said the man; “what was there to wish for?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Alas!” said his wife; “isn’t it bad enough always to live -in this wretched hovel? Thou mightest at least have wished -for a nice clean cottage. Go back and call him; tell him I -want a pretty cottage; he will surely give us that!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Alas,” said the man, “what am I to go back there for?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well,” said the woman, “it was thou who caught him and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_103'>103</span>let him go again; for certain he will do that for thee. Be off -now!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The man was still not very willing to go, but he did not want -to vex his wife, and at last he went back to the sea.</p> - -<p class='c000'>He found the sea no longer bright and shining, but dull and -green. He stood by it and said:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Flounder, flounder in the sea,</div> - <div class='line'>Prythee, hearken unto me:</div> - <div class='line'>My wife, Ilsebil, will have her own way</div> - <div class='line'>Whatever I wish, whatever <em>I</em> say.”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>The flounder came swimming up, and said: “Well, what do -you want?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Alas!” said the man; “I had to call you, for my wife said -I ought to have wished for something, as I caught you. She -doesn’t want to live in our miserable hovel any longer; she -wants a pretty cottage.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Go home again, then,” said the flounder; “she has her wish -fully.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The man went home and found his wife no longer in the -old hut, but a pretty little cottage stood in its place, and his -wife was sitting on a bench by the door.</p> - -<p class='c000'>She took him by the hand, and said: “Come and look in -here—isn’t this much better?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>They went inside and found a pretty sitting-room, and a -bedroom with a bed in it, a kitchen, and a larder furnished -with everything of the best in tin and brass, and every possible -requisite. Outside there was a little yard with chickens and -ducks, and a little garden full of vegetables and fruit.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Look!” said the woman, “is not this nice?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes,” said the man; “and so let it remain. We can live -here very happily.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We will see about that,” said the woman, and with that -they ate something and went to bed.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Everything went well for a week or more, and then said the -wife: “Listen, husband; this cottage is too cramped, and the -garden is too small. The flounder might have given us a bigger -<span class='pageno' id='Page_104'>104</span>house. I want to live in a big stone castle. Go to the -flounder, and tell him to give us a castle.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Alas, wife!” said the man; “the cottage is good enough -for us; what should we do with a castle?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Never mind,” said his wife; “do thou but go to the flounder, -and he will manage it.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Nay, wife,” said the man; “the flounder gave us the cottage. -I don’t want to go back; as likely as not he’ll be angry.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Go, all the same,” said the woman. “He can do it easily -enough, and willingly into the bargain. Just go!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The man’s heart was heavy, and he was very unwilling to -go. He said to himself: “It’s not right.” But at last he went.</p> - -<p class='c000'>He found the sea was no longer green; it was still calm, but -dark violet and gray. He stood by it and said:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Flounder, flounder in the sea,</div> - <div class='line'>Prythee, hearken unto me:</div> - <div class='line'>My wife, Ilsebil, will have her own way</div> - <div class='line'>Whatever I wish, whatever I say.”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>“Now, what do you want?” said the flounder.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Alas,” said the man, half scared, “my wife wants a big -stone castle.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Go home again,” said the flounder; “she is standing at -the door of it.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then the man went away, thinking he would find no house, -but when he got back he found a great stone palace, and his -wife standing at the top of the steps, waiting to go in.</p> - -<p class='c000'>She took him by the hand and said: “Come in with me.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>With that they went in and found a great hall paved with -marble slabs, and numbers of servants in attendance, who -opened the great doors for them. The walls were hung with -beautiful tapestries, and the rooms were furnished with golden -chairs and tables, while rich carpets covered the floors, and -crystal chandeliers hung from the ceilings. The tables groaned -under every kind of delicate food and the most costly wines. -Outside the house there was a great courtyard, with stabling -for horses, and cows, and many fine carriages. Beyond this -<span class='pageno' id='Page_105'>105</span>there was a great garden filled with the loveliest flowers, and -fine fruit trees. There was also a park, half a mile long, and -in it were stags and hinds, and hares, and everything of the -kind one could wish for.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Now,” said the woman, “is not this worth having?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, yes,” said the man; “and so let it remain. We will -live in this beautiful palace and be content.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We will think about that,” said his wife, “and sleep -upon it.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>With that they went to bed.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Next morning the wife woke up first; day was just dawning, -and from her bed she could see the beautiful country around -her. Her husband was still asleep, but she pushed him with -her elbow, and said: “Husband, get up and peep out of the -window. See here, now, could we not be king over all this -land? Go to the flounder. We will be king.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Alas, wife,” said the man, “what should we be king for? -I don’t want to be king.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Ah,” said his wife, “if thou wilt not be king, I will. Go -to the flounder. I will be king.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Alas, wife,” said the man, “whatever dost thou want to be -king for? I don’t like to tell him.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Why not?” said the woman. “Go thou must. I will be -king.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So the man went; but he was quite sad because his wife -would be king.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It is not right,” he said; “it is not right.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>When he reached the sea, he found it dark, gray, and rough, -and evil-smelling. He stood there and said:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Flounder, flounder in the sea,</div> - <div class='line'>Prythee, hearken unto me:</div> - <div class='line'>My wife, Ilsebil, will have her own way</div> - <div class='line'>Whatever I wish, whatever I say.”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>“Now, what does she want?” said the flounder.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Alas,” said the man, “she wants to be king now.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Go back. She is king already,” said the flounder.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_106'>106</span>So the man went back, and when he reached the palace he -found that it had grown much larger, and a great tower had -been added, with handsome decorations. There was a sentry -at the door, and numbers of soldiers were playing drums and -trumpets. As soon as he got inside the house, he found everything -was marble and gold; and the hangings were of velvet, -with great golden tassels. The doors of the saloon were -thrown wide open, and he saw the whole court assembled. His -wife was sitting on a lofty throne of gold and diamonds; she -wore a golden crown, and carried in one hand a scepter of pure -gold. On each side of her stood her ladies in a long row, each -one a head shorter than the next.</p> - -<p class='c000'>He stood before her, and said: “Alas, wife, art thou now -king?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes,” she said; “now I am king.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>He stood looking at her for some time, and then he said: -“Ah, wife, it is a fine thing for thee to be king; now we will -not wish to be anything more.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Nay, husband,” she answered, quite uneasily, “I find the -time hangs very heavy on my hands. I can’t bear it any -longer. Go back to the flounder. King I am, but I must also -be emperor.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Alas, wife,” said the man, “why dost thou now want to be -emperor?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Husband,” she answered, “go to the flounder. Emperor I -will be.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Alas, wife,” said the man, “emperor he can’t make thee, -and I won’t ask him. There is only one emperor in the country; -and emperor the flounder cannot make thee, that he can’t.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What?” said the woman. “I am king, and thou art but -my husband. To him thou must go, and that right quickly. If -he can make a king, he can also make an emperor. Emperor -I will be, so quickly go.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>He had to go, but he was quite frightened. And as he went, -he thought: “This won’t end well; emperor is too shameless. -The flounder will make an end of the whole thing.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>With that he came to the sea, but now he found it quite black, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_107'>107</span>and heaving up from below in great waves. It tossed to and -fro, and a sharp wind blew over it, and the man trembled. So -he stood there, and said:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Flounder, flounder in the sea,</div> - <div class='line'>Prythee, hearken unto me:</div> - <div class='line'>My wife, Ilsebil, will have her own way</div> - <div class='line'>Whatever I wish, whatever I say.”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>“What does she want now?” said the flounder.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Alas, flounder,” he said, “my wife wants to be emperor.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Go back,” said the flounder. “She is emperor.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So the man went back, and when he got to the door, he found -that the whole palace was made of polished marble, with alabaster -figures and golden decorations. Soldiers marched up -and down before the doors, blowing their trumpets and beating -their drums. Inside the palace, counts, barons, and dukes -walked about as attendants, and they opened to him the doors, -which were of pure gold.</p> - -<p class='c000'>He went in, and saw his wife sitting on a huge throne made -of solid gold. It was at least two miles high. She had on her -head a great golden crown, set with diamonds, three yards high. -In one hand she held the scepter, and in the other the ball of -empire. On each side of her stood the gentlemen-at-arms in -two rows, each one a little smaller than the other, from giants -two miles high, down to the tiniest dwarf no bigger than my -little finger. She was surrounded by princes and dukes.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Her husband stood still, and said: “Wife, art thou now emperor?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes,” said she; “now I am emperor.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then he looked at her for some time, and said: “Alas, wife, -how much better off art thou for being emperor?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Husband,” she said, “what art thou standing there for? -Now I am emperor, I mean to be pope! Go back to the -flounder.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Alas, wife,” said the man, “what wilt thou not want? -Pope thou canst not be. There is only one pope in Christendom. -That’s more than the flounder can do.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_108'>108</span>“Husband,” she said, “pope I will be; so go at once. I must -be pope this very day.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No, wife,” he said, “I dare not tell him. It’s no good; it’s -too monstrous altogether. The flounder cannot make thee -pope.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Husband,” said the woman, “don’t talk nonsense. If he -can make an emperor, he can make a pope. Go immediately. -I am emperor, and thou art but my husband, and thou must -obey.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So he was frightened, and went; but he was quite dazed. He -shivered and shook, and his knees trembled.</p> - -<p class='c000'>A great wind arose over the land, the clouds flew across the -sky, and it grew as dark as night; the leaves fell from the -trees, and the water foamed and dashed upon the shore. In the -distance the ships were being tossed to and fro on the waves, -and he heard them firing signals of distress. There was still -a little patch of blue in the sky among the dark clouds, but -toward the south they were red and heavy, as in a bad storm. -In despair, he stood and said:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Flounder, flounder in the sea,</div> - <div class='line'>Prythee, hearken unto me:</div> - <div class='line'>My wife, Ilsebil, will have her own way</div> - <div class='line'>Whatever I wish, whatever I say.”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>“Now, what does she want?” said the flounder.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Alas,” said the man, “she wants to be pope.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Go back. Pope she is,” said the flounder.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So back he went, and he found a great church, surrounded -with palaces. He pressed through the crowd, and inside he -found thousands and thousands of lights, and his wife, entirely -clad in gold, was sitting on a still higher throne, with -three golden crowns upon her head, and she was surrounded -with priestly state. On each side of her were two rows of -candles, the biggest as thick as a tower, down to the tiniest little -taper. Kings and emperors were on their knees before her, -kissing her shoe.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Wife,” said the man, looking at her, “art thou now pope?”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_109'>109</span>“Yes,” said she; “now I am pope.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So there he stood gazing at her, and it was like looking at -a shining sun.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Alas, wife,” he said, “art thou better off for being pope?” -At first she sat as stiff as a post, without stirring. Then he -said: “Now, wife, be content with being pope; higher thou -canst not go.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I will think about that,” said the woman, and with that -they both went to bed. Still she was not content, and could not -sleep for her inordinate desires. The man slept well and -soundly, for he had walked about a great deal in the day; but -his wife could think of nothing but what further grandeur she -could demand. When the dawn reddened the sky, she raised -herself up in bed and looked out of the window, and when she -saw the sun rise she said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Ha! can I not cause the sun and the moon to rise? Husband!” -she cried, digging her elbow into his side, “wake up -and go to the flounder. I will be lord of the universe.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Her husband, who was still more than half asleep, was so -shocked that he fell out of bed. He thought he must have -heard wrong. He rubbed his eyes and said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Alas, wife, what didst thou say?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Husband,” she said, “if I cannot be lord of the universe, -and cause the sun and moon to set and rise, I shall not be able -to bear it. I shall never have another happy moment.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>She looked at him so wildly that it caused a shudder to run -through him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Alas, wife,” he said, falling on his knees before her, “the -flounder can’t do that. Emperor and pope he can make, but -that is indeed beyond him. I pray thee, control thyself and -remain pope.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then she flew into a terrible rage. Her hair stood on end; -she panted for breath, and screamed:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I won’t bear it any longer; wilt thou go?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then he pulled on his trousers and tore away like a madman. -Such a storm was raging that he could hardly keep -his feet; houses and trees quivered and swayed, mountains -<span class='pageno' id='Page_110'>110</span>trembled, and the rocks rolled into the sea. The sky was -pitchy black; it thundered and lightened, and the sea ran in -black waves, mountains high, crested with white foam. He -shrieked out, but could hardly make himself heard:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Flounder, flounder in the sea,</div> - <div class='line'>Prythee, hearken unto me:</div> - <div class='line'>My wife, Ilsebil, will have her own way</div> - <div class='line'>Whatever I wish, whatever I say.”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>“Now, what does she want?” asked the flounder.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Alas,” he said, “she wants to be Lord of the Universe.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Now she must go back to her old hovel,” said the flounder; -“and there you will find her.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>And there they are to this very day!</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_111'>111</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Nose-tree</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Did you ever hear the story of the three poor soldiers -who, after having fought hard in the wars, set out on -their road home, begging their way as they went?</p> - -<p class='c000'>They had journeyed on a long time, sick at heart with their -bad luck at thus being turned loose on the world in their old -days, when one evening they reached a deep, gloomy wood, -through which lay their road. Night came fast upon them, and -they found that they must, however unwillingly, sleep in this -wood; so, to make all safe as they could, it was agreed that two -should lie down and sleep, while a third sat up and watched, -lest wild beasts should break in and tear them to pieces. When -he was tired he was to wake one of the others, and sleep in his -turn; and so on with the third, so as to share the work fairly -among them.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The two who were to rest first soon lay down and fell fast -asleep; and the other made himself a good fire under the trees, -and sat down by its side to keep watch. He had not sat long -before, all of a sudden, up came a little dwarf in a red jacket. -“Who is there?” said he. “A friend,” said the soldier. -“What sort of a friend?” “An old, broken soldier,” said the -other, “with his two comrades, who have nothing left to live -on; come, sit down and warm yourself.” “Well, my worthy fellow,” -said the little man, “I will do what I can for you; take -this and show it to your comrades in the morning.” So he -took out an old cloak and gave it to the soldier, telling him -that whenever he put it over his shoulders anything that he -wished for would be done for him. Then the little man made -him a bow and walked away.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The second soldier’s turn to watch soon came, and the first -laid him down to sleep; but the second man had not sat by -<span class='pageno' id='Page_112'>112</span>himself long before up came the dwarf in the red jacket again. -The soldier treated him in as friendly a way as his comrade -had done, and the little man gave him a purse, which he told -him would be always full of gold, let him draw as much as he -would out of it.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then the third soldier’s turn to watch came; and he also -had little Red-jacket for his guest, who gave him a wonderful -horn, that drew crowds around it whenever it was played, and -made every one forget his business to come and dance to its -beautiful music.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In the morning each told his story, and showed the gift he -had got from the elf: and as they all liked one another very -much, and were old friends, they agreed to travel together to -see the world, and, for a while, only to make use of the wonderful -purse. And thus they spent their time very joyously, till -at last they began to be tired of this roving life, and thought -they should like to have a home of their own. So the first soldier -put his old cloak on and wished for a fine castle. In -a moment it stood before their eyes: fine gardens and green -lawns spread around it, and flocks of sheep and goats; herds -of oxen were grazing about; and out of the gate came a grand -coach with three dapple-gray horses, to meet them and bring -them home.</p> - -<p class='c000'>All this was very well for a time, but they found it would -not do to stay at home always; so they got together all their -rich clothes, and jewels, and money, and ordered their coach -with three dapple-gray horses, and set out on a journey -to see a neighboring king. Now this king had an only daughter, -and as he saw the three soldiers traveling in such grand -style, he took them for king’s sons, and so gave them a kind -welcome. One day, as the second soldier was walking with -the princess, she saw that he had the wonderful purse in his -hand. Then she asked him what it was, and he was foolish -enough to tell her—though, indeed, it did not much signify -what he said, for she was a fairy, and knew all the wonderful -things that the three soldiers had brought. Now this princess -was very cunning and artful; so she set to work and made -<span class='pageno' id='Page_113'>113</span>a purse, so like the soldier’s that no one would know the one -from the other; and then she asked him to come and see her, -and made him drink some wine that she had got ready for -him, and which soon made him fall fast asleep. Then she felt -in his pocket, and took away the wonderful purse, and left -the one she had made in its place.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The next morning the soldiers set out home; and soon after -they reached their castle, happening to want some money, they -went to their purse for it, and found something indeed in it; -but to their great sorrow, when they had emptied it, none -came in the place of what they took. Then the cheat was soon -found out; for the second soldier knew where he had been, -and how he had told the story to the princess, and he guessed -that she had played him a trick. “Alas!” cried he, “poor -wretches that we are, what shall we do?” “Oh!” said the -first soldier, “let no gray hairs grow for this mishap; I will -soon get the purse back.” So he threw his cloak across his -shoulders and wished himself in the princess’s chamber.</p> - -<p class='c000'>There he found her sitting alone, telling up her gold, that -fell around her in a shower from the wonderful purse.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But the soldier stood looking at her too long; for she -turned around, and the moment she saw him she started up -and cried out with all her force, “Thieves! thieves!” so that -the whole court came running in and tried to seize on him. -The poor soldier now began to be dreadfully frightened in his -turn, and thought it was high time to make the best of his -way off; so, without thinking of the ready way of traveling -that his cloak gave him, he ran to the window, opened it, and -jumped out; and unluckily, in his haste, his cloak caught and -was left hanging, to the great joy of the princess, who knew -its worth.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The poor soldier made the best of his way home to his -comrades on foot, and in a very downcast mood; but the third -soldier told him to keep up his heart, and took his horn and -blew a merry tune. At the first blast a countless host of -foot-and-horse came rushing to their aid, and they set out to -make war against their enemy. The king’s palace was at once -<span class='pageno' id='Page_114'>114</span>besieged, and he was told that he must give up the purse and -cloak, or that not one stone should be left upon another. So -the king went into his daughter’s chamber and talked with -her; but she said, “Let me try first if I cannot beat them one -way or another.” So she thought of a cunning scheme to -over-reach them; and dressing herself out as a poor girl, with -a basket on her arm, she set out by night with her maid, and -went into the enemy’s camp, as if she wanted to sell trinkets.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In the morning she began to ramble about, singing ballads -so beautifully that all the tents were left empty, and the soldiers -ran round in crowds, and thought of nothing but hearing -her sing. Among the rest came the soldier to whom the -horn belonged, and as soon as she saw him she winked to her -maid, who slipped slyly through the crowd, and went into his -tent where it hung and stole it away. This done, they both -got safely back to the palace, the besieging army went away, -the three wonderful gifts were all left in the hands of the -princess, and the three soldiers were as penniless and forlorn -as when little Red-jacket found them in the wood.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Poor fellows! they began to think what was now to be done. -“Comrades,” at last said the second soldier, who had had the -purse, “we had better part; we cannot live together, let each -seek his bread as well as he can.” So he turned to the right, -and the other two went to the left, for they said they would -rather travel together. The second soldier strayed on till he -came to a wood (which happened to be the same wood where -they had met with so much good luck before), and he walked -on a long time till evening began to fall, when he sat down -tired beneath a tree and soon fell asleep.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Morning dawned, and he was greatly delighted, on opening -his eyes, to see that the tree was laden with the most beautiful -apples. He was hungry enough, so he soon plucked and -ate first one, then a second, then a third apple. A strange -feeling came over his nose; when he put the apple to his -mouth something was in the way. He felt it—it was his nose, -that grew and grew till it hung down to his breast. It did not -stop there—still it grew and grew. “Heavens!” thought he, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_115'>115</span>“when will it have done growing?” And well might he ask, -for by this time it reached the ground as he sat on the grass—and -thus it kept creeping on till he could not bear its weight -or raise himself up; and it seemed as if it would never end, -for already it stretched its enormous length all through the -wood, over hill and dale.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Meantime his comrades were journeying on, till on a sudden -one of them stumbled against something. “What can -that be?” said the other. They looked, and could think of -nothing that it was like but a nose. “We will follow it and -find its owner, however,” said they. So they traced it up, till -at last they found their poor comrade, lying stretched along -under the apple-tree.</p> - -<p class='c000'>What was to be done? They tried to carry him, but in -vain. They caught an ass that was passing, and raised him -upon its back; but it was soon tired of carrying such a load. -So they sat down in despair, when before long up came their -old acquaintance, the dwarf with the red jacket. “Why, how -now, friend,” said he, laughing: “well, I must find a cure for -you, I see.” So he told them to gather a pear from another -tree that grew close by, and the nose would come right again. -No time was lost; and the nose, to the poor soldier’s joy, was -soon brought to its proper size.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I will do something more for you, still,” said the dwarf: -“take some of those pears and apples with you; whoever eats -one of the apples will have his nose grow like yours just now; -but if you give him a pear, all will come right again. Go to -the princess, and get her to eat some of your apples; her nose -will grow twenty times as long as yours did: then look sharp, -and you will get what you want from her.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The friends thanked the dwarf very heartily for all his -kindness; and it was agreed that the poor soldier, who had -already tried the power of the apple, should follow out the suggestion. -So he dressed himself up as a gardener’s boy, and went -to the king’s palace, and said he had apples to sell, so fine and -so beautiful as were never seen there before. Every one that -saw them was delighted, and wanted to taste; but he said they -<span class='pageno' id='Page_116'>116</span>were for the princess only; and she soon sent her maid to buy -his stock. They were so ripe and rosy that she soon began -eating; and had not eaten above a dozen before she too began -to wonder what ailed her nose, for it grew and grew down to -the ground, out at the window, and over the garden, and -away, nobody knows where.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then the king made known to all his kingdom that whoever -would heal her of this dreadful disease should be richly rewarded. -Many tried, but the princess got no relief. And -now the old soldier dressed himself up very sprucely as a -doctor, and said he would cure her. So he chopped up some -of the apple, and, to punish her a little more, gave her a dose, -saying he would call to-morrow and see her again. The morrow -came, and, of course, instead of being better, the nose -had been growing on all night as before; and the poor princess -was in a dreadful fright. So the doctor then chopped up -a very little of the pear and gave her, and said he was sure -that would do good, and he would call again the next day. -Next day came, and the nose was, to be sure, a little smaller, -but yet it was bigger than when the doctor first began to meddle -with it.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then he thought to himself, “I must frighten this cunning -princess a little more before I shall get what I want -from her”; so he gave her another dose of the apple, and said -he would call on the morrow. The morrow came, and the -nose was ten times as bad as before. “My good lady,” said -the doctor, “something works against my medicine, and is too -strong for it; but I know by the force of my art what it is; -you have stolen goods about you, I am sure; and if you do -not give them back, I can do nothing for you.” But the princess -denied very stoutly that she had anything of the kind. -“Very well,” said the doctor, “you may do as you please, -but I am sure I am right, and you will die if you do not own -it.” Then he went to the king, and told him how the matter -stood. “Daughter,” said he, “send back the cloak, the purse, -and the horn, that you stole from the right owners.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then she ordered her maid to fetch all three, and gave them -<span class='pageno' id='Page_117'>117</span>to the doctor, and begged him to give them back to the soldiers; -and the moment he had them safe he gave her a whole -pear to eat, and the nose came right. And as for the -doctor, he put on the cloak, wished the king and all his court -a good day, and was soon with his two friends, who lived -from that time happily at home in their palace, except when -they took an airing to see the world, in their coach with the -three dapple-gray horses.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_118'>118</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Adventures of Chanticleer and Partlet</cite></h2> -</div> - -<h3 class='c012'>I. HOW THEY WENT TO THE HILLS TO EAT NUTS</h3> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c013'>Chanticleer said to Partlet one day: “The nuts -must be ripe; now we will go up the hill together and -have a good feast before the squirrel carries them -all off.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“All right,” said Partlet, “come along; we’ll have a fine -time.” So they went away up the hill, and, as it was a bright -day, they stayed till evening.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now whether they really had grown fat, or whether it was -merely pride, I do not know, but, whatever the reason, they -would not walk home, and Chanticleer had to make a little -carriage of nut-shells. When it was ready, Partlet took her -seat in it, and said to Chanticleer, “Now you get between the -shafts.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That’s all very fine,” said Chanticleer, “but I would -sooner go home on foot than put myself in harness. I -will sit on the box and drive, but draw it myself, I never -will.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>As they were squabbling over this, a duck quacked out: -“You thievish folk! Who told you to come to my nut-hill? -Just you wait, you will suffer for it.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then she rushed at Chanticleer with open bill, but he was -not to be taken by surprise, and fell upon her with his spurs -till she cried out for grace. At last she allowed herself to be -harnessed to the carriage. Chanticleer seated himself on the -box as coachman, and cried out unceasingly: “Now, duck, -run as fast as you can.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_119'>119</span>When they had driven a little way they met two foot passengers, -a pin and a needle, who called out: “Stop! stop!” -They said it would soon be pitch dark, and they couldn’t walk -a step farther, the road was so dirty; might they not have -a lift? They had been to the Tailor’s Inn by the gate, and had -lingered over their beer.</p> - -<p class='c000'>As they were both very thin, and did not take up much -room, Chanticleer allowed them to get in, but he made them -promise not to tread either on his toes or on Partlet’s. Late -in the evening they came to an inn, and as they did not want -to drive any farther in the dark, and the duck was getting -rather uncertain on her feet, tumbling from side to side, they -drove in.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The landlord at first made many objections to having them, -and said the house was already full; perhaps he thought they -were not very grand folk. But at last, by dint of persuasive -words, and promising him the egg which Mrs. Partlet had -laid on the way, and also that he should keep the duck, who -laid an egg every day, he consented to let them stay the night.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then they had a meal served to them, and feasted and -passed the time in rioting.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In the early dawn, before it grew light and every one was -asleep, Partlet woke up Chanticleer, fetched the egg, pecked a -hole in it, and between them they ate it all up, and threw the -shells on to the hearth. Then they went to the needle, which -was still asleep, seized it by the head and stuck it in the cushion -of the landlord’s arm-chair; the pin they stuck in his -towel, and then, without more ado, away they flew over the -heath. The duck, who preferred to sleep in the open air and -had stayed in the yard, heard them whizzing by, and bestirred -herself. She found a stream, and swam away down it; it was -a much quicker way to get on than being harnessed to a -carriage.</p> - -<p class='c000'>A couple of hours later the landlord, who was the first -to leave his pillow, got up and washed. When he took up the -towel to dry himself, he scratched his face and made a long -red line from ear to ear. Then he went to the kitchen to light -<span class='pageno' id='Page_120'>120</span>his pipe, but when he stooped over the hearth the egg-shells -flew into his eye.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Everything goes to my head this morning,” he said -angrily, as he dropped on to the cushion of his grandfather’s -arm-chair. But he quickly bounded up again, and shouted, -“Gracious me!” for the needle had run into him, and this -time not in the head. He grew furious, and his suspicions -immediately fell on the guests who had come in so late the -night before. When he went to look for them, they were nowhere -to be seen. Then he swore never to take such ragamuffins -into his house again; for they ate a great deal, paid -nothing, and played tricks, by way of thanks, into the bargain.</p> - -<h3 class='c012'>II. THE VISIT TO MR. KORBES</h3> - -<p class='c013'>Another day, when Partlet and Chanticleer were about to -take a journey, Chanticleer built a fine carriage with four red -wheels, and harnessed four little mice to it. Mrs. Partlet -seated herself in it with Chanticleer, and they drove off together.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Before long they met a cat, who said, “Whither away?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Chanticleer answered:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“All on our way</div> - <div class='line'>A visit to pay</div> - <div class='line'>To Mr. Korbes at home to-day.”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>“Take me with you,” said the cat.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Chanticleer answered: “With pleasure; sit down behind, -so that you don’t fall out forward.”</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“When we’re off, away we roam,</div> - <div class='line'>To visit Mr. Korbes at home.</div> - <div class='line'>My wheels so red, pray have a care</div> - <div class='line'>From any splash of mud to spare.</div> - <div class='line'>Ye wheels sweep on with speed inclined,</div> - <div class='line'>Ye mice outstrip the whistling wind,</div> - <div class='line'>When we’re off, away to roam,</div> - <div class='line'>To visit Mr. Korbes at home.”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_121'>121</span>Then came a millstone, an egg, a duck, a pin, and, last of -all, a needle. They all took their places in the carriage and -went with the rest.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But when they arrived at Mr. Korbes’s house, he wasn’t in. -The mice drew the carriage into the coach-house, Partlet and -Chanticleer flew on to a perch, the cat sat down by the fire, -the duck lay down by the well-pole. The egg rolled itself up -in the towel, the pin stuck itself into the cushion, the needle -sprang into the pillow on the bed, and the millstone laid -itself over the door.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When Mr. Korbes came home, and went to the hearth to -make a fire, the cat threw ashes into his eyes. He ran into the -kitchen to wash, and the duck squirted water into his face; -seizing the towel to dry himself, the egg rolled out, broke, and -stuck up one of his eyes. He wanted to rest, and sat down -in his arm-chair, when the pin pricked him. He grew very -angry, threw himself on the bed and laid his head on the -pillow, when the needle ran into him and made him cry out. -In a fury he wanted to rush into the open air, but when he -got to the door, the millstone fell on his head and killed him. -What a bad man Mr. Korbes must have been!</p> - -<h3 class='c012'>III. THE DEATH OF PARTLET</h3> - -<p class='c013'>Partlet and Chanticleer went to the nut-hill on another -occasion, and they arranged that whichever of them found a -nut should share it with the other.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Partlet found a huge nut, but said nothing about it, and -meant to eat it all herself; but the kernel was so big that she -could not swallow it. It stuck in her throat, and she was -afraid she would be choked. She shrieked: “Chanticleer, -Chanticleer, run and fetch some water as fast as you can, or -I shall choke!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So Chanticleer ran as fast as he could to the well, and -said: “Well, well, you must give me some water! Partlet -is out on the nut-hill; she has swallowed a big nut, and is -choking.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_122'>122</span>The well answered: “First you must run to my bride, and -tell her to give you some red silk.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Chanticleer ran to the bride, and said: “Bride, bride, give -me some red silk; I will give the silk to the well, and the -well will give me some water to take to Partlet, for she has -swallowed a big nut and is choking.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The bride answered: “Run first and fetch me a wreath -which I left hanging on a willow.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So Chanticleer ran to the willow, pulled the wreath off -the branch, and brought it to the bride. The bride gave -him the red silk, which he took to the well, and the well -gave him the water for it. Then Chanticleer took the water -to Partlet; but as it happened, she had choked in the meantime, -and lay there dead and stiff. Chanticleer’s grief was so great -that he cried aloud, and all the animals came and condoled -with him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Six mice built a little car to draw Partlet to the grave; and -when the car was ready they harnessed themselves to it and -drew Partlet away.</p> - -<p class='c000'>On the way, Reynard the fox joined them. “Where are -you going, Chanticleer?” said he.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’m going to bury my wife, Partlet.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“May I go with you?”</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Well, yes, if ride you will, you must jump up behind,</div> - <div class='line'>To carry weight in front, my horses aren’t inclined.”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>So the fox took a seat at the back, and he was followed -by the wolf, the bear, the stag, the lion, and all the other -animals of the forest. The procession went on till they came -to a stream.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“How shall we ever get over?” said Chanticleer.</p> - -<p class='c000'>A straw was lying by the stream, and it said: “I will -stretch myself across, and then you can pass over upon me.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>But when the six mice got on to the straw it collapsed, and -the mice fell into the water with it, and they were all drowned. -So the travelers’ difficulty was as great as ever. Then a coal -<span class='pageno' id='Page_123'>123</span>came along and said: “I am big enough; I will lie down and -you can pass over me.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So the coal laid itself across the stream, but unfortunately -it just touched the water, hissed, went out, and was dead. -A stone, seeing this, had pity on them, and, wanting to help -Chanticleer, laid itself over the water. Now Chanticleer drew -the car himself, and he just managed to get across with Partlet. -Next he wanted to pull the others over who were hanging -on behind, but it was too much for him, and the car fell -back and they all fell into the water and were drowned.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So Chanticleer was left alone with the dead hen, and he -dug a grave himself and laid her in it. Then he made a -mound over it, and seated himself upon it and grieved till he -died; and then they were all dead.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_124'>124</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Golden Goose</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>There was once a man who had three sons. The -youngest of them was called Simpleton; he was -scorned and despised by the others, and kept in the -background.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The eldest son was going into the forest to cut wood, and, -before he started, his mother gave him a nice sweet cake and -a bottle of wine to take with him, so that he might not suffer -from hunger or thirst. In the wood he met a little, old, gray -man, who bade him good day, and said: “Give me a bit of -the cake in your pocket, and let me have a drop of your wine. -I am so hungry and thirsty.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>But the clever son said: “If I give you my cake and wine, -I shan’t have enough for myself. Be off with you!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>He left the little man standing there, and went on his way. -But he had not been long at work, cutting down a tree, before -he made a false stroke, and dug the ax into his own -arm, and he was obliged to go home to have it bound up.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now, this was no accident; it was brought about by the -little gray man.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The second son now had to go into the forest to cut wood, -and, like the eldest, his mother gave him a sweet cake and -a bottle of wine. In the same way the little gray man met -him, and asked for a piece of his cake and a drop of his wine. -But the second son made the same sensible answer: “If I -give you any, I shall have the less for myself. Be off out -of my way!” and he went on.</p> - -<p class='c000'>His punishment, however, was not long delayed. After a -few blows at the tree, he hit his own leg, and had to be carried -home.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then Simpleton said: “Let me go to cut the wood, father.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_125'>125</span>But his father said: “Your brothers have only come to -harm by it; you had better leave it alone. You know nothing -about it.” But Simpleton begged so hard to be allowed -to go that at last his father said: “Well, off you go then. -You will be wiser when you have hurt yourself.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>His mother gave him a cake which was mixed with water -only and baked in the ashes, and a bottle of sour beer. When -he reached the forest, like the others, he met the little gray -man, who greeted him, and said: “Give me a bit of your cake -and a drop of your wine. I am so hungry and thirsty.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Simpleton answered: “I have only a cake baked in the -ashes, and some sour beer; but, if you like such fare, we will -sit down and eat it together.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So they sat down; but when Simpleton pulled out his cake, -it was a sweet, nice cake, and his sour beer was turned into -good wine. So they ate and drank, and the little man said: -“As you have such a kind heart, and are willing to share your -possessions, I will give you good luck. There stands an old -tree; cut it down, and you will find something at the roots.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So saying, he disappeared.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Simpleton cut down the tree, and when it fell, lo, and behold! -a goose was sitting among the roots, and its feathers -were of pure gold. He picked it up, and taking it with him, -went to an inn, where he meant to stay the night. The -landlord had three daughters, who saw the goose, and were -very curious as to what kind of bird it could be, and wanted -to get one of its golden feathers.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The eldest thought: “There will soon be some opportunity -for me to pull out one of the feathers,” and when Simpleton -went outside, she took hold of its wing to pluck out a feather; -but her hand stuck fast, and she could not get away.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Soon after, the second sister came up, meaning also to pluck -out one of the golden feathers; but she had hardly touched -her sister when she found herself held fast.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Lastly, the third one came, with the same intention, but the -others screamed out: “Keep away! For goodness sake, keep -away!”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_126'>126</span>But she, not knowing why she was to keep away, thought, -“Why should I not be there, if they are there?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So she ran up, but as soon as she touched her sisters she -had to stay hanging on to them, and they all had to pass the -night like this.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In the morning, Simpleton took up the goose under his arm, -without noticing the three girls hanging on behind, so they -had to keep running after, dodging his legs right and left.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In the middle of the fields they met the parson, who, when -he saw the procession, cried out: “For shame, you bold girls! -Why do you run after the lad like that? Do you call that -proper behavior?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then he took hold of the hand of the youngest girl to pull -her away; but no sooner had he touched her than he felt himself -held fast, and he, too, had to run behind.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Soon after the sexton came up, and, seeing his master the -parson treading on the heels of the three girls, cried out in -amazement: “Hallo, your Reverence! Whither away so fast? -Don’t forget that we have a christening!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So saying, he plucked the parson by the sleeve, and soon -found that he could not get away either.</p> - -<p class='c000'>As this party of five, one behind the other, tramped on, -two peasants came along the road, carrying their hoes. The -parson called them, and asked them to set the sexton and -himself free. But as soon as ever they touched the sexton -they were held fast, so now there were seven people running -behind Simpleton and his goose.</p> - -<p class='c000'>By and by they reached a town where a king ruled whose -only daughter was so solemn that nothing and nobody could -make her laugh. So the king had proclaimed that whoever -could bring her laughter should marry her.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When Simpleton heard this he took his goose, with all his -following, before her, and when she saw these seven people -running, one behind another, she burst into fits of laughter, -and seemed as if she could never stop.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Thereupon Simpleton asked her in marriage. But the king -did not like him for a son-in-law, and he made all sorts of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_127'>127</span>conditions. First, he said Simpleton must bring him a man -who could drink up a cellar full of wine.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then Simpleton at once thought of the little gray man, -who might be able to help him, and he went out to the forest -to look for him. On the very spot where the tree that he had -cut down had stood, he saw a man sitting with a very sad -face. Simpleton asked him what was the matter, and he answered:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I am so thirsty, and I can’t quench my thirst. I hate -cold water, and I have already emptied a cask of wine; but -what is a drop like that on a burning stone?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, there I can help you,” said Simpleton. “Come with -me, and you shall soon have enough to drink and to spare.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>He led him to the king’s cellar, and the man set to upon the -great casks, and he drank and drank till his sides ached, and -by the end of the day the cellar was empty.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then again Simpleton demanded his bride. But the king -was annoyed that a wretched fellow called “Simpleton” -should have his daughter, and he made new conditions. He -was now to find a man who could eat up a mountain of bread.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Simpleton did not reflect long, but went straight to the -forest, and there in the self-same place sat a man tightening -a strap round his body, and making a very miserable face. -He said: “I have eaten up a whole oven-full of rolls, but what -is the good of that when any one is as hungry as I am. -I am never satisfied. I have to tighten my belt every day -if I am not to die of hunger.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Simpleton was delighted, and said: “Get up and come with -me. You shall have enough to eat.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then he took him to the court, where the king had caused -all the flour in the kingdom to be brought together, and a -huge mountain of bread to be baked. The man from the -forest sat down before it and began to eat, and at the end -of the day the whole mountain had disappeared.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now, for the third time, Simpleton asked for his bride. But -again the king tried to find an excuse, and demanded a ship -which could sail on land as well as at sea.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_128'>128</span>“As soon as you can furnish it, you shall have my daughter,” -he said.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Simpleton went straight to the forest, and there sat the little -gray man to whom he had given his cake. The little man -said: “I have eaten and drunk for you, and now I will give -you the ship, too. I do it all because you were merciful to me.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then he gave him the ship which could sail on land as well -as at sea, and when the king saw it he could no longer withhold -his daughter. The marriage was celebrated, and, at the -king’s death, Simpleton inherited the kingdom, and lived long -and happily with his wife.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_129'>129</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Young Giant</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Once upon a time there lived a husbandman who had -a son who, when he was born, was no bigger than the -length of a thumb, and who for many years did not -grow a hair’s breadth taller.</p> - -<p class='c000'>One morning, just as the countryman was about to set out -to plow his field, little Thumbling said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Father, I want to go, too.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I dare say you do,” said the man; “but you are much better -at home. If I took you out I should be sure to lose you.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Thereupon Thumbling fell a-crying, and cried so much that -at length his father picked him up and put him in his pocket -and set forth to his work.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When they reached the fields the man took his son out and -set him down on the ridge of a newly turned furrow, so that -he might see the world around him. Then suddenly from -over the mountains a great giant came striding toward them.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“See, son,” said the husbandman, “here is an ogre coming -to fetch you away because you were naughty and cried this -morning.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>And the words had scarcely passed his lips when, in two -great strides, the giant had reached little Thumbling’s side -and had picked him up in his great hands and carried him -away without uttering a sound.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The poor father stood dumb with fear, for he thought he -should never see his little son again.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The giant, however, treated little Thumbling very kindly -in his house in the woods. He kept him warm in his pocket, -and fed him so heartily and well that Thumbling became a -young giant himself, tall, and broad.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At the end of two years the old giant took him out into the -woods to try his strength.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_130'>130</span>“Pull up that birch-tree for a staff to lean upon,” he said, -and the youth obeyed and pulled it up by the roots as if -it had been a mere weed.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The old giant still thought he should like him to be -stronger, so, after taking great care of him for another two -years, they again went out into the wood. This time Thumbling -playfully uprooted a stout old oak, and the old giant, well -pleased, cried:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Now you are a credit to me,” and took him back to the -field where he first found him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Here the young giant’s father happened to be just then -plowing; so Thumbling went up to him and said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“See, father, to what a great big man your son has -grown!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>But the peasant was afraid.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Be off with you! I don’t know you,” he cried.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But really and truly, father, I am your son,” he said. -“Let me take the plow, for I can guide it quite as well as -you.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The father very unwillingly let go of the plow, for he was -afraid of the giant, and sat down to watch. Then Thumbling -laid one hand on the plowshare and straightway drove it so -deep into the ground that the peasant cried:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Now you will do more harm than good, if you drive so -deep into the earth.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Thereupon the young giant unharnessed the horses and began -to draw the plow himself, first saying:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Now, father, get you home and tell mother to cook a -hearty meal, while I just run round the field.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>And in a very short time he had done what the peasant -would have taken two whole days to do.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When all was finished, he laid plow, horse, and harrow over -his shoulders and carried them home as easily as though they -were a truss of hay.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When he reached the house, he saw his mother sitting on a -bench in the courtyard.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, who is this frightful monster of a man?” she cried.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_131'>131</span>“That is our son,” said her husband.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I cannot believe that,” replied the woman, “for our child -was a tiny little thing,” and she begged the young giant to go -away.</p> - -<p class='c000'>However, he did not take any notice of what she said, for, -after feeding the horse in the stable, he came into the kitchen -and sat himself down upon the edge of the dresser.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Mother, mother,” he said, “I am so hungry. Give me my -dinner.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Here it is,” said his mother, and set two enormous dishes -of smoking stew upon the table.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It would have been enough to last the husbandman and his -wife for eight whole days, but the giant ate it all up in five -minutes, and then asked if they could give him more. But -the woman shook her head, and said they had no more in the -house.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Mother,” he said, “I am fainting with hunger. That was -a mere bite.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The woman was so frightened at this that she ran and made -some more stew in the largest fish kettle.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Ah,” sighed the young giant, “this is something like a -meal!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>But when he had finished he still felt hungry, and said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, father, I can see I shall starve if I come here to -live. I will go and seek my fortune in the wide world, if you -can procure me a bar of iron so strong that I cannot break it -across my knee.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The peasant quickly harnessed his two horses to the wagon, -and from the smithy in the village he fetched an iron bar -so heavy that the horses could hardly drag it. This the -giant tried across his knee. Snap! it cracked in half, like -a twig.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then the peasant took his wagon and four horses to the -smithy and brought back as heavy a bar as they could carry. -But in a second the giant had broken it into two pieces and -tossed them each aside.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Father,” he said, “I need a stronger one yet. Take the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_132'>132</span>wagon and eight horses to the smithy, and fetch me back as -heavy a one as they can draw.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>This the countryman did, and again the youth broke it in -two as easily as if he had cracked a nut.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, father, I see you cannot get me anything strong -enough. I must go and try my fortune without it.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So he turned blacksmith and journeyed for many miles, until -he came to a village, where dwelt a very grasping smith, -who earned a great deal of money, but who gave not a penny -of it away.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The giant stepped into his forge and asked if by any chance -he were in want of help.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What wages do you ask?” said the smith, looking the -young man up and down; for, thought he: “Here is a fine, -powerful fellow, who surely will be worth his salt.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I don’t want money,” replied the giant. “But here’s a -bargain: every fortnight, when you give your workmen their -wages, I will give you two strokes across your shoulders. It -will be just a little amusement for me.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The cunning smith agreed very willingly, for, he thought, -in this way he would save a great deal of money.</p> - -<p class='c000'>However, next morning when the new journeyman -started work, with the very first stroke he gave the red-hot -iron, it shivered into a thousand pieces, and the anvil -buried itself so deep in the earth that he could not pull it -out again.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Here, fellow,” cried his master, “you won’t suit me; you -are far too clumsy. I must put an end to our bargain.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Just as you please,” said the other, “but you must pay me -for the work I have done, so I will just give you one little -tap on the shoulder.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>With that he gave the greedy smith such a blow that it -knocked him flying over four hay-ricks. Then, picking up -the stoutest iron bar he could find for a walking-stick, he set -forth once more on his travels.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Presently he came to a farmhouse, where he inquired if -they were in need of a bailiff. Now, the farmer just happened -<span class='pageno' id='Page_133'>133</span>to need a head man, so he was engaged at once upon the same -terms as he had arranged with the old blacksmith.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Next morning the farm servants were to go and fell trees -in the wood, but just as they were ready to start they found -the new bailiff was still in bed and fast asleep.</p> - -<p class='c000'>They shook him and shouted at him, but he would not open -his eyes; he only grumbled at them and told them to be gone.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I shall have done my work and reached home long before -you,” he said.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So he stayed in bed for another two hours, then arose, and -after eating a hearty breakfast he started with his cart and -horses for the wood.</p> - -<p class='c000'>There was a narrow pathway through which he had to -pass just before entering the wood, and after he had led his -horses through this he went back and built up a barrier of -brambles and furze and branches so thick that no horse could -possibly force its way through.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then he drove on and met his fellow-servants just leaving -the wood on their way home.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Drive on, my friends,” he said, “and I will be home before -you even now.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then he pulled up a giant elm by its roots just on the -border of the woods, and laying it on his cart, he turned and -quickly overtook the others.</p> - -<p class='c000'>There they were, staring helplessly at the great barricade -which barred their path, just as he had expected to find them.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Ha, ha!” he chuckled, “you might just as well have slept -an hour or two longer, for I told you you would not get home -before me.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then, shouldering the tree, the horse and the cart, he -pushed a way through the barrier as easily as if he had been -carrying a bag of feathers.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When he got back to the farm he showed his new walking-stick, -as he called the tree, to his master.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Wife,” said the farmer, “we have indeed found a capital -bailiff, and if he does need more sleep than the others, he -works much better.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_134'>134</span>So the months rolled by, until a whole year had come and -gone, and the time had arrived to pay the servants their -wages. But the farmer was overcome with fright when he -remembered the blows the giant had to give him. So he -begged him to change his mind and accept his whole farm and -lands instead.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No,” said the giant, “I am a bailiff, and a bailiff I intend -to remain, so you must pay me the wages we agreed upon.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The farmer now obtained a promise that he would give him -a fortnight to think the matter over, and he secretly assembled -all his friends and neighbors to discuss what he should do.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The only thing they could suggest was to slay the bailiff, -and it was arranged that he should be told to bring a cartload -of millstones to the edge of the well, and then the farmer was -to send him down to the bottom to clean it out. When the -giant was safely at the bottom, all the friends and neighbors -would come and roll the millstones down upon him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Everything happened as had been planned, and when the -bailiff was at the bottom of the well the millstones were rolled -in. As each one fell, the water splashed over the top in a -great wave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It seemed impossible that the bailiff should not be crushed -to death, but suddenly the neighbors heard him call out:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I say, you up there, shoo away the chickens; they are -scattering the gravel in my eyes!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then he quickly finished his task, and presently jumped out -of the well with one of the millstones hanging round his neck.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Have not I got a handsome collar?” he said.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Again the farmer was overcome with fear, and again he -called together all his friends and relations. The only thing -they could think of was to advise the farmer to send the bailiff -to the haunted mill by night, and order him to grind eight -bushels of corn. “For,” said they, “no man who has spent -a night there has ever come out alive.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So the bailiff went and fetched the corn from the loft. He -put two bushels in his right-hand pocket, and two in his left, -and the rest he carried in a sack across his shoulders.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_135'>135</span>When he reached the mill the miller told him it was -haunted, and he had best come to grind his corn in the daytime -if he did not wish to lose his life.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Tush, tush!” said the giant. “Make haste and leave me -alone. Come back in the morning, and I promise you will find -me all safe and sound.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then he entered the mill and emptied his sacks into the -hopper, and by twelve o’clock he had finished his work. Feeling -a little weary, he sat down to rest, but noticed with great -interest the door opening very slowly, all by itself.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then a table laden with rich food and wines came and set -itself before him. Still there was no living creature to be -seen. Next the chairs came and placed themselves round the -festive board, and then he noticed fingers handling the knives -and forks and placing food upon the plates.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The giant soon got tired of watching this, and as he felt -quite ready for a meal himself, he drew up his chair to the -table and partook of a hearty repast.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Just as he finished he felt a breath of air blow out all the -lights, and then a thundering blow fell upon his head.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, I’m not going to put up with this,” he said. “If -I feel any more taps like that one I will just tap back.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then a great battle raged, and blows fell thickly all around, -but he never let himself feel any fear, but only gave back as -many as he could.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When morning came the miller hastened to the mill expecting -to find the giant dead, but he was greeted with a hearty -laugh.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, miller,” said the giant, “somebody has been slapping -me in the night, but I guess they have had as good blows -as they have given, and I have managed to eat a hearty supper -into the bargain.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The miller was overjoyed to find the evil spell had been -broken, and begged the giant to accept some money as reward, -but this he refused. Slinging the meal on his shoulders, he -went back to ask his wages from the farmer.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The farmer was furious to see his bailiff safe and sound -<span class='pageno' id='Page_136'>136</span>again, and paced his floor to and fro, shivering and shaking -like a leaf. He felt he could not breathe, so he threw the -window open, and before he knew what had happened the -giant had sent him flying out of the window straight over the -hills into Nowhere Land. And as the farmer had not waited -to receive the second stroke, the giant gave it to his wife, and -she flew out to join her husband, and for aught I know they -are flying through the air still.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_137'>137</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Sweet Soup</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Once on a time there was a poor but very good little -girl, who lived alone with her mother, and when my -story begins, they had nothing in the house to eat. So -the child went out into the forest, and there she met an old -woman, who already knew her distress, and who presented -her with a pot which had the following power. If one said to -it, “Boil, little pot!” it would cook sweet soup; and when -one said: “Stop, little pot!” it would immediately cease to -boil. The little girl took the pot home to her mother, and now -their poverty and distresses were at an end, for they could -have sweet broth as often as they pleased.</p> - -<p class='c000'>One day, however, the little girl went out, and in her absence -the mother said: “Boil, little pot!” So it began to cook, and -she soon ate all she wished; but when the poor woman wanted -to have the pot stop, she found she did not know the word. -Away, therefore, the pot boiled, and very quickly was over -the edge; and as it boiled and boiled the kitchen presently -became full, then the house, and the next house, and soon the -whole street. It seemed likely to satisfy all the world, for, -though there was the greatest necessity to do so, nobody knew -how to stop it. At last, when only a very small cottage of all -the village was left unfilled with soup, the child returned and -said at once: “Stop, little pot!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Immediately it ceased to boil; but whoever wishes to enter -the village now must eat his way through the soup!!!</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_138'>138</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>Seven at one Blow</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>A tailor sat in his workroom one morning, stitching -away busily at a coat for the Lord Mayor. He -whistled and sang so gaily that all the little boys who -passed the shop on their way to school thought what a fine -thing it was to be a tailor, and told one another that when -they grew to be men they’d be tailors, too.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“How hungry I feel, to be sure!” cried the little man, at -last; “but I’m far too busy to trouble about eating. I must -finish his lordship’s coat before I touch a morsel of food,” and -he broke once more into a merry song.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Fine new jam for sale,” sang out an old woman, as she -walked along the street.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Jam! I can’t resist such a treat,” said the tailor; and, running -to the door, he shouted: “This way for jam, dame; show -me a pot of your very finest.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The woman handed him jar after jar, but he found fault -with all. At last he hit upon some to his liking.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And how many pounds will you take, sir?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’ll take four ounces,” he replied, in a solemn tone, “and -mind you give me good weight.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The old woman was very angry, for she had expected to -sell several pounds, at least; and she went off grumbling, after -she had weighed out the four ounces.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Now for a feed!” cried the little man, taking a loaf from -the cupboard as he spoke. He cut off a huge slice, and spread -the jam on quite half an inch thick; then he suddenly remembered -his work.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It will never do to get jam on the Lord Mayor’s coat, -so I’ll finish it off before I take even one bite,” said he. So -he picked up his work once more, and his needle flew in and -out like lightning.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_139'>139</span>I am afraid the Lord Mayor had some stitches in his garment -that were quite a quarter of an inch long.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The tailor glanced longingly at his slice of bread and -jam once or twice, but when he looked the third time it -was quite covered with flies, and a fine feast they were having -off it.</p> - -<p class='c000'>This was too much for the little fellow. Up he jumped, -crying:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“So you think I provide bread and jam for you, indeed! -Well, we’ll very soon see! Take that!” and he struck the -flies such a heavy blow with a duster that no fewer than seven -lay dead upon the table, while the others flew up to the ceiling -in great haste.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Seven at one blow!” said the little man with great pride. -“Such a brave deed ought to be known all over the town, -and it won’t be my fault if folks fail to hear of it.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So he cut out a wide belt, and stitched on it in big golden -letters the words “Seven at one blow.” When this was done -he fastened it round him, crying:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’m cut out for something better than a tailor, it’s quite -clear. I’m one of the world’s great heroes, and I’ll be off at -once to seek my fortune.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>He glanced round the cottage, but there was nothing of -value to take with him. The only thing he possessed in the -world was a small cheese.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You may as well come, too,” said he, stowing away the -cheese in his pocket, “and now I’m off.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>When he got into the street the neighbors all crowded round -him to read the words on his belt.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Seven at one blow!” said they to one another. “What a -blessing he’s going; for it wouldn’t be safe to have a man -about us who could kill seven of us at one stroke.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>You see, they didn’t know that the tailor had only killed -flies; they took it to mean men.</p> - -<p class='c000'>He jogged along for some miles until he came to a hedge, -where a little bird was caught in the branches.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Come along,” said the tailor; “I’ll have you to keep my -<span class='pageno' id='Page_140'>140</span>cheese company”; so he caught the bird and put it carefully -into his pocket with the cheese.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Soon he reached a lofty mountain, and he made up his mind -to climb it and see what was going on at the other side. When -he reached the top, there stood a huge giant, gazing down into -the valley below.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day,” said the tailor.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The giant turned round, and seeing nobody but the little -tailor there, he cried with scorn:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And what might you be doing here, might I ask? You’d -best be off at once.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Not so fast, my friend,” said the little man; “read this.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Seven at one blow,” read the giant, and he began to wish -he’d been more civil.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, I’m sure nobody would think it to look at you,” -he replied; “but since you are so clever, do this,” and he -picked up a stone and squeezed it until water ran out.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Do that! Why, it’s mere child’s play to me,” and the man -took out his cheese and squeezed it until the whey ran from -it. “Now who is cleverer?” asked the tailor. “You see, -I can squeeze milk out, while you only get water.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The giant was too surprised to utter a word for a few -minutes; then, taking up another stone, he threw it so high -into the air that for a moment they couldn’t see where it went; -then down it fell to the ground again.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good!” said the tailor; “but I’ll throw a stone that won’t -come back again at all.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Taking the little bird from his pocket, he threw it into the air, -and the bird, glad to get away, flew right off and never returned.</p> - -<p class='c000'>This sort of thing didn’t suit the giant at all, for he wasn’t -used to being beaten by any one.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Here’s something that you’ll never manage,” said he to -the little man. “Just come and help me to carry this fallen -oak-tree for a few miles.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Delighted!” said the tailor, “and I’ll take the end with -the branches, for it’s sure to be heavier.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Agreed,” replied the giant, and he lifted the heavy trunk -<span class='pageno' id='Page_141'>141</span>on to his shoulder, while the tailor climbed up among the -branches at the other end, and sang with all his might, as -though carrying a tree was nothing to him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The poor giant, who was holding the tree-trunk and the little -tailor as well, soon grew tired.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’m going to let it fall!” he shouted, and the tailor -jumped down from the branches, and pretended he had been -helping all the time.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“The idea of a man your size finding a tree too heavy to -carry!” laughed the little tailor.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You are a clever little fellow, and no mistake,” replied -the giant, “and if you’ll only come and spend the night in -our cave, we shall be delighted to have you.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I shall have great pleasure in coming, my friend,” answered -the little tailor, and together they set off for the giant’s -home.</p> - -<p class='c000'>There were seven more giants in the cave, and each one of -them was eating a roasted pig for his supper. They gave -the little man some food, and then showed him a bed in which -he might pass the night. It was so big that, after tossing -about for half an hour in it, the tailor thought he would be -more comfortable if he slept in the corner, so he crept out -without being noticed.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In the middle of the night the giant stole out of bed and -went up to the one where he thought the little man was fast -asleep. Taking a big bar of iron, he struck such a heavy blow -at it that he woke up all the other giants.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Keep quiet, friends,” said he. “I’ve just killed the little -scamp.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The tailor made his escape as soon as possible, and he journeyed -on for many miles, until he began to feel very tired, -so he lay down under a tree, and was soon fast asleep. When -he awoke, he found a big crowd of people standing round him. -Up walked one very wise-looking old man, who was really the -king’s prime minister.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Is it true that you have killed seven at one blow?” he -asked.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_142'>142</span>“It is a fact,” answered the little tailor.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Then come with me to the king, my friend, for he’s been -searching for a brave man like you for some time past. You -are to be made captain of his army, and the king will give -you a fine house to live in.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That I will,” replied the little man. “It is just the sort of -thing that will suit me, and I’ll come at once.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>He hadn’t been in the king’s service long before every one -grew jealous of him. The soldiers were afraid that, if they -offended him, he would make short work of them all, while -the members of the king’s household didn’t fancy the idea of -making such a fuss over a stranger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So the soldiers went in a body to the king and asked that -another captain should be put over them, for they were afraid -of this one.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The king didn’t like to refuse, for fear they should all desert, -and yet he didn’t dare get rid of the captain, in case -such a strong and brave man should try to have his revenge.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At last the king hit upon a plan. In some woods close by -there lived two giants, who were the terror of the country side; -they robbed all the travelers, and if any resistance was offered -they killed the men on the spot.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Sending for the little tailor, he said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Knowing you to be the bravest man in my kingdom, I -want to ask a favor of you. If you will kill these two giants, -and bring me back proof that they are dead, you shall marry -the princess, my daughter, and have half my kingdom. You -shall also take one hundred men to help you, and you are to -set off at once.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“A hundred men, your majesty! Pray, what do I want -with a hundred men? If I can kill seven at one blow, I -needn’t be afraid of two. I’ll kill them fast enough, never -fear.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The tailor chose ten strong men, and told them to await -him on the border of the wood, while he went on quite alone. -He could hear the giants snoring for quite half an hour before -he reached them, so he knew in which direction to go.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_143'>143</span>He found the pair fast asleep under a tree, so he filled his -pockets with stones and climbed up into the branches over -their heads. Then he began to pelt one of the giants with -the missiles, until after a few minutes one of the men awoke. -Giving the other a rough push, he cried:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“If you strike me like that again, I’ll know the reason -why.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I didn’t touch you,” said the other giant crossly, and they -were soon fast asleep once more.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then the tailor threw stones at the other man, and soon he -awoke as the first had done.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What did you throw that at me for?” said he.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You are dreaming,” answered the other, “I didn’t throw -anything.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>No sooner were they fast asleep again, than the little man -began to pelt them afresh.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Up they both sprang, and seizing each other, they began -to fight in real earnest. Not content with using their fists, -they tore up huge trees by the roots, and beat each other until -very soon the pair lay dead on the ground.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Down climbed the little tailor, and taking his sword in his -hand he plunged it into each giant, and then went back to the -edge of the forest where the ten men were waiting for him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“They are as dead as two door nails,” shouted the little -man. “I don’t say that I had an easy task, for they tore up -trees by their roots to try to protect themselves with, but, of -course, it was no good. What were two giants to a man -who has slain seven at one blow?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>But the men wouldn’t believe it until they went into the -forest and saw the two dead bodies, lying each in a pool of -blood, while the ground was covered with uprooted trees.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Back they went to the king, but instead of handing over half -his kingdom, as he had promised, his majesty told the little -tailor that there was still another brave deed for him to do -before he got the princess for his bride.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Just name it, then; I’m more than ready,” was the man’s -reply.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_144'>144</span>“You are to kill the famous unicorn that is running wild -in the forest and doing so much damage. When this is done -you shall have your reward at once.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No trouble at all, your majesty. I’ll get rid of him in a -twinkling.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>He made the ten men wait for him at the entrance to the -wood, as they had done the first time, and taking a stout rope -and a saw he entered the forest alone.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Up came the unicorn, but just as it was about to rush at the -man he darted behind a big tree.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The unicorn dashed with such force against the tree that -its horn was caught quite fast and it was kept a prisoner.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Taking his rope, he tied it tightly round the animal, and, -after sawing off the horn, back he went to the palace, leading -the unicorn by his side.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But even then the king was not satisfied, and he made the -little tailor catch a wild boar that had been seen wandering in -the woods.</p> - -<p class='c000'>He took a party of huntsmen with him, but again he made -them wait on the outskirts of the forest while he went on by -himself.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The wild boar made a dash at the little tailor, but the man -was too quick for it. He slipped into a little building close -by, with the animal at his heels. Then, catching sight of a -small window, he forced his way out into the forest again, -and while the boar, who was too big and clumsy to follow, -stood gazing at the spot where he had disappeared, the tailor -ran round and closed the door, keeping the animal quite secure -inside. Then he called the hunters, who shot the boar -and carried the body back to the palace.</p> - -<p class='c000'>This time the king was obliged to keep his promise; so the -little tailor became a prince, and a grand wedding they had, -too.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When they had been married for about a couple of -years, the princess once overheard her husband talking in -his sleep.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Boy, if you have put a patch on that waistcoat, take the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_145'>145</span>Lord Mayor’s coat home at once, or I’ll box your ears,” he -said.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, dear,” cried the princess, “to think that I’ve married -a common tailor! Whatever can I do to get rid of him?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So she told her father the story, and the king said she need -not worry, for he would find a way out of the difficulty. She -was to leave the door open that night, and while the tailor was -sleeping, the king’s servants should steal into the room, bind -the tailor, and take him away to be killed.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The princess promised to see that everything was in readiness, -and she tripped about all day with a very light heart.</p> - -<p class='c000'>She little knew that one of the tailor’s servants had overheard -their cruel plot, and carried the news straight to his -master.</p> - -<p class='c000'>That night, when the princess thought her husband was -sleeping fast, she crept to the door and opened it.</p> - -<p class='c000'>To her great terror, the tailor began to speak.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Boy, take the Lord Mayor’s coat home, or I’ll box your -ears. Haven’t I killed seven at one blow? Haven’t I slain two -giants, a unicorn, and a wild boar? What do I care for the -men who are standing outside my door at this moment?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>At these words off flew the men as though they had been -shot from a gun, and no more attempts were ever made on -his life. So the princess had to make the best of a bad job.</p> - -<p class='c000'>He lived on, and when the old king died he ascended the -throne in his stead. So the brave little tailor became ruler -over the whole kingdom; and his motto throughout his whole -life was, “Seven at one blow.”</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_146'>146</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Cat and the Mouse in Partnership</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>A cat having made the acquaintance of a mouse, told -her so much of the great love and affection that he -had for her, that the mouse at last consented to live -in the same house with him, and to have their domestic affairs -in common. “But we must provide for the winter,” said the -cat, “or we shall be starved; you, little mouse, cannot go everywhere -looking for food, or you will meet with an accident.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>This advice was followed, and a pot was brought with some -grease in it. However, when they had got it, they could not -imagine where it should be put; but at last, after a long consideration, -the cat said: “I know no better place to put it than -in the church, for there no one dares to steal anything; we -will set it beneath the organ, and not touch it till we really -want it.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So the pot was put away in safety; but not long afterward -the cat began to wish for it again, so he spoke to the mouse -and said: “I have to tell you that I am asked by my aunt to -stand godfather to a little son, white with brown marks, whom -she has just brought into the world, and so I must go to the -christening. Let me go out to-day, and do you stop at home -and keep house.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Certainly,” answered the mouse; “pray, go; and if you -eat anything nice, think of me; I would also willingly drink -a little of the sweet red christening-wine.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>But, alas! it was all a story; for the cat had no aunt, and -had not been asked to stand godfather to any one. He went -straight to the church, crept up to the grease pot, and licked -it till he had eaten off the top; then he took a walk on the -roofs of the houses in the town, thinking over his situation, -and now and then stretching himself in the sun and stroking -<span class='pageno' id='Page_147'>147</span>his whiskers as often as he thought of his meal. When it was -evening he went home again, and the mouse said: “So you -have come at last; what a charming day you must have had!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes,” answered the cat; “it went off very well!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What have you named the kitten?” asked the mouse.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“<em>Top-off!</em>” said the cat very quickly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“<em>Top-off!</em>” replied the mouse; “that is a curious and remarkable -name; is it common in your family?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What does that matter?” said the cat; “it is not worse -than Crumb-stealer, as your children are called.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Not long afterward the cat felt the same longing as before, -and said to the mouse: “You must oblige me by taking care -of the house once more by yourself; I am again asked to -stand godfather, and, since the youngster has a white ring -round his neck, I cannot get off the invitation.” So the good -little mouse consented, and the cat crept away behind the wall -to the church again, and ate half the contents of the grease-pot. -“Nothing tastes better than what one eats by one’s self,” -said he, quite contented with his day’s work; and when he -came home the mouse asked how this child was named.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“<em>Half-out</em>,” answered the cat.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“<em>Half-out!</em> What do you mean? I never heard such a -name before in my life; I will wager anything it is not in the -calendar,” but the cat replied nothing.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Pussy’s mouth soon began to water again at the recollection -of the feasting. “All good things come in threes,” said -he to the mouse. “I am again required to be godfather; this -child is quite black, and has little white claws, but not a single -white hair on his body; such a thing only happens once in two -years, so pray excuse me this time.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“<em>Top-off! Half-out!</em>” answered the mouse; “those are -such curious names, they make me a bit suspicious.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Ah!” replied the cat, “there you sit in your gray coat and -long tail, thinking nonsense. That comes of never going out.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The mouse busied herself during the cat’s absence in putting -the house in order, but meanwhile greedy puss licked the -grease-pot clean out. “When it is all done one will rest in -<span class='pageno' id='Page_148'>148</span>peace,” thought he to himself, and as soon as night came he -went home fat and tired. The mouse, however, again asked -what name the third child had received. “It will not please -you any better,” answered the cat, “for he is called <em>All-out</em>.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“<em>All-out!</em>” exclaimed the mouse; “well, that is certainly -the most curious name by far. I have never yet seen it in -print. <em>All-out!</em> What can that mean?” and, shaking her -head, she rolled herself up and went to sleep.</p> - -<p class='c000'>After that nobody else asked the cat to stand godfather; -but the winter had arrived, and nothing more was to be picked -up out of doors; so the mouse bethought herself of their store -of provision, and said, “Come, friend cat, we will go to our -grease-pot which we laid by; it will taste well now.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, indeed,” replied the cat; “it will taste as well as if -you stroked your tongue against the window.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So they set out on their journey, and when they arrived at -the church the pot stood in its old place—but it was empty! -“Ah,” said the mouse, “I see what has happened; now I -know you are indeed a faithful friend. You have eaten the -whole as you stood godfather; first <em>Top-off</em>, then <em>Half-out</em>, -then——”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Will you be quiet?” cried the cat. “Not a word, or I’ll -eat you.” But the poor mouse had “<em>All-out</em>” at her tongue’s -end, and had scarcely uttered it when the cat made a spring, -seized her in his mouth, and swallowed her.</p> - -<p class='c000'>This happens every day in the world.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_149'>149</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>Old Sultan</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>A certain peasant had a trusty dog called Sultan, -who had grown quite old in his service, and had lost -all his teeth, so that he could not hold anything fast. -One day the peasant stood with his wife at the house door and -said: “This morning I shall shoot old Sultan, for he is no -longer of any use.” His wife, however, compassionating the -poor animal, replied: “Well, since he has served us so long -and so faithfully, I think we may very well afford him food -for the rest of his life.” “Eh, what?” replied her husband; -“you are not very clever; he has not a tooth in his head, and -never a thief is afraid of him, so he must trot off. If he has -served us, he has also received his dinner every day.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The poor dog, lying stretched out in the sun not far from -his master, heard all he said, and was much troubled at learning -that the morrow would be his last day. He had one good -friend, the wolf in the forest, to whom he slipped at evening, -and complained of the sad fate which awaited him. “Be of -good courage, my father,” said the wolf; “I will help you -out of your trouble. I have just thought of something. Early -to-morrow morning your master goes haymaking with his -wife, and they will take with them their child, because no one -will be left in the house, and while they are at work they will -put him behind the hedge in the shade, and set you by to -watch him. I will then spring out of the wood and steal away -the child, and you must run after me hotly as if you were pursuing -me. I will let it fall, and you shall take it back to its -parents, who will then believe you have saved it, and they will -be too thankful to do you any injury; and so you will come -into great favor, and they will never let you want again.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>This plan pleased the dog, and it was carried out exactly as -<span class='pageno' id='Page_150'>150</span>proposed. The father cried out when he saw the wolf running -off with the child, but as old Sultan brought it back he was -highly pleased, and stroked him, and said: “Not a hair of -your head shall be touched; you shall eat your meals in comfort -to the end of your days.” He then told his wife to go -home and cook old Sultan some bread and broth, which would -not need biting, and also to bring the pillow out of his bed, -that he might give it to him for a resting-place. Henceforth -old Sultan had as much as he could wish for himself; and -soon afterward the wolf visited him and congratulated him on -his prosperous circumstances. “But, my father,” said he -slyly, “you will close your eyes if I by accident steal away -a fat sheep from your master.” “Reckon not on that,” replied -the dog; “my master believes me faithful; I dare not -give you what you ask.” The wolf, however, thought he was -not in earnest, and by night came slinking into the yard -to fetch away the sheep. But the peasant, to whom the dog -had communicated the design of the wolf, caught him and -gave him a sound thrashing with the flail. The wolf was -obliged to scamper off, but he cried out to the dog: “Wait -a bit, you rascal, you shall pay for this!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The next morning the wolf sent the boar to challenge the -dog, that they might settle their affair in the forest. Old -Sultan, however, could find no other second than a cat, who -had only three legs, and, as they went out together, the poor -cat limped along, holding her tail high in the air from pain. -The wolf and his second were already on the spot selected, -but as they saw their opponent coming they thought he was -bringing a great sabre with him, because they saw in front the -erect tail of the cat; and, whenever the poor animal hopped -on its three legs, they thought nothing else than that he -was going to take up a great stone to throw at them. Both of -them, thereupon, became very nervous, and the boar crept into -a heap of dead leaves, and the wolf climbed up a tree. As -soon as the dog and cat arrived on the spot they wondered -what had become of their adversary. The wild boar, however, -had not quite concealed himself, for the tips of his ears were -<span class='pageno' id='Page_151'>151</span>sticking out; and, while the cat was considering them attentively, -the boar twitched one of them, and the cat took it for a -mouse, and, making a spring, gave it a good bite. At this the -boar shook himself with a great cry, and ran away, calling out, -“There sits the guilty one, up in the tree!” The dog and the -cat looked up and saw the wolf, who was ashamed at himself -for being so fearful, and, begging the dog’s pardon, entered -into treaty with him.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_152'>152</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Nail</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>A tradesman had once transacted a good day’s -business at a fair, disposed of all his goods, and -filled his purse with gold and silver. He prepared -afterward to return, in order to reach home by the evening, -so he strapped his portmanteau, with the money in it, upon -his horse’s back, and rode off. At noon he baited in a small -town, and as he was about to set out again, the stable-boy -who brought his horse said to him: “Sir, a nail is wanting in -the shoe on the left hind foot of your animal.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Let it be wanting,” replied the tradesman; “I am in a -hurry and the iron will doubtless hold the six hours I have yet -to travel.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Late in the afternoon he had to dismount again, and feed -his horse, and at this place also the boy came and told him -that a nail was wanting in one of the shoes, and asked him -whether he should take the horse to a farrier. “No, no, let -it be!” replied the master; “it will last out the couple of -hours that I have now to travel; I am in haste.” So saying -he rode off; but his horse soon began to limp, and from limping -it came to stumbling, and presently the beast fell down -and broke its leg. Thereupon the tradesman had to leave his -unfortunate horse lying on the road, to unbuckle the portmanteau, -and to walk home with it upon his shoulder, where he -arrived at last late at night.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And all this misfortune,” said he to himself, “is owing to -the want of a nail. More haste, the less speed!”</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_153'>153</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Fox and the Horse</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>There was once a farmer who had a horse which -served him faithfully till he was too old to work any -longer, and then his master would not give him anything -to eat, but said: “I cannot really find any use for you -now, but still I mean you well, and so, if you will show yourself -strong enough to bring home a lion, I will requite you; -but now you must make yourself scarce in this stable!” So -saying, the farmer drove the poor horse out; and he went -with drooping head toward the forest to shelter himself there -from the weather. In among the trees he met a fox, who -asked him why he looked so careworn and walked so downcast.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Alas!” said the horse, “avarice and fidelity dwell not in -the same house together; my master has forgotten all the -services which I have rendered him for so many years, and, -because I am unable now to work any longer, he will not give -me any fodder, but has driven me out of the stable.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Without any hope?” inquired the fox.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“The hope is slight enough,” replied the horse; “he said -that if I could manage to bring him back a lion he would receive -me; but he knows well I cannot do that.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Then I will help you,” replied the fox; “now lie down -and stretch yourself out, and do not stir, so that you may -appear dead.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The horse, accordingly, did as he was bid, and the fox went -to the lion, whose den was not very far off, and said to him, -“Near here lies a dead horse; come with me and you may -make a capital meal.” The lion accompanied the fox, and -when they came to the horse the fox said: “Hist! listen to -what I am about to say; you can have this beast at your convenience; -<span class='pageno' id='Page_154'>154</span>I will bind it to you by the tail, and you shall then -drag it away to your den, and devour it at your leisure.” -This advice pleased the lion, and, in order that the fox might -knot the horse’s tail fast to him, he stood with his back toward -it, quite still. The fox, however, cunningly tied the -lion’s legs together with the hairs of the horse’s tail, and -pulled and knotted all so carefully that no strength could have -divided it. As soon as his work was finished the fox tapped -the horse on the shoulder, and cried, “Drag, my friend, -drag!” The horse jumped up at once and drew the lion -away with him. The beast soon began to roar, so that all the -birds in the forest flew away in terror, but the horse let him -roar while he quietly dragged him to his master’s door. Now, -when the farmer saw this proof of the fidelity of his horse, -he thought better of his former resolution, and said to the -faithful animal: “You shall remain with me now, and live -at your ease.” And so the good horse had good meals and -good treatment till he died.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_155'>155</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Giant and the Tailor</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>A certain tailor, who was a large boaster but a very -small performer, took it once into his head to go -and look about him in the world. As soon as he -could, he left his workshop, and traveled away over hills and -valleys, now on this road, and now on that; but still onward. -After he had gone some way, he perceived in the distance a -steep mountain, and behind it a lofty tower, which rose from -the midst of a wild, dense forest. “Good gracious!” cried -the tailor, “what is this?” and driven by his curiosity, he -went rapidly toward the place. But he opened his mouth and -eyes wide enough when he got nearer; for the tower had legs, -and sprang in a trice over the steep hill, and stood up, a mighty -giant, before the tailor. “What are you about here, you puny -fly-legs?” asked the giant in a voice which rumbled on all -sides like thunder.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I am trying to earn a piece of bread in this forest,” whispered -the tailor.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, then, it is time you entered my service,” said the -giant fiercely.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“If it must be so, why not?” said the tailor humbly; “but -what wage shall I have?” “What wage shall you have?” -repeated the giant contemptuously; “listen and I will tell you: -every year, three hundred and sixty-five days, and one besides, -if it be leap-year. Is that right?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Quite,” said the tailor; but thought to himself: “One must -cut according to his cloth; I will seek to make myself free -very soon.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Go, little rascal, and fetch me a glass of water!” cried the -giant.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Why not the whole well, and its spring, too?” said the -tailor, but fetched as he was bid. “What! the well and its -<span class='pageno' id='Page_156'>156</span>spring, too?” bellowed the giant, who was rather cowardly -and weak, and so began to be afraid, thinking to himself: -“This fellow can do more than roast apples; he has a heap -of courage. I must take care, or he will be too much of a -servant for me!” So, when the tailor returned with the -water, the giant sent him to fetch a couple of bundles of -faggots from the forest, and bring them home. “Why not -the whole forest at one stroke, every tree, young and old, -knotty and smooth?” asked the tailor, and went away. -“What! the whole forest, and the well, too, and its spring!” -murmured the frightened giant in his beard; and he began to -be still more afraid, and believed that the tailor was too great -a man for him, and not fit for his servant. However, when -the tailor returned with his load of faggots, the giant told him -to shoot two or three wild boars for their supper. “Why -not rather a thousand at one shot, and the rest afterward?” -cried the boaster. “What, what!” gasped the cowardly giant, -terribly frightened. “Oh, well! that is enough for to-day; -you may go to sleep now!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The poor giant, however, was so very much afraid of the -little tailor that he could not close his eyes all the night, but -tossed about thinking how to get rid of his servant, whom -he regarded as an enchanter conspiring against his life. With -time comes counsel. The following morning the giant and the -dwarf went together to a marsh where a great many willow-trees -were growing. When they got there the giant said: -“Seat yourself on one of these willow rods, tailor; on my life -I only wish to see if you are in a condition to bend it down.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The boasting tailor climbed the tree, and perched himself -on a bough, and then, holding his breath, he made himself -heavy enough thereby, to bend the tree down. Soon, however, -he had to take breath again, and immediately, having been -unfortunate enough to come without his goose in his pocket, -the bough flew up, and to the great joy of the giant, carried -the tailor with it so high into the air that he went out of sight. -And whether he has since fallen down again, or is yet flying -about in the air, I am unable to tell you satisfactorily.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_157'>157</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Spider and the Flea</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>A spider and a Flea dwelt together in one house, and -brewed their beer in an egg-shell. One day, when -the Spider was stirring it up, she fell in and scalded -herself. Thereupon the Flea began to scream. And then the -door asked: “Why are you screaming, Flea?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Because little Spider has scalded herself in the beer-tub,” -replied she.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Thereupon the door began to creak as if it were in pain; -and a broom, which stood in the corner, asked, “What are -you creaking for, door?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“May I not creak?” it replied:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“The little Spider’s scalt herself,</div> - <div class='line in2'>And the Flea weeps.”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>So the broom began to sweep industriously, and presently -a little cart came by, and asked the reason. “May I not -sweep?” replied the broom:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“The little Spider’s scalt herself,</div> - <div class='line in2'>And the Flea weeps;</div> - <div class='line'>The little door creaks with the pain,”—</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>Thereupon the little cart said: “So will I run,” and began -to run very fast, past a heap of ashes, which cried out: “Why -do you run, little cart?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Because,” replied the cart:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“The little Spider’s scalt herself,</div> - <div class='line in2'>And the Flea weeps;</div> - <div class='line'>The little door creaks with the pain,</div> - <div class='line in2'>And the broom sweeps.”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_158'>158</span>“Then,” said the ashes, “I will burn furiously.” Now, -next the ashes there grew a tree, which asked: “Little heap, -why do you burn?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Because,” was the reply:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“The little Spider’s scalt herself,</div> - <div class='line in2'>And the Flea weeps;</div> - <div class='line'>The little door creaks with the pain,</div> - <div class='line in2'>And the broom sweeps;</div> - <div class='line'>The little cart runs on so fast,”—</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>Thereupon the tree cried, “I will shake myself!” and went -on shaking till all its leaves fell off.</p> - -<p class='c000'>A little girl passing by with a water-pitcher saw it shaking, -and asked: “Why do you shake yourself, little tree?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Why may I not?” said the tree:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“The little Spider’s scalt herself,</div> - <div class='line in2'>And the Flea weeps;</div> - <div class='line'>The little door creaks with the pain,</div> - <div class='line in2'>And the broom sweeps;</div> - <div class='line'>The little cart runs on so fast,</div> - <div class='line in2'>And the ashes burn.”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>Then the maiden said: “If so, I will break my pitcher”; -and she threw it down and broke it.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At this the streamlet, from which she drew the water, -asked: “Why do you break your pitcher, my little girl?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Why may I not?” she replied; for</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“The little Spider’s scalt herself,</div> - <div class='line in2'>And the Flea weeps;</div> - <div class='line'>The little door creaks with the pain,</div> - <div class='line in2'>And the broom sweeps;</div> - <div class='line'>The little cart runs on so fast,</div> - <div class='line in2'>And the ashes burn;</div> - <div class='line'>The little tree shakes down its leaves—</div> - <div class='line in2'>Now it is my turn!”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_159'>159</span>“Ah, then,” said the streamlet, “now must I begin to flow.” -And it flowed and flowed along, in a great stream, which kept -getting bigger and bigger, until at last it swallowed up the -little girl, the little tree, the ashes, the cart, the broom, the -door, the Flea, and, last of all, the Spider, all together.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_160'>160</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Little Shepherd Boy</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Once upon a time there was a little shepherd boy who -was famed far and wide for the wise answers which he -gave to all questions. Now the king of the country -heard of this lad, but he would not believe what was said -about him, so the boy was ordered to come to court. When -he arrived the king said to him: “If you can give me answers -to each of the three questions which I will now put to you, I -will bring you up as my own child, and you shall live here -with me in my palace.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What are these three questions?” asked the boy.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“The first is, How many drops of water are there in the -sea?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“My lord king,” replied the shepherd boy, “let all the -waters be stopped up on the earth, so that not one drop shall -run into the sea before I count it, and then I will tell you how -many drops there are in the sea!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“The second question,” said the king, “is: How many stars -are there in the sky?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Give me a large sheet of paper,” said the boy; and then -he made in it with a pin so many minute holes that they were -far too numerous to see or to count, and dazzled the eyes of -whomsoever looked at them. This done, he said: “So many -stars are there in the sky as there are holes in this paper; -now count them.” But nobody was able. Thereupon the king -said: “The third question is: How many seconds are there in -eternity?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“In Lower Pomerania is situate the adamantine mountain, -one mile in height, one mile in breadth, and one mile deep; -and thither comes a bird once in every thousand years which -rubs its beak against the hill, and, when the whole shall be -<span class='pageno' id='Page_161'>161</span>rubbed away, then will the first second of eternity be gone -by.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You have answered the three questions like a sage,” said -the king, “and from henceforward you shall live with me in -my palace, and I will treat you as my own child.”</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_162'>162</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Seven Swabians</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>There were once seven Swabians in company, the -first of whom was named Schulz, the second Jacky, -the third Marli, the fourth Jergli, the fifth Michael, -the sixth Hans, and the seventh Veitli; and they all were -traveling in search of adventures, and for the performance of -mighty deeds. In order that they might not be without protection, -they thought fit to carry along with them a very long -and strong pole. Upon this they all seven held, and in front -the boldest and most courageous man, who was Schulz, -walked, while the others followed behind, and Veitli was last.</p> - -<p class='c000'>One day in July, after they had traveled some distance, -and had nearly entered the village where they intended to pass -the night, it happened that just as they came to a large -meadow a hornet or dragon-fly flew out from behind a bush -and hummed about the travelers in a warlike manner. Schulz -was frightened and almost let go the pole, and the perspiration -stood all over his body from terror. “Listen, listen!” -he cried to his companions; “I hear a trumpeting!” Jacky, -who was last but one in the row, and had got I know not what -into his nose, exclaimed: “Something certainly is at hand, for -I can smell brimstone and powder!” At these words Schulz -sprang over a hedge, in a trice, in his haste to escape, and, -happening to alight on the prongs of a rake which was left -in the field by the haymakers, the handle sprang up and gave -him an awkward blow on the forehead. “Oh! oh! oh! woe is -me!” cried Schulz; “take me prisoner, I give myself up, I -surrender!” The six others thereupon jumped over the hedge -too, and cried likewise: “We surrender if you surrender! we -surrender if you surrender!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>At length, when they found no enemy came to bind and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_163'>163</span>take them away, they saw they were deceived, and in order -that the tale might not be told of them among the villagers, -and they get laughed at and mocked, they took an oath among -themselves never to say anything about it unless any one of -them should open his mouth unawares.</p> - -<p class='c000'>After this adventure they went farther, but the second danger -they met with must not be compared with the first. For -after several days had elapsed their road chanced to lead -them through an unplowed field where a hare was lying prone -in the sun, with his ears pricked up to catch every sound, and -his large, glossy eyes wide open. The seven Swabians were -terribly frightened at the sight of this frightful, ferocious animal, -and they took counsel together what would be the least -dangerous plan to adopt, for if they fled away it was to -be feared that the monster would pursue them and cut them -to pieces. So they resolved to stand and have a great battle; -for, said they, “Bravely dared is half won!” All seven, -therefore, grasped hold of their spear, Schulz being among -the foremost and Veitli hindmost. But Schulz wanted to have -the spear himself, whereupon Veitli flew into a passion and -broke away.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then the rest advanced together upon the dragon, but first -Schulz crossed himself devoutly and invoked the assistance of -Heaven. Then he marched on, but as he approached the enemy -he felt very fearful and cried in great terror: “Han! -hurlehau! han! hauhel!” This awoke the hare, who sprang -away quite frightened, and when Schulz saw it flee, he jumped -for joy and shouted:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Zounds, friends, what fools we are!</div> - <div class='line'>The frightful beast is but a hare!”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>After they had recovered from their fright the seven Swabians -sought new adventures, and by and by they arrived at the -River Moselle, a smooth and deep water, over which there are -not many bridges; so that one must cross in boats to the other -side. The seven Swabians, however, were ignorant of this, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_164'>164</span>and they therefore shouted to a man who was working on -the other side of the river and asked him how they were to pass -over. But the man did not understand what they said on account -of the distance and his ignorance of their language, -and so he asked in his dialect: “Wat? wat?” With this -Schulz imagined the man said, “Wade, wade through the -stream”; and, being foremost on the bank, he jumped into -the river and began to walk across. Soon he got out of his -depth and sank in the deep, driving current; but his hat was -carried by the wind to the opposite shore. As it reached there -a frog perched himself on it, and croaked: “Wat! wat! wat!” -This noise the six other Swabians, who then reached the bank, -heard, and they said to one another: “Listen! does not Schulz -call us? Well, if he could wade across we can also.” With -these words each one jumped into the river, but they also all -sank; and so it happened that the frog caused the death of -six Swabians, for nobody has heard of or seen them ever -since.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_165'>165</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Shreds</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Once upon a time there was a maiden who was very -pretty, but lazy and careless. When she used to spin, -she was so impatient that, if there chanced to be a little -knot in the thread, she snapped off a long bit with it and -threw the pieces down on the ground near her. Now she had -a servant girl, who was industrious, and used to gather together -the shreds of thread, clean them, and weave them, till -she made herself a dress with them.</p> - -<p class='c000'>A certain young man had fallen in love with this lazy maiden; -and their wedding-day was appointed. On the evening before, -the industrious servant girl kept dancing about in her -fine dress, till the bride exclaimed:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Ah! how the girl does jump about,</div> - <div class='line in2'>Dressed in my shreds and leavings!”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>When the bridegroom heard this, he asked the bride what -she meant, and she told him that the maid had worked herself -a dress with the shreds of thread which she had thrown -away. As soon as the bridegroom heard this, and saw the -difference between the laziness of his intended and the industry -of her servant, he gave up the mistress and chose the -maid for his wife.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_166'>166</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Wolf and the Seven Kids</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>There was once an old nanny-goat who had seven -kids, and she was just as fond of them as a mother -of her children. One day she was going into the -woods to fetch some food for them, so she called them all up -to her, and said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“My dear children, I am going out into the woods. Beware -of the wolf! If once he gets into the house, he will -eat you up, skin, and hair, and all. The rascal often disguises -himself, but you will know him by his rough voice and -his black feet.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The kids said: “Oh, we will be very careful, dear mother. -You may be quite happy about us.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Bleating tenderly, the old goat went off to her work. Before -long, some one knocked at the door, and cried:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Open the door, dear children! Your mother has come -back and brought something for each of you.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>But the kids knew quite well by the voice that it was the -wolf.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We won’t open the door!” they cried. “You are not -our mother. She has a soft, gentle voice; but yours is rough, -and we are quite sure that you are the wolf.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So he went away to a shop and bought a lump of chalk, -which he ate, and it made his voice quite soft. He went back, -knocked at the door again, and cried:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Open the door, dear children. Your mother has come -back and brought something for each of you.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>But the wolf had put one of his paws on the window-sill, -where the kids saw it, and cried:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We won’t open the door. Our mother has not got a -black foot as you have; you are the wolf.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_167'>167</span>Then the wolf ran to a baker and said: “I have bruised -my foot; please put some dough on it.” And when the baker -had put some dough on his foot, he ran to the miller and said: -“Strew some flour on my foot.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The miller thought, “The old wolf is going to take somebody -in,” and refused.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But the wolf said: “If you don’t do it, I will eat you up.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So the miller was frightened, and whitened the wolf’s paws. -People are like that, you know.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now the wretch went for the third time to the door, and -knocked and said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Open the door, children. Your dear mother has come -home, and has brought something for each of you out of the -wood.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The kids cried: “Show us your feet first, that we may be -sure you are our mother.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>He put his paws on the window-sill, and when the kids saw -that these were white, they believed all he said and opened -the door.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Alas! it was the wolf who walked in. They were terrified, -and tried to hide themselves. One ran under the table, the -second jumped into bed, the third into the oven, the fourth ran -into the kitchen, the fifth got into the cupboard, the sixth into -the washtub, and the seventh hid in the tall clock-case. But -the wolf found them all but one, and made short work of -them. He swallowed one after the other, except the youngest -one in the clock-case, whom he did not find. When he had -satisfied his appetite, he took himself off, and lay down in a -meadow outside, where he soon fell asleep.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Not long after the old nanny-goat came back from the -woods. Oh, what a terrible sight met her eyes! The house -door was wide open, table, chairs, and benches were overturned, -the washing-bowl was smashed to atoms, the covers -and pillows torn from the bed. She searched all over the -house for her children, but nowhere were they to be found. -She called them by name, one by one, but no one answered. -At last, when she came to the youngest, a tiny voice cried:</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_168'>168</span>“I am here, dear mother, hidden in the clock-case.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>She brought him out, and he told her that the wolf had -come and devoured all the others.</p> - -<p class='c000'>You may imagine how she wept over her children.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At last, in her grief, she went out, and the youngest -kid ran by her side. When they went into the meadow, -there lay the wolf under a tree, making the branches -shake with his snores. They examined him from every -side, and they could plainly see movements within his distended -body.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Ah, heavens!” thought the goat, “is it possible that my -poor children, whom he ate for his supper, should be still -alive?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>She sent the kid running to the house to fetch scissors, -needles, and thread. Then she cut a hole in the monster’s -side, and, hardly had she begun, when a kid popped out its -head, and as soon as the hole was big enough, all six jumped -out, one after the other, all alive, and without having suffered -the least injury, for, in his greed, the monster had swallowed -them whole. You may imagine the mother’s joy. She hugged -them, and skipped about like a tailor on his wedding day. -At last she said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Go and fetch some big stones, children, and we will fill -up the greedy beast’s body while he is asleep.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then the seven kids brought a lot of stones, as fast as -they could carry them, and stuffed the wolf with them till he -could hold no more. The old mother quickly sewed him up, -without his having noticed anything, or even moved.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At last, when the wolf had had his sleep out, and got upon -his legs, he found he was very thirsty, and wished to go to -the spring to drink. But as soon as he began to move, the -stones began to tumble about in his body, and he cried -out:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“What rattles, what rattles</div> - <div class='line in2'>Against my poor bones?</div> - <div class='line'>Surely not little goats,</div> - <div class='line in2'>But only big stones!”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_169'>169</span>And when he came to the brook he stooped down to drink, -and the heavy stones made him lose his balance so that he fell, -and sank beneath the water.</p> - -<p class='c000'>As soon as the seven little goats saw this, they came running -up, singing aloud, “The wolf is dead! the wolf is dead!” and -they danced for joy around their mother by the side of the -brook.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_170'>170</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Elves and the Shoemaker</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>There was once a shoemaker who, through no fault -of his own, had become so poor that at last he had -only leather enough left for one pair of shoes. At -evening he cut out the shoes which he intended to begin upon -the next morning, and since he had a good conscience, he lay -down quietly, said his prayers, and fell asleep.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In the morning when he had prayed, as usual, and was preparing -to sit down to work, he found the pair of shoes standing -finished on his table. He was amazed, and could not understand -it in the least.</p> - -<p class='c000'>He took the shoes in his hand to examine them more closely. -They were so neatly sewn that not a stitch was out of place, -and were as good as the work of a master-hand.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Soon after a purchaser came in, and as he was much pleased -with the shoes, he paid more than the ordinary price for them, -so that the shoemaker was able to buy leather for two pairs -with the money.</p> - -<p class='c000'>He cut them out in the evening, and next day, with fresh -courage was about to go to work; but he had no need to, for -when he got up, the shoes were finished, and buyers were not -lacking. These gave him so much money that he was able -to buy leather for four pairs of shoes.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Early next morning he found the four pairs finished, and -so it went on; what he cut out at evening was finished in the -morning, so that he was soon again in comfortable circumstances, -and became a well-to-do man.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now it happened one evening, not long before Christmas, -when he had cut out shoes as usual, that he said to his wife: -“How would it be if we were to sit up to-night to see who -it is that lends us such a helping hand?”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_171'>171</span>The wife agreed, lighted a candle, and they hid themselves -in the corner of the room behind the clothes which were hanging -there.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At midnight came two little naked men, who sat down at -the shoemaker’s table, took up the cut-out work, and began -with their tiny fingers to stitch, sew, and hammer so neatly -and quickly, that the shoemaker could not believe his eyes. -They did not stop till everything was quite finished, and stood -complete on the table; then they ran swiftly away.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The next day the wife said: “The little men have made us -rich, and we ought to show our gratitude. They run about -with nothing on, and must freeze with cold. Now I will -make them little shirts, coats, waistcoats, and hose, and will -even knit them stout stockings, and you shall make them each -a pair of shoes.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The husband agreed, and at evening, when they had everything -ready, they laid out the presents on the table, and hid -themselves to see how the little men would behave.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At midnight they came skipping in, and were about to set -to work; but, instead of the leather ready cut out, they found -the charming little clothes.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At first they were surprised, then excessively delighted. -With the greatest speed they put on and smoothed down the -pretty clothes, singing:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Now we’re dressed so fine and neat,</div> - <div class='line'>Why cobble more for others’ feet?”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>Then they hopped and danced about, and leaped over chairs -and tables and out at the door. Henceforward, they came -back no more, but the shoemaker fared well as long as he -lived, and had good luck in all his undertakings.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_172'>172</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>King Wren</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Once upon a time the cuckoo gave a big tea-party. It -was a grand affair, I can tell you. Every bird of note -was present, from the eagle down to the sparrow. All -the finches were there, the larks, crows, and swallows; so how -they managed to seat them all is more than I can tell.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now, the cuckoo was a wise old bird, and she never took -a step of this sort without a reason. You sometimes hear -people say, “As silly as a cuckoo,” but you may take my -word for it, it is only because they know nothing at all about -her.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Well, a bright idea had occurred to the cuckoo, and it was -just this: She thought it was high time the birds chose a king -of their own. If they had a king, you see, they might in time -be able to have a “Court Circular,” which would sound very -grand. Besides, who knew but that in the future some of her -own family might even marry royalty? Yes, it was a good -idea, she thought, but the other birds would have to be consulted -first.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So she gave a big tea-party, and fed them all up with the -finest worms and dainties to be had, just to put them into a -good temper.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Even the hungry sparrow finished eating at last—and you -have no idea what his appetite was like!—and then the cuckoo -broke the news gently that she thought they ought to have a -king to manage their affairs for them.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now this caused no end of commotion. And there they -sat—fathers, mothers, uncles, and cousins, all talking away -at the same time.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Just then the cock and hen passed by, taking a little airing.</p> - -<p class='c000'>You must know that they had heard nothing about the teaparty. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_173'>173</span>They were just the cock and hen, and it did not -matter much what they thought; so they did not get an -invitation.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Wat! wat!” cried the hen, when she heard the dreadful -din. Of course the cock understood her language, and knew -that she was asking what was going on.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’ll find out, my dear,” he answered, and he inquired from -a fat, green frog.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“They want to choose a king over the birds,” he told the -hen, a minute after.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Stuff and nonsense!” clucked the hen; only it did not -sound quite like that, because she spoke in her own language, -you see.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Well, the end of it all was that everybody was in favor of -a king, save the plover, and he cried: “I have been free all -my life, and I’ll die free!” Then away he flew to a dismal -swamp, and was seen no more.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So they agreed to meet again next morning, if it was fine. -Their king was to be the bird who could fly higher than all -the rest, and they wanted a fine day so that nobody could -say afterward, “I could have flown much higher, only it was -so windy,” or something of the sort.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The next day was perfect, so they all gathered together in -a big meadow. When the cuckoo had counted “Three,” they -all rose up with one accord into the air, making such a cloud -of dust that for a moment you could not see a thing.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Higher and higher they flew, but one by one the little birds -had to give up, and in the end the eagle was the only bird left -flying, and he looked as though he had reached the sun itself.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But a tiny little bird had joined them unasked, and he had -not even a name.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Nobody noticed him hide himself among the feathers in -the eagle’s back; so when the cuckoo had counted three, up -he went with the rest, although they did not know it.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now, when the eagle saw that all the others had given up, -he, too, began to descend. Then out flew the little bird without -a name, and up he went, much higher still.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_174'>174</span>“I am king! I am king!” cried the eagle, when he reached -the ground.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Not at all,” replied the little bird without a name, “for -I have flown higher still,” and then down he came.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I am king! I am king!” he chirped, as soon as he got -his breath again.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You crafty little creature!” they shouted, with one voice. -“We will have another test, and a fair one this time.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So the bird who could fall deepest into the earth was to be -their king, they said.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Well, the cock set to work and began to grub a hole in -the ground, while the duck jumped down into a grave; but -unluckily she sprained her foot, and she waddled off, saying: -“Bad work! Bad work!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>But the little bird without a name crept right into a mouse-hole, -and cried shrilly:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I am king! I am king!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Then we will show you how we treat our royalty!” cried -the angry birds. “We will keep you in the mouse-hole and -starve you.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So they set the owl to keep watch over the hole during the -night, and if he let the bird go he was to be put to death on -the spot. The others were all so tired and weary that they -flew home and went to bed.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now, when he had stared into the hole for two whole hours, -the poor owl began to feel very sleepy. So he went to sleep -with one eye and watched intently with the other, and all went -well for a time. But as luck would have it, when he shut one -eye, after a while, he forgot to open the other, and you may -be sure the little bird without a name soon made his escape -from his prison.</p> - -<p class='c000'>After that the poor owl never dared show his face again -by day, for fear the birds should put him to death. He -flies about all night long, and he is a great enemy of the -little mice because they make such—to him—unfortunate -holes.</p> - -<p class='c000'>As for that little bird without a name, he did not feel very -<span class='pageno' id='Page_175'>175</span>safe either, so he always hid in the hedges, and when he felt -pretty secure he would cry out: “I am king! I am king!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>In time the other birds grew to call him the “Hedge king,” -just for scorn, and that means “Wren.” That is how he came -by his name.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_176'>176</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>Why the Bear has a Stumpy Tail</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>One winter’s day the bear met the fox, who came slinking -along with a string of fish he had stolen.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Hi! stop a minute! Where did you get those -from?” demanded the bear.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, my lord Bruin, I’ve been out fishing and caught -them,” said the fox.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So the bear had a mind to learn to fish, too, and bade the -fox tell him how he was to set about it.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, it is quite easy,” answered the fox, “and soon learned. -You’ve only got to go upon the ice, and cut a hole and stick -your tail down through it, and hold it there as long as you -can. You’re not to mind if it smarts a little; that’s when the -fish bite. The longer you hold it there, the more fish you’ll -get; and then all at once out with it, with a cross pull sideways -and a strong pull, too.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Well, the bear did as the fox said, and though he felt very -cold, and his tail smarted very much, he kept it a long, long -time down in the hole, till at last it was frozen in, though of -course he did not know that. Then he pulled it out with a -strong pull, and it snapped short off, and that’s why Bruin -goes about with a stumpy tail to this day!</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_177'>177</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>Three Ways to Build a House</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>There was once upon a time a pig who lived with her -three children in a large, comfortable, old-fashioned -farmyard. The eldest of the little pigs was called -Browny, the second Whity, and the youngest and best-looking, -Blacky. Now, Browny was a very dirty little pig, and I am -sorry to say spent most of his time rolling and wallowing -about in the mud. He was never so happy as on a wet day, -when the mud in the farmyard was soft and thick and -smooth. Then he would steal away from his mother’s side, -and finding the muddiest place in the yard, would roll about -in it and thoroughly enjoy himself. His mother often found -fault with him for this and would shake her head sadly and -say: “Ah, Browny! some day you will be sorry that you did -not obey your old mother.” But no words of advice or warning -could cure Browny of his bad habits.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Whity was quite a clever little pig, but she was greedy. -She was always thinking of her food and looking forward -to her dinner; and when the farm girl was seen carrying the -pails across the yard, she would rise up on her hind legs and -dance and caper with excitement. As soon as the food was -poured into the trough she jostled Blacky and Browny out of -the way in her eagerness to get the best and biggest bits for -herself. Her mother often scolded her for her selfishness, -and told her that some day she would suffer for being so -greedy.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Blacky was a nice little pig, neither dirty nor greedy. He -had nice dainty ways, for a pig, and his skin was always as -smooth and shining as black satin. He was much cleverer -than either Browny or Whity, and his mother’s heart used to -swell with pride when she heard the farmer’s friends say to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_178'>178</span>each other that some day the little black fellow would be a -prize pig.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now, the time came when the mother pig felt old and -feeble and near her end. One day she called the three little -pigs around her and said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“My children, I feel that I am growing old and weak and -that I shall not live long. Before I die I should like to build -a house for each of you, as this dear old sty in which we have -lived so happily will be given to a new family of pigs, and -you will have to turn out. Now, Browny, what sort of a -house would you like to have?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“A house of mud,” replied Browny, looking longingly at -a wet puddle in the corner of the yard.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And you, Whity?” said the mother pig in rather a sad -voice, for she was disappointed that Browny had made so -foolish a choice.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“A house of cabbage,” answered Whity, with a mouth full, -and scarcely raising her snout out of the trough in which she -was grubbing for some potato parings.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Foolish, foolish child!” said the mother pig, looking quite -distressed. “And you, Blacky,” turning to her youngest son, -“what sort of a house shall I order for you?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“A house of brick, please, mother, as it will be warm in -winter, cool in summer, and safe all the year round.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That is a sensible little pig,” replied his mother, looking -fondly at him. “I will see that the three houses are made ready -at once. And now one last piece of advice. You have heard -me talk of our old enemy, the fox. When he hears that I am -dead he is sure to try and get hold of you, to carry you off to -his den. He is very sly, and will no doubt disguise himself -and pretend to be a friend, but you must promise me not to -let him enter your houses on any pretext whatever,” and the -little pigs readily promised, for they had always had a great -fear of the fox, of whom they had heard many terrible tales.</p> - -<p class='c000'>A short time afterward the old pig died, and the little pigs -went to live in their own houses. Browny was quite delighted -with his soft mud walls and with the clay floor, which soon -<span class='pageno' id='Page_179'>179</span>looked like nothing but a big mud pie. But that was what -Browny enjoyed, and he was as happy as possible, rolling -about all day and making himself exceedingly dirty. One day, -as he was lying half asleep in the mud, he heard a soft knock -at his door and a gentle voice said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“May I come in, Master Browny? I want to see your -beautiful new house.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Who are you?” said Browny, starting up in great fright, -for though the voice sounded gentle, he felt sure it was a -feigned voice and he feared it was the fox.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I am a friend come to call on you,” answered the voice.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No, no,” replied Browny, “I don’t believe you are a -friend. You are the wicked fox, against whom our mother -warned us. I won’t let you in.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oho! is that the way you answer me?” said the fox, -speaking very roughly in his natural voice. “We shall soon -see who is master here,” and with his paws he set to work -and scraped a large hole in the soft mud walls. A moment -later he had jumped through it, and catching Browny by the -neck, flung him on his shoulders and trotted off with him to -his den.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The next day, as Whity was munching a few leaves of cabbage -out of the corner of her house, the fox stole up to her -door, determined to carry her off to join her brother in his -den. He began speaking to her in the same feigned, gentle -voice in which he had spoken to Browny; but it frightened -her very much when he said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I am a friend come to visit you and to have some of your -good cabbage for my dinner.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Please don’t touch it,” cried Whity in great distress. -“The cabbages are the walls of my house, and if you eat -them you will make a hole, and the wind and rain will come -in and give me a cold. Do go away. I am sure you are not -a friend, but our wicked enemy the fox.” And poor Whity -began to whine and to whimper, and to wish that she had not -been such a greedy little pig and had chosen a more solid -material than cabbages for her house. But it was too late -<span class='pageno' id='Page_180'>180</span>now, and in another minute the fox had eaten his way through -the cabbage walls and had caught the trembling, shivering -Whity and carried her off to his den.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The next day the fox started off for Blacky’s house, because -he had made up his mind that he would get the three little -pigs together in his den, then kill them, and invite all his -friends to a feast. But when he reached the brick house he -found that the door was bolted and barred, so in his sly manner -he began: “Do let me in, dear Blacky. I have brought -you a present of some eggs that I picked up in a farmyard -on my way here.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No, no, Mr. Fox,” replied Blacky, “I am not going to -open my door to you. I know your cunning ways. You have -carried off poor Browny and Whity, but you are not going -to get me.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>At this the fox was so angry that he dashed with all his -force against the wall and tried to knock it down. But it -was too strong and well built; and though the fox scraped and -tore at the bricks with his paws he only hurt himself, and at -last he had to give it up and limp away with his fore paws all -bleeding and sore.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Never mind!” he cried angrily as he went off. “I’ll catch -you another day, see if I don’t; and won’t I grind your bones -to powder when I have got you in my den!” And he snarled -fiercely and showed his teeth.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Next day Blacky had to go into the neighboring town to -do some marketing and to buy a big kettle. As he was walking -home with it slung over his shoulder he heard a sound of -steps stealthily creeping after him. For a moment his heart -stood still with fear, and then a happy thought came to him. -He had just reached the top of a hill, and could see his own -little house nestling at the foot of it among the trees. In a -moment he had snatched the lid off the kettle and had jumped -in himself. Coiling himself round he lay quite snug in the -bottom of the kettle, while with his foreleg he managed to -put the lid on, so that he was entirely hidden. With a little -kick from the inside he started the kettle off, and down -<span class='pageno' id='Page_181'>181</span>the hill it rolled full tilt; and when the fox came up, all that he -saw was a large black kettle spinning over the ground at a -great pace. Very much disappointed, he was just going to turn -away when he saw the kettle stop close to the little brick -house, and in a moment Blacky jumped out of it and escaped -with it safely inside, when he barred and bolted the door -and put the shutter up over the window.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oho!” exclaimed the fox to himself, “you think you will -escape me that way, do you? We shall soon see about that, -my friend,” and very quietly and stealthily he prowled round -the house looking for some way to climb on to the roof.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In the mean time Blacky had filled the kettle with water, -and having put it on the fire, sat down quietly waiting for it -to boil. Just as the kettle was beginning to sing and steam to -come out of the spout he heard a sound like a soft, muffled step, -patter, patter, patter overhead, and the next moment the fox’s -head and forepaws were seen coming down the chimney. But -Blacky very wisely had not put the lid on the kettle, and with -a yelp of pain the fox fell into the boiling water, and before -he could escape Blacky had popped the lid on and the fox was -scalded to death.</p> - -<p class='c000'>As soon as he was sure that their wicked enemy was really -dead and could do them no further harm, Blacky started off to -rescue Browny and Whity. As he approached the den he -heard piteous grunts and squeals from his poor little brother -and sister, who lived in constant terror of the fox killing and -eating them, but when they saw Blacky appear at the entrance -to the den their joy knew no bounds. He quickly -found a sharp stone and cut the cords by which they were -tied to a stake in the ground, and then all three started off -together for Blacky’s house, where they lived happily ever -after; and Browny quite gave up rolling in the mud and -Whity ceased to be greedy, for they never forgot how nearly -these faults had brought them to an untimely end.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_182'>182</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>How to Tell a True Princess</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>There was once upon a time a prince who wanted -to marry a princess, but she must be a true princess. -So he traveled through the whole world to find one, -but there was always something against each. There were -plenty of princesses, but he could not find out if they were -true princesses. In every case there was some little defect, -which showed the genuine article was not yet found. So he -came home again in very low spirits, for he had wanted very -much to have a true princess. One night there was a dreadful -storm; it thundered and lightened and the rain streamed -down in torrents. It was fearful! There was a knocking -heard at the palace gate, and the old king went to open it.</p> - -<p class='c000'>There stood a princess outside the gate; but oh, in what -a sad plight she was from the rain and the storm! The water -was running down from her hair and her dress into the points -of her shoes and out at the heels again. And yet she said she -was a true princess!</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, we shall soon find that!” thought the old queen. -But she said nothing and went into the sleeping-room, took -off all the bedclothes, and laid a pea on the bottom of the bed. -Then she put twenty mattresses on top of the pea and twenty -eider-down quilts on the top of the mattresses. And this was -the bed in which the princess was to sleep.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The next morning she was asked how she had slept.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, very badly!” said the princess. “I scarcely closed -my eyes all night! I am sure I don’t know what was in the -bed. I lay on something so hard that my whole body is black -and blue. It is dreadful!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now they perceived that she was a true princess, because -she had felt the pea through the twenty mattresses and the -twenty eider-down quilts.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_183'>183</span>No one but a true princess could be so sensitive.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So the prince married her, for now he knew that at last he -had got hold of a true princess. And the pea was put into the -Royal Museum, where it is still to be seen if no one has stolen -it. Now, this is a true story.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_184'>184</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Five Servants</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Once upon a time, in a country far away, there lived and -ruled an old queen who had such a wicked heart that -she was not happy unless she was working evil to -others. She had one daughter who was very beautiful, and -whom she made use of to further her own evil plans; for, -whenever a suitor came to apply for her hand, the old queen -set him an impossible task, and chopped off his head without -any pity when he could not perform it.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now, in another country there lived a young prince who -had heard of this lovely girl, and he begged his father to let -him go and try his luck.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Not a bit of it,” said the king. “You would only lose -your head like the rest.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>But the prince was very anxious to go, and when he found -his father was firm, he fell ill and took to his bed for seven -years, and not all the doctors in the land could make him -well again or restore his fallen spirits. Then the father knew -that the lad must die, unless he was allowed to have his own -way, so he said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Get up, my son, and try your fate.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>At these joyful words the boy jumped out of bed, quite recovered, -and you may be sure it was not long before he was -ready for his journey and on the road.</p> - -<p class='c000'>One day, as he was swinging along over hill and dale, and -fern and brake, he saw a great big thing lying by the roadside. -At first he thought it was a huge animal, but as he -drew nearer he saw that it was really an enormously fat man, -who was as round and jolly as you can imagine. Seeing the -traveler, he rose to his feet, and I do believe the earth trembled -as he did so.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_185'>185</span>“If you are in need of a servant, take me, and you will -not repent,” he said, pulling off his cap and bowing.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Why, whatever should I do with such a fat fellow as -you?” answered the prince.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“If I were three thousand times as fat it would not matter, -so long as I served you well,” said the man.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Hum! well, that is very true,” replied the prince. “You -may come along, and I dare say I shall be able to put you to -some use.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So they journeyed on together, and presently they came -upon a man lying with his ear pressed to the ground.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What are you doing?” asked the prince.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I am listening,” answered the man. “I can hear everything -that is going on in the world, even the growing of the -grass.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Ah,” said the prince, “then you can tell me what you hear -in the palace of the old queen.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I hear the cutting off of a suitor’s head.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Come with me, then,” said the prince, “for I can see that -you will be useful.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>A little farther on they came upon a pair of legs lying -stretched on the grass, but they were so long that the travelers -had to walk an hour before they came to the body, and then -nearly another hour before they reached the head.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, what a long strip of a chap you are!” said the -prince.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Why, master, you have only seen me when I am lying -down,” replied the man. “Just you wait till I stand up. I am -thrice as tall as the highest mountain you have ever seen on -your travels. Just let me come and be your servant, and I -promise that you will find me useful.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Willingly,” answered the prince.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then they all went on their way again till they came to -a wood, and here they found a man who, though he was -lying in the full heat of the sun, was shivering and shaking -so that it was a wonder his teeth did not fall out of his -head.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_186'>186</span>“Why, my good man,” said the prince, “what makes you -shiver so on this hot day?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Alas!” groaned the man, “the hotter the day the colder -I am; the sun freezes the very marrow in my bones; and when -it is what you call cold, I begin to grow hot, so that I nearly -burn to death. I cannot bear cold because it is so hot, nor -heat because it is so cold.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, you are an odd fellow,” said the prince. “Suppose -you get up and join my train?” So the man agreed.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The next man they met was standing in a field turning his -head from side to side in a way that made your neck ache to -watch him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What are you looking for?” asked the prince.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I am looking for nothing,” answered the man. “But I -have such keen sight that I can see all over the world, through -woods and forests, and hills and mountains; nothing can escape -my eyes.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well,” said the prince, “if you are willing to take service, -join my train, for I have need of such as you.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then they all journeyed on together in a very merry fashion, -for the prince was light-hearted at the thought of his beautiful -bride that was to be. You see, he had quite made up his -mind to get the better of the wicked queen. Soon they reached -the palace, and the prince presented himself to the queen, and -said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I am come to ask the hand of your daughter in marriage. -Set me what task you like, so long as I may marry her when -it is done.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Three tasks I will set you,” said the queen, “and when -they are done you shall be her husband. First, you must find -me the ring that I have dropped in the sea near the palace.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The prince went home to his servants, and said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Now is your chance to prove your worth. You must find -me a ring that lies at the bottom of the sea.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I will see where it lies,” said the keen-sighted one; and -suddenly he shouted: “There it is; it lies on a rock at the -bottom of the waves!”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_187'>187</span>“I would soon fetch it, if I could see it,” said the long -man.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I can arrange that,” chimed in the fat one, and he lay -down beside the sea and began to drink.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And he drank and drank till the sea disappeared, and the -bottom lay stretched out before them as dry as a meadow. -Then the long man took one stride, and picked up the ring -and brought it to the prince.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The old queen was very much surprised to see the ring, -but she concealed her annoyance, and, leading the youth to the -window, said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“In yonder field a hundred fat oxen are feeding. You must -eat them all before noon, and, in case you are thirsty, you -must drink the contents of the hundred casks of wine that are -in the cellar.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Certainly,” said the youth, cheerfully. “But I should -like to invite a friend to eat with me.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, by all means,” replied the old hag, with a smile.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So the prince went to his friends and told them the news.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You will help me to-day?” he said, turning to the fat -man; “and for once you will have a good meal.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So they went straightway to the field where the oxen were, -and in no time at all the fat man had gobbled up every one, -and still looked hungry. Then the prince took him down -to the cellar, and he quenched his thirst with the hundred -casks of wine.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Again the youth presented himself to the witch, and astonished -her with the news that the task was done.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oho! my fine fellow,” she grumbled to herself, “I will -catch you yet.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“To-night,” she added aloud, “I will bring the princess and -leave her to sit with you; but beware lest you fall asleep, for -if I come at twelve and find the princess gone, you are a lost -man!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That does not sound difficult,” thought the prince. -“Surely I can keep awake, if I want to.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So he told his servants what the third task was to be, and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_188'>188</span>they all agreed that a watch had better be kept, lest the old -woman should play some trick.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At nightfall the old queen brought her daughter to the -prince’s house and returned to the palace. As soon as she -was gone, the long man wound himself around the house; the -listener lay with his ear to the ground; the fat one stood in -the doorway, completely blocking the entrance, and the keen-eyed -one kept watch. Within sat the princess, silent as a -statue, the moonlight lighting up her beautiful face with a -radiant glory, so that the prince could only gaze at her in awe -and wonder. So far it was well; but at half past eleven a -spell, cast by the old queen, fell on them all, and they slept, -and immediately the princess was spirited away.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At a quarter to twelve the spell lost its power, and they -awoke to discover what a calamity had fallen upon them.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, woe is me! woe is me!” cried the prince. “What -can save us now?” and the faithful servants wept in unison.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Suddenly the listener said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Hark! be still, and I will listen.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>They were quiet at once, and he listened for a moment.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I hear her bewailing her fate!” he cried.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then the keen-sighted man turned his head from side to -side and cried joyfully:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I see her sitting on a rock, three hundred miles away. -Our long friend can reach her in two strides.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Willingly,” cried the man, and he was up and at the foot -of the rock before the others could look round. He took the -princess in his arms, and she was back in the prince’s house -just one moment before twelve, and they all sat down together -and rejoiced.</p> - -<p class='c000'>As the clock struck twelve, the old queen came creeping -along, looking very spiteful, as she thought she had really won -this time; for was not her daughter three hundred miles away? -She was not, as we know, and when the queen saw this she -felt so angry she would like to have ordered all their heads -to be chopped off.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“There must be some one here who is cleverer than I!” -<span class='pageno' id='Page_189'>189</span>she screamed, and then she fell to crying, but it was of no -use. The prince was firm as a rock, and she had to consent -to the wedding; but she whispered to her daughter:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“His servants have done everything for him. Aren’t you -ashamed to have a husband who can do nothing at all for -himself?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The daughter had a proud and haughty temper, and her -pride began to rise up angrily. So next day she commanded -three hundred loads of wood to be brought and piled up in -the palace yard and set alight. Then she told the prince that -he had performed the tasks only by the help of his servants, -and before she would marry him some one must sit upon the -woodpile and stay there till it was burned out; for she thought -no servant would do so much for him, and he surely would -have to do this himself. However, she was wrong, for the -freezing man claimed this as his share of the work, and he -mounted the woodpile without delay.</p> - -<p class='c000'>For three days and three nights it blazed away, till only -ashes were left, and there stood the freezing man shivering -like a jelly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“If it had burned much longer, I should have been benumbed -with the cold,” he said, with chattering teeth.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now, the princess saw that she could delay no longer, so -they set off to the church, but the queen made yet another -attempt to prevent the wedding. She called her attendants, -and sent them to waylay the party and kill every one but the -princess. However, the listener had been keeping his ears -open, and he heard this order; so they put on more speed -and reached the church first, and were married. At the -church door the five servants took leave of their master and -went out into the world to try their fortune alone.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The prince and his wife set forth on their homeward journey, -and at the end of the first day they came upon a village -where a swineherd stood feeding his pigs.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Do you know who I am?” said the prince to his wife. -“Yonder man is my father, and our duty now is to tend the -pigs with him.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_190'>190</span>They went into the cottage, and during the night the prince -took away her splendid clothes, so that in the morning she -had to put on an old dress and shoes belonging to the swineherd’s -wife.</p> - -<p class='c000'>These were given to her grudgingly, and only for her husband’s -sake, as the woman told her. So the princess was now -very miserable, and believed that her husband was really a -swineherd; but she determined to make the best of it, and -turn to and do her share of the work, and said to herself:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It is a punishment for all my pride.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>This went on for a week, and then she was so worn out that -she sat down by the wayside and burst into tears. Some -kindly villagers asked her what was the matter, and if she -knew what her husband was?</p> - -<p class='c000'>“He is a swineherd,” she answered, “and has just gone -to market with some of his pigs.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Come with us, and we will show you where he is,” they -said; and they took her away over the hill to the king’s palace, -and there in the hall stood her husband surrounded by courtiers, -and so richly dressed that she did not know him, till he -fell upon her neck, saying:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We have borne much for each other, now let us be -happy.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then there was great rejoicing, and the marriage-feast was -celebrated, and all I can say is, that I wish we had been there -to share the merrymaking.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_191'>191</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Hare and the Fox</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>A hare and a Fox were traveling together. It was -winter time. Not a blade of grass was to be seen, -not a bird or mouse stirred in the fields.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It’s hungry weather,” said the Fox to the Hare. “I feel -as hollow as an egg-shell.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And so do I,” replied the Hare. “I’m hungry enough to -eat my own ears, if only I could reach them.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>When they had gone a little way they spied a peasant girl -coming toward them. She carried a basket, and out of the -basket came a very pleasant smell—the smell of hot rolls.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I tell you what,” said the Fox. “You lie down and pretend -to be dead. The girl will put down her basket to take -you up for the sake of your skin, for out of hare-skins they -make gloves; then I’ll snatch the rolls, and we shall have a -splendid meal!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The Hare did as the Fox told him, fell down, and pretended -to be dead, while the Fox hid behind a snow-drift. The girl -came along, saw the Hare with his legs stretched out stiff -and stark, put down her basket sure enough, and stooped over -the Hare. The Fox snatched up the basket and scampered -off with it. The Hare in a twinkling came to life, and followed -his companion. But he ran on ahead, and showed quite -plainly that he meant to keep the rolls all to himself.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But that was not what the Hare had bargained for, you may -guess. So when they came to a little lake, he called out to -the Fox:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What do you say to catching a dish of fish? Then we -should have fish and rolls to eat like any lord. Just dangle -your tail down in the water; the fish haven’t much to bite -these days, so they’re bound to hang on to your tail. You -must make haste, though, before the lake freezes over.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_192'>192</span>Well, the Fox thought that a good idea. So he went to the -lake, which was just beginning to freeze, and dangled his -tail in the water. In a very short time the tail was frozen in.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now, the Hare took the basket and gobbled up the rolls one -after the other as comfortably as you please, right before -the Fox’s face.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Wait till it thaws,” he said to the Fox. “Wait till the -spring. Wait till it thaws!” and then he ran away.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And the Fox was so angry at the way he had been caught -that he barked and barked like a savage dog on a chain.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_193'>193</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Story of Zirac</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Once upon a time a raven, a rat, and a tortoise, having -agreed to be friends together, were having a pleasant -chat when they saw a wild goat making its way toward -them with surprising swiftness. They took it for granted -by her speed that she was pursued by some hunter, and they -at once without ceremony separated, every one to take care -of himself. The tortoise slipped into the water, the rat crept -into a hole, which he fortunately found near at hand, and the -raven hid himself among the boughs of a very high tree. In -the mean time the goat stopped quite suddenly, and stood to -rest herself by the side of a fountain, when the raven, who had -looked all round and perceived no one, called to the tortoise, -who immediately peeped above the water, and seeing the -goat afraid to drink, said: “Drink boldly, my friend, for the -water is very clear.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>After the goat had done so, the tortoise continued: “Pray -tell me what is the reason you appear in such distress?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Reason enough,” said the goat; “for I have just made -my escape out of the hands of a hunter, who pursued me with -an eager chase.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Come,” said the tortoise, “I am glad you are safe. I have -an offer to make you. If you like our company, stay here and -be one of our friends; you will find our hearts honest and -our company useful to you. The sages say that a number -of friends lessens trouble.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>After this short speech the raven and the rat joined in the -invitation, so that the goat at once promised to become one -of them, each promising the other to prove himself a real and -true friend whatever might happen in days to come. After -this agreement these four friends lived in perfect harmony for -<span class='pageno' id='Page_194'>194</span>a very long time, and spent their time pleasantly together. -But one day, as the tortoise, the rat, and the raven were met, -as they used to do, by the side of the fountain, the goat was -missing. This gave great trouble to them, as they knew not -what had happened. They very soon came to a resolution, -however, to seek for and assist the goat, so the raven at once -mounted into the air to see what discoveries he could make; -and looking round about him, at length, to his great sorrow, -saw at a distance the poor goat entangled in a hunter’s net. -He immediately dropped down in order to acquaint the rat -and tortoise with what he had seen; and you may be sure -that these ill tidings caused great grief.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What shall we do?” said they.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We have promised firm friendship to one another and -lived very happily together so long,” said the tortoise, “that -it would be shameful to break the bond and not act up to all -we said. We cannot leave our innocent and good-natured -companion in this dire distress and great danger. No! we -must find some way to deliver our poor friend goat out of -captivity.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Said the raven to the rat, who was nicknamed Zirac: “Remember, -O excellent Zirac, there is none but thyself able to -set our friend at liberty; and the business must be quickly -done for fear the huntsman should lay his hands upon her.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Doubt not,” replied Zirac, “but that I will do my best, -so let us go at once that no time may be lost.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>On this the raven took up Zirac in his bill, and flew with -him to the place where the poor goat was confined in the net. -No sooner had he arrived than he at once commenced to -gnaw the meshes of the net that held the goat’s foot and -had almost set him at liberty when the tortoise arrived.</p> - -<p class='c000'>As soon as the goat saw the tortoise she cried out with a -loud voice: “Oh, why have you ventured to come hither, -friend tortoise?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Because I could no longer bear your absence,” replied the -tortoise.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Dear friend,” said the goat, “your coming to this place -<span class='pageno' id='Page_195'>195</span>troubles me as much as the loss of my own liberty; for if the -hunter should happen to come, what would you do to make -your escape? For my part I am almost free, and my being -able to run will prevent me from falling into his hands again; -our friend the raven can find safety in flight, and Zirac can -run into any hole. Only you, who are so slow of foot, will -become the hunter’s prey.” No sooner had the goat thus -spoken, when sure enough the hunter appeared; but the goat, -being free, swiftly ran away; the raven mounted into the air, -and Zirac slipped into a hole, and true enough, as the goat -had said, only the slow-paced tortoise remained without help.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When the hunter arrived he was a little surprised to see his -net broken and the goat missing. This was no small vexation -to him, and caused him to look closely around, to see -if he could discover who had done the mischief; and unfortunately, -in thus searching, he spied the tortoise.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh! Oh!” said he. “Very good; I am glad to see you -here. I find I shall not go home empty-handed after all; -here is a plump tortoise, and that is worth something, I’m -sure.” Thus saying, he took up the tortoise, put it in a -sack, threw the sack over his shoulder, and was soon trudging -home.</p> - -<p class='c000'>After he had gone the three friends came out from their -several hiding-places, and met together, when, missing the -tortoise, they at once judged what had become of him. Then, -uttering bitter cries and lamentations, they shed torrents of -tears. At length the raven broke the silence, and said: “Dear -friends, our moans and sorrow do not help the tortoise. We -must, if it be at all possible, devise some means of saving his -life. Our sages have often told us that there are three persons -that are never well known but on special occasions—men of -courage in fight, men of honesty in business, and a true friend -in extreme necessity. We find, alas! our dear companion the -tortoise is in a sad condition, and therefore we must, if possible, -help him.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It is first-class advice,” replied Zirac. “Now I think I -know how it can be done. Let our friend the goat go and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_196'>196</span>show herself to the hunter, who will then be certain to lay -down the sack to run after her.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“All right,” said the goat, “I will pretend to be lame, and -run limping at a little distance before him, which will encourage -him to follow me, and thus draw him a good way -from his sack, which will give Zirac time to set our friend -at liberty.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>This plan appeared such a good one that it was at once approved -of, and immediately the goat ran halting before the -hunter, and appeared to be so feeble and faint that her pursuer -thought he had her safe in his clutches again, and so, laying -down his sack, ran after the goat with all his might. That -cunning creature suffered him now and again almost to come -up to her, and then led him another wild-goose chase till at -last she had lured him out of sight; which Zirac seeing, began -gnawing the string that tied the mouth of the sack, and soon -set free the tortoise, who went at once and hid himself in a -thick bush.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At length the hunter, tired of running after his prey, gave -up the chase, and returned to take up his sack.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Here,” said he, “I have something safe; thou art not quite -so swift as that plaguing goat; and if thou wert, art too well -confined here to find the way to make thy little legs any use -to thee.” So saying, he went to the bag, but not finding the -tortoise he was amazed, and thought himself in a region of -hobgoblins and spirits, since he had by some mysterious means -lost two valuable objects, a goat and a tortoise! He did not -know, you see, what wonders true friendship can work when -all are pledged to help one another.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The four friends soon met together again, congratulated -one another on their escapes, made afresh their vows of friendship, -and declared that they would never separate until death -parted them.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_197'>197</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>Johnny-Cake</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Once upon a time there was an old man, and an old -woman, and a little boy. One morning the old woman -made a Johnny-cake, and put it in the oven to bake. -“You watch the Johnny-cake while your father and I go out -to work in the garden,” she said, so the old man and the old -woman went out and began to hoe potatoes, and left the little -boy to tend the oven. But he didn’t watch it all the time, and -all of a sudden he heard a noise, and he looked up and the oven -door popped open, and out of the oven jumped Johnny-cake, -and went rolling along end over end, toward the open door -of the house. The little boy ran to shut the door, but Johnny-cake -was too quick for him and rolled through the door, down -the steps, and out into the road long before the little boy could -catch him. The little boy ran after him as fast as he could -clip it, crying out to his father and mother, who heard the -uproar, and threw down their hoes and gave chase too. But -Johnny-cake outran all three a long way, and was soon out -of sight, while they had to sit down, all out of breath, on a -bank to rest.</p> - -<p class='c000'>On went Johnny-cake, and by and by he came to two well-diggers, -who looked up from their work and called out: -“Where ye going, Johnny-cake?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>He said: “I’ve outrun an old man, and an old woman, and -a little boy, and I can outrun you too-o-o!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Ye can, can ye? We’ll see about that,” said they; and they -threw down their picks and ran after him, but couldn’t catch -up with him, and soon they had to sit down by the roadside -to rest.</p> - -<p class='c000'>On ran Johnny-cake, and by and by he came to two ditch-diggers -who were digging a ditch. “Where ye going, Johnny-cake?” -<span class='pageno' id='Page_198'>198</span>said they. He said: “I’ve outrun an old man, and an -old woman, and a little boy, and two well-diggers, and I can -outrun you too-o-o!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Ye can, can ye? We’ll see about that!” said they; and -they threw down their spades, and ran after him too. But -Johnny-cake soon outstripped them also, and seeing they could -never catch him, they gave up the chase and sat down to rest.</p> - -<p class='c000'>On went Johnny-cake, and by and by he came to a bear. -The bear said: “Where are ye going, Johnny-cake?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>He said: “I’ve outrun an old man, and an old woman, and -a little boy, and two well-diggers, and two ditch-diggers, and -I can outrun you too-o-o!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Ye can, can ye?” growled the bear. “We’ll see about -that!” and trotted as fast as his legs could carry him after -Johnny-cake, who never stopped to look behind him. Before -long the bear was left so far behind that he saw he might as -well give up the hunt first as last, so he stretched himself out -by the roadside to rest.</p> - -<p class='c000'>On went Johnny-cake, and by and by he came to a wolf. -The wolf said: “Where ye going, Johnny-cake?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>He said: “I’ve outrun an old man, and an old woman, and -a little boy, and two well-diggers, and two ditch-diggers, and -a bear, and I can outrun you too-o-o!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Ye can, can ye?” snarled the wolf. “We’ll see about -that!” And he set into a gallop after Johnny-cake, who went -on and on so fast that the wolf saw there was no hope of -overtaking him, and he too lay down to rest.</p> - -<p class='c000'>On went Johnny-cake, and by and by he came to a fox that -lay quietly in a corner of the fence. The fox called out in -a sharp voice, but without getting up: “Where ye going, -Johnny-cake?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>He said: “I’ve outrun an old man, and an old woman, and -a little boy, and two well-diggers, and two ditch-diggers, a -bear, and a wolf, and I can outrun you too-o-o!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The Fox said: “I can’t quite hear you, Johnny-cake. Won’t -you come a little closer?” turning his head a little to one -side.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_199'>199</span>Johnny-cake stopped his race for the first time, and went -a little closer, and called out in a very loud voice: “<em>I’ve outrun -an old man, and an old woman, and a little boy, and two -well-diggers, and two ditch-diggers, and a bear, and a wolf, -and I can outrun you too-o-o!</em>”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Can’t quite hear you; won’t you come a <em>little</em> closer?” -said the fox in a feeble voice, as he stretched out his neck -toward Johnny-cake, and put one paw behind his ear.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Johnny-cake came up close, and leaning toward the fox -screamed out: “<span class='sc'>I’ve outrun an old man, and an old woman, -and a little boy, and two well-diggers, and two ditch-diggers, -and a bear, and a wolf, and i can outrun you -too-o-o!</span>”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You can, can you?” yelped the fox, and he snapped up -the Johnny-cake in his sharp teeth in the twinkling of an eye.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_200'>200</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Wee, Wee Mannie</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Once upon a time, when all big folks were wee ones and -all lies were true, there was a wee, wee Mannie that -had a big, big coo. And out he went to milk her of a -morning, and said:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Hold still, my coo, my hinny,</div> - <div class='line in2'>Hold still, my hinny, my coo,</div> - <div class='line'>And ye shall have for your dinner</div> - <div class='line in2'>What but a milk white doo.”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>But the big, big coo wouldn’t hold still. “Hout!” said the -wee, wee Mannie:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Hold still, my coo, my dearie,</div> - <div class='line in2'>And fill my bucket wi’ milk,</div> - <div class='line'>And if ye’ll be no contrairy</div> - <div class='line in2'>I’ll gi’e ye a gown o’ silk.”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>But the big, big coo wouldn’t hold still. “Look at that, now!” -said the wee, wee Mannie:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“What’s a wee, wee Mannie to do,</div> - <div class='line'>Wi’ such a big contrairy coo?”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>So off he went to his mother at the house. “Mither,” said -he, “coo won’t stand still, and wee, wee Mannie can’t milk -big, big coo.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Hout!” said his mother, “take stick and beat coo.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So off he went to get a stick from the tree, and said:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Break, stick, break,</div> - <div class='line'>And I’ll gi’e ye a cake.”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_201'>201</span>But the stick wouldn’t break, so back he went to the house.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Mither,” said he, “coo won’t hold still, stick won’t break, -wee, wee Mannie can’t beat big, big coo.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Hout!” said his mother, “go to the butcher and bid him -kill coo.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So off he went to the butcher, and said:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Butcher, kill the big, big coo,</div> - <div class='line'>She’ll gi’e us no more milk noo.”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>But the butcher wouldn’t kill the coo without a silver penny, -so back the Mannie went to the house. “Mither,” said he, -“coo won’t hold still, stick won’t break, butcher won’t kill -without a silver penny, and wee, wee Mannie can’t milk big, -big coo.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well,” said his mother, “go to the coo and tell her there’s -a weary, weary lady with long yellow hair weeping for a cup -o’ milk.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So off he went and told the coo, but she wouldn’t hold still, -so back he went and told his mother.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well,” said she, “tell the coo there’s a fine, fine laddie -from the wars sitting by the weary, weary lady with golden -hair, and she weeping for a sup o’ milk.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So off he went and told the coo, but she wouldn’t hold still, -so back he went and told his mother.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well,” said his mother, “tell the big, big coo there’s a -sharp, sharp sword at the belt of the fine, fine laddie from the -wars who sits beside the weary, weary lady with the golden -hair, and she weeping for a sup o’ milk.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>And he told the big, big coo, but she wouldn’t hold still.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then said his mother: “Run quick and tell her that her -head’s going to be cut off by the sharp, sharp sword in the -hands of the fine, fine laddie, if she doesn’t give the sup o’ -milk the weary, weary lady weeps for.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>And wee, wee Mannie went off and told the big, big coo.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And when coo saw the glint of the sharp, sharp sword in -the hand of the fine, fine laddie come from the wars, and the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_202'>202</span>weary, weary lady weeping for a sup o’ milk, she reckoned -she’d better hold still; so wee, wee Mannie milked big, big -coo, and the weary, weary lady with the golden hair hushed -her weeping and got her sup o’ milk, and the fine, fine laddie -new come from the wars put by his sharp, sharp sword, and -all went well that didn’t go ill.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_203'>203</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>Sir Gammer Vans</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Last Sunday morning at six o’clock in the evening as -I was sailing over the tops of the mountains in my -little boat, I met two men on horseback riding on one -mare: So I asked them: “Could they tell me whether the -little old woman was dead yet who was hanged last Saturday -week for drowning herself in a shower of feathers?” They -said they could not inform me positively, but if I went to Sir -Gammer Vans he could tell me all about it.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But how am I to know the house?” said I.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Ho, ‘tis easy enough,” said they, “for ‘tis a brick house -built entirely of flints, standing alone by itself in the middle -of sixty or seventy others just like it.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, nothing in the world is easier,” said I.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Nothing <em>can</em> be easier,” said they: so I went on my way. -Now this Sir G. Vans was a giant, and a bottle-maker. -And as all giants who <em>are</em> bottle-makers usually pop out of -a little thumb-bottle from behind the door, so did Sir G. Vans.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“How d’ye do?” says he.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Very well, I thank you,” says I.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Have some breakfast with me?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“With all my heart,” says I.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So he gave me a slice of beer, and a cup of cold veal; and -there was a little dog under the table that picked up all the -crumbs.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Hang him,” says I.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No, don’t hang him,” says he; “for he killed a hare yesterday. -And if you don’t believe me, I’ll show you the hare -alive in a basket.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So he took me into his garden to show me the curiosities. -In one corner there was a fox hatching eagle’s eggs; in another -<span class='pageno' id='Page_204'>204</span>there was an iron apple-tree, entirely covered with pears -and lead; in the third there was the hare which the dog killed -yesterday alive in the basket; and in the fourth there were -twenty-four <em>hipper switches</em> threshing tobacco, and at the sight -of me they threshed so hard that they drove the plug through -the wall, and through a little dog that was passing by on the -other side. I, hearing the dog howl, jumped over the wall; -and turned it as neatly inside out as possible, when it ran -away as if it had not an hour to live. Then he took me into -the park to show me his deer; and I remembered that I had a -warrant in my pocket to shoot venison for his majesty’s dinner. -So I set fire to my bow, poised my arrow, and shot -among them. I broke seventeen ribs on one side, and twenty-one -and a half on the other; but my arrow passed clean -through without ever touching it, and the worst was I lost -my arrow. However, I found it again in the hollow of a tree. -I felt it; it felt clammy. I smelt it; it smelt honey. “Oh, -ho,” said I, “here’s a bees’ nest,” when out sprang a covey of -partridges. I shot at them; some say I killed eighteen; but -I am sure I killed thirty-six, besides a dead salmon which was -flying over the bridge, of which I made the best apple-pie I -ever tasted.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_205'>205</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>Tom Tit Tot</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Once upon a time there was a woman, and she baked -five pies. And when they came out of the oven, they -were that over-baked the crusts were too hard to eat. -So she says to her daughter:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Darter,” says she, “put you them there pies on the shelf, -and leave ‘em there a little, and they’ll come again.” She -meant, you know, the crust would get soft.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But the girl, she says to herself: “Well, if they’ll come -again, I’ll eat ‘em now.” And she set to work and ate ‘em all, -first and last.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Well, come supper-time the woman said: “Go you, and -get one o’ them there pies. I dare say they’ve come again -now.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The girl went and she looked, and there was nothing but -the dishes. So back she came, and says she: “Noo, they ain’t -come again.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Not one of ‘em?” says the mother.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Not one of ‘em,” says she.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, come again, or not come again,” said the woman, -“I’ll have one for supper.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But you can’t, if they ain’t come,” said the girl.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But I can,” says she. “Go you, and bring the best of -‘em.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Best or worst,” says the girl, “I’ve ate ‘em all, and you -can’t have one till that’s come again.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Well, the woman she was done, and she took her spinning -to the door to spin, and as she span she sang:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“My darter ha’ ate five, five pies to-day.</div> - <div class='line'>My darter ha’ ate five, five pies to-day.”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_206'>206</span>The king was coming down the street, and he heard her -sing, but what she sang he couldn’t make out, so he stopped -and said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What was that you were singing, my good woman?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The woman was ashamed to let him hear what her daughter -had been doing, so she sang, instead of that:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“My darter ha’ spun five, five skeins to-day.</div> - <div class='line'>My darter ha’ spun five, five skeins to-day.”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>“Stars o’ mine!” said the king, “I never heard tell of any -one that could do that.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then he said: “Look you here, I want a wife, and I’ll -marry your daughter. But look you here,” says he, “eleven -months out of the year she shall have all she likes to eat, and -all the gowns she likes to get, and all the company she likes -to keep; but the last month of the year she’ll have to spin -five skeins every day, and if she don’t I shall kill her.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“All right,” says the woman; for she thought what a grand -marriage that was. And as for the five skeins, when the time -came, there’d be plenty of ways of getting out of it, and likeliest, -he’d have forgotten all about it.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Well, so they were married. And for eleven months the -girl had all she liked to eat, and all the gowns she liked to -get, and all the company she liked to keep.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But when the time was getting over, she began to think -about the skeins and to wonder if he had ‘em in mind. But -not one word did he say about ‘em, and she thought he’d -wholly forgotten ‘em.</p> - -<p class='c000'>However, the last day of the last month he takes her to -a room she’d never set eyes on before. There was nothing -in it but a spinning-wheel and a stool. And says he: “Now, -my dear, here you’ll be shut in to-morrow with some victuals -and some flax, and if you haven’t spun five skeins by the night, -your head’ll go off.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>And away he went about his business.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Well, she was that frightened, she’d always been such a -<span class='pageno' id='Page_207'>207</span>gutless girl, that she didn’t so much as know how to spin, -and what was she to do to-morrow with no one to come nigh -her to help her? She sat down on a stool in the kitchen, and -law, how she did cry!</p> - -<p class='c000'>However, all of a sudden she heard a sort of a knocking -low down on the door. She upped and oped it, and what -should she see but a small little black thing with a long tail, -that look up at her right curious, and that said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What are you a-crying for?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What’s that to you?” says she.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Never you mind,” that said, “but tell me what you’re -a-crying for.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That won’t do me no good if I do,” says she.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You don’t know that,” that said, and twirled that’s tail -round.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well,” says she, “that won’t do no harm, if that don’t -do no good,” and she upped and told about the pies, and -the skeins, and everything.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“This is what I’ll do,” says the little black thing: “I’ll come -to your window every morning and take the flax and bring -it spun at night.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What’s your pay?” says she.</p> - -<p class='c000'>That looked out of the corner of that’s eyes, and that said: -“I’ll give you three guesses every night to guess my name, -and if you haven’t guessed it before the month’s up you shall -be mine.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Well, she thought she’d be sure to guess that’s name before -the month was up. “All right,” says she, “I agree.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“All right,” that says, and law! how that twirled that’s -tail.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Well, the next day, her husband took her into the room, and -there was the flax and the day’s food.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Now, there’s the flax,” says he, “and if that ain’t spun -up this night, off goes your head.” And then he went out -and locked the door.</p> - -<p class='c000'>He’d hardly gone, when there was a knocking against the -window.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_208'>208</span>She upped and she oped it, and there sure enough was the -little old thing sitting on the ledge.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Where’s the flax?” says he.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Here it be,” says she. And she gave it to him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Well, come the evening a knocking came again to the -window. She upped and she oped it, and there was the little -old thing with five skeins of flax on his arm.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Here it be,” says he, and he gave it to her.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Now, what’s my name?” says he.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What, is that Bill?” says she.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Noo, that ain’t,” says he, and he twirled his tail.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Is that Ned?” says she.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Noo, that ain’t,” says he, and he twirled his tail.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, is that Mark?” says she.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Noo, that ain’t,” says he, and he twirled his tail harder, -and away he flew.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Well, when her husband came in, there were the five skeins -ready for him. “I see I sha’n’t have to kill you to-night, my -dear,” says he; “you’ll have your food and your flax in the -morning,” says he, and away he goes.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Well, every day the flax and the food were brought, and -every day that there little black impet used to come mornings -and evenings. And all the day the girl sat trying to think of -names to say to it when it came at night. But she never hit -on the right one. And as it got toward the end of the month, -the impet began to look so maliceful, and that twirled that’s -tail faster and faster each time she gave a guess.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At last it came to the last day but one. The impet came -at night along with the five skeins, and that said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What, ain’t you got my name yet?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Is that Nicodemus?” says she.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Noo, ‘tain’t,” that says.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Is that Sammee?” says she.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Noo, ‘tain’t,” that says.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“A-well, is that Methusalem?” says she.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Noo, ‘tain’t that neither,” that says.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then that looks at her with that’s eyes like a coal o’ fire, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_209'>209</span>and that says: “Woman, there’s only to-morrow night, and -then you’ll be mine!” And away it flew.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Well, she felt that horrid. However, she heard the king -coming along the passage. In he came, and when he sees the -five skeins, he says, says he:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, my dear,” says he, “I don’t see but what you’ll -have your skeins ready to-morrow night as well, and as I -reckon I sha’n’t have to kill you, I’ll have supper in here to-night.” -So they brought supper, and another stool for him, -and down the two sat.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Well, he hadn’t eaten but a mouthful or so when he stops -and begins to laugh.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What is it?” says she.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“A-why,” says he, “I was out a-hunting to-day, and I -got away to a place in the wood I’d never seen before. And -there was an old chalk-pit. And I heard a kind of a sort -of humming. So I got off my hobby, and I went right quiet -to the pit, and I looked down. Well, what should there be -but the funniest little black thing you ever set eyes on. And -what was that doing, but that had a little spinning-wheel, and -that was spinning wonderful fast, and twirling that’s tail. -And as that span that sang:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Nimmy nimmy not,</div> - <div class='line'>My name’s Tom Tit Tot.”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>Well, when the girl heard this, she felt as if she could have -jumped out of her skin for joy, but she didn’t say a word.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Next day that there little thing looked so maliceful when he -came for the flax. And when night came, she heard that -knocking against the window-panes. She oped the window, -and that come right in on the ledge. That was grinning from -ear to ear, and Oo! that’s tail was twirling round so fast.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What’s my name?” that says, as that gave her the skeins.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Is that Solomon?” she says, pretending to be afeard.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Noo, ‘tain’t,” that says, and that came farther into the -room.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_210'>210</span>“Well, is that Zebedee?” says she again.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Noo, ‘tain’t,” says the impet. And then that laughed and -twirled that’s tail till you couldn’t hardly see it.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Take time, woman,” that says; “next guess, and you’re -mine.” And that stretched out that’s black hands at her.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Well, she backed a step or two, and she looked at it, and -then she laughed out, and says she, pointing her finger at it:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Nimmy nimmy not,</div> - <div class='line'>Your name’s Tom Tit Tot.”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>Well, when that heard her, that gave an awful shriek, and -away that flew into the dark, and she never saw it any more.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_211'>211</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Old Woman and her Pig</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Once upon a time an old woman was sweeping her -little house, when, to her great joy, she found a silver -sixpence.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What,” said she, “shall I do with this little sixpence? I -think I will go to market and buy a pig.” So the next day -she went to market and bought a nice little white pig. She -tied a string to one of the pig’s legs and began to drive him -home.</p> - -<p class='c000'>On the way the old woman and her pig came to a stile, and -she said:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Please, pig, get over the stile.”</div> - <div class='line in2'>But the pig would not.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>Just then a little dog came trotting up, and the old woman -said to him:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Dog, dog, bite pig;</div> - <div class='line'>Pig won’t get over the stile,</div> - <div class='line'>And I sha’n’t get home to-night.”</div> - <div class='line in2'>But the dog would not.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>So the old woman held up her stick, and said:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Stick, stick, beat dog;</div> - <div class='line'>Dog won’t bite pig;</div> - <div class='line'>Pig won’t get over the stile,</div> - <div class='line'>And I sha’n’t get home to-night.”</div> - <div class='line in2'>But the stick would not.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>So the old woman gathered some bits of wood together to -make a fire, and set them on fire, and then threw her stick -into the fire and said:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'><span class='pageno' id='Page_212'>212</span>“Fire, fire, burn stick;</div> - <div class='line'>Stick won’t beat dog;</div> - <div class='line'>Dog won’t bite pig;</div> - <div class='line'>Pig won’t get over the stile,</div> - <div class='line'>And I sha’n’t get home to-night.”</div> - <div class='line in2'>But the fire would not.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>So the old woman fetched a pail of water that was standing -near and said:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Water, water, quench fire;</div> - <div class='line'>Fire won’t burn stick;</div> - <div class='line'>Stick won’t beat dog;</div> - <div class='line'>Dog won’t bite pig;</div> - <div class='line'>Pig won’t get over the stile,</div> - <div class='line'>And I sha’n’t get home to-night.”</div> - <div class='line in2'>But the water would not.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>Then the old woman saw an ox coming; so she said:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Ox, ox, drink water;</div> - <div class='line'>Water won’t quench fire;</div> - <div class='line'>Fire won’t burn stick;</div> - <div class='line'>Stick won’t beat dog;</div> - <div class='line'>Dog won’t bite pig;</div> - <div class='line'>Pig won’t go;</div> - <div class='line'>I see by the moonlight</div> - <div class='line'>It’s long past midnight;</div> - <div class='line'>Time pig and I were home an hour and a half ago.”</div> - <div class='line in2'>But the ox would not.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>So the old woman turned around and saw a butcher, and -she said:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Butcher, butcher, kill ox;</div> - <div class='line'>Ox won’t drink water;</div> - <div class='line'>Water won’t quench fire;</div> - <div class='line'>Fire won’t burn stick;</div> - <div class='line'>Stick won’t beat dog;</div> - <div class='line'><span class='pageno' id='Page_213'>213</span>Dog won’t bite pig;</div> - <div class='line'>Pig won’t go.</div> - <div class='line'>I see by the moonlight</div> - <div class='line'>It’s long past midnight;</div> - <div class='line'>Time pig and I were home an hour and a half ago.”</div> - <div class='line in2'>But the butcher would not.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>So the old woman took a rope out of her pocket, and said:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Rope, rope, hang butcher;</div> - <div class='line'>Butcher won’t kill ox;</div> - <div class='line'>Ox won’t drink water;</div> - <div class='line'>Water won’t quench fire;</div> - <div class='line'>Fire won’t burn stick;</div> - <div class='line'>Stick won’t beat dog;</div> - <div class='line'>Dog won’t bite pig;</div> - <div class='line'>Pig won’t go.</div> - <div class='line'>I see by the moonlight</div> - <div class='line'>It’s long past midnight;</div> - <div class='line'>Time pig and I were home an hour and a half ago.”</div> - <div class='line in2'>But the rope would not.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>Just then a large brown mouse ran across the meadow, and -she said:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Mouse, mouse, gnaw rope;</div> - <div class='line'>Rope won’t hang butcher;</div> - <div class='line'>Butcher won’t kill ox;</div> - <div class='line'>Ox won’t drink water;</div> - <div class='line'>Water won’t quench fire;</div> - <div class='line'>Fire won’t burn stick;</div> - <div class='line'>Stick won’t beat dog;</div> - <div class='line'>Dog won’t bite pig;</div> - <div class='line'>Pig won’t go.</div> - <div class='line'>I see by the moonlight</div> - <div class='line'>It’s long past midnight;</div> - <div class='line'>Time pig and I were home an hour and a half ago.”</div> - <div class='line'>“Yes,” said the mouse, “I will, if you will give me some cheese.”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_214'>214</span>So the old woman put her hand in her pocket and found -a nice piece of cheese; and when the mouse had eaten it:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>The mouse began to gnaw the rope,</div> - <div class='line'>The rope began to hang the butcher,</div> - <div class='line'>The butcher began to kill the ox,</div> - <div class='line'>The ox began to drink the water,</div> - <div class='line'>The water began to quench the fire,</div> - <div class='line'>The fire began to burn the stick,</div> - <div class='line'>The stick began to beat the dog,</div> - <div class='line'>The dog began to bite the pig,</div> - <div class='line'>And the pig began to go.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>But what time the old woman and her pig got home, you, -nor I, nor nobody knows.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_215'>215</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Story of the Three Little Pigs</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>There was once an old sow with three little pigs, -and as she had not enough to keep them, she sent -them out to seek their fortune. The first that went -off met a man with a bundle of straw, and said to him:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Please, man, give me that straw to build me a house.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Which the man did, and the little pig built a house with it. -Presently came along a wolf, and knocked at the door, and -said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Little pig, little pig, let me come in.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>To which the pig answered:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No, no, by the hair of my chiny chin chin.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The wolf then answered to that:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Then I’ll huff, and I’ll puff, and I’ll blow your house in.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So he huffed, and he puffed, and he blew the house in, and -ate up the little pig.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The second little pig met a man with a bundle of furze -and said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Please, man, give me that furze to build a house.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Which the man did, and the pig built his house. Then -along came the wolf, and said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Little pig, little pig, let me come in.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No, no, by the hair of my chiny chin chin.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Then I’ll huff, and I’ll puff, and I’ll blow your house in.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So he huffed, and he puffed, and he puffed, and he huffed, -and at last he blew the house down, and he ate up the little -pig.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The third little pig met a man with a load of bricks, and -said:</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_216'>216</span>“Please, man, give me those bricks to build a house with.” -So the man gave him the bricks, and he built his house with -them. Then the wolf came, as he did to the other little pigs, -and said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Little pig, little pig, let me come in.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No, no, by the hair on my chiny chin chin.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Then I’ll huff, and I’ll puff, and I’ll blow your house in.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Well, he huffed, and he puffed, and he huffed and he puffed, -and he puffed and he huffed; but he could <em>not</em> get the house -down. When he found that he could not, with all his huffing -and puffing, blow the house down, he said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Little pig, I know where there is a nice field of turnips.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Where?” said the little pig.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, in Mr. Smith’s home field, and if you will be ready -to-morrow morning I will call for you, and we will go together, -and get some for dinner.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Very well,” said the little pig, “I will be ready. What -time do you mean to go?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, at six o’clock.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Well, the little pig got up at five, and got the turnips before -the wolf came (which he did about six), when he said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Little pig, are you ready?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The little pig said: “Ready! I have been there and come -back again, and got a nice potful for dinner.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The wolf felt very angry at this, but thought that he would -be even with the little pig somehow or other, so he said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Little pig, I know where there is a nice apple-tree.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Where?” said the pig.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Down at Merry-garden,” replied the wolf, “and if you -will not deceive me I will come for you at five o’clock to-morrow -and get some apples.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Well, the little pig bustled up the next morning at four -o’clock, and went off for the apples, hoping to get back before -the wolf came; but he had farther to go, and had to climb -the tree, so that just as he was scrambling down from it, he -saw the wolf coming, which, as you may suppose, frightened -him very much. When the wolf came up he said:</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_217'>217</span>“Little pig, what! are you here before me? Are they nice -apples?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, very,” said the little pig. “I will throw you down -one.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>And he threw it so far that, while the wolf was gone to -pick it up, the little pig jumped down and ran home. The -next day the wolf came again, and said to the little pig:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Little pig, there is a fair at Shanklin this afternoon. Will -you go?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, yes,” said the pig, “I will go; what time shall you -be ready?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“At three,” said the wolf. So the little pig went off before -the time, as usual, and got to the fair, and bought a butter-churn, -which he was going home with when he saw the wolf -coming. Then he could not tell what to do. So he got into -the churn to hide, and by so doing it turned round, and rolled -down the hill with him inside, which frightened the wolf so -much that he ran home without going to the fair. He went -to the little pig’s house, and told him how frightened he had -been by a great round thing which came down the hill past -him. Then the little pig said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Hah, I frightened you then. I had been to the fair and -bought a butter-churn, and when I saw you, I got into it, and -rolled down the hill.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then the wolf was very angry indeed, and declared he -<em>would</em> eat up the little pig, and that he would get down the -chimney after him. When the little pig saw what he was -about, he hung on the pot full of water, and made up a blazing -fire, and, just as the wolf was coming down, took off the -cover, and in fell the wolf; so the little pig put on the cover -again in an instant, boiled him up, and ate him for supper, and -lived happy ever afterward.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_218'>218</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Three Sillies</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Once upon a time there was a farmer and his wife who -had one daughter, and she was courted by a gentleman. -Every evening he used to come and see her, and stop -to supper at the farmhouse, and the daughter used to be sent -down into the cellar to draw the beer for supper. So one -evening she had gone down to draw the beer, and she happened -to look up at the ceiling while she was drawing, and -she saw a mallet stuck in one of the beams. It must have -been there a long, long time, but somehow or other she had -never noticed it before, and she began a-thinking. And she -thought it was very dangerous to have that mallet there, -for she said to herself: “Suppose him and me was to be married, -and we was to have a son, and he was to grow up to be -a man, and come down into the cellar to draw the beer, like as -I’m doing now, and the mallet was to fall on his head and kill -him, what a dreadful thing it would be!” And she put down -the candle and the jug, and sat herself down and began -a-crying.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Well, they began to wonder up-stairs how it was that she -was so long drawing the beer, and her mother went down to -see after her, and she found her sitting on the settle crying, -and the beer running over the floor. “Why, whatever is the -matter?” said her mother. “Oh, mother!” says she, “look -at that horrid mallet! Suppose we was to be married, and -was to have a son, and he was to grow up, and was to come -down to the cellar to draw the beer, and the mallet was to fall -on his head and kill him, what a dreadful thing it would be!” -“Dear, dear! what a dreadful thing it would be!” said the -mother, and she sat her down aside of the daughter and -started a-crying too. Then after a bit the father began to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_219'>219</span>wonder that they didn’t come back, and he went down into -the cellar to look after them himself, and there they two sat -a-crying, and the beer running all over the floor. “Whatever -is the matter?” says he. “Why,” says the mother, “look -at that horrid mallet. Just suppose, if our daughter and her -sweetheart was to be married, and was to have a son, and -he was to grow up, and was to come down into the cellar to -draw the beer, and the mallet was to fall on his head and -kill him, what a dreadful thing it would be!” “Dear, dear, -dear! so it would!” said the father, and he sat himself down -aside of the other two, and started a-crying.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now the gentleman got tired of stopping up in the kitchen -by himself, and at last he went down into the cellar too, to -see what they were after; and there they three sat a-crying -side by side, and the beer running all over the floor. And he -ran straight and turned the tap. Then he said: “Whatever -are you three doing, sitting there crying, and letting the beer -run all over the floor?” “Oh!” says the father, “look at -that horrid mallet! Suppose you and our daughter was to be -married, and was to have a son, and he was to grow up, and -was to come down into the cellar to draw the beer, and the -mallet was to fall on his head and kill him!” And then they all -started a-crying worse than before. But the gentleman burst -out a-laughing, and reached up and pulled out the mallet, and -then he said: “I’ve traveled many miles, and I never met three -such big sillies as you three before; and now I shall start out -on my travels again, and when I can find three bigger sillies -than you three, then I’ll come back and marry your daughter.” -So he wished them good-by and started off on his travels, -and left them all crying because the girl had lost her sweetheart.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Well, he set out, and he traveled a long way, and at last -he came to a woman’s cottage that had some grass growing on -the roof. And the woman was trying to get her cow to go -up a ladder to the grass, and the poor thing durst not go. So -the gentleman asked the woman what she was doing. “Why, -look-ye,” she said, “look at all that beautiful grass. I’m going -<span class='pageno' id='Page_220'>220</span>to get the cow on to the roof to eat it. She’ll be quite safe, -for I shall tie a string round her neck, and pass it down the -chimney, and tie it to my wrist as I go about the house, so -she can’t fall off without my knowing it.” “Oh, you poor -silly!” said the gentleman, “you should cut the grass and -throw it down to the cow!” But the woman thought it was -easier to get the cow up the ladder than to get the grass down, -so she pushed her and coaxed her and got her up, and tied -a string round her neck, and passed it down the chimney, and -fastened it to her own wrist. And the gentleman went on his -way, but he hadn’t gone far when the cow tumbled off the -roof, and hung by the string tied round her neck, and it -strangled her. And the weight of the cow tied to her wrist -pulled the woman up the chimney, and she stuck fast half-way -and was smothered in the soot.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Well, that was one big silly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And the gentleman went on and on, and he went to an inn -to stop the night, and they were so full at the inn that they -had to put him in a double-bedded room, and another traveler -was to sleep in the other bed. The other man was a very -pleasant fellow, and they got very friendly together; but in -the morning, when they were both getting up, the gentleman -was surprised to see the other hang his trousers on the knobs -of the chest of drawers and run across the room and try to -jump into them, and he tried over and over again, and couldn’t -manage it; and the gentleman wondered whatever he was -doing it for. At last he stopped and wiped his face with his -handkerchief. “Oh, dear,” he says, “I do think trousers are -the most awkwardest kind of clothes that ever were. I can’t -think who could have invented such things. It takes me the -best part of an hour to get into mine every morning, and I -get so hot! How do you manage yours?” So the gentleman -burst out a-laughing, and showed him how to put them on; -and he was very much obliged to him, and said he never -should have thought of doing it that way.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So that was another big silly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then the gentleman went on his travels again; and he came -<span class='pageno' id='Page_221'>221</span>to a village, and outside the village there was a pond, and -round the pond was a crowd of people. And they had got -rakes, and brooms, and pitchforks, reaching into the pond; -and the gentleman asked what was the matter. “Why,” they -said, “matter enough! Moon’s tumbled into the pond, and -we can’t rake her out anyhow!” So the gentleman burst out -a-laughing, and told them to look up into the sky, and that -it was only the shadow in the water. But they wouldn’t listen -to him, and abused him shamefully, and he got away as -quick as he could.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So there was a whole lot of sillies bigger than those three -sillies at home. So the gentleman turned back home again -and married the farmer’s daughter, and if they didn’t live -happy forever after, that’s nothing to do with you or me.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_222'>222</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Cat and the Mouse</cite></h2> -</div> - -<div class='lg-container-b c003'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line in4'>The Cat and the Mouse</div> - <div class='line in4'>Played in the malt-house.</div> - <div class='line'>The Cat bit the Mouse’s tail off.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>“Pray, puss,” said the Mouse, “give me my long tail -again.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No,” said the Cat, “I’ll not give you your tail -again till you go to the cow and fetch me some milk.”</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>First she leaped, and then she ran,</div> - <div class='line'>Till she came to the cow, and thus began:</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>“Pray, cow, give me some milk that I may give to the Cat, -so she may give me my long tail again.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No,” said the cow, “I will give you no milk till you go -to the farmer and get me some hay.”</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>First she leaped, and then she ran,</div> - <div class='line'>Till she came to the farmer, and thus began:</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>“Pray, farmer, give me some hay that I may give to the -cow, so she may give me some milk that I may give to the -Cat, so she may give me my long tail again.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No,” says the farmer, “I’ll give you no hay till you go to -the butcher and fetch me some meat.”</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>First she leaped, and then she ran,</div> - <div class='line'>Till she came to the butcher, and thus began:</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>“Pray butcher, give me some meat that I may give to the -farmer, so he may give me some hay that I may give to -the cow, so she may give me some milk that I may give to -the Cat, so she may give me my long tail again.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_223'>223</span>“No,” said the butcher, “I’ll give you no meat till you go -to the baker and fetch me some bread.”</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>First she leaped, and then she ran,</div> - <div class='line'>Till she came to the baker, and thus began:</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>“Pray, baker, give me some bread that I may give to the -butcher, so he may give me some meat that I may give to -the farmer, so he may give me some hay that I may give -to the cow, so she may give me some milk that I may give -to the Cat, so she may give me my long tail again.”</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Yes,” said the baker, “I’ll give you some bread,</div> - <div class='line'>But if you eat my meal, I’ll cut off your head.”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>The baker gave the Mouse bread, which she brought to the -butcher; the butcher gave the Mouse meat, which she brought -to the farmer; the farmer gave the Mouse hay, which she -brought to the cow; the cow gave the Mouse milk, which -she brought to the Cat; and the Cat gave to the Mouse her -long tail again.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_224'>224</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>Hereafterthis</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Once upon a time there was a farmer called Jan, and he -lived all alone by himself in a little farmhouse.</p> - -<p class='c000'>By and by he thought that he would like to have a -wife to keep it all vitty for him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So he went a-courting a fine maid, and he said to her: -“Will you marry me?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That I will, to be sure,” said she.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So they went to church and were wed. After the wedding -was over, she got up on his horse behind him, and he brought -her home. And they lived as happy as the day was long.</p> - -<p class='c000'>One day Jan said to his wife: “Wife, can you milk-y?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, yes, Jan, I can milk-y. Mother used to milk-y when -I lived home.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So he went to market and bought her ten red cows. All -went well till one day when she had driven them to the pond -to drink, she thought they did not drink fast enough. So she -drove them right into the pond to make them drink faster, -and they were all drowned.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When Jan came home she up and told him what she had -done, and he said: “Oh, well, there, never mind, my dear; -better luck next time.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So they went on for a bit, and then one day Jan said to -his wife: “Wife, can you serve pigs?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, yes, Jan, I can serve pigs. Mother used to serve -pigs when I lived home.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So Jan went to market and bought her some pigs. All went -well till one day, when she had put their food into the trough, -she thought they did not eat fast enough, and she pushed their -heads into the trough to make them eat faster, and they were -all choked.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_225'>225</span>When Jan came home she up and told him what she had -done, and he said: “Oh, well, there, never mind, my dear; -better luck next time.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So they went on for a bit, and then one day Jan said to -his wife: “Wife, can you bake-y?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, yes, Jan, I can bake-y. Mother used to bake-y when -I lived home.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So he bought everything for his wife so that she could bake -bread. All went well for a bit, till one day she thought she -would bake white bread for a treat for Jan. So she carried -her meal to the top of a high hill, and let the wind blow on -it, for she thought to herself that the wind would blow out -all the bran. But the wind blew away meal and bran and all—so -there was an end of it.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When Jan came home, she up and told him what she had -done, and he said: “Oh, well, there, never mind, my dear; -better luck next time.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So they went on for a bit, and then one day Jan said to -his wife: “Wife, can you brew-y?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, yes, Jan, I can brew-y. Mother used to brew-y when -I lived home.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So he bought everything proper for his wife to brew ale -with. All went well for a bit, till one day when she had -brewed her ale and put it in the barrel, a big black dog came -in and looked up in her face. She drove him out of the house, -but he stayed outside the door and still looked up in her face. -And she got so angry that she pulled out the plug of the barrel, -threw it at the dog, and said: “What dost look at me -for? I be Jan’s wife.” Then the dog ran down the road, and -she ran after him to chase him right away. When she came -back again, she found that the ale had all run out of the barrel, -and so there was an end of it.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When Jan came home, she up and told him what she had -done, and he said: “Oh, well, there, never mind, my dear; -better luck next time.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So they went on for a bit, and then one day she thought -to herself, “’Tis time to clean up my house.” When she was -<span class='pageno' id='Page_226'>226</span>taking down her big bed she found a bag of groats on the -tester. So when Jan came home, she up and said to him: -“Jan, what is that bag of groats on the tester for?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That is for Hereafterthis, my dear.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now, there was a robber outside the window, and he heard -what Jan said. Next day, he waited till Jan had gone to -market, and then he came and knocked at the door. “What -do you please to want?” said Mally.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I am Hereafterthis,” said the robber. “I have come for -the bag of groats.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now the robber was dressed like a fine gentleman, so she -thought to herself it was very kind of so fine a man to come -for the bag of groats, so she ran up-stairs and fetched the -bag of groats, and gave it to the robber and he went away -with it.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When Jan came home she said to him: “Jan, Hereafterthis -has been for the bag of groats.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What do you mean, wife?” said Jan.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So she up and told him, and he said: “Then I’m a ruined -man, for that money was to pay our rent with. The only -thing we can do is to roam the world over till we find the -bag of groats.” Then Jan took the house-door off its hinges, -“That’s all we shall have to lie on,” he said. So Jan put the -door on his back, and they both set out to look for Hereafterthis. -Many a long day they went, and in the night Jan used -to put the door on the branches of a tree, and they would -sleep on it. One night they came to a big hill, and there was -a high tree at the foot. So Jan put the door up in it, and -they got up in the tree and went to sleep. By and by Jan’s -wife heard a noise, and she looked to see what it was. It was -an opening of a door in the side of the hill. Out came two -gentlemen with a long table, and behind them fine ladies and -lords, each carrying a bag, and one of them was Hereafterthis -with the bag of groats. They sat round the table, and -began to drink and talk and count up all the money in the -bags. So then Jan’s wife woke him up, and asked what they -should do.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_227'>227</span>“Now’s our time,” said Jan, and he pushed the door off -the branches, and it fell right in the very middle of the table, -and frightened the robbers so that they all ran away. Then -Jan and his wife got down from the tree, took as many moneybags -as they could carry on the door, and went straight home. -And Jan bought his wife more cows, and more pigs, and they -lived happy ever after.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_228'>228</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>Titty Mouse and Tatty Mouse</cite></h2> -</div> - -<div class='lg-container-l c003'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'><span class='c014'><i>T</i></span>itty Mouse and Tatty Mouse both lived in a house,</div> - <div class='line'>Titty Mouse went a-leasing and Tatty Mouse went a-leasing,</div> - <div class='line in2'>So they both went a-leasing.</div> - <div class='line'>Titty Mouse leased an ear of corn, and Tatty Mouse leased an ear of corn,</div> - <div class='line in2'>So they both leased an ear of corn.</div> - <div class='line'>Titty Mouse made a pudding, and Tatty Mouse made a pudding,</div> - <div class='line in2'>So they both made a pudding.</div> - <div class='line'>And Tatty Mouse put her pudding into the pot to boil,</div> - <div class='line'>But when Titty went to put hers in, the pot tumbled over, and scalded her to death.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>Then Tatty sat down and wept, and a three-legged stool -said: “Tatty, why do you weep?” “Titty’s dead,” said -Tatty, “and so I weep.” “Then,” said the stool, “I’ll hop.” -So the stool hopped.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then a broom in the corner of the room said: “Stool, why -do you hop?” “Oh!” said the stool, “Titty’s dead, and -Tatty weeps, and so I hop.” “Then,” said the broom, “I’ll -sweep.” So the broom began to sweep.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Then,” said the door, “Broom, why do you sweep?” -“Oh!” said the broom, “Titty’s dead, and Tatty weeps, and -the stool hops, and so I sweep.” “Then,” said the door, “I’ll -jar.” So the door jarred.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Then,” said the window, “Door, why do you jar?” -“Oh!” said the door, “Titty’s dead, and Tatty weeps, and -the stool hops, and the broom sweeps, and so I jar.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Then,” said the window, “I’ll creak.” So the window -<span class='pageno' id='Page_229'>229</span>creaked. Now there was an old form outside the house, and -when the window creaked, the form said: “Window, why do -you creak?” “Oh!” said the window, “Titty’s dead, and -Tatty weeps, and the stool hops, and the broom sweeps, the -door jars, and so I creak.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Then,” said the old form, “I’ll run round the house.” -Then the old form ran round the house. Now there was a -fine large walnut-tree growing by the cottage, and the tree -said to the form: “Form, why do you run round the house?” -“Oh!” said the form, “Titty’s dead, and Tatty weeps, and -the stool hops, and the broom sweeps, the door jars, and the -window creaks, and so I run round the house.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Then,” said the walnut-tree, “I’ll shed my leaves.” So the -walnut-tree shed all its beautiful green leaves. Now there -was a little bird perched on one of the boughs of the tree, -and when all the leaves fell, it said: “Walnut-tree, why do -you shed your leaves?” “Oh!” said the tree, “Titty’s dead, -and Tatty weeps, the stool hops, and the broom sweeps, the -door jars, and the window creaks, the old form runs round -the house, and so I shed my leaves.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Then,” said the little bird, “I’ll moult all my feathers.” -So he moulted all his pretty feathers. Now there was a little -girl walking below, carrying a jug of milk for her brothers’ -and sisters’ supper, and when she saw the poor little bird -moult all its feathers, she said: “Little bird, why do you -moult all your feathers?” “Oh!” said the little bird, -“Titty’s dead, and Tatty weeps, the stool hops, and the broom -sweeps, the door jars, and the window creaks, the old form -runs round the house, the walnut-tree sheds its leaves, and -so I moult all my feathers.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Then,” said the little girl, “I’ll spill the milk.” So she -dropped the pitcher and spilt the milk. Now there was an -old man just by on the top of a ladder thatching a rick, and -when he saw the little girl spill the milk, he said: “Little -girl, what do you mean by spilling the milk? Your little -brothers and sisters must go without their supper.” Then -said the little girl: “Titty’s dead, and Tatty weeps, the stool -<span class='pageno' id='Page_230'>230</span>hops, and the broom sweeps, the door jars, and the window -creaks, the old form runs round the house, the walnut-tree -sheds all its leaves, the little bird moults all its feathers, and -so I spill the milk.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh!” said the old man, “then I’ll tumble off the ladder -and break my neck.” So he tumbled off the ladder and broke -his neck; and when the old man broke his neck, the great -walnut-tree fell down with a crash, and upset the old form -and house, and the house falling knocked the window out, -and the window knocked the door down, and the door upset -the broom, and the broom upset the stool, and poor little -Tatty Mouse was buried beneath the ruins.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_231'>231</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Magpie’s Nest</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Once upon a time all the birds of the air came to the -Magpie and asked her to teach them how to build nests, -for the Magpie is the cleverest of all at building. So -she put them all around her and began to show them how to -do it. First of all she took some mud and made a sort of -round cake with it.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, that’s how it’s done,” said the thrush; and away it -flew, and so that’s how thrushes build their nests.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then the Magpie took some twigs and arranged them around -in the mud.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Now I know all about it,” said the blackbird, and off he -flew; and that’s how the blackbirds make their nests to this -very day.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then the Magpie put another layer of mud over the twigs.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, that’s quite obvious,” said the wise owl, and away he -flew; and owls have never made better nests since.</p> - -<p class='c000'>After this the Magpie took some twigs and twined them -around the outside.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“The very thing!” said the sparrow, and off he went; so -sparrows make rather slovenly nests to this day.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Well, then Madge Magpie took some feathers and stuff -and lined the nest very comfortably with it.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That suits me,” cried the starling, and off he flew; and -very comfortable nests have starlings.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So it went on, every bird taking away some knowledge of -how to build nests, but none of them waiting to the end. -Meanwhile Madge Magpie went on working and working -without looking up till the only bird that remained was the -turtle-dove, and that hadn’t paid any attention all along, but -only kept on saying its silly cry: “Take two, Taffy, take -two-o-o-o.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_232'>232</span>At last the Magpie heard this just as she was putting a -twig across. So she said: “One’s enough.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>But the turtle-dove kept on saying: “Take two, Taffy, take -two-o-o-o.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then the Magpie grew angry and said: “One’s enough, I -tell you.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Still the turtle-dove cried: “Take two, Taffy, take -two-o-o-o.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>At last, and at last, the Magpie looked up and saw nobody -near her but the silly turtle-dove, and then she grew very -angry and refused to teach any more.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And that is why all the birds build their nests in different -ways up to this day. Each one made off, you see, as soon as -he thought he had learned the Magpie’s secret, and each is -perfectly contented with his own way.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_233'>233</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>Scrapefoot</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Once upon a time, there were three bears who lived in -a castle in a great wood. One of them was a great big -bear, and one was a middling bear, and one was a little -bear. And in the same wood there was a fox who lived all -alone. His name was Scrapefoot. Scrapefoot was very much -afraid of the bears, but for all that he wanted very much to -know about them. And one day as he went through the -wood he found himself near the bears’ castle, and he wondered -whether he could get into the castle. He looked all about him -everywhere, and he could not see any one. So he came on -very quietly, till at last he came up to the door of the castle, -and he tried whether he could open it. Yes! the door was not -locked, and he opened it just a little way, and put his nose -in and looked, and he could not see any one. So then he -opened it a little way farther, and put one paw in, and then -another paw, and another, and another, and then he was all in -the bears’ castle. He found he was in a great hall with three -chairs in it—one big, one middling, and one little chair; and he -thought he would like to sit down and rest and look about him; -so he sat down on the big chair. But he found it so hard and -uncomfortable that it made his bones ache, and he jumped -down at once and got into the middling chair, and he turned -round and round in it, but he couldn’t make himself comfortable. -So then he went to the little chair and sat down in it, and -it was so soft and warm and comfortable that Scrapefoot was -quite happy; but all at once it broke to pieces under him -and he couldn’t put it together again! So he got up and -began to look about him again, and on one table he saw three -saucers, of which one was very big, one was middling, and one -was quite a little saucer. Scrapefoot was very thirsty, and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_234'>234</span>he began to drink out of the big saucer. But he only just -tasted the milk in the big saucer, which was so sour and so -horrid that he would not taste another drop of it. Then he -tried the middling saucer, and he drank a little of that. He -tried two or three mouthfuls, but it was not nice, and then -he left it and went to the little saucer, and the milk in the -little saucer was so sweet and so nice that he went on drinking -it till it was all gone.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then Scrapefoot thought he would like to go up-stairs; and -he listened and he could not hear any one. So up-stairs he -went, and he found a great room with three beds in it; one -was a big bed, and one was a middling bed, and one was a -little white bed; and he climbed up into the big bed, but it -was so hard and lumpy and uncomfortable that he jumped -down again at once, and tried the middling bed. That was -rather better, but he could not lie comfortably in it, so after -turning about a little while he got up and went to the little -bed; and that was so soft and so warm and so nice that he -fell fast asleep at once.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And after a time the bears came home, and when they got -into the hall the big bear went to his chair and said: “WHO’S -BEEN SITTING IN MY CHAIR?” and the middling bear -said: “<span class='fss'>WHO’S BEEN SITTING IN MY CHAIR?</span>” and the little -bear said: “<em>Who’s been sitting in my chair and has broken -it all to pieces?</em>” And then they went to have their milk, -and the big bear said: “WHO’S BEEN DRINKING MY -MILK?” and the middling bear said: “<span class='fss'>WHO’S BEEN DRINKING -MY MILK?</span>” and the little bear said: “<em>Who’s been drinking -my milk and has drunk it all up?</em>” Then they went up-stairs -and into the bedroom, and the big bear said: “WHO’S -BEEN SLEEPING IN MY BED?” and the middling bear -said: “<span class='fss'>WHO’S BEEN SLEEPING IN MY BED?</span>” and the little -bear said: “<em>Who’s been sleeping in my bed?—and see, here -he is!</em>” So then the bears came and wondered what they -should do with him; and the big bear said: “Let’s hang -him!” and then the middling bear said: “Let’s drown him!” -and then the little bear said: “Let’s throw him out of the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_235'>235</span>window.” And then the bears took him to the window, and -the big bear took two legs on one side and the middling bear -took two legs on the other side, and they swung him backward -and forward, backward and forward, and out of the -window. Poor Scrapefoot was so frightened, and he thought -every bone in his body must be broken. But he got up and -first shook one leg—no, that was not broken; and then another, -and that was not broken; and another and another, and -then he wagged his tail and found there were no bones broken. -So then he galloped off home as fast as he could go, and -never went near the bears’ castle again.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_236'>236</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Wise Men of Gotham</cite></h2> -</div> -<h3 class='c012'>OF BUYING OF SHEEP</h3> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c013'>There were two men of Gotham, and one of them -was going to market to Nottingham to buy sheep, -and the other came from the market, and they both -met together upon Nottingham bridge.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Where are you going?” said the one who came from -Nottingham.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Marry,” said he that was going to Nottingham, “I am -going to buy sheep.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Buy sheep?” said the other, “and which way will you -bring them home?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Marry,” said the other, “I will bring them over this -bridge.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“By Robin Hood,” said he that came from Nottingham, -“but thou shalt not.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“By Maid Marian,” said he that was going thither, “but -I will.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You will not,” said the one.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I will,” said the other.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then they beat their staves against the ground one against -the other, as if there had been a hundred sheep between them.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Hold in,” said one; “beware lest my sheep leap over the -bridge.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I care not,” said the other; “they shall not come this -way.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But they shall,” said the other.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then the other said: “If that thou make much to do, I -will put my fingers in thy mouth.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Will you?” said the other.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_237'>237</span>Now, as they were at their contention, another man of -Gotham came from the market with a sack of meal upon -a horse, and seeing and hearing his neighbors at strife about -sheep, though there were none between them, said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Ah, fools! will you ever learn wisdom? Help me, and -lay my sack upon my shoulders.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>They did so, and he went to the side of the bridge, unloosened -the mouth of the sack, and shook all his meal out -into the river.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Now, neighbors,” he said, “how much meal is there in -my sack?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Marry,” said they, “there is none at all.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Now, by my faith,” said he, “even as much wit as is in -your two heads to stir up strife about a thing you have not.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Which was the wisest of these three persons, judge yourself.</p> - -<h3 class='c012'>OF HEDGING A CUCKOO</h3> - -<p class='c013'>Once upon a time the men of Gotham would have kept the -cuckoo so that she might sing all the year, and in the midst -of their town they made a hedge round in compass, and they -got a cuckoo, and put her into it, and said: “Sing there -all through the year, or thou shalt have neither meat nor -water.” The cuckoo, as soon as she perceived herself within -the hedge, flew away. “A vengeance on her!” said they. -“We did not make our hedge high enough.”</p> - -<h3 class='c012'>OF SENDING CHEESES</h3> - -<p class='c013'>There was a man of Gotham who went to the market at -Nottingham to sell cheese, and as he was going down the hill -to Nottingham bridge, one of his cheeses fell out of his wallet -and rolled down the hill. “Ah, gaffer,” said the fellow, “can -you run to market alone? I will send one after another after -you.” Then he laid down his wallet and took out the cheeses, -and rolled them down the hill. Some went into one bush, and -some went into another.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_238'>238</span>“I charge you all to meet me near the marketplace”; and -when the fellow came to the market to meet his cheeses, he -stayed there till the market was nearly done. Then he went -about to inquire of his friends and neighbors, and other men, -if they did see his cheeses come to the market.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Who should bring them?” said one of the market-men.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Marry, themselves,” said the fellow; “they know the way -well enough.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>And then he said: “A vengeance on them all. I did fear to -see them run so fast that they would run beyond the market. -I am now fully persuaded that they must be now almost at -York.” Thereupon he forthwith hired a horse to ride to York, -to seek his cheeses where they were not, but to this day no -man can tell him of his cheeses.</p> - -<h3 class='c012'>OF DROWNING EELS</h3> - -<p class='c013'>When Good Friday came, the men of Gotham cast their -heads together what to do with their white herrings, their red -herrings, their sprats, and other salt fish. One consulted with -the other, and agreed that such fish should be cast into their -pond (which was in the middle of the town), that they might -breed against the next year, and every man that had salt fish -left, cast them into the pool.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I have many white herrings,” said one.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I have many sprats,” said another.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I have many red herrings,” said the other.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I have much salt fish. Let all go into the pond or pool, -and we shall fare like lords next year.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>At the beginning of next year following, the men drew -near the pond to have their fish, and there was nothing but -a great eel. “Ah,” said they all, “a mischief on this eel, for -he has eaten up all our fish.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What shall we do to him?” said one to the others.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Kill him,” said one.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Chop him into pieces,” said another. “Not so,” said another; -“let us drown him.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_239'>239</span>“Be it so,” said all. And they went to another pond, -and cast the eel into the pond. “Lie there and shift for -yourself, for no help thou shalt have from us”; and they left -the eel to drown.</p> - -<h3 class='c012'>OF SENDING RENT</h3> - -<p class='c013'>Once on a time the men of Gotham had forgotten to pay -their landlord. One said to the other: “To-morrow is our -pay-day, and whom shall we find to send our money to our -landlord?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The one said: “This day I have caught a hare, and he shall -carry it, for he is light of foot.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Be it so,” said all; “he shall have a letter and a purse -to put our money in, and we shall direct him the right way.” -So when the letters were written and the money put in a -purse, they tied it round the hare’s neck, saying: “First you -go to Lancaster, then you must go to Loughborough, and -Newarke is our landlord, and commend us to him, and there -are his dues.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The hare, as soon as he was out of their hands, ran on -along the country way. Some cried: “You must go to Lancaster -first.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Let the hare alone,” said another; “he can tell a nearer -way than the best of us all. Let him go.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Another said: “It is a subtle hare, let him alone; he will -not keep the highway for fear of dogs.”</p> - -<h3 class='c012'>OF COUNTING</h3> - -<p class='c013'>On a certain time there were twelve men of Gotham -who went fishing, and some went into the water and some -on dry ground; and, as they were coming back, one of -them said: “We have ventured much this day wading; I -pray God that none of us that did come from home be -drowned.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Marry,” said one, “let us see about that. Twelve of us -<span class='pageno' id='Page_240'>240</span>came out,” and every man did count eleven, and the twelfth -man did never count himself.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Alas!” said one to another, “one of us is drowned.” -They went back to the brook where they had been fishing, and -looked up and down for him that was drowned, and made -great lamentation. A courtier came riding by, and he did ask -what they were seeking, and why they were so sorrowful. -“Oh,” said they, “this day we came to fish in this brook, and -there were twelve of us, and one is drowned.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Why,” said the courtier, “count me how many of you -there be,” and one counted eleven and did not count himself. -“Well,” said the courtier, “what will you give me if I find -the twelfth man?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Sir,” said they, “all the money we have.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Give me the money,” said the courtier; and he began with -the first, and gave him a whack over the shoulders that he -groaned, and said, “There is one,” and he served all of them -that they groaned; but when he came to the last he gave him -a good blow, saying, “Here is the twelfth man.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“God bless you on your heart,” said all the company; “you -have found our neighbor.”</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_241'>241</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>Henny-Penny</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>One day Henny-penny was picking up corn in the corn-yard -when—whack!—something hit her upon the head.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Goodness gracious me!” says Henny-penny; “the -sky’s a-going to fall; I must go and tell the king.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So she went along, and she went along, and she went along -till she met Cocky-locky. “Where are you going, Henny-penny?” -says Cocky-locky. “Oh! I’m going to tell the king -the sky’s a-falling,” says Henny-penny. “May I come with -you?” says Cocky-locky. “Certainly,” says Henny-penny. -So Henny-penny and Cocky-locky went to tell the king the -sky was falling.</p> - -<p class='c000'>They went along, and they went along, and they went along -till they met Ducky-daddles. “Where are you going to, -Henny-penny and Cocky-locky?” says Ducky-daddles. “Oh! -we’re going to tell the king the sky’s a-falling,” says Henny-penny -and Cocky-locky. “May I come with you?” says -Ducky-daddles. “Certainly,” says Henny-penny and Cocky-locky. -So Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, and Ducky-daddles -went to tell the king the sky was a-falling.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So they went along, and they went along, and they went -along till they met Goosey-poosey. “Where are you going -to, Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, and Ducky-daddles?” says -Goosey-poosey. “Oh! we’re going to tell the king the sky’s -a-falling,” says Henny-penny and Cocky-locky and Ducky-daddles. -“May I come with you?” says Goosey-poosey. -“Certainly,” says Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, and Ducky-daddles. -So Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, and -Goosey-poosey went to tell the king the sky was a-falling.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So they went along, and they went along, and they went -along till they met Turkey-lurkey. “Where are you going, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_242'>242</span>Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, and Goosey-poosey?” -says Turkey-lurkey. “Oh! we’re going to tell the -king the sky’s a-falling,” says Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, -Ducky-daddles, and Goosey-poosey. “May I come with you, -Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, and Goosey-poosey?” -says Turkey-lurkey. “Oh, certainly, Turkey-lurkey,” -says Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, and -Goosey-poosey. So Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, -Goosey-poosey, and Turkey-lurkey all went to tell the -king the sky was a-falling.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So they went along, and they went along, and they went -along till they met Foxy-woxy, and Foxy-woxy says to Henny-penny, -Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, Goosey-poosey, and -Turkey-lurkey: “Where are you going, Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, -Ducky-daddles, Goosey-poosey, and Turkey-lurkey?” -And Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, Goosey-poosey, -and Turkey-lurkey says to Foxy-woxey: “We’re going -to tell the king the sky’s a-falling.” “Oh! but this is not the -way to the king, Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, -Goosey-poosey, and Turkey-lurkey,” says Foxy-woxy; “I -know the proper way; shall I show it you?” “Oh, certainly, -Foxy-woxy,” says Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, -Goosey-poosey, and Turkey-lurkey. So Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, -Ducky-daddles, Goosey-poosey, Turkey-lurkey, and -Foxy-woxy all went to tell the king the sky was a-falling.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So they went along, and they went along, and they went -along till they came to a narrow and dark hole. Now this was -the door of Foxy-woxy’s cave. But Foxy-woxy says to Henny-penny, -Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, Goosey-poosey, and Turkey-lurkey: -“This is the short way to the king’s palace: you’ll -soon get there if you follow me. I will go first and you come -after, Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, Goosey-poosey, -and Turkey-lurkey.” “Why, of course, certainly, -without doubt, why not?” says Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, -Ducky-daddles, Goosey-poosey, and Turkey-lurkey.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So Foxy-woxy went into his cave, and he didn’t go very -far, but turned round to wait for Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_243'>243</span>Ducky-daddles, Goosey-poosey, and Turkey-lurkey. So at -last Turkey-lurkey went through the dark hole into the -cave. He hadn’t got far when “Hrumph!” Foxy-woxy -snapped off Turkey-lurkey’s head and threw his body over his -left shoulder. Then Goosey-poosey went in, and “Hrumph!” -off went her head and Goosey-poosey was thrown beside -Turkey-lurkey. Then Ducky-daddles waddled down, and -“Hrumph!” snapped Foxy-woxy, and Ducky-daddles’s head -was off, and Ducky-daddles was thrown alongside Turkey-lurkey -and Goosey-poosey. Then Cocky-locky strutted down -into the cave, and he hadn’t gone far when “Snap, Hrumph!” -went Foxy-woxy, and Cocky-locky was thrown alongside of -Turkey-lurkey, Goosey-poosey, and Ducky-daddles.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But Foxy-woxy had made two bites at Cocky-locky, and -when the first snap only hurt Cocky-locky, but didn’t kill -him, he called out to Henny-penny. So she turned tail and -off she ran home, and she never told the king the sky was -a-falling.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_244'>244</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>A Son of Adam</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>A man was working one day. It was very hot, and -he was digging. By and by he stopped to rest and -wipe his face; and he grew very angry to think he -had to work so hard just because of Adam’s sin. So he -complained bitterly, and said some very hard words about -Adam.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It happened that his master heard him, and he asked: “Why -do you blame Adam? You’d ha’ done just like Adam, if -you’d a-been in his place.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No, I shouldn’t,” says the man. “I should ha’ know’d -better.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, I’ll try you,” says his master. “Come to me at -dinner-time.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So come dinner-time, the man came, and his master took -him into a room where the table was a-set with good things -of all sorts. And he said: “Now, you can eat as much as -ever you like from any of the dishes on the table; but don’t -touch the covered dish in the middle till I come back.” And -with that the master went out of the room and left the man -there all by himself. So the man began to taste some o’ this -dish and some o’ that, and enjoyed himself finely. But after -a while, as his master didn’t come back, he began to look at -the covered dish, and to wonder whatever was in it. And -he wondered more and more, and he says to himself: “It -must be something very nice. Why shouldn’t I just look at -it? I won’t touch it. There can’t be any harm in just peeping.” -So at last he could hold back no longer, and he lifted -up the cover a tiny bit; but he couldn’t see anything. Then -he lifted it up a bit more, and out popped a mouse. The man -tried to catch it; but it ran away and jumped off the table -<span class='pageno' id='Page_245'>245</span>and he ran after it. It ran first into one corner, and then, -just as he thought he’d got it, into another, and under the -table, and all about the room. And the man made such a -clatter, jumping and banging and running round after the -mouse, a-trying to catch it, that at last his master came in.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Ah!” he said; “never you blame Adam again, my man!”</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_246'>246</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Happy Family</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>The largest green leaf in this country is certainly the -burdock leaf. If you hold it in front of you, it is -large enough for an apron; and if you hold it over -your head, it is almost as good as an umbrella, it is so wonderfully -large. A burdock never grows alone; where it grows, -there are many more, and it is a splendid sight; and all this -splendor is good for snails. Grand people in olden times -used to have the great white snails made into fricassees; and -when they had eaten them, they would say: “Oh, what a -delicious dish!” for these people really thought them good. -Such snails lived on burdock leaves, and for them the burdock -was planted.</p> - -<p class='c000'>There was once an old estate where no one now lived to -require snails; indeed, the owners had all died out, but the -burdock still flourished; it grew over all the beds and walks -of the garden—its growth had no check—till it became at last -quite a forest of burdocks. Here and there stood an apple- -or a plum-tree; but for this, nobody would have thought the -place had ever been a garden. It was burdock from one end -to the other; and here lived the last two surviving snails. -They knew not themselves how old they were; but they could -remember the time when there were a great many more of -them, and that they were descended from a family which came -from foreign lands, and that the whole forest had been planted -for them and theirs. They had never been away from the -garden; but they knew that another place once existed in the -world, called the Duke’s Palace Castle, in which some of their -relations had been boiled till they became black, and were then -laid on a silver dish; but what was done afterward they did -not know. Besides, they could not imagine exactly how it -<span class='pageno' id='Page_247'>247</span>felt to be boiled and placed on a silver dish; but no doubt it -was something very fine and highly genteel. Neither the -cockchafer, nor the toad, nor the earthworm, whom they -questioned about it, could give them the least information; -for none of their relations had ever been cooked or served on -a silver dish. The old white snails were the most aristocratic -race in the world—they knew that. The forest had been -planted for them, and the nobleman’s castle had been built -solely that they might be cooked and laid on silver dishes.</p> - -<p class='c000'>They lived quite retired and very happily; and as they had -no children of their own, they had adopted a little common -snail, which they brought up as their own child. The little -one would not grow, for he was only a common snail; but the -old people, particularly the mother snail, declared that she -could easily see how he grew; and when the father said he -could not perceive it, she begged him to feel the little snail’s -shell, and he did so, and found that the mother was right.</p> - -<p class='c000'>One day it rained very fast. “Listen, what a drumming -there is on the burdock leaves; tum, tum, tum; tum, tum, -tum,” said the father snail.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“There come the drops,” said the mother; “they are trickling -down the stalks. We shall have it very wet here presently. -I am very glad we have such good houses, and that -the little one has one of his own. There has been really more -done for us than for any other creature; it is quite plain that -we are the most noble people in the world. We have houses -from our birth, and the burdock forest has been planted for -us. I should very much like to know how far it extends, and -what lies beyond it.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“There can be nothing better than we have here,” said the -father snail; “I wish for nothing more.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, but I do,” said the mother; “I should like to be taken -to the palace, and boiled, and laid upon a silver dish, as was -done to all our ancestors; and you may be sure it must be -something very uncommon.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“The nobleman’s castle, perhaps, has fallen to decay,” said -the snail father, “or the burdock wood may have grown over -<span class='pageno' id='Page_248'>248</span>it, so that those who live there cannot get out. You need -not be in a hurry; you are always so impatient, and the youngster -is getting just the same. He has been three days creeping -to the top of that stalk. I feel quite giddy when I look -at him.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You must not scold him,” said the mother snail; “he -creeps so very carefully. He will be the joy of our home; -and we old folks have nothing else to live for. But have you -ever thought where we are to get a wife for him? Do you -think that farther out in the wood there may be others of -our race?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“There may be black snails, no doubt,” said the old snail; -“black snails without houses; though they are vulgar and -conceited too. But we can give the ants a commission; they -run here and there, as if they all had much business to get -through. They, most likely, will know of a wife for our -youngster.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I certainly know a most beautiful bride,” said one of the -ants; “but I fear it would not do, for she is a queen.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That does not matter,” said the old snail. “Has she a -house?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“She has a palace,” replied the ant, “a most beautiful ant-palace -with seven hundred passages.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Thank you,” said the mother snail; “but our boy shall -not go to live in an ant-hill. If you know of nothing better, -we will give the commission to the white gnats; they fly about -in rain and sunshine; they know the burdock wood from one -end to the other.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We have a wife for him,” said the gnats; “a hundred -man-steps from here, there is a little snail with a house, sitting -on a gooseberry-bush; she is quite alone, and old enough to -be married. It is only a hundred man-steps from here.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Then let her come to him,” said the old people. “He has -the whole burdock forest; she has only a bush.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So they brought the little lady-snail. She took eight days -to perform the journey; but that was just as it ought to be, -for it showed her to be one of the right breeding. And then -<span class='pageno' id='Page_249'>249</span>they had a wedding. Six glowworms gave as much light -as they could; but in other respects it was all very quiet; for -the old snails could not bear festivities or a crowd. But a -beautiful speech was made by the mother snail. The father -could not speak; he was too much overcome. Then they gave -the whole burdock forest to the young snails as an inheritance, -and repeated what they had so often said, that it was the -finest place in the world, and that if they led upright and -honorable lives, and their family increased, they and their -children might some day be taken to the nobleman’s palace, -to be boiled black, and laid on a silver dish. And when they -had finished speaking, the old couple crept into their houses, -and came out no more; for they slept.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The young snail pair now ruled in the forest, and had a numerous -progeny. But as the young ones were never boiled -or laid in silver dishes, they concluded that the castle had -fallen into decay, and that all the people in the world were -dead; and as nobody contradicted them, they thought they -must be right. And the rain fell upon the burdock leaves, to -play the drum for them, and the sun shone to paint colors -on the burdock forest for them, and they were very happy; -the whole family was entirely and perfectly happy.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'><span class='sc'>Hans Christian Andersen.</span></div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_250'>250</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Blind Man, the Deaf Man, and the Donkey</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>A blind Man and a Deaf Man once entered into -partnership. The Deaf Man was to see for the -Blind Man, and the Blind Man was to hear for -the Deaf Man.</p> - -<p class='c000'>One day both went to a nautch<a id='r6' /><a href='#f6' class='c011'><sup>[6]</sup></a> together. The Deaf Man -said: “The dancing is very good, but the music is not worth -listening to”; and the Blind Man said: “On the contrary, I -think the music very good, but the dancing is not worth looking -at.”</p> - -<div class='footnote' id='f6'> -<p class='c000'><span class='label'><a href='#r6'>6</a>. </span>Musical and dancing entertainment.</p> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>After this they went together for a walk in the jungle, and -there found a Dhobee’s Donkey that had strayed away from -its owner, and a great big chattee (such as Dhobees boil -clothes in), which the Donkey was carrying with him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The Deaf Man said to the Blind Man: “Brother, here are -a Donkey and a Dhobee’s great big chattee, with nobody to -own them! Let us take them with us—they may be useful -to us some day.” “Very well,” said the Blind Man; “we will -take them with us.” So the Blind Man and the Deaf Man -went on their way, taking the Donkey and the great big chattee -with them. A little farther on they came to an ant’s nest, -and the Deaf Man said to the Blind Man: “Here are a number -of very fine black ants, much larger than any I ever saw -before. Let us take some of them home to show our friends.” -“Very well,” answered the Blind Man; “we will take them -as a present to our friends.” So the Deaf Man took a silver -snuff-box out of his pocket, and put four or five of the finest -black ants into it; which done, they continued their journey.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_251'>251</span>But before they had gone very far a terrible storm came on. -It thundered and lightened and rained and blew with such -fury that it seemed as if the whole heavens and earth were -at war. “Oh dear! oh dear!” cried the Deaf Man, “how -dreadful this lightning is! Let us make haste and get to some -place of shelter.” “I don’t see that it’s dreadful at all,” answered -the Blind Man; “but the thunder is very terrible; we -had better certainly seek some place of shelter.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now, not far off was a lofty building, which looked exactly -like a fine temple. The Deaf Man saw it, and he and the -Blind Man resolved to spend the night there; and having -reached the place, they went in and shut the door, taking the -Donkey and the great big chattee with them. But this building, -which they mistook for a temple, was in truth no temple -at all, but the house of a very powerful Rakshas;<a id='r7' /><a href='#f7' class='c011'><sup>[7]</sup></a> and hardly -had the Blind Man, the Deaf Man, and the Donkey got inside -and fastened the door, than the Rakshas, who had been -out, returned home. To his surprise, he found the door fastened -and heard people moving about inside his house. “Ho! -ho!” cried he to himself, “some men have got in here, have -they? I’ll soon make mince-meat of them.” So he began to -roar in a voice louder than the thunder, and to cry: “Let -me into my house this minute, you wretches; let me in, let -me in, I say,” and to kick the door and batter it with his -great fists. But though his voice was very powerful, his appearance -was still more alarming, insomuch that the Deaf -Man, who was peeping at him through a chink in the wall, -felt so frightened that he did not know what to do. But the -Blind Man was very brave (because he couldn’t see), and -went up to the door and called out: “Who are you, and what -do you mean by coming battering at the door in this way and -at this time of night?”</p> - -<div class='footnote' id='f7'> -<p class='c000'><span class='label'><a href='#r7'>7</a>. </span>A kind of ogre.</p> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>“I’m a Rakshas,” answered the Rakshas angrily, “and -this is my house. Let me in this instant or I’ll kill you.” -All this time the Deaf Man, who was watching the Rakshas, -was shivering and shaking in a terrible fright, but the Blind -<span class='pageno' id='Page_252'>252</span>Man was very brave (because he couldn’t see), and he called -out again: “Oh, you’re a Rakshas, are you? Well, if you’re -Rakshas, I’m Bakshas; and Bakshas is as good as Rakshas.” -“Bakshas!” roared the Rakshas. “Bakshas! Bakshas! -What nonsense is this? There is no such creature as a Bakshas!” -“Go away,” replied the Blind Man, “and don’t dare -to make any further disturbance, lest I punish you with a -vengeance; for know that I’m Bakshas, and Bakshas is Rakshas’s -father.” “My father?” answered the Rakshas. “Heavens -and earth! Bakshas, and my father! I never heard such -an extraordinary thing in my life. You my father; and in -there! I never knew my father was called Bakshas!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes,” replied the Blind Man; “go away instantly, I command -you, for I am your father Bakshas.” “Very well,” answered -the Rakshas (for he began to get puzzled and frightened); -“but if you are my father, let me first see your face.” -(For he thought: “Perhaps they are deceiving me.”) The -Blind Man and the Deaf Man didn’t know what to do; but -at last they opened the door a very tiny chink and poked -the Donkey’s nose out. When the Rakshas saw it he thought -to himself: “Bless me, what a terribly ugly face my father -Bakshas has!” He then called out: “O father Bakshas, you -have a very big, fierce face; but people have sometimes very -big heads and very little bodies. Pray let me see your body -as well as head before I go away.” Then the Blind Man and -the Deaf Man rolled the great, big Dhobee’s chattee with a -thundering noise past the chink in the door, and the Rakshas, -who was watching attentively, was very much surprised when -he saw this great black thing rolling along the floor, and he -thought: “In truth, my father Bakshas has a very big body -as well as a big head. He’s big enough to eat me up altogether. -I’d better go away.” But still he could not help being a little -doubtful, so he cried: “O Bakshas, father Bakshas! you have -indeed got a very big head and a very big body; but do, before -I go away, let me hear you scream,” for all Rakshas -scream fearfully. Then the cunning Deaf Man (who was -getting less frightened) pulled the silver snuff-box out of his -<span class='pageno' id='Page_253'>253</span>pocket, and took the black ants out of it, and put one black -ant in the Donkey’s right ear, and another black ant in the -Donkey’s left ear, and another and another. The ants pinched -the poor Donkey’s ears dreadfully, and the Donkey was so -hurt and frightened he began to bellow as loud as he could: -“Eh augh! eh augh! eh augh! augh! augh!” and at this terrible -noise the Rakshas fled away in a great fright, saying: -“Enough, enough, father Bakshas! the sound of your voice -would make the most refractory obedient.” And no sooner -had he gone than the Deaf Man took the ants out of the -Donkey’s ears, and he and the Blind Man spent the rest of -the night in peace and comfort.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Next morning the Deaf Man woke the Blind Man early, -saying: “Awake, brother, awake; here we are indeed in luck! -The whole floor is covered with heaps of gold and silver and -precious stones.” And so it was, for the Rakshas owned a -vast amount of treasure, and the whole house was full of it. -“That is a good thing,” said the Blind Man. “Show me -where it is and I will help you to collect it.” So they collected -as much treasure as possible and made four great bundles of -it. The Blind Man took one great bundle, the Deaf Man took -another, and, putting the other two great bundles on the Donkey, -they started off to return home. But the Rakshas, whom -they had frightened away the night before, had not gone -very far off, and was waiting to see what his father Bakshas -might look like by daylight. He saw the door of his house -open and watched attentively, when out walked—only a Blind -Man, a Deaf Man, and a Donkey, who were all three laden -with large bundles of his treasure. The Blind Man carried -one bundle, the Deaf Man carried another bundle, and two -bundles were on the Donkey.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The Rakshas was extremely angry, and immediately called -six of his friends to help him kill the Blind Man, the Deaf -Man, and the Donkey, and recover the treasure.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The Deaf Man saw them coming (seven great Rakshas, -with hair a yard long and tusks like an elephant’s), and was -dreadfully frightened; but the Blind Man was very brave (because -<span class='pageno' id='Page_254'>254</span>he couldn’t see), and said: “Brother, why do you lag -behind in that way?” “Oh!” answered the Deaf Man, -“there are seven great Rakshas with tusks like an elephant’s -coming to kill us! What can we do?” “Let us hide the treasure -in the bushes,” said the Blind Man; “and do you lead -me to a tree; then I will climb up first, and you shall climb -up afterward, and so we shall be out of their way.” The Deaf -Man thought this good advice; so he pushed the Donkey and -the bundles of treasure into the bushes, and led the Blind Man -to a high soparee-tree that grew close by; but he was a very -cunning man, this Deaf Man, and instead of letting the Blind -Man climb up first and following him, he got up first and let -the Blind Man clamber after, so that he was farther out of -harm’s way than his friend.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When the Rakshas arrived at the place and saw them both -perched out of reach in the soparee-tree, he said to his friends: -“Let us get on each other’s shoulders; we shall then be high -enough to pull them down.” So one Rakshas stooped down, -and the second got on his shoulders, and the third on his, -and the fourth on his, and the fifth on his, and the sixth on -his; and the seventh and the last Rakshas (who had invited -all the others) was just climbing up when the Deaf Man (who -was looking over the Blind Man’s shoulder) got so frightened -that in his alarm he caught hold of his friend’s arm, crying: -“They’re coming, they’re coming!” The Blind Man -was not in a very secure position, and was sitting at his ease, -not knowing how close the Rakshas were. The consequence -was, that when the Deaf Man gave him this unexpected push, -he lost his balance and tumbled down on to the neck of the -seventh Rakshas, who was just then climbing up. The Blind -Man had no idea where he was, but thought he had got on to -the branch of some other tree; and, stretching out his hand -for something to catch hold of, caught hold of the Rakshas’s -two great ears, and pinched them very hard in his surprise -and fright. The Rakshas couldn’t think what it was that had -come tumbling down upon him; and the weight of the Blind -Man upsetting his balance, down he also fell to the ground, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_255'>255</span>knocking down in their turn the sixth, fifth, fourth, third, -second, and first Rakshas, who all rolled one over another, and -lay in a confused heap at the foot of the tree together.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Meanwhile the Blind Man called out to his friend: “Where -am I? What has happened? Where am I? Where am I?” -The Deaf Man (who was safe up in the tree) answered: “Well -done, brother! never fear! never fear! You’re all right, only -hold on tight. I’m coming down to help you.” But he had not -the least intention of leaving his place of safety. However, -he continued to call out: “Never mind, brother; hold on as -tight as you can. I’m coming, I’m coming,” and the more -he called out, the harder the Blind Man pinched the Rakshas’s -ears, which he mistook for some kind of palm branches.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The six other Rakshas, who had succeeded, after a good deal -of kicking, in extricating themselves from their unpleasant -position, thought they had had quite enough of helping their -friend, and ran away as fast as they could; and the seventh, -thinking from their going that the danger must be greater -than he imagined, and being, moreover, very much afraid of -the mysterious creature that sat on his shoulders, put his -hands to the back of his ears and pushed off the Blind Man, -and then (without staying to see who or what he was) followed -his six companions as fast as he could.</p> - -<p class='c000'>As soon as all the Rakshas were out of sight, the Deaf -Man came down from the tree, and, picking up the Blind -Man, embraced him, saying: “I could not have done better -myself. You have frightened away all our enemies, but you -see I came to help you as fast as possible.” He then dragged -the Donkey and the bundles of treasure out of the bushes, gave -the Blind Man one bundle to carry, took the second himself, -and put the remaining two on the Donkey, as before. This -done, the whole party set off to return home. But when they -had got nearly out of the jungle the Deaf Man said to the -Blind Man: “We are now close to the village; but if we take -all this treasure home with us, we shall run great risk of being -robbed. I think our best plan would be to divide it equally; -then you can take care of your half, and I will take care of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_256'>256</span>mine, and each one can hide his share here in the jungle, or -wherever pleases him best.” “Very well,” said the Blind -Man; “do you divide what we have in the bundles into two -equal portions, keeping one half yourself and giving me the -other.” The cunning Deaf Man, however, had no intention of -giving up half of the treasure to the Blind Man; so he first took -his own bundle of treasure and hid it in the bushes, and then -he took the two bundles off the Donkey and hid them in the -bushes; and he took a good deal of treasure out of the Blind -Man’s bundle, which he also hid. Then, taking the small -quantity that remained, he divided it into two equal portions, -and placing half before the Blind Man and half in front of -himself, said: “There, brother, is your share to do what you -please with.” The Blind Man put out his hand, but when -he felt what a very little heap of treasure it was, he got very -angry, and cried: “This is not fair—you are deceiving me; -you have kept almost all the treasure for yourself and only -given me a very little.” “Oh, oh! how can you think so?” -answered the Deaf Man; “but if you will not believe me, -feel for yourself. See, my heap of treasure is no larger than -yours.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The Blind Man put out his hands again to feel how much -his friend had kept; but in front of the Deaf Man lay -only a very small heap, no larger than what he had himself -received. At this he got very cross, and said: “Come, come, -this won’t do. You think you can cheat me in this way because -I am blind; but I’m not so stupid as all that. I carried -a great bundle of treasure, you carried a great bundle of -treasure, and there were two great bundles on the Donkey. Do -you mean to pretend that all that made no more treasure than -these two little heaps! No, indeed; I know better than that.” -“Stuff and nonsense!” answered the Deaf Man. “Stuff or -no stuff,” continued the other, “you are trying to take me in, -and I won’t be taken in by you.” “No, I’m not,” said the -Deaf Man. “Yes, you are,” said the Blind Man; and so they -went on bickering, scolding, growling, contradicting, until the -Blind Man got so enraged that he gave the Deaf Man a tremendous -<span class='pageno' id='Page_257'>257</span>box on the ear. The blow was so violent that it -made the Deaf Man hear! The Deaf Man, very angry, gave -his neighbor in return so hard a blow in the face that it opened -the Blind Man’s eyes!</p> - -<p class='c000'>So the Deaf Man could hear as well as see, and the Blind -Man could see as well as hear! This astonished them both so -much that they became good friends at once. The Deaf Man -confessed to having hidden the bulk of the treasure, which -he thereupon dragged forth from its place of concealment, and, -having divided it equally, they went home and enjoyed themselves.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_258'>258</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Alligator and the Jackal</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>A hungry Jackal once went down to the riverside -in search of little crabs, bits of fish, and whatever else -he could find for his dinner. Now it chanced that -in this river there lived a great big Alligator, who, being also -very hungry, would have been extremely glad to eat the -Jackal.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The Jackal ran up and down, here and there, but for a long -time could find nothing to eat. At last, close to where the -Alligator was lying among some tall bulrushes under the clear, -shallow water, he saw a little crab sidling along as fast as -his legs could carry him. The Jackal was so hungry that -when he saw this he poked his paw into the water to try -and catch the crab, when snap! the old Alligator caught hold -of him. “Oh dear!” thought the Jackal to himself, “what -can I do? This great, big Alligator has caught my paw in -his mouth, and in another minute he will drag me down by -it under the water and kill me. My only chance is to make -him think he has made a mistake.” So he called out in a -cheerful voice: “Clever Alligator, clever Alligator, to catch -hold of a bulrush root instead of my paw! I hope you find it -very tender.” The Alligator, who was so buried among the -bulrushes that he could hardly see, thought, on hearing this: -“Dear me, how tiresome! I fancied I had caught hold of -the Jackal’s paw; but there he is, calling out in a cheerful -voice. I suppose I must have seized a bulrush root instead, -as he says,” and he let the Jackal go.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The Jackal ran away as fast as he could, crying: “O -wise Alligator, wise Alligator! So you let me go again!” -Then the Alligator was very much vexed, but the Jackal had -run away too far to be caught. Next day the Jackal returned -<span class='pageno' id='Page_259'>259</span>to the riverside to get his dinner as before; but because -he was very much afraid of the Alligator he called out: -“Whenever I go to look for my dinner, I see the nice little -crabs peeping up through the mud; then I catch them and -eat them. I wish I could see one now.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The Alligator, who was buried in the mud at the bottom -of the river, heard every word. So he popped the little point -of his snout above it, thinking: “If I do but just show the -tip of my nose, the Jackal will take me for a crab and put -in his paw to catch me, and as soon as ever he does I’ll gobble -him up.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>But no sooner did the Jackal see the little tip of the Alligator’s -nose than he called out: “Aha, my friend! there you -are. No dinner for me in this part of the river, then, I think.” -And so saying, he ran farther on and fished for his dinner -a long way from that place. The Alligator was very angry -at missing his prey a second time, and determined not to let -him escape again.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So on the following day, when his little tormentor returned -to the waterside, the Alligator hid himself close to the bank, -in order to catch him if he could. Now the Jackal was rather -afraid of going near the river, for he thought: “Perhaps the -Alligator will catch me to-day.” But yet, being hungry, he -did not wish to go without his dinner; so to make all as safe -as he could, he cried: “Where are all the little crabs gone? -There is not one here and I am so hungry; and generally, even -when they are under water, one can see them going bubble, -bubble, bubble, and all the little bubbles go pop! pop! pop!” On -hearing this the Alligator, who was buried in the mud under -the river bank, thought: “I will pretend to be a little crab.” -And he began to blow, “Puff, puff, puff! Bubble, bubble, -bubble!” and all the great bubbles rushed to the surface of -the river and burst there, and the waters eddied round and -round like a whirlpool; and there was such a commotion when -the huge monster began to blow bubbles in this way that the -Jackal saw very well who must be there, and he ran away -as fast as he could, saying: “Thank you, kind Alligator, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_260'>260</span>thank you; thank you! Indeed, I would not have come here -had I known you were so close.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>This enraged the Alligator extremely; it made him quite -cross to think of being so often deceived by a little Jackal, and -he said to himself: “I will be taken in no more. Next time -I will be very cunning.” So for a long time he waited and -waited for the Jackal to return to the riverside; but the Jackal -did not come, for he had thought to himself: “If matters go on -in this way, I shall some day be caught and eaten by the wicked -old Alligator. I had better content myself with living on -wild figs,” and he went no more near the river, but stayed -in the jungles and ate wild figs, and roots which he dug up -with his paws.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When the Alligator found this out, he determined to try -and catch the Jackal on land; so, going under the largest of the -wild fig-trees, where the ground was covered with the fallen -fruit, he collected a quantity of it together, and, burying himself -under the great heap, waited for the Jackal to appear. -But no sooner did the cunning little animal see this great -heap of wild figs all collected together than he thought: -“That looks very like my friend the Alligator.” And to discover -if it were so or not, he called out: “The juicy little -wild figs I love to eat always tumble down from the tree, and -roll here and there as the wind drives them; but this great -heap of figs is quite still; these cannot be good figs; I will -not eat any of them.” “Ho, ho!” thought the Alligator, “is -that all? How suspicious this Jackal is! I will make the figs -roll about a little, then, and when he sees that, he will doubtless -come and eat them.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So the great beast shook himself, and all the heap of little -figs went roll, roll, roll—some a mile this way, some a mile -that, farther than they had ever rolled before or than the most -blustering wind could have driven them.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Seeing this, the Jackal scampered away, saying: “I am -so much obliged to you, Alligator, for letting me know you -are there, for indeed I should hardly have guessed it. You -were so buried under that heap of figs.” The Alligator, hearing -<span class='pageno' id='Page_261'>261</span>this, was so angry that he ran after the Jackal, but the latter -ran very, very fast away, too quickly to be caught.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then the Alligator said to himself: “I will not allow that -little wretch to make fun of me another time and then run -away out of reach; I will show him that I can be more cunning -than he fancies.” And early the next morning he -crawled as fast as he could to the Jackal’s den (which was a -hole in the side of a hill) and crept into it, and hid himself, -waiting for the Jackal, who was out, to return home. But -when the Jackal got near the place, he looked about him and -thought: “Dear me! the ground looks as if some heavy creature -had been walking over it, and here are great clods of -earth knocked down from each side of the door of my den, -as if a very big animal had been trying to squeeze himself -through it. I certainly will not go inside until I know that -all is safe there.” So he called out: “Little house, pretty -house, my sweet little house, why do you not give an answer -when I call? If I come, and all is safe and right, you always -call out to me. Is anything wrong, that you do not speak?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then the Alligator, who was inside, thought: “If that is -the case I had better call out, that he may fancy all is right -in his house.” And in as gentle a voice as he could, he said: -“Sweet little Jackal.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>At hearing these words the Jackal felt quite frightened, and -thought to himself: “So the dreadful old Alligator is there. -I must try to kill him if I can, for if I do not he will certainly -catch and kill me some day.” He therefore answered: -“Thank you, my dear little house. I like to hear your pretty -voice. I am coming in in a minute, but first I must collect -firewood to cook my dinner.” And he ran as fast as he could, -and dragged all the dry branches and bits of stick he could -find close up to the mouth of the den. Meantime, the Alligator -inside kept as quiet as a mouse, but he could not help -laughing a little to himself as he thought: “So I have deceived -this tiresome little Jackal at last. In a few minutes he -will run in here, and then won’t I snap him up!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>When the Jackal had gathered together all the sticks he -<span class='pageno' id='Page_262'>262</span>could find and put them round the mouth of his den, he set -them on fire and pushed them as far into it as possible. There -was such a quantity of them that they soon blazed up into a -great fire, and the smoke and flames filled the den and smothered -the wicked old Alligator and burned him to death, while -the little Jackal ran up and down outside dancing for joy and -singing:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“How do you like my house, my friend? Is it nice and -warm? Ding-dong! ding-dong! The Alligator is dying! -ding-dong, ding-dong! He will trouble me no more. I have -defeated my enemy! Ring-a-ting! ding-a-ting! ding-ding-dong!”</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_263'>263</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>Why the Fish Laughed</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>As a certain fisherwoman passed by a palace crying her -fish, the queen appeared at one of the windows and -beckoned her to come near and show what she had. -At that moment a very big fish jumped about in the bottom of -the basket.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Is it a he or a she?” inquired the queen. “I wish to -purchase a she-fish.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>On hearing this the fish laughed aloud.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It’s a he,” replied the fisherwoman, and proceeded on her -rounds.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The queen returned to her room in a great rage; and on -coming to see her in the evening, the king noticed that something -had disturbed her.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Are you indisposed?” he said.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No; but I am very much annoyed at the strange behavior -of a fish. A woman brought me one to-day, and on -my inquiring whether it was a male or female, the fish laughed -most rudely.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“A fish laugh! Impossible! You must be dreaming.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I am not a fool. I speak of what I have seen with my -own eyes and have heard with my own ears.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Passing strange! Be it so. I will inquire concerning it.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>On the morrow the king repeated to his vizier what his wife -had told him, and bade him investigate the matter, and be -ready with a satisfactory answer within six months, on pain -of death. The vizier promised to do his best, though he felt -almost certain of failure. For five months he labored indefatigably -to find a reason for the laughter of the fish. He -sought everywhere and from every one. The wise and learned, -and they who were skilled in magic and in all manner of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_264'>264</span>trickery, were consulted. Nobody, however, could explain the -matter; and so he returned broken-hearted to his house, and -began to arrange his affairs in prospect of certain death, for -he had had sufficient experience of the king to know that his -majesty would not go back from his threat. Among other -things, he advised his son to travel for a time, until the king’s -anger should have somewhat cooled.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The young fellow, who was both clever and handsome, -started off whithersoever Kismet might lead him. He had -been gone some days, when he fell in with an old farmer, -who also was on a journey to a certain village. Finding the -old man very pleasant, he asked him if he might accompany -him, professing to be on a visit to the same place. The old -farmer agreed, and they walked along together. The day -was hot, and the way was long and weary.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Don’t you think it would be pleasanter if you and I sometimes -gave each other a lift?” said the youth.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What a fool the man is!” thought the old farmer.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Presently they passed through a field of corn ready for the -sickle, and looking like a sea of gold as it waved to and fro -in the breeze.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Is this eaten or not?” said the young man.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Not understanding his meaning, the old man replied: “I -don’t know.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>After a little while the two travelers arrived at a big village, -where the young man gave his companion a clasp-knife, and -said: “Take this, friend, and get two horses with it; but mind -and bring it back, for it is very precious.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The old man, looking half amused and half angry, pushed -back the knife, muttering something to the effect that his friend -was either a fool himself, or else trying to play the fool with -him. The young man pretended not to notice his reply, and -remained almost silent till they reached the city, a short distance -outside which was the old farmer’s house. They walked -about the bazaar and went to the mosque, but nobody saluted -them or invited them to come in and rest.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What a large cemetery!” exclaimed the young man.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_265'>265</span>“What does the man mean,” thought the old farmer, “calling -this largely populated city a cemetery?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>On leaving the city their way led through a graveyard where -a few people were praying beside a tomb and distributing -<em>chapatis</em> and <em>kulchas</em> to passers-by, in the name of their beloved -dead. They beckoned to the two travelers and gave -them as much as they would.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What a splendid city this is!” said the young man.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Now, the man must surely be demented!” thought the old -farmer. “I wonder what he will do next? He will be calling -the land water, and the water land; and be speaking of light -where there is darkness, and of darkness when it is light.” -However, he kept his thoughts to himself.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Presently they had to wade through a stream that ran along -the edge of the cemetery. The water was rather deep, so the -old farmer took off his shoes and pajamas and crossed over; -but the young man waded through it with his shoes and pajamas -on.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well! I never did see such a perfect fool, both in word -and in deed,” said the old man to himself.</p> - -<p class='c000'>However, he liked the fellow; and thinking that he would -amuse his wife and daughter, he invited him to come and -stay at his house as long as he had occasion to remain in the -village.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Thank you very much,” the young man replied; “but let -me first inquire, if you please, whether the beam of your house -is strong.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The old farmer left him in despair, and entered his house -laughing.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“There is a man in yonder field,” he said, after returning -their greetings. “He has come the greater part of the way -with me, and I wanted him to put up here as long as he had -to stay in this village. But the fellow is such a fool that I -cannot make anything out of him. He wants to know if the -beam of this house is all right. The man must be mad!” and -saying this, he burst into a fit of laughter.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Father,” said the farmer’s daughter, who was a very sharp -<span class='pageno' id='Page_266'>266</span>and wise girl, “this man, whosoever he is, is no fool, as you -deem him. He only wishes to know if you can afford to entertain -him.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, of course,” replied the farmer. “I see. Well, perhaps -you can help me to solve some of his other mysteries. While -we were walking together he asked whether he should carry -me or I should carry him, as he thought that would be a -pleasanter mode of proceeding.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Most assuredly,” said the girl; “he meant that one of -you should tell a story to beguile the time.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, yes. Well, we were passing through a corn-field, -when he asked me whether it was eaten or not.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And didn’t you know the meaning of this, father? He -simply wished to know if the man was in debt or not; because, -if the owner of the field was in debt, then the produce of the -field was as good as eaten to him; that is, it would have to -go to his creditors.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, yes, yes, of course! Then, on entering a certain village, -he bade me take his clasp-knife and get two horses with -it, and bring back the knife again to him.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Are not two stout sticks as good as two horses for helping -one along on the road? He only asked you to cut a couple of -sticks and be careful not to lose his knife.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I see,” said the farmer. “While we were walking over -the city we did not see anybody that we knew, and not a soul -gave us a scrap of anything to eat, till we were passing the -cemetery; but there some people called to us and put into our -hands some <em>chapatis</em> and <em>kulchas</em>; so my companion called the -city a cemetery, and the cemetery a city.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“This also is to be understood, father, if one thinks of the -city as the place where everything is to be obtained, and of -inhospitable people as worse than the dead. The city, though -crowded with people, was as if dead, as far as you were concerned; -while, in the cemetery, which is crowded with the -dead, you were saluted by kind friends and provided with -bread.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“True, true!” said the astonished farmer. “Then, just -<span class='pageno' id='Page_267'>267</span>now, when we were crossing the stream, he waded through it -without taking off his shoes and pajamas.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I admire his wisdom,” replied the girl. “I have often -thought how stupid people were to venture into that swiftly -flowing stream and over those sharp stones with bare feet. -The slightest stumble and they would fall, and be wetted from -head to foot. This friend of yours is a most wise man. I -should like to see him and speak to him.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Very well,” said the farmer; “I will go and find him, and -bring him in.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Tell him, father, that our beams are strong enough, and -then he will come in. I’ll send on ahead a present to the man, -to show him that we can afford to have him for our guest.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Accordingly she called a servant and sent him to the young -man with a present of a basin of <em>ghee</em>, twelve <em>chapatis</em>, and a -jar of milk, and the following message: “O friend, the moon -is full; twelve months make a year, and the sea is overflowing -with water.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Half-way the bearer of this present and message met his -little son, who, seeing what was in the basket, begged his -father to give him some of the food. His father foolishly -complied. Presently he saw the young man, and gave him the -rest of the present and the message.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Give your mistress my salaam,” he replied, “and tell her -that the moon is new, and that I can find only eleven months -in the year, and the sea is by no means full.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Not understanding the meaning of these words, the servant -repeated them word for word, as he had heard them, to his -mistress; and thus his theft was discovered, and he was -severely punished. After a little while the young man appeared -with the old farmer. Great attention was shown to -him, and he was treated in every way as if he were the son -of a great man, although his humble host knew nothing of his -origin. At length he told them everything—about the laughing -of the fish, his father’s threatened execution, and his own -banishment—and asked their advice as to what he should do.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“The laughing of the fish,” said the girl, “which seems -<span class='pageno' id='Page_268'>268</span>to have been the cause of all this trouble, indicates that there -is a man in the palace who is plotting against the king’s life.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Joy, joy!” exclaimed the vizier’s son. “There is yet time -for me to return and save my father from an ignominious and -unjust death, and the king from danger.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The following day he hastened back to his own country, -taking with him the farmer’s daughter. Immediately on arrival -he ran to the palace and informed his father of what he -had heard. The poor vizier, now almost dead from the expectation -of death, was at once carried to the king, to whom -he repeated the news that his son had just brought.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Never!” said the king.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But it must be so, your majesty,” replied the vizier; “and -in order to prove the truth of what I have heard, I pray you -to call together all the maids in your palace and order them -to jump over a pit, which must be dug. We’ll soon find out -whether there is any man there.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The king had the pit dug, and commanded all the maids -belonging to the palace to try to jump it. All of them tried, -but only one succeeded. That one was found to be a man!</p> - -<p class='c000'>Thus was the queen satisfied, and the faithful old vizier -saved.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Afterward, as soon as could be, the vizier’s son married the -old farmer’s daughter; and a most happy marriage it was.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_269'>269</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Selfish Sparrow and the Houseless Crows</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>A sparrow once built a nice little house for herself, -and lined it well with wool and protected it with -sticks, so that it resisted equally the summer sun and -the winter rains. A Crow who lived close by had also built -a house, but it was not such a good one, being only made of -a few sticks laid one above another on the top of a prickly-pear -hedge. The consequence was that one day, when there -was an unusually heavy shower, the Crow’s nest was washed -away, while the Sparrow’s was not at all injured.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In this extremity the Crow and her mate went to the Sparrow, -and said: “Sparrow, Sparrow, have pity on us and give -us shelter, for the wind blows and the rain beats, and the -prickly-pear hedge-thorns stick into our eyes.” But the Sparrow -answered: “I’m cooking the dinner; I cannot let you in -now; come again presently.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>In a little while the Crows returned and said: “Sparrow, -Sparrow, have pity on us and give us shelter, for the wind -blows and the rain beats, and the prickly-pear hedge-thorns -stick into our eyes.” The Sparrow answered: “I’m eating -my dinner; I cannot let you in now; come again presently.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The Crows flew away, but in a little while returned, and -cried once more: “Sparrow, Sparrow, have pity on us and -give us shelter, for the wind blows and the rain beats, and the -prickly-pear hedge-thorns stick into our eyes.” The Sparrow -replied: “I’m washing the dishes; I cannot let you in now; -come again presently.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The Crows waited a while and then called out: “Sparrow, -Sparrow, have pity on us and give us shelter, for the wind -<span class='pageno' id='Page_270'>270</span>blows and the rain beats, and the prickly-pear hedge-thorns -stick into our eyes.” But the Sparrow would not let them in; -she only answered: “I’m sweeping the floor; I cannot let you -in now; come again presently.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Next time the Crows came and cried: “Sparrow, Sparrow, -have pity on us and give us shelter, for the wind blows and -the rain beats, and the prickly-pear hedge-thorns stick into our -eyes.” She answered: “I’m making the beds; I cannot let -you in now; come again presently.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So, on one pretense or another she refused to help the poor -birds. At last, when she and her children had had their dinner, -and she had prepared and put away the dinner for next day, -and had put all the children to bed and gone to bed herself, -she cried to the Crows: “You may come in now and take -shelter for the night.” The Crows came in, but they were -much vexed at having been kept out so long in the wind and -the rain, and when the Sparrow and all her family were -asleep, the one said to the other: “This selfish Sparrow had -no pity on us; she gave us no dinner, and would not let us in -till she and all her children were comfortably in bed; let us -punish her.” So the two Crows took all the nice dinner the -Sparrow had prepared for herself and her children to eat the -next day, and flew away with it.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_271'>271</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Lambikin</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Once upon a time there was a wee, wee Lambikin, who -frolicked about on his little tottery legs, and enjoyed -himself amazingly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now one day he set off to visit his granny, and was jumping -with joy to think of all the good things he should get -from her, when whom should he meet but a jackal, who looked -at the tender young morsel and said: “Lambikin! Lambikin! -I’ll <span class='fss'>EAT</span> YOU!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>But Lambikin only gave a little frisk, and said:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“To granny’s house I go,</div> - <div class='line'>Where I shall fatter grow,</div> - <div class='line'>Then you can eat me so.”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>The jackal thought this reasonable, and let Lambikin pass.</p> - -<p class='c000'>By and by he met a vulture, and the vulture, looking -hungrily at the tender morsel before him, said: “Lambikin! -Lambikin! I’ll <span class='fss'>EAT</span> YOU!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>But Lambikin only gave a little frisk, and said:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“To granny’s house I go,</div> - <div class='line'>Where I shall fatter grow,</div> - <div class='line'>Then you can eat me so.”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>The vulture thought this reasonable, and let Lambikin pass.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And by and by he met a tiger, and then a wolf, and a dog, -and an eagle; and all these, when they saw the tender little -morsel, said: “Lambikin! Lambikin! I’ll <span class='fss'>EAT</span> YOU!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>But to all of them Lambikin replied, with a little frisk:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“To granny’s house I go,</div> - <div class='line'>Where I shall fatter grow,</div> - <div class='line'>Then you can eat me so.”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_272'>272</span>At last he reached his granny’s house, and said, all in a -hurry: “Granny dear, I’ve promised to get very fat; so, as -people ought to keep their promises, please put me into the -corn-bin <em>at once</em>.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So his granny said he was a good boy, and put him into -the corn-bin, and there the greedy little Lambikin stayed for -seven days, and ate, and ate, and ate, until he could scarcely -waddle, and his granny said he was fat enough for anything, -and must go home. But cunning little Lambikin said that -would never do, for some animal would be sure to eat him -on the way back, he was so plump and tender.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’ll tell you what you must do,” said Master Lambikin; -“you must make a little drumikin out of the skin of my little -brother who died, and then I can sit inside and trundle along -nicely, for I’m as tight as a drum myself.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So his granny made a nice little drumikin out of his -brother’s skin, with the wool inside, and Lambikin curled himself -up snug and warm in the middle, and trundled away -gaily. Soon he met the eagle, who called out:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Drumikin! Drumikin!</div> - <div class='line'>Have you seen Lambikin?”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>And Mr. Lambikin, curled up in his soft warm nest, replied:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Fallen into the fire, and so will you</div> - <div class='line'>On, little Drumikin. Tum-pa, tum-too!”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>“How very annoying!” sighed the eagle, thinking regretfully -of the tender morsel he had let slip.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Meanwhile Lambikin trundled along, laughing to himself, -and singing:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Tum-pa, tum-too;</div> - <div class='line'>Tum-pa, tum-too!”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>Every animal and bird he met asked him the same question:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Drumikin! Drumikin!</div> - <div class='line'>Have you seen Lambikin?”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_273'>273</span>And to each of them the little slyboots replied:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Fallen into the fire, and so will you</div> - <div class='line'>On, little Drumikin. Tum-pa, tum-too;</div> - <div class='line'>Tum-pa, tum-too; tum-pa, tum-too!”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>Then they all sighed to think of the tender little morsel they -had let slip.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At last the jackal came limping along, for all his sorry -looks as sharp as a needle, and he too called out:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Drumikin! Drumikin!</div> - <div class='line'>Have you seen Lambikin?”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>And Lambikin, curled up in his snug little nest, replied -gaily:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Fallen into the fire, and so will you</div> - <div class='line'>On, little Drumikin. Tum-pa——”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>But he never got any farther, for the jackal recognized his -voice at once, and cried: “Hullo! you’ve turned yourself inside -out, have you? Just you come out of that!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Whereupon he tore open drumikin and gobbled up Lambikin.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_274'>274</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Once upon a time a Town Mouse met a Country Mouse -on the outskirts of a wood. The Country Mouse was -sitting under a hazel thicket plucking nuts.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Busy harvesting, I see,” said the Town Mouse. “Who -would think of our meeting in this out-of-the-way part of the -world?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Just so,” said the Country Mouse.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You are gathering nuts for your winter store?” said the -Town Mouse.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I am obliged to do so if we intend having anything to -live upon during the winter,” said the Country Mouse.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“The husk is big and the nut full this year, enough to -satisfy any hungry body,” said the Town Mouse.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, you are right there,” said the Country Mouse; and -then she related how well she lived and how comfortable she -was at home.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The Town Mouse maintained that she was the better off, -but the Country Mouse said that nowhere could one be so -well off as in the woods and hills. The Town Mouse, however, -declared she was best off; and as they could not agree -on this point they promised to visit each other at Christmas; -then they could see for themselves which was really the more -comfortable.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The first visit was to be paid by the Town Mouse.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now, although the Country Mouse had moved down from -the mountains for the winter, the road to her house was long -and tiring, and one had to travel up hill and down dale; the -snow lay thick and deep, so the Town Mouse found it hard -<span class='pageno' id='Page_275'>275</span>work to get on, and she became both tired and hungry before -she reached the end of her journey.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“How nice it will be to get some food,” she thought.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The Country Mouse had scraped together the best she had. -There were nut kernels, polypody, and other sorts of roots, -and many other good things which grow in woods and fields. -She kept it all in a hole far under ground, so the frost could -not reach it, and close by was a running spring, open all the -winter, so she could drink as much water as she liked. There -was an abundance of all she had, and they ate both well and -heartily; but the Town Mouse thought it was very poor fare -indeed.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“One can, of course, keep body and soul together on this,” -said she; “but I don’t think much of it. Now you must be -good enough to visit me and taste what we have.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Yes, that her hostess would, and before long she set out. -The Town Mouse had gathered together all the scraps from the -Christmas fare which the woman of the house had dropped -on the floor during the holidays—bits of cheese, butter, and -tallow ends, cake-crumbs, pastry, and many other good things. -In the dish under the ale-tap she had drink enough; in fact, -the place was full of all kinds of dainties.</p> - -<p class='c000'>They ate and fared well; the Country Mouse seemed never -to have enough; she had never tasted such delicacies. But -then she became thirsty, for she found the food both strong -and rich, and now she wanted something to drink.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We haven’t far to go for the beer we shall drink,” said -the Town Mouse, and jumped upon the edge of the dish and -drank till she was no longer thirsty; she did not drink too -much, for she knew the Christmas beer was strong. The -Country Mouse, however, thought the beer a splendid drink; -she had never tasted anything but water, so she took one sip -after another, but as she could not stand strong drink she -became dizzy before she left the dish.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The drink got into her head and down into her toes and -she began running and jumping about from one beer-barrel -to the other, and to dance and tumble about on the shelves -<span class='pageno' id='Page_276'>276</span>among the cups and mugs; she squeaked and squealed as if -she were intoxicated.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You must not carry on as if you had just come from the -backwoods and make such a row and noise,” said the Town -Mouse; “the master of the house is a bailiff, and he is very -strict indeed,” she said.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The Country Mouse said she didn’t care either for bailiffs -or beggars. But the cat sat at the top of the cellar steps, -lying in wait, and heard all the chatter and noise. When the -woman of the house went down to draw some beer and lifted -the trap-door the cat slipped by into the cellar and struck its -claws into the Country Mouse. Then there was quite another -sort of dance.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The Town Mouse slid back into her hole and sat in safety -looking on, while the Country Mouse suddenly became sober -when she felt the claws of the cat in her back.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, my dear bailiff, oh, dearest bailiff, be merciful and -spare my life and I will tell you a fairy tale,” she said.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, go on,” said the cat.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Once upon a time there were two little mice,” said the -Country Mouse, squeaking slowly and pitifully, for she wanted -to make the story last as long as she could.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Then they were not lonely,” said the cat dryly and -curtly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And they had a steak which they were going to fry.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Then they could not starve,” said the cat.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And they put it out on the roof to cool,” said the Country -Mouse.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Then they did not burn themselves,” said the cat.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But there came a fox and a crow and ate it all up,” said -the Country Mouse.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Then I’ll eat you,” said the cat. But just at that moment -the woman shut the trap-door with a slam, which so startled -the cat that she let go her hold of the mouse. One bound and -the Country Mouse found herself in the hole with the Town -Mouse.</p> - -<p class='c000'>From there a passage led out into the snow, and you may -<span class='pageno' id='Page_277'>277</span>be sure the Country Mouse did not wait long before she set -out homeward.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And this is what you call living at ease and being well -off,” she said to the Town Mouse. “Heaven preserve me -from having such a fine place and such a master! Why, I -only just got away with my life!”</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_278'>278</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Greedy Cat</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Once on a time there was a man who had a Cat, and -she was so awfully big, and such a beast to eat, he -couldn’t keep her any longer. So she was to go down -to the river with a stone round her neck, but before she -started she was to have a meal of meat. So the goody set -before her a bowl of porridge and a little trough of fat. That -the creature crammed into her, and ran off and jumped -through the window. Outside stood the goodman by the barndoor -threshing.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day, goodman,” said the Cat.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day, pussy,” said the goodman; “have you had any -food to-day?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, I’ve had a little, but I’m ‘most fasting,” said the Cat; -“it was only a bowl of porridge and a trough of fat—and, -now I think of it, I’ll take you too,” and so she took the goodman -and gobbled him up.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When she had done that, she went into the byre, and there -sat the goody milking.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day, goody,” said the Cat.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day, pussy,” said the goody; “are you here, and -have you eaten up your food yet?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, I’ve eaten a little to-day, but I’m ‘most fasting,” said -pussy; “it was only a bowl of porridge, and a trough of fat, -and the goodman—and, now I think of it, I’ll take you too,” -and so she took the goody and gobbled her up.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day, you cow at the manger,” said the Cat to Daisy -the cow.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day, pussy,” said the bell-cow; “have you had any -food to-day?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, I’ve had a little, but I’m ‘most fasting,” said the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_279'>279</span>Cat; “I’ve only had a bowl of porridge, and a trough of -fat, and the goodman, and the goody—and, now I think of -it, I’ll take you too,” and so she took the cow and gobbled -her up.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then off she set into the home-field, and there stood a man -picking up leaves.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day, you leaf-picker in the field,” said the Cat.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day, pussy; have you had anything to eat to-day?” -said the leaf-picker.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, I’ve had a little, but I’m ‘most fasting,” said the Cat; -“it was only a bowl of porridge, and a trough of fat, and -the goodman, and the goody, and Daisy the cow—and, now -I think of it, I’ll take you too.” So she took the leaf-picker -and gobbled him up.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then she came to a heap of stones, and there stood a stoat -and peeped out.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day, Mr. Stoat of Stoneheap,” said the Cat.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day, Mrs. Pussy; have you had anything to eat -to-day?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, I’ve had a little, but I’m ‘most fasting,” said the Cat; -“it was only a bowl of porridge, and a trough of fat, and the -goodman, and the goody, and the cow, and the leaf-picker—and, -now I think of it, I’ll take you too.” So she took the -stoat and gobbled him up.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When she had gone a bit farther, she came to a hazel-brake, -and there sat a squirrel gathering nuts.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day, Sir Squirrel of the Brake,” said the Cat.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day, Mrs. Pussy; have you had anything to eat -to-day?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, I’ve had a little, but I’m ‘most fasting,” said the Cat; -“it was only a bowl of porridge, and a trough of fat, and -the goodman, and the goody, and the cow, and the leaf-picker, -and the stoat—and, now I think of it, I’ll take you too.” So -she took the squirrel and gobbled him up.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When she had gone a little farther, she saw Reynard the -fox, who was prowling about by the woodside.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day, Reynard Slyboots,” said the Cat.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_280'>280</span>“Good day, Mrs. Pussy; have you had anything to eat -to-day?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, I’ve had a little, but I’m ‘most fasting,” said the Cat; -“it was only a bowl of porridge, and a trough of fat, and the -goodman, and the goody, and the cow, and the leaf-picker, -and the stoat, and the squirrel—and, now I think of it, I’ll -take you too.” So she took Reynard and gobbled him up.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When she had gone a little farther she met Long Ears, the -hare.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day, Mr. Hopper the hare,” said the Cat.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day, Mrs. Pussy; have you had anything to eat today?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, I’ve had a little, but I’m ‘most fasting,” said the Cat; -“it was only a bowl of porridge, and a trough of fat, and the -goodman, and the goody, and the cow, and the leaf-picker, -and the stoat, and the squirrel, and the fox—and, now I think -of it, I’ll take you too.” So she took the hare and gobbled -him up.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When she had gone a bit farther she met a wolf.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day, you Greedy Graylegs,” said the Cat.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day, Mrs. Pussy; have you had anything to eat -to-day?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, I’ve had a little, but I’m ‘most fasting,” said the Cat; -“it was only a bowl of porridge, and a trough of fat, and the -goodman, and the goody, and the cow, and the leaf-picker, -and the stoat, and the squirrel, and the fox, and the hare—and, -now I think of it, I may as well take you too.” So she -took and gobbled up Graylegs too.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So she went on into the wood, and when she had gone far -and farther than far, o’er hill and dale, she met a bear-cub.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day, you bare-breeched bear,” said the Cat.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day, Mrs. Pussy,” said the bear-cub; “have you -had anything to eat to-day?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, I’ve had a little, but I’m ‘most fasting,” said the Cat; -“it was only a bowl of porridge, and a trough of fat, and -the goodman, and the goody, and the cow, and the leaf-picker, -and the stoat, and the squirrel, and the fox, and the hare, and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_281'>281</span>the wolf—and, now I think of it, I may as well take you too.” -And so she took the bear-cub and gobbled him up.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When the Cat had gone a bit farther, she met a she-bear, -who was tearing away at a stump till the splinters flew, so -angry was she at having lost her cub.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day, you Mrs. Bruin,” said the Cat.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day, Mrs. Pussy; have you had anything to eat -to-day?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, I’ve had a little, but I’m ‘most fasting,” said the Cat; -“it was only a bowl of porridge, and a trough of fat, and -the goodman, and the goody, and the cow, and the leaf-picker, -and the stoat, and the squirrel, and the fox, and the hare, and -the wolf, and the bear-cub—and, now I think of it, I’ll take -you too,” and so she took Mrs. Bruin and gobbled her up too.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When the Cat got still farther on, she met Baron Bruin -himself.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day, you Baron Bruin,” said the Cat.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day, Mrs. Pussy,” said Bruin; “have you had anything -to eat to-day?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, I’ve had a little, but I’m ‘most fasting,” said the Cat; -“it was only a bowl of porridge, and a trough of fat, and -the goodman, and the goody, and the cow, and the leaf-picker, -and the stoat, and the squirrel, and the fox, and the hare, and -the wolf, and the bear-cub, and the she-bear—and, now I -think of it, I’ll take you too,” and so she took Bruin and ate -him up too.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So the Cat went on and on, and farther than far, till she -came to the abodes of men again, and there she met a bridal -train on the road.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day, you bridal train on the king’s highway,” said -she.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day, Mrs. Pussy; have you had anything to eat -to-day?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, I’ve had a little, but I’m ‘most fasting,” said the Cat; -“it was only a bowl of porridge, and a trough of fat, and -the goodman, and the goody, and the cow, and the leaf-picker, -and the stoat, and the squirrel, and the fox, and the hare, and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_282'>282</span>the wolf, and the bear-cub, and the she-bear, and the he-bear—and, -now I think of it, I’ll take you too,” and so she rushed -at them, and gobbled up both the bride and bridegroom, and -the whole train, with the cook and the fiddler, and the horses -and all.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When she had gone still farther, she came to a church, -and there she met a funeral.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day, you funeral train,” said she.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day, Mrs. Pussy; have you had anything to eat -to-day?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, I’ve had a little, but I’m ‘most fasting,” said the Cat; -“it was only a bowl of porridge, and a trough of fat, and -the goodman, and the goody, and the cow, and the leaf-picker, -and the stoat, and the squirrel, and the fox, and the hare, and -the wolf, and the bear-cub, and the she-bear, and the he-bear, -and the bride and bridegroom, and the whole train—and, now, -I don’t mind if I take you too,” and so she fell on the funeral -train and gobbled up both the body and the bearers.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now when the Cat had got the body in her, she was taken -up to the sky, and when she had gone a long, long way, she -met the moon.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day, Mrs. Moon,” said the Cat.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day, Mrs. Pussy; have you had anything to eat -to-day?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, I’ve had a little, but I’m ‘most fasting,” said the Cat; -“it was only a bowl of porridge, and a trough of fat, and -the goodman, and the goody, and the cow, and the leaf-picker, -and the stoat, and the squirrel, and the fox, and the hare, and -the wolf, and the bear-cub, and the she-bear, and the he-bear, -and the bride and bridegroom, and the whole train, and the -funeral train—and, now I think of it, I don’t mind if I take -you too,” and so she seized hold of the moon, and gobbled -her up, both new and full.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So the Cat went a long way still, and then she met the sun.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day, you sun in heaven.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day, Mrs. Pussy,” said the sun; “have you had anything -to eat to-day?”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_283'>283</span>“Oh, I’ve had a little, but I’m ‘most fasting,” said the Cat; -“it was only a bowl of porridge, and a trough of fat, and -the goodman, and the goody, and the cow, and the leaf-picker, -and the stoat, and the squirrel, and the fox, and the hare, and -the wolf, and the bear-cub, and the she-bear, and the he-bear, -and the bride and bridegroom, and the whole train, and the -funeral train, and the moon—and, now I think of it, I don’t -mind if I take you too,” and so she rushed at the sun in -heaven and gobbled him up.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So the cat went far and farther than far, till she came to a -bridge, and on it she met a big billy-goat.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day, you Billy-goat on Broad-bridge,” said the Cat.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day, Mrs. Pussy; have you had anything to eat -to-day?” said the billy-goat.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, I’ve had a little, but I’m ‘most fasting; I’ve only had -a bowl of porridge, and a trough of fat, and the goodman, -and the goody in the byre, and Daisy the cow at the manger, -and the leaf-picker in the home-field, and Mr. Stoat of Stoneheap, -and Sir Squirrel of the Brake, and Reynard Slyboots, -and Mr. Hopper the hare, and Greedy Graylegs the wolf, and -Bare-breech the bear-cub, and Mrs. Bruin, and Baron Bruin, -and a bridal train on the king’s highway, and a funeral at -the church, and Lady Moon in the sky, and Lord Sun in -heaven—and, now I think of it, I’ll take you too.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That we’ll fight about,” said the billy-goat, and butted -at the Cat till she fell right over the bridge into the river, and -there she burst.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So they all crept out one after the other, and went about -their business, and were just as good as ever, all that the -Cat had gobbled up. The goodman of the house, and the -goody in the byre, and Daisy the cow at the manger, and -the leaf-picker in the home-field, and Mr. Stoat of Stoneheap, -and Sir Squirrel of the Brake, and Reynard Slyboots, and Mr. -Hopper the hare, and Greedy Graylegs the wolf, and Bare-breech -the bear-cub, and Mrs. Bruin, and Baron Bruin, and -the bridal train on the highway, and the funeral train at the -church, and Lady Moon in the sky, and Lord Sun in heaven.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_284'>284</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>Well Done: Ill Paid</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Once upon a time there was a man who had to drive -his sledge to the wood for fuel, and a bear met him -on the way.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Hand over your horse,” growled the bear, “or I’ll kill all -your sheep by summer.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, Heaven help me!” said the man. “There’s not a stick -of firewood in the house; you must let me drive home a load -of fuel, else we shall be frozen to death. I’ll bring the horse -to you to-morrow morning.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Yes; on these terms he might drive the wood home, that -was a bargain; but Bruin said, if he didn’t come back, he -should lose all his sheep by summer.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So the man got the wood on the sledge and rattled homeward, -but he wasn’t over-pleased with his bargain, you may -fancy.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So just then a fox met him. “Why, what’s the matter?” -said the fox. “Why are you so down in the mouth?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, if you want to know,” said the man, “I met a bear -up yonder in the wood, and I had to give my word to him to -bring Dobbin back to-morrow, at this very hour; for if he -didn’t get him, he said he would tear all my sheep to death -by summer.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Stuff! Nothing worse than that?” said the fox. “If -you’ll give me your fattest wether I’ll soon set you free; see -if I don’t.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Yes, the man gave his word, and swore he would keep it -true.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, when you come with Dobbin, to-morrow, for the -bear,” said the fox, “I’ll make a clatter up in the heap of -stones yonder, and so, when the bear asks what that noise -<span class='pageno' id='Page_285'>285</span>is, you must say it is Peter the Marksman, who is the best -shot in the world. And after that you must help yourself.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now, next day, off set the man, and when he met the bear -something began to make a clatter up in the heap of stones.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Hist, hist! what’s that?” said the bear.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, that’s Peter the Marksman, to be sure,” said the man. -“He’s the best shot in the world; I know him by his voice.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Have you seen any bear about here, Eric?” shouted out a -voice in the wood.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Say no,” said the bear.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No, I haven’t seen any,” said Eric.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What’s that, then, that stands alongside your sledge?” -bawled out the voice in the wood.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Say it’s an old fir-stump,” said the bear.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, it’s only an old fir-stump,” said the man.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Such fir-stumps we take in our country and roll them on -our sledges,” bawled out the voice. “If you can’t do it yourself, -I’ll come and help you.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Say you can help yourself, and roll me up on the sledge,” -said the bear.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No, thank ye, I can help myself well enough,” said the -man, and rolled the bear on the sledge.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Such fir-stumps we always bind fast on our sledges in our -part of the world,” bawled out the voice. “Shall I come and -help you?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Say you can help yourself, and bind me fast, do,” said -the bear.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No, thanks, I can help myself well enough,” said the man, -who set to binding Bruin fast with all the ropes he had, so -that at last the bear couldn’t stir a paw.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Such fir-stumps we always drive our ax into, in our part -of the world,” bawled out the voice, “for then we guide them -better going down steep pitches.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Pretend to drive the ax into me, do now,” said the bear.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then the man took up his ax, and at one blow split the -bear’s skull, so that Bruin lay dead in a trice; and so the man -and the fox were great friends, and on the best of terms.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_286'>286</span>But when they came near the farm, the fox said: “I’ve no -mind to go right home with you, for I can’t say I like your -dogs; so I’ll just wait here, and you can bring the wether -to me; but mind you pick out one nice and fat.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Yes, the man would be sure to do that, and thanked the -fox much for his help. So when he had put the horse into -the stable he went across to the sheep-pen.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Where are you going?” asked his wife.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, I am only going over to the sheep-pen to fetch a -fat ram for that good fox who saved our horse,” said the -man, “as I have promised him one.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Why on earth give that thief of a fox any ram?” said -the woman. “We have got the horse quite safe and the bear -besides, and the fox has stolen more geese from us than the -ram is worth; or, if he hasn’t already taken them, he is sure -to do so some time. No, take the most savage pair of those -dogs of yours and let them loose on him, then perhaps we’ll -get rid of that thieving old rascal,” said the woman.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The man thought this was sensible advice and took two of -his savage red dogs, put them in a bag and set out with them.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Have you got the ram?” said the fox.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, come and fetch it,” said the man, undoing the string -round the bag and setting the dogs at the fox.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Ugh!” said the fox, bounding away, “the old saying: -‘Well done: ill paid,’ is only too true; and now I find it is -also true that one’s relations are one’s worst enemies,” and -he panted as he saw the red dogs at his heels.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_287'>287</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>Reynard and Chanticleer</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Once on a time there was a cock who stood on a dungheap -and crew and flapped his wings. Then the fox -came by.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day,” said Reynard. “I heard you crowing so -nicely; but you can stand on one leg and crow, and wink -your eyes?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, yes,” said Chanticleer, “I can do that very well.” So -he stood on one leg and crew; but he winked only with one -eye, and when he had done that he made himself big and -flapped his wings, as though he had done a great thing.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Very pretty, to be sure,” said Reynard. “Almost as -pretty as when the parson preaches in church; but can you -stand on one leg and wink both your eyes at once? I hardly -think you can.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Can’t I, though!” said Chanticleer, and stood on one leg, -and winked both his eyes and crew. But Reynard caught -hold of him, took him by the throat, and threw him over his -back, so that he was off to the wood before he had crowed -his crow out, as fast as Reynard could lay legs to the ground.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When they had come under an old spruce fir, Reynard threw -Chanticleer on the ground, and set his paw on his breast, and -was going to take a bite.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You are a heathen, Reynard!” said Chanticleer. “Good -Christians say grace, and ask a blessing before they eat.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>But Reynard would be no heathen. God forbid it! So he -let go his hold, and was about to fold his paws over his breast -and say grace—when pop! up flew Chanticleer into a tree.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You sha’n’t get off, for all that,” said Reynard to himself. -So he went away, and came again with a few chips -which the woodcutters had left. Chanticleer peeped and -peered to see what they could be.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_288'>288</span>“What in the world have you there?” he asked.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“These are letters I have just got,” said Reynard. “Won’t -you help me to read them, for I don’t know how to read -writing?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’d be so happy, but I dare not read them now,” said -Chanticleer, “for here comes a hunter. I see him, I see him, -as I sit by the tree-trunk.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>When Reynard heard Chanticleer chattering about a hunter, -he took to his heels as quick as he could.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So this time Reynard was made game of again!</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_289'>289</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>Father Bruin in the Corner</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Once on a time there was a man who lived far, far away -in the wood. He had many, many goats and sheep, -but never a one could he keep for fear of Graylegs, -the wolf.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At last he said: “I’ll soon trap Grayboots,” and so he set -to work digging a pitfall. When he had dug it deep enough, -he put a pole down in the midst of the pit, and on the top -of the pole he set a board, and on the board he put a little -dog. Over the pit itself he spread boughs and branches and -leaves, and other rubbish, and a-top of all he strewed snow, -so that Graylegs might not see there was a pit underneath.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So when it got on in the night, the little dog grew weary -of sitting there. “Bow-wow, bow-wow,” it said, and bayed -at the moon. Just then up came a fox, slouching and sneaking, -and thought here was a fine time for marketing, and with -that gave a jump—head over heels down into the pitfall.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And when it got a little farther on in the night, the little -dog got so weary and hungry, and it fell to yelping and howling. -“Bow-wow, bow-wow,” it cried out. Just at that very -moment up came Graylegs, trotting and trotting. He, too, -thought he should get a fat steak, and he, too, made a spring—head -over heels down into the pitfall.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When it was getting on toward gray dawn in the morning, -down fell snow, with a north wind, and it grew so cold that -the little dog stood and froze, and shivered and shook; it was -so weary and so hungry. “Bow-wow, bow-wow, bow-wow,” -it called out, and barked and yelped and howled. Then up -came a bear, tramping and tramping along, and thought to -himself how he could get a morsel for breakfast at the very -top of the morning, and so he thought and thought among -<span class='pageno' id='Page_290'>290</span>the boughs and branches till he too went bump—head over -heels down into the pitfall.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So when it got a little farther on in the morning, an old beggar -wife came walking by, who toddled from farm to farm -with a bag on her back. When she set eyes on the little dog -that stood there and howled, she couldn’t help going near -to look and see if any wild beasts had fallen into the pit during -the night. So she crawled up on her knees and peeped down -into it.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Art thou come into the pit at last, Reynard?” she said to -the fox, for he was the first she saw; “a very good place, too, -for such a hen-roost robber as thou. And thou, too, Graypaw,” -she said to the wolf; “many a goat and sheep hast thou torn -and rent, and now thou shalt be plagued and punished to -death. Bless my heart! Thou, too, Bruin! Art thou, too, sitting -in this room, thou mare-flayer? Thee, too, will we strip, -and thee shall we flay, and thy skull shall be nailed up on -the wall.” All this the old lass screeched out as she bent over -toward the bear. But just then her bag fell over her ears, and -dragged her down, and slap! down went the old crone—head -over heels into the pitfall.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So there they all four sat and glared at one another, each -in a corner—the fox in one, Graylegs in another, Bruin in -a third, and the old crone in a fourth.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But as soon as it was broad daylight, Reynard began to -peep and peer, and to twist and turn about, for he thought -he might as well try to get out.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But the old lass cried out: “Canst thou not sit still, thou -whirligig thief, and not go twisting and turning? Only look -at Father Bruin himself in the corner, how he sits as grave -as a judge,” for now she thought she might as well make -friends with the bear. But just then up came the man who -owned the pitfall. First he drew up the old wife, and after -that he slew all the beasts, and spared neither Father Bruin -himself in the corner, nor Graylegs, nor Reynard the whirligig -thief. That night, at least, he thought he had made a -good haul.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_291'>291</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>Why the Sea is Salt</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Once upon a time, long, long ago, there were two -brothers, the one rich and the other poor. When -Christmas eve came the poor one had not a bite in the -house, either of meat or bread; so he went to his brother and -begged him, in Heaven’s name, to give him something for -Christmas Day. It was by no means the first time that the -brother had been forced to give something to him, and he was -not better pleased at being asked now than he generally was.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“If you will do what I ask you, you shall have a whole -ham,” said he. The poor one immediately thanked him and -promised this.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, here is the ham, and now you must go straight to -Dead Man’s Hall,” said the rich brother, throwing the ham -to him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, I will do what I have promised,” said the other, -and he took the ham and set off. He went on and on for -the livelong day, and at nightfall he came to a place where -there was a bright light.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I have no doubt this is the place,” thought the man with -the ham, and he drew near an old man with a long white -beard who was standing in the outhouse chopping Yule-logs.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good evening,” said the man with the ham.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good evening to you. Where are you going at this late -hour?” said the man.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I am going to Dead Man’s Hall, if only I am in the right -track,” answered the poor man.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, yes, you are right enough, for it is here,” said the -old man. “When you get inside they will all want to buy -your ham, for they don’t get much meat to eat there. But -you must not sell it unless you can get for it the hand-mill -<span class='pageno' id='Page_292'>292</span>which stands behind the door. When you come out again I -will teach you how to stop the hand-mill, which is useful for -almost everything.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So the man with the ham thanked the other for his good -advice and rapped at the door.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When he got in, everything happened just as the old man -had said it would: all the people, great and small, came round -him like ants on an ant-hill, and each tried to outbid the other -for the ham.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“By rights my old woman and I ought to have it for our -Christmas dinner, but since you have set your hearts upon it -I must just give it up to you,” said the man. “But if I sell it I -will have the hand-mill which is standing there behind the -door.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>At first they would not hear to this, and haggled and bargained -with the man, but he stuck to what he had said, and -the people were forced to give him the hand-mill. When the -man came out again into the yard he asked the old wood-cutter -how he was to stop the hand-mill, and when he had -learned that, he thanked him and set off home with all the -speed he could, but did not get there until after the clock had -struck twelve on Christmas eve.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But where in the world have you been?” said the old -woman. “Here I have sat waiting hour after hour, and have -not even two sticks to lay across each other under the Christmas -porridge-pot.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, I could not come before. I had something of importance -to see about, and a long way to go, too; but now -you shall just see!” said the man, and then he set the hand-mill -on the table and bade it first grind light, then a tablecloth, -and then meat, and beer, and everything else that was -good for a Christmas eve’s supper; and the mill ground all -that he ordered. “Bless me!” said the old woman as one -thing after another appeared; and she wanted to know where -her husband had got the mill from, but he would not tell her -that.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Never mind where I got it. You can see that it is a good -<span class='pageno' id='Page_293'>293</span>one, and the water that turns it will never freeze,” said the -man. So he ground meat and drink and all kinds of good -things to last all Christmastide, and on the third day he invited -all his friends to come to a feast.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now, when the rich brother saw all that there was at the -banquet, and in the house, he was both vexed and angry, for -he grudged everything his brother had. “On Christmas eve -he was so poor that he came to me and begged for a trifle, -for Heaven’s sake, and now he gives a feast as if he were -both a count and a king!” thought he. “But tell me, I pray -you, where you got your riches from?” said he to his brother.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“From behind the door,” said he who owned the mill, for -he did not choose to satisfy his brother on that point; but -later in the evening, when he had taken a drop too much, he -could not refrain from telling how he had come by the hand-mill. -“There you see what has brought me all my wealth!” -said he, and brought out the mill and made it grind first one -thing and then another. When the brother saw that, he insisted -on having the mill, and after a great deal of persuasion -got it; but he had to give three hundred dollars for it, and the -poor brother was to keep it till the haymaking was over, for -he thought: “If I keep it as long as that, I can make it grind -meat and drink that will last many a long year.” During that -time you may imagine that the mill did not grow rusty, and -when hay-harvest came the rich brother got it, but the other -had taken good care not to teach him how to stop it. It was -evening when the rich man got the mill home, and in the -morning he bade his wife go out and spread the hay after the -mowers, and he would attend to the house himself that day.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So when dinner-time drew near he set the mill on the kitchen -table and said: “Grind herrings and milk pottage, and do it -both quickly and well.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So the mill began to grind herrings and milk pottage, and -first all the dishes and tubs were filled, and then the food came -out all over the kitchen floor. The man twisted and turned -the mill and did all he could to make it stop, but howsoever -he turned and screwed, it went on grinding, and in a short -<span class='pageno' id='Page_294'>294</span>time the pottage rose so high that the man was like to be -drowned. So he threw open the parlor door, but it was not -long before the mill had ground the parlor full too, and it was -with difficulty and danger that the man could go through the -stream of pottage and get hold of the door-latch. When he had -the door open he did not stay long in the room, but ran out, -and the herrings and pottage came after him, and streamed -out over both farm and field. Now, the wife, who was out -spreading the hay, began to think dinner was long in coming, -and said to the women and the mowers: “Though the master -does not call us home, we may as well go. It may be that -he finds he is not good at making pottage, and I should do -well to help him.” So they began to straggle homeward, but -when they had got a little way up the hill they met the herrings -and pottage and bread, all pouring forth and winding -about one over the other, and the man himself in front of the -flood. “Would to Heaven that each of you had a hundred -stomachs! Take care that you are not drowned in the pottage,” -he cried as he went by them as if mischief were at his -heels, down to where his brother dwelt. Then he begged -him, for pity’s sake, to take the mill back again, and that in -an instant, “for,” said he, “if it grind one hour more the -whole district will be destroyed by herrings and pottage.” But -the brother would not take it until the other paid him three -hundred dollars, and that he was obliged to do. Now the -poor brother had both the money and the mill again. So it -was not long before he had a farmhouse much finer than that -in which his brother lived, but the mill ground him so much -money that he covered it with plates of gold; and the farmhouse -lay close by the seashore, so it shone and glittered far -out to sea. Every one who sailed by there now had to put in -to visit the rich man in the gold farmhouse, and every one -wanted to see the wonderful mill, for the report of it spread -far and wide, and there was no one who had not heard tell -of it.</p> - -<p class='c000'>After a long, long time a skipper came who wished to see -the mill. He asked if it could make salt. “Yes, it could make -<span class='pageno' id='Page_295'>295</span>salt,” said he who owned it, and when the skipper heard that -he wished with all his might and main to have the mill, let it -cost what it might, for, he thought, if he had it he would get -off having to sail far away over the perilous sea for freights -of salt. At first the man would not hear of parting with it, -but the skipper begged and prayed, and at last the man sold -it to him, and got many, many thousand dollars for it. When -the skipper had the mill on his back he did not long stay there, -for he was so afraid that the man would change his mind, and -he had no time to ask how he was to stop its grinding, but -got on board his ship as fast as he could.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When he had gone a little way out to sea he took the mill -on deck. “Grind salt, and grind both quickly and well,” said -the skipper. So the mill began to grind salt till it spouted out -like water, and when the skipper had the ship filled he wanted -to stop the mill, but whichever way he turned it and howsoever -much he tried it went on grinding, and the heap of salt -grew higher and higher, until at last the ship sank. There -lies the mill at the bottom of the sea, and still, day by day, it -grinds on; and that is why the sea is salt.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_296'>296</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>Gudbrand on the Hillside</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>There was once upon a time a man whose name was -Gudbrand. He had a farm which lay far away up -on the side of a hill, and therefore they called him -Gudbrand on the hillside.</p> - -<p class='c000'>He and his wife lived so happily together, and agreed so -well, that whatever the man did the wife thought it so well -done that no one could do it better. No matter what he did, -she thought it was always the right thing.</p> - -<p class='c000'>They lived on their own farm, and had a hundred dollars -at the bottom of their chest and two cows in their cow-shed. -One day the woman said to Gudbrand:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I think we ought to go to town with one of the cows and -sell it, so that we may have some ready money by us. We -are pretty well off, and ought to have a few shillings in our -pocket like other people. The hundred dollars in the chest we -mustn’t touch, but I can’t see what we want with more than -one cow, and it will be much better for us, as I shall have only -one to look after instead of the two I have now to mind and -feed.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Yes, Gudbrand thought, that was well and sensibly spoken. -He took the cow at once and went to town to sell it; but when -he got there no one would buy the cow.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Ah, well!” thought Gudbrand, “I may as well take the -cow home again. I know I have both stall and food for it, -and the way home is no longer than it was here.” So he -strolled homeward again with the cow.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When he had got a bit on the way he met a man who -had a horse to sell, and Gudbrand thought it was better to -have a horse than a cow, and so he changed the cow for the -horse.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_297'>297</span>When he had gone a bit farther he met a man who was -driving a fat pig before him, and then he thought it would -be better to have a fat pig than a horse, and so he changed -with the man.</p> - -<p class='c000'>He now went a bit farther, and then he met a man with a -goat, and so he thought it was surely better to have a goat -than a pig, and changed with the man who had the goat.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then he went a long way, till he met a man who had a -sheep. He changed with him, for he thought it was always -better to have a sheep than a goat.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When he had got a bit farther he met a man with a goose, -and so he changed the sheep for the goose. And when he had -gone a long, long way he met a man with a cock. He changed -the goose with him, for he thought this wise: “It is surely -better to have a cock than a goose.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>He walked on till late in the day, when he began to feel -hungry. So he sold the cock for sixpence and bought some -food for himself. “For it is always better to keep body and -soul together than to have a cock,” thought Gudbrand.</p> - -<p class='c000'>He then set off again homeward till he came to his neighbor’s -farm, and there he went in.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“How did you get on in town?” asked the people.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, only so-so,” said the man. “I can’t boast of my luck, -nor can I grumble at it either.” And then he told them how -it had gone with him from first to last.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, you’ll have a fine reception when you get home to -your wife,” said the man. “Heaven help you! I should not -like to be in your place.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I think I might have fared much worse,” said Gudbrand; -“but whether I have fared well or ill, I have such -a kind wife that she never says anything, no matter what I -do.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Aye, so you say; but you won’t get me to believe it,” said -the neighbor.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Shall we have a wager on it?” said Gudbrand. “I have -a hundred dollars in my chest at home. Will you lay the -same?”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_298'>298</span>So they made the wager and Gudbrand remained there till -the evening, when it began to get dark, and then they went -together to the farm.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The neighbor was to remain outside the door and listen -while Gudbrand went in to his wife.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good evening!” said Gudbrand when he came in.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good evening!” said the wife. “Heaven be praised you -are back again.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, here I am!” said the man. And then the wife asked -him how he had got on in town.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, so-so,” answered Gudbrand. “Not much to brag of. -When I came to town no one would buy the cow, so I changed -it for a horse.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, I’m so glad of that,” said the woman. “We are pretty -well off and we ought to drive to church like other people, -and when we can afford to keep a horse I don’t see why we -should not have one. Run out, children, and put the horse in -the stable.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, I haven’t got the horse, after all,” said Gudbrand; -“for when I had got a bit on the way I changed it for a pig.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Dear me!” cried the woman, “that’s the very thing I -should have done myself. I’m so glad of that, for now we -can have some bacon in the house and something to offer -people when they come to see us. What do we want with a -horse? People would only say we had become so grand that -we could no longer walk to church. Run out, children, and -let the pig in.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But I haven’t got the pig either,” said Gudbrand, “for -when I had got a bit farther on the road I changed it into a -milch goat.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Dear! dear! how well you manage everything!” cried the -wife. “When I really come to think of it, what do I want -with the pig? People would only say: ‘Over yonder they eat -up everything they have.’ No, now I have a goat I can have -both milk and cheese and keep the goat into the bargain. Let -in the goat, children.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But I haven’t got the goat either,” said Gudbrand. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_299'>299</span>“When I got a bit on the way I changed the goat and got a -fine sheep for it.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well!” returned the woman, “you do everything just as -I should wish it—just as if I had been there myself. What -do we want with a goat? I should have to climb up hill and -down dale to get it home at night. No, when I have a sheep -I can have wool and clothes in the house and food as well. -Run out, children, and let in the sheep.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But I haven’t got the sheep any longer,” said Gudbrand, -“for when I had got a bit on the way I changed it for a -goose.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, thank you for that!” said the woman; “and many -thanks, too! What do I want with a sheep? I have neither -wheel nor spindle, and I do not care either to toil and drudge -making clothes; we can buy clothes now as before. Now I -can have goose-fat, which I have so long been wishing for, -and some feathers to stuff that little pillow of mine. Run, -children, and let in the goose.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, I haven’t got the goose either,” said Gudbrand. -“When I had got a bit farther on the way I changed it for a -cock.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, I don’t know how you can think of it all!” cried -the woman. “It’s just as if I had done it all myself. A cock! -Why, it’s just the same as if you’d bought an eight-day clock, -for every morning the cock will crow at four, so we can be -up in good time. What do we want with a goose? I can’t -make goose-fat and I can easily fill my pillow with some soft -grass. Run, children, and let in the cock.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But I haven’t the cock either,” said Gudbrand; “for when -I had got a bit farther I became so terribly hungry I had to -sell the cock for sixpence and get some food to keep body and -soul together.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Heaven be praised you did that!” cried the woman. -“Whatever you do, you always do the very thing I could have -wished. Besides, what did we want with the cock? We are -our own masters and can lie as long as we like in the mornings. -Heaven be praised! As long as I have got you back -<span class='pageno' id='Page_300'>300</span>again, who manage everything so well, I shall neither want -cock, nor goose, nor pig, nor cows.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Gudbrand then opened the door. “Have I won the hundred -dollars now?” he asked. And the neighbor was obliged to -confess that he had.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_301'>301</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Pancake</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Once on a time there was a goody who had seven -hungry bairns, and she was frying a Pancake for them. -It was a sweet-milk Pancake, and there it lay in the -pan bubbling and frizzling so thick and good, it was a sight -for sore eyes to look at. And the bairns stood round about, -and the goodman sat by and looked on.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, give me a bit of Pancake, mother, dear; I am so -hungry,” said one bairn.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, darling mother,” said the second.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, darling, good mother,” said the third.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, darling, good, nice mother,” said the fourth.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, darling, pretty, good, nice mother,” said the fifth.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, darling, pretty, good, nice, clever mother,” said the -sixth.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, darling, pretty, good, nice, clever, sweet mother,” -said the seventh.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So they begged for the Pancake all round, the one more -prettily than the other; for they were so hungry and so good.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, yes, bairns, only bide a bit till it turns itself”—she -ought to have said, “till I can get it turned”—“and then -you shall all have some—a lovely sweet-milk Pancake; only -look how fat and happy it lies there.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>When the Pancake heard that it got afraid, and in a trice -it turned itself all of itself, and tried to jump out of the pan; -but it fell back into it again t’other side up, and so when it -had been fried a little on the other side, too, till it got firmer -in its flesh, it sprang out on the floor, and rolled off like a -wheel through the door and down the hill.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Holloa! Stop, Pancake!” and away went the goody after -it, with the frying-pan in one hand and the ladle in the other, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_302'>302</span>as fast as she could, and her bairns behind her, while the -goodman limped after them last of all.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Hi! won’t you stop? Seize it. Stop, Pancake,” they all -screamed out, one after the other, and tried to catch it on -the run and hold it; but the Pancake rolled on and on, and -in the twinkling of an eye it was so far ahead that they -couldn’t see it, for the Pancake was faster on its feet than any -of them.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So when it had rolled a while it met a man.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day, Pancake,” said the man.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“God bless you, Manny-panny!” said the Pancake.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Dear Pancake,” said the man, “don’t roll so fast; stop -a little and let me eat you.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“When I have given the slip to Goody-poody, and the -goodman, and seven squalling children, I may well slip -through your fingers, Manny-panny,” said the Pancake, and -rolled on and on till it met a hen.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day, Pancake,” said the hen.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“The same to you, Henny-penny,” said the Pancake.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Pancake, dear, don’t roll so fast; bide a bit and let me -eat you up,” said the hen.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“When I have given the slip to Goody-poody, and the -goodman, and seven squalling children, and Manny-panny, I -may well slip through your claws, Henny-penny,” said the -Pancake, and so it rolled on like a wheel down the road.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Just then it met a cock.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day, Pancake,” said the cock.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“The same to you, Cocky-locky,” said the Pancake.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Pancake, dear, don’t roll so fast, but bide a bit and let me -eat you up.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“When I have given the slip to Goody-poody, and the -goodman, and seven squalling children, and to Manny-panny, -and Henny-penny, I may well slip through your claws, Cocky-locky,” -said the Pancake, and off it set rolling away as fast -as it could; and when it had rolled a long way it met a duck.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day, Pancake,” said the duck.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“The same to you, Ducky-lucky.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_303'>303</span>“Pancake, dear, don’t roll away so fast; bide a bit and let -me eat you up.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“When I have given the slip to Goody-poody, and the -goodman, and seven squalling children, and Manny-panny, -and Henny-penny, and Cocky-locky, I may well slip through -your fingers, Ducky-lucky,” said the Pancake, and with that -it took to rolling and rolling faster than ever; and when it had -rolled a long, long while, it met a goose.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day, Pancake,” said the goose.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“The same to you, Goosey-poosey.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Pancake, dear, don’t roll so fast; bide a bit and let me eat -you up.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“When I have given the slip to Goody-poody, and the -goodman, and seven squalling children, and Manny-panny, -and Henny-penny, and Cocky-locky, and Ducky-lucky, I can -well slip through your feet, Goosey-poosey,” said the Pancake, -and off it rolled.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So when it had rolled a long, long way farther, it met a -gander.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day, Pancake,” said the gander.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“The same to you, Gander-pander,” said the Pancake.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Pancake, dear, don’t roll so fast; bide a bit and let me -eat you up.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“When I have given the slip to Goody-poody, and the -goodman, and seven squalling children, and Manny-panny, -and Henny-penny, and Cocky-locky, and Ducky-lucky, and -Goosey-poosey, I may well slip through your feet, Gander-pander,” -said the Pancake, and it rolled off as fast as ever.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So when it had rolled a long, long time, it met a pig.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day, Pancake,” said the pig.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“The same to you, Piggy-wiggy,” said the Pancake, which, -without a word more, began to roll and roll like mad.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Nay, nay,” said the pig, “you needn’t be in such a hurry; -we two can then go side by side and see each other over the -wood; they say it is not too safe in there.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The Pancake thought there might be something in that, and -so they kept company. But when they had gone awhile, they -<span class='pageno' id='Page_304'>304</span>came to a brook. As for Piggy, he was so fat he swam safely -across, it was nothing to him; but the poor Pancake couldn’t -get over.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Seat yourself on my snout,” said the pig, “and I’ll carry -you over.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So the Pancake did that.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Ouf, ouf,” said the pig, and swallowed the Pancake at -one gulp; and then, as the poor Pancake could go no farther, -why—this story can go no farther either.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_305'>305</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Death of Chanticleer</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Once on a time there was a cock and a hen, who walked -out into the field and scratched, and scraped, and scrabbled. -All at once Chanticleer found a burr of hop, and -Partlet found a barley-corn; and they said they would make -malt and brew Yule ale.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, I pluck barley, and I malt malt, and I brew ale, and -the ale is good,” cackled Dame Partlet.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Is the wort strong enough?” crew Chanticleer; and as -he crowed he flew up on the edge of the cask, and tried to -have a taste; but just as he bent over to drink a drop he -took to flapping his wings, and so he fell head over heels into -the cask and was drowned. When Dame Partlet saw that, -she clean lost her wits, and flew up into the chimney-corner, -and fell a-screaming and screeching out. “Harm in the -house! harm in the house!” she screeched out all in a breath, -and there was no stopping her.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What ails you, Dame Partlet, that you sit there sobbing -and sighing?” said the handquern.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Why not,” said Dame Partlet, “when Goodman Chanticleer -has fallen into the cask and drowned himself, and lies -dead? That’s why I sigh and sob.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, if I can do naught else, I will grind and groan,” -said the handquern; and so it fell to grinding as fast as it -could.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When the chair heard that it said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What ails you, handquern, that you grind and groan so -fast and oft?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Why not, when Goodman Chanticleer has fallen into the -cask and drowned himself, and Dame Partlet sits in the ingle -and sighs and sobs? That’s why I grind and groan,” said -the handquern.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_306'>306</span>“If I can do naught else I will crack,” said the chair; and -with that he fell to creaking and cracking.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When the door heard that it said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What’s the matter? Why do you creak and crack so, Mr. -Chair?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Why not?” said the chair. “Goodman Chanticleer has -fallen into the cask and drowned himself; Dame Partlet sits -in the ingle sighing and sobbing, and the handquern grinds -and groans. That’s why I creak and crackle, and croak and -crack.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well,” said the door, “if I can do naught else, I can -rattle and bang, and whistle and slam”; and with that it began -to open and shut, and bang and slam; it deaved one to hear, -and all one’s teeth chattered.</p> - -<p class='c000'>All this the stove heard, and it opened its mouth and called -out:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Door! door! why all this slamming and banging?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Why not,” said the door, “when Goodman Chanticleer -has fallen into the cask and drowned himself; Dame Partlet -sits in the ingle sighing and sobbing; the handquern grinds -and groans, and the chair creaks and cracks. That’s why I -bang and slam.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well,” said the stove, “if I can do naught else, I can -smolder and smoke”; and so it fell a-smoking and steaming -till the room was all in a cloud.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The ax saw this as it stood outside, and peeped with its -shaft through the window.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What’s all this smoke about, Mrs. Stove?” said the ax in -a sharp voice.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Why not,” said the stove, “when Goodman Chanticleer -has fallen into the cask and drowned himself; Dame Partlet -sits in the ingle sighing and sobbing; the handquern grinds -and groans; the chair creaks and cracks, and the door bangs -and slams. That’s why I smoke and steam.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, if I can do naught else, I can rive and rend,” said -the ax; and with that it fell to riving and rending all around -about.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_307'>307</span>This the aspen stood by and saw.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Why do you rive and rend everything so, Mr. Ax?” said -the aspen.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Goodman Chanticleer has fallen into the ale-cask and -drowned himself,” said the ax; “Dame Partlet sits in the ingle -sighing and sobbing; the handquern grinds and groans; the -chair creaks and cracks; the door slams and bangs, and the -stove smokes and steams. That’s why I rive and rend all -about.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, if I can do naught else,” said the aspen, “I can -quiver and quake in all my leaves”; so it grew all of a quake.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The birds saw this, and twittered out:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Why do you quiver and quake, Miss Aspen?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Goodman Chanticleer has fallen into the ale-cask and -drowned himself,” said the aspen, with a trembling voice; -“Dame Partlet sits in the ingle sighing and sobbing; the -handquern grinds and groans; the chair creaks and cracks; -the door slams and bangs; the stove steams and smokes, -and the ax rives and rends. That’s why I quiver and -quake.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, if we can do naught else, we will pluck off all our -feathers,” said the birds; and with that they fell a-pilling and -plucking themselves till the room was full of feathers.</p> - -<p class='c000'>This the master stood by and saw; and, when the feathers -flew about like fun, he asked the birds:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Why do you pluck off all your feathers, you birds?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, Goodman Chanticleer has fallen into the ale-cask and -drowned himself,” twittered out the birds; “Dame Partlet sits -sighing and sobbing in the ingle; the handquern grinds and -groans; the chair creaks and cracks; the door slams and -bangs; the stove smokes and steams; the ax rives and rends, -and the aspen quivers and quakes. That’s why we are pilling -and plucking all our feathers off.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, if I can do nothing else, I can tear the brooms -asunder,” said the man; and with that he fell tearing and -tossing the brooms till the birch-twigs flew about east and -west.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_308'>308</span>The goody stood cooking porridge for supper, and saw all -this.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Why, man!” she called out, “what are you tearing the -brooms to bits for?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh,” said the man, “Goodman Chanticleer has fallen into -the ale-vat and drowned himself; Dame Partlet sits sighing -and sobbing in the ingle; the handquern grinds and groans; -the chair cracks and creaks; the door slams and bangs; the -stove smokes and steams; the ax rives and rends; the aspen -quivers and quakes; the birds are pilling and plucking all their -feathers off, and that’s why I am tearing the besoms to bits.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“So, so!” said the goody; “then I’ll dash the porridge over -all the walls,” and she did it; for she took one spoonful after -the other, and dashed it against the walls, so that no one could -see what they were made of for very porridge.</p> - -<p class='c000'>That was how they drank the burial ale after Goodman -Chanticleer, who fell into the brewing-vat and was drowned; -and, if you don’t believe it, you may set off thither and have -a taste both of the ale and the porridge.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_309'>309</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>Reynard Wants to Taste Horse-flesh</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>One day as Bruin lay by a horse which he had slain, -and was hard at work eating it, Reynard came along -that way, and came up spying about and licking his -lips, to see if he might get a taste of the horse-flesh. So he -doubled and turned till he got just behind Bruin’s back, and -then he jumped on the other side of the carcass and snapped -a mouthful as he ran by. Bruin was not slow either, for he -made a grab at Reynard and caught the tip of his red brush -in his paw; and ever since then Reynard’s brush is white at -the tip, as any one may see.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But that day Bruin was merry, and called out:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Bide a bit, Reynard, and come hither, and I’ll tell you -how to catch a horse for yourself.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Yes, Reynard was ready enough to learn, but he did not -for all that trust himself to go very close to Bruin.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Listen,” said Bruin. “When you see a horse asleep, basking -in the sunshine, you must mind and bind yourself fast by -the hair of his tail to your brush, and then you must make -your teeth meet in the flesh of his thigh.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>As you may fancy, it was not long before Reynard found -out a horse that lay asleep in the sunshine, and then he did as -Bruin had told him; for he knotted and bound himself well -into the hair of his tail, and made his teeth meet in the horse’s -thigh.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Up sprang the horse, and began to kick and rear and gallop, -so that Reynard was dashed against stock and stone, and got -battered black and blue, so that he was not far off losing both -wit and sense. And while the horse galloped, they passed Jack -Longears, the hare.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_310'>310</span>“Whither away so fast, Reynard?” cried Jack Longears.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Post-haste, on business of life and death, dear Jack,” cried -Reynard.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And with that Jack stood upon his hind-legs, and laughed -till his sides ached and his jaws split right up to his ears. -It was so funny to see Reynard ride post-haste.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But you must know, since that ride Reynard has never -thought of catching a horse for himself. For that once at -least it was Bruin who had the best of it in wit, though they -do say he is nearly always as simple-minded as the trolls.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_311'>311</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>Bruin and Reynard Partners</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Once on a time Bruin and Reynard were to own a field -in common. They had a little clearing up in the wood, -and the first year they sowed rye.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Now we must share the crop as is fair and right,” said -Reynard. “If you like to have the root, I’ll take the top.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Yes, Bruin was ready to do that; but when they had -threshed out the crop, Reynard got all the corn, but Bruin -got nothing but roots and rubbish. He did not like that at all, -but Reynard said it was how they had agreed to share it.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“This year I have the gain,” said Reynard; “next year it -will be your turn. Then you shall have the top, and I shall -have to put up with the root.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>But when the spring came, and it was time to sow, Reynard -asked Bruin what he thought of turnips.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Aye, aye!” said Bruin, “that’s better food than corn”; -and so Reynard thought also. But when harvest came Reynard -got the roots, while Bruin got the turnip-tops. And then -Bruin was so angry with Reynard that he put an end at once -to his partnership with him.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_312'>312</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>Pork and Honey</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>At dawn the other day, when Bruin came tramping -over the bog with a fat pig, Reynard sat up on a -stone by the moor-side.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day, grandsire,” said the fox. “What’s that so nice -that you have there?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Pork,” said Bruin.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, I have got a dainty bit too,” said Reynard.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What is that?” asked the bear.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“The biggest wild bee’s comb I ever saw in my life,” said -Reynard.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Indeed, you don’t say so,” said Bruin, who grinned and -licked his lips, he thought it would be so nice to taste a little -honey. At last he said: “Shall we swap our fare?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Nay, nay!” said Reynard, “I can’t do that.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The end was that they made a bet, and agreed to name -three trees. If the fox could say them off faster than the -bear, he was to have leave to take one bite of the bacon; but -if the bear could say them faster, he was to have leave to take -one sup out of the comb. Greedy Bruin thought he was -sure to sup out all the honey at one breath.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well,” said Reynard, “it’s all fair and right, no doubt, -but all I say is, if I win, you shall be bound to tear off the -bristles where I am to bite.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Of course,” said Bruin, “I’ll help you, as you can’t help -yourself.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So they were to begin and name the trees.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“<span class='sc'>Fir</span>, <span class='sc'>Scotch Fir</span>, <span class='sc'>Spruce</span>,” growled out Bruin, for he -was gruff in his tongue, that he was. But for all that he only -named two trees, for fir and Scotch fir are both the same.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“<em>Ash</em>, <em>Aspen</em>, <em>Oak</em>,” screamed Reynard, so that the wood -rang again.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_313'>313</span>So he had won the wager, and down he ran and took the -heart out of the pig at one bite, and was just running off with -it. But Bruin was angry because Reynard had taken the best -bit out of the whole pig, and so he laid hold of his tail and held -him fast.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Stop a bit, stop a bit,” he said, and was wild with rage.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Never mind,” said the fox, “it’s all right; let me go, -grandsire, and I’ll give you a taste of my honey.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>When Bruin heard that, he let go his hold, and away went -Reynard after the honey.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Here, on this honeycomb,” said Reynard, “lies a leaf, and -under this leaf is a hole, and that hole you are to suck.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>As he said this he held up the comb under the bear’s nose, -took off the leaf, jumped up on a stone, and began to gibber -and laugh, for there was neither honey nor honeycomb, but a -wasp’s nest, as big as a man’s head, full of wasps, and out -swarmed the wasps and settled on Bruin’s head, and stung -him in his eyes and ears, and mouth and snout. And he had -such hard work to rid himself of them that he had no time -to think of Reynard.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And that’s why, ever since that day, Bruin is so afraid of -wasps.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_314'>314</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>How Reynard Outwitted Bruin</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Once on a time there was a bear, who sat on a hillside -in the sun and slept. Just then Reynard came slouching -by and caught sight of him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“There you sit taking your ease, grandsire,” said the fox. -“Now, see if I don’t play you a trick.” So he went and -caught three field-mice and laid them on a stump close under -Bruin’s nose, and then he bawled out into his ear, “Bo! Bruin, -here’s Peter the Hunter, just behind this stump”; and as he -bawled this out he ran off through the wood as fast as ever -he could.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Bruin woke up with a start, and when he saw the three -little mice, he was as mad as a March hare, and was going -to lift up his paw and crush them, for he thought it was they -who had bellowed in his ear.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But just as he lifted it he caught sight of Reynard’s tail -among the bushes by the woodside, and away he set after him, -so that the underwood crackled as he went, and, to tell the -truth, Bruin was so close upon Reynard that he caught hold -of his off hind-foot just as he was crawling into an earth -under a pine-root. So there was Reynard in a pinch; but for -all that he had his wits about him, for he screeched out, -“<span class='sc'>Slip the pine-root and catch Reynard’s foot</span>,” and so -the silly bear let his foot slip and laid hold of the root instead. -But by that time Reynard was safe inside the earth, and called -out:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I cheated you that time, too, didn’t I, grandsire?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Out of sight isn’t out of mind,” growled Bruin down the -earth, and was wild with rage.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_315'>315</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>Nanny Who Wouldn’t Go Home to Supper</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>There was once upon a time a woman who had a son -and a goat. The son was called Espen and the goat -was called Nanny. But they were not good friends, -and did not get on together, for the goat was perverse and -wayward, as goats will be, and she would never go home at -the right time for her supper. So it happened one evening -that Espen went out to fetch her home, and when he had -been looking for her awhile, he saw Nanny high, high up on -a crag.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“My dear Nanny, you must not stay any longer up there; -you must come home now, it is just supper-time. I am so -hungry and want my supper.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No, I sha’n’t,” said Nanny, “not before I have finished -the grass on this tussock, and that tussock—and this and that -tussock.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Then I’ll go and tell mother,” said the lad.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That you may, and then I shall be left to eat in peace,” -said Nanny.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So Espen went and told his mother.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Go to the fox and ask him to bite Nanny,” said his -mother.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The lad went to the fox. “My dear fox, bite Nanny, for -Nanny won’t come home in time. I am so hungry, and I want -my supper,” said Espen.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No, I don’t want to spoil my snout on pig’s bristles and -goat’s beard,” said the fox.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So the lad went and told his mother.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, go to the wolf,” said his mother.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_316'>316</span>The lad went to the wolf. “My dear wolf, tear the fox, -for the fox won’t bite Nanny, and Nanny won’t come home -in time. I am so hungry, and I want my supper.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No,” said the wolf, “I won’t wear out my paws and teeth -on a skinny fox.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So the lad went and told his mother.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, go to the bear and ask him to slay the wolf,” said -the mother.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The lad went to the bear. “My dear bear, slay the wolf, -for the wolf won’t tear the fox, and the fox won’t bite Nanny, -and Nanny won’t come home in time. I am so hungry and -want my supper.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No, that I won’t,” said the bear; “I don’t want to wear -out my claws for that.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So the lad went and told his mother.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, go to the Finn and ask him to shoot the bear.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The lad went to the Finn. “My dear Finn, shoot the bear, -for the bear won’t slay the wolf, the wolf won’t tear the fox, -the fox won’t bite Nanny, and Nanny won’t come home in -time. I am so hungry and want my supper.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No, I will not,” said the Finn; “I am not going to shoot -away my bullets for that.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So the lad went and told his mother.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, go to the fir,” said his mother, “and ask it to crush -the Finn.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The lad went to the fir-tree. “My dear fir, crush the -Finn, for the Finn won’t shoot the bear, the bear won’t slay -the wolf, the wolf won’t tear the fox, the fox won’t bite -Nanny, and Nanny won’t come home in time. I am so hungry -and want my supper.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No, I will not,” said the fir; “I am not going to break -my boughs for that.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So the lad went and told his mother.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, go to the fire,” said his mother, “and ask it to burn -the fir.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The lad went to the fire. “My dear fire, burn the fir, for -the fir won’t crush the Finn, the Finn won’t shoot the bear, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_317'>317</span>the bear won’t slay the wolf, the wolf won’t tear the fox, the -fox won’t bite Nanny, and Nanny won’t come home in time. -I am so hungry and want my supper.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No, I will not,” said the fire; “I am not going to burn -myself out for that.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So the lad went and told his mother.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, go to the water, and ask it to quench the fire,” she -said.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The lad went to the water. “My dear water, quench the -fire, for the fire won’t burn the fir, the fir won’t crush the -Finn, the Finn won’t shoot the bear, the bear won’t slay the -wolf, the wolf won’t tear the fox, the fox won’t bite Nanny, -and Nanny won’t come home in time. I am so hungry and -want my supper.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No, I will not,” said the water; “I am not going to waste -myself for that.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So the lad went and told his mother.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, go to the ox,” said she, “and ask him to drink up -the water.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The lad went to the ox. “My dear ox, drink up the water, -for the water won’t quench the fire, the fire won’t burn the -fir, the fir won’t crush the Finn, the Finn won’t shoot the bear, -the bear won’t slay the wolf, the wolf won’t tear the fox, the -fox won’t bite Nanny, and Nanny won’t come home in time. -I am so hungry and want my supper.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No, I will not,” said the ox; “I am not going to burst -myself for that.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So the lad went and told his mother.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, go to the yoke,” said she, “and ask it to throttle -the ox.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The lad went to the yoke. “My dear yoke, throttle the ox, -for the ox won’t drink the water, the water won’t quench the -fire, the fire won’t burn the fir, the fir won’t crush the Finn, -the Finn won’t shoot the bear, the bear won’t slay the wolf, -the wolf won’t tear the fox, the fox won’t bite Nanny, and -Nanny won’t come home in time. I am so hungry and want -my supper.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_318'>318</span>“No, I will not,” said the yoke; “I am not going to break -myself in two for that.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So the lad went and told his mother.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, go to the ax,” said she, “and tell it to split the -yoke.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The lad went to the ax. “My dear ax, split the yoke, -for the yoke won’t throttle the ox, the ox won’t drink -the water, the water won’t quench the fire, the fire won’t -burn the fir, the fir won’t crush the Finn, the Finn won’t -shoot the bear, the bear won’t slay the wolf, the wolf -won’t tear the fox, the fox won’t bite Nanny, and Nanny -won’t come home in time, I am so hungry and want my -supper.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No, I will not,” said the ax; “I am not going to blunt my -edge for that.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So the lad went and told his mother.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, go to the smith,” said she, “and ask him to hammer -the ax.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The lad went to the smith. “My dear smith, hammer the -ax, for the ax won’t split the yoke, the yoke won’t throttle -the ox, the ox won’t drink the water, the water won’t quench -the fire, the fire won’t burn the fir, the fir won’t crush the -Finn, the Finn won’t shoot the bear, the bear won’t slay the -wolf, the wolf won’t tear the fox, the fox won’t bite Nanny, -and Nanny won’t come home in time. I am so hungry and -want my supper.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No, I will not,” said the smith; “I’ll not burn my coals -and wear out my sledge-hammers for that.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So the lad went and told his mother.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, go to the rope,” said she, “and ask it to hang the -smith.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The lad went to the rope. “My dear rope, hang the smith, -for the smith won’t hammer the ax, the ax won’t split the -yoke, the yoke won’t throttle the ox, the ox won’t drink the -water, the water won’t quench the fire, the fire won’t burn -the fir, the fir won’t crush the Finn, the Finn won’t shoot the -bear, the bear won’t slay the wolf, the wolf won’t tear the fox, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_319'>319</span>the fox won’t bite Nanny, and Nanny won’t come home in -time. I am so hungry and want my supper.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No, I will not,” said the rope; “I am not going to break -in two for that.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So the lad went and told his mother.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, go to the mouse,” said she, “and ask her to gnaw -the rope.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The lad went to the mouse. “My dear mouse, gnaw the -rope, for the rope won’t hang the smith, the smith won’t hammer -the ax, the ax won’t split the yoke, the yoke won’t throttle -the ox, the ox won’t drink the water, the water won’t quench -the fire, the fire won’t burn the fir, the fir won’t crush the Finn, -the Finn won’t shoot the bear, the bear won’t slay the wolf, -the wolf won’t tear the fox, the fox won’t bite Nanny, and -Nanny won’t come home in time. I am so hungry and want -my supper.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No, I will not,” said the mouse; “I am not going to wear -out my teeth for that.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So the lad went and told his mother.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, go to the cat,” said she, “and ask her to catch the -mouse.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The lad went to the cat. “My dear cat, catch the mouse, -for the mouse won’t gnaw the rope, the rope won’t hang the -smith, the smith won’t hammer the ax, the ax won’t split the -yoke, the yoke won’t throttle the ox, the ox won’t drink the -water, the water won’t quench the fire, the fire won’t burn -the fir, the fir won’t crush the Finn, the Finn won’t shoot the -bear, the bear won’t slay the wolf, the wolf won’t tear the fox, -the fox won’t bite Nanny, and Nanny won’t come home in -time. I am so hungry and want my supper.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, but give me a drop of milk for my kittens and -then—” said the cat.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Yes, that she should have. So the cat caught the mouse, -and the mouse gnawed the rope, and the rope hanged the -smith, and the smith hammered the ax, and the ax split the -yoke, and the yoke throttled the ox, and the ox drank the -water, and the water quenched the fire, and the fire burned -<span class='pageno' id='Page_320'>320</span>the fir, and the fir crushed the Finn, and the Finn shot the -bear, and the bear slew the wolf, and the wolf tore the fox, -and the fox bit Nanny, and Nanny took to her heels, scampered -home, and ran against the barn wall and broke one of -her legs.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“M—a—h—a—h!” bleated the goat. There she lay, and -if she isn’t dead she is still limping about on three legs. But -Espen said it served her right, because she would not come -home in time for supper that day.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_321'>321</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Box With Something Pretty In It</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Once on a time there was a little boy who was out walking -on the road, and when he had walked a bit he found -a box.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I am sure there must be something pretty in this box,” he -said to himself; but however much he turned it, and however -much he twisted it, he was not able to get it open.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But when he had walked a bit farther, he found a little tiny -key. Then he grew tired and sat down, and all at once he -thought what fun it would be if the key fitted the box, for it -had a little keyhole in it. So he took the little key out of his -pocket, and then he blew first into the pipe of the key, and -afterward into the keyhole, and then he put the key into the -keyhole and turned it. “Snap!” it went within the lock; and -when he tried the hasp, the box was open.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But can you guess what there was in the box? Why, a -cow’s tail; and if the cow’s tail had been longer, this story -would have been longer too.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_322'>322</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Farmer and the Troll</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>A troll once lived in a little hill that stood in the -corner of a farm. Thinking that the ground should -not lie idle the Farmer came one day and began to -plow it up. He had hardly begun, when the Troll appeared -and asked:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“How dare you plow in the roof of my house?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I did not know it was the roof of your house,” returned -the Farmer. “I thought it a pity to let such a good piece of -land lie idle, and I think so still. Let me make an agreement -with you.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What is your agreement?” said the Troll.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, let me see. I will plow, sow, and reap the ground -every year, and we will take the produce year and year about. -One year you will take what grows above ground, and I will -take what grows below. Then we can change around, and I -will take what grows above ground, and you, what grows -below. What do you say?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Very well,” answered the Troll; “that will satisfy me.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The agreement was then made; but the crafty Farmer took -care to sow carrots the year the Troll was to have what grew -above ground, and corn the year the Troll was to have what -grew below. So the poor elf got only carrot-tops and corn-roots. -However, he was content, and the Farmer and he lived -for years amicably under this arrangement.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_323'>323</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>One’s Own Children Always Prettiest</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Once upon a time a man went out shooting in a forest, -and there he met a woodcock.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Pray, don’t shoot my children,” cried the woodcock.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What are your children like?” asked the man.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Mine are the prettiest children in the forest,” answered -the woodcock.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I suppose I mustn’t shoot them, then,” said the man.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When he came back he carried in his hand a whole string of -young woodcocks which he had shot.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, dear, oh, dear! Why, you have shot my children -after all!” wept the woodcock.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Are these yours?” said the man. “Why, I shot the ugliest -I could find.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, yes,” answered the woodcock; “but don’t you know -that every one thinks his own children the prettiest?”</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_324'>324</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Princess Whom Nobody Could Silence</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>There was once upon a time a king, and he had a -daughter who would always have the last word; she -was so perverse and contrary in her speech that no -one could silence her. So the king therefore promised that he -who could outwit the Princess should have her in marriage -and half the kingdom besides. There were plenty of those -who wanted to try, I can assure you; for it isn’t every day -that a princess and half a kingdom are to be had.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The gate to the palace hardly ever stood still. The suitors -came in swarms and flocks from east and west, both riding -and walking. But there was no one who could silence the -Princess. At last the king announced that those who tried -and did not succeed should be branded on both ears with a -large iron; he would not have all this running about the palace -for nothing.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So there were three brothers who had also heard about the -Princess, and as they were rather badly off at home, they -thought they would try their luck and see if they could win -the Princess and half the kingdom. They were good friends, -and so they agreed to set out together.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When they had got a bit on the way Ashiepattle found a -dead magpie.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I have found something! I have found something!” -cried he.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What have you found?” asked the brothers.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I have found a dead magpie,” said he.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Faugh! throw it away; what can you do with that?” said -the other two, who always believed they were the wisest.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_325'>325</span>“Oh, I’ve nothing else to do. I can easily carry it,” said -Ashiepattle.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When they had gone on a bit farther Ashiepattle found an -old willow twig, which he picked up.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I have found something! I have found something!” he -cried.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What have you found now?” said the brothers.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I have found a willow twig,” said he.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Pooh! what are you going to do with that? Throw it -away,” said the two.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I have nothing else to do. I can easily carry it with me,” -said Ashiepattle.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When they had gone still farther he found a broken saucer, -which he also picked up.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Here lads, I have found something! I have found something!” -said he.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, what have you found now?” asked the brothers.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“A broken saucer,” said he.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Pshaw! Is it worth while dragging that along with you -too? Throw it away!” said the brothers.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, I’ve nothing else to do. I can easily carry it with me,” -said Ashiepattle.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When they had gone a little bit farther he found a crooked -goat-horn, and soon after he found the fellow to it.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I have found something! I have found something, lads!” -said he.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What have you found now?” said the others.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Two goat-horns,” answered Ashiepattle.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Ugh! Throw them away! What are you going to do -with them?” said they.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, I have nothing else to do. I can easily carry them -with me,” said Ashiepattle.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In a little while he found a wedge.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I say, lads, I have found something! I have found something!” -he cried.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You are everlastingly finding something! What have you -found now?” asked the two eldest.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_326'>326</span>“I have found a wedge,” he answered.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, throw it away! What are you going to do with it?” -said they.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, I have nothing else to do. I can easily carry it with -me,” said Ashiepattle.</p> - -<p class='c000'>As he went across the king’s fields, which had been freshly -manured, he stooped down and took up an old boot-sole.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Hullo, lads! I have found something! I have found -something!” said he.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Heaven grant you may find a little sense before you get -to the palace!” said the two. “What is it you have found -now?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“An old boot-sole,” said he.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Is that anything worth picking up? Throw it away! -What are you going to do with it?” said the brothers.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, I have nothing else to do. I can easily carry it with -me, and—who knows?—it may help me to win the Princess -and half the kingdom,” said Ashiepattle.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, you look a likely one, don’t you?” said the other -two. So they went in to the Princess, the eldest first.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day!” said he.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day to you!” answered she, with a shrug.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It’s terribly hot here,” said he.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It’s hotter in the fire,” said the Princess. The branding-iron -was lying waiting in the fire.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When he saw this he was struck speechless, and so it was -all over with him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The second brother fared no better.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day!” said he.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day to you,” said she, with a wriggle.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It’s terribly hot here!” said he.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It’s hotter in the fire,” said she. With that he lost both -speech and wits, and so the iron had to be brought out.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then came Ashiepattle’s turn.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day!” said he.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day to you!” said she, with a shrug and a wriggle.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It is very nice and warm here!” said Ashiepattle.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_327'>327</span>“It’s warmer in the fire,” she answered. She was in no -better humor now she saw the third suitor.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Then there’s a chance for me to roast my magpie on it,” -said he, bringing it out.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’m afraid it will sputter,” said the Princess.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No fear of that! I’ll tie this willow twig round it,” said -the lad.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You can’t tie it tight enough,” said she.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Then I’ll drive in a wedge,” said the lad, and brought out -the wedge.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“The fat will be running off it,” said the Princess.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Then I’ll hold this under it,” said the lad, and showed her -the broken saucer.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You are so crooked in your speech,” said the Princess.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No, I am not crooked,” answered the lad; “but this is -crooked”; and he brought out one of the goat-horns.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, I’ve never seen the like!” cried the Princess.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Here you see the like,” said he, and brought out the other -horn.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It seems you have come here to wear out my soul!” she -said.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No, I have not come here to wear out your soul, for I -have one here which is already worn out,” answered the lad, -and brought out the old boot-sole.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The Princess was so dumfounded at this that she was completely -silenced.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Now you are mine!” said Ashiepattle, and so he got her -and half the kingdom into the bargain.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_328'>328</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Money-box</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>In a nursery where a number of toys lay scattered about, -a Money-box stood on the top of a very high wardrobe. -It was made of clay in the shape of a pig, and had been -bought of the potter. In the back of the pig was a slit, and this -slit had been enlarged with a knife, so that dollars, or crown -pieces, might slip through; and, indeed, there were two crown -pieces in the box, besides a number of pence. The money-pig -was stuffed so full that it could no longer rattle, which is the -highest state of perfection to which a money-pig can attain. -There he stood upon the cupboard, high and lofty, looking -down upon everything else in the room. He knew very well -that he had enough inside him to buy up all the other toys, -and this gave him a very good opinion of his own value. The -rest thought of this fact also, although they did not speak of -it, for there were so many other things to talk about. A large -doll, still handsome, though rather old, for her neck had been -mended, lay inside one of the drawers which was partly open. -She called out to the others: “Let us have a game at being -men and women; that is worth playing at.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Upon this there was a great uproar; even the engravings, -which hung in frames on the wall, turned round in their excitement, -and showed that they had a wrong side to them, -although they had not the least intention to expose themselves -in this way, or to object to the game. It was late at night, -but as the moon shone through the windows, they had light -at a cheap rate, and as the game was now to begin, all were -invited to take part in it, even the children’s wagon, which -certainly belonged to the coarser playthings. “Each has its -own value,” said the wagon; “we cannot all be noblemen; -there must be some to do the work.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_329'>329</span>The money-pig was the only one who received a written -invitation. He stood so high that they were afraid he would -not accept a verbal message. But in his reply he said that, -if he had to take a part, he must enjoy the sport from his own -home; they were to arrange for him to do so; and so they did. -The little toy theater was therefore put up in such a way that -the money-pig could look directly into it. Some wanted to -begin with a comedy, and afterward to have a tea-party and -a discussion for mental improvement, but they commenced -with the latter first. The rocking-horse spoke of training and -races; the wagon, of railways and steam-power, for these subjects -belonged to each of their professions, and it was right -they should talk of them. The clock talked politics—“tick, -tick”; he professed to know what was the time of day, but -there was a whisper that he did not go correctly. The bamboo -cane stood by, looking stiff and proud—he was vain of his -brass ferrule and silver top; and on the sofa lay two worked -cushions, pretty but stupid. When the play at the little theater -began, the rest sat and looked on; they were requested to applaud -and stamp, and the whip to crack, when they felt gratified -with what they saw. But the riding-whip said he never -cracked for old people, only for the young who were not yet -married. “I crack for everybody,” said the cracker.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, and a fine noise you make,” thought the audience, -as the play went on.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It was not worth much, but it was very well played, and all -the characters turned their painted sides to the audience, for -they were made only to be seen on one side. The acting was -wonderful, excepting that sometimes they came out beyond -the lamps, because the wires were a little too long. The doll, -whose neck had been darned, was so excited that the place in -her neck burst, and the money-pig declared he must do something -for one of the players, as they had all pleased him so -much. So he made up his mind to mention one of them in -his will, as the one to be buried with him in the family vault, -whenever that event should happen. They all enjoyed the -comedy so much that they gave up all thoughts of the teaparty, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_330'>330</span>and only carried out their idea of intellectual amusement, -which they called playing at men and women; and there -was nothing wrong about it, for it was only play. All the -while, each one thought most of himself, or of what the -money-pig could be thinking. His thoughts were on (as he -supposed) a very distant time—of making his will, and of his -burial, and of when it might all come to pass. Certainly -sooner than he expected—for all at once down he came from -the top of the press, fell on the ground, and was broken to -pieces. Then the pennies hopped and danced about in the -most amusing manner. The little ones twirled round like tops, -and the large ones rolled away as far as they could, especially -one of the great silver crown pieces who had often -wanted to go out into the world, and now he had his wish as -well as all the rest of the money. The pieces of the money-pig -were thrown into the dust-bin, and the next day there stood -a new money-pig on the cupboard, but it had not a farthing -in its inside yet, and therefore it could not rattle like the old -one. This was the beginning with him, and we will make it -the end of our story.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'><span class='sc'>Hans Christian Andersen.</span></div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_331'>331</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Darning-Needle</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Once upon a time there was a Darning-needle which -thought itself so fine and grand it ought to have been -a sewing-needle.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Be careful,” it said to the fingers which held it. “Be -sure you don’t let me fall, for I am so thin you will never find -me again.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That’s what you think,” said the fingers, as they closed -firmly round its body.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Look out! I am followed by my train,” said the Darning-needle, -and a long thread came trailing behind it; but the -thread had no knot in it.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The fingers guided the needle straight toward the cook’s -slipper.</p> - -<p class='c000'>There was a little tear in the leather, and it must be mended.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“This sort of work is quite beneath me,” said the Needle; -“I can never do it. I shall break—I know I shall!” And -break it did. “Did not I tell you I was too slender for such -a task?” asked the Darning-needle.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“There, now you are good for nothing,” said the fingers; -but they still held the needle firmly, and soon they had fixed -a ball of sealing-wax on the top.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The cook now used it as a pin to fasten her scarf.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Ho, ho! So I’m a scarf-pin now! I always knew I -should make my way in the world. Worth always tells in -the end,” said the Needle. And it chuckled to itself, although -you could not see it do so. A darning-needle never lets you -see it laugh.</p> - -<p class='c000'>This one sat bolt upright and gazed in all directions, just -as if it were riding in a state carriage.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Might I be allowed to inquire if you are made of gold?” -<span class='pageno' id='Page_332'>332</span>it asked of its neighbor—a pin. “You have a very bright -look, and a head of your own, though it is ridiculously small. -You must do your best to grow a bit. Of course, it is not -every one who is decorated with a ball of red sealing-wax!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The Darning-needle drew itself up so proudly as it said this, -that it overbalanced and fell out of the scarf into the sink, -which the cook at that moment was rinsing down.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Now I am going to see the world,” thought the Needle. -“I hope I shall not lose myself.” But lose itself it did. And -as it was washed through a long, greasy pipe and carried -away into the gutter, it said: “I am not coarse and strong -enough to hold my own in this world, but I know who and -what I am, and that’s a great comfort.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>And the Darning-needle kept its proud bearing, and did -not lose its bright way of looking at things, although all sorts -of objects passed over it—chips of wood, and pieces of straw, -and old newspaper.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Look how they sail!” it said. “But they little know -what lies beneath them. I stick fast here, and there goes a -chip, a mere chip, looking as if it thought it was all the -world. And there’s a straw floating by, too. How it whirls -round and round; it had better take care lest it run against a -stone. Ah! and now there is a piece of newspaper. Giving -itself such airs, too! as if all that was printed on it was not -forgotten long ago. I have to sit still, patiently and alone; -but I know who I am, and that I shall continue still to be, -and that is a great comfort.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>One day a piece of glass bottle lay beside the Darning-needle, -and because it glittered so splendidly the needle -thought it must certainly be a diamond; so it spoke and introduced -itself.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good morning,” it said. “I am a scarf-pin. I believe I -have the pleasure of speaking to a diamond?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, I am a member of that family, I believe,” was the -answer.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And thus they both thought each other very superior, and -spoke together of the vanity and pride of the world.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_333'>333</span>“I lived in a girl’s work-box,” the Darning-needle said. -“She was a cook, and had five fingers on each hand; but I -never saw anything so conceited as those fingers in my life! -And after all is said and done, they were only there to take -me out and put me back into the box again.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Were they very aristocratic, then?” the piece of glass -asked.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Aristocratic? No; but very proud. They were brothers, -all born fingers, and they kept to themselves. They were -various heights, too. The first—named the Thumb—was short -and broad, and held himself rather aloof from the others. He -only had one joint in his back, so could only make one bow; -but he said a man could not be a soldier unless he possessed -one like him on his hand. The second was called Sweet-tooth, -and was used to put into sweet and sour dishes, to point to the -sky and the stars, and to make the down-strokes of the pen -when the fingers wrote a letter. Long-one was the third, and -could look over all the heads of the others. Ringold, the -fourth, wore a golden belt round his waist; and the last one -of all was Playboy, who never did a stroke of work, and was -proud of it. But I had to leave them,” said the Needle; -“they could do nothing but boast.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And now here we sit and glitter,” murmured the piece of -glass.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But at that moment the water came rushing along the gutter -and carried off the piece of glass in its arms.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“He has received promotion already,” said the Darning-needle. -“It is my pride that stands in my way. I am so -very fine, and I am quite right to keep myself to myself,” -and it sat up erect and proud, and was filled with great -thoughts. “I surely must be the child of some sunbeam,” it -thought. “I am so very fine, and the sunbeams always seem -to me to be trying to find me beneath the water. Perhaps -I am too slender for my mother to be able to see me. I’m -sure if I had my old eye that was broken off I should cry. -But I won’t; it’s not well-bred to cry.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then one day some ragamuffins came poking in the gutter -<span class='pageno' id='Page_334'>334</span>to find farthings and old nails, and other such precious things. -It was very muddy and dirty, but they only enjoyed it the -better for that.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Ugh!” cried one, as the Darning-needle ran into his finger. -“Ugh! you great ugly fellow!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I am a miss, and not a fellow!” shrieked the Darning-needle; -but no one heard it.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The ball of sealing-wax had fallen off, and the needle had -turned quite black, but it felt more pleased with itself than -ever, for one looks so much slimmer in black.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Here, let us stick it into this egg-shell!” they called, and -the Darning-needle was fixed firmly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“These white walls must be very becoming to me,” the -Darning-needle thought. “I shall show up well against them, -and shall certainly be seen at last. I hope I shall not become -seasick or break.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>But the Darning-needle became neither seasick, nor did it -break. A steel stomach is a good preventive against seasickness; -and it did not forget that it was something better than -a mere man.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Really, the finer one is, the more one can bear,” it thought.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“C-r-r-rack!” groaned the egg-shell, as the wheels of a -cart passed over it.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Gracious heavens! how it presses!” gasped the Darning-needle. -“I do believe I am going to be seasick, after all. I -shall break!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>But, although the heavy cart rolled over it, it did not break, -only lay stretched full length in the mud, and there it may stay, -for there is no more of its story worth listening to.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'><span class='sc'>Hans Christian Andersen.</span></div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_335'>335</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>Master of All Masters</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>A girl once went to the fair to hire herself for a servant. -At last a funny-looking old gentleman engaged -her, and took her home to his house. When she got -there, he told her that he had something to teach her, for -that in his house he had his own names for things.</p> - -<p class='c000'>He said to her: “What will you call me?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Master or mister, or whatever you please, sir,” says she.</p> - -<p class='c000'>He said: “You must call me ‘Master of all Masters.’ And -what would you call this?” pointing to his bed.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Bed or couch, or whatever you please, sir.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No, that’s my ‘barnacle.’ And what do you call these?” -said he, pointing to his pantaloons.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Breeches or trousers, or whatever you please, sir.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You must call them ‘squibs and crackers.’ And what -would you call her?” pointing to the cat.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Cat or kit, or whatever you please, sir.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You must call her ‘white-faced simminy.’ And this, now,” -showing the fire, “what would you call this?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Fire or flame, or whatever you please, sir.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You must call it ‘hot cockalorum.’ And what, this?” he -went on, pointing to the water.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Water or wet, or whatever you please, sir.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No, ‘pondalorum’ is its name. And what do you call all -this?” asked he, as he pointed to the house.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“House or cottage, or whatever you please, sir.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You must call it ‘high topper mountain.’”</p> - -<p class='c000'>That very night the servant woke her master up in a fright -and said: “Master of all Masters, get out of your barnacle -and put on your squibs and crackers. For white-faced simminy -has got a spark of hot cockalorum on its tail, and unless you -get some pondalorum, high topper mountain will be all on hot -cockalorum.” ... That’s all.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_336'>336</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>Belling the Cat</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Once upon a time the mice sat in council and talked -of how they might outwit their enemy, the Cat. But -good advice was scarce, and in vain the president called -upon all the most experienced mice present to find a way.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At last a very young mouse held up two fingers and asked -to be allowed to speak, and as soon as he could get permission -he said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’ve been thinking for a long time why the Cat is such -a dangerous enemy. Now, it’s not so much because of her -quickness, though people make so much fuss about that. If we -could only <em>notice</em> her in time, I’ve no doubt we’re nimble -enough to jump into our holes before she could do us any harm. -It’s in her velvet paws, there’s where she hides her cruel claws -till she gets us in her clutches—that’s where her power lies. -With those paws she can tread so lightly that we can’t hear -her coming. And so, while <em>we</em> are still dancing heedlessly -about the place, she creeps close up, and before we know -where we are she pounces down on us and has us in her -clutches. Well, then, it’s my opinion we ought to hang a -bell round her neck to warn us of her coming while there’s -yet time.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Every one applauded this proposal, and the council decided -that it should be carried out.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now the question to be settled was, who should undertake -to fasten the bell round the Cat’s neck?</p> - -<p class='c000'>The president declared that no one could be better fitted for -the task than he who had given such excellent advice.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But at that the young mouse became quite confused and -stammered an excuse. He was too young for the deed, he -said. He didn’t know the Cat well enough. His grandfather, -who knew her better, would be more suited to the job.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_337'>337</span>But the grandfather declared that just because he knew the -Cat very well he would take good care not to attempt such a -task.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And the long and the short of it was that no other mouse -would undertake the duty; and so this clever proposal was -never carried out, and the Cat remained mistress of the situation.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_338'>338</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Magpie and her Children</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Said a Magpie to her children: “It’s high time you -learned to look for your own food; it is indeed.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>And with that she turned the whole lot of them out -of their nest and took them into the fields.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But the Magpie’s children didn’t care about that.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We’d rather go back to our nest!” they cried. “It’s so -comfortable to have you bringing our food to us in your -beak!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I dare say!” said their mother. “But you’re big enough -to feed yourselves. I was turned out of the nest when I was -much younger, I can tell you that!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But people will kill us with their bows and arrows,” said -the young magpies.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No fear of that!” replied their mother. “People can’t -shoot without taking aim, and that takes time. When you -see them raising their bows to their faces, ready to draw, -you must just fly away!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We might do that,” said the children; “but if some one -were to throw a stone at us, he wouldn’t have to take aim.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, you’ll see him stooping down to pick up the stone,” -said the old Magpie.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But supposing he carries a stone in his hand, ready?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Why, if you’re sharp enough to think of that,” said their -mother, “you’re sharp enough to take care of yourselves!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>And with that she flew away and left them.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_339'>339</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Cock, the Cuckoo, and the Black-cock</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Once upon a time the Cock, the Cuckoo, and the Black-cock -bought a cow between them. But when they came -to share it, and couldn’t agree which should buy the -others out, they settled among them that he who woke first -in the morning should have the cow.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So the Cock woke first.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Now the cow’s mine!</div> - <div class='line'>Now the cow’s mine!</div> - <div class='line in2'>Hurrah! Hurrah!”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>he crew, and so pleased was he that in his excitement he -awoke the Cuckoo.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Half cow!</div> - <div class='line'>Half cow!”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>sang the Cuckoo, and woke up the Black-cock.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“A like share, a like share;</div> - <div class='line'>Dear friends, that’s only fair;</div> - <div class='line in2'>Saw see, see saw!”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>That’s what the Black-cock said.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And now can you tell me which of them ought to have -the cow?</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_340'>340</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Race Between Hare and Hedgehog</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>It was once upon a time on a Saturday morning in autumn, -while the barley-fields were still in bloom.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The sun was shining, the morning wind was blowing -over the stubble, the larks were singing high in the air, the -bees were buzzing in the barley blossoms, and the people were -going blithely about their day’s work; in short, all the world -was happy, and the Hedgehog, too.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The Hedgehog stood in front of his door with folded arms, -looked at the weather, and hummed a tune as only a hedgehog -can hum on a Saturday morning.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now, as he stood there humming, he thought to himself -all at once that, while his wife was washing and dressing the -children, he might as well go for a little walk in the fields -and see how his turnips were getting on.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The turnips grew near his house, and he and his family ate -as many of them as ever they wanted, and so he looked upon -them quite naturally as his property.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Well, the Hedgehog slammed his door and started for the -turnip-field. He hadn’t got very far, and was just sauntering -round the brier-bush that stood outside the field, when he -met the Hare, who was out on the same errand—namely, -to look at his cabbages.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When the Hedgehog caught sight of the Hare, he gave -him a pleasant “Good morning.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>But the Hare, who was a very aristocratic person in his -own way, and very high and mighty in his manner, didn’t -answer the Hedgehog’s greeting, but said, with a nasty sneer:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What are you running about the fields for so early in the -morning?”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_341'>341</span>“I’m out walking,” said the Hedgehog.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Walking?” grinned the Hare. “I should have thought -you could use your legs for something better!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>This remark annoyed the Hedgehog, for, though he was a -good-natured fellow enough, he was touchy on the subject of -his legs, which were, by nature, bandy.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I suppose,” he said tartly, “you think your legs are better -than mine?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That I do,” said the Hare.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It remains to be seen,” said the Hedgehog. “I bet you -that if we two were to run a race I should outstrip you.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Absurd!” cried the Hare. “You with your crooked legs! -But if you’re so anxious to try, I’ve no objection. What do -you wager?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“A golden guinea,” said the Hedgehog.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Done!” said the Hare. “We’ll start right away!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, don’t be in such a hurry,” said the Hedgehog. “I -haven’t had my breakfast yet, and I feel a bit faint. I’ll come -back here in an hour.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So away he trotted, for the Hare made no objection.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then he thought to himself:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“The Hare thinks a lot of his long legs, but I’ll get the -better of him all the same. For all his haughty ways, he’s -not so very clever, and I’ll make him pay; see if I don’t.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>As soon as he got home, he said to his wife:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Quick! go and get dressed. You must come out with -me.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What’s the matter?” said his wife.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’ve wagered the Hare a golden guinea. I’m to run a -race with him, and I want you to be there.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good gracious me!” cried the Hedgehog’s wife. “Have -you lost your senses? How can you think of racing the -Hare?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Don’t be so quick with your words, woman,” said the -Hedgehog. “That’s my affair; you mustn’t meddle with what -you don’t understand. Look sharp; put on your things, and -come along.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_342'>342</span>What was the wife to do? She had to obey, whether she -wanted to or not.</p> - -<p class='c000'>On the way to the field, the Hedgehog said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Now, listen to what I’m going to tell you. In that plowed -field over there we’re to run our race. The Hare will run in -one furrow, and I in the other. We begin at the top. Now, -all you’ve got to do is to stand at the other end of my furrow, -and directly the Hare arrives, you call out to him:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“‘Here I am already!’”</p> - -<p class='c000'>With that they reached the field. The Hedgehog told his -wife where to stand, and went on to the other end.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The Hare was there waiting for him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Shall we start?” asked the Hare.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Right,” said the Hedgehog.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Now then!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Each took up his place.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The Hare counted:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“One, two, three!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>And away he went like the wind.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But the Hedgehog took about three paces, then he went -back, ducked down in his furrow, and stood there as comfortably -as you please, and laughing as if he would split his -sides.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now, the moment the Hare came rushing up to the other -end, the Hedgehog’s wife called out to him:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Here I am already!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The Hare was quite taken aback, for he made sure it was -the Hedgehog himself who was sitting there calling to him, -since, as every one knows, a hedgehog’s wife looks exactly -like her husband.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“There’s something not quite right here,” said the Hare. -“We must run again back to the starting-point.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>And away he flew like the wind. But the Hedgehog’s wife -never moved.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When the Hare got to the other end, the Hedgehog called -out:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Here I am already!”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_343'>343</span>But the Hare, quite beside himself with jealousy, shouted:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We must run again!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Right!” said the Hedgehog. “As often as you like.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>And so the Hare went on, running backward and forward -seventy-three times, and every time the Hedgehog got the -better of him. Every time the Hare arrived at one end or -the other, the Hedgehog or his wife called out:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Here I am already!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>But the seventy-fourth time the Hare dropped down dead -tired before he got half-way. So the Hedgehog took his golden -guinea, and he and his wife went home very well pleased -with themselves. And so my tale is finished.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_344'>344</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>Bruno’s Story</cite></h2> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>[<em>From “Sylvie and Bruno.”</em>]</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>“Once there were a mouse and a crocodile and a man and -a goat and a lion,” said Bruno.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And the mouse found a shoe, and it thought it were a -mouse-trap. So it got right in, and it stayed in ever so long.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Why did it stay in?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“‘Cause it thought it couldn’t get out again,” Bruno explained. -“It were a clever mouse. It knew it couldn’t get -out of traps.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But why did it go in, then?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No matter why!” said Bruno decisively; “and it jamp, -and it jamp, and at last it got right out again. And it looked -at the mark in the shoe. And the man’s name were in it. So -it knew it wasn’t its own shoe.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So the mouse gave the man his shoe. And the man were -welly glad, ‘cause he hadn’t got but one shoe, and he were -hopping to get the other.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And the man took the goat out of the sack.... No, I -know oo hasn’t heard of the sack before, and oo won’t again.... -And he said to the goat: ‘Oo will walk about here till -I comes back.’ And he went and he tumbled into a deep hole. -And the goat walked round and round. And it walked under -the tree. And it wug its tail. And it looked up in the tree. -And it sang a sad little song. Oo never heard such a sad little -song!</p> - -<p class='c000'>It singed it right froo. I <em>sawed</em> it singing with its long -beard.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And when it had singed all the song, it ran away—for -to get along to look for the man, oo know. And the crocodile -got along after it—for to bite it, oo know. And the mouse -got along after the crocodile.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Wasn’t the crocodile running?”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_345'>345</span>“He wasn’t running,” said Bruno, “and he wasn’t crawling. -He went struggling along like a portmanteau. And he -held his chin ever so high in the air——”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What did he do that for?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“‘Cause he hadn’t got a toofache!” said Bruno. “Can’t -oo make out <em>nuffin</em> wizout I ‘splain it? Why, if he’d had a -toofache, a course he’d have held his head down—like this—and -he’d have put a lot of warm blankets round it!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Did he have any blankets?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Course he had blankets,” said Bruno. “Does oo think -crocodiles goes walks wisout blankets? And he frowned with his -eyebrows. And the goat was welly flightened at his eyebrows.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’d never be afraid of eyebrows.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I should think oo <em>would</em>, though, if they’d got a crocodile -fastened to them, like these had!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>And so the man jamp, and he jamp, and at last he got -right out of the hole.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And he runned away—for to look for the goat, oo know. -And he heard the lion grunting.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And its mouth were like a large cupboard. And it had -plenty of room in its mouth. And the lion runned after the -man—for to eat him, oo know. And the mouse runned after -the lion.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And first he caught the crocodile, and then he didn’t catch -the lion. And when he’d caught the crocodile, what does oo -think he did—‘cause he’d got pincers in his pocket? Why, -he wrenched out that crocodile’s toof!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Which tooth?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“The toof he were going to bite the goat with, a course!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And what became of the man?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, the lion springed at him. But it came so slow, -it were three weeks in the air——”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Did the man wait for it all that time?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Course he didn’t. He sold his house, and he packed up -his things, while the lion were coming. And he went and he -lived in another town. So the lion ate the wrong man.”</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'><span class='sc'>Lewis Carroll.</span></div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_346'>346</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Bluebottle Who Went Courting</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>A gay young Bluebottle went out courting.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And first he flew into the king’s palace to woo the -king’s daughter.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now, she was the most beautiful princess in all the world, -and had a thousand suitors at her feet.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So the Bluebottle came and settled on her hand, and sang:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Zum, zum, zoo,</div> - <div class='line'>I want to marry you!”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>But the princess didn’t understand the song. She only saw -a great bluebottle fly, and she tried to flick it off her hand. -But the Bluebottle sat fast. Then the princess cried out:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Here’s a great horrid fly on my hand, and it won’t move! -Quick! some one take it away!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>At that, you may be sure, all the suitors came running up, -and made grabs at the Bluebottle; and the cleverest of them -caught him between his finger and thumb and nearly crushed -the life out of him. But he managed to wriggle free, and in -his flight he flew at the king himself and settled right on the -tip of the royal nose.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then the king gave a terrific snort and hit the Bluebottle -such a blow that if it hadn’t just missed him he would certainly -have been killed.</p> - -<p class='c000'>By this time, I can tell you, the Bluebottle was in such a -state that he didn’t know whether he was on his head or his -heels. So he buzzed round and round the room, and was -chased from one courtier to the other, and dashed his wings -against the window-panes, and at last the king threw his -<span class='pageno' id='Page_347'>347</span>scepter at him, and the scepter hit the fattest duchess in the -room, and bounded off and struck the Bluebottle on the head.</p> - -<p class='c000'>You may fancy how that confused the poor thing! And -so he flew into the fireplace, and got his left wing scorched, -and he only just managed to crawl up the chimney by the -skin of his teeth.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But a maiden bluebottle, who was distantly related to his -family, nursed his wing for him, and so pretty soon he was -as gay as ever. Then he said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Very well, if I can’t have the princess, I’ll have the next -best thing.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>And so he flew into the king’s stable and sat himself down -right on the back of the princess’s favorite mare.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Zum, zum, zoo,</div> - <div class='line'>I want to marry you!”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>he hummed.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But the mare took not the least notice of his song. She only -shifted her feet irritably, for the Bluebottle tickled her.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Zum, zum, zoo,</div> - <div class='line'>I want to marry you!”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>repeated the Bluebottle, quite boldly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At that the mare gave a flick of her tail and hit the Bluebottle -slap! bang! right in the middle of his bright azure waistcoat, -so that he was sent spinning in among the straw that -littered the floor.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So there he lay, buzzing mournfully, till the maiden bluebottle -came along and rubbed him all over, and put him on -his feet again.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And pretty soon he was gayer than ever, and thought how -he would go courting once more.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Better stick to your own station,” said his lady friend.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But he only tossed his head and sniffed scornfully.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And then he put on a brand-new waistcoat and flew into -the king’s kitchen, where the princess’s favorite cat lay purring -on the hearth.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_348'>348</span>And the Bluebottle lost no time at all, but crept straight into -the cat’s right ear and sang his song:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Zum, zum, zoo,</div> - <div class='line'>I want to marry you!”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>Now, the cat had just been dreaming the most delicious -dream about the fattest mouse you can think of, and the buzzing -in her ear just woke her up in the most exciting part.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And so, you may guess, she wasn’t in the best of tempers.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Whether she heard the Bluebottle’s proposal of marriage -or not, I really can’t say. If she did, you may be sure it -didn’t please her, for she just made a snatch with her paw -and grabbed him by the leg.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now, it would have been all up with him if the maiden relative -hadn’t flown up in the very nick of time and tickled the -cat’s nose.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Very well, that made the cat sneeze so violently that she let -go of the Bluebottle’s leg, and so he flew away. But his leg was -broken; and the doctor came every day for a week, and then -he sent in his bill. And the maiden friend brought all her -savings rolled up in an old stocking of her mother’s. And so -the Bluebottle paid the doctor, and there was an end of that.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now, would you believe it, the Bluebottle was so young -and giddy that his leg was scarcely well before he began to -wonder where he should go courting next.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“When there are so many old maids in the world,” said he, -“it’s a bachelor’s duty to look round for a wife. I do it out -of charity.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Charity begins at home,” said his lady friend, and blushed -in a modest way.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But the Bluebottle was not the kind of person to take a -hint. So he just put on another new waistcoat, and away he -flew into the woods.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And there a fine young lady woodpecker was hopping about -digging for worms in a ladylike manner.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Now, here is a person after my own heart,” said the Bluebottle. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_349'>349</span>“She doesn’t wait for us men to bring her food; she -just helps herself. I might do worse than marry her.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>And without a minute’s hesitation he began to buzz round -and round the woodpecker, singing his old song:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Zum, zum, zoo,</div> - <div class='line'>I want to marry you!”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>When the woodpecker caught sight of him, she cocked her -tail in a knowing way.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Change of food is as good as change of air,” said she, -and gave a peck that nearly finished the Bluebottle there and -then, and tore his right wing from end to end.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So there he was, sprawling on his back with his legs curled -up in agony, for a torn wing is no trifle. And now the woodpecker -would certainly have gobbled him up; but just then -the faithful maiden friend, who had followed the Bluebottle -because he was bound to get into mischief, hurried up. When -she saw the state of things, she didn’t stop twice to think, -but took a dead leaf and dropped it right over the Bluebottle.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now, when the woodpecker saw the maiden Bluebottle, she -took her for the bachelor, and gave another peck. But the -maiden flew away and hid behind a fern, and so the woodpecker -went back to her worms.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh! Oh! I’m dead! I’m dead!” groaned the Bluebottle -under the leaf.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Nonsense!” said his lady friend. “Rubbish doesn’t die -so easily!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>You see, she was severe because her pride had been hurt.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, dear, kind friend, don’t fly away and leave me!” -begged the Bluebottle meekly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You’ve flown away and left me often enough,” said the -lady friend.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’ll never do it again as long as I live!” cried he.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You couldn’t if you wanted to,” said she, and stroked the -broken wing.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_350'>350</span>“Oh, why wasn’t I content with a bluebottle bride?” -groaned he.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No lady bluebottle will look at you now,” said she, “for -you’ll always fly lame as long as you live.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, won’t you take pity on me?” asked the poor Bluebottle, -who felt thoroughly humble by this time.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then his lady friend put her own strong wing under his -broken one.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’ll marry you—out of charity,” she said, and flew away -with him.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_351'>351</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>How Two Beetles Took Lodgings</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Once upon a time there was a worthy set of ants, who -lived together as happily as possible in their little town -at the foot of a fine old oak-tree.</p> - -<p class='c000'>They were honest, peaceable folk, and always did as the -three queen ants who ruled over them told them to do.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The young men stayed quietly at home until it was time -for them to get married, and the young ladies, who had -nothing else to do, did the same.</p> - -<p class='c000'>As for the working people—But here’s a curious state of -things! You’ll never find a working “man” in an ant city -as long as you live, for all the workers are females, even the -soldiers, you may take my word for that!</p> - -<p class='c000'>Well, as for these, they were at it morning, noon, and night, -digging and building and fetching food for the whole town, -looking after the eggs—of which there were so many you -could never have counted them—and seeing that all the baby -ants were quite happy and comfortable.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now, things would have gone on very well indeed if other -people had only left these worthy ants alone. But they -did not—and this is where my story really begins.</p> - -<p class='c000'>One fine day a set of ants belonging to quite another tribe -came to the forest, and built themselves a town not far from -the first.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And these ants—it grieves me to write it—were far from -peaceful and honest like their neighbors. To tell the truth, -they were nothing more nor less than robbers.</p> - -<p class='c000'>They had not been very long in the place before their soldiers—all -womenfolk, too!—made a raid on the town of the -mild and harmless ants, and carried off all the girl babies they -could lay hands on. And the moment the children were old -<span class='pageno' id='Page_352'>352</span>enough to work, they were made into slaves, and had to do -all the roughest and hardest work.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Well, you may guess there was sorrow in the town of the -peaceful ants. They were too weak to fight their foes, and -so they just had to sit down and bear it as best they could.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now, what happened once, happened again, and yet again, -till at last the harmless ants made up their minds to move -and build themselves a new city in another part of the -forest.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And so they did. But it was all of no use, for the robbers -followed them, and then the same thing happened all over -again. So soon as there was a fine, fat, promising bunch of -girl babies in the town, the robbers came and carried them -into slavery.</p> - -<p class='c000'>One misfortune followed fast upon another. Not long after -the ants had moved into their new town, a beetle and his wife -came stalking in, and demanded lodgings in the queen’s palace.</p> - -<p class='c000'>They were smartly dressed in blue and green coats of the -latest cut, but they carried no baggage except a tooth-brush, -that stuck out of the Beetle’s wife’s pocket. This was suspicious, -and they looked so hungry and thirsty, into the bargain, -that it was not to be wondered at that the poor queen -ant pulled a long face.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We’re traveling for pleasure,” said the Beetle’s wife, “and -we shall have much pleasure in staying here as long as we -like.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>With that she walked straight up to the best bedroom, said -she hoped the sheets were aired, and went to bed, while her -husband talked pleasantly with the three queens, and ate three -dozen new-laid ants’ eggs for his supper.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The unhappy queens soon saw what kind of visitors they -had got. The Beetles made themselves at home everywhere—in -the palace and out of it—and called for whatever they -wanted. The working ants had to wait on them hand and -foot. There was the Beetle’s shaving water to be got first -thing in the morning, and the Beetle’s wife’s cup of milk fresh -from the cow. For ants, you must know, keep their cows, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_353'>353</span>just as human beings do, though the milk of the ant cow is -more like sugar water than anything else we have.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then there never was any one who could do with so -many meals in the course of a single day as that Beetle and -his wife. They just ate and drank from morning to night, -and it was all the ants could do to keep the palace larder -stocked.</p> - -<p class='c000'>All the choicest morsels, the finest seeds and salads the -workers could bring fell to the Beetles’ share, while the queens -got what was left.</p> - -<p class='c000'>There was no peace and quiet in the town. The Beetles -pried into every hole and corner, spread themselves in everybody’s -parlor, and paraded the streets singing and whistling -when quiet folks wanted to rest.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But, what was worst of all, they showed never a sign of -moving on.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I thought you said you were traveling,” the bravest of the -queens ventured to remark at last.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Why, so we were!” said the Beetles. “But one must -settle down some time or other, and your air really suits us -very well.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Did you hear that?” whispered one young working ant -to another.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The two had come to the palace with a pitcher of milk -just in time to listen to the conversation.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“They’ll never leave us,” said the second ant.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Not unless some one takes steps,” returned the first ant.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And, pray, whose steps, and why?” asked the second.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You always were stupid,” said the first one, and gave her -waist a twitch—which is a way ants have when they are put -out. “Now, if some one were to take my advice,” she went -on, “but there’s nobody in all the town with two pennyworth -of spirit. Nobody would take my advice.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I suppose you couldn’t take it yourself?” asked the second -ant, who really was not quite as stupid as people thought.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It never occurred to me,” said the first ant; “but now you -mention it, perhaps I might.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_354'>354</span>And then the first ant thought and thought, and the end of -it was that she slipped out of the town so soon as her day’s -work was finished and strolled away toward the town where -the robber ants lived.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And presently a fierce old soldier-ant came marching out -at the gate.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then the little worker’s heart beat very fast, and she turned -as pale as an ant can turn.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“‘Nothing venture, nothing win,’” she said to herself, and -walked straight up to the soldier.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Hallo! Who are you?” said the soldier.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, I’m a neighbor of yours, from Beechtown,” said the -little ant. “I’m just taking a stroll before supper.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“A stroll before supper!” cried the soldier, staring very -hard. “You don’t seem to have much work to do over there.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Why, no, I can’t say I have,” said the little ant.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But I can see by your dress you’re a servant,” said the -soldier-woman.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“So I am,” said the little ant. “But we servants of Beechtown -have an easy place. A bit of dusting now and then, and -a little light needlework; that’s all.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I heard a very different story only the other day,” said -the soldier.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Ah, but everything’s changed since the Beetles came,” -said the little worker. “They do all the dirty work; and, -my goodness! they can work, you may take my word for that! -It’s worth something, I can tell you, to have two fine Beetles -like that in the town!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Aha!” thought the soldier-woman to herself, “here’s -something for us!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>And she was so taken up with thinking that she forgot -to bid the little ant good night, and there and then she marched -straight back to her town to tell the general what she had -heard.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But the little ant went home well pleased with herself. And, -sure enough, what she expected would happen did happen.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The robber-ants, as soon as they heard the soldier’s story, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_355'>355</span>were as eager as possible to carry off the two Beetles who -could work so well.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And to prevent any fuss and bother, this is what they did:</p> - -<p class='c000'>They took a great pitcher of ant-cow’s milk and mixed with -it a few drops of the poison, which, as every one knows, an -ant always carries about with her in her poison-bag. Then -twelve soldiers took the pitcher to Beechtown and waited outside -the gate for the Beetles to come out. And directly they -saw them coming they put down the pitcher and hid behind a -mountain of dead leaves.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But the Beetles drank up the sweet stuff till there was not a -drop left at the bottom of the pail, and immediately the poison -began to work, and both the Beetle and his wife fell back in -a heap on to the grass, and there they lay, and could stir -neither hand nor foot.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The robbers, you may fancy, lost no time, bundled the pair -on to a stout rhubarb leaf, and dragged them away to their -own city as fast as they could go.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now, scarcely had they got them there when the poison began -to wear off—for ants’ poison is not very strong, you see—and -pretty soon the Beetle’s wife sat up and pinched her -husband. It was not long before he sat up, too; and by and -by those two were as clear in their heads and as firm on their -legs as any two beetles ever were.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And now there was an unpleasant surprise in store for the -robber-ants. When the Beetle’s wife had looked round a bit, -she said to her husband:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Why, it seems comfortable enough here. I don’t think -we’ll trouble to go back to Beechtown. I think this will suit -us very well.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, well, we’ll just see what the cooking’s like,” said -he, and went straight to the palace where the six queen-ants -who ruled over the robbers lived. He just said: “How-d’ye-do?” -to the queens in an off-hand way, and then he sat down -and helped himself to all the dishes he could find in the larder.</p> - -<p class='c000'>His wife, she did the same, and between them they finished -all the food there was.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_356'>356</span>And so they went on, just as they were used to doing in -Beechtown, and it did not take the robbers long to find out -the mistake they had made.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The Beetles had never done a day’s work in their lives, and -they had no notion of beginning now, just because the robbers -expected it.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When they heard how they had been carried off, and why, -they thought the whole affair a very good joke, and laughed -and laughed till they grew purple in the face, and had to slap -each other on the back to keep from choking.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The robbers, you may believe me, were as angry as angry -could be. They coaxed and they threatened, but neither the -Beetle nor his wife would do a stroke of work. On the contrary, -they took such a deal of waiting upon that the robbers -were driven well-nigh crazy, and racked their brains for a way -to get rid of them.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But the Beetles liked their new quarters very well, and there -they stopped.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So things went on, till at last the robbers made up their -minds to give the Beetles the slip. And one dark night, while -they were asleep, they packed their trunks and left the town. -But the gate wanted oiling, and creaked so as they swung it -open that the Beetle’s wife got nightmare and woke up.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In a minute, you may be sure, she had found out what was -going on, and had wakened her husband. Then the two crept -very softly out at the gate and kept the ants at a comfortable -distance.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So the end of it all was that, though the robbers went far -into the forest, many leagues from their old town, they had no -sooner finished building the new one than in marched the -Beetles, and went on in their old way as though nothing had -happened.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now, the robbers had settled so far away from Beechtown -that it was not worth their while to come and steal the children -of the harmless ants, for they found another town nearer to -hand.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And so the harmless ants lived together quite happily and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_357'>357</span>peacefully once more, and the clever little worker, to whom -they owed their good fortune, was raised to great honor and -glory.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But the robbers had to make the best of the Beetles, for -get rid of them they never could. And if ever you should be -passing that way, why, I make no doubt you’ll find them -there still.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_358'>358</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>Little Tuppen</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>One day an old hen whose name was Cluck-cluck went -into the woods with her little chick Tuppen to get some -blueberries to eat. But a berry stuck fast in the little -one’s throat, and he fell upon the ground, choking and gasping. -Cluck-cluck, in great fright, ran to fetch some water for -him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>She ran to the Spring and said: “My dear Spring, please -give me some water. I want it for my little chick Tuppen, -who lies choking and gasping under the blueberry-bush in the -green woods.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The Spring said: “I will give you some water if you will -bring me a cup.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then Cluck-cluck ran to the Oak-tree and said: “Dear Oak-tree, -please give me a cup. I want it for the Spring; and then -the Spring will give me water for my little chick Tuppen, -who lies choking and gasping under the blueberry-bush in the -green woods.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The Oak-tree said: “I will give you a cup if some one will -shake my branches.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then Cluck-cluck ran to Maid Marian, the wood-cutter’s -child, and said: “Dear Maid Marian, please shake the Oak-tree’s -branches; and then the Oak-tree will give me a cup, -and I will give the cup to the Spring, and the Spring will give -me water for my little chick Tuppen, who lies choking and -gasping under the blueberry-bush in the green woods.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The wood-cutter’s child, Maid Marian, said: “I will shake -the Oak-tree’s branches if you will give me some shoes.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then Cluck-cluck ran to the Shoemaker and said: “Dear -Shoemaker, please give me some shoes. I want them for Maid -Marian, the wood-cutter’s child; for then Maid Marian will -<span class='pageno' id='Page_359'>359</span>shake the Oak-tree’s branches, and the Oak-tree will give me -a cup, and I will give the cup to the Spring, and the Spring -will give me water for my little chick Tuppen, who lies choking -and gasping under the blueberry-bush in the green woods.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The Shoemaker said: “I will give you some shoes if you -will give me some leather.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then Cluck-cluck ran to Moo-moo, the ox, and said: “Dear -Moo-moo, please give me some leather. I want it for the -Shoemaker; for then the Shoemaker will give me some shoes, -and I will give the shoes to Maid Marian, and Maid Marian -will shake the Oak-tree’s branches, and the Oak-tree will give -me a cup, and I will give the cup to the Spring, and the Spring -will give me water for my little chick Tuppen, who lies choking -and gasping under the blueberry-bush in the green -woods.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The ox, Moo-moo, said: “I will give you some leather if -you will give me some corn.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then Cluck-cluck ran to the Farmer and said: “Dear -Farmer, please give me some corn. I want it for Moo-moo, -the ox; for then the ox will give me some leather, and I -will give the leather to the Shoemaker, and the Shoemaker -will give me shoes, and I will give the shoes to Maid Marian, -and Maid Marian will shake the Oak-tree’s branches, and the -Oak-tree will give me a cup, and I will give the cup to the -Spring, and the Spring will give me water for my little chick -Tuppen, who lies choking and gasping under the blueberry-bush -in the green woods.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The Farmer said: “I will give you some corn if you will -give me a plow.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then Cluck-cluck ran to the Blacksmith and said: “Dear -Blacksmith, please give me a plow. I want it for the Farmer; -for then the Farmer will give me some corn, and I will give -the corn to the ox, and the ox will give me leather, and I will -give the leather to the Shoemaker, and the Shoemaker will -give me shoes, and I will give the shoes to Maid Marian, and -Maid Marian will shake the Oak-tree’s branches, and the Oak-tree -will give me a cup, and I will give the cup to the Spring, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_360'>360</span>and the Spring will give me water for my little chick Tuppen, -who lies choking and gasping under the blueberry-bush in the -green woods.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The Blacksmith said: “I will give you a plow if you will -give me some iron.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then Cluck-cluck ran to the busy little dwarfs who live under -the mountains, and have all the iron that is found in the -mines. “Dear, dear dwarfs,” she said, “please give me some -of your iron. I want it for the Blacksmith; for then the -Blacksmith will give me a plow, and I will give the plow to -the Farmer, and the Farmer will give me corn, and I will -give the corn to the ox, and the ox will give me leather, -and I will give the leather to the Shoemaker, and the Shoemaker -will give me shoes, and I will give the shoes to Maid -Marian, and Maid Marian will shake the Oak-tree’s branches, -and the Oak-tree will give me a cup, and I will give the cup -to the Spring, and the Spring will give me water for my little -chick Tuppen, who lies choking and gasping under the blueberry-bush -in the green woods.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The little dwarfs who live under the mountains had pity -on poor Cluck-cluck, and they gave her a great heap of red -iron-ore from their mines.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then she gave the iron to the Blacksmith, and the plow to -the Farmer, and the corn to the ox, and the leather to the -Shoemaker, and the shoes to Maid Marian; and Maid Marian -shook the Oak-tree, and the Spring got the acorn cup, and -Cluck-cluck carried it full of water to her little chick Tuppen.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then little Tuppen drank the water, and was well again, -and ran chirping and singing in the long grass as if nothing -had happened to him.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_361'>361</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Story of the Four Little Children Who Went Round the World</cite></h2> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>[<em>From “Nonsense Stories.”</em>]</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Once upon a time, a long while ago, there were four -little people whose names were Violet, Slingsby, Guy, -and Lionel; and they all thought they should like to -see the world. So they bought a large boat to sail quite round -the world by sea, and then they were to come back on the -other side by land. The boat was painted blue with green -spots, and the sail was yellow with red stripes; and, when -they set off, they only took a small cat to steer and look after -the boat, besides an elderly quangle-wangle, who had to cook -the dinner and make the tea; for which purposes they took a -large kettle.</p> - -<p class='c000'>For the first ten days they sailed on beautifully, and found -plenty to eat, as there were lots of fish; and they had only to -take them out of the sea with a long spoon, when the quangle-wangle -instantly cooked them; and the pussy-cat was fed with -the bones, with which she expressed herself pleased on the -whole; so that all the party was very happy.</p> - -<p class='c000'>During the daytime Violet chiefly occupied herself in putting -salt water into a churn, while her three brothers churned -it violently in the hope that it would turn into butter, which -it seldom, if ever, did; and in the evening they all retired into -the tea-kettle, where they all managed to sleep very comfortably, -while pussy and the quangle-wangle managed the boat.</p> - -<p class='c000'>After a time they saw some land at a distance; and, when -they came to it, they found it was an island made of water -quite surrounded by earth. Besides that, it was bordered by -evanescent isthmuses, with a great gulf-stream running about -<span class='pageno' id='Page_362'>362</span>all over it; so that it was perfectly beautiful, and contained -only a single tree, five hundred and three feet high.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When they had landed, they walked about, but found, to -their great surprise, that the island was quite full of veal-cutlets -and chocolate-drops, and nothing else. So they all -climbed up the single high tree to discover, if possible, if there -were any people; but having remained on the top of the tree -for a week, and not seeing anybody, they naturally concluded -that there were no inhabitants; and accordingly, when they -came down, they loaded the boat with two thousand veal-cutlets -and a million of chocolate-drops; and these afforded -them sustenance for more than a month, during which time -they pursued their voyage with the utmost delight and apathy.</p> - -<p class='c000'>After this they came to a shore where there were no less -than sixty-five great red parrots with blue tails, sitting on a -rail all of a row, and all fast asleep. And I am sorry to say -that the pussy-cat and the quangle-wangle crept softly, and -bit off the tail-feathers of all the sixty-five parrots, for which -Violet reproved them both severely.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Notwithstanding which, she proceeded to insert all the -feathers—two hundred and sixty in number—in her bonnet; -thereby causing it to have a lovely and glittering appearance, -highly prepossessing and efficacious.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The next thing that happened to them was in a narrow -part of the sea, which was so entirely full of fishes that the -boat could go on no farther; so they remained there about -six weeks, till they had eaten nearly all the fishes, which were -soles, and all ready cooked, and covered with shrimp-sauce, -so that there was no trouble whatever. And as the few fishes -who remained uneaten complained of the cold, as well as of -the difficulty they had in getting any sleep on account of the -extreme noise made by the arctic bears and the tropical turnspits, -which frequented the neighborhood in great numbers, -Violet most amiably knitted a small woolen frock for several -of the fishes, and Slingsby administered some opium-drops to -them; through which kindness they became quite warm, and -slept soundly.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_363'>363</span>Then they came to a country which was wholly covered -with immense orange-trees of a vast size, and quite full of -fruit. So they all landed, taking with them the tea-kettle, -intending to gather some of the oranges and place them in it. -But, while they were busy about this, a most dreadfully high -wind rose, and blew out most of the parrot-tail feathers from -Violet’s bonnet. That, however, was nothing compared with -the calamity of the oranges falling down on their heads by -millions and millions, which thumped and bumped and bumped -and thumped them all so seriously that they were obliged to -run as hard as they could for their lives; besides that, the -sound of the oranges rattling on the tea-kettle was of the most -fearful and amazing nature.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Nevertheless, they got safely to the boat, although considerably -vexed and hurt; and the quangle-wangle’s right foot -was so knocked about that he had to sit with his head in his -slipper for at least a week.</p> - -<p class='c000'>This event made them all for a time rather melancholy, and -perhaps they might never have become less so had not Lionel, -with a most praiseworthy devotion and perseverance, continued -to stand on one leg, and whistle to them in a loud and -lively manner; which diverted the whole party so extremely -that they gradually recovered their spirits, and agreed that, -whenever they should reach home, they would subscribe -toward a testimonial to Lionel, entirely made of gingerbread -and raspberries, as an earnest token of their sincere and grateful -infection.</p> - -<p class='c000'>After sailing on calmly for several more days they came to -another country, where they were much pleased and surprised -to see a countless multitude of white mice with red eyes, all -sitting in a great circle, slowly eating custard-pudding with -the most satisfactory and polite demeanor.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And as the four travelers were rather hungry, being tired -of eating nothing but soles and oranges for so long a period, -they held a council as to the propriety of asking the mice for -some of their pudding in a humble and affecting manner, by -which they could hardly be otherwise than gratified. It was -<span class='pageno' id='Page_364'>364</span>agreed, therefore, that Guy should go and ask the mice, which -he immediately did; and the result was, that they gave a -walnut-shell only half full of custard diluted with water. Now, -this displeased Guy, who said: “Out of such a lot of pudding -as you have got, I must say, you might have spared a somewhat -larger quantity.” But no sooner had he finished speaking -than the mice turned round at once, and sneezed at him -in an appalling and vindictive manner (and it is impossible -to imagine a more scroobious and unpleasant sound than that -caused by the simultaneous sneezing of many millions of angry -mice); so that Guy rushed back to the boat, having first shied -his cap into the middle of the custard-pudding, by which -means he completely spoiled the mice’s dinner.</p> - -<p class='c000'>By and by the four children came to a country where there -were no houses, but only an incredibly innumerable number -of large bottles without corks, and of a dazzling and sweetly -susceptible blue color. Each of these blue bottles contained -a bluebottle fly; and all these interesting animals live continually -together in the most copious and rural harmony; nor perhaps -in many parts of the world is such perfect and abject -happiness to be found. Violet and Slingsby and Guy and -Lionel were greatly struck with this singular and instructive -settlement; and, having previously asked permission of the -bluebottle flies (which was most courteously granted), the -boat was drawn up to the shore, and they proceeded to make -tea in front of the bottles; but, as they had no tea-leaves, they -merely placed some pebbles in the hot water; and the quangle-wangle -played some tunes over it on an accordion, by which, -of course, tea was made directly, and of the very best quality.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The four children then entered into conversation with the -bluebottle flies, who discoursed in a placid and genteel manner, -though with a slightly buzzing accent, chiefly owing to -the fact that they each held a small clothes-brush between their -teeth, which naturally occasioned a fizzy, extraneous utterance.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Why,” said Violet, “would you kindly inform us, do you -reside in bottles; and, if in bottles at all, why not, rather, in -green or purple, or, indeed, in yellow bottles?”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_365'>365</span>To which questions a very aged bluebottle fly answered: -“We found the bottles here all ready to live in; that is to say, -our great-great-great-great-great-grandfathers did, so we occupied -them at once. And, when the winter comes on, we -turn the bottles upside down, and consequently rarely feel the -cold at all; and you know very well that this could not be the -case with bottles of any other color than blue.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Of course it could not,” said Slingsby. “But, if we may -take the liberty of inquiring, on what do you chiefly subsist?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Mainly on oyster-patties,” said the bluebottle fly; “and, -when these are scarce, on raspberry vinegar and Russian -leather boiled down to a jelly.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“How delicious!” said Guy.</p> - -<p class='c000'>To which Lionel added, “Huzz!” And all the bluebottle -flies said, “Buzz!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>At this time an elderly fly said it was the hour for the evening -song to be sung; and, on a signal being given, all the bluebottle -flies began to buzz at once in a sumptuous and sonorous -manner, the melodious and mucilaginous sounds echoing all -over the waters, and resounding across the tumultuous tops -of the transitory titmice upon the intervening and verdant -mountains with a serene and sickly suavity only known to the -truly virtuous. The moon was shining slobaciously from the -star-bespangled sky, while her light irrigated the smooth and -shiny sides and wings and backs of the bluebottle flies with -a peculiar and trivial splendor, while all nature cheerfully responded -to the cerulean and conspicuous circumstances.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In many long-after years the four little travelers looked -back to that evening as one of the happiest in all their lives; -and it was already past midnight when—the sail of the boat -having been set up by the quangle-wangle, the tea-kettle and -churn placed in their respective positions, and the pussy-cat -stationed at the helm—the children each took a last and affectionate -farewell of the bluebottle flies, who walked down in -a body to the water’s edge to see the travelers embark.</p> - -<p class='c000'>As a token of parting respect and esteem, Violet made a -courtesy quite down to the ground, and stuck one of her few -<span class='pageno' id='Page_366'>366</span>remaining parrot-tail feathers into the back hair of the most -pleasing of the bluebottle flies; while Slingsby, Guy, and -Lionel offered them three small boxes, containing, respectively, -black pins, dried figs, and Epsom salts; and thus they left that -happy shore forever.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Overcome by their feelings, the four little travelers instantly -jumped into the tea-kettle and fell fast asleep. But all along -the shore, for many hours, there was distinctly heard a sound -of severely suppressed sobs, and of a vague multitude of living -creatures using their pocket-handkerchiefs in a subdued -simultaneous snuffle, lingering sadly along the walloping waves -as the boat sailed farther and farther away from the land of -the happy bluebottle flies.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Nothing particular occurred for some days after these -events, except that, as the travelers were passing a low tract -of sand, they perceived an unusual and gratifying spectacle; -namely, a large number of crabs and crawfish—perhaps six or -seven hundred—sitting by the waterside, and endeavoring to -disentangle a vast heap of pale pink worsted, which they -moistened at intervals with a fluid composed of lavender-water -and white-wine negus.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Can we be of any service to you, oh, crusty crabbies?” -said the four children.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Thank you kindly,” said the crabs consecutively. “We -are trying to make some worsted mittens, but do not know -how.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>On which Violet, who was perfectly acquainted with the -art of mitten-making, said to the crabs, “Do your claws unscrew, -or are they fixtures?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“They are all made to unscrew,” said the crabs; and forthwith -they deposited a great pile of claws close to the boat, -with which Violet uncombed all the pale pink worsted, and -then made the loveliest mittens with it you can imagine. These -the crabs, having resumed and screwed on their claws, placed -cheerfully upon their wrists and walked away rapidly on their -hind-legs, warbling songs with a silvery voice and in a minor -key.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_367'>367</span>After this the four little people sailed on again till they came -to a vast and wide plain of astonishing dimensions, on which -nothing whatever could be discovered at first; but, as the -travelers walked onward, there appeared in the extreme and -dim distance a single object, which on a nearer approach, and -on an accurately cutaneous inspection, seemed to be somebody -in a large white wig, sitting on an arm-chair made of sponge-cakes -and oyster-shells. “It does not quite look like a human -being,” said Violet doubtfully; nor could they make out what -it really was till the quangle-wangle (who had previously been -round the world) exclaimed softly in a loud voice, “It is the -coöperative cauliflower!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>And so, in truth, it was; and they soon found that what -they had taken for an immense wig was in reality the top of -the cauliflower, and that he had no feet at all, being able to -walk tolerably well with a fluctuating and graceful movement -on a single cabbage-stalk—an accomplishment which naturally -saved him the expense of stockings and shoes.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Presently, while the whole party from the boat was gazing -at him with mingled affection and disgust, he suddenly arose, -and, in a somewhat plumdomphious manner, hurried off -toward the setting sun—his steps supported by two superincumbent -confidential cucumbers, and a large number of water-wagtails -proceeding in advance of him by three and three in a -row—till he finally disappeared on the brink of the western -sky in a crystal cloud of sudorific sand.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So remarkable a sight, of course, impressed the four children -very deeply; and they returned immediately to their boat -with a strong sense of undeveloped asthma and a great appetite.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Shortly after this the travelers were obliged to sail directly -below some high overhanging rocks, from the top of one of -which a particularly odious little boy, dressed in rose-colored -knickerbockers, and with a pewter plate upon his head, threw -an enormous pumpkin at the boat, by which it was instantly -upset.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But this upsetting was of no consequence, because all the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_368'>368</span>party knew how to swim very well; and, in fact, they preferred -swimming about till after the moon rose, when, the water -growing chilly, they sponge-taneously entered the boat. Meanwhile -the quangle-wangle threw back the pumpkin with immense -force, so that it hit the rocks where the malicious little -boy in rose-colored knickerbockers was sitting, when, being -quite full of lucifer-matches, the pumpkin exploded surreptitiously -into a thousand bits; whereon the rocks instantly took -fire, and the odious little boy became unpleasantly hotter and -hotter and hotter, till his knickerbockers were turned quite -green, and his nose was burned off.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Two or three days after this had happened they came to -another place, where they found nothing at all except some -wide and deep pits full of mulberry-jam. This is the property -of the tiny, yellow-nosed apes who abound in these districts, -and who store up the mulberry-jam for their food in winter, -when they mix it with pellucid pale periwinkle-soup, and serve -it out in Wedgwood china bowls, which grow freely all over -that part of the country. Only one of the yellow-nosed apes -was on the spot, and he was fast asleep; yet the four travelers -and the quangle-wangle and pussy were so terrified by the -violence and sanguinary sound of his snoring that they merely -took a small cupful of the jam, and returned to reëmbark in -their boat without delay.</p> - -<p class='c000'>What was their horror on seeing the boat (including the -churn and the tea-kettle) in the mouth of an enormous seeze -pyder, an aquatic and ferocious creature truly dreadful to behold, -and, happily, only met with in those excessive longitudes! -In a moment the beautiful boat was bitten into fifty-five thousand -million hundred billion bits; and it instantly became quite -clear that Violet, Slingsby, Guy, and Lionel could no longer -preliminate their voyage by sea.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The four travelers were therefore obliged to resolve on pursuing -their wanderings by land; and, very fortunately, there -happened to pass by at that moment an elderly rhinoceros, on -which they seized; and, all four mounting on his back—the -quangle-wangle sitting on his horn, and holding on by his ears, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_369'>369</span>and the pussy-cat swinging at the end of his tail—they set off, -having only four small beans and three pounds of mashed -potatoes to last through their whole journey.</p> - -<p class='c000'>They were, however, able to catch numbers of the chickens -and turkeys and other birds who incessantly alighted on the -head of the rhinoceros for the purpose of gathering the seeds -of the rhododendron plants which grew there; and these -creatures they cooked in the most translucent and satisfactory -manner by means of a fire lighted on the end of the rhinoceros’s -back. A crowd of kangaroos and gigantic cranes accompanied -them, from feelings of curiosity and complacency; -so that they were never at a loss for company, and went onward, -as it were, in a sort of profuse and triumphant procession.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Thus in less than eighteen weeks they all arrived safely at -home, where they were received by their admiring relatives -with joy tempered with contempt, and where they finally resolved -to carry out the rest of their traveling plans at some -more favorable opportunity.</p> - -<p class='c000'>As for the rhinoceros, in token of their grateful adherence, -they had him killed and stuffed directly, and then set him up -outside the door of their father’s house as a diaphanous door-scraper.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'><span class='sc'>Edward Lear.</span></div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_370'>370</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The History of the Seven Families of the Lake Pipple-Popple</cite></h2> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>[<em>From “Nonsense Stories.”</em>]</div> - </div> -</div> - -<h3 class='c012'>CHAPTER I<br /> <span class='c015'>INTRODUCTORY</span></h3> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c013'>In former days—that is to say, once upon a time—there -lived in the Land of Gramble-blamble seven families. -They lived by the side of the great Lake Pipple-popple -(one of the seven families, indeed, lived <em>in</em> the lake), and -on the outskirts of the city of Tosh, which, excepting when -it was quite dark, they could see plainly. The names of -all these places you have probably heard of; and you have -only not to look in your geography books to find out all -about them.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now, the seven families who lived on the borders of the -great Lake Pipple-popple were as follows in the next chapter.</p> - -<h3 class='c012'>CHAPTER II<br /> <span class='c015'>THE SEVEN FAMILIES</span></h3> - -<p class='c013'>There was a family of two old parrots and seven young -parrots.</p> - -<p class='c000'>There was a family of two old storks and seven young -storks.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_371'>371</span>There was a family of two old geese and seven young geese.</p> - -<p class='c000'>There was a family of two old owls and seven young owls.</p> - -<p class='c000'>There was a family of two old guinea-pigs and seven young -guinea-pigs.</p> - -<p class='c000'>There was a family of two old cats and seven young cats.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And there was a family of two old fishes and seven young -fishes.</p> - -<h3 class='c012'>CHAPTER III<br /> <span class='c015'>THE HABITS OF THE SEVEN FAMILIES</span></h3> - -<p class='c013'>The parrots lived upon the soffsky-poffsky trees, which -were beautiful to behold, and covered with blue leaves; and -they fed upon fruit, artichokes, and striped beetles.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The storks walked in and out of the Lake Pipple-popple, -and ate frogs for breakfast, and buttered toast for tea; but on -account of the extreme length of their legs they could not -sit down, and so they walked about continually.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The geese, having webs to their feet, caught quantities of -flies, which they ate for dinner.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The owls anxiously looked after mice, which they caught -and made into sago-puddings.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The guinea-pigs toddled about the gardens, and ate lettuces -and Cheshire cheese.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The cats sat still in the sunshine, and fed upon sponge biscuits.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The fishes lived in the lake, and fed chiefly on boiled periwinkles.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And all these seven families lived together in the utmost -fun and felicity.</p> - -<h3 class='c012'>CHAPTER IV<br /> <span class='c015'>THE CHILDREN OF THE SEVEN FAMILIES ARE SENT AWAY</span></h3> - -<p class='c013'>One day all the seven fathers and the seven mothers of the -seven families agreed that they would send their children out -to see the world.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_372'>372</span>So they called them all together, and gave them each -eight shillings and some good advice, some chocolate-drops, -and a small green morocco pocket-book to set down their -expenses in.</p> - -<p class='c000'>They then particularly entreated them not to quarrel; and -all the parents sent off their children with a parting injunction.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“If,” said the old parrots, “you find a cherry, do not fight -about who should have it.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And,” said the old storks, “if you find a frog, divide -it carefully into seven bits, but on no account quarrel -about it.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>And the old geese said to the seven young geese: “Whatever -you do, be sure you do not touch a plum-pudding -flea.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>And the old owls said: “If you find a mouse, tear him up -into seven slices, and eat him cheerfully, but without quarreling.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>And the old guinea-pigs said: “Have a care that you eat -your lettuces, should you find any, not greedily, but calmly.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>And the old cats said: “Be particularly careful not to meddle -with a clangle-wangle if you should see one.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>And the old fishes said: “Above all things, avoid eating a -blue boss-woss, for they do not agree with fishes, and give -them a pain in their toes.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So all the children of each family thanked their parents, -and, making in all forty-nine polite bows, they went into the -wide world.</p> - -<h3 class='c012'>CHAPTER V<br /> <span class='c015'>THE HISTORY OF THE SEVEN YOUNG PARROTS</span></h3> - -<p class='c013'>The seven young parrots had not gone far when they saw -a tree with a single cherry on it, which the oldest parrot picked -<span class='pageno' id='Page_373'>373</span>instantly; but the other six, being extremely hungry, tried to -get it also. On which all the seven began to fight; and they</p> -<div class='lg-container-l'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>scuffled,</div> - <div class='line in2'>and huffled,</div> - <div class='line in4'>and ruffled,</div> - <div class='line in6'>and shuffled,</div> - <div class='line in8'>and puffled,</div> - <div class='line in10'>and muffled,</div> - <div class='line in12'>and buffled,</div> - <div class='line in14'>and duffled,</div> - <div class='line in16'>and fluffled,</div> - <div class='line in18'>and guffled,</div> - <div class='line in20'>and bruffled, and</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c016'>screamed, and shrieked, and squealed, -and squeaked, and clawed, and snapped, and bit, and bumped, -and thumped, and dumped, and flumped each other, till they -were all torn into little bits; and at last there was nothing left -to record this painful incident except the cherry and seven -small green feathers.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And that was the vicious and voluble end of the seven young -parrots.</p> - -<h3 class='c012'>CHAPTER VI<br /> <span class='c015'>THE HISTORY OF THE SEVEN YOUNG STORKS</span></h3> - -<p class='c013'>When the seven young storks set out, they walked or flew -for fourteen weeks in a straight line, and for six weeks more -in a crooked one; and after that they ran as hard as they -could for one hundred and eight miles; and after that they -stood still, and made a himmeltanious chatter-clatter-blattery -noise with their bills.</p> - -<p class='c000'>About the same time they perceived a large frog, spotted -with green, and with a sky-blue stripe under each ear.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So, being hungry, they immediately flew at him, and were -going to divide him into seven pieces when they began to quarrel -as to which of his legs should be taken off first. One said -<span class='pageno' id='Page_374'>374</span>this, and another said that; and while they were all quarreling, -the frog hopped away. And when they saw that he was gone -they began to</p> - -<div class='lg-container-l'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>chatter-clatter,</div> - <div class='line in2'>blatter-platter,</div> - <div class='line in4'>patter-blatter,</div> - <div class='line in6'>matter-clatter,</div> - <div class='line in8'>flatter-quatter,</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c017'>more violently than ever; -and after they had fought for a week they pecked each other -all to little pieces, so that at last nothing was left of any of -them except their bills.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And that was the end of the seven young storks.</p> - -<h3 class='c012'>CHAPTER VII<br /> <span class='c015'>THE HISTORY OF THE SEVEN YOUNG GEESE</span></h3> - -<p class='c013'>When the seven young geese began to travel, they went -over a large plain, on which there was but one tree, and that -was a very bad one.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So four of them went up to the top of it, and looked about -them; while the other three waddled up and down, and repeated -poetry, and their last six lessons in arithmetic, geography, -and cookery.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Presently they perceived, a long way off, an object of the -most interesting and obese appearance, having a perfectly -round body exactly resembling a boiled plum-pudding, with -two little wings and a beak, and three feathers growing out of -his head, and only one leg.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So, after a time, all the seven young geese said to each -other: “Beyond all doubt this beast must be a plum-pudding -flea!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>On which they incautiously began to sing aloud:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line in8'>“Plum-pudding flea,</div> - <div class='line in8'>Plum-pudding flea,</div> - <div class='line in8'>Wherever you be,</div> - <div class='line in8'>Oh! come to our tree,</div> - <div class='line'>And listen, oh! listen, oh! listen to me!”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_375'>375</span>And no sooner had they sung this verse than the plum-pudding -flea began to hop and skip on his one leg with the most -dreadful velocity, and came straight to the tree, where he -stopped, and looked about him in a vacant and voluminous -manner.</p> - -<p class='c000'>On which the seven young geese were greatly alarmed, and -all of a tremble-bemble; so one of them put out his long neck -and just touched him with the tip of his bill; but no sooner -had he done this than the plum-pudding flea skipped and -hopped about more and more, and higher and higher; after -which he opened his mouth, and, to the great surprise and indignation -of the seven geese, began to bark so loudly, and -furiously, and terribly that they were totally unable to bear -the noise; and by degrees every one of them suddenly tumbled -down quite dead.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So that was the end of the seven young geese.</p> - -<h3 class='c012'>CHAPTER VIII<br /> <span class='c015'>THE HISTORY OF THE SEVEN YOUNG OWLS</span></h3> - -<p class='c013'>When the seven young owls set out, they sat every now -and then on the branches of old trees, and never went far at -one time.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And one night, when it was quite dark, they thought they -heard a mouse; but, as the gas-lamps were not lighted, they -could not see him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So they called out, “Is that a mouse?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>On which a mouse answered, “Squeaky-peeky-weeky! yes, -it is!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>And immediately all the young owls threw themselves off -the tree, meaning to alight on the ground; but they did not -perceive that there was a large well below them, into which -they all fell superficially, and were every one of them drowned -in less than half a minute.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So that was the end of the seven young owls.</p> - -<div> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_376'>376</span> - <h3 class='c012'>CHAPTER IX<br /> <span class='c015'>THE HISTORY OF THE SEVEN YOUNG GUINEA-PIGS</span></h3> -</div> - -<p class='c013'>The seven young guinea-pigs went into a garden full of -gooseberry-bushes and tiggory-trees, under one of which they -fell asleep. When they awoke they saw a large lettuce, which -had grown out of the ground while they had been sleeping, -and which had an immense number of green leaves. At which -they all exclaimed:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Lettuce! O lettuce</div> - <div class='line'>Let us, O let us,</div> - <div class='line'>O lettuce-leaves,</div> - <div class='line'>O let us leave this tree, and eat</div> - <div class='line'>Lettuce, O let us, lettuce-leaves!”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>And instantly the seven young guinea-pigs rushed with such -extreme force against the lettuce-plant, and hit their heads so -vividly against its stalk, that the concussion brought on directly -an incipient transitional inflammation of their noses, -which grew worse and worse, and worse and worse, till it incidentally -killed them—all seven.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And that was the end of the seven young guinea-pigs.</p> - -<h3 class='c012'>CHAPTER X<br /> <span class='c015'>THE HISTORY OF THE SEVEN YOUNG CATS</span></h3> - -<p class='c013'>The seven young cats set off on their travels with great -delight and rapacity. But, on coming to the top of a high -hill, they perceived at a long distance off a clangle-wangle -(or, as it is more properly written, clangel-wangel); and, -in spite of the warning they had had, they ran straight up -to it.</p> - -<p class='c000'>(Now, the clangle-wangles are most dangerous and delusive -<span class='pageno' id='Page_377'>377</span>beasts, and by no means commonly to be met with. They live -in the water as well as on land, using their long tails as a sail -when in the former element. Their speed is extreme, but their -habits of life are domestic and superfluous, and their general -demeanor pensive and pellucid. On summer evenings they -may sometimes be observed near the Lake Pipple-popple, -standing on their heads, and humming their national melodies. -They subsist entirely on vegetables, excepting when they eat -veal or mutton, or pork or beef, or fish or saltpetre.)</p> - -<p class='c000'>The moment the clangle-wangle saw the seven young cats -approach, he ran away; and as he ran straight on for four -months, and the cats, though they continued to run, could -never overtake him, they all gradually <em>died</em> of fatigue and exhaustion, -and never afterward recovered.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And this was the end of the seven young cats.</p> - -<h3 class='c012'>CHAPTER XI<br /> <span class='c015'>THE HISTORY OF THE SEVEN YOUNG FISHES</span></h3> - -<p class='c013'>The seven young fishes swam across the Lake Pipple-popple, -and into the river, and into the ocean, where, most unhappily -for them, they saw on the fifteenth day of their travels, a bright-blue -boss-woss, and instantly swam after him. But the blue -boss-woss plunged into a</p> - -<div class='lg-container-l'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>perpendicular,</div> - <div class='line in2'>spicular,</div> - <div class='line in4'>orbicular,</div> - <div class='line in6'>quadrangular,</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c018'>circular depth of soft -mud; where, in fact, his house was.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And the seven young fishes, swimming with great and uncomfortable -velocity, plunged also into the mud quite against -their will, and, not being accustomed to it, were all suffocated -in a very short period.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And that was the end of the seven young fishes.</p> - -<div> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_378'>378</span> - <h3 class='c012'>CHAPTER XII<br /> <span class='c015'>OF WHAT OCCURRED SUBSEQUENTLY</span></h3> -</div> - -<div class='lg-container-b c002'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>After it was known that the</div> - <div class='line in18'>seven young parrots,</div> - <div class='line in10'>and the seven young storks,</div> - <div class='line in10'>and the seven young geese,</div> - <div class='line in10'>and the seven young owls,</div> - <div class='line in10'>and the seven young guinea-pigs,</div> - <div class='line in10'>and the seven young cats,</div> - <div class='line in10'>and the seven young fishes,</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>were all dead, then the frog, and the plum-pudding flea, and -the mouse, and the clangle-wangle, and the blue boss-woss all -met together to rejoice over their good fortune. And they -collected the seven feathers of the seven young parrots, and -the seven bills of the seven young storks, and the lettuce, and -the cherry; and having placed the latter on the lettuce, and the -other objects in a circular arrangement at their base, they -danced a hornpipe round all these memorials until they were -quite tired, after which they gave a tea-party, and a garden-party, -and a ball, and a concert, and then returned to their -respective homes full of joy and respect, sympathy, satisfaction, -and disgust.</p> - -<h3 class='c012'>CHAPTER XIII<br /> <span class='c015'>OF WHAT BECAME OF THE PARENTS OF THE FORTY-NINE CHILDREN</span></h3> - -<div class='lg-container-b c002'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line in1'>But when the two old parrots,</div> - <div class='line in6'>and the two old storks,</div> - <div class='line in6'>and the two old geese,</div> - <div class='line in6'>and the two old owls,</div> - <div class='line in6'>and the two old guinea-pigs,</div> - <div class='line in6'>and the two old cats,</div> - <div class='line in6'>and the two old fishes</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_379'>379</span>became aware, by reading in the newspapers, of the calamitous -extinction of the whole of their families, they refused all further -sustenance; and, sending out to various shops, they purchased -great quantities of cayenne pepper and brandy and -vinegar and blue sealing-wax, besides seven immense glass bottles -with air-tight stoppers. And, having done this, they ate -a light supper of brown bread and Jerusalem artichokes, and -took an affecting and formal leave of the whole of their acquaintance, -which was very numerous and distinguished and -select and responsible and ridiculous.</p> - -<h3 class='c012'>CHAPTER XIV<br /> <span class='c015'>CONCLUSION</span></h3> - -<p class='c013'>And after this they filled the bottles with the ingredients for -pickling, and each couple jumped into a separate bottle; by -which effort, of course, they all died immediately, and became -thoroughly pickled in a few minutes, having previously made -their wills (by the assistance of the most eminent lawyers of -the district), in which they left strict orders that the stoppers -of the seven bottles should be carefully sealed up with the blue -sealing-wax they had purchased; and that they themselves, -in the bottles, should be presented to the principal museum of -the city of Tosh, to be labeled with parchment or any other -anti-congenial succedaneum, and to be placed on a marble -table with silver-gilt legs, for the daily inspection and contemplation, -and for the perpetual benefit, of the pusillanimous -public.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And if you ever happen to go to Gramble-blamble, and visit -that museum in the city of Tosh, look for them on the ninety-eighth -table in the four hundred and twenty-seventh room of -the right-hand corridor of the left wing of the central quadrangle -of that magnificent building; for, if you do not, you -certainly will not see them.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'><span class='sc'>Edward Lear.</span></div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_380'>380</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>Wee Robin’s Yule-Song</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>There was an auld gray Pussie Baudrons, and she -gaed awa’ down by a waterside, and there she saw a -Wee Robin Redbreast hoppin’ on a brier; and Pussie -Baudrons says: “Where’s tu gaun, Wee Robin?” And Wee -Robin says: “I’m gaun awa’ to the king to sing him a sang -this guid Yule morning.” And Pussie Baudrons says: “Come -here, Wee Robin, and I’ll let you see a bonny white ring -round my neck.” But Wee Robin says: “Na, na! gray Poussie -Baudrons, na, na! Ye worry’t the wee mousie, but ye’se -no worry me.” So Wee Robin flew awa’ till he came to a -fail fauld-dike (<em>turf wall</em>), and there he saw a gray greedy -gled (<em>hawk</em>) sitting. And gray greedy gled says: “Where’s -tu gaun, Wee Robin?” And Wee Robin says: “I’m gaun -awa’ to the king to sing him a sang this guid Yule morning.” -And gray greedy gled says: “Come here, Wee Robin, and -I’ll let ye see a bonny feather in my wing.” But Wee Robin -says: “Na, na! gray greedy gled, na, na! Ye pookit (<em>pecked</em>) -a’ the wee lintie, but ye’se no pook me.” So Wee Robin -flew awa’ till he came to the cleuch (<em>hollow</em>) o’ a craig, -and there he saw slee Tod Lowrie (<em>sly fox</em>) sitting. And -slee Tod Lowrie says: “Where’s tu gaun, Wee Robin?” And -Wee Robin says: “I’m gaun awa’ to the king to sing him a -sang this guid Yule morning.” And slee Tod Lowrie says: -“Come here, Wee Robin, and I’ll let ye see a bonny spot on -the tap o’ my tail.” But Wee Robin says: “Na, na! slee Tod -Lowrie, na, na! Ye worry’t the wee lammie, but ye’se no -worry me.” So Wee Robin flew awa’ till he came to a bonny -burn-side, and there he saw a wee callant sitting. And the -wee callant says: “Where’s tu gaun, Wee Robin?” And -Wee Robin says: “I’m gaun awa’ to the king to sing him a -<span class='pageno' id='Page_381'>381</span>sang this guid Yule morning.” And the wee callant says: -“Come here, Wee Robin, and I’ll gie ye a wheen grand moolins -(<em>crumbs</em>) out o’ my pooch.” But Wee Robin says: “Na, na! -wee callant, na, na! Ye speldert (<em>knocked down</em>) the gowdspink -(<em>goldfinch</em>), but ye’se no spelder me.” So Wee Robin -flew awa’ till he came to the king; and there he sat on a winnock -sole (<em>plowshare</em>), and sang the king a bonny sang. -And the king says to the queen: “What’ll we gie to Wee -Robin for singing us this bonny sang?” And the queen says -to the king: “I think we’ll gie him the wee wran to be his -wife.” So Wee Robin and the wee wran were married, and -the king, and the queen, and a’ the court danced at the waddin’; -syne he flew awa’ home to his ain waterside, and hoppit -on a brier.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'><em>Attributed to</em> <span class='sc'>Robert Burns</span>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_382'>382</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Giant’s Shoes</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Once upon a time there was a large giant who lived in a -small castle; at least he didn’t all of him live there, but -he managed things in this wise. From his earliest -youth up, his legs had been of a surreptitiously small size, -unsuited to the rest of his body; so he sat upon the southwest -wall of the castle with his legs inside, and his right -foot came out of the east gate, and his left foot out of the -north gate, while his gloomy but spacious coat tails covered -up the south and the west gates; and in this way the castle -was defended against all comers, and was deemed impregnable -by the military authorities. This, however, as we -shall soon see, was not the case, for the giant’s boots were -inside as well as his legs, but, as he had neglected to put -them on in the giddy days of his youth, he was never -afterward able to do so, because there was not enough -room. And in this bootless but compact manner he passed -his time.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The giant slept for three weeks at a time, and two days -after he woke his breakfast was brought to him, consisting of -bright brown horses sprinkled on his bread and butter. Besides -his boots, the giant had a pair of shoes, and in one of -them his wife lived when she was at home; on other occasions -she lived in the other shoe. She was a sensible, practical kind -of woman, with two wooden legs and a clothes-horse; but in -other respects not rich. The wooden legs were kept pointed -at the end in order that, if the giant were dissatisfied with his -breakfast, he might pick up any stray people that were within -reach, using his wife as a fork. This annoyed the inhabitants -of the district, so that they built their church in a southwestern -<span class='pageno' id='Page_383'>383</span>direction from the castle behind the giant’s back, that -he might not be able to pick them up as they went in. But -those who stayed outside to play pitch-and-toss were exposed -to great danger and sufferings.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now, in the village there were two brothers of altogether -different tastes and dispositions, and talents, and peculiarities, -and accomplishments, and in this way they were discovered -not to be the same person. The elder of them was most marvelously -good at singing, and could sing the Old Hundredth -an old hundred times without stopping. Whenever he did this, -he stood on one leg and tied the other round his neck to avoid -catching cold and spoiling his voice, but the neighbors fled. -And he was also a rare hand at making guava dumplings out -of three cats and a shoe-horn, which is an accomplishment -seldom met with. But his brother was a more meager, magnanimous -person, and his chief accomplishment was to eat a -wagon-load of hay overnight, and wake up thatched in the -morning.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The whole interest of this story depends upon the fact that -the giant’s wife’s clothes-horse broke in consequence of a sudden -thaw, being made of organ-pipes. So she took off her -wooden legs and stuck them in the ground, tying a string -from the top of one to the top of the other, and hung out her -clothes to dry on that. Now, this was astutely remarked by -the two brothers, who therefore went up in front of the -giant after he had had his breakfast. The giant called -out, “Fork! fork!” but his wife, trembling, hid herself in -the more recondite toe of the second shoe. Then the singing -brother began to sing, but he had not taken into account -the pious disposition of the giant, who instantly joined in -the psalm; and this caused the singing brother to burst his -head off, but, as it was tied by the leg, he did not lose it altogether.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But the other brother, being well thatched on account of the -quantity of hay he had eaten overnight, lay down between the -great toe of the giant and the next, and wriggled. So the -giant, being unable to bear tickling in the feet, kicked out in -<span class='pageno' id='Page_384'>384</span>an orthopædal manner; whereupon the castle broke, and he -fell backward, and was impaled upon the sharp steeple of the -church. So they put a label on him on which was written: -“Nudipes Gigantens.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>That’s all.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'><span class='sc'>William Kingdon Clifford.</span></div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_385'>385</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Farmer and the Money-Lender</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>There was once a Farmer who suffered much at the -hands of a Money-lender. Good harvests or bad -the Farmer was always poor, the Money-lender rich. -At the last, when he hadn’t a farthing left, the Farmer went -to the Money-lender’s house and said: “You can’t squeeze -water from a stone, and, as you have nothing to get by me -now, you might tell me the secret of becoming rich.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“My friend,” returned the Money-lender piously, “riches -come from Ram—ask <em>him</em>.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Thank you, I will!” replied the simple Farmer; so he prepared -three girdle-cakes to last him on the journey, and set -out to find Ram.</p> - -<p class='c000'>First he met a Brahman, and to him he gave a cake, asking -him to point out the road to Ram; but the Brahman only took -the cake, and went on his way without a word. Next the -Farmer met a yogi, or devotee, and to him he gave a cake, -without receiving any help in return. At last he came upon -a poor man sitting under a tree, and finding out he was hungry -the kindly Farmer gave him his last cake, and, sitting -down to rest beside him, entered into conversation.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And where are you going?” asked the poor man, at -length.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, I have a long journey before me, for I am going to -find Ram!” replied the Farmer. “I don’t suppose you could -tell me which way to go?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Perhaps I can,” said the poor man, smiling, “for <em>I</em> am -Ram! What do you want of me?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then the Farmer told the whole story, and Ram, taking -pity on him, gave him a conch-shell, and showed him how to -blow it in a particular way, saying: “Remember! whatever -<span class='pageno' id='Page_386'>386</span>you wish for, you have only to blow the conch that way, and -your wish will be fulfilled. Only, have a care of that Money-lender, -for even magic is not proof against his wiles!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The Farmer went back to his village rejoicing. In fact, the -Money-lender noticed his high spirits at once, and said to himself: -“Some good fortune must have befallen the stupid fellow, -to make him hold his head so jauntily.” Therefore he -went over to the simple Farmer’s house, and congratulated -him on his good fortune in such cunning words, pretending -to have heard all about it, that before long the Farmer found -himself telling the whole story—all except the secret of blowing -the conch, for, with all his simplicity, the Farmer was -not quite such a fool as to tell that.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Nevertheless, the Money-lender determined to have the -conch by hook or by crook, and, as he was villain enough not -to stick at trifles, he waited for a favorable opportunity and -stole the conch.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But, after nearly bursting himself with blowing the conch -in every conceivable way, he was obliged to give up the secret -as a bad job. However, being determined to succeed, he went -back to the Farmer, and said coolly: “Look here! I’ve got -your conch, but I can’t use it; you haven’t got it, so it’s clear -you can’t use it either. Business is at a standstill unless we -make a bargain. Now, I promise to give you back your conch, -and never to interfere with your using it, on one condition, -which is this—whatever you get from it, I am to get -double.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Never!” cried the Farmer; “that would be the old business -all over again!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Not at all!” replied the wily Money-lender; “you will -have your share! Now, don’t be a dog in the manger, for, if -<em>you</em> get all you want, what can it matter to you if <em>I</em> am rich -or poor?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>At last, though it went sorely against the grain to be of -any benefit to a Money-lender, the Farmer was forced to yield, -and from that time, no matter what he gained by the power -of the conch, the Money-lender gained double. And the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_387'>387</span>knowledge that this was so, preyed upon the Farmer’s mind -day and night, so that he had no satisfaction out of anything.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At last there came a very dry season—so dry that the -Farmer’s crops withered for want of rain. Then he blew his -conch, and wished for a well to water them, and lo! there -was the well, <em>but the Money-lender had two</em>!—two beautiful -new wells! This was too much for any Farmer to stand; and -our friend brooded over it, and brooded over it, till at last a -bright idea came into his head. He seized the conch, blew -it loudly, and cried out: “Oh, Ram! I wish to be blind of -one eye!” And so he was, in a twinkling, but the Money-lender, -of course, was blind of both, and in trying to steer his -way between the two new wells he fell into one, and was -drowned.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now, this true story shows that a Farmer once got the -better of a Money-lender—but only by losing one of his eyes.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_388'>388</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>How the Sun, the Moon, and the Wind Went Out to Dinner</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>One day the Sun, the Moon, and the Wind went out to -dine with their uncle and aunt, the thunder and lightning. -Their mother (one of the most distant stars -you see far up in the sky) waited alone for her children’s -return.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now both the Sun and the Wind were greedy and selfish. -They enjoyed the great feast that had been prepared for them, -without a thought of saving any of it to take home to their -mother; but the gentle Moon did not forget her. Of every -dainty dish that was brought round, she placed a small portion -under one of her beautiful long finger-nails, that the Star -might also have a share in the treat.</p> - -<p class='c000'>On their return, their mother, who had kept watch for them -all night long with her little bright eye, said: “Well, children, -what have you brought home for me?” Then the Sun (who -was the eldest) said: “I have brought nothing home for you. -I went out to enjoy myself with my friends, not to fetch a -dinner for my mother!” And the Wind said: “Neither have -I brought anything home for you, mother. You could hardly -expect me to bring a collection of good things for you when -I merely went out for my own pleasure.” But the Moon -said: “Mother, fetch a plate; see what I have brought you.” -And, shaking her hands, she showered down such a choice -dinner as never was seen before.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then the Star turned to the Sun and spoke thus: “Because -you went out to amuse yourself with your friends, and feasted -and enjoyed yourself without any thought of your mother at -home, you shall be cursed. Henceforth, your rays shall ever -<span class='pageno' id='Page_389'>389</span>be hot and scorching, and shall burn all that they touch. And -men shall hate you and cover their heads when you appear.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>(And that is why the Sun is so hot to this day.)</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then she turned to the Wind and said: “You also, who -forgot your mother in the midst of your selfish pleasures, hear -your doom. You shall always blow in the hot, dry weather, -and shall parch and shrivel all living things. And men shall -detest and avoid you from this very time.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>(And that is why the Wind in the hot weather is still so -disagreeable.)</p> - -<p class='c000'>But to the Moon she said: “Daughter, because you remembered -your mother, and kept for her a share in your own enjoyment, -from henceforth you shall be ever cool, and calm, -and bright. No noxious glare shall accompany your pure -rays, and men shall always call you ‘blessed.’”</p> - -<p class='c000'>(And that is why the Moon’s light is so soft, and cool, and -beautiful even to this day.)</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_390'>390</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>Singh Rajah and the Cunning Little Jackals</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Once upon a time, in a great jungle, there lived a great -lion. He was rajah of all the country round, and every -day he used to leave his den, in the deepest shadow of -the rocks, and roar with a loud, angry voice; and when he -roared, the other animals in the jungle, who were all his subjects, -got very much frightened and ran here and there; and -Singh Rajah would pounce upon them and kill them, and -gobble them up for his dinner.</p> - -<p class='c000'>This went on for a long, long time until, at last, there were -no living creatures left in the jungle but two little jackals—a -Rajah Jackal and a Ranee Jackal—husband and wife.</p> - -<p class='c000'>A very hard time of it the poor little jackals had, running -this way and that to escape the terrible Singh Rajah; and -every day the little Ranee Jackal would say to her husband: -“I am afraid he will catch us to-day; do you hear how he is -roaring? Oh, dear! oh, dear!” And he would answer her: -“Never fear; I will take care of you. Let us run on a mile -or two. Come; come quick, quick, quick!” And they would -both run away as fast as they could.</p> - -<p class='c000'>After some time spent in this way, they found, however, -one fine day, that the lion was so close upon them that -they could not escape. Then the little Ranee Jackal said: -“Husband, husband, I feel much frightened. The Singh -Rajah is so angry he will certainly kill us at once. What -can we do?” But he answered: “Cheer up; we can save -ourselves yet. Come, and I’ll show you how we may manage -it.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So what did these cunning little jackals do but they went -<span class='pageno' id='Page_391'>391</span>to the great lion’s den; and, when he saw them coming, he -began to roar and shake his mane, and he said: “You little -wretches, come and be eaten at once! I have had no dinner -for three whole days, and all that time I have been running -over hill and dale to find you. Ro-a-ar! Ro-a-ar! Come -and be eaten, I say!” and he lashed his tail and gnashed his -teeth, and looked very terrible indeed. Then the Jackal Rajah, -creeping quite close up to him, said: “Oh, great Singh Rajah, -we all know you are our master, and we would have come at -your bidding long ago; but, indeed, sir, there is a much bigger -rajah even than you in this jungle, and he tried to catch hold -of us and eat us up, and frightened us so much that we were -obliged to run away.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What do you mean?” growled Singh Rajah. “There is -no king in this jungle but me!” “Ah, sire,” answered the -jackal, “in truth one would think so, for you are very dreadful. -Your very voice is death. But it is as we say, for we, -with our own eyes, have seen one with whom you could not -compete—whose equal you can no more be than we are yours—whose -face is as flaming fire, his step as thunder, and his -power supreme.” “It is impossible!” interrupted the old -lion; “but show me this rajah of whom you speak so much, -that I may destroy him instantly!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then the little jackals ran on before him until they reached -a great well, and, pointing down to his own reflection in the -water, they said: “See, sire, there lives the terrible king of -whom we spoke.” When Singh Rajah looked down the well -he became very angry, for he thought he saw another lion -there. He roared and shook his great mane, and the shadow -lion shook his and looked terribly defiant. At last, beside himself -with rage at the violence of his opponent, Singh Rajah -sprang down to kill him at once, but no other lion was there—only -the treacherous reflection—and the sides of the well -were so steep that he could not get out again to punish the -two jackals, who peeped over the top. After struggling for -some time in the deep water, he sank to rise no more. And -the little jackals threw stones down upon him from above, and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_392'>392</span>danced round and round the well, singing: “Ao! Ao! Ao! Ao! -The king of the forest is dead, is dead! We have killed the -great lion who would have killed us! Ao! Ao! Ao! Ao! -Ring-a-ting—ding-a-ting! Ring-a-ting—ding-a-ting! Ao! -Ao! Ao!”</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_393'>393</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>Harisarman</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>There was a certain Brahman in a certain village, -named Harisarman. He was poor and foolish and -in evil case for want of employment, and he had very -many children, that he might reap the fruit of his misdeeds -in a former life. He wandered about begging with his family, -and at last he reached a certain city, and entered the service -of a rich householder called Sthuladatta. His sons became -keepers of Sthuladatta’s cows and other property, and his wife -a servant to him, and he himself lived near his house, performing -the duty of an attendant. One day there was a feast -on account of the marriage of the daughter of Sthuladatta, -largely attended by many friends of the bridegroom and -merry-makers. Harisarman hoped that he would be able to -fill himself up to the throat with ghee and flesh and other -dainties, and get the same for his family, in the house of his -patron. While he was anxiously expecting to be fed, no one -thought of him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then he was distressed at getting nothing to eat, and he -said to his wife at night: “It is owing to my poverty and -stupidity that I am treated with such disrespect here; so I -will pretend by means of an artifice to possess a knowledge -of magic, so that I may become an object of respect to this -Sthuladatta; so, when you get an opportunity, tell him that I -possess magical knowledge.” He said this to her, and after -turning the matter over in his mind, while people were asleep -he took away from the house of Sthuladatta a horse on which -his master’s son-in-law rode. He placed it in concealment at -some distance, and in the morning the friends of the bridegroom -could not find the horse, though they searched in every -direction. Then, while Sthuladatta was distressed at the evil -<span class='pageno' id='Page_394'>394</span>omen, and searching for the thieves who had carried off the -horse, the wife of Harisarman came and said to him: “My -husband is a wise man, skilled in astrology and magical sciences; -he can get the horse back for you—why do you not -ask him?” When Sthuladatta heard that, he called Harisarman, -who said, “Yesterday I was forgotten, but to-day, now -the horse is stolen, I am called to mind,” and Sthuladatta then -propitiated the Brahman with these words, “I forgot you, -forgive me,” and asked him to tell him who had taken away -their horse. Then Harisarman drew all kinds of pretended -diagrams, and said: “The horse has been placed by thieves -on the boundary line south from this place. It is concealed -there, and before it is carried off to a distance, as it will be -at close of day, go quickly and bring it.” When they heard -that, many men ran and brought the horse quickly, praising -the discernment of Harisarman. Then Harisarman was honored -by all men as a sage, and dwelt there in happiness, honored -by Sthuladatta.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now, as days went on, much treasure, both of gold and -jewels, had been stolen by a thief from the palace of the king. -As the thief was not known, the king quickly summoned -Harisarman on account of his reputation for knowledge of -magic. And he, when summoned, tried to gain time, and -said, “I will tell you to-morrow,” and then he was placed in -a chamber by the king and carefully guarded. And he was -sad because he had pretended to have knowledge. Now, in -that palace there was a maid named Jihva (which means -Tongue), who, with the assistance of her brother, had stolen -that treasure from the interior of the palace. She, being -alarmed at Harisarman’s knowledge, went at night and applied -her ear to the door of that chamber in order to find out -what he was about. And Harisarman, who was alone inside, -was at that very moment blaming his own tongue, that had -made a vain assumption of knowledge. He said: “Oh, tongue, -what is this that you have done through your greediness? -Wicked one, you will soon receive punishment in full.” When -Jihva heard this, she thought, in her terror, that she had been -<span class='pageno' id='Page_395'>395</span>discovered by this wise man, and she managed to get in where -he was, and, falling at his feet, she said to the supposed -wizard: “Brahman, here I am, that Jihva whom you have -discovered to be the thief of the treasure, and after I took it -I buried it in the earth in a garden behind the palace, under -a pomegranate tree. So spare me, and receive the small quantity -of gold which is in my possession.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>When Harisarman heard that, he said to her proudly: “Depart, -I know all this; I know the past, present, and future, but -I will not denounce you, being a miserable creature that has -implored my protection. But whatever gold is in your possession -you must give back to me.” When he said this to the -maid, she consented, and departed quickly. But Harisarman reflected -in his astonishment: “Fate brings about, as if in sport, -things impossible; for, when calamity was so near, who would -have thought chance would have brought us success? While -I was blaming my jihva, the thief Jihva suddenly flung herself -at my feet. Secret crimes manifest themselves by means of -fear.” Thus thinking, he passed the night happily in the chamber. -And in the morning he brought the king, by some skilful -parade of pretended knowledge, into the garden and led him -up to the treasure, which was buried under the pomegranate -tree, and said that the thief had escaped with a part of it. -Then the king was pleased, and gave him the revenue of many -villages.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But the minister, named Devajnanin, whispered in the king’s -ear: “How can a man possess such knowledge unattainable -by men without having studied the books of magic? You -may be certain that this is a specimen of the way he makes -a dishonest livelihood, by having a secret intelligence with -thieves. It will be much better to test him by some new artifice.” -Then the king of his own accord brought a covered -pitcher into which he had thrown a frog, and said to Harisarman: -“Brahman, if you can guess what there is in this pitcher, -I will do you great honor to-day.” When the Brahman -Harisarman heard that, he thought that his last hour had come, -and he called to mind the pet name of “Froggie,” which his -<span class='pageno' id='Page_396'>396</span>father had given him in his childhood in sport; and, impelled -by luck, he called to himself by his pet name, lamenting his -hard fate, and suddenly called out: “This is a fine pitcher for -you, Froggie; it will soon become the swift destroyer of your -helpless self.” The people there, when they heard him say -that, raised a shout of applause, because his speech chimed in -so well with the object presented to him, and murmured: “Ah! -a great sage; he knows even about the frog!” Then the king, -thinking that this was all due to knowledge of divination, was -highly delighted, and gave Harisarman the revenue of more -villages, with gold, an umbrella, and state carriages of all -kinds. So Harisarman prospered in the world.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_397'>397</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>It Is Quite True</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>“What a dreadful story!” exclaimed a hen; “it so -frightened me that I did not dare to sleep alone -in the hen-house all night. I was glad there were -so many of us.” And she began to relate to the other hens -who were on the roosting-perch above, the story she had heard, -till their feathers stood on end, and even the cock let his comb -droop, it was so dreadful.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But we will begin at the beginning, and discover what really -had happened in the hen-house on the other side of the town.</p> - -<p class='c000'>One evening just before sunset the hens as usual went early -to roost, and among them was a pretty hen with white feathers -and short legs, who laid regularly such fine eggs that she was -very valuable, and much esteemed by all her relations.</p> - -<p class='c000'>As this hen was flying up in the hen-house to the roosting-perch, -she either pecked or scratched herself with her beak -till one of her feathers fell off.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“There goes another,” she said good humoredly; “how -beautiful I shall look if one falls off every time I scratch myself.” -This white hen was not only very much esteemed, but -also the merriest of all the hens in the hen-house.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But she forgot all about the fallen feather, and was soon -asleep.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It became quite dark. The hens were seated side by side -near each other on the perch, but one of them could not sleep, -for she had partly heard what the white hen said.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The wakeful hen stayed and thought, and then said to her -next neighbor: “Have you heard? I name no one, but a hen -has plucked out all her feathers, and is not fit to be seen. If -I were the cock, I should despise her.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The gossiping hen soon after left the hen-house, and went -<span class='pageno' id='Page_398'>398</span>to visit an owl who lived just opposite with her husband and -children. The owl families have very sharp ears, and they -heard every word that their neighbor the hen said, and the -little ones rolled their eyes about while the mother owl fanned -herself with her wings.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“To repeat just what you have been told is nothing,” continued -the hen, “but I really and truly heard what was said -with my own ears, and people must hear a great deal, even if -they do disapprove. It is about a hen who has forgotten what -was due to herself in her high position; she has pulled out -all her feathers, and then allowed the world to see her in that -bare condition.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“<i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Prenez garde aux enfants</span></i>,” said the owl father, “all this -is not fit for the children to hear.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I will just fly over and tell my neighbor,” said the mother -owl; “she is a very highly esteemed owl, and worthy of our -acquaintance.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Hu! hu! uhu!” howled the children, as the mother flew -away and passed by her neighbors, the pigeons, who were in -the pigeon-house.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Have you heard—have you heard about the hen that has -plucked off all her feathers, and is going about quite bare? -She will freeze to death, if she is not dead already.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Ooo! Ooo!” cooed the pigeons.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I heard of it in the neighboring farm-yard,” said another; -“I have as good as seen it with my own eyes. The story is -really so improper that no one cares to relate it, but it is certainly -true.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We believe it, we believe every word,” said the pigeons, -and they flew down cooing to the farm-yard, and exclaimed:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Have you heard about the hen?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“The hen! why, people now say there are two hens who -have plucked off all their feathers; yet one of them is not like -the first, who did not wish to be seen, for she has positively -tried to attract the attention of everybody.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It was a daring game; however, they caught cold, and are -both dead from a fever.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_399'>399</span>“Wake up! wake up!” crowed the cock as he flew out of -the hen-house to the palings. Sleep was still in his eyes, yet -he stood and crowed lustily.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Listen,” said the hen. “There is a cock in the next farm -who has unluckily lost three of his wives; they had plucked -off all their feathers, and died of cold.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Go away!” he exclaimed. “I will not hear it—it is an -ugly story. Send it away!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Send it away!” hissed the bat, while the hens cackled and -the cock crowed.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Send it away! send it away!” and so the story flew from -one farm-yard to another, until it came back at last to the -place where the original circumstance occurred.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“There are five hens,” thus <em>now</em> ran the story, “who have -plucked off all their feathers, at least so they say; and it made -the cock so unhappy that he became quite thin. And he has -pecked himself so dreadfully ever since from indignation and -shame that at last he has fallen down and died, covered with -blood. For these hens had not only disgraced his family, but -occasioned a great loss to his owner.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>And the hen who had really lost the one feather naturally -could not recognize her own story, but she was a sensible, -worthy hen, and she said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I despise these cackling hens; however, there shall be no -more tittle-tattle of this sort. When people have a secret -among themselves to gossip about in future, I will find it out, -and send it to the newspapers, so that it may travel through -the whole land and be heard of by everybody.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“This will just serve these cackling hens and their families -right.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>And the newspapers took it up and so altered the wonderful -story that at the last “it <em>was</em> actually true”—“<span class='fss'>ONE LITTLE -FEATHER HAD BECOME FIVE HENS</span>!”</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'><span class='sc'>Hans Christian Andersen.</span></div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_400'>400</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>Manabozho and his Toe</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Manabozho, the great wizard of the Indians, was -so powerful that he began to think there was nothing -he could not do. Very wonderful were many -of his feats, and he grew more conceited day by day. Now, -it chanced that one day he was walking about amusing himself -by exercising his extraordinary powers, and at length he -came to an encampment where one of the first things he noticed -was a child lying in the sunshine, curled up with its toe in its -mouth.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Manabozho looked at the child for some time, and wondered -at its extraordinary posture.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I have never seen a child before lie like that,” said he -to himself, “but I could lie like it.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So saying, he put himself down beside the child, and, taking -his right foot in his hand, drew it toward his mouth. When -he had brought it as near as he could, it was yet a considerable -distance away from his lips.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I will try the left foot,” said Manabozho. He did so, and -found that he was no better off; neither of his feet could he -get to his mouth. He curled and twisted, and bent his large -limbs, and gnashed his teeth in rage to find that he could not -get his toe to his mouth. All, however, was vain.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At length he rose, worn out with his exertions and passion, -and walked slowly away in a very ill humor, which was not -lessened by the sound of the child’s laughter, for Manabozho’s -efforts had awakened it.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Ah, ah!” said Manabozho, “shall I be mocked by a -child?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>He did not, however, revenge himself on his victor, but on -his way homeward, meeting a boy who did not treat him with -proper respect, he transformed him into a cedar-tree.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“At least,” said Manabozho, “I can do something.”</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_401'>401</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Most Frugal of Men</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>A man who was considered the most frugal of all the -dwellers in a certain kingdom heard of another man -who was the most frugal in the whole world. He -said to his son thereupon: “We, indeed, live upon little, but -if we were more frugal still, we might live upon nothing at -all. It will be well worth while for us to get instructions in -economy from the Most Frugal of Men.” The son agreed, -and the two decided that the son should go and inquire -whether the master in economic science would take pupils. -An exchange of presents being a necessary preliminary to -closer intercourse, the father told the son to take the smallest -of coins, one farthing, and to buy a sheet of paper of the -cheapest sort. The boy, by bargaining, got two sheets of -paper for the farthing. The father put away one sheet, cut -the other sheet in halves, and on one half drew a picture of -a pig’s head. This he put into a large covered basket, as if -it were the thing which it represented—the usual gift sent in -token of great respect. The son took the basket, and after -a long journey reached the abode of the most frugal man in -the world.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The master of the house was absent, but his son received -the traveler, learned his errand, and accepted the offering. -Having taken from the basket the picture of the pig’s head, -he said courteously to his visitor: “I am sorry that we have -nothing in the house that is worthy to take the place of the -pig’s head in your basket. I will, however, signify our -friendly reception of it by putting in four oranges for you to -take home with you.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Thereupon the young man, without having any oranges at -hand, made the motions necessary for putting the fruit into -<span class='pageno' id='Page_402'>402</span>the basket. The son of the most frugal man in the kingdom -then took the basket and went to his father to tell of thrift -surpassing his own.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When the most frugal man in the world returned home, his -son told him that a visitor had been there, having come from -a great distance to take lessons in economy. The father inquired -what offering he brought as an introduction, and the -son showed the small outline of the pig’s head on thin brown -paper. The father looked at it, and then asked his son what -he had sent as a return present. The son told him he had -merely made the motions necessary for transferring four -oranges, and showed how he had clasped the imaginary fruit -and deposited it in the visitor’s basket. The father immediately -flew into a terrible rage and boxed the boy’s ears, exclaiming: -“You extravagant wretch! With your fingers thus -far apart you appeared to give him large oranges. Why didn’t -you measure out small ones?”</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_403'>403</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Moon-Cake</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>A little boy had a cake that a big boy coveted. Designing -to get the cake without making the little boy -cry so loud as to attract his mother’s attention, the -big boy remarked that the cake would be prettier if it were -more like the moon. The little boy thought that a cake like -the moon must be desirable, and on being assured by the big -boy that he had made many such, he handed over his cake for -manipulation. The big boy took out a mouthful, leaving a -crescent with jagged edge. The little boy was not pleased by -the change, and began to whimper; whereupon the big boy -pacified him by saying that he would make the cake into a -half-moon. So he nibbled off the horns of the crescent, and -gnawed the edge smooth; but when the half-moon was made, -the little boy perceived that there was hardly any cake left, -and he again began to snivel. The big boy again diverted -him by telling him that, if he did not like so small a moon, -he should have one that was just the size of the real orb. He -then took the cake, and explained that, just before the new -moon is seen, the old moon disappears. Then he swallowed -the rest of the cake and ran off, leaving the little boy waiting -for the new moon.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_404'>404</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Ladle that Fell from the Moon</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Once there was an old woman who lived on what she -got by wile from her relatives and neighbors. Her husband’s -brother lived alone with his only son, in a house -near hers, and when the son brought home a wife the old -woman went to call on the bride. During the call she inquired -of the bride whether she had not, since her arrival in the -house, heard a scratching at night among the boxes containing -her wedding outfit. The bride said she had not. A few days -later the old woman came again, and during the visit the -bride remarked that, before the matter was mentioned, she -had heard no scratching among her boxes, but that since that -time she had listened for it, and had heard it every night. -The old woman advised her to look carefully after her clothing, -saying that there were evidently many mice in the house, -and that she would be likely at any time to find her best garments -nibbled into shreds. The old woman knew there was -no cat in the house, but she inquired whether there was one, -and on hearing that there was not, she offered to lend the -young woman her own black-and-white cat, saying that it -would soon extirpate all the mice. The bride accepted the -loan, and the old woman brought the cat, and left it in the -bride’s apartment. After a few hours the cat disappeared, -and the bride, supposing it to have gone home, made no search -for it. It did, indeed, go home, and the old woman secretly -disposed of it; but several days later she came to the young -woman and said that, when she lent the cat, her house had -been free from mice, but that, as soon as the cat was gone, -the mice came and multiplied so fast that now everything was -overrun by them, and she would be obliged to take the cat -home again. The young woman told her that the cat went -<span class='pageno' id='Page_405'>405</span>away the same day that it came, and she had supposed it had -gone home. The old woman said it had not, and that nothing -could compensate her for the loss of it, for she had reared it -herself; that there was never before seen such a cat for catching -mice; that a cat, spotted as that one was, was seldom -found; and that it was of the rare breed which gave rise to the -common saying:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>A coal-black cat, with snowy loins,</div> - <div class='line'>Is worth its weight in silver coins.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>and that the weight of her cat was two hundred ounces.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The young woman was greatly surprised by this estimate -of the value of the lost cat, and went to her father-in-law -and related all that had occurred. The father-in-law, knowing -the character of the old woman, could neither eat nor -sleep, so harassed was he by the expectation that she would -worry his daughter-in-law till the two hundred ounces of silver -should be paid. The young woman, being a new-comer, -thought but lightly of the matter, till the old woman came -again and again to make mention of the cat. When it became -apparent that she must defend herself, the young woman -asked her father-in-law if he had ever lent anything to the old -woman; and when he said he could not remember having -lent anything, she begged him to think carefully, and see if -he could not recall the loan of a tool, a dish, or a fagot. He -finally recollected that he had lent to her an old wooden ladle, -but he said it originally cost but a few farthings, and was -certainly not worth speaking about.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The next time the old woman came to dun for the amount -due for her cat, the young woman asked her to return the borrowed -ladle. The old woman said that the ladle was old and -valueless; that she had allowed the children to play with it, -and that they had dropped it in the dirt, where it had lain until -she had picked it up and used it for kindlings. The bride -responded: “You expect to enrich yourself and your family -by means of your cat. I and my family also want money. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_406'>406</span>Since you cannot give back the ladle, we will both go before -the magistrate and present our cases. If your cat is adjudged -to be worth more than my ladle, I will pay you the excess; -and if my ladle be worth more than your cat, then you must -pay me.” Being sure that the cat would, by any judge, be -considered of greater value than the ladle, the old woman -agreed to the proposition, and the two went before the magistrate. -The young woman courteously gave precedence to the -elder, and allowed her to make the accusation. The old -woman set forth her case, and claimed two hundred ounces -of silver as a compensation for the loss of the cat. When she -had concluded her statement, the judge called on the young -woman for her defense. She said she could not disprove the -statement, but that the claim was offset by a ladle that had -been borrowed by the plaintiff. There was a common saying:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>In the moon overhead, at its full, you can see</div> - <div class='line'>The trunk, branch, and leaf of a cinnamon tree.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>A branch from this tree had one night been blown down -before her father-in-law’s door, and he had had a ladle made -from the wood. Whatever the ladle was put into never diminished -by use. Whether wine, oil, rice, or money, the bulk -remained the same if no ladle beside this one were used in -dipping it. A foreign innkeeper, hearing of this ladle, came -and offered her father-in-law three thousand ounces of silver -for it, but the offer was refused. And this ladle was the one -that the plaintiff had borrowed and destroyed.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The magistrate, on hearing this defense, understood that -the cat had been a pretext for extortion, and decided that the -two claims offset each other, so that no payment was due from -either one.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_407'>407</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Young Head of the Family</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>There was once a family consisting of a father, his -three sons, and his two daughters-in-law. The two -daughters-in-law, wives of the two elder sons, had -but recently been brought into the house, and were both from -one village a few miles away. Having no mother-in-law living, -they were obliged to appeal to their father-in-law whenever -they wished to visit their former homes, and as they were -lonesome and homesick they perpetually bothered the old man -by asking leave of absence.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Vexed by these constant petitions, he set himself to invent -a method of putting an end to them, and at last gave them -leave in this wise: “You are always begging me to allow -you to go and visit your mothers, and thinking that I am -very hard-hearted because I do not let you go. Now you -may go, but only upon condition that when you come back -you will each bring me something I want. The one shall -bring me some fire wrapped in paper, and the other some -wind in a paper. Unless you promise to bring me these, -you are never to ask me to let you go home; and if you -go, and fail to get these for me, you are never to come -back.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The old man did not suppose that these conditions would -be accepted, but the girls were young and thoughtless, and -in their anxiety to get away did not consider the impossibility -of obtaining the articles required. So they made ready with -speed, and in great glee started off on foot to visit their -mothers. After they had walked a long distance, chatting -about what they should do and whom they should see in their -native village, the high heel of one of them slipped from under -her foot, and she fell down. Owing to this mishap both -<span class='pageno' id='Page_408'>408</span>stopped to adjust the misplaced footgear, and while doing this -the conditions under which alone they could return to their -husbands came to mind, and they began to cry.</p> - -<p class='c000'>While they sat there crying by the roadside a young girl -came riding along from the fields on a water buffalo. She -stopped and asked them what was the matter, and whether -she could help them. They told her she could do them no -good; but she persisted in offering her sympathy and inviting -their confidence, till they told her their story, and then she at -once said that if they would go home with her she would -show them a way out of their trouble. Their case seemed so -hopeless to themselves, and the child was so sure of her own -power to help them, that they finally accompanied her to her -father’s house, where she showed them how to comply with -their father-in-law’s demand.</p> - -<p class='c000'>For the first a paper lantern only would be needed. When -lighted it would be a fire, and its paper surface would compass -the blaze, so that it would truly be “some fire wrapped -in paper.” For the second a paper fan would suffice. When -flapped, wind would issue from it, and the “wind wrapped in -paper” could thus be carried to the old man.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The two young women thanked the wise child, and went -on their way rejoicing. After a pleasant visit to their old -homes, they took a lantern and a fan, and returned to their -father-in-law’s house. As soon as he saw them he began to -vent his anger at their light regard for his commands, but -they assured him that they had perfectly obeyed him, and -showed him that what they had brought fulfilled the conditions -prescribed. Much astonished, he inquired how it was -that they had suddenly become so astute, and they told him -the story of their journey, and of the little girl who had so -opportunely come to their relief. He inquired whether the -little girl was already betrothed, and, finding that she was not, -engaged a go-between to see if he could get her for a wife -for his youngest son.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Having succeeded in securing the girl as a daughter-in-law, -he brought her home, and told all the rest of the family that -<span class='pageno' id='Page_409'>409</span>as there was no mother in the house, and as this girl had -shown herself to be possessed of extraordinary wisdom, she -should be the head of the household.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The wedding festivities being over, the sons of the old man -made ready to return to their usual occupations on the farm; -but, according to their father’s order, they came to the young -bride for instructions. She told them that they were never -to go to or from the fields empty-handed. When they went -they must carry fertilizers of some sort for the land, and -when they returned they must bring bundles of sticks for fuel. -They obeyed, and soon had the land in fine condition, and so -much fuel gathered that none need be bought. When there -were no more sticks, roots, or weeds to bring, she told them -to bring stones instead; and they soon accumulated an immense -pile of stones, which were heaped in a yard near their -house.</p> - -<p class='c000'>One day an expert in the discovery of precious stones came -along, and saw in this pile a block of jade of great value. In -order to get possession of this stone at a small cost, he undertook -to buy the whole heap, pretending that he wished to -use them in building. The little head of the family asked an -exorbitant price for them, and, as he could not induce her to -take less, he promised to pay her the sum she asked, and to -come two days later to bring the money and to remove the -stones. That night the girl thought about the reason for the -buyer’s being willing to pay so large a sum for the stones, -and concluded that the heap must contain a gem. The next -morning she sent her father-in-law to invite the buyer to supper, -and she instructed the men of her family in regard to -his entertainment. The best of wine was to be provided, and -the father-in-law was to induce him to talk of precious stones, -and to cajole him into telling in what way they were to be -distinguished from other stones.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The head of the family, listening behind a curtain, heard -how the valuable stone in her heap could be discovered. She -hastened to find and remove it from the pile; and, when her -guest had recovered from the effect of the banquet, he saw -<span class='pageno' id='Page_410'>410</span>that the value had departed from his purchase. He went to -negotiate again with the seller, and she conducted the conference -with such skill that she obtained the price originally -agreed upon for the heap of stones, and a large sum besides -for the one in her possession.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The family, having become wealthy, built an ancestral hall -of fine design and elaborate workmanship, and put the words -“No Sorrow” as an inscription over the entrance. Soon after, -a mandarin passed that way, and, noticing this remarkable -inscription, had his sedan-chair set down, that he might inquire -who were the people that professed to have no sorrow. -He sent for the head of the family, was much surprised on -seeing so young a woman thus appear, and remarked: “Yours -is a singular family. I have never before seen one without -sorrow, nor one with so young a head. I will fine you for -your impudence. Go and weave me a piece of cloth as long as -this road.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Very well,” responded the little woman; “so soon as your -Excellency shall have found the two ends of the road, and -informed me as to the number of feet in its length, I will at -once begin the weaving.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Finding himself at fault, the mandarin added, “And I also -fine you as much oil as there is water in the sea.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Certainly,” responded the woman; “as soon as you shall -have measured the sea, and sent me correct information as to -the number of gallons, I will at once begin to press out the -oil from my beans.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Indeed,” said the mandarin, “since you are so sharp, perhaps -you can penetrate my thoughts. If you can, I will fine -you no more. I hold this pet quail in my hand; now tell me -whether I mean to squeeze it to death, or to let it fly in the -air.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well,” said the woman, “I am an obscure commoner, and -you are a famed magistrate; if you are no more knowing than -I, you have no right to fine me at all. Now I stand with one -foot on one side my threshold and the other foot on the other -side; tell me whether I mean to go in or come out. If you -<span class='pageno' id='Page_411'>411</span>cannot guess my riddle, you should not require me to guess -yours.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Being unable to guess her intention the mandarin took his -departure, and the family lived long in opulence and good -repute under its chosen head.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_412'>412</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>A Dreadful Boar</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>A poor old woman who lived with her one little granddaughter -in a wood was out gathering sticks for -fuel, and found a green stalk of sugar-cane, which -she added to her bundle. She presently met an elf in the form -of a wild Boar, that asked her for the cane, but she declined -giving it to him, saying that, at her age, to stoop and to rise -again was to earn what she picked up, and that she was going -to take the cane home, and let her little granddaughter suck -its sap. The Boar, angry at her refusal, said that he would, -during the coming night, eat her granddaughter instead of -the cane, and went off into the wood.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When the old woman reached her cabin she sat down by -the door and wailed, for she knew she had no means of defending -herself against the Boar. While she sat crying, a -vender of needles came along and asked her what was the -matter. She told him, and he said that all he could do for -her was to give her a box of needles. This he did, and went -on his way. The old woman stuck the needles thickly over -the lower half of her door, on its outer side, and then she -went on crying. Just then a man came along with a basket -of crabs, heard her lamentations, and stopped to inquire what -ailed her. She told him, and he said he knew no help for her, -but he would do the best he could for her by giving her half -his crabs. The old woman put the crabs in her water-jar, -behind her door, and again sat down and cried. A farmer -soon came along from the fields, leading his ox, and he also -asked the cause of her distress and heard her sad story. He -said he was sorry he could not think of any way of preventing -the evil she expected, but that he would leave his ox to stay -all night with her, as it might be a sort of company for her -<span class='pageno' id='Page_413'>413</span>in her loneliness. She led the ox into her cabin, tied it to the -head of her bedstead, gave it some straw, and then cried -again.</p> - -<p class='c000'>A courier, returning on horseback from a neighboring town, -next passed her door, and dismounted to inquire what troubled -her. Having heard her tale, he said he would leave his horse -to stay with her, and make the ox more contented. So she -tied the horse to the foot of her bed, and, thinking how surely -evil was coming upon her with the night, she burst out crying -anew. A boy just then came along with a snapping-turtle -that he had caught, and stopped to ask what had happened to -her. On learning the cause of her weeping, he said it was -of no use to contend against sprites, but that he would give -her his snapping-turtle as a proof of his sympathy. She took -the turtle, tied it in front of her bedstead, and continued to cry.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Some men who were carrying mill-stones then came along, -inquired into her trouble, and expressed their compassion by -giving her a mill-stone, which they rolled into her back yard. -A little later a man arrived carrying hoes and pickax, and -asked her why she was crying so hard. She told him her -grief, and he said he would gladly help her if he could, but -he was only a well-digger, and could do nothing for her other -than to dig her a well. She pointed out a place in the middle -of her back yard, and he went to work and quickly dug a well.</p> - -<p class='c000'>On his departure the old woman cried again, until a paper-seller -came and inquired what was the matter. When she -had told him, he gave her a large sheet of white paper, as a -token of pity, and she laid it smoothly over the mouth of the -well.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Nightfall came; the old woman shut and barred her door, -put her granddaughter snugly on the wall-side of the bed, and -then lay down beside her, to await the foe.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At midnight the Boar came, and threw himself against the -door to break it in. The needles wounded him sorely, so that -when he had gained an entrance he was heated and thirsty, -and went to the water-jar to drink. When he thrust in his -snout the crabs attacked him, clung to his bristles and pinched -<span class='pageno' id='Page_414'>414</span>his ears, till he rolled over and over to disencumber himself. -Then in a rage he approached the front of the bed, but the -snapping-turtle nipped his tail, and made him retreat under -the feet of the horse, who kicked him over to the ox, who -tossed him back to the horse; and thus beset, he was glad to -escape to the back yard to take a rest, and to consider the -situation. Seeing a clean paper spread on the ground, he went -to lie upon it, and fell into the well. The old woman heard -the fall, rushed out, rolled the mill-stone down on him, and -crushed him.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_415'>415</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Old Man and the Devils</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>A long time ago there was an old man who had a -big lump on the right side of his face. One day he -went into the mountain to cut wood, when the rain -began to pour and the wind to blow so very hard that, finding -it impossible to return home, and filled with fear, he took -refuge in the hollow of an old tree. While sitting there -doubled up and unable to sleep, he heard the confused sound -of many voices in the distance gradually approaching to where -he was. He said to himself: “How strange! I thought I -was all alone in the mountain, but I hear the voices of many -people.” So, taking courage, he peeped out, and saw a great -crowd of strange-looking beings. Some were red, and dressed -in green clothes; others were black, and dressed in red clothes; -some had only one eye; others had no mouth; indeed, it is -quite impossible to describe their varied and strange looks. -They kindled a fire, so that it became as light as day. They -sat down in two cross-rows, and began to drink wine and -make merry just like human beings. They passed the wine-cup -around so often that many of them soon drank too much. -One of the young devils got up and began to sing a merry -song and to dance; so also many others; some danced well, -others badly. One said: “We have had uncommon fun tonight, -but I would like to see something new.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then the old man, losing all fear, thought he would like to -dance, and saying, “Let come what will, if I die for it, I will -have a dance, too,” crept out of the hollow tree and, with his -cap slipped over his nose and his ax sticking in his belt, began -to dance. The devils in great surprise jumped up, saying, -“Who is this?” but the old man advancing and receding, -swaying to and fro, and posturing this way and that way, the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_416'>416</span>whole crowd laughed and enjoyed the fun, saying: “How -well the old man dances! You must always come and join -us in our sport; but, for fear you might not come, you must -give us a pledge that you will.” So the devils consulted together, -and, agreeing that the lump on his face, which was a -token of wealth, was what he valued most highly, demanded -that it should be taken. The old man replied: “I have had -this lump many years, and would not without good reason part -with it; but you may have it, or an eye, or my nose either if -you wish.” So the devils laid hold of it, twisting and pulling, -and took it off without giving him any pain, and put it away -as a pledge that he would come back. Just then the day -began to dawn, and the birds to sing, so the devils hurried -away.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The old man felt his face and found it quite smooth, and -not a trace of the lump left. He forgot all about cutting -wood, and hastened home. His wife, seeing him, exclaimed -in great surprise, “What has happened to you?” So he told -her all that had befallen him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now, among the neighbors there was another old man who -had a big lump on the left side of his face. Hearing all about -how the first old man had got rid of his misfortune, he determined -that he would also try the same plan. So he went and -crept into the hollow tree, and waited for the devils to come. -Sure enough, they came just as he was told, and they sat -down, drank wine, and made merry just as they did before. -The second old man, afraid and trembling, crept out of the -hollow tree. The devils welcomed him, saying: “The old man -has come; now let us see him dance.” This old fellow was -awkward, and did not dance as well as the other, so the -devils cried out: “You dance badly, and are getting worse -and worse; we will give you back the lump which we took -from you as a pledge.” Upon this, one of the devils brought -the lump, and stuck it on the other side of his face; so the -poor old fellow returned home with a lump on each side.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_417'>417</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Wonderful Tea-Kettle</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>A long, long time ago, at the temple of Morinji, in -the province of Kotsuke, there lived an old priest.</p> - -<p class='c000'>This old priest was very fond of the ceremonial -preparing and drinking of tea known as <em>Chanoyu</em>; indeed, it -was his chief interest and pleasure in life to conduct this ceremony.</p> - -<p class='c000'>One day he chanced to find in a second-hand shop a very -nice-looking old Tea-kettle, which he bought and took home -with him, highly pleased by its fine shape and artistic appearance.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Next day he brought out his new purchase, and sat for a -long time turning it round on this side and on that, and admiring -it.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You are a regular beauty, that’s what you are,” he said; -“I shall invite all my friends to the <em>Chanoyu</em>, and how astonished -they will be at finding such an exquisite kettle as this!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>He placed his treasure on the top of a box where he could -see it to the best advantage, and sat admiring it and planning -how he should invite his guests. After a while he became -drowsy and began to nod, and at last fell forward, his head -on his desk, fast asleep.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then a wonderful transformation took place. The Tea-kettle -began to move. From its spout appeared a hairy head; -at the other side out came a fine bushy tail; next, four feet -made themselves visible, while fine fur seemed gradually to -cover the surface of the kettle. At last, jumping off the box, -it began capering about the room for all the world just like -a badger.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Three young novices, pupils of the priest, who were at study -in the next room, heard the noise; and, when one of them -<span class='pageno' id='Page_418'>418</span>peeped through the sliding doors, what was his astonishment -to see the Tea-kettle on four feet dancing up and down the -room!</p> - -<p class='c000'>He cried out: “Oh! what a wonderful thing! The Tea-kettle -is changed into a badger!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What!” said the second novice. “Do you mean to say -that the Tea-kettle is turned into a badger? What nonsense!” -So saying, he pushed his companion to one side and peeped -in, but he also was terrified by what he saw, and screamed: -“It’s a goblin! It’s coming at us; let us run away!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The third novice was not so easily frightened.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Come, this is rather fun,” said he; “how the creature -does jump, to be sure! I will rouse the master, and let him -see, too.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So he went into the room and shook the priest, crying: -“Wake! Master, wake! A strange thing has happened.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What’s the matter?” said the old man, drowsily rubbing -his eyes, “what a noisy fellow you are!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Any one would be noisy when such a strange thing as -this is going on,” said the novice. “Only look, master, your -Tea-kettle has got feet, and is running about.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What! what! what! What’s that you say?” asked the -priest again. “The kettle got feet! What’s this! Let me -see!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>But by the time the old man was thoroughly roused, the -Tea-kettle had turned into its ordinary shape, and stood quietly -on its box again.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What foolish young fellows you are!” said the priest. -“There stands a kettle on the top of a box; surely there is -nothing very strange in that. No, no, I have heard of the -rolling-pin that grew a pair of wings and flew away, but, long -as I have lived, never have I heard before of a tea-kettle walking -about on its own feet. You will never make me believe -that.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>But for all that, the priest was a little uneasy in his mind, -and kept thinking of the incident all that day. When evening -came, and he was alone in his room, he took down the kettle, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_419'>419</span>filled it with water, and set it upon the embers to boil, intending -to make some tea. But, as soon as the water began to -boil, “Hot! hot!” cried the kettle, and jumped off the fire.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Help! help!” cried the priest, terrified out of his wits. -But when the novices rushed to his help, the kettle at once -resumed its natural form; so one of them, seizing a stick, -cried, “We’ll soon find out whether it’s alive or not,” and -began beating it with might and main. There was evidently -no life in the thing, and only a metallic clang! clang! responded -to his lusty blows.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then the old priest heartily repented having bought the -mischievous Tea-kettle, and was debating in his own mind -how he should get rid of it when who should drop in but the -tinker?</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Here’s the very man,” thought the priest. A bargain was -soon struck; the tinker bought the Tea-kettle for a few coppers, -and carried it home, well pleased with his purchase.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Before going to bed he took another look at it, and found -it still better than he had at first thought, so he went to sleep -that night in the best of spirits.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In the midst of a pleasant dream the tinker suddenly started -up, thinking he heard somebody moving in the room, but, -when he opened his eyes and looked about, he could see nobody.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“It was only a dream, I suppose,” said he to himself as -he turned over and went to sleep again.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But he was disturbed once more by some one calling: -“Tinker! tinker! Get up! get up!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>This time he sprang up, wide awake, and lo and behold! -there was the Tea-kettle, with the head, tail, feet, and fur of a -badger strutting up and down the room!</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Goblin! goblin!” shrieked the tinker. But the Tea-kettle -laughed and said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Don’t be frightened, my dear tinker. I am not a goblin, -only a wonderful tea-kettle. My name is <em>Bumbuku-Chagama</em>, -and I will bring good luck to any one who treats me well; -but, of course, I don’t like to be set on the fire, and then -<span class='pageno' id='Page_420'>420</span>beaten with sticks, as happened to me up at the temple yesterday.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“How can I please you, then?” asked the tinker. “Shall -I keep you in a box?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh! no, no!” answered the Tea-kettle; “I like nice sweet -things to eat, and sometimes a little wine to drink, just like -yourself. Will you keep me in your house and feed me? And, -as I would not be a burden upon you, I will work for you -in any way you like.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>To this the tinker agreed.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Next morning he provided a good feast for <em>Bumbuku</em>, who -then spoke:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I certainly am a wonderful and accomplished Tea-kettle, -and my advice is that you take me round the country as a -show, with accompaniments of singing and music.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The tinker, thinking well of this advice, at once started a -show, which he named the <em>Bumbuku-Chagama</em>. The lucky -Tea-kettle at once made the affair a success, for not only did -he walk about on four legs, but he danced the tight rope, and -went through all kinds of acrobatic performances, ending by -making a profound bow to the spectators, and begging for -their future patronage.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The fame of these performances soon spread abroad, and -the theater was filled daily to overflowing until, at length, -even the princes of the land sent to order the tinker and his -kettle to come to them, and the show would take place, to the -great delight of the princesses and ladies of the court.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At last the tinker grew so rich that he retired from business, -and, wishing his faithful kettle also to be at rest, he -took it back, together with a large share of his wealth, to the -temple of Morinji, where it was laid up as a precious treasure -and, some say, even worshiped as a saint.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_421'>421</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Wonderful Mallet</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Once upon a time there were two brothers. The elder -was an honest and good man, but he was very poor, -while the younger, who was dishonest and stingy, had -managed to pile up a large fortune. The name of the elder -was Kané, and that of the younger was Chô.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now, one day Kané went to Chô’s house, and begged for -the loan of some seed-rice and some silkworms’ eggs, for last -season had been unfortunate, and he was in want of both.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Chô had plenty of good rice and excellent silkworms’ eggs, -but he was such a miser that he did not want to lend them. -At the same time, he felt ashamed to refuse his brother’s request, -so he gave him some worm-eaten musty rice and some -dead eggs, which he felt sure would never hatch.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Kané, never suspecting that his brother would play him -such a shabby trick, put plenty of mulberry leaves with the -eggs, to be food for the silkworms when they should appear. -Appear they did, and throve and grew wonderfully, much -better than those of the stingy brother, who was angry and -jealous when he heard of it.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Going to Kané’s house one day, and finding his brother was -out, Chô took a knife and killed all the silkworms, cutting -each poor little creature in two; then he went home without -having been seen by anybody.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When Kané came home he was dismayed to find his silkworms -in this state, but he did not suspect who had done him -this bad trick, and tried to feed them with mulberry leaves -as before. The silkworms came to life again, and doubled -the number, for now each half was a living worm. They -grew and throve, and the silk they spun was twice as much -as Kané had expected. So now he began to prosper.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_422'>422</span>The envious Chô, seeing this, cut all his own silkworms in -half, but, alas! they did not come to life again, so he lost a -great deal of money, and became more jealous than ever.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Kané also planted the rice-seed which he had borrowed -from his brother, and it sprang up, and grew and flourished -far better than Chô’s had done.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The rice ripened well, and he was just intending to cut and -harvest it when a flight of thousands upon thousands of swallows -came and began to devour it. Kané was much astonished, -and shouted and made as much noise as he could in -order to drive them away. They flew away, indeed, but came -back immediately, so that he kept driving them away, and they -kept flying back again.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At last he pursued them into a distant field, where he lost -sight of them. He was by this time so hot and tired that he -sat down to rest. By little and little his eyes closed, his head -dropped upon a mossy bank, and he fell fast asleep.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then he dreamed that a merry band of children came into -the field, laughing and shouting. They sat down upon the -ground in a ring, and one who seemed the eldest, a boy of -fourteen or fifteen, came close to the bank on which he lay -asleep, and, raising a big stone near his head, drew from under -it a small wooden Mallet.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then in his dream Kané saw this big boy stand in the middle -of the ring with the Mallet in his hand, and ask the children -each in turn, “What would you like the Mallet to bring -you?” The first child answered, “A kite.” The big boy -shook the Mallet, upon which appeared immediately a fine -kite with tail and string all complete. The next cried, “A -battledore.” Out sprang a splendid battledore and a shower -of shuttlecocks. Then a little girl shyly whispered, “A doll.” -The Mallet was shaken, and there stood a beautifully dressed -doll. “I should like all the fairy-tale books that have ever -been written in the whole world,” said a bright-eyed intelligent -maiden, and no sooner had she spoken than piles upon piles -of beautiful books appeared. And so at last the wishes of all -the children were granted, and they stayed a long time in -<span class='pageno' id='Page_423'>423</span>the field with the things the Mallet had given them. At last -they got tired, and prepared to go home; the big boy first -carefully hiding the Mallet under the stone from whence he -had taken it. Then all the children went away.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Presently Kané awoke, and gradually remembered his -dream. In preparing to rise he turned round, and there, close -to where his head had lain, was the big stone he had seen in -his dream. “How strange!” he thought, expecting he hardly -knew what; he raised the stone, and there lay the Mallet!</p> - -<p class='c000'>He took it home with him, and, following the example of -the children he had seen in his dream, shook it, at the same -time calling out, “Gold” or “Rice,” “Silk” or “Saké.” -Whatever he called for immediately flew out of the Mallet, -so that he could have everything he wanted, and as much of -it as he liked.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Kané being now a rich and prosperous man, Chô was of -course jealous of him, and determined to find a magic mallet -which would do as much for him. He came, therefore, to -Kané and borrowed seed-rice, which he planted and tended -with care, being impatient for it to grow and ripen soon.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It grew well and ripened soon, and now Chô watched daily -for the swallows to appear. And, to be sure, one day a flight -of swallows came and began to eat up the rice.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Chô was delighted at this, and drove them away, pursuing -them to the distant field where Kané had followed them before. -There he lay down, intending to go to sleep as his -brother had done, but the more he tried to go to sleep the -wider awake he seemed.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Presently the band of children came skipping and jumping, -so he shut his eyes and pretended to be asleep, but all the -time watched anxiously what the children would do. They -sat down in a ring, as before, and the big boy came close to -Chô’s head and lifted the stone. He put down his hand to -lift the Mallet, but no mallet was there.</p> - -<p class='c000'>One of the children said, “Perhaps that lazy old farmer -has taken our Mallet.” So the big boy laid hold of Chô’s -nose, which was rather long, and gave it a good pinch, and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_424'>424</span>all the other children ran up and pinched and pulled his nose, -and the nose itself got longer and longer; first it hung down -to his chin, then over his chest, next down to his knees, and -at last to his very feet.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It was in vain that Chô protested his innocence; the children -pinched and pummeled him to their hearts’ content, then -capered round him, shouting and laughing, and making game -of him, and so at last went away.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now Chô was left alone, a sad and angry man. Holding -his long nose painfully in both hands, he slowly took his way -toward his brother Kané’s house. Here he related all that -had happened to him from the very day when he had behaved -so badly about the seed-rice and silkworms’ eggs. He humbly -begged his brother to pardon him, and, if possible, do something -to restore his unfortunate nose to its proper size.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The kind-hearted Kané pitied him, and said: “You have -been dishonest and mean, and selfish and envious, and that -is why you have got this punishment. If you promise to behave -better for the future, I will try what can be done.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So saying, he took the Mallet and rubbed Chô’s nose with -it gently, and the nose gradually became shorter and shorter -until at last it came back to its proper shape and size. But -ever after, if at any time Chô felt inclined to be selfish and -dishonest, as he did now and then, his nose began to smart -and burn, and he fancied he felt it beginning to grow. So -great was his terror of having a long nose again that these -symptoms never failed to bring him back to his good behavior.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_425'>425</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Tongue-Cut Sparrow</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Once upon a time a cross old woman laid some starch -in a basin, intending to put it in the clothes in her -washtub; but a Sparrow that a woman, her neighbor, -kept as a pet, ate it up. Seeing this, the cross old woman -seized the Sparrow and, saying “You hateful thing!” cut its -tongue and let it go.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When the neighbor woman heard that her pet Sparrow had -got its tongue cut for its offense, she was greatly grieved, and -set out with her husband over mountains and plains to find -where it had gone, crying: “Where does the tongue-cut Sparrow -stay? Where does the tongue-cut Sparrow stay?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>At last they found its home. When the Sparrow saw that -its old master and mistress had come to see it, it rejoiced, -and brought them into its house and thanked them for their -kindness in old times. It spread a table for them, and loaded -it with <em>sake</em> and fish till there was no more room, and made -its wife and children and grandchildren all serve the table.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At last, throwing away its drinking-cup, it danced a jig -called the Sparrow’s dance, and thus they spent the day. -When it began to grow dark, and there was talk of going -home, the Sparrow brought out two wicker baskets and said: -“Will you take the heavy one, or shall I give you the light -one?” The old people replied: “We are old, so give us the -light one; it will be easier to carry it.” The Sparrow then -gave them the light basket, and they returned with it to their -home. “Let us open and see what is in it,” they said. And -when they had opened it and looked, they found gold and -silver and jewels and rolls of silk. They never expected anything -like this. The more they took out, the more they found -inside. The supply was inexhaustible, so that the house at once -<span class='pageno' id='Page_426'>426</span>became rich and prosperous. When the cross old woman who -had cut the Sparrow’s tongue saw this, she was filled with -envy, and went and asked her neighbor where the Sparrow -lived, and all about the way. “I will go, too,” she said, and -at once set out on her search.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Again the Sparrow brought out two wicker baskets, and -asked as before: “Will you take the heavy one, or shall I give -you the light one?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Thinking the treasure would be great in proportion to the -weight of the basket, the old woman replied, “Let me have -the heavy one.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Receiving this, she started home with it on her back, the -sparrows laughing at her as she went. It was as heavy as a -stone, and hard to carry, but at last she got back with it to -her house.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then, when she took off the lid and looked in, a whole troop -of frightful creatures came bouncing out from the inside, and -at once they caught her up and flew away with her.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_427'>427</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>Battle of the Monkey and the Crab</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>A Monkey and a Crab once met when going round a -mountain.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The Monkey had picked up a persimmon-seed, and -the Crab had a piece of toasted rice-cake. The Monkey, seeing -this, and wishing to get something that could be turned -to good account at once, said, “Pray, exchange that rice-cake -for this persimmon-seed.” The Crab, without a word, -gave up his cake, and took the persimmon-seed and planted it. -At once it sprung up, and soon became a tree so high one had -to look far up to see it. The tree was full of persimmons, -but the Crab had no means of climbing it, so he asked the -Monkey to scramble up and get the fruit for him. The -Monkey got up on a limb of the tree and began to eat the -persimmons. The unripe ones he threw at the Crab, but -all the ripe and good ones he put in his pouch. The Crab -under the tree thus got his shell badly bruised, and only by -good luck escaped into his hole, where he lay distressed with -pain, and not able to get up. Now, when the relatives and -household of the Crab heard how matters stood, they were -surprised and angry, and declared war, and attacked the -Monkey, who, leading forth a numerous following, bade defiance -to the other party. The crabs, finding themselves unable -to meet and cope with this force, became still more exasperated -and enraged, and retreated into their hole and held a -council of war. Then came a rice-mortar, a pestle, a bee, -and an egg, and together they devised a deep-laid plot to be -avenged.</p> - -<p class='c000'>First, they requested that peace be made with the crabs; -and thus they induced the king of the monkeys to enter their -hole unattended, and seated him on the hearth. The Monkey, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_428'>428</span>not suspecting any plot, took the <em>hibashi</em>, or poker, to stir up -the slumbering fire, when bang! went the egg, which was -lying hidden in the ashes, and burned the Monkey’s arm. -Surprised and alarmed, he plunged his arm into the pickle-tub -in the kitchen to relieve the pain of the burn. Then the -bee which was hidden near the tub stung him sharply in his -face, already wet with tears. Without waiting to brush off -the bee, and howling bitterly, he rushed for the back door; -but just then some seaweed entangled his legs and made him -slip. Then down came the pestle, tumbling on him from a -shelf, and the mortar, too, came rolling down on him from -the roof of the porch and broke his back, and so weakened -him that he was unable to rise up. Then out came the crabs -in a crowd, and brandishing on high their pinchers they -pinched the Monkey so sorely that he begged them for forgiveness -and promised never to repeat his meanness and -treachery.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_429'>429</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Cub’s Triumph</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Once upon a time there lived in a forest a badger and a -mother fox with one little Cub.</p> - -<p class='c000'>There were no other beasts in the wood, because the -hunters had killed them all with bows and arrows, or by setting -snares. The deer, and the wild boar, the hares, the -weasels, and the stoats—even the bright little squirrels—had -been shot, or had fallen into traps. At last, only the badger -and the fox, with her young one, were left, and they were -starving, for they dared not venture from their holes for fear -of the traps.</p> - -<p class='c000'>They did not know what to do, or where to turn for food. -At last the badger said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I have thought of a plan. I will pretend to be dead. You -must change yourself into a man, and take me into the town -and sell me. With the money you get for me, you must buy -food and bring it into the forest. When I get a chance I will -run away, and come back to you, and we will eat our dinner -together. Mind you wait for me, and don’t eat any of it until -I come. Next week it will be your turn to be dead, and my -turn to sell—do you see?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The fox thought this plan would do very well; so, as soon -as the badger had lain down and pretended to be dead, she -said to her little Cub:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Be sure not to come out of the hole until I come back. -Be very good and quiet, and I will soon bring you some nice -dinner.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>She then changed herself into a wood-cutter, took the -badger by the heels and swung him over her shoulders, and -trudged off into the town. There she sold the badger for a -fair price, and with the money bought some fish, some <em>tofu</em>,<a id='r8' /><a href='#f8' class='c011'><sup>[8]</sup></a> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_430'>430</span>and some vegetables. She then ran back to the forest as fast -as she could, changed herself into a fox again, and crept into -her hole to see if little Cub was all right. Little Cub was -there, safe enough, but very hungry, and wanted to begin -upon the <em>tofu</em> at once.</p> - -<div class='footnote' id='f8'> -<p class='c000'><span class='label'><a href='#r8'>8</a>. </span>Curd made from white beans.</p> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>“No, no,” said the mother fox. “Fair play’s a jewel. We -must wait for the badger.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Soon the badger arrived, quite out of breath with running -so fast.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I hope you haven’t been eating any of the dinner,” he -panted. “I could not get away sooner. The man you sold -me to, brought his wife to look at me, and boasted how cheap -he had bought me. You should have asked twice as much. -At last they left me alone, and then I jumped up and ran -away as fast as I could.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The badger, the fox, and the Cub now sat down to dinner, -and had a fine feast, the badger taking care to get the best -bits for himself.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Some days after, when all the food was finished, and they -had begun to get hungry again, the badger said to the fox:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Now it’s your turn to die.” So the fox pretended to be -dead, and the badger changed himself into a hunter, shouldered -the fox, and went off to the town, where he made a -good bargain, and sold her for a nice little sum of money.</p> - -<p class='c000'>You have seen already that the badger was greedy and -selfish. What do you think he did now? He wished to have -all the money, and all the food it would buy for himself, so -he whispered to the man who had bought the fox:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That fox is only pretending to be dead; take care he -doesn’t run away.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We’ll soon settle that,” said the man, and he knocked the -fox on the head with a big stick, and killed her.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The badger next laid out the money in buying all the nice -things he could think of. He carried them off to the forest, -and there ate them all up himself, without giving one bit to -the poor little Cub, who was all alone, crying for its mother, -very sad, and very hungry.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_431'>431</span>Poor little motherless Cub! But, being a clever little fox, -he soon began to put two and two together, and at last felt -quite sure that the badger had, in some way, caused the loss -of his mother.</p> - -<p class='c000'>He made up his mind that he would punish the badger; and, -as he was not big enough or strong enough to do it by force, -he was obliged to try another plan.</p> - -<p class='c000'>He did not let the badger see how angry he was with him, -but said in a friendly way:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Let us have a game of changing ourselves into men. If -you can change yourself so cleverly that I cannot find you -out, you will have won the game; but, if I change myself so -that you cannot find me out, then I shall have won the game. -I will begin, if you like; and, you may be sure, I shall turn -myself into somebody very grand while I am about it.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The badger agreed. So then, instead of changing himself -at all, the cunning little Cub just went and hid himself behind -a tree, and watched to see what would happen. Presently -there came along the bridge leading into the town a nobleman, -seated in a sedan-chair, a great crowd of servants and men at -arms following him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The badger was quite sure that this must be the fox, so he -ran up to the sedan-chair, put in his head, and cried:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’ve found you out! I’ve won the game!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“A badger! A badger! Off with his head,” cried the -nobleman.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So one of the retainers cut off the badger’s head with one -blow of his sharp sword, the little Cub all the time laughing -unseen behind the tree.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_432'>432</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Silly Jelly-Fish</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Once upon a time the king of the dragons, who had till -then lived as a bachelor, took it into his head to get -married. His bride was a young dragonette just sixteen -years old—lovely enough, in very sooth, to become the -wife of a king. Great were the rejoicings on the occasion. -The fishes, both great and small, came to pay their respects, -and to offer gifts to the newly wedded pair; and for some -days all was feasting and merriment.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But, alas! even dragons have their trials. Before a month -had passed, the young dragon queen fell ill. The doctors -dosed her with every medicine that was known to them, but -all to no purpose. At last they shook their heads, declaring -that there was nothing more to be done. The illness must -take its course, and she would probably die. But the sick -queen said to her husband:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I know of something that will cure me. Only fetch me -a live monkey’s liver to eat, and I shall get well at once.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“A live monkey’s liver!” exclaimed the king. “What are -you thinking of, my dear? Why! you forget that we dragons -live in the sea, while monkeys live far away from here, among -the forest trees on land. A monkey’s liver! Why! darling, -you must be mad.” Hereupon the young dragon queen burst -into tears. “I only ask you for one small thing,” whimpered -she, “and you won’t get it for me. I always thought you -didn’t really love me. Oh! I wish I had stayed at home with -my own m-m-m-mama and my own papa-a-a-a!” Here her -voice choked with sobs, and she could say no more.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Well, of course the dragon king did not like to have it -thought that he was unkind to his beautiful young wife. So -he sent for his trusty servant, the Jelly-fish, and said: “It is -<span class='pageno' id='Page_433'>433</span>rather a difficult job, but what I want you to try to do is to -swim across to the land, and persuade a live monkey to come -here with you. In order to make the monkey willing to come, -you can tell him how much nicer everything is here in dragon-land -than away where he lives. But what I really want him -for is to cut out his liver, and use it as medicine for your -young mistress, who, as you know, is dangerously ill.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So the Jelly-fish went off on his strange errand. In those -days he was just like any other fish, with eyes, and fins, and -a tail. He even had little feet, which made him able to walk -on the land as well as to swim in the water. It did not take -him many hours to swim across to the country where the -monkeys lived; and, fortunately, there just happened to be -a fine monkey skipping about among the branches of the -trees near the place where he landed. So the Jelly-fish said: -“Mr. Monkey, I have come to tell you of a country far -more beautiful than this. It lies beyond the waves, and is -called dragon-land. There is pleasant weather there all the -year round; there is always plenty of ripe fruit on the trees, -and there are none of those mischievous creatures called men. -If you will come with me, I will take you there. Just get on -my back.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The monkey thought it would be fun to see a new country. -So he leaped on to the Jelly-fish’s back, and off they started -across the water. But when they had gone about half-way, -he began to fear that perhaps there might be some hidden -danger, for it seemed so odd to be fetched suddenly in that way -by a stranger. So he said to the Jelly-fish: “What made you -think of coming for me?” The Jelly-fish answered: “My -master, the king of the dragons, wants you in order to cut -out your liver, and give it as medicine to his wife, the queen, -who is sick.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh! that’s your little game, is it?” thought the monkey. -But he kept his thoughts to himself, and only said: “Nothing -could please me better than to be of service to their Majesties, -but it so happens that I left my liver hanging to a branch of -that big chestnut-tree where you found me skipping about. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_434'>434</span>A liver is a thing that weighs a good deal, so I generally take -it out, and play about without it during the daytime. We -must go back for it.” The Jelly-fish agreed that there was -nothing else to be done under the circumstances; for, silly -creature that he was, he did not see that the monkey was telling -a story in order to avoid getting killed, and having his -liver used as medicine for the fanciful young dragon queen.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When they reached the shore of monkey-land again, the -monkey bounded off the Jelly-fish’s back, and up to the topmost -branch of the chestnut-tree in less than no time. Then -he said: “I do not see my liver here. Perhaps somebody has -taken it away. But I will look for it. You, meantime, had -better go back and tell your master what has happened. He -might be anxious about you if you did not get home before -dark.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So the Jelly-fish started off a second time, and when he got -home he told the dragon king everything just as it had happened. -But the king flew into a passion with him for his stupidity, -and hallooed to his officers, saying: “Away with this -fellow! Take him, and beat him to a jelly! Don’t let a single -bone remain unbroken in his body!” So the officers seized -him and beat him, as the king had commanded. That is the -reason why, to this very day, jelly-fishes have no bones, but -are just nothing more than a mass of pulp.</p> - -<p class='c000'>As for the dragon queen, when she found she could not -have the monkey’s liver, why, she made up her mind that the -I only thing to do was to get well without it.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_435'>435</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>Chin-Chin Kobakama</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Once there was a little girl who was very pretty, but -also very lazy. Her parents were rich, and had a great -many servants; and these servants were very fond of -the little girl, and did everything for her which she ought to -have been able to do for herself. Perhaps this was what made -her so lazy. When she grew up into a beautiful woman she -still remained lazy; but as the servants always dressed and -undressed her, and arranged her hair, she looked very charming, -and nobody thought about her faults.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At last she was married to a brave warrior, and went away -with him to live in another house where there were but few -servants. She was sorry not to have as many servants as she -had had at home, because she was obliged to do several things -for herself which other folks had always done for her, and it -was a great deal of trouble to her to dress herself, and take -care of her own clothes, and keep herself looking neat and -pretty to please her husband. But as he was a warrior, and -often had to be far away from home with the army, she could -sometimes be just as lazy as she wished, and her husband’s -parents were very old and good-natured, and never scolded -her.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Well, one night while her husband was away with the army, -she was awakened by queer little noises in her room. By the -light of a big paper lantern she could see very well, and she -saw strange things.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Hundreds of little men, dressed just like Japanese warriors, -but only about one inch high, were dancing all around her -pillow. They wore the same kind of dress her husband wore -on holidays (<em>Kamishimo</em>, a long robe with square shoulders), -and their hair was tied up in knots, and each wore two tiny -<span class='pageno' id='Page_436'>436</span>swords. They all looked at her as they danced, and laughed, -and they all sang the same song over and over again:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Chin-chin Kobakama,</div> - <div class='line in2'>Yomo fuké sōro—</div> - <div class='line'>Oshizumare, Hime-gimi!—</div> - <div class='line in2'>Ya ton ton!—</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>Which meant: “We are the Chin-chin Kobakama; the hour -is late; sleep, honorable, noble darling!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The words seemed very polite, but she soon saw that the -little men were only making cruel fun of her. They also -made ugly faces at her.</p> - -<p class='c000'>She tried to catch some of them, but they jumped about so -quickly that she could not. Then she tried to drive them -away, but they would not go, and they never stopped singing:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Chin-chin Kobakama ...</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>and laughing at her. Then she knew they were little fairies, -and became so frightened that she could not even cry out. -They danced around her until morning; then they all vanished -suddenly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>She was ashamed to tell anybody what had happened, because, -as she was the wife of a warrior, she did not wish anybody -to know how frightened she had been.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Next night, again, the little men came and danced; and -they came also the night after that, and every night, always -at the same hour, which the old Japanese used to call the -“hour of the ox”; that is, about two o’clock in the morning -by our time. At last she became very sick, through want of -sleep and through fright. But the little men would not leave -her alone.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When her husband came back home he was very sorry to -find her sick in bed. At first she was afraid to tell him what -had made her ill, for fear that he would laugh at her. But -he was so kind, and coaxed her so gently, that after a while -she told him what happened every night.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_437'>437</span>He did not laugh at her at all, but looked very serious for -a time. Then he asked:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“At what time do they come?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>She answered, “Always at the same hour—the ‘hour of -the ox.’”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Very well,” said her husband; “to-night I shall hide, and -watch for them. Do not be frightened.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So that night the warrior hid himself in a closet in the -sleeping-room, and kept watch through a chink between the -sliding doors.</p> - -<p class='c000'>He waited and watched until the “hour of the ox.” Then, -all at once, the little men came up through the mats, and began -their dance and their song:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Chin-chin Kobakama,</div> - <div class='line'>Yomo fuké Sōro....</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>They looked so queer, and danced in such a funny way, -that the warrior could scarcely keep from laughing. But he -saw his young wife’s frightened face; and then, remembering -that nearly all Japanese ghosts and goblins are afraid of a -sword, he drew his blade and rushed out of the closet, and -struck at the little dancers. Immediately they all turned into—what -do you think?</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'><em>Toothpicks!</em></div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>There were no more little warriors—only a lot of old toothpicks -scattered over the mats.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The young wife had been too lazy to put her toothpicks -away properly; and every day, after having used a new toothpick, -she would stick it down between the mats on the floor, -to get rid of it. So the little fairies who take care of the floor-mats -became angry with her, and tormented her.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Her husband scolded her, and she was so ashamed that she -did not know what to do. A servant was called, and the toothpicks -were taken away and burned, and after that the little -men never came back again.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_438'>438</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Old Woman who Lost her Dumplings</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Long, long ago there was a funny old woman who -liked to laugh and to make dumplings of rice-flour.</p> - -<p class='c000'>One day, while she was preparing some dumplings -for dinner, she let one fall, and it rolled into a hole in the -earthen floor of her little kitchen and disappeared. The old -woman tried to reach it by putting her hand down the hole, -and all at once the earth gave way, and the old woman fell in.</p> - -<p class='c000'>She fell quite a distance, but was not a bit hurt; and when -she got up on her feet again, she saw that she was standing -on a road just like the road before her house. It was quite -light down there; and she could see plenty of rice-fields, but -no one in them. How all this happened I cannot tell you, but -it seems that the old woman had fallen into another country.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The road she had fallen upon sloped very much; so, after -having looked for her dumpling in vain, she thought that it -must have rolled farther away down the hill. She ran down -the road to look, crying: “My dumpling! my dumpling! -Where is that dumpling of mine?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>After a little while she saw a stone image standing by the -roadside, and she said, calling it by its name:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“O <em>Jizō San</em>, did you see my dumpling?”</p> - -<p class='c000'><cite>Jizō</cite> answered:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, I saw your dumpling rolling by me down the road. -But you had better not go any farther, because there is a -wicked <em>oni</em> living down there who eats people.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>But the old woman only laughed, and ran on farther down -the road, crying: “My dumpling! my dumpling! Where is that -dumpling of mine?” And she came to another statue of <em>Jizō</em>, -and asked it:</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_439'>439</span>“O kind <em>Jizō</em>, did you see my dumpling?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>And <em>Jizō</em> said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, I saw your dumpling go by a little while ago. But -you must not run any farther, because there is a wicked <em>oni</em> -down there who eats people.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>But she only laughed and ran on, still crying out: “My -dumpling! my dumpling! Where is that dumpling of mine?” -And she came to a third <em>Jizō</em>, and asked it:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“O dear <em>Jizō</em>, did you see my dumpling?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>But <em>Jizō</em> said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Don’t talk about your dumpling now. Here is the <em>oni</em> -coming. Squat down here behind my sleeve, and don’t make -any noise.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Presently the <em>oni</em> came very close, and stopped and bowed -to <em>Jizō</em>, and said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good day, <em>Jizō</em> San!”</p> - -<p class='c000'><cite>Jizō</cite> said good day, too, very politely.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then the <em>oni</em> suddenly snuffed the air two or three times -in a suspicious way, and cried out: “<em>Jizō San, Jizō San!</em> I -smell a smell of mankind somewhere—don’t you?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh!” said <em>Jizō</em>, “perhaps you are mistaken.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No, no!” said the <em>oni</em> after snuffing the air again; “I -smell a smell of mankind.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then the old woman could not help laughing—“<em>Te-he-he!</em>”—and -the oni immediately reached down his big hairy hand -behind <em>Jizō’s</em> sleeve, and pulled her out—still laughing, “<em>Te-he-he!</em>”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Ah! ha!” cried the <em>oni</em>.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then <em>Jizō</em> said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What are you going to do with that good old woman? -You must not hurt her.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I won’t,” said the <em>oni</em>; “but I will take her home with me -to cook for us.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“<em>Te-he-he!</em>” laughed the old woman.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Very well,” said <em>Jizō</em>, “but you must really be kind to her. -If you are not, I shall be very angry.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I won’t hurt her at all,” promised the <em>oni</em>; “and she will -<span class='pageno' id='Page_440'>440</span>only have to do a little work for us every day. Good-by, -<em>Jizō San</em>.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then the <em>oni</em> took the old woman far down the road till -they came to a wide deep river, where there was a boat. He -put her into the boat, and took her across the river to his -house. It was a very large house. He led her at once into -the kitchen, and told her to cook some dinner for himself and -the other <em>oni</em> who lived with him. And he gave her a small -wooden rice-paddle, and said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You must always put only one grain of rice into the pot, -and, when you stir that one grain of rice in the water with -this paddle, the grain will multiply until the pot is full.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So the old woman put just one rice-grain into the pot, as -the <em>oni</em> told her, and began to stir it with the paddle; and, -as she stirred, the one grain became two, then four, then -eight, then sixteen, thirty-two, sixty-four, and so on. Every -time she moved the paddle the rice increased in quantity, and -in a few minutes the great pot was full.</p> - -<p class='c000'>After that, the funny old woman stayed a long time in the -house of the <em>oni</em>, and every day cooked food for him and for -all his friends. The <em>oni</em> never hurt or frightened her, and her -work was made quite easy by the magic paddle, although she -had to cook a very, very great quantity of rice, because an oni -eats much more than any human being eats.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But she felt lonely, and always wished very much to go -back to her own little house, and make her dumplings; and -one day, when the <em>oni</em> were all out somewhere, she thought -she would try to run away.</p> - -<p class='c000'>She first took the magic paddle and slipped it under her -girdle, and then she went down to the river. No one saw -her, and the boat was there. She got into it and pushed off, -and, as she could row very well, she was soon far away from -the shore.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But the river was very wide, and she had not rowed more -than one-fourth of the way across when the <em>oni</em>, all of them, -came back to the house.</p> - -<p class='c000'>They found that their cook was gone, and the magic paddle, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_441'>441</span>too. They ran down to the river at once, and saw the old -woman rowing away very fast.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Perhaps they could not swim; at all events, they had no -boat, and they thought the only way they could catch the -funny old woman would be to drink up all the water of the -river before she got to the other bank. So they knelt down, -and began to drink so fast that, before the old woman had -got half-way over, the water had become quite low.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But the old woman kept on rowing until the water had got -so shallow that the <em>oni</em> stopped drinking, and began to wade -across. Then she dropped her oar, took the magic paddle -from her girdle, and shook it at the <em>oni</em>, and made such funny -faces that the <em>oni</em> all burst out laughing.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But, the moment they laughed, all the water came up that -they had drunk, and so the river became full again. The -<em>oni</em> could not cross, and the funny old woman got safely over -to the other side, and ran away up the road as fast as she -could. She never stopped running until she found herself at -home again.</p> - -<p class='c000'>After that she was very happy, for she could make dumplings -whenever she pleased. Besides, she had the magic paddle -to make rice for her. She sold her dumplings to her -neighbors and passengers, and in quite a short time she became -rich.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_442'>442</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Three Goats</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Once upon a time there were three goats that were sent -to some pasture-lands in order to be fattened, and all -three happened to be named Brausewind. On their -road to the pasture there was a bridge across a river which -they must pass, and under the bridge lived a gigantic and -horrible spirit, whose eyes were as large as two pewter plates, -and whose nose was as long as the handle of a hoe.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The youngest goat Brausewind first came along, and stepped -upon the bridge.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Creak, creak!” complained the bridge.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Who is tripping over my bridge?” cried the elf underneath.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh! it is only the smallest of the goats named Brausewind,” -said the goat in a very shrill voice.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Then I shall come and fetch you,” cried the elf.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Nay, do not come for me, for I am still so little,” said -the goat; “wait a bit, till the second Brausewind comes, for -he is much larger than I am.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Very well,” quoth the elf.</p> - -<p class='c000'>After a while the other goat Brausewind came along, and -he began to go over the bridge.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“<em>Creaky creak!</em>” cried the bridge again.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Who is tramping over my bridge?” cried the elf.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh! it is only the second goat Brausewind; I am going -to the pasture-lands to get a little fatter,” answered the goat, -but in a less soft voice than the first.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Then I shall come and fetch you,” said the elf.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Nay, do not take me, but wait a bit till the large goat -Brausewind comes, for he is a great deal bigger than I am.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Very well,” replied the elf.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_443'>443</span>It was not long before the big goat Brausewind reached the -same spot.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“<span class='sc'>Creak, creak!</span>” went the bridge, as if it were going to -split.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Who comes thundering over my bridge?” cried the elf.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“The big goat Brausewind,” said the goat in a gruff voice.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Then I shall come and fetch you,” cried the elf.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“Well, come if you like; I’ve two spears in my head,</div> - <div class='line'>With which I can easily strike you dead.</div> - <div class='line'>Yes, come if you like; and with thundering stones</div> - <div class='line'>I shiver to powder your brains and your bones,”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>replied the goat; and, butting at the elf, he easily broke every -bone in his body, after which he threw him into the river, and -followed the other goats to the pastures.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And here the goats grew so very, very, very fat that they -were not able to come home again; and, unless they have -grown thinner since, they are probably there still.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_444'>444</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Fox Turned Shepherd</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>There was once a farmer’s wife who rode out to -try and find a shepherd. She happened to meet a -bear on the way, and the bear inquired whither -she was going.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, I’m going to hire a shepherd,” answered she.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Will you take me for a shepherd?” asked the bear.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes,” said the woman, “provided you can call the sheep -properly.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Ho—o—y!” growled the bear.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No,” said the woman on hearing this, “I can’t hire you,” -and on she went.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Soon after she met a wolf. “Where are you going?” asked -the wolf.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, I’m going to hire a shepherd,” answered the woman.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Will you take me for a shepherd?” asked the wolf.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, if you can call the sheep properly,” replied the -woman.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Uh—uh!” howled the wolf.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No, I can’t hire you,” said the woman.</p> - -<p class='c000'>A little farther on she met a Fox. “Where are you going?” -asked he.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, I’m only going to hire a shepherd,” answered the -woman.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Will you take me for a shepherd?” asked the Fox.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, provided you can but call the sheep properly,” replied -the woman.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Dil—dal—holom!” cried the Fox in a pretty, proper tone.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, I will hire you,” said the woman; and she took him -for a shepherd to watch over the cattle.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The first day, on driving the cattle to the meadows, the Fox -<span class='pageno' id='Page_445'>445</span>ate up all the goats. On the second day he made a dainty -meal upon the sheep, and on the third day it was the turn -for the cows to be eaten.</p> - -<p class='c000'>On returning home in the evening, the woman asked him -where he had left the cattle. “Their heads are in the brook, -and their bones are in the bushes,” replied the Fox. The -farmer’s wife was just then at the butter-tub, busy making -butter; still, she wanted to go and see for herself how things -stood. While she went to look, the Fox put his head into the -butter-tub and drank up all the cream.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When the woman came back and saw what he had done, -she was so exasperated that she seized a clot of cream that -still remained in the tub and flung it at the Fox, so that it -made a spot upon his tail. And this is the reason why the -Fox’s tail has a white tip.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_446'>446</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Seven Boys and the Monster</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>It was Saturday afternoon, and Caspar, Michael, Fritz, -and little Bessy were playing before their house, when -presently little Hans came running toward them, and -breathlessly cried:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What have I seen? what have I seen?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What have you seen, then?” exclaimed all the children -with one voice, collecting around him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“A monster! a frightful monster!” answered Hans, wiping -the sweat from his brow.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You are afraid of your own shadow, fearful Hans,” said -Caspar mockingly; “perhaps your neighbor’s black cat has -turned her fiery eyes on you again.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I am not afraid of my shadow,” answered Hans angrily; -“had you only been there, your ridicule would soon have vanished. -A cat is not a bit like a grasshopper—a fearful great -grasshopper, on which one could ride!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>At this the children wondered very much; and when Hans -related that he had seen the monster in the shepherd’s hut in -the field—that it had horns, and such a voice that the whole -hut trembled—they almost believed him; and little Fritz -thought: “Who knows if it is not one of the rhinoceroses of -which Herr Gulmann told us yesterday?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Has the monster done you any harm?” asked little -Bessy.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No,” answered Hans; “when I screamed, it shrank back -into its house.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But I must go and see it,” said Caspar; “and, if you will -all follow, I will go now.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The children determined to go, but little Hans said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I will not go unarmed!”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_447'>447</span>So Caspar mounted his horse-stick, put on his helmet, and -buckled his saber to his side; Michael took his gun, Fritz the -drum, and little Hans his lance.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You must remain at home, little Bessy,” said Hans; “I -won’t bear the blame if the monster hurts you.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But I want to go with you,” answered little Bessy, almost -crying; “and, if you will not take me, I will tell my mother.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Let her go, then,” said Fritz; “but remember, Bessy, you -must always keep ten yards behind.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Thus, having armed themselves, they took courage, and -Caspar thought: “Oh, if we could only catch the monster, -dead or alive! Ah! here come Peter, and Frank, and George—they -can also go with us, but they must take the great bean-pole -out of the garden, that we may be able to attack the -monster at a distance.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now the little army set itself in motion. Caspar on “Roho” -(for so his horse was named) came first, as commander; then -came Hans with the spear, Fritz with the drum, Michael with -the gun, and lastly, Peter, Frank, and George, with the pole. -Little Bessy came ten yards behind them. All were full of -courage, and they sang:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>The general on his horse comes first,</div> - <div class='line in4'>And next the spear and drum;</div> - <div class='line in2'>The soldier, with his gun; and three</div> - <div class='line in4'>Armed with a bean-pole come.</div> - <div class='line in2'>But Bessy marches after all,</div> - <div class='line in2'>That unto her no harm may fall.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>When they came to the little wood through which one must -go in order to get to the great meadow where the shepherd’s -cot stands, Hans cried out all at once, his flag nearly falling -from his hand:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Did you not hear a noise?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes!” cried all, trembling; but Fritz had still courage -enough to say:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Bessy must remain behind.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then they whispered to one another, “The monster, perhaps, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_448'>448</span>has hidden here”; but they dared not run away, for -fear the monster should fall on them from behind, and they -resolved to lie on the ground and listen. So they laid down -all apart, and presently they whispered:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Hans trembles very much.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>After a long time Fritz asked:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Have you heard nothing, Caspar?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No,” said he, and the others also said “no”; and Frank -thought, perhaps, it was only the wind. At this they took -courage, and, in order to show they were not afraid, they -sang:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>O wind, in the wood whistle all the day long,</div> - <div class='line'>We’ll whistle as boldly, we’ll whistle as strong,</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>and they began to whistle, with all their strength, against the -wind.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When they had come out of the wood they saw the shepherd’s -hut standing quite alone; in the distance the sheep were -peacefully feeding, and their little bells sounded merrily along -the meadows. Only an old ram saw the young band of heroes, -and it ventured nearer in order to look wonderingly. -But Caspar rode against it, brandishing his sword, which -made the ram bleat and gallop away.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Now is the time!” said Caspar; “we will first walk three -times round the hut, but no one must make any noise!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Bessy still stops behind!” cried Fritz, out of the strength -of his love.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Once more I say,” exclaimed Caspar loudly and forcibly, -“no one must make a noise. We will now walk around, and -when we are about to attack, Fritz shall give the signal with -his drum.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So they began to walk round the hut, but they marched -round much oftener than three times, and each time they -stopped at the same place.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We cannot go round any more,” said Caspar, “we must -attack the monster from some place. Do you hide first, behind -the oak-tree, one behind another, that the monster may -<span class='pageno' id='Page_449'>449</span>not see you; I will step on to the wheel there, and look in -at the window, but—mind you are all ready at the first -call.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>As they hid themselves behind the oak, he walked slowly -with drawn sword to the hut, and little Hans whispered behind -the tree:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“If there should be a wolf in the hut! Do you remember -the story of ‘Little Red Riding-hood’?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>This made them very much afraid, and they held the faster -to one another. Only Frank dared look out to see how their -captain got on.</p> - -<p class='c000'>He had arrived at the hut, and, having fastened his horse -to a stake, he mounted the wheel in order to look through the -window. But—what a monster!—a great bearded beast with -horns sprang with a loud cry at him; and Caspar, pale as -death from terror, fell back, and could scarcely cry:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Help! help!—the monster!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>As he called out, Franz said, “It has a beard and horns, -and such a voice!” and Hans, who stood next to the oak, fell -back on the rest, and one after the other fell to the ground.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Fritz picked himself up first, and called to Caspar from -afar:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Has he eaten you up yet, dear Caspar?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Who?” cried Caspar, springing up, “who?” And out -of the hut sounded again the cry; it shook the door, and all -fell back again. A goat came running up, with playful jumps, -to our heroes.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Herr Gulmann’s sick goat!” cried out all, “which, since -the day before yesterday, we have not seen in the schoolyard.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Did I not say so?” cried Caspar. “But, ah, fearful -Hans! where is the monster?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That must still be within,” protested Hans. “You also -have seen it.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“We will look again,” cried the enraged Caspar, in anger; -“but, as the monster has not eaten the goat, it is no cannibal. -Just come here, and stand around while Hans and I go in; -<span class='pageno' id='Page_450'>450</span>and do you hold the bar of the door, that the monster may -not come out.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>All were, in spite of their former terror, become courageous; -still, Hans would willingly have gone back if he had not -disliked to be called “fearful Hans.” He placed himself, -therefore, at the door, behind Caspar, holding his banner before -his eyes, and pressing it close to him. But Caspar did -not remark that Hans had placed himself behind him; and -Hans, on the other hand, did not see Caspar turn himself -angrily and quickly round, the hut being very dark; and it -so happened that he overturned Hans and fell over him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“The monster! the monster!” cried Hans; and Caspar exclaimed, -too, “The monster! the monster!” for each thought -that it had overthrown him. With the quickness of lightning -they sprang up again, in order to escape through the door, -but those outside only held the bar faster from terror; and -Hans and Caspar kicked with such violence against the wood -that the others cried, “The monster! the monster!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>But this time it was not a goat, but the specter, which every -one sometimes sees and feels. This our hero, Caspar, very -soon found out; and springing up, he stamped thrice on the -ground with his foot, and seizing poor Hans by the collar, he -shook him angrily, and cried out in a voice nearly choked with -rage:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You are a coward! you are a coward!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Dear Caspar, let me go; I will not do it again!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Hans, you are a coward!” replied Caspar, for the third -time shaking him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But as little Hans said, “I will certainly show you a monster!” -and as the others begged for his life, he let him loose, -stamped again on the ground, and exclaimed:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, I would have commanded a band of heroes; I would -have caught the monster, and led it in triumph home, but now -it is gone, and you are the cause!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>But meanwhile the goat, which at first had so frightened -them, approached again, and performed various playful capers -to induce them to play with it. This increased Caspar’s rage, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_451'>451</span>who would have seized the animal and beaten it; but it ran -back, and then lowering its horns rushed against Caspar, not -very softly. This excited him the more; he made a bold -spring, seized the brute by the hair, and mounted it, in order -the better to hold it; but, lo! the goat ran wildly away with -him, with mad jumps through the wood, past shrieking Bessy, -away into the village, where the people pointed their fingers -at him mockingly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Where did the goat stop?—for Caspar, while he lives, will -not forget this! It easily found the way to the schoolhouse -where it once joyfully fed, and flying to the yard, where the -affrighted dog tried to seize it, it rushed into the school at -the principal entrance, and stood suddenly in the schoolroom, -where Herr Gulmann was correcting the exercises of -his scholars. He heard the tremendous noise and outcry, and -putting on his spectacles he discovered all!</p> - -<p class='c000'>What further happened I will omit, out of pity for Caspar, -who may read this history some time. Only this must I mention: -that Herr Gulmann made him read and explain on Monday -morning, for a religious exercise, the history of David -and Goliath, and soon after he unwillingly related the story -of the Seven Suabians, who allowed themselves to be conquered -by a hare, and at that seven little boys blushed very -deeply. I believe, however, that seven times seven-and-seventy -little boys would blush at this story I have just told if it had -happened to them!</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_452'>452</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Story of Little Black Mingo</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>Once upon a time there was a little black girl, and her -name was Little Black Mingo.</p> - -<p class='c000'>She had no father and mother, so she had to live -with a horrid cross old woman called Black Noggy, who used -to scold her every day, and sometimes beat her with a stick, -even though she had done nothing naughty.</p> - -<p class='c000'>One day Black Noggy called her, and said: “Take this -chatty down to the river and fill it with water, and come back -as fast as you can—<em>quick now</em>!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So Little Black Mingo took the chatty and ran down to the -river as fast as she could, and began to fill it with water, when -cr-r-rrrack!!! bang!!! a horrible big mugger poked its nose up -through the bottom of the chatty and said: “Ha, ha! Little -Mingo, I’m going to eat you up!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Little Black Mingo did not say anything. She turned and -ran away as fast as ever she could, and the mugger ran after -her. But the broken chatty round his neck caught his paws, -so he could not overtake her.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But when she got back to Black Noggy, and told her how -the mugger had broken the chatty, Black Noggy was fearfully -angry. “You naughty girl,” she said, “you have broken -the chatty yourself. I have a good mind to beat you.” And -if she had not been in such a hurry for the water she <em>would</em> -have beaten her.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then she went and fetched the great big chatty that the -dhobi used to boil the clothes in. “Take this,” said she, “and -mind you don’t break it, or I <em>will</em> beat you.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But I can’t carry that when it is full of water,” said Little -Black Mingo.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You must go twice, and bring it half-full each time,” said -Black Noggy.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_453'>453</span>So Little Black Mingo took the dhobi’s great big chatty, -and started again to go to the river. But first she went to a -little bank above the river, and peeped up and down to see -if she could see the old mugger anywhere. But she could not -see him, for he was hiding under the very bank she was standing -on, and, though his tail stuck out a little, she never saw -him at all.</p> - -<p class='c000'>She would have liked to run home, but she was too much -afraid that Black Noggy would beat her.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So Little Black Mingo crept down to the river, and began -to fill the big chatty with water. And while she was filling -it the mugger came creeping softly down behind her and -caught her by the leg, saying: “Aha, Little Black Mingo, -now I’ve got you.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>And Little Black Mingo said: “Oh! please don’t eat me -up, great big mugger!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What will you give me if I don’t eat you up?” said the -mugger. But Little Black Mingo was so poor she had nothing -to give. So the mugger caught her in his great cruel -mouth and swam away with her to an island in the middle -of the river, and set her down beside a huge pile of eggs.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Those are my eggs,” said he; “to-morrow a little mugger -will come out of each, and then we will have a great feast, -and we will eat you up.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then he waddled off to catch fish for himself, and left Little -Black Mingo alone beside the big pile of eggs.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And Little Black Mingo sat down on a big stone and hid -her face in her hands, and cried bitterly, because she couldn’t -swim, and she didn’t know how to get away.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Presently she heard a queer little squeaky noise that sounded -like “Squeak, squeak, squeak!!! Oh, Little Black Mingo, -help me, or I shall be drowned.” She got up and looked to -see what was calling, and she saw a bush coming floating -down the river with something wriggling and scrambling -about in it, and as it came near she saw that it was a mongoose -that was in the bush. So she waded out as far as she -could, and caught hold of the bush and pulled it in, and the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_454'>454</span>poor mongoose crawled up her arm on to her shoulder, and -she carried him to shore.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When they got to shore the mongoose shook himself, and -Little Black Mingo wrung out her petticoat, and so they both -very soon got dry.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The mongoose then began to poke about for something to -eat, and very soon he found the great big pile of muggers’ -eggs. “Oh, joy!” said he, “what’s this?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Those are muggers’ eggs,” said Little Black Mingo.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I’m not afraid of muggers!” said the mongoose; and he -sat down and began to crack the eggs, and eat the little muggers -as they came out. And he threw the shells into the water, -so that the old mugger should not see that any one had been -eating them. But he was careless, and he left one egg-shell -on the edge, and he was hungry, and he ate so many that -the pile got much smaller, and when the old mugger came -back he saw at once that some one had been meddling with -them.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So he ran to Little Black Mingo, and said, “How dare you -eat my eggs?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Indeed, indeed, I didn’t,” said Little Black Mingo.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Then who could it have been?” said the mugger, and he -ran back to the eggs as fast as he could, and, sure enough, -when he got back he found the mongoose had eaten a whole -lot more!!</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then he said to himself, “I must stay beside my eggs till -they are hatched into little muggers, or the mongoose will eat -them all.” So he curled himself into a ring round the eggs -and went to sleep.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But while he was asleep the mongoose came to eat some -more of the eggs, and ate as many as he wanted, and when -the mugger woke this time, oh! <em>what</em> a rage he was in, for -there were only six eggs left! He roared so loud that all the -little muggers inside the shells gnashed their teeth, and tried -to roar, too.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then he said: “I know what I’ll do. I’ll fetch Little Black -Mingo’s big chatty, and cover my eggs with that; then the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_455'>455</span>mongoose won’t be able to get at them.” So he swam across -to the shore, and fetched the dhobi’s big chatty, and covered -the eggs with it. “Now, you wicked little mongoose, come -and eat my eggs if you can,” said he, and he went off quite -proud and happy.</p> - -<p class='c000'>By and by the mongoose came back, and he was terribly -disappointed when he found the eggs all covered with the big -chatty.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So he ran off to Little Black Mingo, and asked her to help -him, and Little Black Mingo came and took the big chatty -off the eggs, and the mongoose ate them, every one.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Now,” said he, “there will be no little muggers to make -a feast for to-morrow.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No,” said Little Black Mingo, “but the mugger will eat -me all by himself, I am afraid.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“No, he won’t,” said the mongoose, “for we will sail away -together in the big chatty before he comes back.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So he climbed on to the edge of the chatty, and Little Black -Mingo pushed the chatty out into the water, and then she -clambered into it and paddled with her two hands as hard as -she could, and the big chatty just sailed beautifully.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So they got across safely, and Little Black Mingo filled the -chatty half-full of water and took it on her head, and they -went up the bank together.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But when the mugger came back, and found only empty -egg-shells, he was fearfully angry. He roared and he raged, -and he howled and he yelled, till the whole island shook, and -his tears ran down his cheeks and pattered on the sand like -rain.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So he started to chase Little Black Mingo and the mongoose, -and he swam across the river as fast as ever he could, -and when he was half-way across he saw them landing, and -as he landed they hurried over the first ridge.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So he raced after them, but they ran, and just before he -caught them they got into the house, and banged the door in -his face. Then they shut all the windows, so he could not -get in anywhere.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_456'>456</span>“All right,” said he, “you will have to come out some -time, and then I will catch you both, and eat you up.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>So he hid behind the back of the house and waited.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now, Black Noggy was just coming home from the bazaar -with a tin of kerosene on her head and a box of matches in -her hand.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And when he saw her the mugger rushed out and gobbled -her up, kerosene tin, matches, and all!!!</p> - -<p class='c000'>When Black Noggy found herself in the mugger’s dark inside, -she wanted to see where she was, so she felt for the -match-box, and took out a match and lit it. But the mugger’s -teeth had made holes in the kerosene tin, so that the flame of -the match caught the kerosene, and <span class='sc'>Bang</span>!! the kerosene exploded, -and blew the old mugger and Black Noggy into little -bits.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At the fearful noise Little Black Mingo and the mongoose -came running out, and there they found Black Noggy and -the old mugger all blown to bits.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So Little Black Mingo and the mongoose got the nice little -house for their very own, and there they lived happy ever -after. And Little Black Mingo got the mugger’s head for her -seat, and the mongoose got Black Noggy’s handkerchief for -his. But he was so wee he used to put it on the mugger’s -nose, and there they sat, and had their tea every evening.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'><span class='sc'>Helen Bannerman.</span></div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_457'>457</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Cock and the Crested Hen</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>There was once a Cock who had a whole farm-yard -of hens to look after and manage; and among them -was a tiny little Crested Hen. She thought she was -altogether too grand to be in company with the other hens, -for they looked so old and shabby; she wanted to go out and -strut about all by herself, so that people could see how fine she -was, and admire her pretty crest and beautiful plumage.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So one day when all the hens were strutting about on the -dust-heap and showing themselves off, and picking and clucking, -as they were wont to do, this desire seized her, and she -began to cry:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck, over the fence! cluck, cluck, -cluck, over the fence!” and wanted to get away.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The Cock stretched his neck and shook his comb and -feathers, and cried:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Go not there!” And all the old hens cackled:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Go-go-go-go not there!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>But she set off for all that; and was not a little proud when -she got away, and could go about pluming and showing herself -off quite alone.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Just then a hawk began to fly round in a circle above her, -and all of a sudden he swooped down upon her. The Cock, -as he stood on top of the dust-heap, stretching his neck and -peering first with one eye and then with the other, had long -noticed him, and cried with all his might:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Come, come, come and help! Come, come, come and -help!” till the people came running to see what was the matter. -They frightened the hawk so that he let go the Hen, and -had to be satisfied with her tuft and her finest feathers, which -he had plucked from her. And then, you may be sure, she -<span class='pageno' id='Page_458'>458</span>lost no time in running home; she stretched her neck, and -tripped along, crying:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“See, see, see, see how I look! See, see, see, see how I -look!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The Cock came up to her in his dignified way, drooped one -of his wings, and said:</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Didn’t I tell you?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>From that time the Hen did not consider herself too good -to be in the company of the old hens on the dust-heap.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_459'>459</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Old Woman and the Fish</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>There was once upon a time an old woman who lived -in a miserable cottage on the brow of a hill overlooking -the town. Her husband had been dead for many -years, and her children were in service round about the parish, -so she felt rather lonely and dreary by herself, and otherwise -she was not particularly well off either.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But when it has been ordained that one shall live, one cannot -think of one’s funeral; and so one has to take the world -as it is, and still be satisfied; and that was about all the old -woman could console herself with. But that the road up -which she had to carry the pails from the well should be so -heavy; and that the ax should have such a blunt and rusty -edge, so that it was only with the greatest difficulty that she -could cut the little firewood she had; and that the stuff she -was weaving was not sufficient—all this grieved her greatly, -and caused her to complain from time to time.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So one day, when she had pulled the bucket up from the -well, she happened to find a small pike in the bucket, which -did not at all displease her.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Such fish does not come into my pot every day,” she said; -and now she could have a really grand dish, she thought. But -the fish that she had got this time was no fool; it had the -gift of speech, that it had.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Let me go!” said the fish.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The old woman began to stare, you may be sure. Such a -fish she had never before seen in this world.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Are you so much better than other fish, then?” she said, -“and too good to be eaten?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Wise is he who does not eat all he gets hold of,” said the -fish; “only let me go, and you shall not remain without reward -for your trouble.”</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_460'>460</span>“I like a fish in the bucket better than all those frisking -about free and frolicsome in the lakes,” said the old woman. -“And what one can catch with one hand, one can also carry -to one’s mouth,” she said.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That may be,” said the fish; “but if you do as I tell you, -you shall have three wishes.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Wish in one fist, and pour water in the other, and you’ll -soon see which you will get filled first,” said the woman. -“Promises are well enough, but keeping them is better, and -I sha’n’t believe much in you till I have got you in the pot,” -she said.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You should mind that tongue of yours,” said the fish, -“and listen to my words. Wish for three things, and then -you’ll see what will happen,” he said.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Well, the old woman knew well enough what she wanted -to wish, and there might not be so much danger in trying -how far the fish would keep his word, she thought.</p> - -<p class='c000'>She then began thinking of the heavy hill up from the -well.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I would wish that the pails could go of themselves to the -well and home again,” she said.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“So they shall,” said the fish.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then she thought of the ax, and how blunt it was.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I would wish that whatever I strike shall break right off,” -she said.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“So it shall,” said the fish.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And then she remembered that the stuff she was weaving -was not long enough.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I would wish that whatever I pull shall become long,” she -said.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That it shall,” said the fish. “And now, let me down into -the well again.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>Yes, that she would, and all at once the pails began to shamble -up the hill.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Dear me, did you ever see anything like it?” The old -woman became so glad and pleased that she slapped herself -across the knees.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_461'>461</span>Crack, crack! it sounded; and then both her legs fell off, -and she was left sitting on the top of the lid over the well.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Now came a change. She began to cry and wail, and the -tears started from her eyes, whereupon she began blowing -her nose with her apron, and as she tugged at her nose it -grew so long, so long, that it was terrible to see.</p> - -<p class='c000'>That is what she got for her wishes! Well, there she sat, -and there she no doubt still sits, on the lid of the well. And -if you want to know what it is to have a long nose, you had -better go there and ask her, for she can tell you all about it, -she can.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_462'>462</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Lad and the Fox</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>There was once upon a time a little lad, who was -on his way to church, and when he came to a clearing -in the forest he caught sight of a fox, that was -lying on the top of a big stone so fast asleep that he did not -know the lad had seen him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“If I kill that fox,” said the lad, taking a heavy stone in his -fist, “and sell the skin, I shall get money for it, and with that -money I shall buy some rye, and that rye I shall sow in -father’s corn-field at home. When the people who are on -their way to church pass by my field of rye they’ll say: ‘Oh, -what splendid rye that lad has got!’ Then I shall say to -them: ‘I say, keep away from my rye!’ But they won’t heed -me. Then I shall shout to them: ‘I say, keep away from my -rye!’ But still they won’t take any notice of me. Then I -shall scream with all my might: ‘Keep away from my rye!’ -and then they’ll listen to me.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>But the lad screamed so loudly that the fox woke up and -made off at once for the forest, so that the lad did not even -get as much as a handful of his hair.</p> - -<p class='c000'>No; it’s best always to take what you can reach, for of undone -deeds you should never screech, as the saying goes.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_463'>463</span> - <h2 class='c006'><cite>The Old Woman and the Tramp</cite></h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c007'>There was once a tramp who went plodding his way -through a forest. The distance between the houses -was so great that he had little hope of finding a shelter -before the night set in. But all of a sudden he saw some -lights between the trees. He then discovered a cottage, where -there was a fire burning on the hearth. How nice it would -be to roast one’s self before that fire, and to get a bite of -something, he thought; and so he dragged himself toward the -cottage.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Just then an old woman came toward him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good evening, and well met!” said the tramp.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Good evening,” said the woman. “Where do you come -from?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“South of the sun, and east of the moon,” said the tramp; -“and now I am on the way home again, for I have been all -over the world with the exception of this parish,” he said.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“You must be a great traveler, then,” said the woman. -“What may be your business here?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Oh, I want a shelter for the night,” he said.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“I thought as much,” said the woman; “but you may as -well get away from here at once, for my husband is not at -home, and my place is not an inn,” she said.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“My good woman,” said the tramp, “you must not be so -cross and hard-hearted, for we are both human beings, and -should help one another, as it is written.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Help one another?” said the woman, “help? Did you -ever hear such a thing? Who’ll help me, do you think? I -haven’t got a morsel in the house! No, you’ll have to look -for quarters elsewhere,” she said.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But the tramp was like the rest of his kind; he did not consider -himself beaten at the first rebuff. Although the old -<span class='pageno' id='Page_464'>464</span>woman grumbled and complained as much as she could, he -was just as persistent as ever, and went on begging and praying -like a starved dog, until at last she gave in, and he got -permission to lie on the floor for the night.</p> - -<p class='c000'>That was very kind, he thought, and he thanked her for it.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Better on the floor without sleep, than suffer cold in the -forest deep,” he said; for he was a merry fellow, this tramp, -and was always ready with a rhyme.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When he came into the room he could see that the woman -was not so badly off as she had pretended; but she was a -greedy and stingy woman of the worst sort, and was always -complaining and grumbling.</p> - -<p class='c000'>He now made himself very agreeable, of course, and asked -her in his most insinuating manner for something to eat.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Where am I to get it from?” said the woman. “I -haven’t tasted a morsel myself the whole day.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>But the tramp was a cunning fellow, he was.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Poor old granny, you must be starving,” he said. “Well, -well, I suppose I shall have to ask you to have something -with me, then?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Have something with you!” said the woman. “You don’t -look as if you could ask any one to have anything! What -have you got to offer one, I should like to know?”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“He who far and wide does roam sees many things not -known at home; and he who many things has seen has wits -about him and senses keen,” said the tramp. “Better dead -than lose one’s head! Lend me a pot, granny!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>The old woman now became very inquisitive, as you may -guess, and so she let him have a pot.</p> - -<p class='c000'>He filled it with water and put it on the fire, and then he -blew with all his might till the fire was burning fiercely all -round it. Then he took a four-inch nail from his pocket, -turned it three times in his hand, and put it into the pot.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The woman stared with all her might.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“What’s this going to be?” she asked.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Nail broth,” said the tramp, and began to stir the water -with the porridge-stick.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_465'>465</span>“Nail broth?” asked the woman.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Yes, nail broth,” said the tramp.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The old woman had seen and heard a good deal in her time, -but that anybody could have made broth with a nail, well, -she had never heard the like before.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That’s something for poor people to know,” she said, -“and I should like to learn how to make it.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“That which is not worth having will always go a-begging,” -said the tramp, but if she wanted to learn how to make -it she had only to watch him, he said, and went on stirring -the broth.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The old woman squatted on the ground, her hands clasping -her knees, and her eyes following his hand as he stirred the -broth.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“This generally makes good broth,” he said; “but this time -it will very likely be rather thin, for I have been making -broth the whole week with the same nail. If one only had -a handful of sifted oatmeal to put in, that would make -it all right,” he said. “But what one has to go without, -it’s no use thinking more about,” and so he stirred the broth -again.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, I think I have a scrap of flour somewhere,” said -the old woman, and went out to fetch some, and it was both -good and fine.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The tramp began putting the flour into the broth, and went -on stirring, while the woman sat staring now at him and then -at the pot until her eyes nearly burst their sockets.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“This broth would be good enough for company,” he said, -putting in one handful of flour after another. “If I had only -a bit of salted beef and a few potatoes to put in, it would be -fit for gentlefolks, however particular they might be,” he said. -“But what one has to go without, it’s no use thinking more -about.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>When the old woman really began to think it over, she -thought she had some potatoes, and perhaps a bit of beef as -well; and these she gave the tramp, who went on stirring, -while she sat and stared as hard as ever.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_466'>466</span>“This will be grand enough for the best in the land,” he -said.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, I never!” said the woman; “and just fancy—all -with a nail!”</p> - -<p class='c000'>He was really a wonderful man, that tramp! He could do -more than drink a sup and turn the tankard up, he could.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“If one had only a little barley and a drop of milk, we -could ask the king himself to have some of it,” he said; “for -this is what he has every blessed evening—that I know, for I -have been in service under the king’s cook,” he said.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Dear me! Ask the king to have some! Well, I never!” -exclaimed the woman, slapping her knees. She was quite awestruck -at the tramp and his grand connections.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“But what one has to go without, it’s no use thinking more -about,” said the tramp.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And then she remembered she had a little barley; and as -for milk, well, she wasn’t quite out of that, she said, for her -best cow had just calved. And then she went to fetch both -the one and the other.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The tramp went on stirring, and the woman sat staring, -one moment at him and the next at the pot.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Then all at once the tramp took out the nail.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Now it’s ready, and now we’ll have a real good feast,” he -said. “But to this kind of soup the king and the queen always -take a dram or two, and one sandwich at least. And -then they always have a cloth on the table when they eat,” he -said. “But what one has to go without, it’s no use thinking -more about.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>But by this time the old woman herself had begun to feel -quite grand and fine, I can tell you; and if that was all that was -wanted to make it just as the king had it, she thought it would -be nice to have it exactly the same way for once, and play -at being king and queen with the tramp. She went straight -to a cupboard and brought out the brandy bottle, dram glasses, -butter and cheese, smoked beef and veal, until at last the table -looked as if it were decked out for company.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Never in her life had the old woman had such a grand -<span class='pageno' id='Page_467'>467</span>feast, and never had she tasted such broth, and just fancy, -made only with a nail!</p> - -<p class='c000'>She was in such a good and merry humor at having learned -such an economical way of making broth that she did not -know how to make enough of the tramp who had taught her -such a useful thing.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So they ate and drank, and drank and ate, until they became -both tired and sleepy.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The tramp was now going to lie down on the floor. But -that would never do, thought the old woman; no, that was -impossible. “Such a grand person must have a bed to lie in,” -she said.</p> - -<p class='c000'>He did not need much pressing. “It’s just like the sweet -Christmas time,” he said, “and a nicer woman I never came -across. Ah, well! Happy are they who meet with such -good people,” said he; and he lay down on the bed and went -asleep.</p> - -<p class='c000'>And next morning, when he woke, the first thing he got -was coffee and a dram.</p> - -<p class='c000'>When he was going, the old woman gave him a bright dollar -piece.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“And thanks, many thanks, for what you have taught me,” -she said. “Now I shall live in comfort, since I have learned -how to make broth with a nail.”</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Well, it isn’t very difficult if one only has something good -to add to it,” said the tramp as he went his way.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The woman stood at the door staring after him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>“Such people don’t grow on every bush,” she said.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>THE END</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c001'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_469'>469</span>McCLURE’S LIBRARY OF CHILDREN’S CLASSICS</div> - <div class='c002'>“<span class='sc'>The Crimson Classics</span>”</div> - <div class='c002'>EDITED BY</div> - <div class='c002'>Kate Douglas Wiggin</div> - <div class='c002'>AND</div> - <div class='c002'>Nora Archibald Smith</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c007'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/i_484.jpg' width='100' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi_8'> -The problem of children’s reading is -one of the greatest with which parents -and teachers are confronted. It is the -purpose of this series to provide the -very best literature in every field for the use of -children and young people of all ages,—poetry, -fairy lore, fables, nursery rhymes, short entertaining -stories, etc., etc. To accomplish this purpose the -editors have spared no trouble and the publishers -no expense, to the end that this series may take -its place permanently in the home and in the -school library, superseding all others less complete -and less carefully selected with reference -to the mental and spiritual needs and the simple -æsthetic tastes of children. A full description -of the five volumes already published will be -found on the following pages.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_470'>470</span>PINAFORE PALACE</div> - <div class='c002'>A BOOK OF RHYMES FOR THE NURSERY</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c000'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/i_485.jpg' width='100' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi_8'> -This volume is absolutely unique in scope and -conception. It is a collection of all the best -nursery rhymes, nonsense verses, guessing -games, lullabies and slumber songs for the -delectation of the very littlest readers, just as -The Posy Ring was designed for children a little older, -and <span class='sc'>Golden Numbers</span> for their brothers and sisters who -are beginning to grow up and to prepare for school and -college. The editors have, as in the case of the former -volumes in the series, gone through the entire field of -available material, and drawn upon many sources that are -remote or inaccessible for the general reader. In this way -they have been able to recover many a veritable little -masterpiece of nursery lore, as well as to bring together -all the old favorites from Mother Goose and other collections -in a form at once compact and comprehensive. -Teachers of kindergartens everywhere, as well as mothers -with children to entertain at home, will welcome this little -book and keep it on the most convenient shelf of the -nursery bookcase. “Every home, large or small, poor or -rich,” writes Mrs. Wiggin in her delightful <span class='sc'>Introduction -to The Mother in Pinafore Palace</span>; and, she adds later, -“no greater love for a task nor happiness in doing it, no -more ardent wish to please a child or meet a mother’s -need, ever went into a book than has been brought into -this volume.”</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><em>$1.50</em></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_471'>471</span>MAGIC CASEMENTS</div> - <div class='c002'>A SECOND FAIRY BOOK</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c000'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/i_486t.jpg' width='100' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi_8'> -This volume, a companion to “The Fairy -Ring,” completes that volume and makes, -with it, the most exhaustive collection of fairy -lore available for young readers. The editors, -with their unerring gift for selection which in -itself amounts to genius, have gathered those stories which -have in them the greatest degree of that glamour which, in -the language of Keats, opens “magic casements” on the -world of Fairyland. These stories are for the most part -longer and more elaborate than those in the preceding -volume and are designed for slightly older readers.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>THE FAIRY RING</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c000'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/i_486d.jpg' width='100' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi_8'> -Designed by its editors to be the standard -fairy book for children. The educational -value of the fairy story cannot be denied in -its healthy stimulation of the child’s imaginative -powers. Here the collections of Grimm, -Andersen, Joseph Jacobs, Laboulaye, Perrault, and Dasent -have yielded their richest stores, but the editors have not -confined themselves to these better-known sources. They -have gone far afield, read and examined all existing books of -fairy literature, sifting all the material till they have made -a generous selection which is inclusive of the very best -that has ever been written.</p> - -<p class='c019'>“Can hardly fail to prove the most popular anthology of its kind -ever published.” <cite>Boston Herald.</cite></p> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c020'> - <div><em>Each volume beautifully printed and bound; about 450 pages: Gilt top; postpaid, $1.50</em></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_472'>472</span>GOLDEN NUMBERS</div> - <div class='c002'>A BOOK OF VERSE FOR YOUTH</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c000'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/i_487t.jpg' width='100' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi_8'> -The best anthology of English verse ever -prepared for young people from the ages of -12 to 17. It is composed entirely of the -finest examples of English poetical literature, -selected with special reference to the requirements -of young people of the grammar and high -school age.</p> - -<p class='c019'>“The book will charm the child for the moment; it will educate -his tastes without awakening the suspicion that he is at school, and -it will enrich his memory for all time to come.” <cite>Outlook.</cite></p> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c020'> - <div><em>With an introduction by Kate Douglas Wiggin, and interleaves. Cloth, 500 pages; postpaid, $2.17; net, $2.00</em></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>THE POSY RING</div> - <div class='c002'>A BOOK OF VERSE FOR CHILDREN</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='c000'> - <img class='drop-capi' src='images/i_487a.jpg' width='100' alt='' /> -</div><p class='drop-capi_8'> -A companion volume to “Golden Numbers,” -suitable for children from the ages of -7 to 12. The compilers have drawn largely -on the works of Longfellow, Stevenson, -Lewis Carroll, Eugene Field, Mary Mapes -Dodge and James Whitcomb Riley. Every poem will give -delight to the child, and also to the mother who would -read them to the little ones.</p> - -<p class='c019'>“Into its pages have been gathered the cream of poetry for children.” -<cite>Boston Transcript.</cite></p> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c020'> - <div><em>Printed in very large, readable type. Cloth, postpaid, $1.37; net, $1.25</em></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c002' /> -</div> -<div class='tnotes'> - -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 class='c006'>TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES</h2> -</div> - - <ol class='ol_1 c003'> - <li>Changed ‘shall everything’ to ‘shall have everything’ on p. <a href='#t25'>25</a>. - - </li> - <li>Changed ‘of in all’ to ‘of it all’ on p. <a href='#t93'>93</a>. - - </li> - <li>Silently corrected typographical errors. - - </li> - <li>Retained anachronistic and non-standard spellings as printed. - </li> - </ol> - -</div> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Tales of Laughter, by -Kate Douglas Wiggin and Nora Archibald Smith - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TALES OF LAUGHTER *** - -***** This file should be named 54734-h.htm or 54734-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/4/7/3/54734/ - -Produced by Richard Tonsing and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law 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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