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diff --git a/old/11315-h/11315-h.htm b/old/11315-h/11315-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b2ef45f --- /dev/null +++ b/old/11315-h/11315-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2951 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content= +"text/html; charset=us-ascii"> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Friendly Fairies.</title> +<style type="text/css"> + <!-- + body {background:#faebd7;} + * { font-family: Times; + } + P { text-indent: 1em; + margin: 10%; + margin-top: .75em; + font-size: 14pt; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; color:#A82C28;} + HR { width: 33%; } + PRE { font-family: Courier, monospaced;} + .toc { margin-left: 15%; font-size: 14pt; margin-bottom: 0em;} + CENTER { padding: 10px;} + // --> +</style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Friendly Fairies, by Johnny Gruelle + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Friendly Fairies + +Author: Johnny Gruelle + +Release Date: February 26, 2004 [EBook #11315] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: US-ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FRIENDLY FAIRIES *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, David Widger and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team + + + + + + +</pre> + +<br> +<br> +<center><a href="images/cover.jpg"><img alt="coverth (37K)" src= +"images/coverth.jpg" height="421" width="579"></a><br> +[Click on the Cover to enlarge to full size.]</center> +<br> +<br> + <br> +<br> +<center><a href="images/front1.jpg"><img alt="front1th (53K)" +src="images/front1th.jpg" height="424" width="589"></a><br> +[Click on the Front-Papers to enlarge to full size.]</center> +<br> +<br> + +<h1>FRIENDLY FAIRIES</h1> +<br> +<h3>Written & Illustrated by</h3> +<br> +<h2>JOHNNY GRUELLE</h2> +<br> +<br> +<h3>1919</h3> +<br> +<br> + <br> +<br> +<center><img alt="front2 (64K)" src="images/front2.jpg" height= +"752" width="673"></center> +<br> +<br> + +<h4>To MY MOTHER</h4> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> + +<hr> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><i>Here are the Titles of the Stories in this Book:</i></h2> +<br> + +<center> +<table summary=""> +<tr> +<td> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_1">THE THREE LITTLE GNOMES</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_2">THE HAPPY RATTLE</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_3">RECIPE FOR A HAPPY DAY</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_4">GRANDFATHER SKEETER-HAWK'S +STORY</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_5">CROW TALK</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_6">THE FAIRY RING</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_7">MR. AND MRS. THUMBKINS</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_8">THE OLD, ROUGH STONE AND THE +GNARLED TREE</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_9">SALLY MIGRUNDY</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_10">HOW JOHNNY CRICKET SAW SANTA +CLAUS</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_11">THE TWIN SISTERS</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_12">LITTLE THUMBKIN'S GOOD +DEED</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_13">THE WISHBONE</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_14">TIM TIM TAMYTAM</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_15">A CHANGE OF COATS</a></p> +</td> +</tr> +</table> +</center> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<hr> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> + <br> +<br> +<center><img alt="003 (14K)" src="images/003.jpg" height="512" +width="387"></center> +<br> +<br> + <br> +<br> +<center><img alt="004 (21K)" src="images/004.jpg" height="234" +width="806"></center> +<br> +<br> + <br><br><br><br><a name="2H_4_1"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<h2>THE THREE LITTLE GNOMES</h2><br><br> +<p>A silvery thread of smoke curled up over the trunk of the old +tree and floated away through the forest, and tiny voices came +from beneath the trunk of the old tree.</p> +<br> +<br> +<center><img alt="005 (137K)" src="images/005.jpg" height="1083" +width="695"></center> +<br> +<br> + +<p>Long, long ago, the tree had stood strong and upright and its +top branches reached far above any of the other trees in the +forest, but the tree had grown so old it began to shiver when the +storms howled through the branches. And as each storm came the +old tree shook more and more, until finally in one of the +fiercest storms it tumbled to the earth with a great crash.</p> +<p>There it lay for centuries, and vines and bushes grew about in +a tangled mass until it was almost hidden from view.</p> +<p>Now down beneath the trunk of the fallen tree lived three +little gnomes, and it was the smoke from their fire which curled +up over the trunk of the old tree and floated away through the +forest.</p> +<p>They were preparing dinner and laughing and talking together +when they heard the sound of a horn.</p> +<p>"What can it be?" one asked.</p> +<p>"It sounds like the horn of a huntsman!" another cried.</p> +<p>As the sound came nearer, the three little gnomes stamped upon +their fire and put it out so that no one would discover their +home. Then they climbed upon the trunk of the tree and ran along +it to where they could see across an open space in the forest +without being seen themselves. And when the sound of the horn +drew very close, they saw a little boy climb through the thick +bushes.</p> +<p>As the little boy came out into the open space the three +little gnomes saw that he was crying.</p> +<p>"He must be lost!" said the first little gnome.</p> +<p>"He looks very tired and hungry!" said the second little +gnome.</p> +<p>"Let us go and ask him!" said the third little gnome.</p> +<p>So the three little gnomes scrambled down from the trunk of +the fallen tree and went up to where the little boy had thrown +himself upon the ground. They stood about him and watched him, +for he had put his face in the crook of his arm and was +crying.</p> +<br> +<br> +<center><img alt="008 (133K)" src="images/008.jpg" height="1086" +width="702"></center> +<br> +<br> + +<p>Finally one of the little gnomes sat down in front of the +little boy and spoke to him.</p> +<p>"I am lost!" the little boy said. "My father went hunting +yesterday with all his men and when they were out of sight I took +my little horn and followed them, but I soon lost their track, +and I have wandered about with nothing to eat. Last night I +climbed into a tree and slept!"</p> +<p>The three little gnomes wiped the little boy's eyes and led +him to their home under the fallen tree. There they finished +preparing the dinner and sat about until the little boy had eaten +and had fallen asleep.</p> +<p>Then the three little gnomes carried him into their house, +away back in the trunk of the tree, and placed him upon one of +their little beds.</p> +<p><br> +<br> +</p> +<center><img alt="007 (16K)" src="images/007.jpg" height="181" +width="679"></center> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> + +<p>When the three little gnomes had finished their dinner they +lit their pipes and wondered how they might help the little boy +find his way home.</p> +<p>"Let us go to old Wizzy Owl and see if he can suggest +anything!" said one.</p> +<p>"Yes, brothers," cried another, "Let us go to old Wizzy +Owl."</p> +<p>So the three little gnomes went to the home of Wizzy Owl and +Wizzy Owl said he would fly high above the forest and try and see +the little boy's home.</p> +<br> +<br> +<center><img alt="009 (69K)" src="images/009.jpg" height="682" +width="684"></center> +<br> +<br> + +<p>"I can not see his home!" cried Wizzy Owl. "Maybe Fuzzy Fox +can tell you!"</p> +<p>So the three little gnomes went to the home of Fuzzy Fox and +Fuzzy Fox said he would run through the forest and see if he +could find the little boy's home. So Fuzzy Fox ran through the +forest, but could not find the little boy's home. "But," said +Fuzzy Fox, "I came upon a wounded deer who told me that a party +of huntsmen had passed through the forest yesterday and had shot +her with an arrow." So the three little gnomes went to see the +wounded deer and they washed the wound the arrow had made and +bound it up for her.</p> +<p>Then the three little gnomes sat upon Fuzzy Fox's back and he +ran on through the forest with them until they came to a wild +boar.</p> +<p>The wild boar had been crippled by the huntsmen, he told the +three little gnomes, but had managed to hide himself in the thick +bushes and escape. "It must have been the little boy's father and +his men," said the wild boar. "I am sorry that I am wounded for I +would like to help him!"</p> +<br> +<br> +<center><img alt="010 (105K)" src="images/010.jpg" height="651" +width="888"></center> +<br> +<br> + +<p>Then Fuzzy Fox ran with the three little gnomes through the +forest and they met a wounded bear, and a wounded squirrel, and +five or six wounded bunny rabbits, and they all told the three +little gnomes that the huntsmen had shot them with arrows and +that they just managed to escape.</p> +<p>The three little gnomes felt very sorry for their wounded +friends and helped them all they could by washing their wounds +and tying them up. "We are sorry that we can not go with you and +help find the little boy's home," they all said, "For his mother +will miss him and cry for him. And we know how much a Mamma or a +Daddy can miss a little boy or girl, for we have all grieved for +our own little ones that the huntsmen who roam this forest have +killed. That is why we feel sorry that we can not help you bring +him back to his mother."</p> +<p>So Fuzzy Fox ran until he came to the edge of the forest and +then the three little gnomes saw a large castle away in the +distance with bright red roofs on the tall towers.</p> +<p>"That must be the little boy's home!" said one little +gnome.</p> +<p>"Let us return at once to our home under the fallen tree and +ask the little boy!" said another. So Fuzzy Fox ran with them +back to their home and the little boy told them it was his +home.</p> +<br> +<br> +<center><img alt="011 (135K)" src="images/011.jpg" height="1095" +width="684"></center> +<br> +<br> + +<p>Then the kind Fuzzy Fox took the three little gnomes and the +little boy upon his back and ran to the edge of the forest and on +the way they stopped to see the wounded animals, and they were +all glad that the little boy's Mamma and Daddy would soon see +him. "Oh, if we could only see the children who have been taken +away from us by the huntsmen!" they said as they bade the little +boy goodbye.</p> +<p>So Fuzzy Fox carried the three little gnomes and the little +boy almost to the castle gate and shook hands with him.</p> +<p>"I will remember the way to your home," the boy told the three +little gnomes, "and I will be back to see you soon!"</p> +<p>The next day when the three little gnomes were preparing +dinner they again heard the little boy's horn, and ran along the +trunk of the tree until they came to where they could see across +the open space.</p> +<p>Soon there came a great many people, and riding upon a fine +horse in front of his Daddy was the little boy, but this day he +wore fine silk and satin clothes and they were not torn by the +brambles and bushes. Near him rode a beautiful lady. She was the +little boy's Mamma.</p> +<p>So the three little gnomes went out to meet them, and the +little boy slid from the horse and ran to them and threw his arms +around them. "This is my Daddy, and this is my Mamma!" he told +them.</p> +<p>The little boy's Mamma and the little boy's Daddy dismounted +and came to the three little gnomes and thanked them for +returning the little boy to them. "We will give you anything you +wish for!" said the little boy's Mamma and Daddy.</p> +<p>"We wish for nothing!" said the three little gnomes, "We live +happily here in the forest and our wants are simple, but if you +could send us some clean white cloths to bind up the wounds you +give our forest friends we would be very grateful!"</p> +<p>"I told Daddy of the wounded creatures!" said the little boy. +"Yes," his Daddy said, "and I have given orders that no one in my +country shall hunt through this forest, and from now on your +forest friends will be unmolested and can always live here in +peace and happiness." For the great king was sorry that he or his +men had ever caused any of the forest creatures any sorrow. And +after that the creatures of the forest were never harmed and they +grew up so tame they would wander right up to the castle, where +the king's men would feed them.</p> +<p>The tiny thread of smoke still curls up over the trunk of the +fallen tree, and the voices of the little boy and his Daddy +mingle with the tiny voices of the three little gnomes as they +prepare their dinner; for the great King and the little Prince +come often to visit their friends, the three little gnomes.</p> +<br> +<br> +<center><img alt="006 (25K)" src="images/006.jpg" height="254" +width="683"></center> +<br> +<br> + +<p><br> +<br> +</p> +<center><img alt="012 (8K)" src="images/012.jpg" height="192" +width="252"></center> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> + <br><br><br><br><a name="2H_4_2"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<h2>THE HAPPY RATTLE</h2><br><br> +<p>Willie Woodchuck sat at the entrance of his burrow home +whittling upon a tiny dried gourd.</p> +<p>"What are you making?" asked Timothy Toad, as he hopped +through the grass and sat in front of Willie.</p> +<br> +<br> +<center> +<img alt="013 (53K)" src="images/013.jpg" height="509" width="760" /> +</center> +<br> +<br> + +<p>"Oh, I am just whittling because I have nothing else to do!" +replied Willie Woodchuck.</p> +<p>So Timothy Toad hopped on down the path until he met Eddie +Elf.</p> +<p>"Willie Woodchuck is whittling because he has nothing else to +do!" said Timothy Toad.</p> +<p>"I will stop by and see him!" said Eddie Elf. So Timothy Toad +hopped along the path until he met Gerty Gartersnake.</p> +<p>"Willie Woodchuck is whittling because he has nothing better +to do!" said Timothy Toad.</p> +<p>"I will go down that way and see him!" said Gerty Gartersnake, +and she started down the path.</p> +<p>So Timothy Toad hopped down the path until he met Wallie +Woodpecker. "Willie Woodchuck is whittling because he has nothing +better to do!" said Timothy Toad.</p> +<p>"I will fly down and see him!" said Wallie Woodpecker, and +away he flew. Timothy Toad hopped on down the road until he met +Billie Bumblebee.</p> +<p>"Willie Woodchuck is whittling because he has nothing else to +do!" said Timothy Toad.</p> +<p>"I will buzz down that way and see him!" said Billie +Bumblebee, as he buzzed away.</p> +<p>When Timothy Toad arrived at his home his wife, Tilly Toad, +was sweeping off the front steps. "What do you think, Tilly?" +Timothy Toad cried, "Willie Woodchuck is, whittling because he +has nothing else to do!"</p> +<p>"Dear me! You don't say so!" cried Tilly Toad, as she stood +her broom in the corner and started down the path. "I will hop +down and see him!" she said.</p> +<p>"I will hop back with you, Tilly!" said Timothy Toad.</p> +<p>They had not hopped far before they met Eddie Elf, who was +singing happily to himself as he walked along. "Willie Woodchuck +is whittling on a rattle!" he said, when the two Toads stopped +him.</p> +<p>"We are hopping back to see him," said Tilly and Timothy Toad. +"I will go back with you!" said Eddie Elf.</p> +<p>They had not gone far until they met Gerty Gartersnake, +singing away very happily. "Willie Woodchuck is whittling on a +beautiful red and black rattle!" said Gerty Gartersnake.</p> +<p>"We are going back to see him!" said Tilly and Timothy Toad +and Eddie Elf.</p> +<p>"Then I will go back with you!" said Gerty Gartersnake.</p> +<p>They had not gone far until they met Wallie Woodpecker, who +also was singing happily. "Willie Woodchuck is whittling on a +rattle and it is blue, red and black and rattles +beautifully."</p> +<p>"We are going back to see him!" said Tilly and Timothy Toad +and Eddie Elf and Gerty Gartersnake.</p> +<p>"Then I will go back with you!" said Wallie Woodpecker.</p> +<p>They had not gone far before they met Billie Bumblebee. +"Willie Woodchuck is whittling on a beautiful yellow and blue and +red and black rattle and it rattles beautifully."</p> +<p>"We are going back to see him!" said Tilly and Timothy Toad +and Eddie Elf and Gerty Gartersnake and Wallie Woodpecker.</p> +<p>"Then I will go back with you!" said Billie Bumblebee, so away +they all went until they came to Willie Woodchuck's home.</p> +<p>"Where is Willie Woodchuck?" they asked of Winnie Woodchuck, +his wife.</p> +<p>"He has taken his beautiful new yellow and red and blue and +black and white rattle, which rattles so beautifully, over to +show to Grumpy Grundy, the Owl!" said Winnie Woodchuck.</p> +<p>"Then we will go there!" said the others.</p> +<p>"Then I will go with you!" said Winnie Woodchuck.</p> +<p>Grumpy Grundy, the Owl, was a very cross old creature, and if +everything did not go to suit her all the time, she hooted and +howled; in fact she had cried so much she had made large red +rings around her eyes.</p> +<p>When Tilly and Timothy Toad and Eddie Elf and Gerty +Gartersnake and Wallie Woodpecker and Billie Bumblebee and Winnie +Woodchuck arrived at Grumpy Grundy's place they heard merry +laughter and whenever the laughter ceased, they heard the buzz +and rattle and hum of Willie Woodchuck's rattle.</p> +<p>So they went inside.</p> +<p>And there was Willie Woodchuck with the beautiful yellow and +red and blue and black and white rattle, and when he rattled it +Grumpy Grundy rolled on the floor and laughed until the tears ran +from her eyes.</p> +<br> +<br> +<center><img alt="014 (104K)" src="images/014.jpg" height="852" +width="909"></center> +<br> +<br> + +<p>So they all lifted Grumpy Grundy on a chair and wiped her eyes +and what do you think! the red rings around them were wiped away +and she looked young and pretty again.</p> +<p>"Oh dear!" said Grumpy Grundy, the Owl. "I have never enjoyed +myself so much before, and I will never be grumpy and be called a +Grundy again! No sir! never!" and her eyes twinkled with +merriment.</p> +<p>And all were greatly pleased at the great change in Grumpy +Grundy.</p> +<p>Eddie Elf laughed, Tilly and Timothy Toad chuckled, Gerty +Gartersnake giggled, Wallie Woodpecker beat a tattoo on wood, +Billie Bumblebee buzzed and Winnie Woodchuck sang a woodchuck +song.</p> +<p>And after that no one could say that Willie Woodchuck had +nothing else to do, for he spent his time making beautiful "happy +rattles" which he gave away to all the creatures, and everyone +laughed and made merry whenever they heard the beautiful yellow +and red and blue and black and white rattles which rattled so +beautifully and drove away the grumpies.</p> +<p><br> + + <br><br><br><br><a name="2H_4_3"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<h2>RECIPE FOR A HAPPY DAY</h2><br><br> +<p>One morning Marjorie's Mamma called to her several times +before Marjorie answered, for her pretty brown eyes were very +sleepy and would hardly stay open.</p> +<p>"Come, dear! Please hurry, for I want you to run to the +grocery before breakfast!" Mamma called from the foot of the +stairs.</p> +<br> +<br> +<center><img alt="015 (36K)" src="images/015.jpg" height="338" +width="875"></center> +<br> +<br> + +<p>"Oh dear!" exclaimed Marjorie, "I don't want to get up!" and +keeping her head on the pillow just as long as she could Marjorie +crawled out of bed backwards.</p> +<p>Her clothes were scattered about the room and her stockings +were turned inside out. Her dress would not fasten and she cried, +so that Mamma had to come upstairs and dress her.</p> +<p>So you see Marjorie's day began all wrong, for everything +started topsy-turvy.</p> +<p>"Now hurry, dear!" Mamma said as she handed Marjorie the +basket.</p> +<p>Marjorie slammed the door as she went out and she was so cross +she did not notice the beautiful sunshine nor hear the pretty +songs which greeted her from the tree tops.</p> +<p>"It's so far to the old store!" Marjorie grumbled to herself, +as she pouted her pretty lips and shuffled her feet along the +path.</p> +<p>"Hello, Marjorie!" laughed a merry voice.</p> +<p>Marjorie saw a queer little elf sitting upon a stone at the +side of the road. His little green suit was so near the color of +the leaves Marjorie could scarcely distinguish him from the +foliage. He wore a funny little pointed cap of a brilliant red, +and sticking in it was a long yellow feather.</p> +<p>Two long hairs grew from his eyebrows and curled over his cap. +He was hardly as large as Marjorie's doll, Jane.</p> +<p>"Who are you, and where did you come from?" Marjorie cried, +for she thought him the most comical little creature she had ever +seen.</p> +<p>"Why, I'm Merry Chuckle from Make-Believe Land!" replied the +elf. "And aren't you very cross this lovely day?"</p> +<p>"I did not want to get up!" cried Marjorie, "and I just hate +to go to the store! It's too far!" She dropped her basket on the +ground and sat down beside the elf on the large stone.</p> +<p>"Isn't it funny?" laughed Merry Chuckle. "There are hundreds +of children just like you who make hard work of getting up when +they are called in the morning and who remain cross and ugly all +day long!"</p> +<p>"I really do not mean to be cross, but I just can't help it +sometimes!" Marjorie said.</p> +<p>"Oh, but indeed you can help it, Marjorie!" the elf solemnly +said as he shook his tiny finger at her nose. "And I am going to +tell you how. First of all, when you awaken in the morning you +must say to yourself, 'Oh what a lovely, happy day this is going +to be!' then raise your arms above your head and take three long, +deep breaths. Jump out of bed quickly, always remembering to put +your toes on the floor first.</p> +<p>"For," continued Merry Chuckle, "Old Witchy Crosspatch is +always waiting for children to get out of bed backwards. And when +they do, she catches them by the heels and turns everything +topsy-turvy all day long; but when you get out of bed toes first, +I'll be there to start you on a pleasant day and Witchy +Crosspatch will have to return to Make-Believe Land and hide her +head!" "Sure enough, I did crawl out of bed backwards this +morning!" Marjorie said.</p> +<br> +<br> +<center><img alt="016 (116K)" src="images/016.jpg" height="1100" +width="685"></center> +<br> +<br> + +<p>"I know you did, my dear!" Merry Chuckle giggled. "And every +time you do old Witchy Crosspatch makes everything seem +disagreeable!"</p> +<p>"But I hate to run errands, Mister Chuckle!" cried Marjorie. +"The old road is so dreadfully long and tiresome!"</p> +<p>"But the longer the road the more happiness you can find along +the way, my dear!" Merry Chuckle replied, quick as a wink, his +little eyes twinkling brightly. "If you look up at the blue sky +and the beautiful sunshine and sing with the birds as you run +along you'll find the road seems too short and you'll be back +before you notice it. Just try it and see."</p> +<p>So Marjorie looked up the road with a smile and, sure enough, +it did not seem so far to the store, and when she turned around, +she was sitting upon the stone alone. The little elf had suddenly +disappeared. Marjorie picked up her basket and skipped down the +road singing at the top of her voice and before she had time to +think about how far it was she was back home telling Mamma all +about the queer little elf from Make-Believe Land.</p> +<p>"You haven't been away long enough to stop and talk with +anyone on the road!" laughed Mamma. "Are you sure you have not +been dreaming?" Marjorie wondered if it really had only been a +dream, but the next morning when the golden sunshine peeped +through her bedroom curtains, Marjorie did as Merry Chuckle had +told her the day before. First of all she woke up and cried, "Oh +what a lovely day this is going to be!" Then she took three long, +deep breaths and then she jumped out of bed quickly, right on her +toes. And, sure enough, old Witchy Crosspatch had to go back to +Make-Believe Land and hide her head, so Marjorie spent a lovely, +happy day with Merry Chuckle.</p> +<p>"I hope all children will hear of my recipe for a joyous day," +said Merry Chuckle, "so that each day for them can be filled with +sunshine and happiness!"</p> +<p><br> +<br> +</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> + <br><br><br><br><a name="2H_4_4"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<h2>GRANDFATHER SKEETER-HAWK'S STORY</h2><br><br> +<p>It was a beautiful day in the late summer. Tommy Grasshopper, +Johnny Cricket and Willy Ladybug were playing on a high bank of +the river, and watching the little fish jumping after tiny flies +and bugs that fell upon the surface of the stream.</p> +<p>"Let's go up higher so that we can see them better," Willy +Ladybug said.</p> +<p>"Yes, let's climb up on the tall reeds so that we can look +right down in the water," Johnny Cricket said. "But we must be +very careful and not fall, for the fish would soon swallow us, +and that would not be very much fun!" he laughed.</p> +<p>So Tommy Grasshopper and Johnny Cricket caught hold of Willy +Ladybug's four little hands and helped him to climb up the tall +reeds, for Willy was not as old as the other Bug Boys, and might +fall in the water if they did not help him.</p> +<p>From the tall reeds the three Bug Boys could look down in the +water and see the pretty little sun fish and the long slim +pickerel darting around and turning their shiny sides so that the +sun would reflect its rays on them, just as if they were looking +glasses.</p> +<p>The Bug Boys watched the fish until they grew tired, and they +were just starting down the tall reed when a great big dragon fly +flew upon the top of the reed and called to them.</p> +<br> +<br> +<center><img alt="017 (54K)" src="images/017.jpg" height="609" +width="692"></center> +<br> +<br> + +<p>Of course all the Bug Boys knew old Gran'pa +Skeeterhawk—for it was he—so the three returned to +the reed and sat down again to pass the time of day with +Gran'pa.</p> +<p>Presently Willy Ladybug saw a strange fish in the water.</p> +<p>"What kind of a fish is that, Gran'pa Skeeterhawk?" he +asked.</p> +<p>"That's a catfish!" Gran'pa replied. "Queer looking fish, the +catfish are; they do most of their feeding at night since Omasko, +the elk, flattened their heads."</p> +<p>"Dear me! Are their heads flat?" Johnny Cricket asked.</p> +<p>"Flat as a pancake!" Gran'pa Skeeterhawk replied, and then +told them this story:</p> +<p>"I've heard <i>my</i> Gran'pa tell that once the catfish had +heads that were shaped like sunfish," Gran'pa Skeeterhawk said, +"and they thought that they were not only the most beautiful fish +but the fiercest fighters in the world, although they would +always swim away as fast as they could whenever anything came +near them. You see, they really were not even a teeney, weeney +bit brave.</p> +<br> +<br> +<center><img alt="018 (50K)" src="images/018.jpg" height="465" +width="871"></center> +<br> +<br> + +<p>"But when the catfish got by themselves and they thought there +was no one else to overhear them, they would make up fairy tales +of wonderful adventures they had gone through, and fierce +monsters they had destroyed. One would say 'I wish I were large +enough to drag home the enormous giant eel I killed today. He was +sixteen feet long, and weighed five hundred pounds.' Another +would say, 'Pooh, that is nothing! Why, you ought to see an +Indian who tried to catch me in a net! Why, I not only pulled him +in the water and dragged him all over the bottom, but I made him +promise he would never disturb any of the catfish tribe after +this!'</p> +<p>"Just then a little bird flew over the water and his shadow so +startled the boastful catfish, they buried themselves in the mud +at the bottom of the stream.</p> +<p>"After a while," Grand'pa Skeeterhawk continued, "They got up +courage to peek out of the mud, and as they saw nothing to +frighten them, they formed in a circle and told more tales of +their fighting qualities.</p> +<p>"One old catfish who had been the leader because he could tell +the biggest tales and hide under the mud quicker than any of the +others finally said: 'We are the best fish in the water, as you +all know, so I think it will be a good plan to fight everything +that comes near the water from the land!'</p> +<br> +<br> +<center><img alt="019 (34K)" src="images/019.jpg" height="368" +width="875"></center> +<br> +<br> + +<p>"'Shall we fight the big hawk who wades in the water and +catches some of us?' asked a little kitten fish.</p> + + +<p>"'Kitten fish should be seen and not heard!' the old chief +catfish answered quickly. I do not believe we should harm the +hawk. He is not large enough. I was thinking of the large beast +who comes wading along the shores and eats the grasses that grow +beneath the surface. You know he has to raise his head every +once-in-a-while in order to breathe, so if we should all hang on +to him we could pull him under the water.'</p> +<p>"So the catfish, although they were so frightened that their +fins grew stiff, decided that they would follow their chief, for +they expected he would be the first to hide under the mud when +the big beast came.</p> +<p>"Finally old Omasko, the elk, came down to the river to feed, +and the old chief catfish swam out and pulled on Omasko's +whiskers, and all the other catfish cried: 'See how brave and +fearless the mighty catfish are!' and they all swam out and +pulled Omasko's whiskers, too. This made Omasko very angry, for +he never harmed any fish in his life.</p> +<p>"He began jumping and pawing with his heavy hoofs, and smashed +all the catfish down in the mud and when they finally came out +again, which was not until two or three days later, their heads +were as flat as they are now!</p> +<p>"That is why all catfish have flat heads," Grandfather +Skeeterhawk finished.</p> +<p>"It served them right for being so boastful!" Johnny Cricket +said.</p> +<p>"It served them right for trying to harm someone who never +harmed them!" Gran'pa Skeeterhawk replied, as he darted up in the +air and flew over the tall cat-tails.</p> + + + + + <br><br><br><br><a name="2H_4_5"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<h2>CROW TALK</h2><br><br> +<p>"Caw, Caw, Caw," one old crow cried as he faced the other two +crows. "Caw?" asked the second old crow as he plumed his feathers +and screwed his head around to get a better view of the little +boy lying under the tree.</p> +<p>"Caw-AAAAH! Ca—aaaaw!" replied the first crow.</p> +<p>"Those crows must be talking to each other!" Dickie Dorn +thought to himself, as he lay upon his back under the big oak +tree and watched the three crows.</p> +<p>The third crow now cried, "Awww! Ca-ca-caw!"</p> +<p>Dickie jumped up and ran down the hill to where Granny lived. +It was a tiny little house, not much larger than a piano box, but +it was plenty large enough for Granny, for Granny was only two +feet high. Some people even thought Granny was a witch.</p> +<p>Of course Dickie knew that Granny was not a witch, for Granny +was very good and kind. So Dickie knocked at Granny's tiny front +door.</p> +<p>"Come in!" Granny cried. "Good morning, Dickie!" she said, as +Dickie crawled into the tiny living room.</p> +<p>When Dickie took a seat upon a tiny sofa he did not know just +how to ask Granny for what he wanted, so he twiddled his +thumbs.</p> +<p>"Why do you twiddle your thumbs, Dickie?" Granny asked, as she +smiled through her glasses at him.</p> +<p>"I was wondering what the three crows were talking of!" Dickie +replied. Granny went to her tiny cupboard and brought out a +little bottle of purple fluid. She dropped three drops of this +into a tiny spoon and held it to Dickie.</p> + +<p>"Am I to take it, Granny?"</p> +<p>"Yes, my dear, and you will be able to understand what the +three crows are talking about."</p> +<p>Dickie swallowed the purple fluid, for he was very anxious to +return to the big oak tree and listen to the crows. Granny +watched him for a few moments with her eyes full of twinkles, +then she told him to run along to the tree.</p> +<p>And Dickie thanked Granny and ran as fast as he could to the +tree where the three crows were still talking.</p> + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="020 (59K)" src="images/020.jpg" height="527" width="902" /> +</center> +<br><br> + + + + +<p>The first crow cried, "I know where there is a box filled with +golden pennies!"</p> +<p>"Ah, my brother, where?" asked the second crow.</p> +<p>"In the middle of the great meadow, and it will belong to the +one who finds it first!"</p> +<p>"I know where there is a box full of candy!" the third crow +cried.</p> +<p>"Ahhhh! Where is it, my brother?" asked the first crow.</p> +<p>"In the middle of the great meadow, and it will belong to the +one who finds it first."</p> +<p>"I know where there is a box full of ice cream!" cried the +second crow. "Aha! My brother, where?" asked the third crow.</p> +<p>"In the middle of the great meadow, and it will belong to the +one who finds it first!"</p> +<p>Then the crows went on talking about other things, but Dickie +did not hear them, for he was running in the direction of the +great meadow as fast as he could.</p> +<p>And when he came to the middle of the great meadow there was a +large box, and in the large box were three other boxes. One +contained the golden pennies, another the candy and the third was +full of ice cream.</p> + + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="021 (104K)" src="images/021.jpg" height="832" width="684" /> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<p>"I found it first!" Dickie cried and he took a pencil stub +from his pocket and, with much twisting of mouth and thinking, he +printed his name upon the box.</p> +<p>Then Dickie ran home as fast as he could and told Daddy Dorn. +Daddy Dorn hitched up Dobbin Dorn and Dickie and Daddy went to +the middle of the great meadow and put the big box in the wagon +and took it home.</p> + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="022 (42K)" src="images/022.jpg" height="363" width="1022" /> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<p>Then they called Mamma Dorn and they all ate some of the ice +cream and candy. Then Dickie took some of the ice cream and candy +and some of the golden pennies to Granny.</p> +<p>Then Dickie ran back home and had some more ice cream and +candy, and asked Daddy if he might take some of the golden +pennies downtown and buy something, and Daddy Dorn said: "Of +course, Dickie Dorn, for they are your golden pennies." So Dickie +took two handfuls of the golden pennies downtown and bought a +fine little pony with a little round stomach, and he bought a +pretty pony cart and harness. Then Dicky drove the pony back +home.</p> +<p>By the time Dickie reached home he was hungry for more ice +cream and candy, so he went to the box to get some. "Oh Mamma and +Daddy!" he cried, "Come see! The box is full of candy and ice +cream!" And sure enough that was the case, for although they had +eaten almost all of the ice cream and candy before now the two +boxes were filled again. Then Daddy Dorn took two large handfuls +of golden pennies from the golden penny box and they watched the +box fill up with pennies again.</p> +<p>"Whee!" cried Dickie Dorn. "Whee!" cried Mamma Dorn, and +"Whee!" cried Daddy Dorn. "We will give a party!" So Dickie drove +around to everybody's house in his pony cart and invited +everybody to come to the party.</p> + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="023 (141K)" src="images/023.jpg" height="1088" width="701" /> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<p>And they all had such a nice time they ate the ice cream box +empty sixteen times and it filled right up again, and they ate +the candy box empty seventeen times and it filled right up again, +and Dickie and Mamma and Daddy Dorn gave everybody all the golden +pennies they could carry home and emptied the penny box eighteen +times, and whenever they emptied the golden penny box it filled +right up again.</p> +<p>And every one felt very grateful to Dickie Dorn and thanked +him for such a nice time, and Dickie brought Granny out of a +corner where she was eating her eighth dish of ice cream and told +everybody that it was Granny who had really given the party, and +he told them how Granny had helped him to learn crow talk.</p> + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="024 (36K)" src="images/024.jpg" height="401" width="908" /> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<p>So the people never called Granny a witch after that, for they +knew she was very good and kindly.</p> +<p>And Dickie put the three boxes—the candy box, the ice +cream box and the box with the golden pennies—out in front +of his house so that whenever anyone wished candy or ice cream or +golden pennies they might walk up and help themselves.</p> +<p>Dickie Dorn calls it an "All-The-Time Party," for there is +always someone out in front of Dickie Dorn's house eating from +the candy and the ice cream box and filling their pockets with +golden pennies.</p> +<p>Some day I hope to see you there.</p> + + + + + <br><br><br><br><a name="2H_4_6"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<h2>THE FAIRY RING</h2><br><br> +<p>A little old man with a violin tucked under his arm shuffled +down the attic steps and the many flights of stairs until finally +he reached the streets.</p> +<p>As he shuffled down the street, he clutched his coat tightly +about his throat, for the air was chill and he felt the cold.</p> + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="025 (54K)" src="images/025.jpg" height="541" width="909" /> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<p>At the first street corner he stopped and placed his violin to +his shoulder to play, but catching a glance from the policeman +across the street he hastily tucked his violin under his arm and +shuffled on.</p> +<p>He walked a great distance before he again stopped.</p> +<p>It was a busy corner where hundreds of people passed every few +minutes, but when he played no one stopped to listen to his +music, much less to drop anything in the tiny tin cup he had +placed on the sidewalk before him.</p> +<p>Tears came to the poor little old man's eyes; everyone was too +busy to stop to hear his music.</p> +<p>So in the evening when he slowly retraced his steps towards +his attic home, his feet were very tired and he shuffled more +than he had in the morning. His back humped and his head drooped +more, and the tears nearly blinded him. He had to stop and rest +at each flight of stairs and he fell to his knees just as he +reached the attic door.</p> +<p>He sat there and rested awhile, then caught hold of the +doorknob and raised himself to his feet.</p> +<p>A quaint little white-haired woman greeted him with a cheery +smile as he entered, then, seeing his sad face, she turned her +head and tears came to her eyes.</p> +<p>"Honey!" the little old man sobbed, as he stumbled towards her +chair and fell to his knees before her, burying his face in her +lap.</p> +<p>Neither could say a word for a long time, then the little old +man told her he had been unable to make a single penny by +playing.</p> +<p>"No one cares to hear an old man play the violin!" he said. +"No one cares that we go hungry and cold! And I can still play," +he added fiercely, "just as well as ever I could! Listen to +this!" and the little old man stood up and drew his bow across +the violin strings in a sure, fiery manner, so that the lamp +chimney rattled and sang with the vibrations of the strings.</p> + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="026 (120K)" src="images/026.jpg" height="1085" width="698" /> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<p>And in his fierceness he improvised a melody so wild and +beautiful his sister sat entranced.</p> +<p>As the little old man finished the melody he stood still more +upright. Then straightening his old shoulders and pulling his hat +firmly on his head, he stooped and kissed the old lady and walked +with a firm tread to the door.</p> +<p>"I shall make them take notice tonight!" he cried. "I shall +return with success!"</p> +<p>So again he went down the long flights of stairs and down the +street until he came to a good corner where traffic was +heavy.</p> +<p>There, with the mood upon him which had fired him in the +attic, he played again the wild melody.</p> +<p>A few people hesitated as they passed, but only one stopped. +This was an old woman, bent and wrinkled, who helped herself +along with a cane. She stopped and looked him squarely in the eye +and the little old man felt he should recognize her, but he could +not remember where he had seen her before, nor was he sure that +he had ever looked upon her until now.</p> +<p>At any rate, the faint memory inspired him and, raising his +violin, he played a beautiful lullaby.</p> +<p>Before he had finished the old woman leaned over and dropped +something into his little tin cup.</p> +<p>It sounded as loud as a silver dollar would have sounded.</p> +<p>"The dear old generous soul!" the old man thought as he +continued playing.</p> +<p>He played for hours, but the old woman was the only one who +stopped. "I will at least have enough to get Cynthia some warm +food!" he said, thinking of what the old lady had dropped into +his tin cup.</p> +<p>But when he looked, what was his dismay to see only a large +iron ring!</p> +<p>Again he climbed the stairs to the attic but he felt too weary +to say a thing and his sister knew that he had met with +disappointment. He tossed the iron ring to her lap and went over +to the bed and threw himself upon it.</p> +<p>"This is the end!" he said, and told her about the iron +ring.</p> +<p>"The old woman seemed interested in my playing!" he said, "And +perhaps she gave all she could give!"</p> +<p>"Let us not be downhearted, Brother!" said the sister. "Surely +tomorrow you will find someone who will reward your talent!"</p> +<p>The little old man was quiet for a long time and then he arose +and again drew his bow across the violin strings. The old lady +sat very still and dreamed, for her brother was playing one of +their childhood songs.</p> + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="027 (141K)" src="images/027.jpg" height="1095" width="695" /> +</center> +<br><br> + + + +<p>As she lost herself in reverie, she turned the iron ring +around her finger and saw upon its surface, as she turned it, the +faces of her playmates of long ago.</p> + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="028 (112K)" src="images/028.jpg" height="1090" width="687" /> +</center> +<br><br> + + + +<p>And as the brother swept from one melody to another, she saw +the iron ring change color and grow larger and larger.</p> + +<p>And, as she turned it, she saw the figures of her childhood +playmates turn before her upon her lap, and they joined their +voices with the silvery notes of the violin's long ago songs +until the attic was filled with the melody and the figures danced +from her lap and, taking her by the hand, circled in the center +of the attic room laughing and singing.</p> + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="029 (56K)" src="images/029.jpg" height="703" width="689" /> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<p>The little old man had been playing with his eyes closed, but +as the songs grew louder he opened them and beheld the ring of +little figures, with his sister holding hands with two of them. +And, rising from the bed, still playing the childhood songs of +long ago, he walked to the center of the room. As he did so, the +figures rose in the air and seemed to grow lighter and larger. +And suddenly the scene changed! He was out in the woods, with +lofty trees towering above him, while all about, laughing and +talking, were hundreds of little fairies, gnomes and sprites, and +there, too, were the playmates of long ago, just as he had seen +them when he had closed his eyes and played in the attic.</p> +<p>And there, too, was his sister as she had been when a child. +He looked at himself, and lo! he was no longer wrinkled and old. +He was young again!</p> +<p>In his gladness he danced with joy, and catching his sister to +his breast he kissed her again and again.</p> +<p>And, looking about him with shining eyes, he again drew his +bow across the strings and played a tune so lively and full of +sweet happiness the childhood friends caught hands and danced in +a circle, and the little sprites, elves, gnomes and fairies +caught hands and danced around the children, and as they passed +before the brother he caught a mischievous glance from the eyes +of one of the little fairies, and he knew in a moment she was the +one who had played the old woman, and who had given him the iron +ring....</p> +<p>The people who lived in the room below the attic room missed +the little old man's shuffling step, and, not hearing it for two +days, they told the landlady, a kindly soul who had let the +brother and sister have the attic room free of charge, and all +went up to investigate....</p> +<p>They rapped upon the attic door. All was quiet within. Timidly +they opened the door and looked in. There upon the floor lay an +old rusty iron ring. It was the Fairy Ring.</p> + + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="030 (18K)" src="images/030.jpg" height="215" width="905" /> +</center> +<br><br> + + + + + <br><br><br><br><a name="2H_4_7"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<h2>MR. AND MRS. THUMBKINS</h2><br><br> +<p>Thumbkins ran beneath the bushes and down the tiny path until +he came to where Tommy Grasshopper sat upon a blade of grass +swinging in the breeze.</p> +<p>"Have you seen Mrs. Thumbkins, Tommy Grasshopper?" Thumbkins +called.</p> +<p>"I have been asleep," replied Tommy Grasshopper, "And I +haven't seen her!"</p> +<p>"Oh dear! Oh dear!" cried Thumbkins. "She has not been home +all day!"</p> +<p>"Perhaps she went over to see Granpa Tobackyworm!" suggested +Tommy Grasshopper, as he flicked his wings and made the blade of +grass swing up and down.</p> + + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="031 (75K)" src="images/031.jpg" height="613" width="652" /> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<p>So Thumbkins thanked Tommy Grasshopper and ran over to Granpa +Tobacyworm's house.</p> +<p>Granpa Tobackyworm was sitting upon a blade of grass, swinging +in the breeze and smoking his old clay pipe.</p> + + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="032 (24K)" src="images/032.jpg" height="321" width="937" /> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<p>"Oh, Granpa Tobackyworm! Have you seen Mrs. Thumbkins? She has +not been at home all day and I can not find her!" cried +Thumbkins.</p> +<p>"Yes, I saw her early this morning going down the path with +her acorn basket," said Granpa Tobackyworm as he blew a few rings +of smoke in the air. "Perhaps she has gone to the Katydid grocery +store to buy something," Granpa Tobackyworm added as he bounced +up and down on his blade of grass.</p> +<p>So Thumbkins thanked Granpa Tobackyworm and went on down the +tiny path.</p> +<p>"Hello, Thumbkins!" cried a cheery voice as Thumbkins ran +under a bunch of flowers. "Where are you going in such a +hurry?"</p> +<p>Thumbkins saw Billy Bumblebee sitting upon one of the flowers, +swinging in the breeze.</p> +<p>"Mrs. Thumbkins has not been home all day!" said Thumbkins. +"And I can not find her anywhere!"</p> +<p>"HUMMMM!" replied Billy Bumblebee. "Let me think! HUMMMM!" +This was his way of thinking very hard.</p> +<p>"Perhaps she has gone over to see Granpa Tobackyworm, Mr +Thumbkins!"</p> +<p>"No!" replied Thumbkins, "I went there, and also over to the +Katydid store, but she was not there!"</p> +<p>"Suppose you climb upon my back, Thumbkins, and let me help +you find her!" said Billy Bumblebee, as he buzzed his wings, +making the flower sway up and down. So Thumbkins climbed up the +flower stalk and took a seat upon Billy Bumblebee's back.</p> +<p>"Let us fly way up in the air so that we may look down over +all the country!" said Billy Bumblebee, as he made his wings +whirr and climbed high in the air.</p> +<p>Billy Bumblebee and Thumbkins looked over the country +carefully, but they could not see Mrs. Thumbkins anywhere.</p> +<p>Finally Billy's sharp eyes discovered something shiny down by +the side of the pond, so they flew down towards it. It was a new +tin can house. The door was closed.</p> +<p>Thumbkins alighted from Billy Bumblebee's back and knocked at +the door.</p> +<center>TINKY-TINKY-TINK!</center> +<p>"GRUMP! GRUMP!" said a deep voice from inside the tin can +house. Billy Bumblebee peeped through a chink in a window, and +saw a hoppy-toad with his mouth full of pancakes.</p> +<p>So Thumbkins picked up a pebble and knocked louder. +TONKY-TONKY-TONK!</p> +<p>Old Man Hoppy-toad came to the door with a pancake in each +hand and another large one in his mouth. "GRUMP! GRUMP!" he +said.</p> +<p>"Where is Mrs. Thumbkins?" Billy Bumblebee demanded, as he +buzzed around Old Man Hoppy-toad's head.</p> + + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="033 (30K)" src="images/033.jpg" height="300" width="914" /> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<p>"I don't know!" said Old Man Hoppy-toad when he had swallowed +the pancake.</p> +<p>"Yes, you do!" Thumbkins cried as he caught Old Man +Hoppy-toad's hand. "Who made those pancakes for you?"</p> +<p>Billy Bumblebee buzzed closer to Old Man Hoppy-toad's head and +Old Man Hoppy-toad blinked his big round eyes and finally said, +"She is locked up in the kitchen!"</p> + +<p>So Thumbkins ran to the kitchen and came out with Mrs. +Thumbkins. Old Man Hoppy-toad had locked her in the kitchen so +she would have to bake lots and lots of pancakes for him.</p> +<p>Thumbkins was so glad to see Mrs. Thumbkins he came very near +crying. And Billy Bumblebee said to Old Man Hoppy-toad, "Now you +must leave our neighborhood, for we do not permit anyone to +bother anyone else in the Town of Tinythings."</p> +<p>So Old Man Hoppy-toad had to pack up all his things in a red +handkerchief and hustle out of town.</p> +<p>And Billy Bumblebee buzzed right around his head as Old Man +Hoppy-toad went down the path "Lickity split-Hoppity hop!" and +never once looked behind him.</p> + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="034 (111K)" src="images/034.jpg" height="1089" width="700" /> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<p>Thumbkins and Mrs. Thumbkins went back home, and when Billy +Bumblebee returned and told them he had made Old Man Hoppy-toad +go 'way down to the river they knew they would never be troubled +with him again.</p> +<p>Mrs. Thumbkins said she had fried pancakes all day but she was +not too tired to fry more. So she made a lot of pancakes, while +Billy Bumblebee flew home and returned with a bucket of honey, +and they had so many pancakes Mrs. Thumbkins asked Billy +Bumblebee if he would fly around and invite all the neighbors in +to help eat them.</p> +<p>Tommy Grasshopper, Granpa Tobackyworm, and all the other +friends of the Thumbkins came and ate the lovely pancakes, +covered with the delicious honey.</p> +<p>And, after eating as much as they could, everybody caught hold +of hands and danced until late in the night, for the Katydid +orchestra was there to furnish the music.</p> + + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="035 (9K)" src="images/035.jpg" height="242" width="317" /> +</center> +<br><br> + + + + + + + <br><br><br><br><a name="2H_4_8"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<h2>THE OLD, ROUGH STONE AND THE GNARLED TREE</h2><br><br> +<p>A great rough stone lay beneath a gnarled old tree. Years ago +a tiny squirrel had climbed upon the stone to nibble some nuts, +but before he had finished he was startled away.</p> + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="036 (23K)" src="images/036.jpg" height="325" width="750" /> +</center> +<br><br> + + + +<p>"There!" thought the stone to himself as he saw a nut roll to +the ground, "now that nut will take root and grow into a tree and +I will have to lie here for ages beneath its branches. I wish the +silly squirrel had gone some other place to eat the nuts!"</p> +<p>When the little nut took root and sent its tiny shoots up in +the air, the old, rough Stone said, "There! I knew it!" and he +disliked the tree from that time on.</p> +<p>The old, rough Stone watched the tiny green shoot grow and +grow until it grew into an enormous tree.</p> +<p>"Just see how he pushes me up in the air with his roots!" the +old, rough Stone said to himself.</p> +<p>When the gnarled tree was covered with leaves in the summer +time, the old, rough Stone said, "Just see how he hides the blue +sky from my view!"</p> + + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="037 (27K)" src="images/037.jpg" height="269" width="744" /> +</center> +<br><br> + + + +<p>And in the winter time when the limbs of the tree were bare, +the old, rough Stone said, "Just see how he lets the snow and the +cold rain fall right on me!"</p> +<p>One night during a heavy storm the old, rough Stone heard a +crash, and in the morning he saw the gnarled tree lying upon the +ground. "Now I shall be all by myself again!" he said. Then he +counted the rings in the trunk of the gnarled tree until he came +to three hundred, which was as far as he could count. "More than +three hundred years have passed since that silly little squirrel +dropped the nut from which this tree grew!" said the old, rough +Stone to himself.</p> + + +<p>Then men came with axes and cut up the tree and carried all of +it away.</p> +<p>When the hot summer days came the sun beat down upon the old, +rough Stone and he missed the shade of the gnarled tree. "My! +It's hot!" said the old, rough Stone, "I wish the gnarled tree +with its pretty rustling leaves were here again to shade me and +keep me cool!"</p> +<p>When winter came the old, rough Stone missed the leaves which +fell around him and kept him warm.</p> +<p>"Oh dear! How cold it is!" he cried, "I wish the gnarled tree +would come back and scatter his leaves about me to protect me +from the cold!"</p> +<p>So years and years and years passed, and the great old, rough +Stone lay all alone.</p> +<p>"I wish another squirrel would come to eat nuts upon me!" he +thought. "Squirrels are such knowing little creatures, I am sure +another might drop a nut which would grow into a lovely tree to +keep me company."</p> +<p>But, many more years passed, and never again did a tiny +squirrel sit upon the old, rough Stone and eat nuts. And never +again did another tree grow above the old, rough Stone to keep +him company.</p> +<p>"Ah me!" sighed the old, rough Stone, "We never know how well +off we are until we lose something we really need!"</p> + + + + + <br><br><br><br><a name="2H_4_9"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<h2>SALLY MIGRUNDY</h2><br><br> +<p>Sally Migrundy lived all alone in a tiny little cottage no +larger than a piano box. This was plenty large enough for Sally +Migrundy though, for she was a tiny little lady herself. Sally +Migrundy's tiny little cottage stood at the edge of a stream, a +beautiful crystal clear stream of tinkling water which sang in a +continual murmur all day and all night to Sally Migrundy.</p> +<p>The stream tinkled merrily through a great forest which lay +for miles and miles, a green mantle over the hills and valleys, +and Sally Migrundy's tiny little cottage stood in the exact +center of the great whispering forest.</p> + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="038 (112K)" src="images/038.jpg" height="1112" width="695" /> +</center> +<br><br> + + + +<p>All the wood creatures knew and loved Sally Migrundy and she +knew and loved all of the wood creatures.</p> +<p>Each morning she would scatter food upon the surface of the +singing stream and the lovely fish, their sides reflecting +rainbow colors, would leap from the tinkling waters and splash +about to show their pleasure. And she would place food about her +little garden for the birds and they in turn repaid her by their +wonderful melodies.</p> +<p>Even the mama deer brought their little, wabbly-legged baby +deer to introduce to Sally Migrundy; and she rubbed their sleek +sides and talked to them so they couldn't but love her.</p> + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="039 (67K)" src="images/039.jpg" height="551" width="898" /> +</center> +<br><br> + + + +<p>Now Sally Migrundy had always lived in her tiny cottage on the +bank of the tinkling stream which ran through the whispering +forest. She had lived there when the largest trees in the forest +were tiny little sprouts. She had lived there long before that, +and even still longer than that, and that, and that. Ever so much +longer!</p> + + + + +<p>One day a man who lived on a hill many, many miles away from +the whispering forest said to his wife: "Mother, wouldn't you +like to know where the water that flows from our spring goes to?" +And his wife replied: "It must travel until it reaches the +ocean!"</p> +<p>"Yes, I know that, mother" he replied, "but I mean, wouldn't +it be interesting to know all of the country through which the +water flows?"</p> +<p>So the more they talked of it, the more interested they became +until the man finally wrote upon a slip of paper and put the +paper into a tiny bottle. Then he put the bottle upon the surface +of the spring water and watched it float away.</p> + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="040 (80K)" src="images/040.jpg" height="834" width="681" /> +</center> +<br><br> + + + +<p>The little bottle floated along, tumbling over the tiny falls +and tinkling ripples and bobbing up and down in the deep, blue, +quiet, places until finally it floated to Sally Migrundy's and +came to rest in the mass of pretty flowers where Sally Migrundy +came each morning to dip her tiny bucket of water.</p> +<p>And so Sally Migrundy found the tiny bottle and took it into +her tiny house to read the tiny note she saw inside.</p> +<p>It was such a nice, happy-hearted note Sally Migrundy said: "I +will answer it!" So she wrote a happy-hearted note and asked +whoever read it to come and visit her. Then she put her note in +the tiny bottle and sent it dancing and bobbing down through the +whispering forest, riding upon the surface of the singing stream. +And Sally Migrundy's note floated along in the bottle until a +little boy and a little girl saw it and picked it up.</p> +<p>And when they read Sally Migrundy's happy-hearted note asking +them to visit her they started following up the stream until +after a long, long time they came to the tiny little cottage.</p> + + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="041 (82K)" src="images/041.jpg" height="693" width="916" /> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<p>Sally Migrundy was very much surprised to see the two +children, for she had almost forgotten she had written the +invitation.</p> +<p>"Howdeedoo!" said Sally Migrundy, "Where in the world did you +children come from?"</p> +<p>"We found a note in a bottle and traveled up the stream until +we came to your little cottage," they answered.</p> + + +<p>"But won't your mamas and daddies be worried because you have +been away from home so long?" Sally Migrundy asked.</p> +<p>"We are orphans," the children said.</p> +<p>Then Sally Migrundy kissed them and asked them into her tiny +cottage.</p> +<p>The door was so small the children had to get down upon their +hands and knees to crawl through. But when they got inside they +were surprised to find that the rooms were very large. In fact, +Sally Migrundy's living room was larger inside than the whole +little cottage was on the outside, for, as you have probably +guessed, Sally Migrundy's cottage was a magic house.</p> +<p>And in one corner of the living room there was a queer stand +with a silver stem sticking up through the center, and the stem +curved over and down towards five or six little crystal +glasses.</p> +<p>It was a magic soda fountain, as the children soon found out, +and they could have all the soda water they wished at any +time.</p> +<p>In another room were two little snow white beds. These +belonged to them, Sally Migrundy told the children. As you have +probably guessed, the magic cottage took care to make everything +comfortable for those who came inside.</p> +<p>And when Sally Migrundy had shown the children their pretty +bed room she took them to the dining room and there they found a +table which had everything nice to eat upon it. And so the +children ate and ate and ate, for the magic table knew just what +the person wished for who sat at it. So you may be sure there +were plenty of cookies and ice cream and candies and golden +doughnuts and everything.</p> +<p>So the two little orphan children lived all the time with +Sally Migrundy. And each morning when they tumbled, laughing and +shouting, out of their little snow white beds, they found +underneath a new present. So each morning they had a new toy to +play with, for the magic beds knew just what a child would like +most each day.</p> +<p>Sally Migrundy was very, very glad the children had come to +live with her, so she wrote more notes and sent them down the +singing stream, and more and more children came until Sally +Migrundy's house was very, very large inside, but still the same +tiny little cottage on the outside. The singing and happy +laughter of the children echoed through the whispering forest all +day, and the ground about the cottage was filled with toys and +playthings,—merry-go-rounds, sliding boards, sand piles, +hundreds of sand toys, and play houses filled with beautiful +dolls and doll furniture.</p> +<p>There was a roller coaster which knew just when to stop and +start so that none of the children could ever hurt themselves +upon it, and a little play grocery, a little play candy store, +and a little play ice cream parlor so that the children could go +there at any time and get cookies and candy and ice cream +whenever they wished. You may be sure it was a very happy place +to live and the children made Sally Migrundy very happy. At first +the creatures who lived in the whispering forest were surprised +to hear the happy laughter and to see so many children playing +about, but they soon grew accustomed to the children and came +right up to the grocery and candy store and ice cream parlor to +be fed.</p> +<p>Each year Sally Migrundy sends happy-hearted invitations +floating down the stream and more orphan children come to live +with her. However Sally Migrundy's tiny cottage is just the same +tiny cottage on the outside. But when once you crawl through the +tiny door, you look upon rows and rows of little rooms, each +having one or more little snow white beds in it.</p> + + +<p>And, while Sally Migrundy remains a tiny little lady only two +feet high, she has as much happiness inside as if she were as +large as a great big mountain, for as you have probably also +guessed, she is a fairy and can have as much room inside for +happiness as the little magic cottage could have room inside for +all the happy children.</p> +<p>One day the man who lived upon the hill where the spring +bubbles up from the ground and makes the beginning of the singing +stream said to his wife: "Mother, I will follow the stream and +see where it leads to!" So he started down the stream and walked +and walked and walked until the stream took him down through the +whispering forest clear down to the sea.</p> +<p>Then he turned around and walked back up the stream from the +ocean—up through the whispering forest until he came again +to his home at the top of the hill.</p> +<p>"I followed the stream down through a great whispering forest, +mother," he said, "until I came to the sea. Then I turned around +and came back the same way. It was a beautiful trip and when I +came to the center of the great whispering forest there was a +clearing at the side of the tinkling, singing stream, and the +lovely fish leaped from the crystal waters and showed me their +wonderful coloring, and the clearing was filled with beautiful +flowers and the music of birds. And it was so beautiful I stopped +and watched and listened.</p> +<p>"It seemed as if hundreds of children were playing around me, +and although I could not hear them yet it seemed to me that I +felt they were shouting and laughing at their play!"</p> + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="042 (47K)" src="images/042.jpg" height="350" width="911" /> +</center> +<br><br> + + + +<p>"How wonderful it must have been!" said his wife.</p> +<p>"It was indeed very wonderful, mother. And when I returned I +again stopped at the same place and sat and listened to the +singing of the waters and the birds, and I saw the wild creatures +come down into the clearing and act as if they were being fed, +and all the time I seemed to feel the laughter and happy shouting +of children at play. And a most delightful feeling of contentment +and happiness came over me as if I sat within the borders of +Fairyland!</p> +<p>"Then as I stooped to drink of the tinkling waters before I +started on my way home, I saw, tied to a flower growing in the +water, the tiny little bottle with the note inside which I had +floated off a long time ago, so I brought it home with me!"</p> +<p>And from his knapsack the man took the tiny bottle and placed +it on the table before his wife.</p> +<p>"I wish we knew just who tied the bottle to the flower!" said +the wife as she picked the bottle up to look at it. And because +the bottle had been used by Sally Migrundy, the two good people +suddenly knew all about Sally Migrundy, the magic little cottage, +and the happy children who lived there.</p> +<p>Every year the man takes his wife, and together they walk down +the tinkling stream until they came to the exact center of the +great whispering forest; there they sit for hours at a time, +feeling the happiness that overflows from the hearts of Sally +Migrundy and the children. And while the good couple have not +been able to see the children or Sally Migrundy, or even the tiny +magic cottage, they know they are all there, for at times they +can hear the laughter and once in a while they feel the touch of +a tiny hand. And when they return to their home upon the hill +they find they have received enough happiness at the clearing +beside the tinkling, singing water to last them for a whole +year.</p> + + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="043 (64K)" src="images/043.jpg" height="743" width="684" /> +</center> +<br><br> + + + + + + + <br><br><br><br><a name="2H_4_10"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<h2>HOW JOHNNY CRICKET SAW SANTA CLAUS</h2><br><br> +<p>When the first frost came and coated the leaves with its film +of sparkles, Mamma Cricket, Papa Cricket, Johnny Cricket and +Grandpa Cricket decided it was time they moved into their winter +home.</p> +<p>Papa and Mamma and Grandpa Cricket carried all the heavy +Cricket furniture, while Johnny Cricket carried the lighter +things, such as the family portraits, looking glasses, knives and +forks and spoons, and his own little violin.</p> + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="044 (65K)" src="images/044.jpg" height="530" width="907" /> +</center> +<br><br> + + + +<p>Aunt Katy Didd wheeled Johnny's little sister Teeny in the +Cricket baby buggy and helped Mamma Cricket lay the rugs and wash +the stone-work, for you see the Cricket winter home was in the +chimney of a big old-fashioned house and the walls were very +dusty, and everything was topsy-turvy.</p> +<p>But Mamma Cricket and Aunt Katy Didd soon had everything in +tip-top order, and the winter home was just as clean and neat as +the summer home out under the rose bush had been.</p> +<p>There the Cricket family lived happily and every thing was +just as cozy as any little bug would care to have; on cold nights +the people who owned the great big old fashioned house always +made a fire in the fireplace, so the walls of the Cricket's +winter home were nice and warm, and little Teeny Cricket could +play on the floor in her bare feet without fear of catching cold +and getting the Cricket croup.</p> +<p>There was one crack in the walls of the Crickets' winter home +which opened right into the fireplace, so the light from the fire +always lit up the Crickets' living room. Papa Cricket could read +the Bugville News while Johnny Cricket fiddled all the latest +popular Bug Songs and Mamma Cricket rocked and sang to little +Teeny Cricket.</p> +<p>One night, though, the people who owned the great big old +fashioned house did not have a fire in the fireplace, and little +Teeny Cricket was bundled up in warm covers and rocked to sleep, +and all the Cricket family went to bed in the dark.</p> +<p>Johnny Cricket had just dozed into dreamland when he was +awakened by something pounding ... ever so loudly ... and he +slipped out of bed and into his two little red topped boots and +felt his way to the crack in the living room wall.</p> +<p>Johnny heard loud voices and merry peals of laughter, so he +crawled through the crack and looked out into the fireplace.</p> +<p>There in front of the fireplace he saw four pink feet and two +laughing faces way above, while just a couple of Cricket-hops +from Johnny's nose was a great big man. Johnny could not see what +the man was pounding, but he made an awful loud noise.</p> +<p>Finally the pounding ceased and the man leaned over and kissed +the owners of the pink feet. Then there were a few more squeals +of laughter, and the four pink feet pitter-patted across the +floor and Johnny could see the owners hop into a snow-white +bed.</p> +<p>Then Johnny saw the man walk to the lamp and turn the light +down low, and leave the great big room.</p> +<p>Johnny Cricket jumped out of the crack into the fireplace and +ran out into the great big room so that he might see what the man +had pounded. The light from the lamp was too dim for him to make +out the objects hanging from the mantel above the fireplace. All +he could see were four long black things, so Johnny Cricket +climbed up the bricks at the side of the fireplace until he came +to the mantel shelf, then he ran along the shelf and looked over. +The black things were stockings.</p> +<p>Johnny began to wish that he had stopped to put on his +stockings, for he was in his bare feet. He had removed his little +red topped boots when he decided to climb up the side of the +fireplace and now his feet were cold.</p> +<p>So Johnny started to climb over the mantel shelf and down the +side of the fireplace when there came a puff of wind down the +chimney which made the stockings swing away out into the room, +and snowflakes fluttered clear across the room.</p> +<p>There was a tiny tinkle from a bell and, just as Johnny hopped +behind the clock, he saw a boot stick out of the fireplace.</p> +<p>Then Johnny Cricket's little bug heart went pitty-pat, and +sounded as if it would run a race with the ticking of the +clock.</p> +<p>From his hiding place, Johnny Cricket heard one or two +chuckles, and something rattle. Johnny crept along the edge of +the clock and holding the two feelers over his back looked from +his hiding place....</p> +<p>At first all he could see were two hands filling the stockings +with rattly things, but when the hands went down below the mantel +for more rattly things, Johnny Cricket saw a big round smiling +face all fringed with snow-white whiskers.</p> + + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="045 (42K)" src="images/045.jpg" height="432" width="896" /> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<p>Johnny drew back into the shadow of the clock, and stayed +there until the rattling had ceased and all had grown quiet, then +he slipped from behind the clock and climbed down the side of the +fireplace as fast as he could. Johnny Cricket was too cold to +stop and put on his little red boots, but scrambled through the +crack in the fireplace and hopped into bed. In the morning Mamma +Cricket had a hard time getting Johnny Cricket out of bed. He +yawned and stretched, put on one stocking, rubbed his eyes, +yawned, put on another stocking and yawned again. Johnny was +still very sleepy and could hardly keep his eyes open as he +reached for his little red-topped boots.</p> +<p>Johnny's toe struck something hard, he yawned, rubbed his eyes +and looked into the boot. Yes, there was something in Johnny +Cricket's boot! He picked up the other boot; it, too, had +something in it!</p> +<p>It was candy! With a loud cry for such a little Cricket, +Johnny rushed to the kitchen and showed Mamma, then he told her +of his adventure of the night before.</p> +<p>Mamma Cricket called Papa and they both had a laugh when +Johnny told how startled he had been at the old man with the +white whiskers who filled the stockings in front of the +fireplace. "Why, Johnny!" said Mamma and Papa Cricket. "Don't you +know? That was Santa Claus. We have watched him every Christmas +in the last four years fill the stockings, and he saw your little +red topped boots and filled them with candy, too. If you will +crawl through the crack into the fireplace you will see the +children of the people who own this big house playing with all +the presents that Santa Claus left them!"</p> +<p>And, sure enough, it was so!</p> + + + + + + <br><br><br><br><a name="2H_4_11"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<h2>THE TWIN SISTERS</h2><br><br> +<p>Everybody in the little village called them the twin houses +because they were built exactly alike. But the two little +cottages looked different even if they were built alike, for one +was covered with climbing vines and beautiful scarlet roses while +the other had no vines or flowers about it at all.</p> +<p>Everybody called the two cottages the twin houses for another +reason: the owners were twins. One of the twins was Matilda and +the other Katrinka and they were as much alike on the outside as +their two cottages were alike; but as their two cottages +differed, so did the two twins differ.</p> + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="046 (57K)" src="images/046.jpg" height="605" width="901" /> +</center> +<br><br> + + + +<p>Matilda could not be told from Katrinka should you just see +them walking down the street, but the minute either of them spoke +you would know which was Matilda and which was Katrinka. Matilda, +who lived in the bare cottage, was sour and disagreeable, while +Katrinka was happy and cheery.</p> + + + + + +<p>So the people in the little village called Matilda "Matilda +Grouch" and they called Katrinka "Katrinka Sunshine". All the +children of the little village loved Katrinka, for she always had +a cooky or a dainty in her apron pocket to give them, or she +would pat them on their curly heads and smile cheerily at them +through her glasses. And all the children avoided Matilda, for, +sometimes mistaking her for Katrinka and running close to greet +her, they would have their noses tweeked for their trouble.</p> + + + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="047 (94K)" src="images/047.jpg" height="756" width="687" /> +</center> +<br><br> + + + + + +<p>Matilda's life was lonely and cold; no one went to see her. +She was always unhappy.</p> + + + +<p>Katrinka's house always echoed with the laughter of children; +everyone went to see her. She was always joyful and cheery.</p> +<p>One night while Matilda sat at her dark window looking across +at Katrinka's house, she saw a crowd of people tip-toeing up to +the stoop with baskets under their arms and flowers in their +hands and when all had crowded upon the porch they stamped their +feet and made a great noise.</p> + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="048 (50K)" src="images/048.jpg" height="586" width="916" /> +</center> +<br><br> + + + +<p>Matilda was very angry, but Katrinka ran laughing to the door +and greeted all with her kindliest smile. It was a surprise party +for Katrinka, for it was her birthday.</p> +<p>Matilda watched the party from her dark window and the longer +she watched, the more angry she grew, for the longer the party +lasted, the louder grew the happy laughter.</p> +<p>Finally when all the guests had gone, Matilda saw Katrinka +gather up half of the presents and put them in a basket.</p> +<p>Then Katrinka stole softly up to Matilda's stoop and stamped +her feet. Matilda sat scowling by the dark window a long time +before she finally went to the door, for she was very +peevish.</p> +<p>"This is a fine time to come stamping upon a person's stoop!" +she scolded, as Katrinka walked into the living room.</p> +<p>"Oh, sister," Katrinka cried, as she tried to kiss Matilda. +"This is our birthday and I have brought you half of the presents +which were given me! See?" and she piled the presents high upon +the table.</p> +<p>"I do not wish them!" said Matilda, frowning at her sister. +But Katrinka could see that Matilda <i>did</i> wish them.</p> +<p>"The presents were not for me, Katrinka!" she said.</p> +<p>"Oh yes they are!" Katrinka replied. "They were given to me +and I give them to you! I have saved one half for myself! But you +should have been to the party!" said Katrinka, "We had such a +happy time!"</p> +<p>"I do not enjoy being with people!" Matilda scolded, "I wish +to be left to myself!"</p> +<p>"Yes, but Matilda," her sister said, "you do not know the +happiness in being kind and friendly to others!"</p> + + +<p>"Pooh!" sniffed Matilda.</p> +<p>"I just wish you could take my place and know the happiness +that is in my heart tonight," Katrinka smiled.</p> +<p>"I just wish you could take my place and know the unhappiness +that is in my heart tonight!" said Matilda, "You would see that a +lot of children screeching about the house with all their +presents could not bring me happiness!"</p> +<p>Katrinka thought a moment, "I have it, Matilda! We will change +places! You must live in my house and pretend that you are me, +and I will live in your house and pretend that I am you! And you +must smile and be friendly just as I would do."</p> +<p>After a great deal of coaxing, Matilda finally agreed that she +would change places with Katrinka and try to smile when anyone +came to see her.</p> +<p>"But only for three days!" she said.</p> +<p>So Matilda went over to Katrinka's cottage and went to bed and +Katrinka stayed in Matilda's cottage, but she did not go to +bed.</p> +<p>Instead she went all over the house and tidied everything up +and placed pretty white curtains at the windows. In the morning +neighbors came to Katrinka's house, and Matilda, taking +Katrinka's place met them with a smile, and soon in spite of +herself she was laughing and enjoying herself.</p> +<p>And when they left, Matilda felt that she enjoyed having them +there.</p> +<p>But what was the callers' surprise when they passed Matilda's +cottage to see someone planting flowers around the stoop. They +stopped in wonderment and, as Katrinka looked up at them with a +cheery "Good Morning!" and a happy smile they could scarce +believe their eyes and ears, for they thought it was Matilda.</p> +<p>And these callers told other neighbors and they called at +Katrinka's house and visited with Matilda and Matilda was so +pleased she laughed as cheerily as Katrinka could laugh. And as +the neighbors left they saw Katrinka in Matilda's front yard +planting flowers and stopped in open mouthed wonder to gaze at +her, for <i>they</i> thought she was Matilda.</p> +<p>And when Katrinka smiled at them and said her cheery "Good +morning" <i>they</i> could scarcely believe their eyes and +ears.</p> +<p>The neighbors all put their heads together, and that evening +they filled their baskets with goodies and presents and, with +large bouquets of flowers, they tiptoed up to Matilda's front +stoop and stamped their feet.</p> +<p>Now Katrinka had called Matilda over to her own house to see +the changes she had made and Matilda was beginning to see what +she had missed all along. And as they were talking, there came a +noise at the front stoop.</p> +<p>"Shall I go to the door, Matilda?" asked Katrinka.</p> +<p>"No, I will go, Katrinka!" Matilda replied, her face alight +with happiness. So Matilda welcomed her guests as cheerily as +Katrinka had done the evening before and the laughter lasted +until 'way in the night.</p> +<p>And when the last guest had left, Matilda took Katrinka in her +arms and said, "I will not need to change places with you again, +Katrinka, for I have found that there is far more pleasure in +being happy than in being unhappy!" "Of course there is, +Matilda!" Katrinka replied. "You see, in order to be happy +ourselves we must reflect happiness to others, and the more cheer +we give to others the more joy we receive ourselves, so we must +continue to change from one house to another every other day so +that no one will know which of us is Matilda and which is +Katrinka and we will share our happiness with each other."</p> +<p>So Matilda's house was soon surrounded with beautiful flowers +and her house echoed with the fun and laughter of happy +children.</p> + + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="049 (67K)" src="images/049.jpg" height="616" width="867" /> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<p>And the two sisters who looked alike now acted alike and could +not be told apart, and they changed about so often people never +knew whether they were visiting Katrinka or whether they were +visiting Matilda, for one was as cheery as the other and was as +happy in the love of all the people in the little village.</p> +<p>And, as they could not be told apart, everyone called Matilda +or Katrinka the Cheery Twins whenever they spoke of either.</p> + + + + + + + + + <br><br><br><br><a name="2H_4_12"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<h2>LITTLE THUMBKIN'S GOOD DEED</h2><br><br> +<p>Thumbkins lived in a tiny, cozy little house right down +beneath a mushroom. The tiny, little house was made of cobwebs +which Thumbkins had gathered from the bushes and weeds. These he +had woven together with thistle-down, making the nicest little +nest imaginable.</p> + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="050 (83K)" src="images/050.jpg" height="729" width="910" /> +</center> +<br><br> + + + +<p>One day Thumbkins was passing through the meadow and it began +to rain. "Dear me! I shall get soaking wet!" Thumbkins cried as +he hurried along.</p> +<p>A mamma meadow-lark, sitting upon her nest, saw Thumbkins +running and called to him: "Come here, little man, and get +beneath my wing and I will keep you warm and dry!"</p> +<p>So Thumbkins crawled beneath Mamma Meadow-Lark's wings and, +snuggling down close to the bottom of the meadow-lark's nest, he +found three tiny little baby meadow-larks. It was too dark for +Thumbkins to see them, but he felt that the baby Meadow-Larks +were as warm as toast.</p> +<p>Thumbkins kept very quiet, for the baby meadow-larks were +sleepy little fellows, and before he knew it Thumbkins was sound +asleep himself, with an arm around one of the baby birds.</p> + + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="051 (71K)" src="images/051.jpg" height="606" width="700" /> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<p>Thumbkins did not know how long he had been asleep, but when +he awakened the rain had ceased. Thumbkins knew it had stopped +raining for he could no longer hear the rain drops pattering upon +Mamma Meadow-Lark's back. So now he climbed out of the nest and +looked about.</p> +<p>The ground about the Meadow-Lark's nest was covered with tiny +puddles, and Mamma Meadow-Lark was soaking wet. She looked very +uncomfortable. Her feathers stuck out in all directions and a +drop of water fell from her head and rolled down her beak.</p> +<p>Thumbkins thought at first Mamma Meadow-Lark was crying, and +he said: "Are you cold, Mamma Meadow-Lark?"</p> +<p>"Yes, indeed!" Mamma Meadow-Lark replied as she shook her +ruffled feathers, sending the water flying in all directions.</p> +<p>"But, you see," she continued, "if I did not cover my baby +Meadow-Lark chicks they would get very, very cold, for they have +little bald heads with not a single feather upon them to protect +them! So, while I get wet, it does not matter so much, for I know +I have kept my little Meadow-Lark chicks dry and warm and cozy +and that, of course, makes me very happy! And I had the pleasure +of keeping you warm and dry, too!" Mamma Meadow-Lark added.</p> +<p>"Perhaps Mamma Meadow-Lark is very happy inside!" Thumbkins +thought to himself as he stood and looked at her. "But she does +not look very happy with such wet feathers."</p> +<p>"I thank you ever and ever so much, Mamma Meadow-Lark!" +Thumbkins said.</p> +<p>"You are indeed very welcome," Mamma Meadow-Lark replied, "and +any time it rains you can come back to my nest and crawl beneath +my wing and keep warm and dry. For you are tiny and do not take +up much room!"</p> +<p>Thumbkins thanked Mamma Meadow-Lark again, and told her of his +nice warm cozy little nest beneath the mushroom. "It is always +nice and dry there," he said, "for the rain runs right off the +mushroom and does not touch my little cobweb home!"</p> +<p>That night as he lay in his little thistle-down bed, Thumbkins +heard it thundering. "I'm very glad that I haven't a home built +right out upon the bare ground like the meadow-larks!" he said. +And as the thunder grew louder, Thumbkins turned over and tried +to go to sleep.</p> +<p>Presently the raindrops began to patter on the round top of +the mushroom and "drip-dropped" to the ground without getting +Thumbkins' little house the least bit wet. Usually when it +rained, the patter of the raindrops upon his mushroom roof lulled +Thumbkins right to sleep, but tonight Thumbkins lay wide awake +and thought and thought.</p> +<p>"I can't go to sleep!" Thumbkins said, so he hopped out of his +warm little bed and lit his tiny lantern. Then, though it was +raining ever so hard, he pulled his little hat well down on his +head and ran out into the storm.</p> +<p>Yes! There was Mamma Meadow-Lark sitting upon her nest with +her head tucked under her wing, sound asleep. But when he held +his tiny lantern close, Thumbkins could see that she shivered as +the cold raindrops splashed upon her back.</p> +<p>So Thumbkins ran to the woods where he knew the mushrooms +grew, and breaking off the largest one he could find he carried +it to where Mamma Meadow-Lark sat sleeping upon her nest, and +planted it so the raindrops rolled off the round roof and did not +touch her at all.</p> +<p>Then, shivering himself, for he was soaking wet, he ran home +as fast as he could, took off his dripping clothes, put on his +little pajamas, and climbed into his warm little cozy cobweb +bed.</p> + + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="052 (24K)" src="images/052.jpg" height="248" width="856" /> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<p>Now of course Thumbkins was happy because he had helped +another, and when a person is happy there is nothing to worry +about, and when there is nothing to worry about, of course there +is nothing to keep one awake.</p> +<p>So Thumbkins fell fast asleep and dreamed the most pleasant +dreams.</p> +<p>And they were such happy dreams Thumbkins slept until almost +half-past eight the next morning.</p> + + + + + + <br><br><br><br><a name="2H_4_13"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<h2>THE WISHBONE</h2><br><br> +<p>The stove lifter lay upon his iron side and looked across the +top of the shelf which stood above the stove. "Who is he?" he +asked of the box of matches lying near him.</p> +<p>The box of matches looked at the strange new object standing +upon two thin white legs and leaning against the wall near the +coffee pot.</p> +<p>"I do not know!" the match box answered.</p> +<p>Then they asked a number of other objects lying about if they +knew who the newcomer was, but none of them had ever seen +anything like him before.</p> +<p>When the new two-legged object with the bald head heard +everyone whispering he felt they were talking about him, and he +stepped out where all might see him, and walked up and down the +shelf at the back of the stove.</p> + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="053 (47K)" src="images/053.jpg" height="598" width="694" /> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<p>The stove lifter, the match box and all the other objects +watched him with interest as he strutted back and forth.</p> +<p>At last the new object stood still and with his head thrown +back he said: "I am a wish-bone, but as none of you know what a +wishbone is, I shall tell you! A wishbone is an object of great +importance in this world. Some of us come from the breasts of +chickens and some from the breasts of turkeys. When we are placed +above a doorsill in a house, we bring good luck!"</p> +<p>"Don't the people in the house here wish good luck?" asked the +match box.</p> +<p>"What a silly question!" replied the wishbone, "Anyone could +easily see you do not know much!"</p> +<p>"Then why didn't they place you above the door?" asked the +stove lifter.</p> +<p>"Because I have greater qualities than bringing good luck!" +the wishbone answered. "The children placed me here to dry, for +they have heard that I make wishes come true! And if you keep +your eyes and ears open you will see just what a great object a +wishbone really is!"</p> + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="054 (43K)" src="images/054.jpg" height="514" width="924" /> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<p>All the other objects upon the shelf on the back of the stove +held their breaths to think such an important object deigned to +talk to them.</p> +<p>Then the children came romping into the kitchen. "Here they +come!" cried the wishbone. "Now watch me make their wishes come +true!"</p> +<p>And all the other objects scarcely breathed while they watched +the children as they took the wishbone from the shelf. They could +see how proud he looked as the children each took one of the +wishbone's legs between their fingers.</p> +<p>"I wish that this kitchen were just filled with candy and +cake, then we could eat all we wish to!" one of the children +said. "And I wish for a million golden pennies piled high upon +the kitchen table!" the other child cried.</p> + + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="055 (42K)" src="images/055.jpg" height="613" width="658" /> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<p>"Now watch!" the wishbone winked to the objects upon the shelf +behind the stove.</p> +<p>The two children pulled upon the wishbone's legs. "Ouch!" he +cried. There was a loud snap, and the wishbone broke in two.</p> +<p>"I get my Wish!" cried the child with the longest part of the +broken wishbone, "The room will be filled with candy!"</p> +<p>"Watch the room fill with candy!" cried all the objects upon +the shelf. "How wonderful it must be to be a wishbone!"</p> +<p>But the room did not fill with candy.</p> +<p>"That's another time the wish did not come true!" cried one +child.</p> +<p>"They never come true!" cried the other child as the broken +wishbone was tossed in the coal scuttle. "Wishbones are just +ordinary bones and do not make wishes come true!" And the +children ran outside to romp and play.</p> + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="056 (31K)" src="images/056.jpg" height="414" width="936" /> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<p>"How much better it is to be a useful object!" said the stove +lifter.</p> +<p>"Yes indeed!" replied the match box. "And the more useful one +is, usually, the less he brags about himself!"</p> + + + + + + <br><br><br><br><a name="2H_4_14"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<h2>TIM TIM TAMYTAM</h2><br><br> +<p>"This looks like an excellent place, Tim Tim!" Mrs. Tamytam +said, as she threw her little poke bonnet back from her head. "An +excellent place!" Tim Tim Tamytam scrambled up the root of the +tree and peered into the dark hole in the tree trunk. "HMMM!" he +said by way of reply, "Did you bring the candle with you, Tum +Tum?"</p> +<p>"Oh, I forgot it, Tim Tim!" his little wife replied, "I will +run right back and get it!"</p> + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="057 (28K)" src="images/057.jpg" height="312" width="936" /> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<p>"No, Tum Tum! I will run home and get it! You sit down upon +this soft little toad-stool and wait until I return. It will take +me but a moment!"</p> +<p>So Mrs. Tamytam sat down to wait upon the little soft +toad-stool, with her bonnet hanging over her shoulders, and she +sang and knitted.</p> + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="058 (34K)" src="images/058.jpg" height="428" width="879" /> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<p>Now, Mrs. Tamytam was a delightful little elfish lady, and she +and Tim Tim were very, very happy together, even though they were +only six inches tall.</p> +<p>So, while she sang and knitted, Tim Tim ran down the tiny path +made by the woodfolk, past the bubbling spring and around the +bend in the bank of the tumbling brooklet until he came to his +home, which was another hole in the trunk of an old tree.</p> +<p>As Tim Tim climbed into his doorway, he stood and looked with +dismay at what had been his cozy living room, for now it was +filled with sawdust and small pieces of sticks and twigs, for the +whole top of the old tree had broken off and now the rain would +splash right down on everything the first time there was a +shower.</p> +<p>Tim Tim Tamytam searched about in the sawdust and twigs until +he found a tiny bit of bayberry candle, and, putting this in his +pocket, he turned to go out of the hole. But just then Tom Tom +Teenyweeny walked in the door.</p> +<p>"Hello, Tom Tom Teenyweeny!" Tim Tim cried cheerily.</p> +<p>"Hello, Tim Tim Tamytam!" Tom Tom cried at the same time, +"What ever has happened to your lovely home, Tim Tim?"</p> +<p>"Well, I will tell you, Tom Tom," Tim Tim answered, "You know +Mrs. Fuzzytail lived with her grandchildren squirrels up in the +top of the tree, and they had a very cozy den up there, too, but +Mrs. Fuzzytail wished to make some small improvements, such as a +new peep-hole window and a little cupboard for Chinkapins and +hickory nuts. So last summer she sent for the carpenter ants and +arranged with them to do the carpenter work. And do you know, Tom +Tom," and here Tim Tim Tamytam put his hand upon Tom Tom's +shoulder and got very confidential, "those mischievous carpenter +ants, when they once got started, they sawed and chipped, until +they had cut almost all of the shell of the tree away, and when +it blew so very hard last night the top of the tree broke right +in two, where the ants had made their tunnels, and down it fell +with a great crash and made this great pile of sawdust and +sticks!" "Dear me!" said Tom Tom. "Was anyone hurt when the top +of the tree fell?"</p> +<p>"Fortunately no one was injured!" Tim Tim replied, "But our +home was ruined and so was Mrs. Fuzzytail's and Wally +Woodpecker's, the bachelor and we have been out looking for +another home. If you will come with me, Tom Tom, I will show it +to you, for now I have a candle and can look about inside!"</p> +<p>So Tim Tim and Tom Tom ran back along the tiny wood-folk path +until they came to the place where Tim Tim had left Mrs. +Tamytam.</p> +<p>There hung her knitting bag upon the stem of a flower, but Tum +Tum Tamytam was no where about.</p> +<p>"OOOHooooo!" Tim Tim called, putting his hands to his mouth +and forming a sort of horn. Charley Chipmunk stopped whittling +upon a hickory nut and peeped over the limb to see who +called.</p> + + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="059 (47K)" src="images/059.jpg" height="440" width="876" /> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<p>Mrs. Tamytam did not answer, so Tom Tom took a leaf and rolled +it into a horn. Across the small end he strung a fibre from a +piece of moss and with this elfin horn he blew the Tim Tim +Tamytam wood-call: "Tahoo Tahoo Tahoo-hoo-hoo!"</p> +<p>"That's the Tim Tim Tamytam call!" all the wood creatures, +said, as they listened.</p> +<p>"Tahoo Tahoo Tahoo-hoo-hoo!"</p> + +<p>And as Tim Tim and Tom Tom listened, they heard away off the +answering Tamytam wood-call: "Toowoo-toowoo-tooawoooooo!" +sounding like the plaintive notes of the turtle dove but was +easily distinguished by any of the woodfolk.</p> +<p>Tim Tim and Tom Tom followed the sound of the answering call +until they came to a beautiful woodland glade. There, where the +sweet ferns and fragrant flowers grew in profusion and a carpet +of velvety moss spread upon the ground, they saw Mrs. Tom Tom +Teenyweeny and Mrs. Tim Tim Tamytam with tiny brooms sweeping out +a little hole in a great blue-gray beech tree.</p> + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="060 (78K)" src="images/060.jpg" height="650" width="918" /> +</center> +<br><br> + + + +<p>"I came upon Mrs. Tamytam sitting upon the toad stool," said +Mrs. Teenyweeny, "and as I had just heard of this lovely home for +rent, she came with me to see it and we decided to take it!"</p> +<p>"And will Tom Tom and Mrs. Teenyweeny live with us, Tum Tum?" +Tim Tim asked.</p> +<p>"They have the little nook right across the hall!" Mrs. +Tamytam replied. Upon hearing this Tom Tom and Tim Tim caught +hold of hands and danced about, kicking up their heels with +pleasure.</p> +<p>"Just wait until you see inside, Tom Tom and Tim Tim!" Mrs. +Teenyweeny and Mrs. Tamytam cried, and then they led the way +inside the trunk of the great blue-gray beech tree.</p> +<p>And after they had inspected Mrs. Tamytam's home, Mrs. +Teenyweeny's Tom Tom and Tim Tim were as delighted with the new +homes as their tiny wives had been, so Tim Tim and Tom Tom ran to +their old homes and brought all their furniture and placed it +about the large living rooms.</p> +<p>When all was finished and the tiny rugs had been placed just +right, they heard a stamping of tiny feet in the hallway.</p> +<p>And as they ran to the door a merry, laughing crowd of tiny +creatures like themselves, each carrying an acorn basket, trooped +into the living room.</p> +<p>"It's a surprise party!" they all shouted and then one, Tee +Tee Tubbytee, a great speaker, said: "We watched you moving in, +and decided to have a nice, fine, lovely party for you, so I +called all the neighbors together and here we are!"</p> +<p>Some of the tiny creatures had brought their tiny violins and +some their elfin flutes, and as all were in a merry mood they +played rollicking airs such as "The Wind Tinkles the Fairy Bells" +and "Mother Hulda Picks Her Geese."</p> +<p>Tim Tim and Tom Tom danced and sang elfin songs. And then the +merry tiny creatures ate the goodies brought in the acorn +baskets.</p> + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="061 (49K)" src="images/061.jpg" height="379" width="897" /> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<p>After the dinner all the tiny creatures went outside, and upon +the soft, mossy carpet they held a wood-folk dance while the +silvery moon peeped down through the leaves of the woodland glade +and bathed the scene in fairy light.</p> +<p>When the first rooster crowed, far away in a distant farm yard +chicken coop, the tiny creatures, after planning another surprise +party the next moonlit night, bade each other good night and went +to their tree trunk homes.</p> +<p>So upon soft summer evenings, should you pass near the +woodland glade, you may hear the "Tahoo Tahoo Tahoo-hoo-hoo!" and +the answering notes of plaintive melody, "Toowoo-toowoo +Tooawoooooo!" For the tiny creatures have adopted the Tamytam +call as the call to the evening parties. And you must step +quietly and approach softly so as not to disturb the tiny +creatures, when you wish to see one of their moonlight surprise +parties.</p> + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="062 (60K)" src="images/062.jpg" height="577" width="701" /> +</center> +<br><br> + + + + <br><br><br><br><a name="2H_4_15"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<h2>A CHANGE OF COATS</h2><br><br> +<p>Two mischievous little gnomes were walking along the beach one +day and as they came to a pile of rocks they heard voices. One of +the little gnomes put his finger to his lips for silence and +peeped cautiously around the largest stone. There he saw a crab +and a lobster sitting upon a bunch of sea-weed in the +sunshine.</p> + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="063 (40K)" src="images/063.jpg" height="499" width="905" /> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<p>The other little gnome tip-toed up and joined his brother and +when they had listened a while they winked at each other and +quietly walked back to the beach. After whispering together a +moment one of the little gnomes ran up the beach and over a sand +dune.</p> +<p>The other gnome again crept up behind the large stone and +listened to the lobster and the crab.</p> +<p>"Yes," said the crab, "I agree with you, Mr. Lobster! While +our coats are just a plain green they are still quite +beautiful!"</p> +<p>"Ah! You speak the truth, Friend Crab," the lobster replied, +"Green is a lovely color and I am very glad that we are not +purple!"</p> +<p>"I am very glad that we are green, too." the crab said, "Just +suppose we were colored blue! I know I should not be able to +stand it! Would you, Friend Lobster?'</p> +<p>"No indeed!" the lobster cried, "Nor would I care to change to +any other color, would you, Friend Crab!" "It is nice to be +satisfied! Isn't it, Friend Lobster?"</p> +<p>"Yes! Especially when we are as satisfied as we are!" The +lobster answered.</p> +<p>The little gnome listening behind the large stone winked at +himself and smiled. He knew the lobster and the crab would give +anything if they were of a different color, for he could tell by +their conversation they were dissatisfied with their green +coats.</p> +<p>Soon the other little gnome appeared over the sand dunes +carrying a large kettle, and when he got to a spot on the beach +where the crab and the lobster could see and hear him he began +shouting in a sing-song manner: "Old clothes changed to new! Old +clothes changed to new! Old clothes changed to new!"</p> + + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="064 (40K)" src="images/064.jpg" height="446" width="885" /> +</center> +<br><br> + + + +<p>"Pooh!" said the lobster. "Who is foolish enough to wish to +change their natural coats?"</p> +<p>"Hmm!" said the crab as he sidled towards the beach. "Let's go +over and talk with him, anyway, and ask him if anyone ever +changes the color of their clothes. Not that I wish to change my +lovely green coat, you understand, but—"</p> +<p>"It would be interesting to hear about it, anyway!" the +lobster replied, as he crawled after the crab.</p> + +<p>The little gnome with the large kettle sat upon the beach and +pretended he did not see the crab and lobster, but continued +crying: "Old coats changed to new! Green ones changed to red! Old +coat changed to new! Old coats changed to new!"</p> +<p>When the crab and the lobster came up quite near the little +gnome pulled a number of pieces of colored cloth from his pocket +and placed them upon the sand.</p> +<p>"How pretty!" said the crab.</p> +<p>"Very lovely!" said the lobster.</p> +<p>"Do you wish your coats changed in color?" asked the little +gnome.</p> +<p>"Ah, no, thank you!" the two hypocrites said. "We were just +looking around a bit!"</p> +<p>"Well, I am glad to have your company," said the little gnome +as he took a piece of scarlet cloth and laid it over the +lobster's back.</p> +<p>"How do you like that?" he asked of the crab.</p> +<p>"It looks fine!" said the crab. "Try it on me!"</p> +<p>The little gnome placed the scarlet piece of cloth over the +crab's back.</p> +<p>"How do you like it?" he asked the lobster.</p> +<p>"Did I look that well in that color?" asked the lobster by way +of reply.</p> +<p>"I think both of you will look far better if you let me change +you to scarlet. It's in far better taste, too!" the little gnome +added, pinching himself to keep from laughing.</p> +<p>"Shall we change?" the crab asked the lobster and the lobster +asked the crab.</p> +<p>"You will find the color a great deal warmer," said the little +gnome. "Green is decidedly cold, you know!"</p> +<p>So the little gnome gathered an armful of drift-wood and built +a fire. Then he dipped the kettle into the sea and placed the +crab and the lobster in the kettle of water and put the lid +on.</p> +<p>"Be sure and make us a brilliant scarlet!" cried the lobster +and the crab, as the little gnome placed the kettle over the +fire. An hour later the two little gnomes lay upon their backs +upon the sand and yawned contentedly, their little round stomachs +almost bursting their belts. Near them was the upturned kettle, +and scattered all about them on the sand were lovely pieces of +scarlet lobster and crab shells.</p> +<p>"It's funny," one little gnome said drowsily, "how one +sometimes will become dissatisfied with the way he was made by +Mother Nature and try to improve upon her work! It usually leads +to misfortune."</p> + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="065 (37K)" src="images/065.jpg" height="624" width="663" /> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<p>"Yes, that is true," the other little gnome replied, "We +should be satisfied and contented just as we are!"</p> +<p>"Well, I for one am satisfied!" the little gnome said, +stroking his fat stomach.</p> +<p>"So am I!" his brother laughed.</p> + + + + + +<br><br> +<center> +<a href="images/back.jpg"><img alt="backth (44K)" src="images/backth.jpg" height="421" width="577" /></a> + +<br>[Click on the End-Papers to enlarge to full size.] +</center> +<br><br> + + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Friendly Fairies, by Johnny Gruelle + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FRIENDLY FAIRIES *** + +***** This file should be named 11315-h.htm or 11315-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/1/3/1/11315/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, David Widger and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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