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+Project Gutenberg's My Book of Favorite Fairy Tales, by Edric  Vredenburg
+
+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: My Book of Favorite Fairy Tales
+
+Author: Edric  Vredenburg
+
+Release Date: February 22, 2005 [EBook #15145]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MY BOOK OF FAVORITE FAIRY TALES ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Sandra Brown and the PG Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+MY BOOK
+
+OF
+
+FAVOURITE FAIRY TALES
+
+
+ILLUSTRATED BY JENNIE HARBOUR.
+
+
+[Illustration: From "THE GOOSE GIRL"]
+
+[Illustration: _Painted by Jennie Harbour_
+THE GOOSE GIRL]
+
+
+
+
+
+MY BOOK OF
+
+FAVOURITE FAIRY TALES
+
+
+RETOLD BY THE EDITOR
+
+& OTHERS
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+ILLUSTRATED BY JENNIE HARBOUR
+
+
+EDITED BY CAPT. EDRIC VREDENBURG
+
+
+RAPHAEL TUCK &. SONS. LTP
+
+_Publishers in Their Majesties the King & Queen_
+
+LONDON & PARIS
+
+
+DESIGNED & PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN
+
+
+PHILADELPHIA
+
+DAVID MCKAY COMPANY
+
+WASHINGTON SQUARE
+
+
+[Illustration: From "THE SLEEPING BEAUTY"]
+
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+    THE OLD, OLD STORIES
+
+    THE GOOSE GIRL
+
+    LITTLE SNOW-WHITE
+
+    CINDERELLA
+
+    PRINCESS GOLDENHAIR
+
+    LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
+
+    THE WHITE FAWN
+
+    HANSEL AND GRETHEL
+
+    SNOW-WHITE AND ROSE-RED
+
+    THE SLEEPING BEAUTY
+
+    PRINCE CHÉRI
+
+    THE WHITE CAT
+
+    BLUEBEARD
+
+    BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
+
+    TUFTY RIQUET
+
+    THUMBLING
+
+[Illustration: From "THE WHITE FAWN"]
+
+
+
+
+LIST OF COLOUR PLATES
+
+    THE GOOSE GIRL _Frontispiece_
+
+    THE MAGIC MIRROR
+
+    CINDERELLA
+
+    LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
+
+    THE WHITE FAWN
+
+    HANSEL AND GRETHEL
+
+    SNOW-WHITE AND ROSE-RED
+
+    THE SLEEPING BEAUTY
+
+    ZÉLIE AND THE FAIRY CANDIDE
+
+    BLUEBEARD
+
+    BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
+
+    THE BEAUTIFUL PRINCESS
+
+[Illustration: From "PRINCESS GOLDENHAIR"]
+
+[Illustration: From "CINDERELLA"]
+
+
+
+
+THE OLD, OLD STORIES
+
+
+Here they are again, the old, old stories, the very best; dear
+Cinderella, wicked old Bluebeard, tiny Thumbling, beautiful Beauty and
+the ugly Beast, and a host of others. But the old stories, I may tell
+you, are always new, and always must be so, because there are new
+children to read them every day, and to these, of course, these old
+tales might have been written yesterday.
+
+But the stories in this book are new in another way. Look how they are
+clothed, look at their beautiful setting, the wonderful pictures! Have
+you ever seen such charming princes and lovely princesses, such dainty
+grace and delicate feeling?
+
+What would our grandfathers and grandmothers have said of such a book!
+They would have thought there was magic in the brush and pencil.
+
+Surely we are favoured in this generation when we see before us, the
+old, old fairy tales, which are ever new, dressed in such a beautiful
+and splendid fashion!
+
+_EDRIC VREDENBURG._
+
+[Illustration: From "HANSEL AND GRETHEL"]
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+THE GOOSE GIRL
+
+
+An old queen, whose husband had been dead some years, had a beautiful
+daughter. When she grew up, she was betrothed to a prince who lived
+a great way off; and as the time drew near for her to be married, she
+got ready to set off on her journey to his country. Then the queen,
+her mother, packed up a great many costly things--jewels, and gold,
+and silver; trinkets, fine dresses, and, in short, everything that
+became a royal bride; for she loved her child very dearly: and she
+gave her a waiting-maid to ride with her, and give her into the
+bridegroom's hands; and each had a horse for the journey. Now the
+princess's horse was called Falada, and could speak.
+
+When the time came for them to set out, the old queen went into her
+bed-chamber, and took a little knife, and cut off a lock of her hair,
+and gave it to her daughter, and said, "Take care of it, dear child;
+for it is a charm that may be of use to you on the road." Then they
+took a sorrowful leave of each other, and the princess put the lock of
+her mother's hair into her bosom, got upon her horse, and set off on
+her journey to her bridegroom's kingdom. One day, as they were riding
+along by the side of a brook, the princess began to feel very thirsty,
+and said to her maid, "Pray get down and fetch me some water, in my
+golden cup, out of yonder brook, for I want to drink." "Nay," said
+the maid, "if you are thirsty, get down yourself, and lie down by the
+water and drink; I shall not be your waiting-maid any longer." Then
+the princess was so thirsty that she got down, and knelt over the
+brook and drank, for she was frightened, and dared not bring out her
+golden cup; and then she wept, and said "Alas! what will become of
+me?" And the lock of hair answered her, and said--
+
+      "Alas! alas! if thy mother knew it,
+      Sadly, sadly her heart would rue it."
+
+But the princess was very humble and meek, so she said nothing to her
+maid's ill behaviour, but got upon her horse again.
+
+Then all rode further on their journey, till the day grew so warm, and
+the sun so scorching, that the bride began to feel very thirsty again;
+and at last, when they came to a river, she forgot her maid's rude
+speech, and said, "Pray get down and fetch me some water to drink
+in my golden cup." But the maid answered her, and even spoke more
+haughtily than before, "Drink, if you will, but I shall not be your
+waiting-maid." Then the princess was so thirsty that she got off her
+horse and lay down, and held her head over the running stream, and
+cried, and said, "What will become of me?" And the lock of hair
+answered her again--
+
+      "Alas! alas! if thy mother knew it,
+      Sadly, sadly her heart would rue it."
+
+And as she leaned down to drink, the lock of hair fell from her bosom
+and floated away with the water, without her seeing it, she was so
+frightened. But her maid saw it, and was very glad, for she knew the
+charm, and saw that the poor bride would be in her power now that she
+had lost the hair. So when the bride had drunk, and would have got
+upon Falada again, the maid said, "I shall ride upon Falada and you
+may have my horse instead;" so she was forced to give up her horse,
+and soon afterwards to take off her royal clothes, and put on her
+maid's shabby ones.
+
+At last, as they drew near the end of the journey, this treacherous
+servant threatened to kill her mistress if she ever told anyone what
+had happened. But Falada saw it all, and marked it well. Then the
+waiting-maid got upon Falada, and the real bride was set upon the
+other horse, and they went on in this way till at last they came
+to the royal court. There was great joy at their coming, the prince
+hurried to meet them, and lifted the maid from her horse, thinking she
+was the one who was to be his wife; and she was led upstairs to the
+royal chamber, but the true princess was told to stay in the court
+below.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+But the old king happened to be looking out of the window, and saw her
+in the yard below; and as she looked very pretty, and too delicate for
+a waiting-maid, he went into the royal chamber to ask the bride who it
+was she had brought with her, that was thus left standing in the
+court below. "I brought her with me for the sake of her company on the
+road," said she. "Pray give the girl some work to do, that she may not
+be idle." The old king could not for some time think of any work for
+her to do, but at last he said, "I have a lad who takes care of my
+geese; she may go and help him." Now the name of this lad, that the
+real bride was to help in watching the king's geese, was Curdken.
+
+Soon after, the false bride said to the prince, "Dear husband pray do
+me one piece of kindness." "That I will," said the prince. "Then tell
+one of your slaughterers to cut off the head of the horse I rode upon,
+for it was very unruly, and plagued me sadly on the road." But the
+truth was, she was very much afraid lest Falada should speak, and
+tell all she had done to the princess. She carried her point, and the
+faithful Falada was killed; but when the true princess heard of it she
+wept, and begged the man to nail up Falada's head against a large
+dark gate in the city through which she had to pass every morning
+and evening, that there she might still see him sometimes. Then the
+slaughterer said he would do as she wished; cut off the head, and
+nailed it fast under the dark gate.
+
+Early the next morning, as she and Curdken went out through the gate,
+she said sorrowfully--
+
+      "Falada, Falada, there thou art hanging!"
+
+and the head answered--
+
+      "Bride, bride, there thou art ganging!
+      Alas! alas! if thy mother knew it,
+      Sadly, sadly her heart would rue it."
+
+Then they went out of the city, and drove the geese in. And when she
+came to the meadow, she sat down upon a bank here, and let down her
+waving locks of hair, which were all of pure gold; and when Curdken
+saw it glitter in the sun, he ran up, and would have pulled some of
+the locks out; but she cried--
+
+      "Blow, breezes, blow!
+      Let Curdken's hat go!
+      Blow, breezes, blow!
+      Let him after it go!
+      O'er hills, dales, and rocks.
+      Away be it whirl'd,
+      Till the golden locks
+      Are all comb'd and curl'd!"
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Then there came a wind, so strong that it blew off Curdken's hat, and
+away it flew over the hills, and he after it; till, by the time he
+came back, she had done combing and curling her hair, and put it up
+again safe. Then he was very angry and sulky, and would not speak
+to her at all; but they watched the geese until it grew dark in the
+evening, and then drove them homewards.
+
+The next morning, as they were going through the dark gate, the poor
+girl looked up at Falada's head, and cried--
+
+      "Falada, Falada, there thou art hanging!"
+
+and it answered--
+
+      "Bride, bride, there thou art ganging!
+      Alas! alas! if thy mother knew it,
+      Sadly, sadly her heart would rue it."
+
+Then she drove on the geese and sat down again in the meadow, and
+began to comb out her hair as before, and Curdken ran up to her, and
+wanted to take hold of it; but she cried out quickly--
+
+      "Blow, breezes, blow!
+      Let Curdken's hat go,
+      Blow, breezes, blow!
+      Let him after it go!
+      O'er hills, dales, and rocks,
+      Away be it whirl'd,
+      Till the golden locks
+      Are all comb'd and curl'd!"
+
+Then the wind came and blew his hat, and off it flew a great way, over
+the hills and far away, so that he had to run after it; and when he
+came back, she had done up her hair again, and all was safe. So they
+watched the geese till it grew dark.
+
+In the evening, after they came home, Curdken went to the old king,
+and said, "I cannot have that strange girl to help me to keep the
+geese any longer."
+
+"Why?" said the king.
+
+"Because she does nothing but tease me all day long."
+
+Then the king made him tell all that had passed.
+
+And Curdken said, "When we go in the morning through the dark gate
+with our flock of geese, she weeps, and talks with the head of a horse
+that hangs upon the wall, and says--
+
+      "'Falada, Falada, there thou art hanging!'"
+
+and the head answers--
+
+      "'Bride, bride, there thou art ganging!
+      Alas! alas! if thy mother knew it,
+      Sadly, sadly her heart would rue it.'"
+
+And Curdken went on telling the king what had happened upon the meadow
+where the geese fed; and how his hat was blown away, and he was forced
+to run after it, and leave his flock. But the old king told him to
+go out again as usual the next day, and when morning came, the king
+placed himself behind the gate, and heard how she spoke to Falada, and
+how Falada answered; and then he went into the field and hid himself
+in a bush by the meadow's side, and soon saw with his own eyes how
+they drove the flock of geese, and how, after a little time, she let
+down her hair that glittered in the sun; and then he heard her say--
+
+      "Blow, breezes, blow!
+      Let Curdken's hat go!
+      Blow, breezes, blow!
+      Let him after it go!
+      O'er hills, dales, and rocks,
+      Away be it whirl'd,
+      Till the golden locks,
+      Are all comb'd and curl'd!"
+
+[Illustration: "THEN THERE CAME A WIND SO STRONG THAT IT BLEW OFF
+CURDKEN'S HAT."]
+
+And soon came a gale of wind, and carried away Curdken's hat, while
+the girl went on combing and curling her hair.
+
+All this the old king saw: so he went home without being seen; and
+when the little goose girl came back in the evening, he called her
+aside, and asked her why she did so: but she burst into tears, and
+said, "That I must not tell you or any man, or I shall lose my life."
+
+But the old king begged so hard that she had no peace till she had
+told him all, word for word: and it was very lucky for her that she
+did so, for the king ordered royal clothes to be put upon her, and
+gazed on her with wonder, she was so beautiful.
+
+Then he called his son, and told him that he had only the false bride,
+for that she was merely a waiting-maid, while the true one stood by.
+
+And the young king rejoiced when he saw her beauty, and heard how meek
+and patient she had been; and without saying anything, ordered a great
+feast to be got ready for all his court.
+
+The bridegroom sat at the top, with the false princess on one side,
+and the true one on the other; but nobody knew her, for she was quite
+dazzling to their eyes, and was not at all like the little goose-girl,
+now that she had her brilliant dress.
+
+When they had eaten and drunk, and were very merry, the old king told
+all the story, as one that he had once heard of, and asked the true
+waiting-maid what she thought ought to be done to anyone who would
+behave thus.
+
+"Nothing better," said this false bride, "than that she should be
+thrown into a cask stuck round with sharp nails, and that two white
+horses should be put to it, and should drag it from street to street
+till she is dead."
+
+"Thou art she!" said the old king; "and since thou hast judged
+thyself, it shall be so done to thee."
+
+And the young king was married to his true wife, and they reigned over
+the kingdom in peace and happiness all their lives.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+LITTLE SNOW-WHITE
+
+
+It was in the middle of winter, when the broad flakes of snow were
+falling around, that a certain queen sat working at the window, the
+frame of which was made of fine black ebony; and as she was looking
+out upon the snow, she pricked her finger, and three drops of blood
+fell upon it. Then she gazed thoughtfully upon the red drops which
+sprinkled the white snow, and said, "Would that my little daughter
+may be as white as that snow, as red as the blood, and as black as the
+ebony window-frame!" And so the little girl grew up: her skin was as
+white as snow, her cheeks as rosy as blood, and her hair as black as
+ebony; and she was called Snow-White.
+
+But this queen died; and the king soon married another wife, who was
+very beautiful, but so proud that she could not bear to think that any
+one could surpass her. She had a magical looking-glass, to which she
+used to go and gaze upon herself in it, and say,
+
+      "Tell me, glass, tell me true!
+      Of all the ladies in the land.
+      Who is fairest? Tell me who?"
+
+And the glass answered, "Thou, Queen, art fairest in the land."
+
+But Snow-White grew more and more beautiful; and when she was seven
+years old, she was as bright as the day, and fairer than the queen
+herself. Then the glass one day answered the queen, when she went to
+consult it as usual:
+
+      "Thou, Queen, may'st fair and beauteous be,
+      But Snow-White is lovelier far than thee!"
+
+When she heard this she turned pale with rage and envy; and calling
+to one of her servants said, "Take Snow-White away into the wide wood,
+that I may never see her more." Then the servant led her away; but his
+heart melted when she begged him to spare her life, and he said, "I
+will not hurt thee, thou pretty child." So he left her by herself, and
+though he thought it most likely that the wild beasts would tear her
+to pieces, he felt as if a great weight were taken off his heart when
+he had made up his mind not to kill her, but leave her to her fate.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Then poor Snow-White wandered along through the wood in great fear;
+and the wild beasts roared about her, but none did her any harm. In
+the evening she came to a little cottage, and went in there to rest
+herself, for her weary feet would carry her no further. Everything was
+spruce and neat in the cottage: on the table was spread a white cloth,
+and there were seven little plates with seven little loaves and seven
+little glasses with wine in them; and knives and forks laid in order,
+and by the wall stood seven little beds. Then, as she was very hungry,
+she picked a little piece off each loaf, and drank a very little wine
+out of each glass; and after that she thought she would lie down and
+rest. So she tried all the little beds; and one was too long, and
+another was too short, till at last the seventh suited her; and there
+she laid herself down and went to sleep. Presently in came the masters
+of the cottage, who were seven little dwarfs that lived among the
+mountains, and dug and searched about for gold. They lighted up their
+seven lamps, and saw directly that all was not right. The first said,
+"Who has been sitting on my stool?" The second, "Who has been eating
+off my plate?" The third, "Who has been picking at my bread?" the
+fourth, "Who has been meddling with my spoon?" The fifth, "Who has
+been handling my fork?" The sixth, "Who has been cutting with my
+knife?" The seventh, "Who has been drinking my wine?" Then the first
+looked round and said. "Who has been lying on my bed?" And the rest
+came running to him, and every one cried out that somebody had been
+upon his bed. But the seventh saw Snow-White, and called upon his
+brethren to come and see her; and they cried out with wonder and
+astonishment, and brought their lamps to look at her, and said, "Good
+heavens! What a lovely child she is!" and they were delighted to see
+her, and took care not to waken her; and the seventh dwarf slept an
+hour with each of the other dwarfs in turn, till the night was gone.
+
+[Illustration: THE MAGIC MIRROR--"LITTLE SNOW-WHITE"]
+
+In the morning Snow-White told them all her story; and they pitied
+her, and said if she would keep all things in order, and cook and
+wash, and knit and spin for them, she might stay where she was, and
+they would take good care of her. Then they went out all day long
+to their work, seeking for gold and silver in the mountains; and
+Snow-White remained at home: and they warned her, and said, "The queen
+will soon find out where you are, so take care and let no one in." But
+the queen, now that she thought Snow-White was dead, believed that
+she was certainly the handsomest lady in the land; and she went to her
+glass, and the glass answered,
+
+      "Thou, Queen, thou art fairest in all this land;
+      But over the hills, in the greenwood shade.
+      Where the seven dwarfs their dwelling have made.
+      There Snow-White is hiding her head; and she
+      Is lovelier far, O Queen, than thee."
+
+Then the queen was very much alarmed; for she knew that the glass
+always spoke the truth, and was sure that the servant had betrayed
+her. And she could not bear to think that anyone lived who was more
+beautiful than she was; so she disguised herself as a pedlar and went
+her way over the hills to the place where the dwarfs dwelt. Then
+she knocked at the door, and cried, "Fine wares to sell!" Snow-White
+looked out of the window, and cried, "Good-day, good woman; what have
+you to sell?" "Good wares, fine wares," said she; "laces and bobbins
+of all colours." "I will let the old lady in; she seems to be a
+very good sort of a body," thought Snow-White; so she ran down, and
+unbolted the door. "Bless me!" said the woman, "how badly your
+stays are laced. Let me lace them up with one of my nice new laces."
+Snow-White did not dream of any mischief; so she stood up before
+the old woman; but she set to work so nimbly, and pulled the lace so
+tight, that Snow-White lost her breath, and fell down as if she were
+dead. "There's an end of all thy beauty," said the spiteful queen, and
+went away home.
+
+[Illustration: "'THERE'S AN END TO ALL THY BEAUTY' SAID THE SPITEFUL
+QUEEN, AND SHE WENT AWAY HOME."]
+
+In the evening the seven dwarfs returned; and I need not say how
+grieved they were to see their faithful Snow-White stretched upon the
+ground motionless, as if she were quite dead. However, they lifted her
+up, and when they found what was the matter, they cut the lace; and in
+a little time she began to breathe, and soon came to life again. Then
+they said, "The old woman was the queen herself; take care another
+time, and let no one in when we are away."
+
+When the queen got home, she went to her glass, and spoke to it, but
+to her surprise it said the same words as before.
+
+Then the blood ran cold in her heart with spite and malice to see
+that Snow-White still lived; and she dressed herself up again in a
+disguise, but very different from the one she wore before, and took
+with her a poisoned comb, When she reached the dwarf's cottage, she
+knocked at the door, and cried, "Fine wares to sell!" but Snow-White
+said, "I dare not let anyone in." Then the queen begged, "Only look at
+my beautiful combs;" and gave her the poisoned one. And it looked so
+pretty that she took it up and put it into her hair to try it; but the
+moment it touched her head the poison was so powerful that she fell
+down senseless.
+
+"There you may lie," said the queen, and went her way. But by good
+luck the dwarfs returned very early that evening; and when they saw
+Snow-White lying on the ground, they thought what had happened,
+and soon found the poisoned comb. And when they took it away, she
+recovered, and told them all that had passed; and they warned her once
+more not to open the door to anyone.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Meantime the queen went home to her glass, and trembled with rage
+when she received exactly the same answer as before; and she said
+"Snow-White shall die, if it costs me my life." So she went secretly
+into a chamber, and prepared a poisoned apple; the outside looked very
+rosy and tempting, but whosoever tasted it was sure to die. Then she
+dressed herself up as a peasant's wife, and travelled over the hills
+to the dwarfs' cottage, and knocked at the door; but Snow-White put
+her head out of the window, and said, "I dare not let anyone in, for
+the dwarfs have told me not to." "Do as you please," said the old
+woman, "but at any rate take this pretty apple; I will make you a
+present of it." "No," said Snow-White, "I dare not take it." "You
+silly girl!" answered the other, "what are you afraid of? Do you think
+it is poisoned? Come! do you eat one part, and I will eat the other."
+Now the apple was so prepared that one side was good, though the other
+side was poisoned. Then Snow-White was very much tempted to taste, for
+the apple looked exceedingly nice; and when she saw the old woman eat,
+she could refrain no longer. But she had scarcely put the piece into
+her mouth, when she fell down dead upon the ground. "This time nothing
+will save thee," said the queen; and she went home to her glass, and
+at last it said,
+
+      "Thou, Queen, art the fairest of all the fair."
+
+And then her envious heart was glad, and as happy as such a heart
+could be.
+
+When evening came, and the dwarfs returned home, they found Snow-White
+lying on the ground; no breath passed her lips, and they were afraid
+that she was quite dead. They lifted her up, and combed her hair,
+and washed her face with wine and water; but all was in vain, for the
+little girl seemed quite dead. So they laid her down upon a bier, and
+all seven watched and bewailed her three whole days; and then they
+proposed to bury her; but her cheeks were still rosy, and her face
+looked just as it did while she was alive; so they said, "We will
+never bury her in the cold ground." And they made a coffin of glass
+so that they might still look at her, and wrote her name upon it in
+golden letters, and that she was a king's daughter. And the coffin
+was placed upon the hill, and one of the dwarfs always sat by it and
+watched. And the birds of the air came too, and bemoaned Snow-White.
+First of all came an owl, and then a raven, but at last came a dove.
+
+And thus Snow-White lay for a long, long time, and still only looked
+as though she were asleep; for she was even now as white as snow,
+and as red as blood, and as black as ebony. At last a prince came and
+called at the dwarfs' house; and he saw Snow-White, and read what
+was written in gold letters. Then he offered the dwarfs money, and
+earnestly prayed them to let him take her away; but they said, "We
+will not part with her for all the gold in the world." At last,
+however, they had pity on him, and gave him the coffin; but the moment
+he lifted it up to carry it home with him, the piece of apple fell
+from between her lips, and Snow-White awoke, and said, "Where am I?"
+And the prince answered, "Thou art safe with me." Then he told her all
+that had happened, and said, "I love you better than all the world;
+come with me to my father's palace, and you shall be my wife." And
+Snow-White consented, and went home with the prince; and everything
+was prepared with great pomp and splendour for their wedding.
+
+To the feast was invited, among the rest, Snow-White's old enemy,
+the queen; and as she was dressing herself in fine, rich clothes, she
+looked, in the glass, and the glass answered,
+
+      "Thou, lady, art the loveliest _here_, I ween;
+      But lovelier far is the new-made queen."
+
+When she heard this, she started with rage; but her envy and curiosity
+were so great, that she could not help setting out to see the bride.
+And when she arrived, and saw that it was none other than Snow-White,
+who she thought had been dead a long while, she choked with passion,
+and fell ill and died; but Snow-White and the prince lived and reigned
+happily over that land many, many years.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+CINDERELLA
+
+
+The wife of a rich man fell sick: and when she felt that her end drew
+nigh, she called her only daughter to her bedside, and said, "Always
+be a good girl, and I will look down from heaven and watch over you."
+Soon afterwards she shut her eyes and died, and was buried in the
+garden; and the little girl went every day to her grave and wept,
+and was always good and kind to all about her. And the snow spread a
+beautiful white covering over the grave: but by the time the sun had
+melted it away again, her father had married another wife. This new
+wife had two daughters of her own, that she brought home with her:
+they were fair in face but foul at heart, and it was now a sorry time
+for the poor little girl. "What does the good-for-nothing thing want
+in the parlour?" said they; "they who would eat bread should first
+earn it; away with the kitchen maid!" Then they took away her fine
+clothes, and gave her an old frock to put on, and laughed at her and
+turned her into the kitchen.
+
+Then she was forced to do hard work; to rise early, before daylight,
+to bring the water, to make the fire, to cook and to wash. Besides
+that, the sisters plagued her in all sorts of ways and laughed at her.
+In the evening, when she was tired, she had no bed to lie down on, but
+was made to sleep by the hearth among the ashes; and then, as she was
+of course always dusty and dirty, they called her Cinderella.
+
+It happened once that the father was going to the fair, and asked his
+wife's daughters what he should bring them. "Fine clothes," said the
+first: "Pearls and diamonds," said the second. "Now, child," said he
+to his own daughter, "what will you have?" "The first sprig, dear
+father, that rubs against your hat on your way home," said she. Then
+he bought for the two first the fine clothes and pearls and diamonds
+they had asked for: and on his way home as he rode through a green
+copse, a sprig of hazel brushed against him, and almost pushed off his
+hat; so he broke it off and brought it away; and when he got home he
+gave it to his daughter. Then she took it and went to her mother's
+grave and planted it there, and cried so much that it was watered with
+her tears; and there it grew and became a fine tree. Three times every
+day she went to it and wept; and soon a little bird came and built
+its nest upon the tree, and talked with her and watched over her, and
+brought her whatever she wished for.
+
+Now it happened that the king of the land held a feast which was to
+last three days, and out of those who came to it his son was to choose
+a bride for himself; and Cinderella's two sisters were asked to come.
+So they called her up and said, "Now, comb our hair, brush our shoes,
+and tie our sashes for us, for we are going to dance at the king's
+feast." Then she did as she was told, but when all was done she could
+not help crying, for she thought to herself, she would have liked to
+go to the dance too; and at last she begged her mother very hard to
+let her go. "You! Cinderella?" said she; "you who have nothing to
+wear, no clothes at all, and who cannot even dance--you want to go to
+the ball?" And when she kept on begging--to get rid of her, she said
+at last, "I will throw this basinful of peas into the ash heap, and
+if you have picked them all out in two hours' time you shall go to
+the feast too." Then she threw the peas into the ashes; but the little
+maiden ran out at the back door into the garden, and cried out--
+
+      "Hither, hither, through the sky.
+      Turtle-doves and linnets, fly!
+      Blackbird, thrush, and chaffinch gay,
+      Hither, hither, haste away!
+      One and all, come help me quick,
+      Haste ye, haste ye--pick, pick, pick!"
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Then first came two white doves flying in at the kitchen window; and
+next came two turtle-doves; and after them all the little birds under
+heaven came chirping and fluttering in, and flew down into the ashes;
+and the little doves stooped their heads down and set to work, pick,
+pick, pick; and then the others began to pick, pick, pick; and picked
+out all the good grain and put it in a dish, and left the ashes. At
+the end of one hour the work was done, and all flew out again at the
+windows. Then Cinderella brought the dish to her mother, overjoyed at
+the thought that now she should go to the feast. But she said, "No,
+no! Girl, you have no clothes and cannot dance, you shall not go." And
+when Cinderella begged very hard to go, she said, "If you can in one
+hour's time pick two of these dishes of peas out of the ashes, you
+shall go too." And thus she thought she should at last get rid of her.
+So she shook two dishes of peas into the ashes; but the little maiden
+went out into the garden at the back of the house, and cried as
+before--
+
+      "Hither, hither, through the sky.
+      Turtle-doves and linnets, fly!
+      Blackbird, thrush, and chaffinch gay,
+      Hither, hither, haste away!
+      One and all, come help me quick,
+      Haste ye, haste ye--pick, pick, pick!"
+
+Then first came two white doves in at the kitchen window; and next
+came the turtle-doves; and after them all the little birds under
+heaven came chirping and hopping about, and flew down about the ashes;
+and the little doves put their heads down and set to work, pick, pick,
+pick; and then the others began to pick, pick, pick; and they put
+all the good grain into the dishes, and left all the ashes, Before
+half-an-hour's time all was done, and out they flew again. And then
+Cinderella took the dishes to her mother, rejoicing to think that she
+should now go to the ball. But her mother said, "It is all of no use,
+you cannot go, you have no clothes, and cannot dance, and you would
+only put us to shame:" and off she went with her two daughters to the
+feast.
+
+Now when all were gone, and nobody left at home, Cinderella went
+sorrowfully and sat down under the hazel-tree, and cried out--
+
+      "Shake, shake, hazel tree,
+      Gold and silver over me!"
+
+Then her friend the bird flew out of the tree and brought a gold and
+silver dress for her, and slippers of spangled silk; and she put them
+on, and followed her sisters to the feast. But they did not know her,
+and thought it must be some strange princess, she looked so fine
+and beautiful in her rich clothes; and they never once thought of
+Cinderella, but took for granted that she was safe at home in the
+dirt.
+
+[Illustration: _Painted by Jennie Harbour_
+CINDERELLA]
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The king's son soon came up to her, and took her by the hand and
+danced with her and no one else; and he never left her hand; but when
+any one else came to ask her to dance, he said, "This lady is dancing
+with me." Thus they danced till a late hour of the night, and then she
+wanted to go home: and the king's son said, "I shall go and take care
+of you to your home;" for he wanted to see where the beautiful maid
+lived. But she slipped away from him unawares, and ran off towards
+home, and the prince followed her; but she jumped up into the
+pigeon-house and shut the door. Then he waited till her father came
+home, and told him that the unknown maiden who had been at the feast
+had hidden herself in the pigeon-house. But when they had broken open
+the door they found no one within; and as they came back into the
+house, Cinderella lay as she always did, in her dirty frock by the
+ashes, and her dim little lamp burnt in the chimney; for she had
+run as quickly as she could through the pigeon-house and on to the
+hazel-tree, and had there taken off her beautiful clothes, and laid
+them beneath the tree, that the bird might carry them away, and had
+seated herself amid the ashes again in her little old frock.
+
+The next day, when the feast was again held, and her father, mother,
+and sisters were gone, Cinderella went to the hazel tree, and said--
+
+      "Shake, shake, hazel tree,
+      Gold and silver over me!"
+
+And the bird came and brought a still finer dress than the one she had
+worn the day before. And when she came in it to the ball, every one
+wondered at her beauty; but the king's son, who was waiting for her,
+took her by the hand, and danced with her; and when any one asked
+her to dance, he said as before, "This lady is dancing with me." When
+night came she wanted to go home; and the king's son followed her as
+before, that he might see into what house she went; but she sprang
+away from him, all at once, into the garden behind her father's house.
+In this garden stood a fine large pear tree full of ripe fruit; and
+Cinderella, not knowing where to hide herself, jumped up into it
+without being seen. Then the king's son could not find out where she
+was gone, but waited till her father came home, and said to him, "The
+unknown lady who danced with me has slipped away, and I think she must
+have sprung into the pear tree." The father thought to himself, "Can
+it be Cinderella?" So he ordered an axe to be brought; and they cut
+down the tree, but found no one upon it. And when they came back into
+the kitchen, there lay Cinderella in the ashes as usual; for she had
+slipped down on the other side of the tree, and carried her beautiful
+clothes back to the bird at the hazel tree, and then put on her little
+old frock.
+
+The third day, when her father and mother and sisters were gone she
+went again into the garden, and said---
+
+      "Shake, shake, hazel tree,
+      Gold and silver over me!"
+
+Then her kind friend the bird brought a dress still finer than the
+former ones, and slippers which were all of gold; so that when she
+came to the feast no one knew what to say for wonder at her beauty;
+and the king's son danced with her alone; and when any one else asked
+her to dance he said, "This lady is my partner." Now when night came
+she wanted to go home; and the king's son would go with her, and said
+to himself, "I will not lose her this time;" but, however, she managed
+to slip away from him, though in such a hurry that she dropped her
+left golden slipper upon the stairs.
+
+[Illustration: "SHE SPRANG AWAY FROM HIM, ALL AT ONCE, INTO THE GARDEN
+BEHIND HER FATHER'S HOUSE."]
+
+So the prince took the shoe, and went the next day to the king his
+father, and said, "I will take for my wife the lady that this golden
+shoe fits." Then both the sisters were overjoyed to hear this; for
+they had beautiful feet, and had no doubt that they could wear the
+golden slipper. The eldest went first into the room where the slipper
+was, and wanted to try it on, and the mother stood by. But her great
+toe could not go into it, and the shoe was altogether much too small
+for her. Then the mother gave her a knife, and said, "Never mind, cut
+it off; when you are queen you will not care about toes, you will
+not want to go on foot." So the silly girl cut her great toe off, and
+squeezed the shoe on, and went to the king's son. Then he took her for
+his bride, and set her beside him on his horse and rode away with
+her. But on their way home they had to pass by the hazel tree that
+Cinderella had planted and there sat a little dove on the branch
+singing---
+
+      "Back again! back again! look to the shoe!
+      The shoe is too small, and not made for you!
+      Prince! prince! look again for thy bride,
+      For she's not the true one that sits by thy side."
+
+Then the prince got down and looked at her foot, and saw by the blood
+that streamed from it what a trick she had played him. So he turned
+his horse round and brought the false bride back to her home, and
+said, "This is not the right bride; let the other sister try and put
+on the slipper." Then she went into the room and got her foot into the
+shoe, all but the heel, which was too large. But her mother squeezed
+it in till the blood came, and took her to the king's son; and he set
+her as his bride beside him on his horse, and rode away with her. But
+when they came to the hazel tree the little dove sat there still, and
+sang--
+
+      "Back again! back again! look to the shoe!
+      The shoe is too small, and not made for you!
+      Prince! prince! look again for thy bride,
+      For she's not the true one that sits by thy side."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Then he looked down and saw that the blood streamed so from the shoe
+that her white stockings were quite red. So he turned his horse and
+brought her back again also. "This is not the true bride," said he to
+the father; "have you no other daughters?" "No," said he; "there is
+only a little dirty Cinderella here, the child of my first wife; I am
+sure she cannot be the bride." However, the prince told him to send
+her. But the mother said, "No, no, she is much too dirty, she will not
+dare to show herself;" still the prince would have her come. And she
+first washed her face and hands, and then went in and curtsied to him,
+and he handed to her the golden slipper.
+
+Then she took her clumsy shoe off her left foot and put on the golden
+slipper; and it fitted her as if it had been made for her. And when
+the Prince drew near and looked at her face he knew her, and said,
+"This is the right bride."
+
+But the mother and both the sisters were frightened and turned pale
+with anger as he took Cinderella on his horse, and rode away with her.
+And when they came to the hazel tree, the white dove sang--
+
+      "Home! home! look at the shoe!
+      Princess! the shoe was made for you!
+      Prince! prince! take home thy bride.
+      For she is the true one that sits by thy side!"
+
+And when the dove had done its song, it came flying and perched upon
+her shoulder, and so went home with her.
+
+
+
+
+PRINCESS GOLDENHAIR
+
+
+There was once a King's daughter who was the most beautiful thing in
+the world, and as her hair was fair and reached to her feet she was
+called the Princess Goldenhair.
+
+A handsome young King in the neighbourhood, although he had never seen
+this Princess, fell so deeply in love with her from what he had heard,
+that he could neither eat nor sleep.
+
+So an ambassador was sent with a magnificent chariot, more than a
+hundred horses, and fifty pages, to bring the Princess to the King,
+and great preparations were made for her reception.
+
+[Illustration: "AN AMBASSADOR WAS SENT WITH MORE THAN A HUNDRED
+HORSES, AND FIFTY PAGES TO BRING THE PRINCESS TO THE KING."]
+
+But whether the Princess Goldenhair was in an ill humour when the
+ambassador arrived at her Court, or whatever was the reason, certain
+it is that she sent a message to the young King thanking him but
+saying that she did not wish to marry.
+
+When the King heard of her refusal he wept like a child.
+
+Now at his Court there was a young man called Avenant. He was as
+beautiful as the sun, and a more finely made fellow than any in the
+kingdom; everybody loved him except a few envious people, who were
+angry because the King favoured and confided in him, and in the
+presence of these, one day, Avenant incautiously remarked,
+
+"If the King had sent me to fetch the Princess Goldenhair, I am
+certain she would have come," and these words were repeated to the
+King in such a manner that they made him very angry, and he ordered
+Avenant to be shut up in a high tower, to die of hunger.
+
+In this sad plight, Avenant exclaimed one day, "How have I offended
+his Majesty? He has no more faithful subject than I."
+
+The King who happened to be passing by the tower, heard this; he
+called for Avenant to be brought forth who, throwing himself on his
+knees, begged to know in what way he had offended his royal master.
+
+"You mocked me," said the King, "you said that you would have
+succeeded with the Princess Goldenhair where I have failed."
+
+"It is true, sir," replied Avenant, "I did say so, for I would have
+represented your noble qualities in such a way, that she could not
+help being persuaded."
+
+The King was convinced of the young man's sincerity, and with a letter
+of introduction, Avenant set out for the Court of the goldenhaired
+beauty, riding alone, according to his wish, and thinking as he went
+how he best could woo the Princess for his beloved master.
+
+One day, alighting from his horse to write down some suitable words
+that had come into his mind, he saw a golden carp who, leaping from
+the water to catch flies, had thrown herself upon the river bank, and
+was now nearly dead.
+
+Avenant pitied the poor thing, and put her carefully back into
+the water. Recovering directly, the carp dived to the bottom, but
+returning to the edge of the river, said,
+
+"Avenant, I thank you; you have saved my life, I will repay you;" then
+she swam off leaving the young man in great astonishment.
+
+Another day as Avenant journeyed he noticed a raven who was pursued by
+an eagle. "What right has that eagle to persecute the raven? thought
+Avenant, and he drew his bow and shot the fierce bird. The raven
+perched on a bough and cried.
+
+"Avenant you have saved my life, I will not be ungrateful, I will
+repay you."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Not long after this, Avenant found an owl caught in a snare, he cut
+the strings, and freed the trembling captive. "Avenant," said the owl,
+"you have saved my life, I will repay you."
+
+These three adventures were the most important that befell Avenant,
+and he went on his way, shortly before he arrived at his destination
+purchasing a beautiful little dog named Cabriole.
+
+When Avenant reached the Palace of the Princess Goldenhair, and saw
+the Princess seated upon her throne, she looked so lovely that at
+first all his fine speeches forsook him, and he could not utter a
+word; however, taking courage, he addressed her in exquisitely chosen
+language, begging her to become the King's bride.
+
+To this the Princess replied most graciously, saying that his petition
+moved her more than any other could do, "but know," she added, "as I
+was walking by the river a month ago, as I took off my glove, a ring,
+that I greatly value, fell into the water, and I have vowed that I
+will not heed any proposal of marriage, except from the ambassador who
+brings me back my ring."
+
+Sad at heart Avenant left the Palace, but his little dog, Cabriole,
+said, "My dear master, do not despair, you are too good to be unhappy.
+Early to-morrow morning let us go to the river-side." Avenant patted
+him, but did not answer, and, still sad, fell asleep.
+
+As soon as it was day, Cabriole awoke him saying, "Dress yourself, my
+master, and come out."
+
+They wandered down to the river, and there Avenant heard a voice
+calling him, and what should he see but the golden carp, with the
+Princess's ring in her mouth. "Take it, dear Avenant," said she, "I
+promised to repay you for saving my life, and now I can fulfil my
+promise."
+
+Thanking her a thousand times, Avenant, going at once to the Palace,
+said, "Princess, your command is fulfilled; may it please you to
+receive the King, my master, as your husband."
+
+The Princess thought she must be dreaming when she saw the ring, but
+she set Avenant another task.
+
+"Not far from here there is a prince named Galifron," said she; "he
+wishes to marry me, and threatens to ravish my kingdom if I refuse;
+but how can I accept him? He is a giant, taller than my highest tower,
+he eats a man as a monkey would eat a chestnut, and when he speaks,
+his voice is so loud that it deafens those who hear him. He will not
+take my refusal, but kills my subjects. You must fight and bring me
+his head."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"Well, madam," replied Avenant, "I will fight Galifron; I expect I
+shall be killed, but I shall die a brave man." And, taking Cabriole,
+Avenant set out for Galifron's country, asking news of the giant as he
+went along, and the more he heard the more he feared him, but Cabriole
+reassured him. "My dear master," said the little dog, "while you are
+fighting him I will bite his legs, then he will stoop to chase me, and
+you will kill him." Avenant admired the bravery of the little dog, but
+he knew his help would not be sufficient.
+
+Presently they perceived how the roads were covered with the bones of
+the men that Galifron had eaten, and soon they saw the giant coming
+towards them through a wood. His head was higher than the highest
+trees, and he sang in a terrific voice:
+
+      "Where are the children small, so small,
+      With my teeth I will crush them all,
+      On so many would I feed, feed, feed.
+      The whole world can't supply my need."
+
+Using the same tune, Avenant began to sing:
+
+      "Look down, here is Avenant beneath, beneath
+      He will draw from your head, the teeth, the teeth
+      Although he is not very big, 'tis true,
+      He is able to fight with such as you."
+
+The giant put himself into a terrible passion, and would have killed
+Avenant with one blow, only a raven from above flew at his head, and
+pecked him straight in the eyes, so violently that he was blinded. He
+began striking out on all sides, but Avenant avoided his blows, and
+with his sword pierced him so many times that at last he fell to the
+ground. Then Avenant cut off his head, and the raven, who had perched
+on a tree, said,
+
+"I have not forgotten how you rescued me from the eagle; I promised to
+repay you, I think I have done so to-day."
+
+"I owe everything to you, Mr. Raven," responded Avenant, as, holding
+Galifron's head, he rode off.
+
+When he entered the town, crowds followed him crying, "Here is the
+brave Avenant who has slain the monster."
+
+Avenant advanced to the Princess, and said, "Madam, your enemy is
+dead. I hope you will no more refuse the King, my master."
+
+"Although it is so," answered the Princess, "I shall refuse him unless
+you will bring me some water from the Grotto of Darkness. At the
+entrance there are two dragons, with fire in their eyes and mouths;
+inside the grotto there is a deep pit into which you must descend, it
+is full of toads, scorpions, and serpents. At the bottom of this pit
+there is a little cave where flows the fountain of beauty and health.
+Positively I must possess the water; all who wash in it, if they are
+beautiful, continue so always, if they are ugly they become beautiful;
+if they are young they remain young, if they are old they regain their
+youth. You cannot wonder, Avenant, that I will not leave my kingdom
+without taking it with me."
+
+So once more Avenant and Cabriole set out; they journeyed on until
+they came to a rock, black as ink, from which smoke was issuing, and
+a moment later there appeared one of the dragons belching forth fire
+from his eyes and mouth. He was a frightful looking creature with a
+green and yellow body, and his tail was so long that it went into a
+hundred curves. Avenant saw all this, but resolved to die, he drew his
+sword, and, carrying the flask the Princess had given to him to hold
+the water, he said to Cabriole:
+
+"My days are ended, I can never obtain that water the dragons are
+guarding; when I am dead, fill this flask with my blood and carry it
+to the Princess, that she may know what it has cost me, then go to the
+King, my master, and tell him of my misfortune."
+
+As he was speaking, a voice called, "Avenant, Avenant," and looking
+around he saw an owl. "You saved my life from the fowlers," said the
+owl. "I promised to repay you, the time has now come. Give me your
+flask. I will bring you the water of beauty."
+
+And carrying the flask, the owl entered the grotto, unhindered,
+returning in less than a quarter of an hour with it full to the brim.
+Avenant thanked the owl heartily, and joyously started for the town,
+where he presented the flask to the Princess, who immediately gave
+orders to prepare for her departure.
+
+But as she considered Avenant altogether charming, before she set out,
+she several times said to him: "If you wish, we need not go, for I
+will make you king of my country." But Avenant made reply:
+
+"I would not displease my master for all the kingdoms of earth,
+although your beauty I consider greater than that of the sun."
+
+Thus they arrived at the King's capital, and the wedding took place
+amidst great rejoicings; but Princess Goldenhair, who loved Avenant
+from the depths of her heart, was not happy unless she could see him,
+and was for ever singing his praises. "I should not have come, had it
+not been for Avenant," she told the King, "you ought to be very much
+obliged to him." Then the envious courtiers counselled the King, and
+Avenant was cast once more into the tower, chained hand and foot. When
+Princess Goldenhair heard of this imprisonment, she fell on her knees
+before the King, and begged for Avenant's release; but he would not
+heed her, so that she became saddened and would speak no more.
+
+Then the King thought: "Maybe I am not handsome enough to please her!"
+so he determined to wash his face in the water of beauty.
+
+Now it had happened that a chamber-maid had broken the flask
+containing this wonderful water, so that it was all spilled; then,
+without saying anything to anyone, she had replaced it by a similar
+flask taken from the King's apartment, but the liquid in this flask
+was really that which was used when the princes or great lords were
+condemned to death, for, instead of being beheaded, their faces were
+washed with this water and they fell asleep and did not wake again.
+And so the King using this water one evening, thinking it to be the
+beauty water, and hoping and expecting to be made more handsome, went
+to sleep and awoke no more. Upon hearing what had occurred, Cabriole
+at once went and told Avenant, who asked him to go to the Princess
+Goldenhair and beseech her to remember the poor prisoner. When the
+Princess received this message, she went straight to the tower, and,
+with her own hands, struck off the chains that bound Avenant, and
+placing a crown of gold upon his head, and a royal mantle upon his
+shoulders, said: "Come, dear Avenant, I will make you King, and take
+you for my husband." Then there was a grand wedding, and Princess
+Goldenhair and Avenant, with Cabriole, lived long, all of them happy
+and contented.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
+
+
+Many years ago there lived a dear little girl, who was beloved by
+everyone who knew her; but her grandmother was so very fond of her
+that she never felt that she could think and do enough for her.
+
+On her grand-daughter's birthday she presented her with a red silk
+hood; and as it suited her very well, she would never wear anything
+else; and so she was called Little Red Riding Hood. One day her mother
+said to her, "Come, Red Riding Hood, here is a nice piece of meat,
+and a bottle of wine: take these to your grandmother; she is weak and
+ailing, and they will do her good. Be there before she gets up; go
+quietly and carefully; and do not run, or you may fall and break the
+bottle, and then your grandmother will have nothing. When you go into
+her room, do not forget to say 'Good-morning'; and do not pry into all
+the corners." "I will do just as you say," answered Red Riding Hood,
+bidding good-bye to her mother.
+
+[Illustration: _Painted by Jennie Harbour_
+LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD]
+
+The grandmother lived far away in the wood, a long walk from the
+village, and as Little Red Riding Hood came among the trees she met a
+wolf; but she did not know what a wicked animal it was, and so she
+was not at all frightened. "Good-morning, Little Red Riding Hood," he
+said.
+
+"Thank you, Mr. Wolf," she said.
+
+"Where are you going so early, Little Red Riding Hood?"
+
+"To my grandmother's," she answered.
+
+"And what are you carrying under your apron?"
+
+"Some wine and meat," she replied. "We baked the meat yesterday, so
+that grandmother, who is very weak, might have a nice strengthening
+meal."
+
+"And where does your grandmother live?" asked the Wolf.
+
+"Oh, quite twenty minutes' walk further in the forest. The cottage
+stands under three great oak trees; and close by are some nut bushes,
+by which you will at once know it."
+
+The wolf was thinking to himself, "She is a nice tender thing, and
+will taste better than the old woman; I must act cleverly, that I may
+make a meal of both."
+
+[Illustration: "WHERE ARE YOU GOING SO EARLY, LITTLE RED RIDING
+HOOD."]
+
+Presently he came up again to Little Red Riding Hood and said. "Just
+look at the beautiful flowers which grow near you; why do you not look
+about you? I believe you don't hear how sweetly the birds are singing.
+You walk as if you were going to school; see how cheerful everything
+is around you in the forest."
+
+And Little Red Riding Hood opened her eyes; and when she saw how the
+sunbeams glanced and danced through the trees, and what bright flowers
+were blooming in her path, she thought, "If I take my grandmother a
+fresh nosegay she will be much pleased; and it is so very early that
+I can, even then, get there in good time:" and running into the forest
+she looked about for flowers. But when she had once begun she did
+not know how to leave off, and kept going deeper and deeper among the
+trees looking for some still more beautiful flower. The Wolf, however,
+ran straight to the house of the old grandmother, and knocked at the
+door.
+
+"Who's that?" asked the old lady.
+
+"Only little Red Riding Hood, bringing you some meat and wine; please
+open the door," answered the Wolf.
+
+"Lift up the latch," cried the grandmother; "I am much too ill to get
+up myself."
+
+So the Wolf lifted the latch, and the door flew open; and without a
+word he jumped on to the bed and gobbled up the poor old lady. Then he
+put on her clothes, and tied her night-cap over his head; got into the
+bed, and drew the blankets over him.
+
+All this time Red Riding Hood was gathering flowers; and when she had
+picked as many as she could carry, she thought of her grandmother, and
+hurried to the cottage. She wondered very much to find the door
+open; and when she got into the room, she began to feel very ill, and
+exclaimed, "How sad I feel! I wish I had not come to-day." Then she
+said, "Good morning," but received no reply; so she went up to the
+bed, and drew back the curtains, and there lay her grandmother as
+she imagined, with the cap drawn half over her eyes and looking very
+fierce.
+
+"Oh, grandmother, what great ears you have!"
+
+"All the better to hear you with," was the reply.
+
+"And what great eyes you have!"
+
+"All the better to see you with."
+
+"And what great hands you have!"
+
+"All the better to touch you with."
+
+"But, grandmother, what very great teeth you have!"
+
+"All the better to eat you with;" and hardly were the words spoken
+when the Wolf made a jump out of bed and swallowed down poor Little
+Red Riding Hood also.
+
+As soon as he had thus satisfied his hunger, he laid himself down
+again on the bed, and went to sleep and snored very loudly. A huntsman
+passing by overheard him, and said, "How loudly that old woman snores!
+I must see if anything is the matter."
+
+So he went into the cottage; and when he came to the bed, he saw the
+Wolf sleeping in it.
+
+"What! are you here, you old rascal? I have been looking for you,"
+exclaimed he; and taking up his gun, he shot the old Wolf through the
+head.
+
+But it is also said that the story ends in a different manner; for
+that one day, when Red Riding Hood was taking some presents to her
+grandmother, a Wolf met her, and wanted to mislead her; but she went
+straight on, and told her grandmother that she had met a Wolf, who
+said good-day; but he looked so hungrily out of his great eyes, as if
+he would have eaten her up had she not been on the high road.
+
+So her grandmother said, "We will shut the door, and then he cannot
+get in."
+
+Soon after, up came the Wolf, who tapped, and exclaimed, "I am Little
+Red Riding Hood, grandmother; I have some roast meat for you." But
+they kept quite quiet, and did not open the door; so the Wolf, after
+looking several times round the house, at last jumped on to the roof,
+thinking to wait till Red Riding Hood went home in the evening, and
+then to creep after her and eat her in the darkness.
+
+The old woman, however, saw what the villain intended. There stood
+before the door a large stone trough, and she said to Little Red
+Riding Hood, "Take this bucket, dear: yesterday I boiled some meat in
+this water, now pour it into the stone trough." Then the Wolf sniffed
+the smell of the meat, and his mouth watered, and he wished very much
+to taste.
+
+At last he stretched his neck too far over, so that he lost his
+balance, and fell down from the roof, right into the great trough
+below, and there he was drowned.
+
+[Illustration: "WITHOUT A WORD HE JUMPED ON TO THE BED AND GOBBLED UP
+THE POOR OLD LADY."]
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+THE WHITE FAWN
+
+
+There was once upon a time a King and Queen who were perfectly happy,
+with one exception, and that was that they had no child.
+
+One day when the Queen was staying in a watering-place, some distance
+from home, she was sitting by a fountain alone, sadly thinking of the
+daughter she longed to have, when she perceived a crab coming in her
+direction, who, to the Queen's surprise, addressed her thus:
+
+"Great Queen, if you will condescend to be conducted by a humble
+crab, I will lead you to a Fairies' palace and your wish shall be
+fulfilled."
+
+"I would certainly come with you," replied the Queen, "but I am afraid
+that I cannot walk backwards."
+
+The crab smiled, and transforming herself into a beautiful little old
+woman, said:
+
+"Now, madam, it is not necessary to go backwards. Come with me, and
+I beg of you to look upon me as your friend." She then escorted the
+Queen to the most magnificent palace that could possibly be imagined,
+it was built entirely of diamonds.
+
+In this superb place dwelt six Fairies who received the Queen with
+the greatest respect, and each one presented her with a flower made of
+precious stones--a rose, tulip, an anemone, a columbine, a violet, and
+a carnation.
+
+"Madam," they said, "we have pleasure in telling you that soon you
+will have a daughter whom you will name Desirée. Directly she arrives,
+do not fail to call upon us, for we will bestow all sorts of good
+gifts upon her. You have only to hold this bouquet, and mention each
+flower, thinking of us, and be assured that we shall at once appear in
+your chamber."
+
+The Queen, transported with joy, and overcome with gratitude, threw
+herself upon their necks, and warmly embraced them; she then spent
+several hours admiring the wonders of the palace and its gardens, and
+it was not until evening that she returned to her attendants, who were
+in a serious state of anxiety at the prolonged absence of Her Majesty.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Not very long afterwards, when the Queen was once more at home in her
+Royal Palace, a baby Princess was born, whom she named Desirée. Then
+taking the bouquet into her hand, the Queen, one by one, pronounced
+the names of the flowers, when there immediately appeared, flying
+through the air in elegant chariots drawn by different kinds of birds,
+the six Fairies who entered the apartment, bearing beautiful presents
+for the little baby. Marvellously fine linen, but so strong that it
+could be worn a hundred years without going into holes, lace of the
+finest, with the history of the world worked into its pattern, toys
+of all descriptions that a child would love to play with, and a cradle
+ornamented with rubies and diamonds, and supported by four Cupids
+ready to rock it should the baby cry. But, best of all, the Fairies
+endowed the little Princess with beauty, and virtue, and health, and
+every good thing that could be desired.
+
+The Queen was thanking the Fairies a thousand times for all their
+favours, when the door opened, and a crab appeared.
+
+"Ungrateful Queen," said the crab, "you have not deigned to remember
+me, the Fairy of the Fountain; and to punish your ingratitude, if the
+Princess sees daylight before she is fifteen years old, she will have
+cause to repent it, and it may cost her her life. It was well I took
+the form of a crab, for your friendship instead of advancing has gone
+backwards." Then in spite of all the Queen and the Fairies could say,
+the crab went backwards out of the door, leaving them in the saddest
+consternation, and it was long before they could decide what was best
+to be done.
+
+Then, with three waves of a wand, the Fairies caused a high tower to
+spring up; it had neither door nor window, an underground passage was
+made, through which everything necessary could be carried, and in
+this tower the little Princess was shut up and there she lived by
+candlelight, where never a glimpse of the sun could come.
+
+When the Princess Desirée was fourteen years old, the Queen had her
+portrait painted, and copies of it were carried to all the Courts
+in the world. All the Princes admired it greatly, but there was one
+Prince, named Guerrier, who loved it above everything; he used to
+stand before the picture and avow his passion, just as if it heard
+what he said, and at last he told the King, his father.
+
+"You have resolved that I shall marry the Princess Noire, but this I
+can never do, so great is my love for the Princess Desirée."
+
+"But where have you seen her?" enquired the King.
+
+The Prince hastened to fetch her portrait, and the King was so greatly
+struck by Desirée's beauty that he agreed to follow his son's wishes
+and break off his engagement with the Princess Noire, that he might
+wed the Princess Desirée. So the King despatched as ambassador a rich
+young lord named Bécafigue.
+
+Bécafigue was devoted to Prince Guerrier, and he fitted out a most
+splendid retinue to visit the Princess Desirée's Court. Besides
+numerous magnificent presents, Bécafigue took with him the Prince's
+portrait, which had been painted by such a clever artist that it would
+speak; it could not exactly answer questions, but could make certain
+remarks. It was truly a speaking likeness of the young Prince.
+Desirée's father and mother were delighted when they heard that the
+Prince Guerrier was seeking their daughter's hand in marriage, for
+they knew him to be a brave and noble young man. But as it still
+wanted three months to the Princess's fifteenth year, warned by
+the Fairy Tulip, who had taken Desirée under her special care, they
+refused to let him see their daughter or to let her yet marry the
+Prince Guerrier, but they showed her the Prince's portrait, with
+which she was greatly pleased, and particularly when it said, "Lovely
+Desirée, you cannot imagine how ardently I am waiting for you; come
+soon into our Court to make it beautiful by your presence."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+When Prince Guerrier saw the ambassador return without Desirée, he
+was so terribly disappointed that he could neither eat nor sleep, and
+before long fell dangerously ill.
+
+Meanwhile Desirée had no less pleasure in looking at the Prince's
+portrait than he had had admiring hers, and this was soon discovered
+by those around her, and among others Giroflée and Longue Epine, her
+maids of honour. Giroflée loved her passionately and faithfully, but
+Longue Epine was full of envy of the Princess who was so good and
+beautiful, and, besides Longue Epine, Desirée had another enemy,
+and that was the Princess Noire, to whom Prince Guerrier had been
+betrothed. This Princess Noire now went to the Fairy of the Fountain,
+who was her best friend, and begged her to take revenge upon Princess
+Desirée, and this the Fairy promised to do. Meanwhile once more
+Bécafigue came to the capital where Desirée's father lived, and
+throwing himself at the King's feet, besought him in most touching
+words to let his daughter go with him at once to the Prince, who would
+surely die if he could not behold her.
+
+When Princess Desirée heard of the Prince's illness, she suggested
+that she should set out without delay, but in a dark carriage,
+that only at night should be opened to give her food. This plan was
+approved of; the ambassador was told, and he departed full of joy. So
+in a carriage like a large dark box, shut up with her Lady in Waiting
+and her two Maids of Honour, Giroflée and Longue Epine, Princess
+Desirée departed for Prince Guerrier's Court.
+
+Perhaps you will remember that Longue Epine did not like Princess
+Desirée, but she greatly admired Prince Guerrier, for she had seen his
+portrait speaking, and she had told her mother, the Lady in Waiting,
+that she should die if he married Desirée.
+
+The King and Queen had begged the Lady in Waiting to take the greatest
+of care of their dear daughter, and above all to be heedful that she
+did not see the light of day until her fifteenth birthday, saying that
+the ambassador had promised that until then she should be placed where
+there was no other light than that of candles. But now as they drew
+near their destination, while it was broad daylight the wicked woman,
+urged by her envious daughter, Longue Epine, all at once took a large
+knife which she had brought for the purpose, and with it cut the
+covering of the carriage.
+
+Then, for the first time, the Princess Desirée saw the light of day!!!
+Hardly had she perceived it when, uttering a deep sigh, she threw
+herself from the carriage, and in the form of a white fawn fleetly
+fled into a forest near by.
+
+The Fairy of the Fountain, who was the cause of this disaster seeing
+that all who were accompanying the Princess were about to hasten to
+the town to tell the Prince Guerrier what had happened, called up a
+great thunderstorm and scattered them in every direction. Only the
+Lady in Waiting, Longue Epine and Giroflée were left, Giroflée, who
+ran after her mistress, making the trees and rocks echo with her
+mournful calls. Then Longue Epine clothed herself in the rich bridal
+robes provided for Desirée. She placed the crown upon her head, the
+sceptre and orb she carried in her hands, so that all should take her
+for the Princess. With her mother bearing her train she gravely walked
+in the direction of the town.
+
+[Illustration: "A GREAT THUNDERSTORM SCATTERED THEM IN EVERY
+DIRECTION."]
+
+They had not gone far when a brilliant procession came towards them,
+amongst whom was the sick Prince in a litter, and to those in advance
+Longue Epine announced that she was the Princess Desirée, with her
+Lady in Waiting, but that a jealous Fairy had sent a thunderstorm
+which had destroyed her carriage and scattered her other attendants.
+When the Prince was told of this, he could not refrain from saying
+to the messengers: "Now acknowledge, is she not truly a miracle of
+beauty, a Princess beyond compare?"
+
+No one replied at first, and then one of the boldest said,
+
+"Sir, you will see; apparently the fatigue of the journey has somewhat
+changed her." The Prince was surprised, but when he saw Longue Epine
+words fail to express what he felt.
+
+She was so tall that it was alarming, and the garments of the Princess
+hardly came to her knees. She was frightfully thin, and her nose,
+which was more hooked than a parrot's beak, shone like a danger
+signal. Then her teeth were black and uneven, and, in fact, she was as
+ugly as Desirée was beautiful.
+
+At first the Prince could not speak a word, he simply gazed at her
+in amazement. Then he said, turning to his father, "We have been
+deceived, that portrait was painted to mislead us. It will be the
+death of me."
+
+"What do I hear, they have deceived you," fiercely exclaimed Longue
+Epine.
+
+"It is not to be wondered at," remarked the King, "that your father
+kept such a treasure shut up for fifteen years."
+
+Then he and the Prince turned towards the town, and the false Princess
+and the Lady in Waiting, without any ceremony, were mounted each
+behind a soldier and taken to be shut up in a castle.
+
+[Illustration: _Painted by Jennie Harbour_
+THE WHITE FAWN]
+
+Soon after his terrible disappointment, Prince Guerrier, unable to
+bear any longer the life at court, secretly departed from the palace
+with his faithful friend Bécafigue, leaving a letter for his father
+saying he would return to him as soon as his mind was in a happier
+state, and begging him meanwhile to keep the ugly Princess prisoner,
+and think of some revenge upon the deceitful king, her father.
+
+After three or four days' journeying, the wanderers found themselves
+in a thick forest. Quite wearied out, the Prince threw himself
+upon the ground, while Bécafigue went on further in search of fruit
+wherewith to refresh his royal master.
+
+It is a long time since we left the White Fawn, that is to say the
+charming Princess.
+
+Very desolately she wept when in a stream she saw her figure
+reflected, and when night came she was in great fear, for she heard
+wild beasts about her, and sometimes forgetting she was a fawn she
+would try to climb a tree. But with morning dawn she felt a little
+safer, and the sun appeared a marvellous sight to her from which she
+could hardly turn her eyes. But now the Fairy Tulip, who had always
+loved the Princess guided Giroflée's feet in her direction, and
+when the White Fawn saw her faithful Maid of Honour her delight was
+boundless.
+
+It did not take Giroflée long to discover that this was her
+dearly-loved mistress, and she promised the White Fawn never to
+forsake her, for she found she could hear all that was said although
+she could not speak. Towards night the fear of having no shelter made
+the two friends so dreadfully dismayed that the Fairy Tulip suddenly
+appeared before them.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"I am not going to scold you," she said, "although it is through not
+following my advice that you are in this misfortune, for it goes to
+my heart to see you thus. I cannot release you altogether from this
+enchantment, but I have power to shorten the time, and also to say
+that during the night you may regain your rightful form, but by day
+again must you run through the forest as a Fawn." The fairy also told
+them where they could find a little hut in which to pass the nights.
+Then she disappeared. Giroflée and the Fawn walked in the direction
+the Fairy had pointed out, and arrived at a neat little cottage where
+an old woman showed them a room which they could occupy.
+
+As soon as it was night Desirée came to her rightful form, but when
+day appeared she was once more a Fawn and, escaping into the thicket,
+commenced to run about in the ordinary way.
+
+You have heard how Prince Guerrier rested in the forest while
+Bécafigue searched for fruit; quite late in the evening Bécafigue
+arrived at the cottage of the good woman who had given shelter to
+Giroflée and the White Fawn. He addressed her politely and asked for
+the things he required for his master. She hastened to fill a basket,
+and gave it to him, saying, "I fear that if you pass a night without
+shelter some harm may come to you. I can offer you a poor one, but at
+any rate it is secure from the lions."
+
+Bécafigue went back to the Prince and together they returned to the
+cottage, where they were led into the room next to that occupied by
+the Princess.
+
+Next morning the Prince arose early and went out; he had not long been
+in the forest when he saw a beautiful little Fawn. Hunting had ever
+been his favourite pastime, and now he pursued the little creature.
+All day long hither and thither he chased, but did not succeed in
+capturing her, and as evening fell the Fawn slipped away and gained
+the little hut where Giroflée anxiously awaited her, and on hearing
+her adventure the Maid of Honour told her she must never again venture
+out, but the Princess replied:
+
+"It is no use talking thus, when I am a Fawn this room is stifling to
+me and I must depart from it."
+
+The next day the young Prince sought in vain for the White Fawn, and
+finally tired out threw himself upon the grass and fell asleep.
+
+While he lay there the little Fawn drew near and looking at him
+quietly, to her astonishment she recognised his features as those of
+the Prince Guerrier. Coming nearer and nearer she presently touched
+him and he awoke.
+
+His surprise was great at seeing close by the shy little Fawn, who
+stayed not an instant longer but fled away, the Prince following.
+
+"Stay, dear little Fawn," he cried, "I would not hurt you for the
+world." But the wind carried off the words before they reached her
+ears. Long he chased the poor creature, till at last worn out the Fawn
+sank down on the ground and the Prince came up to her.
+
+"Beautiful Fawn," said he, "do not fear me, I shall lead you with
+me everywhere." Then he covered her with roses and fed her with the
+choicest leaves and grasses.
+
+But as evening drew near the Fawn longed to escape, for what would
+happen should she suddenly change into a Princess there in the forest.
+Presently the Prince went to fetch some water for her, and while he
+was gone she ran homewards. The next day for a long time she hid from
+the Prince, but at last he found her, and as she dashed off he shot an
+arrow which wounded her in the leg.
+
+Sad that he should have done so cruel a thing, the Prince took herbs
+and laid them upon the wound, and at last he went to fetch Bécafigue
+to help him carry her to the house. He tied her to a tree.
+
+Alas! Who would have thought that the most beautiful Princess in the
+world would be treated thus? While she was straining at the ribbons
+trying to break them, Giroflée arrived, and was leading her away when
+the Prince met them and claimed the Fawn as his.
+
+"Sir," politely replied Giroflée, "the Fawn was mine before it was
+yours," and she spoke to the Fawn, and the Fawn obeyed her in such
+a way that the Prince could not doubt that what she said was true.
+Giroflée then went on, and, to the surprise of the Prince and
+Bécafigue, entered the old woman's house where they themselves lodged.
+Then Bécafigue told the Prince that unless he was much mistaken the
+owner of the Fawn had lived with the Princess Desirée when he went
+there as ambassador.
+
+"I mean to see her again," said Bécafigue, "there is only a partition
+between her room and ours." And soon he had made a hole large enough
+to peep through, and through it he saw the charming Princess dressed
+in a robe of brocaded silver, with flowers embroidered in gold and
+emeralds, her hair falling in heavy masses on the most beautiful neck
+in the world. Giroflée was on her knees before her, bandaging up
+one arm from which the blood was flowing. They both seemed greatly
+concerned about the wound: "Let me die," the Princess was saying,
+"death would be better than the life which I lead. To be a Fawn all
+the day, to hear him speaking, and not to be able to tell him of my
+sad fate."
+
+One can guess the astonishment of Bécafigue and of the Prince.
+Guerrier would almost have died of pleasure had he not thought that
+it must be some enchantment, for did he not know that Desirée and her
+Lady in Waiting were shut up in the castle.
+
+He went softly and knocked at the chamber door, which Giroflée opened,
+thinking it was the old woman, for she required help for the wounded
+arm.
+
+The Prince entered, threw himself at Desirée's feet, and found she was
+indeed his Princess.
+
+Great was their joy thus at last meeting, and while they were talking
+to each other the night passed, and the day dawned, and daylight came,
+and the morning sun shone brightly before Desirée had time to notice
+that she had not again taken the shape of a Fawn, but was her own
+beautiful self.
+
+Then it was found that it was the Fairy Tulip in disguise of the old
+woman who had provided that sheltering cottage in the forest.
+
+The joy of the King upon once more seeing his son can well be
+imagined, and the marriage of the Prince and Desirée, and Bécafigue
+and Giroflée took place on the same day, the Fairies giving their
+diamond palace as their wedding present to Princess Desirée, and Fairy
+Tulip presenting four gold mines in the Indies to Giroflée.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+And, in accordance with the wish of Princess Desirée, Longue Epine and
+her mother, the false Lady in Waiting, were set at liberty.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+HANSEL AND GRETHEL
+
+
+Once upon a time there dwelt near a large wood a poor wood cutter,
+with his wife, and two children by his former marriage, a little boy
+called Hansel, and a girl named Grethel. He had little enough to break
+or bite; and once, when there was a great famine in the land, he could
+hardly procure even his daily bread; and as he lay thinking in his bed
+one night, he sighed, and said to his wife, "What will become of us?
+How can we feed our children, when we have no more than we can eat
+ourselves?"
+
+"Know then, my husband," answered she, "we will lead them away, quite
+early in the morning, into the thickest part of the wood, and there
+make them a fire, and give them each a little piece of bread, then we
+will go to our work, and leave them alone, so they will not find the
+way home again, and we shall be freed from them."
+
+"No, wife," replied he, "that I can never do; how can you bring your
+heart to leave my children all alone in the wood; for the wild beasts
+will soon come and tear them to pieces?"
+
+"Oh, you simpleton!" said she, "then we must all four die of hunger;
+you had better plane the coffins for us." But she left him no peace
+till he consented, saying, "Ah, but I shall miss the poor children."
+
+The two children, however, had not gone to sleep, for very hunger, and
+so they overheard what the stepmother said to their father. Grethel
+wept bitterly, and said to Hansel, "What will become of us?"
+
+"Be quiet, Grethel," said he; "do not cry--I will help you." And as
+soon as their parents had gone to sleep, he got up, put on his coat,
+and, unbarring the back door, went out. The moon shone brightly, and
+the white pebbles which lay before the door seemed like silver pieces,
+they glittered so brightly. Hansel stooped down, and put as many into
+his pocket as it would hold; and then going back he said to Grethel,
+"Be of good cheer, dear sister, and sleep in peace; God will not
+forsake us." And so saying, he went to bed again.
+
+The next morning, before the sun arose, the wife went and awoke the
+two children. "Get up, you lazy things; we are going into the forest
+to chop wood." Then she gave them each a piece of bread, saying,
+"There is something for your dinner; do not eat it before the time,
+for you will get nothing else." Grethel took the bread in her apron,
+for Hansel's pocket was full of pebbles; and so they all set out upon
+their way. When they had gone a little distance, Hansel stood still,
+and peeped back at the house; and this he repeated several times, till
+his father said, "Hansel, what are you looking at, and why do you lag
+behind? Take care, and remember your legs."
+
+"Ah, father," said Hansel, "I am looking at my white cat sitting upon
+the roof of the house, and trying to say good-bye."
+
+"You simpleton!" said the wife, "that is not a cat; it is only the sun
+shining on the white chimney." But in reality Hansel was not looking
+at a cat; but every time he stopped, he dropped a pebble out of his
+pocket upon the path.
+
+When they came to the middle of the forest, the father told the
+children to collect wood, and he would make them a fire, so that they
+should not be cold. So Hansel and Grethel gathered together quite a
+little mount of twigs. Then they set fire to them; and as the flame
+burnt up high, the wife said, "Now, you children, lie down near the
+fire, and rest yourselves, whilst we go into the forest and chop more
+wood; when we are ready we will come and call you."
+
+Hansel and Grethel sat down by the fire, and when it was noon, each
+ate the piece of bread; and because they could hear the blows of an
+axe they thought their father was near; but it was not an axe, but a
+branch which he had bound to an old tree, so as to be blown to and fro
+by the wind. They waited so long, that at last their eyes closed from
+weariness, and they fell fast asleep. When they awoke, it was quite
+dark, and Grethel began to cry. "How shall we get out of the wood?"
+But Hansel tried to comfort her by saying, "Wait a little while till
+the moon rises, and then we will quickly find the way." The moon shone
+forth, and Hansel, taking his sister's hand, followed the pebbles,
+which glittered like new-coined silver pieces, and showed them the
+way. All night long they walked on, and as day broke they came to
+their father's house. They knocked at the door, and when the wife
+opened it, and saw Hansel and Grethel, she exclaimed, "You wicked
+children! Why did you sleep so long in the wood? We thought you were
+never coming home again." But their father was extremely glad, for it
+had grieved his heart to leave them all alone.
+
+[Illustration: "HANSEL AND GRETHEL SAT DOWN BY THE FIRE."]
+
+Not long afterwards there was again great scarcity in every corner of
+the land; and one night the children overheard their mother saying to
+their father, "Everything is once more consumed; we have only half a
+loaf left, and then the song is ended: the children must be sent away.
+We will take them deeper into the wood, so that they may not find the
+way out again; it is the only means of escape for us."
+
+But her husband felt heavy at heart, and thought, "It were better
+to share the last crust with the children." His wife, however, would
+listen to nothing that he said, and scolded and reproached him without
+end.
+
+He who says A must say B too; and he who consents the first time must
+also the second.
+
+The children, however, had heard the conversation as they lay awake,
+and as soon as their parents went to sleep Hansel got up, intending to
+pick up some pebbles as before; but the wife had locked the door, so
+that he could not get out. Nevertheless he comforted Grethel, saying,
+"Do not weep; sleep in quiet; the good God will not forsake us."
+
+Early in the morning the stepmother came and pulled them out of bed,
+and gave them each a slice of bread, which was still smaller than the
+former piece. On the way Hansel broke his in his pocket, and stopping
+every now and then, dropped a crumb upon the path. "Hansel, why do
+you stop and look about?" said the father, "keep in the path." "I am
+looking at my little dove," answered Hansel, "nodding a good-bye to
+me." "Simpleton!" said the wife, "that is no dove, but only the sun
+shining on the chimney." But Hansel kept still dropping crumbs as he
+went along.
+
+The mother led the children deep into the wood, where they had never
+been before, and there making a gigantic fire, she said to them, "Sit
+down here and rest, and when you feel tired you can sleep for a little
+while. We are going into the forest to hew wood, and in the evening,
+when we are ready, we will come and fetch you again."
+
+When noon came, Grethel shared her bread with Hansel, who had strewn
+his on the path. They then went to sleep; but the evening arrived and
+no one came to visit the poor children, and in the dark night they
+awoke, and Hansel comforted his sister by saying, "Only wait, Grethel,
+till the moon comes out, then we shall see the crumbs of bread which I
+have dropped, and they will show us the way home." The moon shone and
+they got up, but they could not see any crumbs, for the thousands of
+birds which had been flying about in the woods and fields had picked
+them all up. Hansel kept saying to Grethel, "We will soon find the
+way;" but they did not, and they walked the whole night long and the
+next day, but still they did not come out of the wood; and they got
+very hungry, for they had nothing to eat but the berries which they
+found upon the bushes. Soon they were so tired that they could not
+drag themselves along, then they lay down under a tree and again went
+to sleep.
+
+[Illustration: _Painted by Jennie Harbour_
+HANSEL AND GRETHEL]
+
+It was now the third morning since they had left their father's house,
+and they still walked on; but they only got deeper, and deeper, and
+deeper into the wood, and Hansel felt that if help did not come
+very soon they must die of hunger. As soon as it was noon they saw a
+beautiful, snow-white bird sitting upon a bough, singing so sweetly
+that they stood still and listened to it. It soon ceased, and
+spreading its wings flew off; and they followed it until it arrived at
+a cottage, upon the roof of which it perched; and when they went close
+up to it they saw that the cottage was made of bread and cakes, and
+the window-panes were of clear sugar.
+
+"We will go in here," said Hansel, "and have a glorious feast. I will
+eat a piece of the roof, and you can eat the window. Will they not be
+sweet?" So Hansel reached up and broke a piece off the roof, in order
+to see how it tasted; while Grethel stepped up to the window and
+began to bite it. Then a sweet voice called out in the room, "Tip-tap,
+tip-tap, who knocks at my door?" and the children answered, "The
+wind, the wind, the child of heaven;" and they went on eating without
+interruption. Hansel thought the roof tasted very nice, and so he tore
+off a great piece; while Grethel broke a large round pane out of the
+window, and sat down quite contentedly. Just then the door opened, and
+a very old woman, walking upon crutches, came out. Hansel and Grethel
+were so much frightened that they let fall what they had in their
+hands; but the old woman nodding her head, said, "Ah, you dear
+children, what has brought you here? Come in and stop with me, and no
+harm shall come to you;" and so saying she took them both by the hand,
+and led them into her cottage. A good meal of milk and pancakes, with
+sugar, apples and nuts, was spread on the table, and in the back
+room were two nice little beds, covered with white, where Hansel and
+Grethel laid themselves down, and were happy as could be. The old
+woman behaved very kindly to them, but in reality she was a wicked
+old witch who way-laid children, and built the breadhouse in order to
+entice them in; but as soon as they were in her power she killed them,
+cooked and ate them, and made a great festival of the day. Witches
+have red eyes, and cannot see very far; but they have a fine sense of
+smelling, like wild beasts, so that they know when children approach
+them. When Hansel and Grethel came near the witch's house she laughed
+wickedly, saying, "Here come two who shall not escape me." And early
+in the morning, before they awoke, she went up to them, and saw how
+lovingly they lay sleeping, with their chubby red cheeks; and she
+mumbled to herself, "That will be a good bite." Then she took up
+Hansel with her rough hand, and shut him up in a little cage with
+a lattice-door; and although he screamed loudly it was of no use.
+Grethel came next, and shaking her till she awoke, she said, "Get up,
+you lazy brat, and fetch some water to cook something good for your
+brother, who must remain in that stall and get fat; and when he is fat
+enough I shall eat him." Grethel began to cry, but it was all useless,
+for the old witch made her do as she wanted. So a nice meal was cooked
+for Hansel, but Grethel got nothing else but a crab's claw.
+
+Every morning the old witch came to the cage and said, "Hansel,
+stretch out your finger that I may feel whether you are getting fat."
+But Hansel used to stretch out a bone, and the old woman, having very
+bad sight, thought it was his finger, and wondered very much why he
+did not get fat. When four weeks had passed, and Hansel still kept
+quite lean, she lost all her patience, and would not wait any longer.
+"Grethel," she cried in a passion, "get some water quickly; be Hansel
+fat or lean, this morning I will kill and cook him." Oh, how the poor
+little sister grieved, as she was forced to fetch the water, and
+fast the tears ran down her cheeks! "Dear good God, help us now!" she
+prayed. "Had we only been eaten by the wild beasts in the wood, then
+we should have died together." But the old witch called out, "Leave
+off that noise; it will not help you a bit."
+
+So early in the morning Grethel was compelled to go out and fill the
+kettle, and make a fire. "First, we will bake, however," said the old
+woman; "I have already heated the oven and kneaded the dough;" and
+so saying, she pushed poor Grethel up to the oven, out of which the
+flames were burning fiercely. "Creep in," said the witch, "and see if
+it is hot enough, and then we will put in the bread," but she intended
+when Grethel got in, to shut up the oven and let her bake, so that she
+might eat her as well as Hansel. Grethel perceived her wicked thoughts
+and said, "I do not know how to do it; how shall I get in?" "You
+stupid goose," said she, "the opening is big enough. See, I could even
+get in myself!" and she got up, and put her head into the oven. Then
+Grethel gave her a push, so that she fell right in, and shutting the
+iron door bolted it. Oh! how horribly the witch howled; but Grethel
+ran away, and left her to burn to ashes.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Now she ran to Hansel, and, opening the door, called out, "Hansel we
+are saved; the old witch is dead?"
+
+So he sprang out, like a bird from his cage when the door was opened;
+and they were so glad that they fell upon each other's neck, and
+kissed each other over and over again. And now, as there was nothing
+to fear, they went back to the witch's house, where in every corner
+were caskets full of pearls and precious stones. "These are better
+than pebbles," said Hansel, putting as many into his pocket as it
+would hold; while Grethel thought, "I will take some home too," and
+filled her apron full.
+
+"We must be off now," said Hansel, "and get out of this enchanted
+forest;" but when they had walked for two hours they came to a large
+piece of water.
+
+"We cannot get over," said Hansel; "I can see no bridge at all." "And
+there is no boat either," said Grethel, "but there swims a white duck,
+I will ask her to help us over;" and she sang,
+
+      "Little Duck, good little Duck,
+      Grethel and Hansel, together we stand;
+      There is neither stile nor bridge,
+      Take us on your back to land."
+
+So the Duck came to them, and Hansel sat himself on, and bade his
+sister sit beside him. "No," replied Grethel, "that will be too much
+for the Duck, she shall take us over one at a time." This the good
+little bird did, and when both were happily arrived on the other side,
+and had gone a little way, they came to a well-known wood, which they
+knew the better every step they went, and at last they perceived their
+father's house. Then they began to run, and rushing into the house,
+they fell upon their father's neck. He had not had one happy hour
+since he had left the children in the forest; and his wife was dead.
+Grethel shook her apron, and the pearls and precious stones rolled out
+upon the floor, and Hansel threw down one handful after the other
+out of his pocket. Then all their sorrows were ended, and they lived
+together in great happiness.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+SNOW-WHITE AND ROSE-RED
+
+
+A poor widow once lived in a little cottage. In front of the cottage
+was a garden, in which were growing two rose trees; one of these bore
+white roses, and the other red.
+
+She had two children, who resembled the rose trees. One was called
+Snow-White, and the other Rose-Red; and they were as religious and
+loving, busy and untiring, as any two children ever were.
+
+Snow-White was more gentle, and quieter than her sister, who liked
+better skipping about the fields, seeking flowers, and catching summer
+birds; while Snow-White stayed at home with her mother, either helping
+her in her work, or, when that was done, reading aloud.
+
+The two children had the greatest affection the one for the other.
+They were always seen hand in hand; and should Snow-White say to her
+sister, "We will never separate," the other would reply, "Not while
+we live," the mother adding, "That which one has, let her always share
+with the other."
+
+They constantly ran together in the woods, collecting ripe berries;
+but not a single animal would have injured them; quite the reverse,
+they all felt the greatest esteem for the young creatures. The hare
+came to eat parsley from their hands, the deer grazed by their side,
+the stag bounded past them unheeding; the birds, likewise, did not
+stir from the bough, but sang in entire security. No mischance befell
+them; if benighted in the wood, they lay down on the moss to repose
+and sleep till the morning; and their mother was satisfied as to their
+safety, and felt no fear about them.
+
+Once, when they had spent the night in the wood, and the bright
+sunrise awoke them, they saw a beautiful child, in a snow-white
+robe, shining like diamonds, sitting close to the spot where they had
+reposed. She arose when they opened their eyes, and looked kindly at
+them; but said no word, and passed from their sight into the wood.
+When the children looked around they saw they had been sleeping on
+the edge of a precipice, and would surely have fallen over if they had
+gone forward two steps further in the darkness. Their mother said
+the beautiful child must have been the angel who watches over good
+children.
+
+Snow-White and Rose-Red kept their mother's cottage so clean that it
+gave pleasure only to look in. In summer-time Rose-Red attended to the
+house, and every morning, before her mother awoke, placed by her bed
+a bouquet which had in it a rose from each of the rose-trees. In
+winter-time Snow-White set light to the fire, and put on the kettle,
+after polishing it until it was like gold for brightness. In the
+evening, when snow was falling, her mother would bid her bolt the
+door, and then, sitting by the hearth, the good widow would read aloud
+to them from a big book while the little girls were spinning. Close
+by them lay a lamb, and a white pigeon, with its head tucked under its
+wing, was on a perch behind.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+One evening, as they were all sitting cosily together like this, there
+was a knock at the door, as if someone wished to come in.
+
+"Make haste, Rose-Red!" said her mother; "open the door; it is surely
+some traveller seeking shelter." Rose-Red accordingly pulled back the
+bolt, expecting to see some poor man. But it was nothing of the kind;
+it was a bear, that thrust his big head in at the open door. Rose-Red
+cried out and sprang back, the lamb bleated, the dove fluttered her
+wings and Snow-White hid herself behind her mother's bed. The bear
+began speaking, and said, "Do not be afraid: I will not do you any
+harm; I am half-frozen, and would like to warm myself a little at your
+fire."
+
+"Poor bear!" the mother replied; "come in and lie by the fire; only be
+careful that your hair is not burnt." Then she called Snow-White and
+Rose-Red, telling them that the bear was kind, and would not harm
+them. They came, as she bade them, and presently the lamb and the dove
+drew near also without fear.
+
+"Children," begged the bear; "knock some of the snow off my coat." So
+they brought the broom and brushed the bear's coat quite clean.
+
+After that he stretched himself out in front of the fire, and pleased
+himself by growling a little, only to show that he was happy and
+comfortable. Before long they were all quite good friends, and the
+children began to play with their unlooked for visitor, pulling his
+thick fur, or placing their feet on his back, or rolling him over and
+over. Then they took a slender hazel twig, using it upon his thick
+coat, and they laughed when he growled. The bear permitted them to
+amuse themselves in this way, only occasionally calling out, when it
+went a little too far, "Children, spare me an inch of life!"
+
+[Illustration]
+
+When it was night, and all were making ready to go to bed, the widow
+told the bear, "You may stay here and lie by the hearth, if you like,
+so that you will be sheltered from the cold and from the bad weather."
+
+The offer was accepted, but when morning came, as the day broke in
+the east, the two children let him out, and over the snow he went back
+into the wood.
+
+After this, every evening at the same time the bear came, lay by the
+fire, and allowed the children to play with him; so they became quite
+fond of their curious playmate, and the door was not ever bolted in
+the evening until he had appeared.
+
+When springtime came, and all around began to look green and bright,
+one morning the bear said to Snow-White, "Now I must leave you, and
+all the summer long I shall not be able to come back."
+
+"Where, then, are you going, dear bear?" asked Snow-White. "I have to
+go to the woods to protect my treasure from the bad dwarfs. In winter
+time when the earth is frozen hard, they must remain underground, and
+cannot make their way through; but now that the sunshine has thawed
+the earth they can come to the surface, and whatever gets into their
+hands, or is brought to their caves, seldom, if ever, again sees
+daylight."
+
+Snow-White was very sad when she said good-bye to the good-natured
+beast, and unfastened the door, that he might go; but in going out he
+was caught by a hook in the lintel, and a scrap of his fur being torn,
+Snow-White thought there was something shining like gold through the
+rent; but he went out so quickly that she could not feel certain what
+it was, and soon he was hidden among the trees.
+
+One day the mother sent her children into the wood to pick up sticks.
+They found a big tree lying on the ground. It had been felled, and
+towards the roots they noticed something skipping and springing, which
+they could not make out, as it was sometimes hidden in the grasses. As
+they came nearer they could see it was a dwarf, with a shrivelled up
+face and a snow-white beard an ell long. The beard was fixed in a gash
+in the tree trunk, and the tiny fellow was hopping to and fro, like a
+dog at the end of a string, but he could not manage to free himself.
+He stared at the children, with his red, fiery eyes, and called out,
+"Why are you standing there? Can't you come and try to help me?"
+
+"What were you doing, little fellow?" enquired Rose-Red.
+
+"Stupid, inquisitive goose!" replied the dwarf; "I meant to split the
+trunk, so that I could chop it up for kitchen sticks; big logs would
+burn up the small quantity of food we cook, for people like us do
+not consume great heaps of food, as you heavy, greedy folk do.
+The bill-hook I had driven in, and soon I should have done what
+I required; but the tool suddenly sprang from the cleft, which so
+quickly shut up again that it caught my handsome white beard; and
+here I must stop, for I cannot set myself free. You stupid, pale-faced
+creatures! You laugh, do you?"
+
+In spite of the dwarf's bad temper, the girls took all possible pains
+to release the little man, but without avail; the beard could not be
+moved, it was wedged too tightly.
+
+"I will run and get someone else," said Rose-Red.
+
+"Idiot!" cried the dwarf. "Who would go and get more people? Already
+there are two too many. Can't you think of something better?"
+
+"Don't be so impatient," said Snow-White. "I will try to think." She
+clapped her hands as if she had discovered a remedy, took out her
+scissors, and in a moment set the dwarf free by cutting off the end of
+his beard.
+
+Immediately the dwarf felt that he was free he seized a sackful
+of gold that was hidden among the tree roots, and, lifting it up,
+grumbled out, "Clumsy creatures, to cut off a bit of my beautiful
+beard, of which I am so proud! I leave the cuckoos to pay you for what
+you did." Saying this, he swung the sack across his shoulder and went
+off without even casting a glance at the children.
+
+Not long afterwards the two sisters went to angle in the brook,
+meaning to catch fish for dinner. As they were drawing near the water
+they perceived something, looking like a large grasshopper, springing
+towards the stream, as if it were going in. They hurried up to see
+what it might be, and found that it was the dwarf. "Where are you
+going?" said Rose-Red. "Surely you will not jump into the water?"
+
+"I'm not such a simpleton as that!" yelled the little man. "Don't you
+see that a wretch of a fish is pulling me in?"
+
+The dwarf had been sitting angling from the side of the stream when,
+by ill-luck, the wind had entangled his beard in his line, and just
+afterwards a big fish taking the bait, the unamiable little fellow had
+not sufficient strength to pull it out; so the fish had the advantage,
+and was dragging the dwarf after it. Certainly he caught at every
+stalk and spray near him, but that did not assist him greatly; he was
+forced to follow all the twistings of the fish, and was perpetually in
+danger of being drawn into the brook.
+
+The girls arrived just in time. They caught hold of him firmly, and
+endeavoured to untwist his beard from the line, but in vain; it was
+too tightly entangled. There was nothing left but again to make use of
+the scissors; so they were taken out, and the tangled portion was cut
+off.
+
+When the dwarf noticed what they were about, he exclaimed, in a great
+rage, "Is this how you damage my beard? Not content with making it
+shorter before, you are now making it still smaller, and completely
+spoiling it. I shall not ever dare to show my face to my friends.
+I wish you had missed your way before you took this road." Then he
+fetched a sack of pearls that lay among the rushes, and saying not
+another word, hobbled off and disappeared behind a large stone.
+
+Soon after this it chanced that the poor widow sent her children to
+the town to purchase cotton, needles, ribbon and tape. The way to the
+town ran over a common on which in every direction large masses
+of rocks were scattered about. The children's attention was soon
+attracted to a big bird that hovered in the air. They remarked that
+after circling slowly for a time, and gradually getting nearer to
+the ground, it all of a sudden pounced down amongst a mass of rock.
+Instantly a heart-rending cry reached their ears, and, running quickly
+to the place, they saw, with horror, that the eagle had seized their
+former acquaintance, the dwarf, and was just about to carry him off.
+The kind children did not hesitate for an instant. They took a firm
+hold of the little man, they strove so stoutly with the eagle for
+possession of his contemplated prey, that, after much rough treatment
+on both sides, the dwarf was left in the hands of his brave little
+friends, and the eagle took to flight.
+
+As soon as the little man had in some measure recovered from his
+alarm, his small, squeaky, cracked voice was heard saying, "Couldn't
+you have held me more gently? See my little coat; you have rent and
+damaged it in a fine manner, you clumsy, officious things!" Then he
+picked up a sack of jewels, and slipped out of sight behind a piece of
+rock.
+
+The maidens by this time were quite used to his ungrateful, ungracious
+ways; so they took no notice of it, but went on their way, made their
+purchases, and then were ready to return to their happy home.
+
+[Illustration: _Painted by Jennie Harbour_
+SNOW-WHITE AND ROSE-RED]
+
+On their way back, suddenly, once more they ran across their dwarf
+friend.
+
+Upon a clear space he had turned out his sack of jewels, so that he
+could count and admire them, for he had not imagined that anybody
+would at so late an hour be coming across the common. The setting sun
+was shining upon the brilliant stones, and their changing hues and
+sparkling rays caused the children to pause to admire them also.
+
+"What are you gazing at?" cried the dwarf, at the same time becoming
+red with rage; "and what are you standing there for, making ugly
+faces?"
+
+It is probable that he might have proceeded in the same complimentary
+manner, but suddenly a great growl was heard near by them, and a big
+bear joined the party. Up jumped the dwarf in extremest terror, but
+could not get to his hiding-place, the bear was too close to him; so
+he cried out in very evident anguish--
+
+"Dear Mr. Bear, forgive me, I pray! I will render to you all my
+treasure. Just see those precious stones lying there! Grant me my
+life! What would you do with such an insignificant little fellow?
+You would not notice me between your teeth. See, though, those
+two children, they would be delicate morsels, and are as plump as
+partridges; I beg of you to take them, good Mr. Bear, and let me go."
+
+But the bear would not be moved by his speeches. He gave the
+ill-disposed creature a blow with his paw, and he lay lifeless on the
+ground. Meanwhile, the maidens were running away, making off for home
+as well as they could; but all of a sudden they were stopped by a
+well-known voice that called out, "Snow-White, Rose-Red, stay! Do not
+fear. I will accompany you."
+
+The bear quickly came towards them, but as he reached their side,
+suddenly the bear-skin slipped to the ground, and there before them
+was standing a handsome man, completely garmented in gold, who said,
+"I am a king's son, who was enchanted by the wicked dwarf lying
+over there. He stole my treasure, and compelled me to roam the woods
+transformed into a big bear until his death should set me free.
+Therefore he has only received a well-deserved punishment."
+
+[Illustration: "THE BEARSKIN SLIPPED TO THE GROUND."]
+
+Then Rose-Red and Snow-White and the Prince all went back to the
+cottage, and some time afterwards Snow-White married the Prince, and
+Rose-Red, his brother, who shared between them the enormous treasure
+which the dwarf had collected in his cave.
+
+The old mother spent many happy years with her children. The two
+rose-trees she took with her when she left the cottage, and they grew
+in front of her window, where they continued to bear each year the
+most beautiful roses, red and white.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+THE SLEEPING BEAUTY
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a king and queen who had no children; and
+this they lamented very much. But one day, as the queen was walking by
+the side of the river, a little fish lifted its head out of the water,
+and said, "Your wish shall be fulfilled, and you shall soon have a
+daughter."
+
+What the little fish had foretold soon came to pass; and the Queen had
+a little girl who was so very beautiful that the king could not cease
+looking on her for joy, and determined to hold a great feast. So he
+invited not only his relations, friends, and neighbours, but also all
+the fairies, that they might be kind and good to his little daughter.
+Now there were thirteen fairies in his kingdom, and he had only twelve
+golden dishes for them to eat out of, so that he was obliged to leave
+one of the fairies without an invitation. The rest came, and after the
+feast was over they gave all their best gifts to the little princess;
+one gave her virtue, another beauty, another riches, and so on till
+she had all that was excellent in the world. When eleven had done
+blessing her, the thirteenth, who had not been invited, and was very
+angry on that account, came in, and determined to take her revenge.
+So she cried out, "The King's daughter shall in her fifteenth year be
+wounded by a spindle, and fall down dead." Then the twelfth, who had
+not yet given her gift, came forward and said that the bad wish
+must be fulfilled, but that she could soften it, and that the king's
+daughter should not die, but fall asleep for a hundred years.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+But the king hoped to save his dear child from the threatened evil,
+and ordered that all the spindles in the kingdom should be bought up
+and destroyed. All the fairies' gifts were in the meantime fulfilled;
+for the princess was so beautiful, and well-behaved, and amiable, and
+wise, that everyone who knew her loved her. Now it happened that on
+the very day she was fifteen years old the king and queen were not
+at home, and she was left alone in the palace. So she roved about by
+herself, and poked at all the rooms and chambers, till at last she
+came to an old tower, to which there was a narrow staircase ending
+with a little door. In the door there was a golden key, and when she
+turned it the door sprang open, and there sat an old lady spinning
+away very busily.
+
+"Why, how now, good mother," said the princess, "what are you doing
+there?"
+
+"Spinning," said the old lady, and nodded her head.
+
+"How prettily that little thing turns round!" said the princess, and
+took the spindle and began to spin. But scarcely had she touched it
+before the prophecy was fulfilled, and she fell down, as if lifeless,
+on the ground.
+
+However, she was not dead, but had only fallen into a deep sleep; and
+the king and queen, who just then came home, and all their court, fell
+asleep too, and the horses slept in the stables, and the dogs in the
+court, the pigeons on the house-top, and the flies on the walls. Even
+the fire on the hearth left off blazing, and went to sleep; and the
+meat that was roasting stood still; and the cook, who was at that
+moment pulling the kitchen-boy by the hair to give him a box on the
+ear for something he had done amiss, let him go, and both fell asleep;
+and so everything stood still, and slept soundly.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+A large hedge of thorns soon grew around the palace, and every year it
+became higher and thicker, till at last the whole place was surrounded
+and hidden, so that not even the roof or the chimneys could be seen.
+But there went a report, through all the land, of the beautiful
+sleeping Briar Rose (for so was the king's daughter called) so that
+from time to time several kings' sons came, and tried to break through
+the thicket into the palace. This they could never do; for the thorns
+and bushes laid hold of them as it were with hands, and there they
+stuck fast and died miserably.
+
+[Illustration: "ALL WAS SO QUIET THAT HE COULD HEAR EVERY BREATH HE
+DREW."]
+
+After many years came yet another king's son into that land, and
+an old man told him the story of the thicket of thorns, and how a
+beautiful palace stood behind it, in which was a wondrous princess,
+called Briar Rose, asleep with all her court. He told, too, how he had
+heard from his grandfather that many, many princes had come, and had
+tried to break through the thicket, but had stuck fast and died.
+
+Then the young prince said, "All this shall not frighten me; I will
+go and see Briar Rose." The old man tried to dissuade him, but he
+persisted in going.
+
+Now that very day were the hundred years completed; and as the prince
+came to the thicket he saw nothing but beautiful flowering shrubs,
+through which he passed with ease, and they closed after him, as firm
+as ever. Then he came at last to the palace, and there in the court
+lay the dogs asleep, and the horses in the stables, and on the roof
+sat the pigeons fast asleep with their heads under their wings; and
+when he came into the palace, the flies slept on the walls, and the
+cook in the kitchen was still holding up her hand as if she would beat
+the boy, and the maid with her pail in her hand was going a-milking.
+
+Then he went on still further, and all was so quiet that he could hear
+every breath he drew; till at last he came to the old tower and opened
+the door of the little room in which Briar Rose was, and there she lay
+fast asleep, and looked so beautiful that he could not turn his eyes
+away, and he stooped down and gave her a kiss. But the moment he
+kissed her she opened her eyes and awoke, and smiled upon him. For the
+spell was broken.
+
+Then they went out together, and presently the king and queen also
+awoke, and all the court, and they gazed on each other with great
+wonder. And the horses got up and shook themselves, and the dogs
+jumped about and barked; the pigeons took their heads from under their
+wings, and looked around and flew into the fields; the flies on the
+walls buzzed; the fire in the kitchen blazed up and cooked the dinner,
+and the roast meat turned round again; the cook gave the boy the box
+on his ear so that he cried out, and the maid went to milk the cows.
+And then was the wedding of the prince and Briar Rose celebrated, and
+they lived happily together all their lives long.
+
+[Illustration: _Painted by Jennie Harbour_
+THE SLEEPING BEAUTY]
+
+[Illustration:
+
+      More close and close his footsteps wind:
+      The Magic Music in his heart
+      Beats quick and quicker, till he find
+      The quiet chamber far apart.
+                                            Tennyson]
+
+
+
+
+
+PRINCE CHÉRI
+
+
+There was once a king who was such an honourable man that his subjects
+called him "The Good King."
+
+One day while he was out hunting, a little rabbit that his dogs were
+about to kill, threw itself into his arms. The King caressed the
+little creature, and said:
+
+"As you have put yourself under my protection nobody shall harm you,"
+and he carried the rabbit to his palace, and ordered a pretty little
+hutch to be made for it.
+
+That night when he was alone in his room, there appeared a lovely
+lady. She wore a robe as white as snow, and a wreath of white roses on
+her head. She addressed him thus:
+
+"I am the Fairy Candide; I wished to see if you were as good as
+everybody declares you are, and for this reason I changed myself into
+the little rabbit, and ran to you in my distress, for I know that
+those who have pity for dumb creatures have still more pity for
+mankind. I have come to thank you for what you did and to say that I
+shall always be your friend, and will grant any request you would now
+like to make."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"Madam," replied the King, "I have one only son whom I love devotedly;
+he is named Prince Chéri; if you have any good will for me, be a
+friend to my son."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"Willingly," responded the Fairy, "I will make your son the most
+handsome prince in the world, or the richest, or the most powerful;
+choose which you will for him."
+
+"I desire none of these things," replied the King, "but I shall be
+very much obliged if you will make him the best of all princes, for
+what good would it do to him to be handsome, rich, or powerful if he
+were wicked? You know he would be unhappy, for it is only goodness
+which brings content."
+
+"You are right," answered the Fairy, "but that I cannot do; Prince
+Chéri must himself strive to become good. All that I can promise is
+that I will give him good advice, and punish him for his faults, if he
+will not himself correct them."
+
+And with this the father had to rest content.
+
+Not long afterwards the good King died, and two days later the Fairy
+appeared to Prince Chéri.
+
+"I promised your father to be your friend," she told him; "here is a
+little gold ring, take care of it, for it is worth more than diamonds.
+Every time that you are about to do any wrong action it will prick
+you. If, in spite of the pricks, you continue your bad actions, you
+will lose my friendship and I shall become your enemy."
+
+Saying this the Fairy vanished, leaving the Prince very much
+astonished.
+
+For some time Chéri behaved so well that the ring did not prick
+at all, but one day when he returned from the chase, having caught
+nothing, he felt so ill-humoured, that when his dog Bibi came fawning
+upon him, he kicked the poor, faithful creature from him. At that
+moment the ring pricked like a pin running into his finger.
+
+"What is this?" he exclaimed: "the Fairy must be mocking me, surely
+I've done no great harm in kicking an animal that annoyed me. What's
+the use of being ruler of a great empire if I may not treat my dog as
+I will?"
+
+"I am not mocking you," he heard in reply to his thoughts; "you have
+been bad tempered, and you have behaved unkindly to a poor animal who
+did not deserve such treatment. I know you are higher than a dog, but
+the advantage of being ruler of a great empire is not in doing all the
+harm one wishes, but in doing all the good one can."
+
+Chéri promised to be better, but he did not keep his word, and so the
+ring often pricked him, sometimes until his finger bled, and at last,
+in anger, he threw it away.
+
+Now he thought he would be truly happy, and he gave way to any foolish
+fancies and wrong wishes that came into his head, until he really
+became very wicked and was disliked by everyone.
+
+One day when he was out walking he saw a girl named Zélie, who was so
+beautiful that he resolved to marry her.
+
+But Zélie was as good as she was beautiful, and said to him:
+
+"Sir, I am only a shepherdess and have no fortune, but, in spite of
+that, I will never marry you, for although I should be a Queen, and
+you are handsome and rich, your evil behaviour would make me hate
+you."
+
+Upon this, Chéri flew into a passion, and ordered his officers to
+carry Zélie to the Palace, but she was not used unkindly there, for
+the Prince loved her.
+
+However, after a while, urged by his foster-brother, a bad man who
+encouraged Chéri in his wickedness, the young man rushed in a rage to
+the room in which Zélie was confined, determined that, if she still
+refused to marry him, the very next day she should be sold as a slave.
+
+Great was his surprise, on entering the apartment, to find the captive
+had disappeared, for he carried the key of the door in his pocket.
+
+[Illustration: _Painted by Jennie Harbour_
+ZÉLIE AND THE FAIRY CANDIDE "PRINCE CHÉRI"]
+
+Amongst those at the Royal Court was a Councillor named Suliman, a man
+of a noble mind, who had often dared to tell the Prince of his faults,
+and had at first been thanked for this, but later on Chéri grew angry
+that anyone should presume to blame him while all others at the Court
+were full of flattery and praise, but in his heart of hearts the
+Prince respected this good man, and this the wicked flatterers knew
+full well, and therefore feared lest he should come into the Prince's
+favour.
+
+So now they falsely said, that it was Suliman who had helped Zélie
+to escape, and beyond himself with fury, Chéri commanded his
+foster-brother to send soldiers to bring Suliman to him in chains,
+like a criminal.
+
+After giving these orders Chéri retired to his chamber, but scarcely
+had he entered, when the earth trembled, there came a great clap of
+thunder, and the Fairy Candide appeared before him.
+
+"I promised your father," said she in a stern voice, "to give you
+good advice, and to punish you if you refused to follow it. You
+have despised my counsels and your crimes have converted you into a
+monster, the horror of heaven and earth. Now it is time to fulfill my
+promise of punishment. I condemn you to take the resemblance of the
+beasts you are like in disposition--A lion, because of your fury--a
+wolf, on account of your greediness--a serpent, for destroying him who
+has been your second father--a bull, by reason of your brutality."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Hardly had the Fairy pronounced these words, when Chéri perceived with
+horror that his body had been transformed.
+
+He had a lion's head, a bull's horns, the feet of a wolf, and the
+tail of a viper. At the same moment he found himself in a forest, and
+there, after roaming about miserably for some time, he fell into a
+pit dug by hunters. He was captured and led into the capital of his
+Kingdom.
+
+On the way thither instead of acknowledging that he had brought this
+evil plight upon himself, he bit at his chains, and cursed the Fairy.
+As he was nearing the city great rejoicings were seen on every side,
+and, on the hunters enquiring the reason, they were told that Prince
+Chéri, whose only pleasure it was to torment his people, had been
+crushed to death in his chamber by a thunder-bolt, a just punishment
+for his offences. Four of his wicked companions had tried to partition
+the Kingdom between them, but the people would have none such to rule,
+and they had offered the crown to the good and wise Suliman. Chéri
+panted with rage on hearing this, and in the Palace Square he saw
+Suliman on a superb throne, and all the people who shouted with joy,
+and wished him a long life to repair the evil brought about by their
+former sovereign. "I accept the throne," said Suliman, "but it is to
+preserve it for Prince Chéri. A fairy has revealed to me that he
+is not dead, and possibly will return to you as virtuous as in his
+earliest years. Alas!" cried Suliman, bursting into tears, "his
+flatterers have ruined him, I know that at heart he is good." These
+words moved Chéri to sorrow for his crimes, and he felt that he had
+not been punished as severely as he deserved, and he now resolved to
+amend his faults.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Therefore he obeyed the man who had charge over him, and who
+constantly cruelly beat him, and one day when this keeper lay asleep,
+and a tiger who had broken loose was about to devour him, Chéri fought
+the fierce beast, and saved the man's life.
+
+Then a voice was heard saying, "a good action shall be rewarded!" and,
+to Chéri's joy he was instantaneously transformed into a pretty little
+dog which the keeper carried to the Queen.
+
+The Queen was delighted with him, but, for fear he should grow bigger,
+she gave him only small pieces of bread to eat, so that poor Chéri
+nearly died of hunger.
+
+One day he carried his little piece of bread into the garden to eat it
+there, but wandering with it in his mouth, still further on, he saw a
+young girl pale and thin, and almost fainting for want of food.
+
+"I am hungry," thought Chéri, "but if I give my breakfast to this
+poor thing, perhaps I shall save her life." He placed his bread in the
+girl's hand, and she ate it hungrily. Just then he heard loud cries,
+and saw that it was the beautiful Zélie struggling to free herself
+from four men who were carrying her into a house near by.
+
+Chéri, longing to help her, followed them barking, and although the
+men kicked him savagely, he would not leave the place. Presently from
+a window was thrown a plateful of tempting-looking food. Chéri was
+just about to devour it, when the girl to whom he had given the bread,
+rushed forward and throwing her arms around him cried,
+
+[Illustration: "COME, MY CHILDREN, I AM GOING TO TRANSPORT YOU TO YOUR
+PALACE."]
+
+"Poor little dog, do not touch that food, it is poisoned." Just then
+a voice was heard saying, "You see that a good action meets with
+reward," and at the same time Chéri was changed into a pretty white
+pigeon. For several days he flew around hoping to catch sight of
+Zélie, and at last, seated by a hermit, outside a cave, he found
+her. Fluttering down he alighted upon her shoulder. Zélie stroked his
+feathers whispering that she now accepted his gift and would love
+him always, and at that moment Chéri regained his natural figure,
+and Fairy Candide appeared in place of the hermit whose form she had
+taken. "Come, my children," said she, "I am going to transport you
+to your Palace, that Chéri may receive his crown of which he has now
+become worthy," and hardly had she ceased speaking, when they found
+themselves in Suliman's presence. The worthy Governor was delighted to
+behold his dear master, and gladly resigned the throne to him. Chéri
+and Zélie reigned long and happily, and we are told that the ring,
+which the Prince now wore again, never once severely pricked him.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+THE WHITE CAT
+
+
+There was once a King who had three sons, all handsome and brave, but
+it came to his ears that they wished to reign now instead of waiting
+until he died, he therefore determined to divert their minds by making
+promises the fulfilment of which he would always be able to evade. So
+he called them to his room and spoke: "You must agree with me, my
+dear children, that at my great age I cannot manage the business of
+my kingdom as I used to do, and as I am intending retiring into the
+country, it seems to me that a clever, faithful dog would be very good
+company, and I promise you that whichever brings me the most beautiful
+little dog at once succeeds to the kingdom."
+
+The Princes were much surprised to hear their father's wish for a
+little dog, but agreed with pleasure to go in search of one. They said
+goodbye to the King, who gave them money and jewels, announcing that
+in a year he should expect them to return, all on the same day and at
+the same hour, bringing to him their little dogs.
+
+[Illustration: "ON A CERTAIN NIGHT, DURING A STORM OF THUNDER AND
+RAIN, HE LOST HIS WAY."]
+
+Then the Princes set out, each by a different road, agreeing in a
+year's time to meet at a certain place a short distance from their
+home.
+
+The two elder met with many adventures, but it is only the youngest
+that we shall follow.
+
+This youngest Prince was very courteous, merry, clever and
+accomplished, he was tall, handsome, and all that a prince should be.
+
+Very seldom a day passed without his buying dogs, little dogs, big
+dogs, sporting dogs, spaniels, hounds, dogs of all sorts. When he
+found a beautiful one and then came across a still better, he let the
+first one go, for being alone--the Princes had declined to take any
+attendants--he could not take charge of thirty or forty thousand dogs.
+
+He travelled on, keeping to one road, until on a certain night, during
+a storm of thunder and rain, he lost his way, and after some wandering
+arrived at a most superb castle where nobody was to be seen but about
+a dozen hands all holding torches. Other hands pushed him forwards,
+and guided him through one apartment after another, all so rich in
+precious stones and beautiful paintings, that it was like enchantment.
+
+After passing through sixty rooms, the hands stopped him, and here the
+wet garments of the Prince were taken away, and he was clad in raiment
+of the most exquisite description. The hands then conducted him into
+a banqueting hall, where entered a little figure, not two feet high,
+covered with a long black crepe veil, followed by a great procession
+of cats.
+
+The Prince was too much astonished to move. The little figure
+approached him, raising the veil, and he saw the most beautiful White
+Cat he had ever beheld.
+
+Addressing the Prince she said:
+
+"King's son! welcome! my Feline Majesty sees you with pleasure!"
+
+"Madame Cat," replied the Prince, "it is very good of you to receive
+me thus, but you are not an ordinary cat; being able to speak, and
+possessing this superb castle, are proof of that."
+
+After they had conversed a little while, supper was served to them,
+during which the Prince entertained the Cat by telling her all sorts
+of news, and he discovered that she was well informed as to what was
+taking place in the world.
+
+Supper over, various cats came in, dressed in fancy costumes, and
+danced a ballet, then the White Cat bid her visitor good-night, and
+the hands which had conducted him before, led him to a bed-chamber.
+
+Early the next morning the hands awoke him, and dressing him in a
+handsome hunting costume, led him to the courtyard, where he found the
+White Cat upon a splendid monkey, with about five hundred other cats
+assembled, all ready for the chase; and never had the Prince enjoyed
+anything so much, for although mounted only upon a wooden horse, he
+rode at a great pace.
+
+Day after day passed in such delights as made the Prince almost forget
+his own country.
+
+"Alas!" said he to the White Cat again and again, "how sad I shall be
+to leave you! I love you so dearly! Either become a woman, or change
+me into a cat!"
+
+A year passes very quickly when one has no care or trouble, and is
+enjoying life. But the White Cat knew when the Prince should return
+home, and reminded him, saying, "Don't you know you have only three
+days to look for the little dog for your father, and that your
+brothers will have found the most beautiful?"
+
+Then the Prince came to himself, and cried, "By what charm have you
+made me forget what is so important? Where shall I find the dog, and a
+horse swift enough for such a journey?" And he was in great distress.
+
+The White Cat comforted him, however, saying that the wooden horse
+would take him to his journey's end sufficiently quickly, and that she
+would herself also provide the little dog; then she handed to him
+a walnut, saying, "Put your ear to this shell and you will hear him
+barking."
+
+So the Prince met his brothers, and they came into the King's
+presence.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The two elder sons had brought little dogs so delicate and small that
+one hardly dared to touch them, and none could decide which should
+have the kingdom. Then the youngest took from his pocket the nut the
+Cat had given to him, and there was seen a little dog so tiny that
+it could go through a ring without touching it; he was also able to
+dance, and play the castanets, while his ears touched the ground.
+The King was embarassed, for it was impossible to find a flaw in this
+lovely little creature.
+
+However as he did not desire to part with his crown, he declared that
+they had succeeded so well in their first quest that now he should
+like them to search, by land and sea, for a piece of linen so fine
+that it would pass through the eye of a very small needle.
+
+Then the three Princes set out once more, but the youngest mounted his
+wooden horse and repaired at once to the White Cat, who was rejoiced
+to see him, and the second year passed by as the first had done.
+
+When the day came round appointed by the King for the return of his
+sons, the two elder appeared before him, and, without awaiting the
+arrival of their brother, displayed their pieces of linen, which were
+of a fineness quite astonishing. But although they would pass through
+the eye of a large needle, through the small needle the King had
+selected they would not go.
+
+There was much murmuring at this, and while the brothers were
+disputing the King's decision, a charming sound was heard of trumpets
+and other musical instruments.
+
+It was the youngest Prince who arrived in a chariot with out-riders
+and numerous attendants, all of which had been provided for him by the
+White Cat.
+
+After respectfully greeting his father and embracing his brothers, he
+took out of a jewelled box a nut which he broke. On breaking the
+nut he found a cherry stone, the stone was broken and there was the
+kernel, in the kernel was a grain of corn, in the grain of corn a
+millet seed, and within that a piece of linen so fine that it passed
+six times through the smallest needle's eye, and moreover on it were
+exquisite paintings of people and places without number.
+
+The King heaved a deep sigh, and turning to his children said,
+
+"Nothing pleases me, in my old age, so much as your deference to my
+desires, and I wish to prove you once more. Travel for a year, and he
+who at the end of the year brings home the most beautiful girl shall
+marry her, and be crowned king on his marriage. I promise you that I
+will not defer this reward any longer."
+
+Our Prince saw the injustice of all this; his little dog and piece
+of linen were worth ten kingdoms, not only one; but he was too well
+brought up to go against his father's wishes, and, mounting into his
+chariot, with his retinue, he returned to the White Cat's Castle.
+
+"Well! King's son!" said the White Cat, "you have returned once more
+without your crown?"
+
+"Madam," answered the Prince, "your gifts should have gained it for
+me, but I am convinced that the King would have more pain in giving it
+up than I should have pleasure in possessing it!"
+
+"Never mind," she replied, "you shall not neglect anything that may
+deserve it; and if you must conduct a beautiful girl to your father's
+court, I will look for one so that you may gain the prize. Meanwhile
+let us be happy."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+If the Cat had not taken pains to remember the time when he must
+return to the court, the Prince would surely have forgotten it. On the
+evening before, she told him that she would bring him to one of the
+most beautiful Princesses in the world, that at last the hour had
+arrived to destroy the fatal work of an evil fairy, and to do this he
+must make up his mind to cut off her head and tail, which he was at
+once to throw into the fire.
+
+"I," cried the Prince, "Blanchette that I love: do you think I should
+be cruel enough to kill you? No doubt, you wish to prove my heart
+which will certainly never forget what I owe to you for your
+kindness."
+
+"No! King's son," she continued, "I don't think you are ungrateful. Do
+this that I beseech you, and then we shall begin to be happy with one
+another, by the faith and honour of a cat, believe that I am truly
+your friend."
+
+Tears flowed from the Prince's eyes even at the thought, and he said
+all that he could to avoid it, but she urged him so vehemently that
+at last he took his sword and tremblingly cut off the head and tail of
+his dear friend the Cat.
+
+In the same moment took place the most marvellous change imaginable.
+
+The body of the White Cat grew large, and was transformed into that
+of a girl; how, one could not say; one only knew it was so. Her figure
+was majestic, her manners charming, her whole appearance beautiful
+beyond words.
+
+Then there entered an immense number of lords and ladies, who carrying
+their cats' skins, or with them thrown across their shoulders, came
+and cast themselves at the feet of the Queen, expressing their joy at
+seeing her again in her rightful form.
+
+She received them all with a kindness which showed the goodness of her
+heart, and then turning to the Prince she told the story of her life,
+and how by a wicked enchantment she had been transformed into a White
+Cat.
+
+"But it is you, my Prince, who have freed me," she concluded; "as soon
+as I saw you I knew my troubles were at an end."
+
+They set out forthwith in a splendid carriage. As they drew near the
+castle, at the place where the three brothers were to meet, the Queen
+entered into a little crystal rock ornamented with precious stones,
+and this was carried by richly dressed young men.
+
+The Prince who had remained in the carriage, saw his brothers,
+approaching with wondrously beautiful ladies.
+
+On being questioned he told them that all he had brought was a little
+White Cat.
+
+[Illustration: "THE BODY OF THE WHITE CAT GREW LARGE AND WAS
+TRANSFORMED INTO THAT OF A GIRL."]
+
+They began to laugh at him, and drove on followed by the young Prince,
+while after him was brought the crystal rock.
+
+Arrived at the Palace the two elder Princes dismounted with their
+marvellous Princesses.
+
+The King received them graciously, and did not know to which to award
+the prize.
+
+He looked at his youngest son and said, "This time, then, you have
+come alone." "Your Majesty will see in this rock a little White
+Cat who mews sweetly and has soft little velvet paws," answered the
+Prince.
+
+The King smiled, and himself went to open the rock. But, as he came
+near, the Queen, with a touch, made it shatter to pieces, and from out
+of it she appeared like the sun that has been hidden by clouds; her
+fair hair was spread over her shoulders, and fell in waves to her
+feet, and she was robed in a gown of white and rose-colour.
+
+She made a deep curtsey to the King who, struck with admiration, could
+not help exclaiming,
+
+"Here is one who is matchless, and she deserves my crown."
+
+"Sire," she answered, "I have not come to take away the throne that
+you fill with such dignity; I was born heir to six kingdoms, allow
+me to offer you one, and one of them I give to each of your sons. In
+return all I ask of you is this young Prince for my husband. We shall
+still have three kingdoms."
+
+The King and all the Court uttered loud cries of joy. The marriage was
+at once celebrated, also that of the other two Princes; and in such a
+manner that the Court spent several months in fętes of all sorts.
+
+Then each one of them departed to govern his kingdom, the White Cat
+making herself ever remembered as much by her kindness and generosity
+as by her rare merit and beauty.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+BLUEBEARD
+
+
+In the long ago times, in a splendid house, surrounded by fine
+gardens and a park, there lived a man who had riches in abundance, and
+everything to make him popular except one, and that was his beard, for
+his beard was neither black as a raven's wing, golden as the sunlight,
+nor just an ordinary every-day colour, but it was blue, bright blue.
+
+Of course had blue beards come into fashion his would have been
+considered beautiful beyond words, but, as far as we know, blue beards
+have never as yet been fashionable, nor are they likely to be so.
+
+However, in spite of his blue beard this man had married several
+times, though what had become of his wives nobody could say.
+
+Now, not far from Bluebeard's house there dwelt a widow with two very
+lovely daughters, and one of these Bluebeard wished to marry, but
+which he did not mind, they might settle that between themselves.
+
+Neither of these girls had the least desire to have a husband with a
+blue beard, and also, not knowing the fate of the other wives, they
+did not like to risk disappearing from the world as those had done,
+but being very polite young women they would not refuse Bluebeard's
+proposals outright. The younger said, "I would not for a moment take
+away Sister Anne's chance of marrying such a wealthy man," while
+Sister Anne declared that, although the elder, she would much prefer
+to give way to her sister. And so it went on for some time.
+
+Then Bluebeard invited the widow and her daughters to spend a week
+with him, and many of their neighbours he also invited.
+
+Most sumptuous was the entertainment provided for them. Hunting and
+fishing expeditions, picnics and balls went on from morning till
+night, and all the night through, so that there was not time even to
+think of sleep, only feasting and pleasure the whole week long.
+
+So well, indeed, did the younger sister enjoy this, that by the end of
+the week she had begun to think perhaps after all her host's beard was
+not so very blue, and that it would be a fine thing to be the mistress
+of such a magnificent mansion, and the wife of such a rich husband.
+
+And so, not long afterwards, there was a grand wedding, and the
+widow's younger daughter became Mrs. Bluebeard.
+
+About a month later, Bluebeard told his wife that he must leave her
+for several weeks, having to travel on business.
+
+"While I am absent, my dear," said he, "invite your relations and
+friends and enjoy yourself just as you please in entertaining them.
+See here are my keys, the keys of the rooms and of the chests where I
+keep my money, my gold and silver plate, and my jewels. Unlock rooms
+and chests and use freely what you will."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"This small key," he added, pointing to quite a little one, "is the
+key of the door at the end of the lower landing, you will not need to
+use this at all. In fact, should you open that door, or even put this
+key into the lock, I should be dreadfully angry, indeed I should make
+you suffer for it in a terrible way."
+
+Then Bluebeard bid his wife good-bye, and departed.
+
+As soon as Mrs. Bluebeard's friends and relations knew that her
+husband was away, they came flocking to visit her, for they longed to
+see all her splendid possessions, but had feared to come before.
+
+They could not enough admire the magnificent apartments, and ran from
+one to another praising everything they beheld.
+
+But the young wife heeded nothing they said or did, all she thought
+of was that little key which she must not use, wondering more and more
+why she ought not to open that one particular door.
+
+At last she could bear it no longer, but slipping away from her
+visitors, she ran along the passages and stairs, nearly falling down
+them, so great was her haste, until she came to that door at the end
+of the corridor.
+
+Not pausing an instant, she thrust the key into the lock, and the door
+sprang open.
+
+At first she could distinguish nothing, for the room was dark and
+gloomy, but then, all of a sudden, she knew what had become of
+Bluebeard's other wives, for there they lay, in a long, straight row,
+all dead. She stood horrified for a moment or two, gazing at the
+pale faces, and long hair spread out around them, then picking up
+the little key which she had taken from the lock but dropped in her
+fright, she hastily quitted the room, shut and locked the door, and
+ran to her own chamber to calm herself before returning to her guests.
+But she was unable to rest for an instant, so dreadful were her
+feelings; then with terror she noticed that on the key there was a
+stain. She wiped it with her handkerchief, but alas! it was blood that
+would not be wiped away. She washed the key and rubbed it, and
+scraped it and polished it, but all to no purpose, if she succeeded
+in cleansing one side, the mark came out on the other. For the key was
+enchanted.
+
+[Illustration: _Painted by Jennie Harbour_
+BLUEBEARD]
+
+That same evening Bluebeard returned saying he had met the man whom
+he was wanting to see, and so the long journey was unnecessary, and he
+was rejoiced to be at home again.
+
+Next morning he called for the keys; his wife brought them to him,
+but not the little one; that she left behind. Bluebeard noticed this
+directly and sent her to fetch it. Trembling, and white as a sheet,
+she was forced to give it into his hand.
+
+"Ha! what is this?" he cried, "what is this stain that I see!"
+
+His poor wife trembled still more, and could not speak.
+
+"Wretched woman!" shouted Bluebeard, "you have used this key, you have
+unlocked the door of that room at the end of the passage. You shall
+die!!!"
+
+In vain did his wife plead with him to spare her, kneeling before him
+with tears streaming from her eyes. "You shall die!" he cried again,
+more savagely than before.
+
+"Let me have a few moments alone, to prepare for death,"
+
+"Half a quarter of an hour, but not a moment longer," he replied, and
+left her.
+
+The poor young woman hastened to a room at the foot of the turret
+stairs where was her Sister Anne, and called to her.
+
+"Sister Anne, Sister Anne, look from the tower window. Can you see no
+one coming?" And Sister Anne, looking out, answered:
+
+"Alas! No! Nothing but the green grass, and the sun which shines upon
+it."
+
+Bluebeard shouted from below that the time was almost up.
+
+"Sister Anne, Sister Anne, look once again, can you see no one
+coming?" whispered the young wife wringing her hands. Her brothers,
+she knew, were to visit her that day--if only they would come in time!
+
+"Alas, No!" Sister Anne replied. "I see a cloud of dust, but it is
+only a flock of sheep on the road."
+
+But now Bluebeard bawled out so loudly for his wife to come down, that
+the whole house shook.
+
+"Sister Anne, Sister Anne, tell me is no one coming?"
+
+"I see two horsemen afar off," cried Sister Anne. "I will beckon to
+them to hasten hither."
+
+But Bluebeard would wait not a moment longer, and nearly dead with
+terror his wife descended, still entreating him to spare her life.
+
+He would not, however, give heed to her prayers, and was just
+brandishing his sword, so that it might come down straight and true
+upon her slender neck, when the door burst open and two young army
+officers came rushing in, whom Bluebeard recognised as the brothers
+of his wife. He swiftly fled, but they speedily followed, and for his
+many crimes slew him then and there.
+
+All his wealth now belonged to his widow, and she gratefully rewarded
+her brothers by purchasing them commissions in the army; she settled
+a large sum of money upon her sister, and after a while she married
+again, and with a good husband lived a happy life.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
+
+
+Once upon a time, a long while ago, there was a Beast.
+
+He was a Great Beast, and lived in a Great Castle that stood in the
+middle of a Great Park, and everybody in the country held the Beast in
+great fear. In fact everything about the Beast was great; his roar was
+great and terrific and could be heard for miles around the park, and
+when he roared the people trembled.
+
+Nobody ever saw the Beast, which was by no means remarkable, for the
+Beast never came out of his Park, and no one, I can assure you, ever
+ventured on to his estate.
+
+But matters were not allowed to remain like this for ever, for
+something very wonderful happened to the Beast and to somebody else,
+and if that something had not happened this story would never have
+been written.
+
+About two miles and three quarters from the Castle gates there lived
+a rich merchant and his three daughters. The two elder girls were ugly
+disagreeable things, and although they had all they could wish for to
+make them happy they were always grumbling; but the youngest daughter,
+whose name was Beauty, was very pretty, and her nature was happy and
+good, her presence was sunshine, and she was the joy of her father's
+heart.
+
+Well, one day the two elder sisters had something to grumble about
+with a vengeance, for a telegram arrived to say that the merchant was
+no longer a rich merchant, for he had lost all his money.
+
+So the horses and carriages had to be sold, and everything that was
+of value was got rid of, the servants were sent away, and the merchant
+and his daughters had to do their own work.
+
+Dear me, it was shocking, the way those two sisters grumbled, but
+Beauty, oh dear no, she was all smiles, for her heart was as sunny as
+ever, as she rolled up the sleeves of her print frock, and cooked the
+dinner, and scrubbed the floors, and made herself useful, here, there,
+and everywhere.
+
+Things had been going on like this for about three months, when one
+fine morning another telegram boy came with another telegram to say
+that somebody who owed the merchant a great deal of money was ready to
+pay the debt, and all the merchant had to do was to go to the city and
+get it.
+
+Of course, everybody was delighted at this good news, and the merchant
+didn't waste any time, but started off to the city at once.
+
+"Mind you bring me something back," said the eldest daughter as he was
+starting.
+
+"What shall it be?" asked the merchant.
+
+"A white satin dress trimmed with lace and pearls," said his eldest
+daughter.
+
+"And you must bring me something too, please, father," said the second
+daughter.
+
+"And what do you want," asked the merchant.
+
+"A purse full of gold so that I can buy what I want myself," said the
+second daughter.
+
+"I will try and do what you both ask," he said, "and what shall I
+bring for my Beauty?"
+
+"I will wait a little for my dresses and things," replied the smiling
+Beauty, as she helped her father on with his cloak, "but I should like
+you to bring me home a rose, a lovely red rose, if you can."
+
+So her father kissed her, and promised he would bring her the rose,
+and went on his way full of hopes.
+
+What a pity it is that our hopes cannot be always realized, and that
+we are so often doomed to disappointment! When the merchant arrived at
+the city, to his dismay he found that the man who owed him the money
+was still unable to pay him, the man had been disappointed himself at
+the last moment.
+
+So the unhappy father had to return home without the white satin dress
+trimmed with lace and pearls, and without the bag of money, and he
+dreaded meeting his two daughters, for he knew they would be terribly
+angry.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Now on his way home from the station to his house he had to pass by
+part of the wall that surrounded the Great Park where the Great Beast
+lived in his Great Castle; and as he passed by a corner of the wall
+what should he see hanging just over the top, and just within his
+reach if he stood on his toes, but a lovely red rose.
+
+"At any rate I can take my Beauty what she asked for," he said to
+himself, and, without so much as giving a thought to the wrong he was
+doing, he stood on his toes and plucked the rose.
+
+He was sorry he did it.
+
+Of a sudden there was a roar, such a roar that the very ground shook,
+and as to the poor merchant he quivered like a leaf.
+
+Enough to make him quiver indeed, for a gate in the wall suddenly
+opened, and out rushed the _Beast_.
+
+Yes, the Beast, if you please, and he seized the merchant by the
+scruff of his neck, and dragged him into the Park, and shut the gate
+after him.
+
+"Don't you know it's a sin to steal?" roared the Beast. "How dare you
+steal my roses? I am going to kill you."
+
+"Oh, mercy, Mr. Beast," cried the unhappy man, flinging himself on his
+knees before the monster.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"I'm going to kill you," roared the Beast still more loudly. "It's
+taken years to cultivate this sort of rose, and--and I'm going to
+kill you. Unless," he added after a pause, "you send me one of your
+daughters here instead."
+
+"All right," said the merchant and got on his feet again.
+
+"She must be here to-morrow by breakfast time, and I breakfast early,"
+said the Beast, as he let the merchant out of the gate. "If she is not
+here, I shall come for you, and don't you forget it."
+
+It was by no means likely that he would forget it, in fact he could
+think of nothing else. He hurried home and told his dreadful news, and
+received a dreadful scolding from his two elder daughters, who were
+angry at not getting their presents.
+
+"And it is Beauty's fault that you have got into this trouble," they
+said. "Beauty and her stupid rose. Beauty had better get you out of
+the trouble." Beauty said little, but smiled on, with sunshine in her
+heart, and trust in her loving nature, and cooked the dinner.
+
+[Illustration: "WHEN SHE CAME TO THE GATE IN THE WALL SHE KNOCKED UPON
+IT THREE TIMES"]
+
+Early next morning when the dawn was breaking she left her father's
+house, leaving a little note behind her begging him not to be anxious
+but that she had gone to the Beast's castle.
+
+When she came to the gate in the wall she knocked upon it three
+times and it opened as if by magic, for she could see no one. And she
+stepped into the garden of red roses, and in the distance across the
+Park she saw the Castle, and she thought she had never seen anything
+so beautiful. For it was built of mother-of-pearl, and the red and
+yellow gleams of the rising sun shone upon its glistening walls, and
+lit them up with a thousand radiant lights.
+
+Beauty marvelled at the loveliness and walked on. And when she arrived
+at this beautiful Castle, the huge gates opened as if by magic, and
+the doors opened as if by magic, for never a soul did she see, nor
+living thing of any sort.
+
+And in the great hall was the breakfast table laid for two. It was
+a nice breakfast with steaming hot dishes, and jams, honey, and hot
+rolls, and brightly polished silver, and sweet flowers.
+
+Then the Beast appeared suddenly from behind a curtain; oh, he was
+an awful Beast, and Beauty's heart beat fast! But he seemed a polite
+Beast for all that.
+
+He handed Beauty a chair, and when she had sat down said:
+
+"I bid you welcome; which do you take, tea or coffee?"
+
+"Tea please," answered Beauty.
+
+"Then pour it out," he said, "and I'll take tea too, please. Eggs, do
+you like eggs hard or soft?"
+
+"I always cook mine three minutes and a half," replied Beauty.
+
+"Half a minute too much, I think. But you shall have just what you
+like."
+
+And so she had; not only at the breakfast table but in everything. She
+had only to express a wish and it was immediately gratified. She
+had ponies to ride, and dogs and cats, and pet birds, and the most
+beautiful dresses ever worn by real princesses.
+
+And if it had not been that she was away from her father she would
+really have been happy.
+
+[Illustration: _Painted by Jennie Harbour_
+BEAUTY AND THE BEAST]
+
+The Beast was most kind and attentive to her, and told her that he
+loved her, and three times a day he asked her to marry him, but Beauty
+shook her head and said, oh no, she couldn't.
+
+Well, Beauty had been at the great Castle some time when she began to
+pine to go home and see her father, and she begged the Beast to let
+her go.
+
+"Very good," he said with a great sigh, "you may go home to-day, but
+promise me that you will be back early to-morrow morning. If you do
+not come back early I am sure I shall die for I love you so dearly."
+
+So Beauty promised and went home, and she took presents for her father
+and her sisters, and when the sisters heard of all the wonderful
+things at the great Castle, they were envious and jealous, and made up
+their minds to do Beauty and the Beast a great injury.
+
+So they mixed something in Beauty's supper that made her sleep nearly
+all the next day, and so she did not keep her promise. It was evening
+when she arrived at the gate in the wall, instead of early morning.
+
+But she knocked three times and the gate opened by magic, and she went
+through the garden and hurried to the Castle, that shone like fire in
+the light of the setting sun. And the huge gates opened by magic, and
+the doors opened by magic, and she stood in the great hall, but there
+was no Beast there. She searched in all the rooms but he was not
+there; with fear and anxiety in her heart she ran into the gardens,
+and there she found him at last. Found him lying stretched out on the
+grass, and she thought he was dead.
+
+"Oh, dear darling Beast," she cried, as she threw herself on her knees
+beside him, and raised his ugly head, "dear Beast, do not die, for
+I love you with all my heart, and will marry you to-morrow." And she
+kissed him. Then of a sudden he sprang to his feet, but no longer
+the Beast, no longer a hideous monster, but a beautiful prince most
+beautifully dressed. "Dearest," he said, "a wicked fairy turned me
+into this brute form until a day should come when a good girl like you
+should tell me that she loved me. And you will marry me to-morrow."
+
+"Oh, yes," answered Beauty, "but the wicked fairy could not change
+your nature. I would have married you if you had remained just as you
+were."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+And so they married and lived happy ever afterwards, and they took
+care of Beauty's father until the end of his days; so he was happy,
+and they forgave the two sisters and gave them fine dresses and
+jewels, and the two sisters turned over a new leaf and were less
+selfish, and they were happy, so this is a very happy ending to the
+story.
+
+What a pity all stories can't end the same way!
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+TUFTY RIQUET
+
+
+There was once upon a time a Queen who had the ugliest little baby
+imaginable, so ugly, indeed, that it was almost impossible to believe
+he was a little boy at all.
+
+A fairy, however, assured his mother that the little baby would be
+very good and clever, saying that she was also giving him a gift which
+would enable him to make that person whom he loved the best as clever
+as himself.
+
+This somewhat consoled the Queen, but still she was very unhappy
+because her son was so ugly, though no sooner had he begun to speak
+than he could talk about all sorts of things, and he had such pretty
+ways that people were charmed with him.
+
+I forgot to say, that, when he was quite a baby, he had a funny little
+tuft of hair on his head, so he was called Tufty Riquet, for Riquet
+was the family name.
+
+When Riquet was about seven years old, the Queen of a kingdom near by
+was given two baby daughters, twins, of which one was so exquisitely
+beautiful that the Queen nearly died of joy when she saw her, and so
+the fairy, the same one who had given Riquet his gift of cleverness,
+to keep the Queen from making herself ill with excitement, told her
+that this little Princess would not be at all clever, indeed she would
+be as stupid as she was beautiful.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The Queen was very much grieved at this, and felt still more troubled
+when she beheld her other daughter, for the second Princess was
+extremely ugly.
+
+"Do not take it too much to heart, madam," remarked the fairy, "for
+this second daughter will be so clever that it will scarcely be
+noticed that she is not beautiful."
+
+"Well, if it must be so, it must," remarked the Queen, "but I should
+certainly have liked the elder one, who is beautiful, to be just a
+little bit clever too."
+
+"I can do nothing as to her mind, madam," replied the fairy, "but for
+her beauty I can, and as there is nothing I would not do to please
+you, I will give her a gift so that she can make the one who wins her
+heart beautiful too."
+
+As the Princesses grew up, their gifts likewise grew with them, so
+that everybody spoke about the beauty of the one and the cleverness
+of the other; but also their defects grew, so that it could not but
+be noticed that the younger was daily uglier, and the elder day by
+day became more stupid, until she either said nothing in reply to a
+question, or something quite silly, and so clumsy was she that she
+could not arrange four china ornaments on the chimney piece without
+breaking one, or drink a glass of water without spilling half of it on
+her frock.
+
+Although it is a great thing to have beauty, yet the younger generally
+received more attention in company than her elder sister.
+
+At first, everybody would gather around the beautiful one admiringly,
+but before long they would leave her for the clever Princess, to
+listen to her pleasant conversation; and by the end of a quarter of
+an hour the elder would be left alone, while the other would be the
+centre of a group.
+
+This the elder sister noticed, in spite of her stupidity, and she
+would gladly have given all her beauty for half the cleverness of
+her sister, and sometimes the Queen, although full of kindness, would
+reproach her daughter for her foolishness, which caused the Princess
+almost to die of grief.
+
+One day when she had retreated to a wood to brood over her
+unhappiness, she saw a little man coming towards her. He was
+uncommonly ugly and unpleasing in appearance, but was very richly
+dressed.
+
+It was the young Prince Tufty Riquet, who had fallen in love with the
+pictures he had seen of her, and had left his father's kingdom for the
+sake of making her acquaintance.
+
+Delighted to meet her alone in this manner, he accosted her as
+courteously as possible, but soon, noticing that she was melancholy,
+he said:
+
+"I cannot understand how it is that anyone as beautiful as you are,
+can be as sad as you appear to be; for I must own, that although I
+can boast of having seen many beauties, not one have I ever met whose
+beauty equalled yours."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"It pleases you to say so, sir," replied the Princess, and relapsed
+into silence.
+
+"Beauty," went on Riquet, "is so delightful that one would give
+everything for it, and if anyone is beautiful I can't understand
+anything troubling greatly."
+
+"I would rather be as ugly as you," answered the Princess, "and be
+clever, than as beautiful as I am, and be stupid."
+
+"To think you are stupid is a sure sign that you have a certain amount
+of cleverness, madam," replied Riquet.
+
+"I don't think about that," said the Princess, "but I am quite sure
+that I am very silly, and the grief of that is killing me."
+
+"If that is all that troubles you, I can soon put an end to your
+grief," said Riquet, "for I have the power of giving cleverness to the
+person whom I love the best, and if only you will marry me, you shall
+become as clever as you can wish."
+
+The Princess was greatly astonished, but remained silent.
+
+"I can see," continued Riquet, "that this proposal is not to your
+taste, and I am not astonished. I will give you a year to think about
+it."
+
+So great was the longing of the Princess to be clever, that she at
+once promised Riquet to marry him in a year's time, and no sooner had
+she made the promise than a great change took place in her, and she
+found she could say all sorts of pleasant things, on all sorts of
+subjects, in quite an easy manner.
+
+She at once began a conversation with Riquet, making such brilliant
+remarks, that he could almost think he had given her all his
+cleverness and had kept none for himself.
+
+When the Princess returned to the Palace, everybody was astonished
+at the sudden and extraordinary change, for, instead of saying stupid
+things, or just nothing at all, she was now full of beautiful ideas
+which she expressed most charmingly.
+
+The report of this transformation was soon spread abroad, and all
+the young Princes of the neighbouring kingdoms asked for her hand in
+marriage, but not one did she find altogether suitable.
+
+However, at last one arrived, who was so powerful, rich, clever and
+handsome, that she could not help approving of him, and her father,
+noticing this, told her she was quite free to choose what husband she
+wished.
+
+The Princess thanked him, and asked for time to consider the matter.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Then, to think it over, she went by chance, into the wood where she had
+met Tufty Riquet.
+
+While she was walking, deep in thought, she noticed a loud noise
+beneath her feet, as of many persons hastening to and fro; then,
+listening attentively, she heard a voice say, "Bring me the saucepan,"
+and another voice cry, "Put some wood on the fire."
+
+At the same moment the earth opened and she saw a big kitchen full
+of cooks, and all sorts of things necessary for the making of a
+magnificent banquet, and everybody hard at work.
+
+The Princess, astonished at this sight, asked the men for whom they
+were working.
+
+"For the Prince Tufty Riquet," answered the head cook, "for to-morrow
+is his wedding day."
+
+The Princess, more surprised than ever, all at once recollected that
+it was just a year ago that very day that she had promised to marry
+the ugly Tufty Riquet.
+
+[Illustration: "TO THINK IT OVER SHE WENT INTO THE WOOD."]
+
+The reason that she had not remembered her promise before was that she
+was foolish when she made it, and in becoming clever she had forgotten
+all her former stupidities.
+
+She had only walked on a few steps further, when Riquet appeared
+before her, magnificently clad, as a Prince about to marry.
+
+"Here you see me, madam," said he, "keeping my word, and I have no
+doubt that you also came here to keep yours, and by giving me your
+hand to make me the happiest of men."
+
+"I frankly confess," replied the Princess, "that I have not yet made
+up my mind, and I do not think I can ever do as you wish."
+
+"You surprise me, madam," said Riquet.
+
+"I can quite believe that," said the Princess, "and if you were not
+a good and clever man, I should not know how to act. But you are well
+aware that it was when I was stupid I promised to marry you, but now,
+as you may imagine, I am not so easily pleased."
+
+"Except for my ugliness," said Riquet, "have you anything against me?
+Do you object to my birth, my character, or my manners?"
+
+"Not at all," replied the Princess, "I love those things in you."
+
+"If that is so," answered Riquet, "I shall indeed be made happy,
+because you can cause me to become the most delightful of men if only
+you will desire it. For know, madam, the same fairy who at my birth
+gave me the power to impart cleverness to whomsoever I should love,
+gave you a gift also, that of being able to render beautiful the one
+to whom you would grant this favour."
+
+"If that is the case," exclaimed the Princess, "I desire with all my
+heart that you might be the most handsome and pleasing Prince in the
+world."
+
+No sooner had the Princess uttered these words than her wish was
+fulfilled, though some say that no change really took place in Riquet,
+but that the Princess loved him now so much that all his ugliness was
+seen as beauty by her eyes.
+
+However that may be, she straightway consented to be his bride, and,
+as the preparations had already been made, the wedding took place the
+very next day.
+
+[Illustration: _Painted by Jennie Harbour_
+THE BEAUTIFUL PRINCESS--"TUFTY RIQUET"]
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+THUMBLING
+
+
+There was once a poor woodman sitting by the fire in his cottage and
+his wife sat by his side spinning. "How lonely it is," said he, "for
+you and me to sit here by ourselves without any children to play about
+and amuse us, while other people seem so happy and merry with their
+children!" "What you say is very true," said the wife, sighing, and
+turning her wheel; "how happy should I be if I had but one child! and
+if it were ever so small, nay, if it were no bigger than my thumb, I
+should be very happy, and love it dearly." Now it came to pass that
+this good woman's wish was fulfilled just as she desired; for, some
+time afterwards, she had a little boy, who was quite healthy and
+strong, but not much bigger than my thumb. So they said, "Well, we
+cannot say we have not got what we wished for, and, little as he is,
+we will love him dearly;" and they called him Thumbling.
+
+They gave him plenty of food, yet he never grew bigger, but remained
+just the same size as when he was born; still, his eyes were sharp and
+sparkling and he soon showed himself to be a clever little fellow,
+who always knew well what he was about. One day, as the woodman was
+getting ready to go into the wood to cut fuel, he said, "I wish I had
+some one to bring the cart after me, for I want to make haste." "Oh,
+father!" cried Thumbling, "I will take care of that; the cart shall
+be in the wood by the time you want it." Then the woodman laughed and
+said, "How can that be? You cannot reach up to the horse's bridle."
+"Never mind that, father," said Thumbling; "if my mother will only
+harness the horse, I will get into his ear, and tell him which way to
+go." "Well," said the father, "we will try for once."
+
+When the time came, the mother harnessed the horse to the cart, and
+put Thumbling into its ear; and as he sat there, the little man told
+the beast how to go, crying out, "Go on," and "Stop," as he wanted;
+so the horse went on just as if the woodman had driven it himself into
+the wood. It happened that, as the horse was going a little too fast,
+and Thumbling was calling out "Gently, gently!" two strangers came up.
+"What an odd thing that is!" said one, "there is a cart going along,
+and I heard a carter talking to the horse but can see no one." "That
+is strange," said the other; "let us follow the cart and see where it
+goes." So they went on into the wood, till at last they came to the
+place where the woodman was. Then Thumbling, seeing his father, cried
+out, "See, father, here I am, with the cart, all right and safe; now
+take me down." So his father took hold of the horse with one hand, and
+with the other took his son out of the ear; then he put him down upon
+a straw, where he sat as merry as you please. The two strangers were
+all this time looking on, and did not know what to say for wonder. At
+last one took the other aside and said, "That little urchin will make
+our fortune if we can get him, and carry him about from town to town
+as a show; we must buy him." So they went to the woodman and asked him
+what he would take for the little man: "He will be better off," said
+they, "with us than with you." "I won't sell him at all," said the
+father, "my own flesh and blood is dearer to me than all the silver
+and gold in the world." But Thumbling, hearing of the bargain they
+wanted to make, crept up his father's coat to his shoulder, and
+whispered in his ear, "Take the money, father, and let them have me;
+I'll soon come back to you."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+So the woodman at last agreed to sell Thumbling to the strangers for
+a large piece of gold. "Where do you like to sit?" said one of them.
+"Oh! put me on the rim of your hat, that will be a nice gallery for
+me; I can walk about there, and see the country as we go along."
+So they did as he wished; and when Thumbling had taken leave of his
+father, they carried him away with them. They journeyed on till it
+began to be dusky, and then the little man said, "Let me get down,
+I'm tired." So the man took off his hat and set him down on a clod of
+earth in a ploughed field by the side of the road, But Thumbling ran
+about amongst the furrows, and at last slipped into a mouse-hole.
+"Good-night, masters," said he, "I'm off! mind and look sharp after me
+the next time." They ran directly to the place, and poked the ends
+of their sticks into the mouse-hole, but all in vain; Thumbling only
+crawled further and further in, and at last it became quite dark, so
+they were obliged to go their way without their prize, as sulky as you
+please.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+When Thumbling found they were gone, he came out of his hiding-place.
+"What dangerous walking it is," said he, "in this ploughed field! If
+I were to fall from one of these great clods, I should certainly break
+my neck." At last, by good chance, he found a large empty snail-shell.
+"This is lucky," said he, "I can sleep here very well," and in he
+crept. Just as he was falling asleep he heard two men passing, and one
+said to the other, "How shall we manage to steal that rich parson's
+silver and gold?" "I'll tell you," cried Thumbling. "What noise was
+that?" said the thief, frightened. "I am sure I heard some one speak."
+They stood still listening, and Thumbling said, "Take me with you,
+and I'll soon show you how to get the parson's money." "But where are
+you?" said they. "Look about on the ground," answered he, "and listen
+where the sound comes from." At last the thieves found him out, and
+lifted him up in their hands. "You little urchin!" said they, "what
+can you do for us?" "Why, I can get between the iron window-bars of
+the parson's house, and throw you out whatever you want." "That's a
+good thought," said the thieves: "come along, we shall see what you
+can do."
+
+When they came to the parson's house, Thumbling slipped through the
+window-bars into the room, and then called out as loudly as he could
+bawl, "Will you have all that is here?" At this the thieves were
+frightened, and said "Softly, softly, speak low that you may not
+awaken anybody." But Thumbling pretended not to understand them, and
+bawled out again, "How much will you have? Shall I throw it all out?"
+Now the cook lay in the next room, and hearing a noise she raised
+herself in her bed and listened. Meanwhile the thieves were
+frightened, and ran off to a little distance; but at last they plucked
+up courage, and said, "The little urchin is only trying to make fools
+of us." So they came back and whispered softly to him, saying, "Now,
+let us have no more of your jokes, but throw out some of the money."
+Then Thumbling called out as loudly as he could, "Very well; hold out
+your hands, here it comes." The cook heard this quite plainly, so she
+sprang out of bed and ran to open the door. The thieves rushed off as
+if a wolf were at their heels; and the maid, having groped about
+and found nothing, went away for a light. By the time she returned,
+Thumbling had slipped off into the barn; and when the cook had looked
+about and searched every hole and corner, and found nobody, she went
+to bed, thinking she must have been dreaming with her eyes open. The
+little man crawled about in the hay-loft, and at last found a glorious
+place to finish his night's rest in; so he laid himself down, meaning
+to sleep till daylight, and then find his way home to his father and
+mother. But, alas! how cruelly was he disappointed! what crosses and
+sorrows happen in this world! The cook got up early, before daybreak,
+to feed the cows: she went straight to the hay loft, and carried away
+a large bundle of hay with the little man in the middle of it fast
+asleep. He still, however, slept on, and did not wake till he found
+himself in the mouth of the cow, who had taken him up with a mouthful
+of hay: "Good lack-a-day!" said he, "how did I manage to tumble into
+the mill?" But he soon found out where he really was, and was obliged
+to have all his wits about him in order that he might not get between
+the cow's teeth, and so be crushed to death. At last she swallowed him
+down. "It is rather dark here," said he; "they forgot to build windows
+in this room to let the sun in; a candle would be no bad thing."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Though he made the best of his bad luck, he did not like his quarters
+at all; and the worst of it was, that more and more hay was always
+coming down, and the space in which he was became smaller and smaller.
+At last he cried out as loudly as he could, "Don't bring me any more
+hay! Don't bring me any more hay!" The maid happened to be just then
+milking the cow, and hearing someone speak and seeing nobody, and
+yet being quite sure it was the same voice that she had heard in the
+night, she was so much frightened that she fell off her stool and
+overset the milk-pail. She ran off as fast as she could to her master,
+the parson, and said, "Sir, sir, the cow is talking!" But the parson
+said, "Woman, thou art surely mad!" However, he went with her into the
+cow-house to see what was the matter. Scarcely had they set their feet
+on the threshold when Thumbling called out, "Don't bring me any more
+hay!" Then the parson himself was frightened; and thinking the cow was
+surely bewitched, ordered that she should be killed directly. So the
+cow was killed, and the part in which Thumbling lay was thrown away.
+
+Thumbling soon set himself to work to get out, which was not a very
+easy task; but at last, just as he had made room to get his head
+through, a new misfortune befell him: a hungry wolf passed by
+and swallowed Thumbling and all, at a single gulp, and ran away.
+Thumbling, however, was not disheartened; and thinking the wolf would
+not dislike having some chat with him as he was going along, he called
+out, "My good friend, I can show you a famous treat." "Where's that?"
+said the wolf. "In such and such a house," said Thumbling, describing
+his father's house, "you can crawl through the drain into the kitchen,
+and there you will find cakes, ham, beef, and everything your heart
+can desire." The wolf did not want to be asked twice; so that very
+night he went to the house and crawled through the drain into the
+kitchen, and ate and drank there to his heart's content. As soon as he
+was satisfied, he wanted to get away; but he had eaten so much that
+he could not get out the same way that he came in. This was just what
+Thumbling had reckoned upon; and he now began to set up a great shout,
+making all the noise he could. "Will you be quiet?" said the wolf,
+"you'll awaken everybody in the house." "What's that to me?" said the
+little man, "you have had your frolic, now I've a mind to be merry
+myself;" and he began again singing and shouting as loudly as he
+could.
+
+[Illustration: "THE WOODMAN AND HIS WIFE, BEING AWAKENED BY THE NOISE,
+PEEPED THROUGH A CRACK IN THE DOOR."]
+
+The woodman and his wife, being awakened by the noise, peeped through
+a crack in the door; but when they saw that the wolf was there, you
+may well suppose that they were terribly frightened; and the woodman
+ran for his axe, and gave his wife a scythe. "Now do you stay behind,"
+said the woodman; "and when I have knocked him on the head, do you
+cut him open with the scythe." Thumbling heard all this, and said,
+"Father, father! I am here; the wolf has swallowed me;" and his father
+said, "Heaven be praised! we have found our dear child again;" and
+he told his wife not to use the scythe, for fear she should hurt
+him. Then he aimed a great blow, and struck the wolf on the head, and
+killed him on the spot; and when he was dead they cut open his body
+and set Thumbling free. "Ah!" said the father, "what fears we have had
+for you!" "Yes, father," answered he, "I have travelled all over the
+world, since we parted, in one way or other; and now I am very glad to
+get fresh air again." "Why, where have you been?" said the father. "I
+have been in a mouse-hole, in a snail-shell, down a cow's throat, and
+inside the wolf; and yet here I am again safe and sound." "Well," said
+they, "we will not sell you again for all the riches in the world." So
+they hugged and kissed their dear little son, and gave him plenty to
+eat and drink, and fetched new clothes for him, for his old ones were
+quite spoiled on his journey.
+
+[Illustration: From "THE GOOSE GIRL"]
+
+
+
+
+THE RAPHAEL HOUSE LIBRARY OF GIFT BOOKS
+
+_FOR BOYS AND GIRLS_
+
+THIRTY BEAUTIFUL VOLUMES
+
+Edited by CAPTAIN EDRIC VREDENBURG
+
+Pictorial Boards, Cloth Back. Cloth, Bevelled Gilt Edges
+
+A charming series of delightful volumes that have certainly taken a
+foremost place amongst the cherished classics for young people. Each
+book embodies a distinct feature, all are carefully compiled, and
+appeal alike to children and their elders. The tales are told by able
+authors of to-day and celebrated writers of past years, with lavish
+and excellent illustrations by popular artists. The volumes are bound
+in attractive covers.
+
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM OLD BRITISH LEGENDS
+
+BY M. DOROTHY BELGRAVE AND HILDA HART.
+
+ILLUSTRATED BY HARRY G. THEAKER.
+
+These ancient legends of England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland,
+delightfully narrated and brilliantly illustrated, constitute a volume
+which may well claim to be amongst the most beautiful books of this
+beautiful series. Printed on rough art paper. 10 full-page colour
+plates, 144 pp. letterpress, 4to.
+
+[Illustration: _From "Children's Stories from Old British Legends."_]
+
+
+MY BOOK OF FAVOURITE FAIRY TALES
+
+STORIES RE-TOLD BY CAPT. EDRIC VREDENBURG AND OTHERS.
+
+ILLUSTRATED BY JENNIE HARBOUR.
+
+The well-known stories of "Cinderella," "Beauty and the Beast,"
+"Red Riding Hood," etc., etc. Popular tales that are ever in demand,
+sumptuously illustrated with exquisitely decorative and highly
+original designs. Printed on rough art paper. 12 full-page colour
+plates. 144 pp. letterpress, crown 4to.
+
+
+HANS ANDERSEN'S FAIRY TALES
+
+ILLUSTRATED BY MABEL LUCIE ATTWELL
+
+Dainty grace and quaint charm pervade this exquisite edition of a
+selection from the beloved fairy tales. Numerous black and white
+drawings. Printed on rough art paper. 12 full-page colour plates. 144
+pp. letterpress, crown 4to.
+
+
+GRIMM'S FAIRY TALES
+
+ILLUSTRATED BY MABEL LUCIE ATTWELL
+
+New editions of these famous stories are ever acceptable, and in these
+illustrations Mabel Lucie Attwell has excelled herself, so admirably
+has she depicted the conceptions of the famous writers. Printed on
+rough art paper. 12 full-page colour plates. 144 pp. letterpress,
+crown 4to.
+
+[Illustration: _From "My Book of Favourite Fairy Tales."_]
+
+
+[Illustration: _From "Animal Legends from many Lands."_]
+
+ANIMAL LEGENDS FROM MANY LANDS
+
+BY ROSE YEATMAN WOOLF
+
+ILLUSTRATED BY EDWIN NOBLE
+
+Truly splendid stories illustrative of the cunning of the Fox,
+the greediness of the Wolf, the obstinacy of the Mule, and other
+fancifully descriptive tales of the ways and doings of the inhabitants
+of the Animal Kingdom. These stories, as the title of the volume
+indicates, are collected from the legendary lore of many lands. The
+pictures are in the artist's most spirited and powerful style. Printed
+on rough art paper. 12 full-page colour plates. 144 pp. letterpress,
+crown 4to.
+
+
+ĆSOP'S FABLES
+
+ILLUSTRATED BY EDWIN NOBLE
+
+A magnificent edition of these ever-applicable and world-famed Fables,
+strikingly pictured with excellent coloured and black and white
+drawings, and forming a most desirable volume alike for young and old,
+and a handsome addition to any library. Printed on rough art paper, 12
+full-page colour plates. 144 pp. letterpress, crown 4to.
+
+
+[Illustration: _From "Tales of King Arthur and the Knights of the
+Round Table."]
+
+TALES OF KING ARTHUR
+
+AND THE KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE
+
+BY DORIS ASHLEY
+
+ILLUSTRATED BY ARTHUR A. DIXON.
+
+A particularly apt selection from the marvellous exploits of the
+Knights of the Round Table, related in thrilling language and
+illustrated in an ideal manner with pictures in colour and black
+and white. A perfect present for a boy or girl. Printed on rough art
+paper. 12 full-page colour plates. 144 pp. letterpress, crown 4to.
+
+
+GLORIOUS BATTLES OF ENGLISH HISTORY
+
+BY MAJOR C.H. WYLLY
+
+WITH FOREWORD BY SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE
+
+ILLUSTRATED BY HARRY PAYNE
+
+Books of Battles are ever popular, and this one, with its well-chosen
+incidents, told in an easy and interesting style by an officer of the
+British Army, and its inspiring foreword, will take a high rank and
+be greatly in demand particularly amongst that large section of the
+public to whom fact appeals so much more strongly than fiction. The
+illustrator has spared no pains in making his pictures worthy of their
+subject. Printed on rough art paper. 12 full-page colour plates and
+numerous black and white drawings. 144 pp. letterpress, crown 4to.
+
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM SHAKESPEARE
+
+BY E. NESBIT; AND
+
+WHEN SHAKESPEARE WAS A BOY
+
+BY DR. F.J. FURNIVALL, M.A.
+
+NEW EDITION
+
+This book brings before the minds of children, in a most attractive
+manner, many of the great dramatic poet's works, acquainting them
+with the characters and plots of the plays in a delicate way, and in
+a style that is certain to make them long for the time when they
+shall read the whole for themselves. The introductory history by Dr.
+Furnivall is full of charm and instruction. This entirely new edition
+has full-page colour and black and white drawings by John H. Bacon,
+A.R.A., Arthur Dixon, Howard Davie and Harold Copping. Printed on
+rough art paper. 10 full-page colour plates. 144 pp. letterpress,
+crown 4to.
+
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM TENNYSON
+
+BY NORA CHESSON
+
+NEW EDITION
+
+The most popular poems of Tennyson, "The Lily Maid," "Lady Clare,"
+"The Lord of Burleigh," "The Story of King Arthur," etc., etc., retold
+in prose, and so introducing to the minds of young people the great
+poet's works, and familiarising them with his celebrated characters.
+This is a new edition, with additional beautiful illustrations in
+colour and black and white by John H. Bacon, A.R.A., Gordon Browne,
+R.I., Arthur Dixon and others. Printed on rough art paper. 10
+full-page colour plates. 144 pp. letterpress, crown 4to.
+
+[Illustration: _From "Children's Stories from Tennyson."_]
+
+
+[Illustration: _From "Children's Stories from Italian Fairy Tales."_]
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM ITALIAN FAIRY TALES AND LEGENDS
+
+BY LILIA ROMANO
+
+ILLUSTRATED BY HOWARD DAVIE Their charm enhanced by the numerous
+characteristic illustrations, these stories, with their vivid local
+colouring, gathered from the fairy tales and folk-lore of lovely
+Italy, translated and retold, form a truly magnificent volume. Printed
+on rough art paper. 12 full-page colour plates. 144 pp. letterpress,
+crown 4to.
+
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM JAPANESE FAIRY TALES AND LEGENDS
+
+BY N. KATO
+
+ILLUSTRATED BY HARRY G. THEAKER
+
+The stories most sympathetic to the feelings of the English-reading
+juvenile public have been collected and translated, and the book,
+with its fascinating illustrations in colour and black and white, has
+proved a valuable addition to the series. Printed on rough art paper.
+10 full-page colour plates. 144 pp. letterpress, crown 4to.
+
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM RUSSIAN FAIRY TALES AND LEGENDS
+
+ILLUSTRATED BY A.A. DIXON
+
+Translated from the original, and adapted by Miss Seraphima Pulman,
+these stories are truly charming, while they are valuable as giving
+an insight into Russian life and habits. The illustrations possess
+all that delicacy and beauty which is characteristic of the artist.
+Printed on rough art paper. 12 full-page colour plates. 144 pp.
+letterpress, crown 4to.
+
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM INDIAN LEGENDS
+
+BY M. DOROTHY BELGRAVE AND HILDA HART
+
+ILLUSTRATED BY HARRY G. THEAKER
+
+Written with much feeling and charm, while the artist has delineated
+the episodes with strikingly beautiful drawings in colour and black
+and white, this book is also popular as furthering the knowledge of a
+land and people so closely bound in the heart of the British Empire.
+Printed on rough art paper. 12 full-page colour plates. 144 pp.
+letterpress, crown 4to.
+
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM FRENCH FAIRY TALES
+
+BY DORIS ASHLEY
+
+ILLUSTRATED BY MABEL LUCIE ATTWELL
+
+Tales to be read with breathless interest, so full of incident and
+romance are they, and in dealing with them the writer has shown
+consummate tact, both in her choice of stories and her manner
+of handling them, and this, combined with the wholly fascinating
+illustrations, in colour and black and white, has resulted in an
+altogether lovely volume. Printed on rough art paper. 12 full-page
+colour plates. 144 pp. letterpress, crown 4to.
+
+[Illustration: _From "Children's Stories from French Fairy Tales_"]
+
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM THE NORTHERN LEGENDS
+
+BY M. DOROTHY BELGRAVE AND HILDA HART
+
+ILLUSTRATED BY HARRY G. THEAKER
+
+Those entrancing legends of the Icelandic and Scandinavian poets are
+here recounted in a cohesive and lucid style suitable for boys and
+girls, thus in an easy way introducing the famous and fantastic heroes
+and heroines of Norse Mythology. The beautiful colour pictures, with
+the black and white drawings, are full of poetry and interest. Printed
+on rough art paper. 12 full-page colour plates. 144 pp. letterpress,
+crown 4to.
+
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM LONGFELLOW
+
+BY DORIS ASHLEY
+
+(NEW EDITION)
+
+An admirable collection of the most famous poems, delightfully
+translated into prose, and profusely illustrated with exquisite
+pictures in colour and black and white by Harold Copping, A. Dixon, M.
+Bowley and others, rendering the readers anxious for, and appreciative
+of, such poems as "The Golden Legend," "Evangeline," and "Hiawatha,"
+which, with other favourites, are placed before them in this
+attractive guise. To this new edition more pictures have been added.
+Printed on rough art paper. 10 full-page colour plates. 144 pp.
+letterpress, crown 4to.
+
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM ENGLISH HISTORY
+
+TOLD BY E. NESBIT AND DORIS ASHLEY
+
+Some of the most noteworthy and interesting historical events
+woven into entertaining stories, and so of great value in indelibly
+impressing them upon the mind. The volume is charmingly illustrated
+throughout by the late John H. Bacon, A.R.A., Howard Davie, M. Bowley,
+and other popular artists. Printed on rough art paper. 9 full-page
+colour plates. 144 pp. letterpress, crown 4to.
+
+[Illustration: _From "Alice in Wonderland"_]
+
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM THE POETS
+
+BY M. DOROTHY BELGRAVE AND HILDA HART
+
+ILLUSTRATED BY FRANK ADAMS
+
+Characters and incidents in the works of Chaucer, Pope, Keats, Milton,
+Browning, and other great poets, teeming with interest, and with
+which all minds should be conversant, are here presented in extremely
+fascinating prose narrative, beautifully illustrated in colour
+and black and white by Frank Adams. Printed on rough art paper. 12
+full-page colour plates. 144 pp. letterpress, crown 4to.
+
+
+ALICE IN WONDERLAND
+
+ILLUSTRATED BY MABEL LUCIE ATTWELL
+
+An exceptionally attractive edition of the popular Fairy Tale by Lewis
+Carroll, characteristically and charmingly illustrated with many black
+and white drawings and full-page colour plates. This story, which will
+hold its own as long as dreams are dreamed, is here presented in a
+worthy setting, and one which will meet with universal approbation.
+Printed on rough art paper. 12 full-page colour plates. 152 pp.
+letterpress, crown 4to.
+
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM DICKENS
+
+BY MARY ANGELA DICKENS
+
+ILLUSTRATED BY HAROLD COPPING
+
+The child interest from some of Dickens' masterpieces is here
+depicted afresh, and told in simple and charming language by his
+grand-daughter, Mary Angela Dickens, and other writers, with an
+introduction by Percy Fitzgerald, the friend of, and eminent authority
+on, Charles Dickens. The stories of Little David Copperfield, Little
+Nell, Tiny Tim, Little Paul Dombey, etc., etc., are here narrated, all
+being profusely illustrated. Printed on rough art paper 11 full-page
+coloured plates. 144 pp. letterpress, crown 4to.
+
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM SCOTT
+
+BY DORIS ASHLEY
+
+ILLUSTRATED BY HAROLD C. EARNSHAW
+
+The histories of Sir Walter Scott's most popular characters condensed
+into short stories, and thus adapted as an interesting introduction to
+the Scott classics, so worthily considered a part of the education of
+every up-to-date boy and girl. These tales are admirably illustrated
+with numerous drawings in colour and black and white. Printed on rough
+art paper. 12 full-page colour plates. 144 pp. letterpress, crown 4to.
+
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS
+
+BY ROSE YEATMAN WOOLF
+
+ILLUSTRATED BY HARRY G. THEAKER
+
+An admirable collection of the most popular tales, carefully compiled
+so as to form an entirely delightful and charming volume. The book
+is beautifully illustrated with pictures gorgeous in their Eastern
+colours, and innumerable black and white drawings. Printed on rough
+art paper. 12 full-page colour plates. 144 pp. letterpress, crown 4to.
+
+[Illustration: _From "Children's Stories from Dickens"_]
+
+
+
+
+THE RAPHAEL HOUSE LIBRARY OF GIFT BOOKS
+
+Edited by CAPTAIN EDRIC VREDENBURG
+
+Thirty beautiful Volumes, profusely illustrated in colour and black
+and white. Pictorial Boards, Cloth Back, or Cloth. Bevelled, Gilt
+Edges. Crown 4to.
+
+TALES OF THE ALHAMBRA. By WASHINGTON IRVING. Illustrated by H.M.
+BROCK. 12 full-page colour plates. 144pp.
+
+"ANIMAL LEGENDS FROM MANY LANDS." By ROSE YEATMAN WOOLF. Illustrated
+by EDWIN NOBLE. 12 full-page colour plates. 144 pp.
+
+TALES OF KING ARTHUR AND THE KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE. By DORIS
+ASHLEY. Illustrated by A.A. DIXON. 12 full-page colour plates. 144 pp.
+
+MY BOOK OF FAVOURITE FAIRY TALES. By CAPT. EDRIC VREDENBURG and
+others. Illustrated by JENNIE HARBOUR. 12 full-page colour plates.
+144pp.
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM OLD BRITISH LEGENDS. By M. DOROTHY BELGRAVE
+and HILDA HART. Illustrated by HARRY G. THEAKER. 10 full-page colour
+plates. 144 pp.
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM FRENCH FAIRY TALES. By DORIS ASHLEY.
+Illustrated by MABEL LUCIE ATTWELL. 12 full-page colour plates. 144
+pp.
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM ITALIAN FAIRY TALES AND LEGENDS. By LILIA
+ROMANO. Illustrated by HOWARD DAVIE 12 full-page colour plates. 144pp.
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM INDIAN LEGENDS. By M. DOROTHY BELGRAVE and
+HILDA HART. Illustrated by H.G. THEAKER. 12 full-page colour plates.
+144pp.
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM JAPANESE FAIRY TALES AND LEGENDS. Translated
+and adapted by N. KATO. Illustrated by H.G. THEAKER. 10 full-page
+colour plates. 144 pp.
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM ROUMANIAN FAIRY TALES AND LEGENDS By Dr. M.
+GASTER, Ph.D., late President of the English Folk-lore Society, &c.
+Illustrated by C.E. BROCK. 12 full-page colour plates. 144 pp.
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM RUSSIAN FAIRY TALES AND LEGENDS. Translated
+and adapted by SERAPHIMA PULMAN. Illustrated by ARTHUR A. DIXON. 12
+full-page colour plates. 144pp.
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM THE NORTHERN LEGENDS. By M. DOROTHY BELGRAVE
+and HILDA HART. Illustrated by HARRY G. THEAKER. 12 full-page colour
+plates. 152 pp.
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM SCOTT. By DORIS ASHLEY. Illustrated by HAROLD
+C. EARNSHAW. 12 full-page colour plates. 144 pp.
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM THE POETS. By M. DOROTHY BELGRAVE and HILDA
+HART. Illustrated by FRANK ADAMS. 12 full-page colour plates. 152pp.
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM ENGLISH HISTORY. By E. NESBIT and DORIS
+ASHLEY. Illustrated by JOHN H. BACON, A.R.A., HOWARD DAVIE, and
+others. 9 full-page colour plates. 144pp.
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. By ROSE YEATMAN WOOLF.
+Illustrated by H.G. THEAKER 12 full-page colour plates. 144 pp.
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM DICKENS. By MARY ANGELA DICKENS. Illustrated
+by HAROLD COPPING. 11 full-page colour plates. 144 pp.
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM SHAKESPEARE. By E. NESBIT. Illustrated by
+J.H. BACON, A.R.A., HOWARD DAVIE, and H. COPPING. 10 full-page colour
+plates. 144 pp.
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM TENNYSON. By NORA CHESSON. Illustrated by JOHN
+H. BACON, A.R.A., ARTHUR DIXON, HAROLD COPPING, and other artists. 10
+full-page colour plates. 144pp.
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM LONGFELLOW. By DORIS ASHLEY. Illustrated by
+A.A. DIXON, H. COPPING, and others. 10 full-page colour plates. 144
+pp.
+
+GLORIOUS BATTLES OF ENGLISH HISTORY. By Major C.H. WYLLY. With
+Foreword by Sir ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE. Illustrated by HARRY PAYNE. 12
+full-page colour plates. 144 pp.
+
+THE WATER BABIES. By CHARLES KINGSLEY. Abridged Edition. Illustrated
+by MABEL LUCIE ATTWELL. 12 full-page colour plates. 144pp.
+
+HANS ANDERSEN'S FAIRY TALES. Illustrated by MABEL LUCIE ATTWELL. 12
+full-page colour plates. 144 pp.
+
+GRIMM'S FAIRY TALES. Illustrated by MABEL LUCIE ATTWELL. 12 full-page
+colour plates. 144 pp.
+
+ALICE IN WONDERLAND. By LEWIS CARROLL. Illustrated by MABEL LUCIE
+ATTWELL. 12 full-page colour plates. 152pp.
+
+MOTHER GOOSE. Illustrated by MABEL LUCIE ATTWELL. 12 full-page colour
+plates. 144 pp.
+
+ĆSOP'S FABLES. Illustrated by EDWIN NOBLE. 12 full-page colour plates.
+144pp.
+
+CURLY HEADS AND LONG LEGS. Stories by the Editor, GRACE C. FLOYD, and
+others. Illustrated by HILDA COWHAM. 12 full-page colour plates. 144
+pp.
+
+GOLDEN LOCKS AND PRETTY FROCKS. Stories by NORMAN GALE, GRACE C.
+FLOYD, the Editor, and others. Illustrated by AGNES RICHARDSON. 12
+full-page colour plates. 144pp.
+
+TINKER, TAILOR. Stories by Captain EDRIC VREDENBURG. Illustrated by
+Louis WAIN. 12 full-page colour plates. 144pp.
+
+
+_Raphael Tuck and Sons, Ltd., London, Paris, New York._
+_Publishers by special appointment to Their Majesties the King and
+Queen_.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of My Book of Favorite Fairy Tales
+by Edric  Vredenburg
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MY BOOK OF FAVORITE FAIRY TALES ***
+
+***** This file should be named 15145-8.txt or 15145-8.zip *****
+This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
+        https://www.gutenberg.org/1/5/1/4/15145/
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+    <title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of My Book of Favorite Fairy
+    Tales edited by Capt. Edric Vredenburg</title>
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+      text-align: center; margin: 3em 15%; padding: 1em; font-size: .9em;}
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+<pre>
+
+Project Gutenberg's My Book of Favorite Fairy Tales, by Edric  Vredenburg
+
+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: My Book of Favorite Fairy Tales
+
+Author: Edric  Vredenburg
+
+Release Date: February 22, 2005 [EBook #15145]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MY BOOK OF FAVORITE FAIRY TALES ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Sandra Brown and the PG Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+    <div class="trans-note">
+        Transcriber's note: Larger versions of the color plates may
+        be viewed by clicking on the images.
+    </div><span class="pagenum"><a name="page1"
+       id="page1"></a>[pg 1]</span>
+    <hr />
+
+    <h2>MY BOOK OF</h2>
+
+    <h1>FAVOURITE FAIRY TALES</h1>
+
+    <h3>ILLUSTRATED BY JENNIE HARBOUR.</h3>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <a href="images/157.jpg"
+             name="fig157s"
+             id="fig157s"><img width="488"
+             src="images/157s.jpg"
+             alt="THE GOOSE GIRL" /></a>
+
+        <p><i>Painted by Jennie Harbour</i></p>THE GOOSE GIRL
+    </div><span class="pagenum"><a name="page2"
+       id="page2"></a>[pg 2]</span>
+
+    <h2>MY BOOK OF</h2>
+
+    <h1>FAVOURITE FAIRY TALES</h1>
+
+    <h3>RETOLD BY THE EDITOR</h3>
+
+    <h3>&amp; OTHERS</h3>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:25%;">
+        <a name="fig009"
+             id="fig009"><img width="100%"
+             src="images/009.png"
+             alt="page decoration" /></a>
+    </div>
+
+    <h3>ILLUSTRATED BY JENNIE HARBOUR</h3>
+
+    <h4>EDITED BY CAPT. EDRIC VREDENBURG</h4>
+
+    <h5>RAPHAEL TUCK &amp;. SONS. LTP</h5>
+
+    <h5><i>Publishers in Their Majesties the King &amp;
+    Queen</i></h5>
+
+    <h5>LONDON &amp; PARIS</h5>
+
+    <h5>DESIGNED &amp; PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN</h5>
+
+    <h5>PHILADELPHIA<br />
+     DAVID MCKAY COMPANY<br />
+     WASHINGTON SQUARE</h5><br />
+     <br />
+
+    <hr />
+    <br />
+     <br />
+     <span class="pagenum"><a name="page3"
+       id="page3"></a>[pg 3]</span>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <img width="500"
+             src="images/002.png"
+             alt="From 'THE GOOSE GIRL'" /><br />
+         From "THE GOOSE GIRL"
+    </div><br />
+     <span class="pagenum"><a name="page4"
+       id="page4"></a>[pg 4]</span>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <a name="fig004"
+             id="fig004"><img width="600"
+             src="images/004.png"
+             alt="From 'THE SLEEPING BEAUTY'" /></a><br />
+        <br />
+         From "THE SLEEPING BEAUTY"
+    </div><span class="pagenum"><a name="page5"
+       id="page5"></a>[pg 5]</span>
+
+    <h2>CONTENTS</h2>
+
+    <div class="figright"
+         style="width:30%;">
+        <img width="300"
+             src="images/005.png"
+             alt="From 'THE WHITE FAWN'" /><br />
+        <br />
+         From "THE WHITE FAWN"
+    </div>
+
+    <div class="toc">
+        <p>The Old, Old Stories
+        &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="#page7">7</a></p>
+
+        <p>The Goose Girl &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="#page9">9</a></p>
+
+        <p>Little Snow-White
+        &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="#page17">17</a></p>
+
+        <p>Cinderella &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="#page25">25</a></p>
+
+        <p>Princess Goldenhair
+        &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="#page34">34</a></p>
+
+        <p>Little Red Riding Hood
+        &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="#page42">42</a></p>
+
+        <p>The White Fawn &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="#page48">48</a></p>
+
+        <p>Hansel and Grethel
+        &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="#page60">60</a></p>
+
+        <p>Snow-White and Rose-Red
+        &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="#page69">69</a></p>
+
+        <p>The Sleeping Beauty
+        &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="#page79">79</a></p>
+
+        <p>Prince Chéri &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="#page85">85</a></p>
+
+        <p>The White Cat &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="#page93">93</a></p>
+
+        <p>Bluebeard &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="#page103">103</a></p>
+
+        <p>Beauty and the Beast
+        &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="#page109">109</a></p>
+
+        <p>Tufty Riquet &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="#page117">117</a></p>
+
+        <p>Thumbling &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="#page125">125</a></p>
+    </div>
+    <hr />
+    <span class="pagenum"><a name="page6"
+       id="page6"></a>[pg 6]</span>
+
+    <div class="figleft"
+         style="width:30%;">
+        <img width="300"
+             src="images/006.png"
+             alt="From PRINCESS GOLDENHAIR" /><br />
+        <br />
+         From "PRINCESS GOLDENHAIR"
+    </div><br clear="right" />
+
+
+    <h2>LIST OF COLOUR PLATES</h2>
+
+    <div class="illustrations">
+        <p>The Goose
+        Girl&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="#fig157s"><i>Frontispiece</i></a></p>
+
+        <p>The Magic
+        Mirror&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="#fig158s">18</a></p>
+
+        <p>Cinderella&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="#fig159s">28</a></p>
+
+        <p>Little Red Riding
+        Hood&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="#fig160s">42</a></p>
+
+        <p>The White Fawn&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="#fig161s">54</a></p>
+
+        <p>Hansel and
+        Grethel&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="#fig162s">64</a></p>
+
+        <p>Snow-White and
+        Rose-Red&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="#fig163s">76</a></p>
+
+        <p>The Sleeping
+        Beauty&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="#fig164s">84</a></p>
+
+        <p>Zélie and the Fairy
+        Candide&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="#fig165s">88</a></p>
+
+        <p>Bluebeard&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="#fig166s">106</a></p>
+
+        <p>Beauty and the
+        Beast&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="#fig167s">114</a></p>
+
+        <p>The Beautiful
+        Princess&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="#fig168s">124</a></p>
+    </div><br clear="all" />
+
+    <hr />
+    <span class="pagenum"><a name="page7"
+       id="page7"></a>[pg 7]</span>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <img width="600"
+             src="images/007.png"
+             alt="From CINDERELLA" /><br />
+        <br />
+         From "CINDERELLA"
+    </div><br />
+     <br />
+
+
+    <h2>THE OLD, OLD STORIES</h2>
+
+    <p>Here they are again, the old, old stories, the very best;
+    dear Cinderella, wicked old Bluebeard, tiny Thumbling,
+    beautiful Beauty and the ugly Beast, and a host of others. But
+    the old stories, I may tell you, are always new, and always
+    must be so, because there are new children to read them every
+    day, and to these, of course, these old tales might have been
+    written yesterday.</p>
+
+    <p>But the stories in this book are new in another way. Look
+    how they are clothed, look at their beautiful setting, the
+    wonderful <span class="pagenum"><a name="page8"
+       id="page8"></a>[pg 8]</span> pictures! Have you ever seen
+       such charming princes and lovely princesses, such dainty
+       grace and delicate feeling?</p>
+
+    <p>What would our grandfathers and grandmothers have said of
+    such a book! They would have thought there was magic in the
+    brush and pencil.</p>
+
+    <p>Surely we are favoured in this generation when we see before
+    us, the old, old fairy tales, which are ever new, dressed in
+    such a beautiful and splendid fashion!</p>
+
+    <p class="author"><i>EDRIC VREDENBURG.</i></p><br />
+     <br />
+
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <img width="600"
+             src="images/008.png"
+             alt="From HANSEL AND GRETHEL" /><br />
+         From "HANSEL AND GRETHEL"
+    </div><span class="pagenum"><a name="page9"
+       id="page9"></a>[pg 9]</span> <br />
+     <br />
+     <br />
+     <br />
+
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <img width="500"
+             src="images/009.png"
+             alt="The Goose Girl" />
+    </div>
+
+    <h2>THE GOOSE GIRL</h2>
+
+    <p>An old queen, whose husband had been dead some years, had a
+    beautiful daughter. When she grew up, she was betrothed to a
+    prince who lived a great way off; and as the time drew near for
+    her to be married, she got ready to set off on her journey to
+    his country. Then the queen, her mother, packed up a great many
+    costly things&mdash;jewels, and gold, and silver; trinkets,
+    fine dresses, and, in short, everything that became a royal
+    bride; for she loved her child very dearly: and she gave her a
+    waiting-maid to ride with her, and give
+    <span class="pagenum"><a name="page10"
+       id="page10"></a>[pg 10]</span> her into the bridegroom's
+       hands; and each had a horse for the journey. Now the
+       princess's horse was called Falada, and could speak.</p>
+
+    <p>When the time came for them to set out, the old queen went
+    into her bed-chamber, and took a little knife, and cut off a
+    lock of her hair, and gave it to her daughter, and said, "Take
+    care of it, dear child; for it is a charm that may be of use to
+    you on the road." Then they took a sorrowful leave of each
+    other, and the princess put the lock of her mother's hair into
+    her bosom, got upon her horse, and set off on her journey to
+    her bridegroom's kingdom. One day, as they were riding along by
+    the side of a brook, the princess began to feel very thirsty,
+    and said to her maid, "Pray get down and fetch me some water,
+    in my golden cup, out of yonder brook, for I want to drink."
+    "Nay," said the maid, "if you are thirsty, get down yourself,
+    and lie down by the water and drink; I shall not be your
+    waiting-maid any longer." Then the princess was so thirsty that
+    she got down, and knelt over the brook and drank, for she was
+    frightened, and dared not bring out her golden cup; and then
+    she wept, and said "Alas! what will become of me?" And the lock
+    of hair answered her, and said&mdash;</p>
+
+    <div class="poem">
+        <div class="stanza">
+            <p>"Alas! alas! if thy mother knew it,</p>
+
+            <p>Sadly, sadly her heart would rue it."</p>
+        </div>
+    </div>
+
+    <p>But the princess was very humble and meek, so she said
+    nothing to her maid's ill behaviour, but got upon her horse
+    again.</p>
+
+    <p>Then all rode further on their journey, till the day grew so
+    warm, and the sun so scorching, that the bride began to feel
+    very thirsty again; and at last, when they came to a river, she
+    forgot her maid's rude speech, and said, "Pray get down and
+    fetch me some water to drink in my golden cup." But the maid
+    answered her, and even spoke more haughtily than before,
+    "Drink, if you will, but I shall not be your waiting-maid."
+    Then the princess was so thirsty that she got off her horse and
+    lay down, and held her head over the running stream, and cried,
+    and said, "What will become of me?" And the lock of hair
+    answered her again&mdash;</p>
+
+    <div class="poem">
+        <div class="stanza">
+            <p>"Alas! alas! if thy mother knew it,</p>
+
+            <p>Sadly, sadly her heart would rue it."</p>
+        </div>
+    </div><span class="pagenum"><a name="page11"
+       id="page11"></a>[pg 11]</span>
+
+    <p>And as she leaned down to drink, the lock of hair fell from
+    her bosom and floated away with the water, without her seeing
+    it, she was so frightened. But her maid saw it, and was very
+    glad, for she knew the charm, and saw that the poor bride would
+    be in her power now that she had lost the hair. So when the
+    bride had drunk, and would have got upon Falada again, the maid
+    said, "I shall ride upon Falada and you may have my horse
+    instead;" so she was forced to give up her horse, and soon
+    afterwards to take off her royal clothes, and put on her maid's
+    shabby ones.</p>
+
+    <p>At last, as they drew near the end of the journey, this
+    treacherous servant threatened to kill her mistress if she ever
+    told anyone what had happened. But Falada saw it all, and
+    marked it well. Then the waiting-maid got upon Falada, and the
+    real bride was set upon the other horse, and they went on in
+    this way till at last they came to the royal court. There was
+    great joy at their coming, the prince hurried to meet them, and
+    lifted the maid from her horse, thinking she was the one who
+    was to be his wife; and she was led upstairs to the royal
+    chamber, but the true princess was told to stay in the court
+    below.</p>
+
+    <div class="figright"
+         style="width:60%;">
+        <img width="400"
+             src="images/011.png"
+             alt="Kneeling girl" />
+    </div>
+
+    <p>But the old king happened to be looking out of the window,
+    and saw her in the yard below; and as she looked very pretty,
+    and too delicate for a waiting-maid, he went into the royal
+    chamber to ask the bride who it was she had brought with her,
+    that was thus left standing in the court below. "I brought her
+    with me for the sake of her company on the road," said she.
+    "Pray give the girl some work to do, that she may not be idle."
+    The old king could not for some
+    <span class="pagenum"><a name="page12"
+       id="page12"></a>[pg 12]</span> time think of any work for
+       her to do, but at last he said, "I have a lad who takes care
+       of my geese; she may go and help him." Now the name of this
+       lad, that the real bride was to help in watching the king's
+       geese, was Curdken.</p>
+
+    <p>Soon after, the false bride said to the prince, "Dear
+    husband pray do me one piece of kindness." "That I will," said
+    the prince. "Then tell one of your slaughterers to cut off the
+    head of the horse I rode upon, for it was very unruly, and
+    plagued me sadly on the road." But the truth was, she was very
+    much afraid lest Falada should speak, and tell all she had done
+    to the princess. She carried her point, and the faithful Falada
+    was killed; but when the true princess heard of it she wept,
+    and begged the man to nail up Falada's head against a large
+    dark gate in the city through which she had to pass every
+    morning and evening, that there she might still see him
+    sometimes. Then the slaughterer said he would do as she wished;
+    cut off the head, and nailed it fast under the dark gate.</p>
+
+    <p>Early the next morning, as she and Curdken went out through
+    the gate, she said sorrowfully&mdash;</p>
+
+    <div class="poem">
+        <div class="stanza">
+            <p>"Falada, Falada, there thou art hanging!"</p>
+        </div>
+    </div>
+
+    <p>and the head answered&mdash;</p>
+
+    <div class="poem">
+        <div class="stanza">
+            <p>"Bride, bride, there thou art ganging!</p>
+
+            <p>Alas! alas! if thy mother knew it,</p>
+
+            <p>Sadly, sadly her heart would rue it."</p>
+        </div>
+    </div>
+
+    <p>Then they went out of the city, and drove the geese in. And
+    when she came to the meadow, she sat down upon a bank here, and
+    let down her waving locks of hair, which were all of pure gold;
+    and when Curdken saw it glitter in the sun, he ran up, and
+    would have pulled some of the locks out; but she
+    cried&mdash;</p>
+
+    <div class="poem">
+        <div class="stanza">
+            <p>"Blow, breezes, blow!</p>
+
+            <p>Let Curdken's hat go!</p>
+
+            <p>Blow, breezes, blow!</p>
+
+            <p>Let him after it go!</p>
+
+            <p>O'er hills, dales, and rocks.</p>
+
+            <p>Away be it whirl'd,</p>
+
+            <p>Till the golden locks</p>
+
+            <p>Are all comb'd and curl'd!"</p>
+        </div>
+    </div><span class="pagenum"><a name="page13"
+       id="page13"></a>[pg 13]</span>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <img width="600"
+             src="images/013.png"
+             alt="Riders on horses" />
+    </div>
+
+    <p>Then there came a wind, so strong that it blew off Curdken's
+    hat, and away it flew over the hills, and he after it; till, by
+    the time he came back, she had done combing and curling her
+    hair, and put it up again safe. Then he was very angry and
+    sulky, and would not speak to her at all; but they watched the
+    geese until it grew dark in the evening, and then drove them
+    homewards.</p>
+
+    <p>The next morning, as they were going through the dark gate,
+    the poor girl looked up at Falada's head, and cried&mdash;</p>
+
+    <div class="poem">
+        <div class="stanza">
+            <p>"Falada, Falada, there thou art hanging!"</p>
+        </div>
+    </div>
+
+    <p>and it answered&mdash;</p>
+
+    <div class="poem">
+        <div class="stanza">
+            <p>"Bride, bride, there thou art ganging!</p>
+
+            <p>Alas! alas! if thy mother knew it,</p>
+
+            <p>Sadly, sadly her heart would rue it."</p>
+        </div>
+    </div>
+
+    <p>Then she drove on the geese and sat down again in the
+    meadow, and began to comb out her hair as before, and Curdken
+    ran up to her, and wanted to take hold of it; but she cried out
+    quickly&mdash;</p>
+
+    <div class="poem">
+        <div class="stanza">
+            <p>"Blow, breezes, blow!</p>
+
+            <p>Let Curdken's hat go,</p>
+
+            <p>Blow, breezes, blow!</p>
+
+            <p>Let him after it go!</p>
+
+            <p>O'er hills, dales, and rocks,</p>
+
+            <p>Away be it whirl'd,</p>
+
+            <p>Till the golden locks</p>
+
+            <p>Are all comb'd and curl'd!"</p>
+        </div>
+    </div><span class="pagenum"><a name="page14"
+       id="page14"></a>[pg 14]</span>
+
+    <p>Then the wind came and blew his hat, and off it flew a great
+    way, over the hills and far away, so that he had to run after
+    it; and when he came back, she had done up her hair again, and
+    all was safe. So they watched the geese till it grew dark.</p>
+
+    <p>In the evening, after they came home, Curdken went to the
+    old king, and said, "I cannot have that strange girl to help me
+    to keep the geese any longer."</p>
+
+    <p>"Why?" said the king.</p>
+
+    <p>"Because she does nothing but tease me all day long."</p>
+
+    <p>Then the king made him tell all that had passed.</p>
+
+    <p>And Curdken said, "When we go in the morning through the
+    dark gate with our flock of geese, she weeps, and talks with
+    the head of a horse that hangs upon the wall, and
+    says&mdash;</p>
+
+    <div class="poem">
+        <div class="stanza">
+            <p>"'Falada, Falada, there thou art hanging!'"</p>
+        </div>
+    </div>
+
+    <p>and the head answers&mdash;</p>
+
+    <div class="poem">
+        <div class="stanza">
+            <p>"'Bride, bride, there thou art ganging!</p>
+
+            <p>Alas! alas! if thy mother knew it,</p>
+
+            <p>Sadly, sadly her heart would rue it.'"</p>
+        </div>
+    </div>
+
+    <p>And Curdken went on telling the king what had happened upon
+    the meadow where the geese fed; and how his hat was blown away,
+    and he was forced to run after it, and leave his flock. But the
+    old king told him to go out again as usual the next day, and
+    when morning came, the king placed himself behind the gate, and
+    heard how she spoke to Falada, and how Falada answered; and
+    then he went into the field and hid himself in a bush by the
+    meadow's side, and soon saw with his own eyes how they drove
+    the flock of geese, and how, after a little time, she let down
+    her hair that glittered in the sun; and then he heard her
+    say&mdash;</p>
+
+    <div class="poem">
+        <div class="stanza">
+            <p>"Blow, breezes, blow!</p>
+
+            <p>Let Curdken's hat go!</p>
+
+            <p>Blow, breezes, blow!</p>
+
+            <p>Let him after it go!</p>
+
+            <p>O'er hills, dales, and rocks,</p>
+
+            <p>Away be it whirl'd,</p>
+
+            <p>Till the golden locks,</p>
+
+            <p>Are all comb'd and curl'd!"</p>
+        </div>
+    </div><span class="pagenum"><a name="page15"
+       id="page15"></a>[pg 15]</span>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <img width="478"
+             src="images/015.png"
+             alt="THEN THERE CAME A WIND SO STRONG THAT IT BLEW OFF CURDKEN'S HAT." />
+        <br />
+        <br />
+         "THEN THERE CAME A WIND SO STRONG THAT IT BLEW OFF
+        CURDKEN'S HAT."
+    </div><span class="pagenum"><a name="page16"
+       id="page16"></a>[pg 16]</span>
+
+    <p>And soon came a gale of wind, and carried away Curdken's
+    hat, while the girl went on combing and curling her hair.</p>
+
+    <p>All this the old king saw: so he went home without being
+    seen; and when the little goose girl came back in the evening,
+    he called her aside, and asked her why she did so: but she
+    burst into tears, and said, "That I must not tell you or any
+    man, or I shall lose my life."</p>
+
+    <p>But the old king begged so hard that she had no peace till
+    she had told him all, word for word: and it was very lucky for
+    her that she did so, for the king ordered royal clothes to be
+    put upon her, and gazed on her with wonder, she was so
+    beautiful.</p>
+
+    <p>Then he called his son, and told him that he had only the
+    false bride, for that she was merely a waiting-maid, while the
+    true one stood by.</p>
+
+    <p>And the young king rejoiced when he saw her beauty, and
+    heard how meek and patient she had been; and without saying
+    anything, ordered a great feast to be got ready for all his
+    court.</p>
+
+    <p>The bridegroom sat at the top, with the false princess on
+    one side, and the true one on the other; but nobody knew her,
+    for she was quite dazzling to their eyes, and was not at all
+    like the little goose-girl, now that she had her brilliant
+    dress.</p>
+
+    <p>When they had eaten and drunk, and were very merry, the old
+    king told all the story, as one that he had once heard of, and
+    asked the true waiting-maid what she thought ought to be done
+    to anyone who would behave thus.</p>
+
+    <p>"Nothing better," said this false bride, "than that she
+    should be thrown into a cask stuck round with sharp nails, and
+    that two white horses should be put to it, and should drag it
+    from street to street till she is dead."</p>
+
+    <p>"Thou art she!" said the old king; "and since thou hast
+    judged thyself, it shall be so done to thee."</p>
+
+    <p>And the young king was married to his true wife, and they
+    reigned over the kingdom in peace and happiness all their
+    lives.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page17"
+       id="page17"></a>[pg 17]</span>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <img width="600"
+             src="images/017.png"
+             alt="The Dwarfs" />
+    </div>
+
+    <h2>LITTLE SNOW-WHITE</h2>
+
+    <p>It was in the middle of winter, when the broad flakes of
+    snow were falling around, that a certain queen sat working at
+    the window, the frame of which was made of fine black ebony;
+    and as she was looking out upon the snow, she pricked her
+    finger, and three drops of blood fell upon it. Then she gazed
+    thoughtfully upon the red drops which sprinkled the white snow,
+    and said, "Would that my little daughter may be as white as
+    that snow, as red as the blood, and as black as the ebony
+    window-frame!" And so the little girl grew up: her skin was as
+    white as snow, her cheeks as rosy as blood, and her hair as
+    black as ebony; and she was called Snow-White.</p>
+
+    <p>But this queen died; and the king soon married another wife,
+    who was very beautiful, but so proud that she could not bear to
+    think that any one could surpass her. She had a magical
+    looking-glass, to which she used to go and gaze upon herself in
+    it, and say,</p>
+
+    <div class="poem">
+        <div class="stanza">
+            <p>"Tell me, glass, tell me true!</p>
+
+            <p>Of all the ladies in the land.</p>
+
+            <p>Who is fairest? Tell me who?"</p>
+        </div>
+    </div>
+
+    <p>And the glass answered, "Thou, Queen, art fairest in the
+    land."</p>
+
+    <p>But Snow-White grew more and more beautiful; and when she
+    <span class="pagenum"><a name="page18"
+       id="page18"></a>[pg 18]</span> was seven years old, she was
+       as bright as the day, and fairer than the queen herself.
+       Then the glass one day answered the queen, when she went to
+       consult it as usual:</p>
+
+    <div class="poem">
+        <div class="stanza">
+            <p>"Thou, Queen, may'st fair and beauteous be,</p>
+
+            <p>But Snow-White is lovelier far than thee!"</p>
+        </div>
+    </div>
+
+    <p>When she heard this she turned pale with rage and envy; and
+    calling to one of her servants said, "Take Snow-White away into
+    the wide wood, that I may never see her more." Then the servant
+    led her away; but his heart melted when she begged him to spare
+    her life, and he said, "I will not hurt thee, thou pretty
+    child." So he left her by herself, and though he thought it
+    most likely that the wild beasts would tear her to pieces, he
+    felt as if a great weight were taken off his heart when he had
+    made up his mind not to kill her, but leave her to her
+    fate.</p>
+
+    <div class="figleft"
+         style="width:50%;">
+        <img width="300"
+             src="images/018.png"
+             alt="Snow-White with Servant" />
+    </div>
+
+    <p>Then poor Snow-White wandered along through the wood in
+    great fear; and the wild beasts roared about her, but none did
+    her any harm. In the evening she came to a little cottage, and
+    went in there to rest herself, for her weary feet would carry
+    her no further. Everything was spruce and neat in the cottage:
+    on the table was spread a white cloth, and there were seven
+    little plates with seven little loaves and seven little glasses
+    with wine in them; and knives and forks laid in order, and by
+    the wall stood seven little beds. Then, as she was very hungry,
+    she picked a little piece off each loaf, and
+    <span class="pagenum"><a name="page19"
+       id="page19"></a>[pg 19]</span> drank a very little wine out
+       of each glass; and after that she thought she would lie down
+       and rest. So she tried all the little beds; and one was too
+       long, and another was too short, till at last the seventh
+       suited her; and there she laid herself down and went to
+       sleep. Presently in came the masters of the cottage, who
+       were seven little dwarfs that lived among the mountains, and
+       dug and searched about for gold. They lighted up their seven
+       lamps, and saw directly that all was not right. The first
+       said, "Who has been sitting on my stool?" The second, "Who
+       has been eating off my plate?" The third, "Who has been
+       picking at my bread?" the fourth, "Who has been meddling
+       with my spoon?" The fifth, "Who has been handling my fork?"
+       The sixth, "Who has been cutting with my knife?" The
+       seventh, "Who has been drinking my wine?" Then the first
+       looked round and said. "Who has been lying on my bed?" And
+       the rest came running to him, and every one cried out that
+       somebody had been upon his bed. But the seventh saw
+       Snow-White, and called upon his brethren to come and see
+       her; and they cried out with wonder and astonishment, and
+       brought their lamps to look at her, and said, "Good heavens!
+       What a lovely child she is!" and they were delighted to see
+       her, and took care not to waken her; and the seventh dwarf
+       slept an hour with each of the other dwarfs in turn, till
+       the night was gone.</p>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <a href="images/158.jpg"
+             name="fig158s"
+             id="fig158s"><img width="475"
+             src="images/158s.jpg"
+             alt="THE MAGIC MIRROR&mdash;LITTLE SNOW-WHITE" /></a>
+
+        <p><i>Painted by Jennie Harbour</i></p>THE MAGIC
+        MIRROR&mdash;"LITTLE SNOW-WHITE"
+    </div>
+
+    <p>In the morning Snow-White told them all her story; and they
+    pitied her, and said if she would keep all things in order, and
+    cook and wash, and knit and spin for them, she might stay where
+    she was, and they would take good care of her. Then they went
+    out all day long to their work, seeking for gold and silver in
+    the mountains; and Snow-White remained at home: and they warned
+    her, and said, "The queen will soon find out where you are, so
+    take care and let no one in." But the queen, now that she
+    thought Snow-White was dead, believed that she was certainly
+    the handsomest lady in the land; and she went to her glass, and
+    the glass answered,</p>
+
+    <div class="poem">
+        <div class="stanza">
+            <p>"Thou, Queen, thou art fairest in all this land;</p>
+
+            <p>But over the hills, in the greenwood shade.</p>
+
+            <p>Where the seven dwarfs their dwelling have made.</p>
+
+            <p>There Snow-White is hiding her head; and she</p>
+
+            <p>Is lovelier far, O Queen, than thee."</p>
+        </div>
+    </div><span class="pagenum"><a name="page20"
+       id="page20"></a>[pg 20]</span>
+
+    <p>Then the queen was very much alarmed; for she knew that the
+    glass always spoke the truth, and was sure that the servant had
+    betrayed her. And she could not bear to think that anyone lived
+    who was more beautiful than she was; so she disguised herself
+    as a pedlar and went her way over the hills to the place where
+    the dwarfs dwelt. Then she knocked at the door, and cried,
+    "Fine wares to sell!" Snow-White looked out of the window, and
+    cried, "Good-day, good woman; what have you to sell?" "Good
+    wares, fine wares," said she; "laces and bobbins of all
+    colours." "I will let the old lady in; she seems to be a very
+    good sort of a body," thought Snow-White; so she ran down, and
+    unbolted the door. "Bless me!" said the woman, "how badly your
+    stays are laced. Let me lace them up with one of my nice new
+    laces." Snow-White did not dream of any mischief; so she stood
+    up before the old woman; but she set to work so nimbly, and
+    pulled the lace so tight, that Snow-White lost her breath, and
+    fell down as if she were dead. "There's an end of all thy
+    beauty," said the spiteful queen, and went away home.</p>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <img width="449"
+             src="images/020.png"
+             alt="THERE'S AN END TO ALL THY BEAUTY' SAID THE SPITEFUL QUEEN" />
+        <br />
+         "'THERE'S AN END TO ALL THY BEAUTY' SAID THE SPITEFUL
+        QUEEN,<br />
+         AND SHE WENT AWAY HOME."
+    </div>
+
+    <p>In the evening the seven dwarfs returned; and I need not say
+    how grieved they were to see their faithful Snow-White
+    stretched upon the ground motionless, as if she were quite
+    dead. However, they lifted her up, and when they found what was
+    the matter, they cut the lace; and in a little time she began
+    to breathe, and soon came to life again. Then they said, "The
+    old woman was the queen herself; take care another time, and
+    let no one in when we are away."</p>
+
+    <p>When the queen got home, she went to her glass, and spoke to
+    it, but to her surprise it said the same words as before.</p>
+
+    <p>Then the blood ran cold in her heart with spite and malice
+    to see that Snow-White still lived; and she dressed herself up
+    again in a disguise, but very different from the one she wore
+    before, and took with her a poisoned comb, When she reached the
+    dwarf's cottage, she knocked at the door, and cried, "Fine
+    wares to sell!" but Snow-White said, "I dare not let anyone
+    in." Then the queen begged, "Only look at my beautiful combs;"
+    and gave her the poisoned <!--page 21 had illustration-->
+     <span class="pagenum"><a name="page22"
+       id="page22"></a>[pg 22]</span> one. And it looked so pretty
+       that she took it up and put it into her hair to try it; but
+       the moment it touched her head the poison was so powerful
+       that she fell down senseless.</p>
+
+    <p>"There you may lie," said the queen, and went her way. But
+    by good luck the dwarfs returned very early that evening; and
+    when they saw Snow-White lying on the ground, they thought what
+    had happened, and soon found the poisoned comb. And when they
+    took it away, she recovered, and told them all that had passed;
+    and they warned her once more not to open the door to
+    anyone.</p>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <img width="500"
+             src="images/022.png"
+             alt=" The Queen and senseless Snow-White" />
+    </div>
+
+    <p>Meantime the queen went home to her glass, and trembled with
+    rage when she received exactly the same answer as before; and
+    she said "Snow-White shall die, if it costs me my life." So she
+    went secretly into a chamber, and prepared a poisoned apple;
+    the outside looked very rosy and tempting, but whosoever tasted
+    it was sure to die. Then she dressed herself up as a peasant's
+    wife, and travelled over the hills to the dwarfs' cottage, and
+    knocked at the door; but Snow-White put her head out of the
+    window, and said, "I dare not let anyone in, for the dwarfs
+    have told me not to." "Do as you please," said the old woman,
+    "but at any rate take this pretty apple; I will make you a
+    present of it." "No," said Snow-White, "I dare not take it."
+    "You silly girl!" answered the other, "what are you afraid of?
+    Do you think it <span class="pagenum"><a name="page23"
+       id="page23"></a>[pg 23]</span> is poisoned? Come! do you eat
+       one part, and I will eat the other." Now the apple was so
+       prepared that one side was good, though the other side was
+       poisoned. Then Snow-White was very much tempted to taste,
+       for the apple looked exceedingly nice; and when she saw the
+       old woman eat, she could refrain no longer. But she had
+       scarcely put the piece into her mouth, when she fell down
+       dead upon the ground. "This time nothing will save thee,"
+       said the queen; and she went home to her glass, and at last
+       it said,</p>
+
+    <div class="poem">
+        <div class="stanza">
+            <p>"Thou, Queen, art the fairest of all the fair."</p>
+        </div>
+    </div>
+
+    <p>And then her envious heart was glad, and as happy as such a
+    heart could be.</p>
+
+    <p>When evening came, and the dwarfs returned home, they found
+    Snow-White lying on the ground; no breath passed her lips, and
+    they were afraid that she was quite dead. They lifted her up,
+    and combed her hair, and washed her face with wine and water;
+    but all was in vain, for the little girl seemed quite dead. So
+    they laid her down upon a bier, and all seven watched and
+    bewailed her three whole days; and then they proposed to bury
+    her; but her cheeks were still rosy, and her face looked just
+    as it did while she was alive; so they said, "We will never
+    bury her in the cold ground." And they made a coffin of glass
+    so that they might still look at her, and wrote her name upon
+    it in golden letters, and that she was a king's daughter. And
+    the coffin was placed upon the hill, and one of the dwarfs
+    always sat by it and watched. And the birds of the air came
+    too, and bemoaned Snow-White. First of all came an owl, and
+    then a raven, but at last came a dove.</p>
+
+    <p>And thus Snow-White lay for a long, long time, and still
+    only looked as though she were asleep; for she was even now as
+    white as snow, and as red as blood, and as black as ebony. At
+    last a prince came and called at the dwarfs' house; and he saw
+    Snow-White, and read what was written in gold letters. Then he
+    offered the dwarfs money, and earnestly prayed them to let him
+    take her away; but they said, "We will not part with her for
+    all the gold in the world." At last, however, they had pity on
+    him, and gave him the coffin; but the moment he lifted it up to
+    carry it home with him, <span class="pagenum"><a name="page24"
+       id="page24"></a>[pg 24]</span> the piece of apple fell from
+       between her lips, and Snow-White awoke, and said, "Where am
+       I?" And the prince answered, "Thou art safe with me." Then
+       he told her all that had happened, and said, "I love you
+       better than all the world; come with me to my father's
+       palace, and you shall be my wife." And Snow-White consented,
+       and went home with the prince; and everything was prepared
+       with great pomp and splendour for their wedding.</p>
+
+    <p>To the feast was invited, among the rest, Snow-White's old
+    enemy, the queen; and as she was dressing herself in fine, rich
+    clothes, she looked, in the glass, and the glass answered,</p>
+
+    <div class="poem">
+        <div class="stanza">
+            <p>"Thou, lady, art the loveliest <i>here</i>, I
+            ween;</p>
+
+            <p>But lovelier far is the new-made queen."</p>
+        </div>
+    </div>
+
+    <p>When she heard this, she started with rage; but her envy and
+    curiosity were so great, that she could not help setting out to
+    see the bride. And when she arrived, and saw that it was none
+    other than Snow-White, who she thought had been dead a long
+    while, she choked with passion, and fell ill and died; but
+    Snow-White and the prince lived and reigned happily over that
+    land many, many years.</p>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <img width="500"
+             src="images/024.png"
+             alt=" The Royals" />
+    </div><span class="pagenum"><a name="page25"
+       id="page25"></a>[pg 25]</span> <br />
+     <br />
+
+    <hr />
+    <br />
+     <br />
+
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <img width="600"
+             src="images/025.png"
+             alt="Step Sisters and Cinderella" />
+    </div>
+
+    <h2>CINDERELLA</h2>
+
+    <p>The wife of a rich man fell sick: and when she felt that her
+    end drew nigh, she called her only daughter to her bedside, and
+    said, "Always be a good girl, and I will look down from heaven
+    and watch over you." Soon afterwards she shut her eyes and
+    died, and was buried in the garden; and the little girl went
+    every day to her grave and wept, and was always good and kind
+    to all about her. And the snow spread a beautiful white
+    covering over the grave: but by the time the sun had melted it
+    away again, her father had married another wife. This new wife
+    had two daughters of her own, that she brought home with her:
+    they were fair in face but foul at heart, and it was now a
+    sorry time for the poor little girl. "What does the
+    good-for-nothing thing want in the parlour?" said they; "they
+    who would eat bread should first earn it; away with the kitchen
+    maid!" Then they took away her fine clothes, and gave her an
+    old frock to put on, and laughed at her and turned her into the
+    kitchen.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page26"
+       id="page26"></a>[pg 26]</span>
+
+    <p>Then she was forced to do hard work; to rise early, before
+    daylight, to bring the water, to make the fire, to cook and to
+    wash. Besides that, the sisters plagued her in all sorts of
+    ways and laughed at her. In the evening, when she was tired,
+    she had no bed to lie down on, but was made to sleep by the
+    hearth among the ashes; and then, as she was of course always
+    dusty and dirty, they called her Cinderella.</p>
+
+    <p>It happened once that the father was going to the fair, and
+    asked his wife's daughters what he should bring them. "Fine
+    clothes," said the first: "Pearls and diamonds," said the
+    second. "Now, child," said he to his own daughter, "what will
+    you have?" "The first sprig, dear father, that rubs against
+    your hat on your way home," said she. Then he bought for the
+    two first the fine clothes and pearls and diamonds they had
+    asked for: and on his way home as he rode through a green
+    copse, a sprig of hazel brushed against him, and almost pushed
+    off his hat; so he broke it off and brought it away; and when
+    he got home he gave it to his daughter. Then she took it and
+    went to her mother's grave and planted it there, and cried so
+    much that it was watered with her tears; and there it grew and
+    became a fine tree. Three times every day she went to it and
+    wept; and soon a little bird came and built its nest upon the
+    tree, and talked with her and watched over her, and brought her
+    whatever she wished for.</p>
+
+    <p>Now it happened that the king of the land held a feast which
+    was to last three days, and out of those who came to it his son
+    was to choose a bride for himself; and Cinderella's two sisters
+    were asked to come. So they called her up and said, "Now, comb
+    our hair, brush our shoes, and tie our sashes for us, for we
+    are going to dance at the king's feast." Then she did as she
+    was told, but when all was done she could not help crying, for
+    she thought to herself, she would have liked to go to the dance
+    too; and at last she begged her mother very hard to let her go.
+    "You! Cinderella?" said she; "you who have nothing to wear, no
+    clothes at all, and who cannot even dance&mdash;you want to go
+    to the ball?" And when she kept on begging&mdash;to get rid of
+    her, she said at last, "I will throw this basinful of peas into
+    the ash heap, and if you have picked them all out in two
+    <span class="pagenum"><a name="page27"
+       id="page27"></a>[pg 27]</span> hours' time you shall go to
+       the feast too." Then she threw the peas into the ashes; but
+       the little maiden ran out at the back door into the garden,
+       and cried out&mdash;</p>
+
+    <div class="poem">
+        <div class="stanza">
+            <p>"Hither, hither, through the sky.</p>
+
+            <p>Turtle-doves and linnets, fly!</p>
+
+            <p>Blackbird, thrush, and chaffinch gay,</p>
+
+            <p>Hither, hither, haste away!</p>
+
+            <p class="i2">One and all, come help me quick,</p>
+
+            <p>Haste ye, haste ye&mdash;pick, pick, pick!"</p>
+        </div>
+    </div>
+
+    <div class="figright"
+         style="width:50%;">
+        <img width="400"
+             src="images/027.png"
+             alt="Woman sweeping" />
+    </div>
+
+    <p>Then first came two white doves flying in at the kitchen
+    window; and next came two turtle-doves; and after them all the
+    little birds under heaven came chirping and fluttering in, and
+    flew down into the ashes; and the little doves stooped their
+    heads down and set to work, pick, pick, pick; and then the
+    others began to pick, pick, pick; and picked out all the good
+    grain and put it in a dish, and left the ashes. At the end of
+    one hour the work was done, and all flew out again at the
+    <span class="pagenum"><a name="page28"
+       id="page28"></a>[pg 28]</span> windows. Then Cinderella
+       brought the dish to her mother, overjoyed at the thought
+       that now she should go to the feast. But she said, "No, no!
+       Girl, you have no clothes and cannot dance, you shall not
+       go." And when Cinderella begged very hard to go, she said,
+       "If you can in one hour's time pick two of these dishes of
+       peas out of the ashes, you shall go too." And thus she
+       thought she should at last get rid of her. So she shook two
+       dishes of peas into the ashes; but the little maiden went
+       out into the garden at the back of the house, and cried as
+       before&mdash;</p><br clear="all" />
+
+
+    <div class="poem">
+        <div class="stanza">
+            <p>"Hither, hither, through the sky.</p>
+
+            <p>Turtle-doves and linnets, fly!</p>
+
+            <p>Blackbird, thrush, and chaffinch gay,</p>
+
+            <p>Hither, hither, haste away!</p>
+
+            <p>One and all, come help me quick,</p>
+
+            <p>Haste ye, haste ye&mdash;pick, pick, pick!"</p>
+        </div>
+    </div>
+
+    <p>Then first came two white doves in at the kitchen window;
+    and next came the turtle-doves; and after them all the little
+    birds under heaven came chirping and hopping about, and flew
+    down about the ashes; and the little doves put their heads down
+    and set to work, pick, pick, pick; and then the others began to
+    pick, pick, pick; and they put all the good grain into the
+    dishes, and left all the ashes, Before half-an-hour's time all
+    was done, and out they flew again. And then Cinderella took the
+    dishes to her mother, rejoicing to think that she should now go
+    to the ball. But her mother said, "It is all of no use, you
+    cannot go, you have no clothes, and cannot dance, and you would
+    only put us to shame:" and off she went with her two daughters
+    to the feast.</p>
+
+    <p>Now when all were gone, and nobody left at home, Cinderella
+    went sorrowfully and sat down under the hazel-tree, and cried
+    out&mdash;</p>
+
+    <div class="poem">
+        <div class="stanza">
+            <p>"Shake, shake, hazel tree,</p>
+
+            <p>Gold and silver over me!"</p>
+        </div>
+    </div>
+
+    <p>Then her friend the bird flew out of the tree and brought a
+    gold and silver dress for her, and slippers of spangled silk;
+    and she put them on, and followed her sisters to the feast. But
+    they did not know her, and thought it must be some strange
+    princess, she looked so fine and beautiful in her rich clothes;
+    and they never once thought of Cinderella, but took for granted
+    that she was safe at home in the dirt.</p>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <a href="images/159.jpg"
+             name="fig159s"
+             id="fig159s"><img width="479"
+             src="images/159s.jpg"
+             alt="CINDERELLA" /></a>
+
+        <p><i>Painted by Jennie Harbour</i></p>CINDERELLA
+    </div><span class="pagenum"><a name="page29"
+       id="page29"></a>[pg 29]</span>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <img width="500"
+             src="images/029.png"
+             alt="Cinderella and Clock" />
+    </div>
+
+    <p>The king's son soon came up to her, and took her by the hand
+    and danced with her and no one else; and he never left her
+    hand; but when any one else came to ask her to dance, he said,
+    "This lady is dancing with me." Thus they danced till a late
+    hour of the night, and then she wanted to go home: and the
+    king's son said, "I shall go and take care of you to your
+    home;" for he wanted to see where the beautiful maid lived. But
+    she slipped away from him unawares, and ran off towards home,
+    and the prince followed her; but she jumped up into the
+    pigeon-house and shut the door. Then he waited till her father
+    came home, and told him that the unknown maiden who had been at
+    the feast had hidden herself in the pigeon-house. But when they
+    had broken open the door they found no one within; and as they
+    came back into the house,
+    <span class="pagenum"><a name="page30"
+       id="page30"></a>[pg 30]</span> Cinderella lay as she always
+       did, in her dirty frock by the ashes, and her dim little
+       lamp burnt in the chimney; for she had run as quickly as she
+       could through the pigeon-house and on to the hazel-tree, and
+       had there taken off her beautiful clothes, and laid them
+       beneath the tree, that the bird might carry them away, and
+       had seated herself amid the ashes again in her little old
+       frock.</p>
+
+    <p>The next day, when the feast was again held, and her father,
+    mother, and sisters were gone, Cinderella went to the hazel
+    tree, and said&mdash;</p>
+
+    <div class="poem">
+        <div class="stanza">
+            <p>"Shake, shake, hazel tree,</p>
+
+            <p>Gold and silver over me!"</p>
+        </div>
+    </div>
+
+    <p>And the bird came and brought a still finer dress than the
+    one she had worn the day before. And when she came in it to the
+    ball, every one wondered at her beauty; but the king's son, who
+    was waiting for her, took her by the hand, and danced with her;
+    and when any one asked her to dance, he said as before, "This
+    lady is dancing with me." When night came she wanted to go
+    home; and the king's son followed her as before, that he might
+    see into what house she went; but she sprang away from him, all
+    at once, into the garden behind her father's house. In this
+    garden stood a fine large pear tree full of ripe fruit; and
+    Cinderella, not knowing where to hide herself, jumped up into
+    it without being seen. Then the king's son could not find out
+    where she was gone, but waited till her father came home, and
+    said to him, "The unknown lady who danced with me has slipped
+    away, and I think she must have sprung into the pear tree." The
+    father thought to himself, "Can it be Cinderella?" So he
+    ordered an axe to be brought; and they cut down the tree, but
+    found no one upon it. And when they came back into the kitchen,
+    there lay Cinderella in the ashes as usual; for she had slipped
+    down on the other side of the tree, and carried her beautiful
+    clothes back to the bird at the hazel tree, and then put on her
+    little old frock.</p>
+
+    <p>The third day, when her father and mother and sisters were
+    gone she went again into the garden, and said&mdash;-</p>
+
+    <div class="poem">
+        <div class="stanza">
+            <p>"Shake, shake, hazel tree,</p>
+
+            <p>Gold and silver over me!"</p>
+        </div>
+    </div>
+
+    <p>Then her kind friend the bird brought a dress still finer
+    than the former ones, and slippers which were all of gold; so
+    that when she <!--page 31 contained image-->
+     <span class="pagenum"><a name="page32"
+       id="page32"></a>[pg 32]</span> came to the feast no one knew
+       what to say for wonder at her beauty; and the king's son
+       danced with her alone; and when any one else asked her to
+       dance he said, "This lady is my partner." Now when night
+       came she wanted to go home; and the king's son would go with
+       her, and said to himself, "I will not lose her this time;"
+       but, however, she managed to slip away from him, though in
+       such a hurry that she dropped her left golden slipper upon
+       the stairs.</p>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <img width="450"
+             src="images/031.png"
+             alt="SHE SPRANG AWAY FROM HIM, ALL AT ONCE, INTO THE GARDEN" />
+        <br />
+         "SHE SPRANG AWAY FROM HIM, ALL AT ONCE,<br />
+         INTO THE GARDEN BEHIND HER FATHER'S HOUSE."
+    </div>
+
+    <p>So the prince took the shoe, and went the next day to the
+    king his father, and said, "I will take for my wife the lady
+    that this golden shoe fits." Then both the sisters were
+    overjoyed to hear this; for they had beautiful feet, and had no
+    doubt that they could wear the golden slipper. The eldest went
+    first into the room where the slipper was, and wanted to try it
+    on, and the mother stood by. But her great toe could not go
+    into it, and the shoe was altogether much too small for her.
+    Then the mother gave her a knife, and said, "Never mind, cut it
+    off; when you are queen you will not care about toes, you will
+    not want to go on foot." So the silly girl cut her great toe
+    off, and squeezed the shoe on, and went to the king's son. Then
+    he took her for his bride, and set her beside him on his horse
+    and rode away with her. But on their way home they had to pass
+    by the hazel tree that Cinderella had planted and there sat a
+    little dove on the branch singing&mdash;-</p>
+
+    <div class="poem">
+        <div class="stanza">
+            <p>"Back again! back again! look to the shoe!</p>
+
+            <p>The shoe is too small, and not made for you!</p>
+
+            <p>Prince! prince! look again for thy bride,</p>
+
+            <p>For she's not the true one that sits by thy
+            side."</p>
+        </div>
+    </div>
+
+    <p>Then the prince got down and looked at her foot, and saw by
+    the blood that streamed from it what a trick she had played
+    him. So he turned his horse round and brought the false bride
+    back to her home, and said, "This is not the right bride; let
+    the other sister try and put on the slipper." Then she went
+    into the room and got her foot into the shoe, all but the heel,
+    which was too large. But her mother squeezed it in till the
+    blood came, and took her to the king's son; and he set her as
+    his bride beside him on his horse, and rode away with her. But
+    when they came to the hazel tree the little dove sat there
+    still, and sang&mdash;</p>
+
+    <div class="poem">
+        <div class="stanza">
+            <p>"Back again! back again! look to the shoe!</p>
+
+            <p>The shoe is too small, and not made for you!</p>
+
+            <p>Prince! prince! look again for thy bride,</p>
+
+            <p>For she's not the true one that sits by thy
+            side."</p>
+        </div>
+    </div><span class="pagenum"><a name="page33"
+       id="page33"></a>[pg 33]</span>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <img width="600"
+             src="images/033.png"
+             alt="Trying on the Shoe" />
+    </div>
+
+    <p>Then he looked down and saw that the blood streamed so from
+    the shoe that her white stockings were quite red. So he turned
+    his horse and brought her back again also. "This is not the
+    true bride," said he to the father; "have you no other
+    daughters?" "No," said he; "there is only a little dirty
+    Cinderella here, the child of my first wife; I am sure she
+    cannot be the bride." However, the prince told him to send her.
+    But the mother said, "No, no, she is much too dirty, she will
+    not dare to show herself;" still the prince would have her
+    come. And she first washed her face and hands, and then went in
+    and curtsied to him, and he handed to her the golden
+    slipper.</p>
+
+    <p>Then she took her clumsy shoe off her left foot and put on
+    the golden slipper; and it fitted her as if it had been made
+    for her. And when the Prince drew near and looked at her face
+    he knew her, and said, "This is the right bride."</p>
+
+    <p>But the mother and both the sisters were frightened and
+    turned pale with anger as he took Cinderella on his horse, and
+    rode away with her. And when they came to the hazel tree, the
+    white dove sang&mdash;</p>
+
+    <div class="poem">
+        <div class="stanza">
+            <p>"Home! home! look at the shoe!</p>
+
+            <p>Princess! the shoe was made for you!</p>
+
+            <p>Prince! prince! take home thy bride.</p>
+
+            <p>For she is the true one that sits by thy side!"</p>
+        </div>
+    </div>
+
+    <p>And when the dove had done its song, it came flying and
+    perched upon her shoulder, and so went home with
+    her.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page34"
+       id="page34"></a>[pg 34]</span>
+
+    <h2>PRINCESS GOLDENHAIR</h2>
+
+    <p>There was once a King's daughter who was the most beautiful
+    thing in the world, and as her hair was fair and reached to her
+    feet she was called the Princess Goldenhair.</p>
+
+    <p>A handsome young King in the neighbourhood, although he had
+    never seen this Princess, fell so deeply in love with her from
+    what he had heard, that he could neither eat nor sleep.</p>
+
+    <p>So an ambassador was sent with a magnificent chariot, more
+    than a hundred horses, and fifty pages, to bring the Princess
+    to the King, and great preparations were made for her
+    reception.</p>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <img width="474"
+             src="images/037.png"
+             alt="AN AMBASSADOR WAS SENT WITH MORE THAN A HUNDRED HORSES," />
+        <br />
+         "AN AMBASSADOR WAS SENT WITH MORE THAN A HUNDRED
+        HORSES,<br />
+         AND FIFTY PAGES TO BRING THE PRINCESS TO THE KING."
+    </div>
+
+    <p>But whether the Princess Goldenhair was in an ill humour
+    when the ambassador arrived at her Court, or whatever was the
+    reason, certain it is that she sent a message to the young King
+    thanking him but saying that she did not wish to marry.</p>
+
+    <p>When the King heard of her refusal he wept like a child.</p>
+
+    <p>Now at his Court there was a young man called Avenant. He
+    was as beautiful as the sun, and a more finely made fellow than
+    any in the kingdom; everybody loved him except a few envious
+    people, who were angry because the King favoured and confided
+    in him, and in the presence of these, one day, Avenant
+    incautiously remarked,</p>
+
+    <p>"If the King had sent me to fetch the Princess Goldenhair, I
+    am certain she would have come," and these words were repeated
+    to the King in such a manner that they made him very angry, and
+    he ordered Avenant to be shut up in a high tower, to die of
+    hunger.</p>
+
+    <p>In this sad plight, Avenant exclaimed one day, "How have I
+    offended his Majesty? He has no more faithful subject than
+    I."</p>
+
+    <p>The King who happened to be passing by the tower, heard
+    this; he called for Avenant to be brought forth who, throwing
+    himself on his knees, begged to know in what way he had
+    offended his royal master.</p>
+
+    <p>"You mocked me," said the King, "you said that you would
+    have succeeded with the Princess Goldenhair where I have
+    failed."</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page35"
+       id="page35"></a>[pg 35]</span>
+
+    <p>"It is true, sir," replied Avenant, "I did say so, for I
+    would have represented your noble qualities in such a way, that
+    she could not help being persuaded."</p>
+
+    <p>The King was convinced of the young man's sincerity, and
+    with a letter of introduction, Avenant set out for the Court of
+    the goldenhaired beauty, riding alone, according to his wish,
+    and thinking as he went how he best could woo the Princess for
+    his beloved master.</p>
+
+    <p>One day, alighting from his horse to write down some
+    suitable words that had come into his mind, he saw a golden
+    carp who, leaping from the water to catch flies, had thrown
+    herself upon the river bank, and was now nearly dead.</p>
+
+    <p>Avenant pitied the poor thing, and put her carefully back
+    into the water. Recovering directly, the carp dived to the
+    bottom, but returning to the edge of the river, said,</p>
+
+    <p>"Avenant, I thank you; you have saved my life, I will repay
+    you;" then she swam off leaving the young man in great
+    astonishment.</p>
+
+    <p>Another day as Avenant journeyed he noticed a raven who was
+    pursued by an eagle. "What right has that eagle to persecute
+    the raven? thought Avenant, and he drew his bow and shot the
+    fierce bird. The raven perched on a bough and cried.</p>
+
+    <p>"Avenant you have saved my life, I will not be ungrateful, I
+    will repay you."</p>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:80%;">
+        <img width="450"
+             src="images/035.png"
+             alt="Avenant" />
+    </div>
+
+    <p>Not long after this, Avenant found an owl caught in a snare,
+    he cut the strings, and freed
+    <span class="pagenum"><a name="page36"
+       id="page36"></a>[pg 36]</span> the trembling captive.
+       "Avenant," said the owl, "you have saved my life, I will
+       repay you."</p>
+
+    <p>These three adventures were the most important that befell
+    Avenant, and he went on his way, shortly before he arrived at
+    his destination purchasing a beautiful little dog named
+    Cabriole.</p>
+
+    <p>When Avenant reached the Palace of the Princess Goldenhair,
+    and saw the Princess seated upon her throne, she looked so
+    lovely that at first all his fine speeches forsook him, and he
+    could not utter a word; however, taking courage, he addressed
+    her in exquisitely chosen language, begging her to become the
+    King's bride.</p>
+
+    <p>To this the Princess replied most graciously, saying that
+    his petition moved her more than any other could do, "but
+    know," she added, "as I was walking by the river a month ago,
+    as I took off my glove, a ring, that I greatly value, fell into
+    the water, and I have vowed that I will not heed any proposal
+    of marriage, except from the ambassador who brings me back my
+    ring."</p>
+
+    <p>Sad at heart Avenant left the Palace, but his little dog,
+    Cabriole, said, "My dear master, do not despair, you are too
+    good to be unhappy. Early to-morrow morning let us go to the
+    river-side." Avenant patted him, but did not answer, and, still
+    sad, fell asleep.</p>
+
+    <p>As soon as it was day, Cabriole awoke him saying, "Dress
+    yourself, my master, and come out."</p>
+
+    <p>They wandered down to the river, and there Avenant heard a
+    voice calling him, and what should he see but the golden carp,
+    with the Princess's ring in her mouth. "Take it, dear Avenant,"
+    said she, "I promised to repay you for saving my life, and now
+    I can fulfil my promise."</p>
+
+    <p>Thanking her a thousand times, Avenant, going at once to the
+    Palace, said, "Princess, your command is fulfilled; may it
+    please you to receive the King, my master, as your
+    husband."</p>
+
+    <p>The Princess thought she must be dreaming when she saw the
+    ring, but she set Avenant another task.</p>
+
+    <div class="figright"
+         style="width:40%;">
+        <img width="300"
+             src="images/038.png"
+             alt="Princess and Avenant" />
+    </div>
+
+    <p>"Not far from here there is a prince named Galifron," said
+    she; "he wishes to marry me, and threatens to ravish my kingdom
+    if I <!--page 37 contained an image-->
+     <span class="pagenum"><a name="page38"
+       id="page38"></a>[pg 38]</span> refuse; but how can I accept
+       him? He is a giant, taller than my highest tower, he eats a
+       man as a monkey would eat a chestnut, and when he speaks,
+       his voice is so loud that it deafens those who hear him. He
+       will not take my refusal, but kills my subjects. You must
+       fight and bring me his head."</p>
+
+    <p>"Well, madam," replied Avenant, "I will fight Galifron; I
+    expect I shall be killed, but I shall die a brave man." And,
+    taking Cabriole, Avenant set out for Galifron's country, asking
+    news of the giant as he went along, and the more he heard the
+    more he feared him, but Cabriole reassured him. "My dear
+    master," said the little dog, "while you are fighting him I
+    will bite his legs, then he will stoop to chase me, and you
+    will kill him." Avenant admired the bravery of the little dog,
+    but he knew his help would not be sufficient.</p>
+
+    <p>Presently they perceived how the roads were covered with the
+    bones of the men that Galifron had eaten, and soon they saw the
+    giant coming towards them through a wood. His head was higher
+    than the highest trees, and he sang in a terrific voice:</p>
+
+    <div class="poem">
+        <div class="stanza">
+            <p>"Where are the children small, so small,</p>
+
+            <p>With my teeth I will crush them all,</p>
+
+            <p>On so many would I feed, feed, feed.</p>
+
+            <p>The whole world can't supply my need."</p>
+        </div>
+    </div><span class="pagenum"><a name="page39"
+       id="page39"></a>[pg 39]</span>
+
+    <p>Using the same tune, Avenant began to sing:</p>
+
+    <div class="poem">
+        <div class="stanza">
+            <p>"Look down, here is Avenant beneath, beneath</p>
+
+            <p>He will draw from your head, the teeth, the
+            teeth</p>
+
+            <p>Although he is not very big, 'tis true,</p>
+
+            <p>He is able to fight with such as you."</p>
+        </div>
+    </div>
+
+    <p>The giant put himself into a terrible passion, and would
+    have killed Avenant with one blow, only a raven from above flew
+    at his head, and pecked him straight in the eyes, so violently
+    that he was blinded. He began striking out on all sides, but
+    Avenant avoided his blows, and with his sword pierced him so
+    many times that at last he fell to the ground. Then Avenant cut
+    off his head, and the raven, who had perched on a tree,
+    said,</p>
+
+    <p>"I have not forgotten how you rescued me from the eagle; I
+    promised to repay you, I think I have done so to-day."</p>
+
+    <p>"I owe everything to you, Mr. Raven," responded Avenant, as,
+    holding Galifron's head, he rode off.</p>
+
+    <p>When he entered the town, crowds followed him crying, "Here
+    is the brave Avenant who has slain the monster."</p>
+
+    <p>Avenant advanced to the Princess, and said, "Madam, your
+    enemy is dead. I hope you will no more refuse the King, my
+    master."</p>
+
+    <p>"Although it is so," answered the Princess, "I shall refuse
+    him unless you will bring me some water from the Grotto of
+    Darkness. At the entrance there are two dragons, with fire in
+    their eyes and mouths; inside the grotto there is a deep pit
+    into which you must descend, it is full of toads, scorpions,
+    and serpents. At the bottom of this pit there is a little cave
+    where flows the fountain of beauty and health. Positively I
+    must possess the water; all who wash in it, if they are
+    beautiful, continue so always, if they are ugly they become
+    beautiful; if they are young they remain young, if they are old
+    they regain their youth. You cannot wonder, Avenant, that I
+    will not leave my kingdom without taking it with me."</p>
+
+    <p>So once more Avenant and Cabriole set out; they journeyed on
+    until they came to a rock, black as ink, from which smoke was
+    issuing, and a moment later there appeared one of the dragons
+    belching forth fire from his eyes and mouth. He was a frightful
+    looking creature with a green and yellow body, and his tail was
+    so long that it went into a hundred curves. Avenant saw all
+    this, but <span class="pagenum"><a name="page40"
+       id="page40"></a>[pg 40]</span> resolved to die, he drew his
+       sword, and, carrying the flask the Princess had given to him
+       to hold the water, he said to Cabriole:</p>
+
+    <p>"My days are ended, I can never obtain that water the
+    dragons are guarding; when I am dead, fill this flask with my
+    blood and carry it to the Princess, that she may know what it
+    has cost me, then go to the King, my master, and tell him of my
+    misfortune."</p>
+
+    <p>As he was speaking, a voice called, "Avenant, Avenant," and
+    looking around he saw an owl. "You saved my life from the
+    fowlers," said the owl. "I promised to repay you, the time has
+    now come. Give me your flask. I will bring you the water of
+    beauty."</p>
+
+    <p>And carrying the flask, the owl entered the grotto,
+    unhindered, returning in less than a quarter of an hour with it
+    full to the brim. Avenant thanked the owl heartily, and
+    joyously started for the town, where he presented the flask to
+    the Princess, who immediately gave orders to prepare for her
+    departure.</p>
+
+    <p>But as she considered Avenant altogether charming, before
+    she set out, she several times said to him: "If you wish, we
+    need not go, for I will make you king of my country." But
+    Avenant made reply:</p>
+
+    <p>"I would not displease my master for all the kingdoms of
+    earth, although your beauty I consider greater than that of the
+    sun."</p>
+
+    <p>Thus they arrived at the King's capital, and the wedding
+    took place amidst great rejoicings; but Princess Goldenhair,
+    who loved Avenant from the depths of her heart, was not happy
+    unless she could see him, and was for ever singing his praises.
+    "I should not have come, had it not been for Avenant," she told
+    the King, "you ought to be very much obliged to him." Then the
+    envious courtiers counselled the King, and Avenant was cast
+    once more into the tower, chained hand and foot. When Princess
+    Goldenhair heard of this imprisonment, she fell on her knees
+    before the King, and begged for Avenant's release; but he would
+    not heed her, so that she became saddened and would speak no
+    more.</p>
+
+    <p>Then the King thought: "Maybe I am not handsome enough to
+    please her!" so he determined to wash his face in the water of
+    beauty.</p>
+
+    <p>Now it had happened that a chamber-maid had broken the flask
+    containing this wonderful water, so that it was all spilled;
+    then, <span class="pagenum"><a name="page41"
+       id="page41"></a>[pg 41]</span> without saying anything to
+       anyone, she had replaced it by a similar flask taken from
+       the King's apartment, but the liquid in this flask was
+       really that which was used when the princes or great lords
+       were condemned to death, for, instead of being beheaded,
+       their faces were washed with this water and they fell asleep
+       and did not wake again. And so the King using this water one
+       evening, thinking it to be the beauty water, and hoping and
+       expecting to be made more handsome, went to sleep and awoke
+       no more. Upon hearing what had occurred, Cabriole at once
+       went and told Avenant, who asked him to go to the Princess
+       Goldenhair and beseech her to remember the poor prisoner.
+       When the Princess received this message, she went straight
+       to the tower, and, with her own hands, struck off the chains
+       that bound Avenant, and placing a crown of gold upon his
+       head, and a royal mantle upon his shoulders, said: "Come,
+       dear Avenant, I will make you King, and take you for my
+       husband." Then there was a grand wedding, and Princess
+       Goldenhair and Avenant, with Cabriole, lived long, all of
+       them happy and contented.</p>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <img width="500"
+             src="images/041.png"
+             alt="Dragon" />
+    </div><span class="pagenum"><a name="page42"
+       id="page42"></a>[pg 42]</span> <br />
+     <br />
+
+    <hr />
+    <br />
+     <br />
+
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <img width="474"
+             src="images/042.png"
+             alt="Hut in forest" />
+    </div>
+
+    <h2>LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD</h2>
+
+    <p>Many years ago there lived a dear little girl, who was
+    beloved by everyone who knew her; but her grandmother was so
+    very fond of her that she never felt that she could think and
+    do enough for her.</p>
+
+    <p>On her grand-daughter's birthday she presented her with a
+    red silk hood; and as it suited her very well, she would never
+    wear anything else; and so she was called Little Red Riding
+    Hood. One day her mother said to her, "Come, Red Riding Hood,
+    here is a nice piece of meat, and a bottle of wine: take these
+    to your grandmother; she is weak and ailing, and they will do
+    her good. Be there before she gets up; go quietly and
+    carefully; and do not run, or you may fall and
+    <span class="pagenum"><a name="page43"
+       id="page43"></a>[pg 43]</span> break the bottle, and then
+       your grandmother will have nothing. When you go into her
+       room, do not forget to say 'Good-morning'; and do not pry
+       into all the corners." "I will do just as you say," answered
+       Red Riding Hood, bidding good-bye to her mother.</p>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <a href="images/160.jpg"
+             name="fig160s"
+             id="fig160s"><img width="490"
+             src="images/160s.jpg"
+             alt="&lt;i&gt;Painted by Jennie Harbour&lt;/i&gt;" />
+             </a>
+
+        <p><i>Painted by Jennie Harbour</i></p>LITTLE RED RIDING
+        HOOD
+    </div>
+
+    <p>The grandmother lived far away in the wood, a long walk from
+    the village, and as Little Red Riding Hood came among the trees
+    she met a wolf; but she did not know what a wicked animal it
+    was, and so she was not at all frightened. "Good-morning,
+    Little Red Riding Hood," he said.</p>
+
+    <p>"Thank you, Mr. Wolf," she said.</p>
+
+    <p>"Where are you going so early, Little Red Riding Hood?"</p>
+
+    <p>"To my grandmother's," she answered.</p>
+
+    <p>"And what are you carrying under your apron?"</p>
+
+    <p>"Some wine and meat," she replied. "We baked the meat
+    yesterday, so that grandmother, who is very weak, might have a
+    nice strengthening meal."</p>
+
+    <p>"And where does your grandmother live?" asked the Wolf.</p>
+
+    <p>"Oh, quite twenty minutes' walk further in the forest. The
+    cottage stands under three great oak trees; and close by are
+    some nut bushes, by which you will at once know it."</p>
+
+    <p>The wolf was thinking to himself, "She is a nice tender
+    thing, and will taste better than the old woman; I must act
+    cleverly, that I may make a meal of both."</p>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <img width="474"
+             src="images/044.png"
+             alt="WHERE ARE YOU GOING SO EARLY, LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD." />
+        <br />
+         "WHERE ARE YOU GOING SO EARLY, LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD."
+    </div>
+
+    <p>Presently he came up again to Little Red Riding Hood and
+    said. "Just look at the beautiful flowers which grow near you;
+    why do you not look about you? I believe you don't hear how
+    sweetly the birds are singing. You walk as if you were going to
+    school; see how cheerful everything is around you in the
+    forest."</p>
+
+    <p>And Little Red Riding Hood opened her eyes; and when she saw
+    how the sunbeams glanced and danced through the trees, and what
+    bright flowers were blooming in her path, she thought, "If I
+    take my grandmother a fresh nosegay she will be much pleased;
+    and it is so very early that I can, even then, get there in
+    good time:" and running into the forest she looked about for
+    flowers. But when she had once begun she did not know how to
+    leave off, and kept going <!-- page contained image-->
+     <span class="pagenum"><a name="page45"
+       id="page45"></a>[pg 45]</span> deeper and deeper among the
+       trees looking for some still more beautiful flower. The
+       Wolf, however, ran straight to the house of the old
+       grandmother, and knocked at the door.</p>
+
+    <p>"Who's that?" asked the old lady.</p>
+
+    <p>"Only little Red Riding Hood, bringing you some meat and
+    wine; please open the door," answered the Wolf.</p>
+
+    <p>"Lift up the latch," cried the grandmother; "I am much too
+    ill to get up myself."</p>
+
+    <p>So the Wolf lifted the latch, and the door flew open; and
+    without a word he jumped on to the bed and gobbled up the poor
+    old lady. Then he put on her clothes, and tied her night-cap
+    over his head; got into the bed, and drew the blankets over
+    him.</p>
+
+    <p>All this time Red Riding Hood was gathering flowers; and
+    when she had picked as many as she could carry, she thought of
+    her grandmother, and hurried to the cottage. She wondered very
+    much to find the door open; and when she got into the room, she
+    began to feel very ill, and exclaimed, "How sad I feel! I wish
+    I had not come to-day." Then she said, "Good morning," but
+    received no reply; so she went up to the bed, and drew back the
+    curtains, and there lay her grandmother as she imagined, with
+    the cap drawn half over her eyes and looking very fierce.</p>
+
+    <p>"Oh, grandmother, what great ears you have!"</p>
+
+    <p>"All the better to hear you with," was the reply.</p>
+
+    <p>"And what great eyes you have!"</p>
+
+    <p>"All the better to see you with."</p>
+
+    <p>"And what great hands you have!"</p>
+
+    <p>"All the better to touch you with."</p>
+
+    <p>"But, grandmother, what very great teeth you have!"</p>
+
+    <p>"All the better to eat you with;" and hardly were the words
+    spoken when the Wolf made a jump out of bed and swallowed down
+    poor Little Red Riding Hood also.</p>
+
+    <p>As soon as he had thus satisfied his hunger, he laid himself
+    down again on the bed, and went to sleep and snored very
+    loudly. A huntsman passing by overheard him, and said, "How
+    loudly that old woman snores! I must see if anything is the
+    matter."</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page46"
+       id="page46"></a>[pg 46]</span>
+
+    <p>So he went into the cottage; and when he came to the bed, he
+    saw the Wolf sleeping in it.</p>
+
+    <p>"What! are you here, you old rascal? I have been looking for
+    you," exclaimed he; and taking up his gun, he shot the old Wolf
+    through the head.</p>
+
+    <p>But it is also said that the story ends in a different
+    manner; for that one day, when Red Riding Hood was taking some
+    presents to her grandmother, a Wolf met her, and wanted to
+    mislead her; but she went straight on, and told her grandmother
+    that she had met a Wolf, who said good-day; but he looked so
+    hungrily out of his great eyes, as if he would have eaten her
+    up had she not been on the high road.</p>
+
+    <p>So her grandmother said, "We will shut the door, and then he
+    cannot get in."</p>
+
+    <p>Soon after, up came the Wolf, who tapped, and exclaimed, "I
+    am Little Red Riding Hood, grandmother; I have some roast meat
+    for you." But they kept quite quiet, and did not open the door;
+    so the Wolf, after looking several times round the house, at
+    last jumped on to the roof, thinking to wait till Red Riding
+    Hood went home in the evening, and then to creep after her and
+    eat her in the darkness.</p>
+
+    <p>The old woman, however, saw what the villain intended. There
+    stood before the door a large stone trough, and she said to
+    Little Red Riding Hood, "Take this bucket, dear: yesterday I
+    boiled some meat in this water, now pour it into the stone
+    trough." Then the Wolf sniffed the smell of the meat, and his
+    mouth watered, and he wished very much to taste.</p>
+
+    <p>At last he stretched his neck too far over, so that he lost
+    his balance, and fell down from the roof, right into the great
+    trough below, and there he was
+    drowned.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page47"
+       id="page47"></a>[pg 47]</span>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <img width="464"
+             src="images/047.png"
+             alt="WITHOUT A WORD HE JUMPED ON TO THE BED AND GOBBLED UP THE POOR OLD LADY." />
+        <br />
+         "WITHOUT A WORD HE JUMPED ON TO THE BED AND GOBBLED UP THE
+        POOR OLD LADY."
+    </div><br />
+     <br />
+
+    <hr />
+    <br />
+     <br />
+     <span class="pagenum"><a name="page48"
+       id="page48"></a>[pg 48]</span>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <img width="600"
+             src="images/048.png"
+             alt="Coach and horses" />
+    </div>
+
+    <h2>THE WHITE FAWN</h2>
+
+    <p>There was once upon a time a King and Queen who were
+    perfectly happy, with one exception, and that was that they had
+    no child.</p>
+
+    <p>One day when the Queen was staying in a watering-place, some
+    distance from home, she was sitting by a fountain alone, sadly
+    thinking of the daughter she longed to have, when she perceived
+    a crab coming in her direction, who, to the Queen's surprise,
+    addressed her thus:</p>
+
+    <p>"Great Queen, if you will condescend to be conducted by a
+    humble crab, I will lead you to a Fairies' palace and your wish
+    shall be fulfilled."</p>
+
+    <p>"I would certainly come with you," replied the Queen, "but I
+    am afraid that I cannot walk backwards."</p>
+
+    <p>The crab smiled, and transforming herself into a beautiful
+    little old woman, said:</p>
+
+    <p>"Now, madam, it is not necessary to go backwards. Come with
+    me, and I beg of you to look upon me as your friend." She then
+    escorted the Queen to the most magnificent palace that could
+    possibly be imagined, it was built entirely of diamonds.</p>
+
+    <p>In this superb place dwelt six Fairies who received the
+    Queen with the greatest respect, and each one presented her
+    with a flower made of precious stones&mdash;a rose, tulip, an
+    anemone, a columbine, a violet, and a carnation.</p>
+
+    <p>"Madam," they said, "we have pleasure in telling you that
+    soon <span class="pagenum"><a name="page49"
+       id="page49"></a>[pg 49]</span> you will have a daughter whom
+       you will name Desirée. Directly she arrives, do not fail to
+       call upon us, for we will bestow all sorts of good gifts
+       upon her. You have only to hold this bouquet, and mention
+       each flower, thinking of us, and be assured that we shall at
+       once appear in your chamber."</p>
+
+    <p>The Queen, transported with joy, and overcome with
+    gratitude, threw herself upon their necks, and warmly embraced
+    them; she then spent several hours admiring the wonders of the
+    palace and its gardens, and it was not until evening that she
+    returned to her attendants, who were in a serious state of
+    anxiety at the prolonged absence of Her Majesty.</p>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <img width="600"
+             src="images/049.png"
+             alt="Attending to Royalty" />
+    </div>
+
+    <p>Not very long afterwards, when the Queen was once more at
+    home in her Royal Palace, a baby Princess was born, whom she
+    named Desirée. Then taking the bouquet into her hand, the
+    Queen, one by one, pronounced the names of the flowers, when
+    there immediately appeared, flying through the air in elegant
+    chariots drawn by <span class="pagenum"><a name="page50"
+       id="page50"></a>[pg 50]</span> different kinds of birds, the
+       six Fairies who entered the apartment, bearing beautiful
+       presents for the little baby. Marvellously fine linen, but
+       so strong that it could be worn a hundred years without
+       going into holes, lace of the finest, with the history of
+       the world worked into its pattern, toys of all descriptions
+       that a child would love to play with, and a cradle
+       ornamented with rubies and diamonds, and supported by four
+       Cupids ready to rock it should the baby cry. But, best of
+       all, the Fairies endowed the little Princess with beauty,
+       and virtue, and health, and every good thing that could be
+       desired.</p>
+
+    <p>The Queen was thanking the Fairies a thousand times for all
+    their favours, when the door opened, and a crab appeared.</p>
+
+    <p>"Ungrateful Queen," said the crab, "you have not deigned to
+    remember me, the Fairy of the Fountain; and to punish your
+    ingratitude, if the Princess sees daylight before she is
+    fifteen years old, she will have cause to repent it, and it may
+    cost her her life. It was well I took the form of a crab, for
+    your friendship instead of advancing has gone backwards." Then
+    in spite of all the Queen and the Fairies could say, the crab
+    went backwards out of the door, leaving them in the saddest
+    consternation, and it was long before they could decide what
+    was best to be done.</p>
+
+    <p>Then, with three waves of a wand, the Fairies caused a high
+    tower to spring up; it had neither door nor window, an
+    underground passage was made, through which everything
+    necessary could be carried, and in this tower the little
+    Princess was shut up and there she lived by candlelight, where
+    never a glimpse of the sun could come.</p>
+
+    <p>When the Princess Desirée was fourteen years old, the Queen
+    had her portrait painted, and copies of it were carried to all
+    the Courts in the world. All the Princes admired it greatly,
+    but there was one Prince, named Guerrier, who loved it above
+    everything; he used to stand before the picture and avow his
+    passion, just as if it heard what he said, and at last he told
+    the King, his father.</p>
+
+    <p>"You have resolved that I shall marry the Princess Noire,
+    but this I can never do, so great is my love for the Princess
+    Desirée."</p>
+
+    <p>"But where have you seen her?" enquired the King.</p>
+
+    <p>The Prince hastened to fetch her portrait, and the King was
+    so <!--page contained image-->
+     <span class="pagenum"><a name="page52"
+       id="page52"></a>[pg 52]</span> greatly struck by Desirée's
+       beauty that he agreed to follow his son's wishes and break
+       off his engagement with the Princess Noire, that he might
+       wed the Princess Desirée. So the King despatched as
+       ambassador a rich young lord named Bécafigue.</p>
+
+    <p>Bécafigue was devoted to Prince Guerrier, and he fitted out
+    a most splendid retinue to visit the Princess Desirée's Court.
+    Besides numerous magnificent presents, Bécafigue took with him
+    the Prince's portrait, which had been painted by such a clever
+    artist that it would speak; it could not exactly answer
+    questions, but could make certain remarks. It was truly a
+    speaking likeness of the young Prince. Desirée's father and
+    mother were delighted when they heard that the Prince Guerrier
+    was seeking their daughter's hand in marriage, for they knew
+    him to be a brave and noble young man. But as it still wanted
+    three months to the Princess's fifteenth year, warned by the
+    Fairy Tulip, who had taken Desirée under her special care, they
+    refused to let him see their daughter or to let her yet marry
+    the Prince Guerrier, but they showed her the Prince's portrait,
+    with which she was greatly pleased, and particularly when it
+    said, "Lovely Desirée, you cannot imagine how ardently I am
+    waiting for you; come soon into our Court to make it beautiful
+    by your presence."</p>
+
+    <div class="figleft"
+         style="width:70%;">
+        <img width="400"
+             src="images/052.png"
+             alt="Ugly Royalty" />
+    </div>
+
+    <p>When Prince Guerrier saw the ambassador return without
+    Desirée, he was so terribly disappointed that he could neither
+    eat nor sleep, and before long fell dangerously ill.</p>
+
+    <p>Meanwhile Desirée had no less pleasure in looking at the
+    <span class="pagenum"><a name="page53"
+       id="page53"></a>[pg 53]</span> Prince's portrait than he had
+       had admiring hers, and this was soon discovered by those
+       around her, and among others Giroflée and Longue Epine, her
+       maids of honour. Giroflée loved her passionately and
+       faithfully, but Longue Epine was full of envy of the
+       Princess who was so good and beautiful, and, besides Longue
+       Epine, Desirée had another enemy, and that was the Princess
+       Noire, to whom Prince Guerrier had been betrothed. This
+       Princess Noire now went to the Fairy of the Fountain, who
+       was her best friend, and begged her to take revenge upon
+       Princess Desirée, and this the Fairy promised to do.
+       Meanwhile once more Bécafigue came to the capital where
+       Desirée's father lived, and throwing himself at the King's
+       feet, besought him in most touching words to let his
+       daughter go with him at once to the Prince, who would surely
+       die if he could not behold her.</p>
+
+    <p>When Princess Desirée heard of the Prince's illness, she
+    suggested that she should set out without delay, but in a dark
+    carriage, that only at night should be opened to give her food.
+    This plan was approved of; the ambassador was told, and he
+    departed full of joy. So in a carriage like a large dark box,
+    shut up with her Lady in Waiting and her two Maids of Honour,
+    Giroflée and Longue Epine, Princess Desirée departed for Prince
+    Guerrier's Court.</p>
+
+    <p>Perhaps you will remember that Longue Epine did not like
+    Princess Desirée, but she greatly admired Prince Guerrier, for
+    she had seen his portrait speaking, and she had told her
+    mother, the Lady in Waiting, that she should die if he married
+    Desirée.</p>
+
+    <p>The King and Queen had begged the Lady in Waiting to take
+    the greatest of care of their dear daughter, and above all to
+    be heedful that she did not see the light of day until her
+    fifteenth birthday, saying that the ambassador had promised
+    that until then she should be placed where there was no other
+    light than that of candles. But now as they drew near their
+    destination, while it was broad daylight the wicked woman,
+    urged by her envious daughter, Longue Epine, all at once took a
+    large knife which she had brought for the purpose, and with it
+    cut the covering of the carriage.</p>
+
+    <p>Then, for the first time, the Princess Desirée saw the light
+    of <span class="pagenum"><a name="page54"
+       id="page54"></a>[pg 54]</span> day!!! Hardly had she
+       perceived it when, uttering a deep sigh, she threw herself
+       from the carriage, and in the form of a white fawn fleetly
+       fled into a forest near by.</p>
+
+    <p>The Fairy of the Fountain, who was the cause of this
+    disaster seeing that all who were accompanying the Princess
+    were about to hasten to the town to tell the Prince Guerrier
+    what had happened, called up a great thunderstorm and scattered
+    them in every direction. Only the Lady in Waiting, Longue Epine
+    and Giroflée were left, Giroflée, who ran after her mistress,
+    making the trees and rocks echo with her mournful calls. Then
+    Longue Epine clothed herself in the rich bridal robes provided
+    for Desirée. She placed the crown upon her head, the sceptre
+    and orb she carried in her hands, so that all should take her
+    for the Princess. With her mother bearing her train she gravely
+    walked in the direction of the town.</p>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <img width="475"
+             src="images/051.png"
+             alt="A GREAT THUNDERSTORM SCATTERED THEM IN EVERY DIRECTION." />
+        <br />
+         "A GREAT THUNDERSTORM SCATTERED THEM IN EVERY DIRECTION."
+    </div>
+
+    <p>They had not gone far when a brilliant procession came
+    towards them, amongst whom was the sick Prince in a litter, and
+    to those in advance Longue Epine announced that she was the
+    Princess Desirée, with her Lady in Waiting, but that a jealous
+    Fairy had sent a thunderstorm which had destroyed her carriage
+    and scattered her other attendants. When the Prince was told of
+    this, he could not refrain from saying to the messengers: "Now
+    acknowledge, is she not truly a miracle of beauty, a Princess
+    beyond compare?"</p>
+
+    <p>No one replied at first, and then one of the boldest
+    said,</p>
+
+    <p>"Sir, you will see; apparently the fatigue of the journey
+    has somewhat changed her." The Prince was surprised, but when
+    he saw Longue Epine words fail to express what he felt.</p>
+
+    <p>She was so tall that it was alarming, and the garments of
+    the Princess hardly came to her knees. She was frightfully
+    thin, and her nose, which was more hooked than a parrot's beak,
+    shone like a danger signal. Then her teeth were black and
+    uneven, and, in fact, she was as ugly as Desirée was
+    beautiful.</p>
+
+    <p>At first the Prince could not speak a word, he simply gazed
+    at her in amazement. Then he said, turning to his father, "We
+    have been deceived, that portrait was painted to mislead us. It
+    will be the death of
+    me."</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page55"
+       id="page55"></a>[pg 55]</span>
+
+    <p>"What do I hear, they have deceived you," fiercely exclaimed
+    Longue Epine.</p>
+
+    <p>"It is not to be wondered at," remarked the King, "that your
+    father kept such a treasure shut up for fifteen years."</p>
+
+    <p>Then he and the Prince turned towards the town, and the
+    false Princess and the Lady in Waiting, without any ceremony,
+    were mounted each behind a soldier and taken to be shut up in a
+    castle.</p>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <a href="images/161.jpg"
+             name="fig161s"
+             id="fig161s"><img width="477"
+             src="images/161s.jpg"
+             alt="THE WHITE FAWN" /></a>
+
+        <p><i>Painted by Jennie Harbour</i></p>THE WHITE FAWN
+    </div>
+
+    <p>Soon after his terrible disappointment, Prince Guerrier,
+    unable to bear any longer the life at court, secretly departed
+    from the palace with his faithful friend Bécafigue, leaving a
+    letter for his father saying he would return to him as soon as
+    his mind was in a happier state, and begging him meanwhile to
+    keep the ugly Princess prisoner, and think of some revenge upon
+    the deceitful king, her father.</p>
+
+    <p>After three or four days' journeying, the wanderers found
+    themselves in a thick forest. Quite wearied out, the Prince
+    threw himself upon the ground, while Bécafigue went on further
+    in search of fruit wherewith to refresh his royal master.</p>
+
+    <p>It is a long time since we left the White Fawn, that is to
+    say the charming Princess.</p>
+
+    <p>Very desolately she wept when in a stream she saw her figure
+    reflected, and when night came she was in great fear, for she
+    heard wild beasts about her, and sometimes forgetting she was a
+    fawn she would try to climb a tree. But with morning dawn she
+    felt a little safer, and the sun appeared a marvellous sight to
+    her from which she could hardly turn her eyes. But now the
+    Fairy Tulip, who had always loved the Princess guided
+    Giroflée's feet in her direction, and when the White Fawn saw
+    her faithful Maid of Honour her delight was boundless.</p>
+
+    <p>It did not take Giroflée long to discover that this was her
+    dearly-loved mistress, and she promised the White Fawn never to
+    forsake her, for she found she could hear all that was said
+    although she could not speak. Towards night the fear of having
+    no shelter made the two friends so dreadfully dismayed that the
+    Fairy Tulip suddenly appeared before them.</p>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <img width="600"
+             src="images/056.png"
+             alt="Prince and Fawn" />
+    </div>
+
+    <p>"I am not going to scold you," she said, "although it is
+    through <span class="pagenum"><a name="page56"
+       id="page56"></a>[pg 56]</span> not following my advice that
+       you are in this misfortune, for it goes to my heart to see
+       you thus. I cannot release you altogether from this
+       enchantment, but I have power to shorten the time, and also
+       to say that during the night you may regain your rightful
+       form, but by day again must you run through the forest as a
+       Fawn." The fairy also told them where they could find a
+       little hut in which to pass the nights. Then she
+       disappeared. Giroflée and the Fawn walked in the direction
+       the Fairy had pointed out, and arrived at a neat little
+       cottage where an old woman showed them a room which they
+       could occupy.</p>
+
+    <p>As soon as it was night Desirée came to her rightful form,
+    but when day appeared she was once more a Fawn and, escaping
+    into the thicket, commenced to run about in the ordinary
+    way.</p>
+
+    <p>You have heard how Prince Guerrier rested in the forest
+    while Bécafigue searched for fruit; quite late in the evening
+    Bécafigue arrived at the cottage of the good woman who had
+    given shelter to Giroflée and the White Fawn. He addressed her
+    politely and asked <span class="pagenum"><a name="page57"
+       id="page57"></a>[pg 57]</span> for the things he required
+       for his master. She hastened to fill a basket, and gave it
+       to him, saying, "I fear that if you pass a night without
+       shelter some harm may come to you. I can offer you a poor
+       one, but at any rate it is secure from the lions."</p>
+
+    <p>Bécafigue went back to the Prince and together they returned
+    to the cottage, where they were led into the room next to that
+    occupied by the Princess.</p>
+
+    <p>Next morning the Prince arose early and went out; he had not
+    long been in the forest when he saw a beautiful little Fawn.
+    Hunting had ever been his favourite pastime, and now he pursued
+    the little creature. All day long hither and thither he chased,
+    but did not succeed in capturing her, and as evening fell the
+    Fawn slipped away and gained the little hut where Giroflée
+    anxiously awaited her, and on hearing her adventure the Maid of
+    Honour told her she must never again venture out, but the
+    Princess replied:</p>
+
+    <p>"It is no use talking thus, when I am a Fawn this room is
+    stifling to me and I must depart from it."</p>
+
+    <p>The next day the young Prince sought in vain for the White
+    Fawn, and finally tired out threw himself upon the grass and
+    fell asleep.</p>
+
+    <p>While he lay there the little Fawn drew near and looking at
+    him quietly, to her astonishment she recognised his features as
+    those of the Prince Guerrier. Coming nearer and nearer she
+    presently touched him and he awoke.</p>
+
+    <p>His surprise was great at seeing close by the shy little
+    Fawn, who stayed not an instant longer but fled away, the
+    Prince following.</p>
+
+    <p>"Stay, dear little Fawn," he cried, "I would not hurt you
+    for the world." But the wind carried off the words before they
+    reached her ears. Long he chased the poor creature, till at
+    last worn out the Fawn sank down on the ground and the Prince
+    came up to her.</p>
+
+    <p>"Beautiful Fawn," said he, "do not fear me, I shall lead you
+    with me everywhere." Then he covered her with roses and fed her
+    with the choicest leaves and grasses.</p>
+
+    <p>But as evening drew near the Fawn longed to escape, for what
+    would happen should she suddenly change into a Princess there
+    in <span class="pagenum"><a name="page58"
+       id="page58"></a>[pg 58]</span> the forest. Presently the
+       Prince went to fetch some water for her, and while he was
+       gone she ran homewards. The next day for a long time she hid
+       from the Prince, but at last he found her, and as she dashed
+       off he shot an arrow which wounded her in the leg.</p>
+
+    <p>Sad that he should have done so cruel a thing, the Prince
+    took herbs and laid them upon the wound, and at last he went to
+    fetch Bécafigue to help him carry her to the house. He tied her
+    to a tree.</p>
+
+    <p>Alas! Who would have thought that the most beautiful
+    Princess in the world would be treated thus? While she was
+    straining at the ribbons trying to break them, Giroflée
+    arrived, and was leading her away when the Prince met them and
+    claimed the Fawn as his.</p>
+
+    <p>"Sir," politely replied Giroflée, "the Fawn was mine before
+    it was yours," and she spoke to the Fawn, and the Fawn obeyed
+    her in such a way that the Prince could not doubt that what she
+    said was true. Giroflée then went on, and, to the surprise of
+    the Prince and Bécafigue, entered the old woman's house where
+    they themselves lodged. Then Bécafigue told the Prince that
+    unless he was much mistaken the owner of the Fawn had lived
+    with the Princess Desirée when he went there as ambassador.</p>
+
+    <p>"I mean to see her again," said Bécafigue, "there is only a
+    partition between her room and ours." And soon he had made a
+    hole large enough to peep through, and through it he saw the
+    charming Princess dressed in a robe of brocaded silver, with
+    flowers embroidered in gold and emeralds, her hair falling in
+    heavy masses on the most beautiful neck in the world. Giroflée
+    was on her knees before her, bandaging up one arm from which
+    the blood was flowing. They both seemed greatly concerned about
+    the wound: "Let me die," the Princess was saying, "death would
+    be better than the life which I lead. To be a Fawn all the day,
+    to hear him speaking, and not to be able to tell him of my sad
+    fate."</p>
+
+    <p>One can guess the astonishment of Bécafigue and of the
+    Prince. Guerrier would almost have died of pleasure had he not
+    thought that it must be some enchantment, for did he not know
+    that Desirée and her Lady in Waiting were shut up in the
+    castle.</p>
+
+    <p>He went softly and knocked at the chamber door, which
+    Giroflée <span class="pagenum"><a name="page59"
+       id="page59"></a>[pg 59]</span> opened, thinking it was the
+       old woman, for she required help for the wounded arm.</p>
+
+    <p>The Prince entered, threw himself at Desirée's feet, and
+    found she was indeed his Princess.</p>
+
+    <p>Great was their joy thus at last meeting, and while they
+    were talking to each other the night passed, and the day
+    dawned, and daylight came, and the morning sun shone brightly
+    before Desirée had time to notice that she had not again taken
+    the shape of a Fawn, but was her own beautiful self.</p>
+
+    <p>Then it was found that it was the Fairy Tulip in disguise of
+    the old woman who had provided that sheltering cottage in the
+    forest.</p>
+
+    <p>The joy of the King upon once more seeing his son can well
+    be imagined, and the marriage of the Prince and Desirée, and
+    Bécafigue and Giroflée took place on the same day, the Fairies
+    giving their diamond palace as their wedding present to
+    Princess Desirée, and Fairy Tulip presenting four gold mines in
+    the Indies to Giroflée.</p>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <img width="400"
+             src="images/059.png"
+             alt="Prince kneeling near Princess" />
+    </div>
+
+    <p>And, in accordance with the wish of Princess Desirée, Longue
+    Epine and her mother, the false Lady in Waiting, were set at
+    liberty.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page60"
+       id="page60"></a>[pg 60]</span> <br />
+     <br />
+     <br />
+     <br />
+
+
+    <div class="figleft"
+         style="width:60%;">
+        <img width="350"
+             src="images/060.png"
+             alt="Hansel and Grethel" />
+    </div>
+
+    <h2>HANSEL AND GRETHEL</h2>
+
+    <p>Once upon a time there dwelt near a large wood a poor wood
+    cutter, with his wife, and two children by his former marriage,
+    a little boy called Hansel, and a girl named Grethel. He had
+    little enough to break or bite; and once, when there was a
+    great famine in the land, he could hardly procure even his
+    daily bread; and as he lay thinking in his bed one night, he
+    sighed, and said to his wife, "What will become of us? How can
+    we feed our children, when we have no more than we can eat
+    ourselves?"</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page61"
+       id="page61"></a>[pg 61]</span>
+
+    <p>"Know then, my husband," answered she, "we will lead them
+    away, quite early in the morning, into the thickest part of the
+    wood, and there make them a fire, and give them each a little
+    piece of bread, then we will go to our work, and leave them
+    alone, so they will not find the way home again, and we shall
+    be freed from them."</p>
+
+    <p>"No, wife," replied he, "that I can never do; how can you
+    bring your heart to leave my children all alone in the wood;
+    for the wild beasts will soon come and tear them to
+    pieces?"</p>
+
+    <p>"Oh, you simpleton!" said she, "then we must all four die of
+    hunger; you had better plane the coffins for us." But she left
+    him no peace till he consented, saying, "Ah, but I shall miss
+    the poor children."</p>
+
+    <p>The two children, however, had not gone to sleep, for very
+    hunger, and so they overheard what the stepmother said to their
+    father. Grethel wept bitterly, and said to Hansel, "What will
+    become of us?"</p>
+
+    <p>"Be quiet, Grethel," said he; "do not cry&mdash;I will help
+    you." And as soon as their parents had gone to sleep, he got
+    up, put on his coat, and, unbarring the back door, went out.
+    The moon shone brightly, and the white pebbles which lay before
+    the door seemed like silver pieces, they glittered so brightly.
+    Hansel stooped down, and put as many into his pocket as it
+    would hold; and then going back he said to Grethel, "Be of good
+    cheer, dear sister, and sleep in peace; God will not forsake
+    us." And so saying, he went to bed again.</p>
+
+    <p>The next morning, before the sun arose, the wife went and
+    awoke the two children. "Get up, you lazy things; we are going
+    into the forest to chop wood." Then she gave them each a piece
+    of bread, saying, "There is something for your dinner; do not
+    eat it before the time, for you will get nothing else." Grethel
+    took the bread in her apron, for Hansel's pocket was full of
+    pebbles; and so they all set out upon their way. When they had
+    gone a little distance, Hansel stood still, and peeped back at
+    the house; and this he repeated several times, till his father
+    said, "Hansel, what are you looking at, and why do you lag
+    behind? Take care, and remember your
+    legs."</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page62"
+       id="page62"></a>[pg 62]</span>
+
+    <p>"Ah, father," said Hansel, "I am looking at my white cat
+    sitting upon the roof of the house, and trying to say
+    good-bye."</p>
+
+    <p>"You simpleton!" said the wife, "that is not a cat; it is
+    only the sun shining on the white chimney." But in reality
+    Hansel was not looking at a cat; but every time he stopped, he
+    dropped a pebble out of his pocket upon the path.</p>
+
+    <p>When they came to the middle of the forest, the father told
+    the children to collect wood, and he would make them a fire, so
+    that they should not be cold. So Hansel and Grethel gathered
+    together quite a little mount of twigs. Then they set fire to
+    them; and as the flame burnt up high, the wife said, "Now, you
+    children, lie down near the fire, and rest yourselves, whilst
+    we go into the forest and chop more wood; when we are ready we
+    will come and call you."</p>
+
+    <p>Hansel and Grethel sat down by the fire, and when it was
+    noon, each ate the piece of bread; and because they could hear
+    the blows of an axe they thought their father was near; but it
+    was not an axe, but a branch which he had bound to an old tree,
+    so as to be blown to and fro by the wind. They waited so long,
+    that at last their eyes closed from weariness, and they fell
+    fast asleep. When they awoke, it was quite dark, and Grethel
+    began to cry. "How shall we get out of the wood?" But Hansel
+    tried to comfort her by saying, "Wait a little while till the
+    moon rises, and then we will quickly find the way." The moon
+    shone forth, and Hansel, taking his sister's hand, followed the
+    pebbles, which glittered like new-coined silver pieces, and
+    showed them the way. All night long they walked on, and as day
+    broke they came to their father's house. They knocked at the
+    door, and when the wife opened it, and saw Hansel and Grethel,
+    she exclaimed, "You wicked children! Why did you sleep so long
+    in the wood? We thought you were never coming home again." But
+    their father was extremely glad, for it had grieved his heart
+    to leave them all alone.</p>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <img width="477"
+             src="images/063.png"
+             alt="HANSEL AND GRETHEL SAT DOWN BY THE FIRE." /><br />
+         "HANSEL AND GRETHEL SAT DOWN BY THE FIRE."
+    </div>
+
+    <p>Not long afterwards there was again great scarcity in every
+    corner of the land; and one night the children overheard their
+    mother saying to their father, "Everything is once more
+    consumed; we have only half a loaf left, and then the song is
+    ended: the children <!--page 63 contained image-->
+     <span class="pagenum"><a name="page64"
+       id="page64"></a>[pg 64]</span> must be sent away. We will
+       take them deeper into the wood, so that they may not find
+       the way out again; it is the only means of escape for
+       us."</p>
+
+    <p>But her husband felt heavy at heart, and thought, "It were
+    better to share the last crust with the children." His wife,
+    however, would listen to nothing that he said, and scolded and
+    reproached him without end.</p>
+
+    <p>He who says A must say B too; and he who consents the first
+    time must also the second.</p>
+
+    <p>The children, however, had heard the conversation as they
+    lay awake, and as soon as their parents went to sleep Hansel
+    got up, intending to pick up some pebbles as before; but the
+    wife had locked the door, so that he could not get out.
+    Nevertheless he comforted Grethel, saying, "Do not weep; sleep
+    in quiet; the good God will not forsake us."</p>
+
+    <p>Early in the morning the stepmother came and pulled them out
+    of bed, and gave them each a slice of bread, which was still
+    smaller than the former piece. On the way Hansel broke his in
+    his pocket, and stopping every now and then, dropped a crumb
+    upon the path. "Hansel, why do you stop and look about?" said
+    the father, "keep in the path." "I am looking at my little
+    dove," answered Hansel, "nodding a good-bye to me."
+    "Simpleton!" said the wife, "that is no dove, but only the sun
+    shining on the chimney." But Hansel kept still dropping crumbs
+    as he went along.</p>
+
+    <p>The mother led the children deep into the wood, where they
+    had never been before, and there making a gigantic fire, she
+    said to them, "Sit down here and rest, and when you feel tired
+    you can sleep for a little while. We are going into the forest
+    to hew wood, and in the evening, when we are ready, we will
+    come and fetch you again."</p>
+
+    <p>When noon came, Grethel shared her bread with Hansel, who
+    had strewn his on the path. They then went to sleep; but the
+    evening arrived and no one came to visit the poor children, and
+    in the dark night they awoke, and Hansel comforted his sister
+    by saying, "Only wait, Grethel, till the moon comes out, then
+    we shall see <span class="pagenum"><a name="page65"
+       id="page65"></a>[pg 65]</span> the crumbs of bread which I
+       have dropped, and they will show us the way home." The moon
+       shone and they got up, but they could not see any crumbs,
+       for the thousands of birds which had been flying about in
+       the woods and fields had picked them all up. Hansel kept
+       saying to Grethel, "We will soon find the way;" but they did
+       not, and they walked the whole night long and the next day,
+       but still they did not come out of the wood; and they got
+       very hungry, for they had nothing to eat but the berries
+       which they found upon the bushes. Soon they were so tired
+       that they could not drag themselves along, then they lay
+       down under a tree and again went to sleep.</p>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <a href="images/162.jpg"
+             name="fig162s"
+             id="fig162s"><img width="480"
+             src="images/162s.jpg"
+             alt="HANSEL AND GRETHEL" /></a>
+
+        <p><i>Painted by Jennie Harbour</i></p>HANSEL AND GRETHEL
+    </div>
+
+    <p>It was now the third morning since they had left their
+    father's house, and they still walked on; but they only got
+    deeper, and deeper, and deeper into the wood, and Hansel felt
+    that if help did not come very soon they must die of hunger. As
+    soon as it was noon they saw a beautiful, snow-white bird
+    sitting upon a bough, singing so sweetly that they stood still
+    and listened to it. It soon ceased, and spreading its wings
+    flew off; and they followed it until it arrived at a cottage,
+    upon the roof of which it perched; and when they went close up
+    to it they saw that the cottage was made of bread and cakes,
+    and the window-panes were of clear sugar.</p>
+
+    <p>"We will go in here," said Hansel, "and have a glorious
+    feast. I will eat a piece of the roof, and you can eat the
+    window. Will they not be sweet?" So Hansel reached up and broke
+    a piece off the roof, in order to see how it tasted; while
+    Grethel stepped up to the window and began to bite it. Then a
+    sweet voice called out in the room, "Tip-tap, tip-tap, who
+    knocks at my door?" and the children answered, "The wind, the
+    wind, the child of heaven;" and they went on eating without
+    interruption. Hansel thought the roof tasted very nice, and so
+    he tore off a great piece; while Grethel broke a large round
+    pane out of the window, and sat down quite contentedly. Just
+    then the door opened, and a very old woman, walking upon
+    crutches, came out. Hansel and Grethel were so much frightened
+    that they let fall what they had in their hands; but the old
+    woman nodding her head, said, "Ah, you dear children, what has
+    brought you here? Come in and stop with me, and no harm
+    <span class="pagenum"><a name="page66"
+       id="page66"></a>[pg 66]</span> shall come to you;" and so
+       saying she took them both by the hand, and led them into her
+       cottage. A good meal of milk and pancakes, with sugar,
+       apples and nuts, was spread on the table, and in the back
+       room were two nice little beds, covered with white, where
+       Hansel and Grethel laid themselves down, and were happy as
+       could be. The old woman behaved very kindly to them, but in
+       reality she was a wicked old witch who way-laid children,
+       and built the breadhouse in order to entice them in; but as
+       soon as they were in her power she killed them, cooked and
+       ate them, and made a great festival of the day. Witches have
+       red eyes, and cannot see very far; but they have a fine
+       sense of smelling, like wild beasts, so that they know when
+       children approach them. When Hansel and Grethel came near
+       the witch's house she laughed wickedly, saying, "Here come
+       two who shall not escape me." And early in the morning,
+       before they awoke, she went up to them, and saw how lovingly
+       they lay sleeping, with their chubby red cheeks; and she
+       mumbled to herself, "That will be a good bite." Then she
+       took up Hansel with her rough hand, and shut him up in a
+       little cage with a lattice-door; and although he screamed
+       loudly it was of no use. Grethel came next, and shaking her
+       till she awoke, she said, "Get up, you lazy brat, and fetch
+       some water to cook something good for your brother, who must
+       remain in that stall and get fat; and when he is fat enough
+       I shall eat him." Grethel began to cry, but it was all
+       useless, for the old witch made her do as she wanted. So a
+       nice meal was cooked for Hansel, but Grethel got nothing
+       else but a crab's claw.</p>
+
+    <p>Every morning the old witch came to the cage and said,
+    "Hansel, stretch out your finger that I may feel whether you
+    are getting fat." But Hansel used to stretch out a bone, and
+    the old woman, having very bad sight, thought it was his
+    finger, and wondered very much why he did not get fat. When
+    four weeks had passed, and Hansel still kept quite lean, she
+    lost all her patience, and would not wait any longer.
+    "Grethel," she cried in a passion, "get some water quickly; be
+    Hansel fat or lean, this morning I will kill and cook him." Oh,
+    how the poor little sister grieved, as she was forced to fetch
+    the water, and fast the tears ran down her cheeks! "Dear good
+    God, <span class="pagenum"><a name="page67"
+       id="page67"></a>[pg 67]</span> help us now!" she prayed.
+       "Had we only been eaten by the wild beasts in the wood, then
+       we should have died together." But the old witch called out,
+       "Leave off that noise; it will not help you a bit."</p>
+
+    <div class="figright"
+         style="width:50%;">
+        <img width="350"
+             src="images/067.png"
+             alt="The witch" />
+    </div>
+
+    <p>So early in the morning Grethel was compelled to go out and
+    fill the kettle, and make a fire. "First, we will bake,
+    however," said the old woman; "I have already heated the oven
+    and kneaded the dough;" and so saying, she pushed poor Grethel
+    up to the oven, out of which the flames were burning fiercely.
+    "Creep in," said the witch, "and see if it is hot enough, and
+    then we will put in the bread," but she intended when Grethel
+    got in, to shut up the oven and let her bake, so that she might
+    eat her as well as Hansel. Grethel perceived her wicked
+    thoughts and said, "I do not know how to do it; how shall I get
+    in?" "You stupid goose," said she, "the opening is big enough.
+    See, I could even get in myself!" and she got up, and put her
+    head into the oven. Then Grethel gave her a push, so that she
+    fell right in, and shutting the iron door bolted it. Oh! how
+    horribly the witch howled; but Grethel ran away, and left her
+    to burn to ashes.</p>
+
+    <p>Now she ran to Hansel, and, opening the door, called out,
+    "Hansel we are saved; the old witch is dead?"</p>
+
+    <p>So he sprang out, like a bird from his cage when the door
+    was opened; and they were so glad that they fell upon each
+    other's neck, and kissed each other over and over again. And
+    now, as there was nothing to fear, they went back to the
+    witch's <span class="pagenum"><a name="page68"
+       id="page68"></a>[pg 68]</span> house, where in every corner
+       were caskets full of pearls and precious stones. "These are
+       better than pebbles," said Hansel, putting as many into his
+       pocket as it would hold; while Grethel thought, "I will take
+       some home too," and filled her apron full.</p>
+
+    <p>"We must be off now," said Hansel, "and get out of this
+    enchanted forest;" but when they had walked for two hours they
+    came to a large piece of water.</p>
+
+    <p>"We cannot get over," said Hansel; "I can see no bridge at
+    all." "And there is no boat either," said Grethel, "but there
+    swims a white duck, I will ask her to help us over;" and she
+    sang,</p>
+
+    <div class="poem">
+        <div class="stanza">
+            <p>"Little Duck, good little Duck,</p>
+
+            <p class="i2">Grethel and Hansel, together we
+            stand;</p>
+
+            <p>There is neither stile nor bridge,</p>
+
+            <p class="i2">Take us on your back to land."</p>
+        </div>
+    </div>
+
+    <div class="figleft"
+         style="width:70%;">
+        <img width="400"
+             src="images/068.png"
+             alt="Duck ferrying Grethel" />
+    </div>
+
+    <p>So the Duck came to them, and Hansel sat himself on, and
+    bade his sister sit beside him. "No," replied Grethel, "that
+    will be too much for the Duck, she shall take us over one at a
+    time." This the good little bird did, and when both were
+    happily arrived on the other side, and had gone a little way,
+    they came to a well-known wood, which they knew the better
+    every step they went, and at last they perceived their father's
+    house. Then they began to run, and rushing into the house, they
+    fell upon their father's neck. He had not had one happy hour
+    since he had left the children in the forest; and his wife was
+    dead. Grethel shook her apron, and the pearls and precious
+    stones rolled out upon the floor, and Hansel threw down one
+    handful after the other out of his pocket. Then all their
+    sorrows were ended, and they lived together in great
+    happiness.</p><br />
+     <br />
+
+    <hr />
+    <br />
+     <br />
+     <span class="pagenum"><a name="page69"
+       id="page69"></a>[pg 69]</span>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <img width="600"
+             src="images/069.png"
+             alt="Reading to the children" />
+    </div>
+
+    <h2>SNOW-WHITE AND ROSE-RED</h2>
+
+    <p>A poor widow once lived in a little cottage. In front of the
+    cottage was a garden, in which were growing two rose trees; one
+    of these bore white roses, and the other red.</p>
+
+    <p>She had two children, who resembled the rose trees. One was
+    called Snow-White, and the other Rose-Red; and they were as
+    religious and loving, busy and untiring, as any two children
+    ever were.</p>
+
+    <p>Snow-White was more gentle, and quieter than her sister, who
+    liked better skipping about the fields, seeking flowers, and
+    catching summer birds; while Snow-White stayed at home with her
+    mother, either helping her in her work, or, when that was done,
+    reading aloud.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page70"
+       id="page70"></a>[pg 70]</span>
+
+    <p>The two children had the greatest affection the one for the
+    other. They were always seen hand in hand; and should
+    Snow-White say to her sister, "We will never separate," the
+    other would reply, "Not while we live," the mother adding,
+    "That which one has, let her always share with the other."</p>
+
+    <p>They constantly ran together in the woods, collecting ripe
+    berries; but not a single animal would have injured them; quite
+    the reverse, they all felt the greatest esteem for the young
+    creatures. The hare came to eat parsley from their hands, the
+    deer grazed by their side, the stag bounded past them
+    unheeding; the birds, likewise, did not stir from the bough,
+    but sang in entire security. No mischance befell them; if
+    benighted in the wood, they lay down on the moss to repose and
+    sleep till the morning; and their mother was satisfied as to
+    their safety, and felt no fear about them.</p>
+
+    <p>Once, when they had spent the night in the wood, and the
+    bright sunrise awoke them, they saw a beautiful child, in a
+    snow-white robe, shining like diamonds, sitting close to the
+    spot where they had reposed. She arose when they opened their
+    eyes, and looked kindly at them; but said no word, and passed
+    from their sight into the wood. When the children looked around
+    they saw they had been sleeping on the edge of a precipice, and
+    would surely have fallen over if they had gone forward two
+    steps further in the darkness. Their mother said the beautiful
+    child must have been the angel who watches over good
+    children.</p>
+
+    <p>Snow-White and Rose-Red kept their mother's cottage so clean
+    that it gave pleasure only to look in. In summer-time Rose-Red
+    attended to the house, and every morning, before her mother
+    awoke, placed by her bed a bouquet which had in it a rose from
+    each of the rose-trees. In winter-time Snow-White set light to
+    the fire, and put on the kettle, after polishing it until it
+    was like gold for brightness. In the evening, when snow was
+    falling, her mother would bid her bolt the door, and then,
+    sitting by the hearth, the good widow would read aloud to them
+    from a big book while the little girls were spinning. Close by
+    them lay a lamb, and a white pigeon, with its head tucked under
+    its wing, was on a perch
+    behind.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page71"
+       id="page71"></a>[pg 71]</span>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <img width="400"
+             src="images/071.png"
+             alt="Facing the Bear" />
+    </div>
+
+    <p>One evening, as they were all sitting cosily together like
+    this, there was a knock at the door, as if someone wished to
+    come in.</p>
+
+    <p>"Make haste, Rose-Red!" said her mother; "open the door; it
+    is surely some traveller seeking shelter." Rose-Red accordingly
+    pulled back the bolt, expecting to see some poor man. But it
+    was nothing of the kind; it was a bear, that thrust his big
+    head in at the open door. Rose-Red cried out and sprang back,
+    the lamb bleated, the dove fluttered her wings and Snow-White
+    hid herself behind her mother's bed. The bear began speaking,
+    and said, "Do not be afraid: I will not do you any harm; I am
+    half-frozen, and would like to warm myself a little at your
+    fire."</p>
+
+    <p>"Poor bear!" the mother replied; "come in and lie by the
+    fire; only be careful that your hair is not burnt." Then she
+    called Snow-White and Rose-Red, telling them that the bear was
+    kind, and would not harm them. They came, as she bade them, and
+    presently the lamb and the dove drew near also without
+    fear.</p>
+
+    <p>"Children," begged the bear; "knock some of the snow off my
+    coat." So they brought the broom and brushed the bear's coat
+    quite clean.</p>
+
+    <p>After that he stretched himself out in front of the fire,
+    and pleased himself by growling a little, only to show that he
+    was happy and comfortable. Before long they were all quite good
+    friends, and the children began to play with their unlooked for
+    visitor, pulling his <span class="pagenum"><a name="page72"
+       id="page72"></a>[pg 72]</span> thick fur, or placing their
+       feet on his back, or rolling him over and over. Then they
+       took a slender hazel twig, using it upon his thick coat, and
+       they laughed when he growled. The bear permitted them to
+       amuse themselves in this way, only occasionally calling out,
+       when it went a little too far, "Children, spare me an inch
+       of life!"</p>
+
+    <div class="figleft"
+         style="width:60%;">
+        <img width="400"
+             src="images/072.png"
+             alt="The bird above" />
+    </div>
+
+    <p>When it was night, and all were making ready to go to bed,
+    the widow told the bear, "You may stay here and lie by the
+    hearth, if you like, so that you will be sheltered from the
+    cold and from the bad weather."</p>
+
+    <p>The offer was accepted, but when morning came, as the day
+    broke in the east, the two children let him out, and over the
+    snow he went back into the wood.</p>
+
+    <p>After this, every evening at the same time the bear came,
+    lay by the fire, and allowed the children to play with him; so
+    they became quite fond of their curious playmate, and the door
+    was not ever bolted in the evening until he had appeared.</p>
+
+    <p>When springtime came, and all around began to look green and
+    bright, one morning the bear said to Snow-White, "Now I must
+    leave you, and all the summer long I shall not be able to come
+    back."</p>
+
+    <p>"Where, then, are you going, dear bear?" asked Snow-White.
+    "I have to go to the woods to protect my treasure from the bad
+    dwarfs. In winter time when the earth is frozen hard, they must
+    remain underground, <span class="pagenum"><a name="page73"
+       id="page73"></a>[pg 73]</span> and cannot make their way
+       through; but now that the sunshine has thawed the earth they
+       can come to the surface, and whatever gets into their hands,
+       or is brought to their caves, seldom, if ever, again sees
+       daylight."</p>
+
+    <p>Snow-White was very sad when she said good-bye to the
+    good-natured beast, and unfastened the door, that he might go;
+    but in going out he was caught by a hook in the lintel, and a
+    scrap of his fur being torn, Snow-White thought there was
+    something shining like gold through the rent; but he went out
+    so quickly that she could not feel certain what it was, and
+    soon he was hidden among the trees.</p>
+
+    <p>One day the mother sent her children into the wood to pick
+    up sticks. They found a big tree lying on the ground. It had
+    been felled, and towards the roots they noticed something
+    skipping and springing, which they could not make out, as it
+    was sometimes hidden in the grasses. As they came nearer they
+    could see it was a dwarf, with a shrivelled up face and a
+    snow-white beard an ell long. The beard was fixed in a gash in
+    the tree trunk, and the tiny fellow was hopping to and fro,
+    like a dog at the end of a string, but he could not manage to
+    free himself. He stared at the children, with his red, fiery
+    eyes, and called out, "Why are you standing there? Can't you
+    come and try to help me?"</p>
+
+    <p>"What were you doing, little fellow?" enquired Rose-Red.</p>
+
+    <p>"Stupid, inquisitive goose!" replied the dwarf; "I meant to
+    split the trunk, so that I could chop it up for kitchen sticks;
+    big logs would burn up the small quantity of food we cook, for
+    people like us do not consume great heaps of food, as you
+    heavy, greedy folk do. The bill-hook I had driven in, and soon
+    I should have done what I required; but the tool suddenly
+    sprang from the cleft, which so quickly shut up again that it
+    caught my handsome white beard; and here I must stop, for I
+    cannot set myself free. You stupid, pale-faced creatures! You
+    laugh, do you?"</p>
+
+    <p>In spite of the dwarf's bad temper, the girls took all
+    possible pains to release the little man, but without avail;
+    the beard could not be moved, it was wedged too
+    tightly.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page74"
+       id="page74"></a>[pg 74]</span>
+
+    <p>"I will run and get someone else," said Rose-Red.</p>
+
+    <p>"Idiot!" cried the dwarf. "Who would go and get more people?
+    Already there are two too many. Can't you think of something
+    better?"</p>
+
+    <p>"Don't be so impatient," said Snow-White. "I will try to
+    think." She clapped her hands as if she had discovered a
+    remedy, took out her scissors, and in a moment set the dwarf
+    free by cutting off the end of his beard.</p>
+
+    <p>Immediately the dwarf felt that he was free he seized a
+    sackful of gold that was hidden among the tree roots, and,
+    lifting it up, grumbled out, "Clumsy creatures, to cut off a
+    bit of my beautiful beard, of which I am so proud! I leave the
+    cuckoos to pay you for what you did." Saying this, he swung the
+    sack across his shoulder and went off without even casting a
+    glance at the children.</p>
+
+    <p>Not long afterwards the two sisters went to angle in the
+    brook, meaning to catch fish for dinner. As they were drawing
+    near the water they perceived something, looking like a large
+    grasshopper, springing towards the stream, as if it were going
+    in. They hurried up to see what it might be, and found that it
+    was the dwarf. "Where are you going?" said Rose-Red. "Surely
+    you will not jump into the water?"</p>
+
+    <p>"I'm not such a simpleton as that!" yelled the little man.
+    "Don't you see that a wretch of a fish is pulling me in?"</p>
+
+    <p>The dwarf had been sitting angling from the side of the
+    stream when, by ill-luck, the wind had entangled his beard in
+    his line, and just afterwards a big fish taking the bait, the
+    unamiable little fellow had not sufficient strength to pull it
+    out; so the fish had the advantage, and was dragging the dwarf
+    after it. Certainly he caught at every stalk and spray near
+    him, but that did not assist him greatly; he was forced to
+    follow all the twistings of the fish, and was perpetually in
+    danger of being drawn into the brook.</p>
+
+    <p>The girls arrived just in time. They caught hold of him
+    firmly, and endeavoured to untwist his beard from the line, but
+    in vain; it was too tightly entangled. There was nothing left
+    but again to make use of the scissors; so they were taken out,
+    and the tangled portion was cut off.
+    <!--page contained image-->
+     <span class="pagenum"><a name="page76"
+       id="page76"></a>[pg 76]</span></p>
+
+    <p>When the dwarf noticed what they were about, he exclaimed,
+    in a great rage, "Is this how you damage my beard? Not content
+    with making it shorter before, you are now making it still
+    smaller, and completely spoiling it. I shall not ever dare to
+    show my face to my friends. I wish you had missed your way
+    before you took this road." Then he fetched a sack of pearls
+    that lay among the rushes, and saying not another word, hobbled
+    off and disappeared behind a large stone.</p>
+
+    <p>Soon after this it chanced that the poor widow sent her
+    children to the town to purchase cotton, needles, ribbon and
+    tape. The way to the town ran over a common on which in every
+    direction large masses of rocks were scattered about. The
+    children's attention was soon attracted to a big bird that
+    hovered in the air. They remarked that after circling slowly
+    for a time, and gradually getting nearer to the ground, it all
+    of a sudden pounced down amongst a mass of rock. Instantly a
+    heart-rending cry reached their ears, and, running quickly to
+    the place, they saw, with horror, that the eagle had seized
+    their former acquaintance, the dwarf, and was just about to
+    carry him off. The kind children did not hesitate for an
+    instant. They took a firm hold of the little man, they strove
+    so stoutly with the eagle for possession of his contemplated
+    prey, that, after much rough treatment on both sides, the dwarf
+    was left in the hands of his brave little friends, and the
+    eagle took to flight.</p>
+
+    <p>As soon as the little man had in some measure recovered from
+    his alarm, his small, squeaky, cracked voice was heard saying,
+    "Couldn't you have held me more gently? See my little coat; you
+    have rent and damaged it in a fine manner, you clumsy,
+    officious things!" Then he picked up a sack of jewels, and
+    slipped out of sight behind a piece of rock.</p>
+
+    <p>The maidens by this time were quite used to his ungrateful,
+    ungracious ways; so they took no notice of it, but went on
+    their way, made their purchases, and then were ready to return
+    to their happy home.</p>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <a href="images/163.jpg"
+             name="fig163s"
+             id="fig163s"><img width="477"
+             src="images/163s.jpg"
+             alt="SNOW-WHITE AND ROSE-RED" /></a>
+
+        <p><i>Painted by Jennie Harbour</i></p>SNOW-WHITE AND
+        ROSE-RED
+    </div>
+
+    <p>On their way back, suddenly, once more they ran across their
+    dwarf friend.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page77"
+       id="page77"></a>[pg 77]</span>
+
+    <p>Upon a clear space he had turned out his sack of jewels, so
+    that he could count and admire them, for he had not imagined
+    that anybody would at so late an hour be coming across the
+    common. The setting sun was shining upon the brilliant stones,
+    and their changing hues and sparkling rays caused the children
+    to pause to admire them also.</p>
+
+    <p>"What are you gazing at?" cried the dwarf, at the same time
+    becoming red with rage; "and what are you standing there for,
+    making ugly faces?"</p>
+
+    <p>It is probable that he might have proceeded in the same
+    complimentary manner, but suddenly a great growl was heard near
+    by them, and a big bear joined the party. Up jumped the dwarf
+    in extremest terror, but could not get to his hiding-place, the
+    bear was too close to him; so he cried out in very evident
+    anguish&mdash;</p>
+
+    <p>"Dear Mr. Bear, forgive me, I pray! I will render to you all
+    my treasure. Just see those precious stones lying there! Grant
+    me my life! What would you do with such an insignificant little
+    fellow? You would not notice me between your teeth. See,
+    though, those two children, they would be delicate morsels, and
+    are as plump as partridges; I beg of you to take them, good Mr.
+    Bear, and let me go."</p>
+
+    <p>But the bear would not be moved by his speeches. He gave the
+    ill-disposed creature a blow with his paw, and he lay lifeless
+    on the ground. Meanwhile, the maidens were running away, making
+    off for home as well as they could; but all of a sudden they
+    were stopped by a well-known voice that called out,
+    "Snow-White, Rose-Red, stay! Do not fear. I will accompany
+    you."</p>
+
+    <p>The bear quickly came towards them, but as he reached their
+    side, suddenly the bear-skin slipped to the ground, and there
+    before them was standing a handsome man, completely garmented
+    in gold, who said, "I am a king's son, who was enchanted by the
+    wicked dwarf lying over there. He stole my treasure, and
+    compelled me to roam the woods transformed into a big bear
+    until his death should set me free. Therefore he has only
+    received a well-deserved
+    punishment."</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page78"
+       id="page78"></a>[pg 78]</span>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <img width="477"
+             src="images/075.png"
+             alt="THE BEARSKIN SLIPPED TO THE GROUND." /><br />
+         "THE BEARSKIN SLIPPED TO THE GROUND."
+    </div>
+
+    <p>Then Rose-Red and Snow-White and the Prince all went back to
+    the cottage, and some time afterwards Snow-White married the
+    Prince, and Rose-Red, his brother, who shared between them the
+    enormous treasure which the dwarf had collected in his
+    cave.</p>
+
+    <p>The old mother spent many happy years with her children. The
+    two rose-trees she took with her when she left the cottage, and
+    they grew in front of her window, where they continued to bear
+    each year the most beautiful roses, red and white.</p>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:80%;">
+        <img width="400"
+             src="images/078.png"
+             alt="doorway" />
+    </div><br />
+     <br />
+
+    <hr />
+    <br />
+     <br />
+     <span class="pagenum"><a name="page79"
+       id="page79"></a>[pg 79]</span>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <img width="600"
+             src="images/079.png"
+             alt="Fairies" />
+    </div>
+
+    <h2>THE SLEEPING BEAUTY</h2>
+
+    <p>Once upon a time there lived a king and queen who had no
+    children; and this they lamented very much. But one day, as the
+    queen was walking by the side of the river, a little fish
+    lifted its head out of the water, and said, "Your wish shall be
+    fulfilled, and you shall soon have a daughter."</p>
+
+    <p>What the little fish had foretold soon came to pass; and the
+    Queen had a little girl who was so very beautiful that the king
+    could not cease looking on her for joy, and determined to hold
+    a great feast. So he invited not only his relations, friends,
+    and neighbours, but also all the fairies, that they might be
+    kind and good to his little daughter. Now there were thirteen
+    fairies in his kingdom, and he had only twelve golden dishes
+    for them to eat out of, so that he was obliged to leave one of
+    the fairies without an invitation. The rest came, and after the
+    feast was over they gave all their best gifts to the little
+    <span class="pagenum"><a name="page80"
+       id="page80"></a>[pg 80]</span> princess; one gave her
+       virtue, another beauty, another riches, and so on till she
+       had all that was excellent in the world. When eleven had
+       done blessing her, the thirteenth, who had not been invited,
+       <span class="pagenum"><a name="page81"
+       id="page81"></a>[pg 81]</span> and was very angry on that
+       account, came in, and determined to take her revenge. So she
+       cried out, "The King's daughter shall in her fifteenth year
+       be wounded by a spindle, and fall down dead." Then the
+       twelfth, who had not yet given her gift, came forward and
+       said that the bad wish must be fulfilled, but that she could
+       soften it, and that the king's daughter should not die, but
+       fall asleep for a hundred years.</p>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:80%;">
+        <img width="420"
+             src="images/080.png"
+             alt="The angry fairy" />
+    </div>
+
+    <p>But the king hoped to save his dear child from the
+    threatened evil, and ordered that all the spindles in the
+    kingdom should be bought up and destroyed. All the fairies'
+    gifts were in the meantime fulfilled; for the princess was so
+    beautiful, and well-behaved, and amiable, and wise, that
+    everyone who knew her loved her. Now it happened that on the
+    very day she was fifteen years old the king and queen were not
+    at home, and she was left alone in the palace. So she roved
+    about by herself, and poked at all the rooms and chambers, till
+    at last she came to an old tower, to which there was a narrow
+    staircase ending with a little door. In the door there was a
+    golden key, and when she turned it the door sprang open, and
+    there sat an old lady spinning away very busily.</p>
+
+    <p>"Why, how now, good mother," said the princess, "what are
+    you doing there?"</p>
+
+    <p>"Spinning," said the old lady, and nodded her head.</p>
+
+    <p>"How prettily that little thing turns round!" said the
+    princess, and took the spindle and began to spin. But scarcely
+    had she touched it before the prophecy was fulfilled, and she
+    fell down, as if lifeless, on the ground.</p>
+
+    <p>However, she was not dead, but had only fallen into a deep
+    sleep; and the king and queen, who just then came home, and all
+    their court, fell asleep too, and the horses slept in the
+    stables, and the dogs in the court, the pigeons on the
+    house-top, and the flies on the walls. Even the fire on the
+    hearth left off blazing, and went to sleep; and the meat that
+    was roasting stood still; and the cook, who was at that moment
+    pulling the kitchen-boy by the hair to give him a box on the
+    ear for something he had done amiss, let him go, and both fell
+    asleep; and so everything stood still, and slept
+    soundly.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page82"
+       id="page82"></a>[pg 82]</span>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <img width="500"
+             src="images/082.png"
+             alt="Thorn hedge" />
+    </div>
+
+    <p>A large hedge of thorns soon grew around the palace, and
+    every year it became higher and thicker, till at last the whole
+    place was surrounded and hidden, so that not even the roof or
+    the chimneys could be seen. But there went a report, through
+    all the land, of the beautiful sleeping Briar Rose (for so was
+    the king's daughter called) so that from time to time several
+    kings' sons came, and tried to break through the thicket into
+    the palace. This they could never do; for the thorns and bushes
+    laid hold of them as it were with hands, and there they stuck
+    fast and died
+    miserably.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page83"
+       id="page83"></a>[pg 83]</span>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <img width="481"
+             src="images/083.png"
+             alt="ALL WAS SO QUIET THAT HE COULD HEAR EVERY BREATH HE DREW." />
+        <br />
+         "ALL WAS SO QUIET THAT HE COULD HEAR EVERY BREATH HE
+        DREW."
+    </div><span class="pagenum"><a name="page84"
+       id="page84"></a>[pg 84]</span>
+
+    <p>After many years came yet another king's son into that land,
+    and an old man told him the story of the thicket of thorns, and
+    how a beautiful palace stood behind it, in which was a wondrous
+    princess, called Briar Rose, asleep with all her court. He
+    told, too, how he had heard from his grandfather that many,
+    many princes had come, and had tried to break through the
+    thicket, but had stuck fast and died.</p>
+
+    <p>Then the young prince said, "All this shall not frighten me;
+    I will go and see Briar Rose." The old man tried to dissuade
+    him, but he persisted in going.</p>
+
+    <p>Now that very day were the hundred years completed; and as
+    the prince came to the thicket he saw nothing but beautiful
+    flowering shrubs, through which he passed with ease, and they
+    closed after him, as firm as ever. Then he came at last to the
+    palace, and there in the court lay the dogs asleep, and the
+    horses in the stables, and on the roof sat the pigeons fast
+    asleep with their heads under their wings; and when he came
+    into the palace, the flies slept on the walls, and the cook in
+    the kitchen was still holding up her hand as if she would beat
+    the boy, and the maid with her pail in her hand was going
+    a-milking.</p>
+
+    <p>Then he went on still further, and all was so quiet that he
+    could hear every breath he drew; till at last he came to the
+    old tower and opened the door of the little room in which Briar
+    Rose was, and there she lay fast asleep, and looked so
+    beautiful that he could not turn his eyes away, and he stooped
+    down and gave her a kiss. But the moment he kissed her she
+    opened her eyes and awoke, and smiled upon him. For the spell
+    was broken.</p>
+
+    <p>Then they went out together, and presently the king and
+    queen also awoke, and all the court, and they gazed on each
+    other with great wonder. And the horses got up and shook
+    themselves, and the dogs jumped about and barked; the pigeons
+    took their heads from under their wings, and looked around and
+    flew into the fields; the flies on the walls buzzed; the fire
+    in the kitchen blazed up and cooked the dinner, and the roast
+    meat turned round again; the cook gave the boy the box on his
+    ear so that he cried out, and the maid went to milk the cows.
+    And then was the wedding of the prince and Briar Rose
+    celebrated, and they lived happily together all their lives
+    long.</p>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <a href="images/164.jpg"
+             name="fig164s"
+             id="fig164s"><img width="492"
+             src="images/164s.jpg"
+             alt="THE SLEEPING BEAUTY" /></a>
+
+        <p><i>Painted by Jennie Harbour</i></p>THE SLEEPING BEAUTY
+    </div>
+
+    <div class="figright"
+         style="width:50%;">
+        <img width="400"
+             src="images/164.png"
+             alt="poem" />
+    </div><br clear="all" />
+     <br />
+
+    <hr />
+    <br />
+     <br />
+     <span class="pagenum"><a name="page85"
+       id="page85"></a>[pg 85]</span>
+
+    <h2>PRINCE CHÉRI</h2>
+
+    <div class="figright"
+         style="width:40%;">
+        <img width="250"
+             src="images/085.png"
+             alt="Prince Cheri" />
+    </div>
+
+    <p>There was once a king who was such an honourable man that
+    his subjects called him "The Good King."</p>
+
+    <p>One day while he was out hunting, a little rabbit that his
+    dogs were about to kill, threw itself into his arms. The King
+    caressed the little creature, and said:</p>
+
+    <p>"As you have put yourself under my protection nobody shall
+    harm you," and he carried the rabbit to his palace, and ordered
+    a pretty little hutch to be made for it.</p>
+
+    <p>That night when he was alone in his room, there appeared a
+    lovely lady. She wore a robe as white as snow, and a wreath of
+    white roses on her head. She addressed him thus:</p>
+
+    <p>"I am the Fairy Candide; I wished to see if you were as good
+    as everybody declares you are, and for this reason I changed
+    myself into the little rabbit, and ran to you in my distress,
+    for I know that those who have pity for dumb creatures have
+    still more pity for mankind. I have come to thank you for what
+    you did and to say that I shall always be your friend, and will
+    grant any request you would now like to make."</p>
+
+    <p>"Madam," replied the King, "I have one only son whom I love
+    <span class="pagenum"><a name="page86"
+       id="page86"></a>[pg 86]</span> devotedly; he is named Prince
+       Chéri; if you have any good will for me, be a friend to my
+       son."</p>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <img width="600"
+             src="images/086.png"
+             alt="The fairy and the king" />
+    </div>
+
+    <p>"Willingly," responded the Fairy, "I will make your son the
+    most handsome prince in the world, or the richest, or the most
+    powerful; choose which you will for him."</p>
+
+    <p>"I desire none of these things," replied the King, "but I
+    shall be very much obliged if you will make him the best of all
+    princes, for what good would it do to him to be handsome, rich,
+    or powerful if he were wicked? You know he would be unhappy,
+    for it is only goodness which brings content."</p>
+
+    <p>"You are right," answered the Fairy, "but that I cannot do;
+    Prince Chéri must himself strive to become good. All that I can
+    <span class="pagenum"><a name="page87"
+       id="page87"></a>[pg 87]</span> promise is that I will give
+       him good advice, and punish him for his faults, if he will
+       not himself correct them."</p>
+
+    <p>And with this the father had to rest content.</p>
+
+    <p>Not long afterwards the good King died, and two days later
+    the Fairy appeared to Prince Chéri.</p>
+
+    <p>"I promised your father to be your friend," she told him;
+    "here is a little gold ring, take care of it, for it is worth
+    more than diamonds. Every time that you are about to do any
+    wrong action it will prick you. If, in spite of the pricks, you
+    continue your bad actions, you will lose my friendship and I
+    shall become your enemy."</p>
+
+    <p>Saying this the Fairy vanished, leaving the Prince very much
+    astonished.</p>
+
+    <p>For some time Chéri behaved so well that the ring did not
+    prick at all, but one day when he returned from the chase,
+    having caught nothing, he felt so ill-humoured, that when his
+    dog Bibi came fawning upon him, he kicked the poor, faithful
+    creature from him. At that moment the ring pricked like a pin
+    running into his finger.</p>
+
+    <p>"What is this?" he exclaimed: "the Fairy must be mocking me,
+    surely I've done no great harm in kicking an animal that
+    annoyed me. What's the use of being ruler of a great empire if
+    I may not treat my dog as I will?"</p>
+
+    <p>"I am not mocking you," he heard in reply to his thoughts;
+    "you have been bad tempered, and you have behaved unkindly to a
+    poor animal who did not deserve such treatment. I know you are
+    higher than a dog, but the advantage of being ruler of a great
+    empire is not in doing all the harm one wishes, but in doing
+    all the good one can."</p>
+
+    <p>Chéri promised to be better, but he did not keep his word,
+    and so the ring often pricked him, sometimes until his finger
+    bled, and at last, in anger, he threw it away.</p>
+
+    <p>Now he thought he would be truly happy, and he gave way to
+    any foolish fancies and wrong wishes that came into his head,
+    until he really became very wicked and was disliked by
+    everyone.</p>
+
+    <p>One day when he was out walking he saw a girl named Zélie,
+    who was so beautiful that he resolved to marry
+    her.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page88"
+       id="page88"></a>[pg 88]</span>
+
+    <p>But Zélie was as good as she was beautiful, and said to
+    him:</p>
+
+    <p>"Sir, I am only a shepherdess and have no fortune, but, in
+    spite of that, I will never marry you, for although I should be
+    a Queen, and you are handsome and rich, your evil behaviour
+    would make me hate you."</p>
+
+    <p>Upon this, Chéri flew into a passion, and ordered his
+    officers to carry Zélie to the Palace, but she was not used
+    unkindly there, for the Prince loved her.</p>
+
+    <p>However, after a while, urged by his foster-brother, a bad
+    man who encouraged Chéri in his wickedness, the young man
+    rushed in a rage to the room in which Zélie was confined,
+    determined that, if she still refused to marry him, the very
+    next day she should be sold as a slave.</p>
+
+    <p>Great was his surprise, on entering the apartment, to find
+    the captive had disappeared, for he carried the key of the door
+    in his pocket.</p>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <a href="images/165.jpg"
+             name="fig165s"
+             id="fig165s"><img width="482"
+             src="images/165s.jpg"
+             alt="ZÉLIE AND THE FAIRY CANDIDE PRINCE CHÉRI" /></a>
+
+        <p><i>Painted by Jennie Harbour</i></p>ZÉLIE AND THE FAIRY
+        CANDIDE "PRINCE CHÉRI"
+    </div>
+
+    <p>Amongst those at the Royal Court was a Councillor named
+    Suliman, a man of a noble mind, who had often dared to tell the
+    Prince of his faults, and had at first been thanked for this,
+    but later on Chéri grew angry that anyone should presume to
+    blame him while all others at the Court were full of flattery
+    and praise, but in his heart of hearts the Prince respected
+    this good man, and this the wicked flatterers knew full well,
+    and therefore feared lest he should come into the Prince's
+    favour.</p>
+
+    <p>So now they falsely said, that it was Suliman who had helped
+    Zélie to escape, and beyond himself with fury, Chéri commanded
+    his foster-brother to send soldiers to bring Suliman to him in
+    chains, like a criminal.</p>
+
+    <p>After giving these orders Chéri retired to his chamber, but
+    scarcely had he entered, when the earth trembled, there came a
+    great clap of thunder, and the Fairy Candide appeared before
+    him.</p>
+
+    <p>"I promised your father," said she in a stern voice, "to
+    give you good advice, and to punish you if you refused to
+    follow it. You have despised my counsels and your crimes have
+    converted you into a monster, the horror of heaven and earth.
+    Now it is time to fulfill my
+    <span class="pagenum"><a name="page89"
+       id="page89"></a>[pg 89]</span> promise of punishment. I
+       condemn you to take the resemblance of the beasts you are
+       like in disposition&mdash;A lion, because of your
+       fury&mdash;a wolf, on account of your greediness&mdash;a
+       serpent, for destroying him who has been your second
+       father&mdash;a bull, by reason of your brutality."</p>
+
+    <div class="figleft"
+         style="width:60%;">
+        <img width="275"
+             src="images/089.png"
+             alt="Zelie" />
+    </div>
+
+    <p>Hardly had the Fairy pronounced these words, when Chéri
+    perceived with horror that his body had been transformed.</p>
+
+    <p>He had a lion's head, a bull's horns, the feet of a wolf,
+    and the tail of a viper. At the same moment he found himself in
+    a forest, and there, after roaming about miserably for some
+    time, he fell into a pit dug by hunters. He was captured and
+    led into the capital of his Kingdom.</p>
+
+    <p>On the way thither instead of acknowledging that he had
+    brought this evil plight upon himself, he bit at his chains,
+    and cursed the Fairy. As he was nearing the city great
+    rejoicings were seen on every side, and, on the hunters
+    enquiring the reason, they were told that Prince Chéri, whose
+    only pleasure it was to torment his people, had been crushed to
+    death <span class="pagenum"><a name="page90"
+       id="page90"></a>[pg 90]</span> in his chamber by a
+       thunder-bolt, a just punishment for his offences. Four of
+       his wicked companions had tried to partition the Kingdom
+       between them, but the people would have none such to rule,
+       and they had offered the crown to the good and wise Suliman.
+       Chéri panted with rage on hearing this, and in the Palace
+       Square he saw Suliman on a superb throne, and all the people
+       who shouted with joy, and wished him a long life to repair
+       the evil brought about by their former sovereign. "I accept
+       the throne," said Suliman, "but it is to preserve it for
+       Prince Chéri. A fairy has revealed to me that he is not
+       dead, and possibly will return to you as virtuous as in his
+       earliest years. Alas!" cried Suliman, bursting into tears,
+       "his flatterers have ruined him, I know that at heart he is
+       good." These words moved Chéri to sorrow for his crimes, and
+       he felt that he had not been punished as severely as he
+       deserved, and he now resolved to amend his faults.</p>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <img width="600"
+             src="images/090.png"
+             alt="Abduction" />
+    </div>
+
+    <p>Therefore he obeyed the man who had charge over him, and who
+    constantly cruelly beat him, and one day when this keeper lay
+    asleep, and a tiger who had broken loose was about to devour
+    him, Chéri fought the fierce beast, and saved the man's
+    life.</p>
+
+    <p>Then a voice was heard saying, "a good action shall be
+    <!--page contained image-->
+     <span class="pagenum"><a name="page92"
+       id="page92"></a>[pg 92]</span> rewarded!" and, to Chéri's
+       joy he was instantaneously transformed into a pretty little
+       dog which the keeper carried to the Queen.</p>
+
+    <p>The Queen was delighted with him, but, for fear he should
+    grow bigger, she gave him only small pieces of bread to eat, so
+    that poor Chéri nearly died of hunger.</p>
+
+    <p>One day he carried his little piece of bread into the garden
+    to eat it there, but wandering with it in his mouth, still
+    further on, he saw a young girl pale and thin, and almost
+    fainting for want of food.</p>
+
+    <p>"I am hungry," thought Chéri, "but if I give my breakfast to
+    this poor thing, perhaps I shall save her life." He placed his
+    bread in the girl's hand, and she ate it hungrily. Just then he
+    heard loud cries, and saw that it was the beautiful Zélie
+    struggling to free herself from four men who were carrying her
+    into a house near by.</p>
+
+    <p>Chéri, longing to help her, followed them barking, and
+    although the men kicked him savagely, he would not leave the
+    place. Presently from a window was thrown a plateful of
+    tempting-looking food. Chéri was just about to devour it, when
+    the girl to whom he had given the bread, rushed forward and
+    throwing her arms around him cried,</p>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <img width="489"
+             src="images/091.png"
+             alt="COME, MY CHILDREN, I AM GOING TO TRANSPORT YOU TO YOUR PALACE." />
+        <br />
+         "COME, MY CHILDREN, I AM GOING TO TRANSPORT YOU TO YOUR
+        PALACE."
+    </div>
+
+    <p>"Poor little dog, do not touch that food, it is poisoned."
+    Just then a voice was heard saying, "You see that a good action
+    meets with reward," and at the same time Chéri was changed into
+    a pretty white pigeon. For several days he flew around hoping
+    to catch sight of Zélie, and at last, seated by a hermit,
+    outside a cave, he found her. Fluttering down he alighted upon
+    her shoulder. Zélie stroked his feathers whispering that she
+    now accepted his gift and would love him always, and at that
+    moment Chéri regained his natural figure, and Fairy Candide
+    appeared in place of the hermit whose form she had taken.
+    "Come, my children," said she, "I am going to transport you to
+    your Palace, that Chéri may receive his crown of which he has
+    now become worthy," and hardly had she ceased speaking, when
+    they found themselves in Suliman's presence. The worthy
+    Governor was delighted to behold his dear master, and gladly
+    resigned the throne to him. Chéri and Zélie reigned long and
+    happily, and we are told that the ring, which the Prince now
+    wore again, never once severely pricked him.</p><br />
+     <br />
+
+    <hr />
+    <br />
+     <br />
+     <span class="pagenum"><a name="page93"
+       id="page93"></a>[pg 93]</span>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <img width="600"
+             src="images/093.png"
+             alt="Rding a wooden horse" />
+    </div>
+
+    <h2>THE WHITE CAT</h2>
+
+    <p>There was once a King who had three sons, all handsome and
+    brave, but it came to his ears that they wished to reign now
+    instead of waiting until he died, he therefore determined to
+    divert their minds by making promises the fulfilment of which
+    he would always be able to evade. So he called them to his room
+    and spoke: "You must agree with me, my dear children, that at
+    my great age I cannot manage the business of my kingdom as I
+    used to do, and as I am intending retiring into the country, it
+    seems to me that a clever, faithful dog would be very good
+    company, and I promise you that whichever brings me the most
+    beautiful little dog at once succeeds to the kingdom."</p>
+
+    <p>The Princes were much surprised to hear their father's wish
+    for a little dog, but agreed with pleasure to go in search of
+    one. They said goodbye to the King, who gave them money and
+    jewels, announcing that in a year he should expect them to
+    return, all on the same day and at the same hour, bringing to
+    him their little
+    dogs.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page94"
+       id="page94"></a>[pg 94]</span>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <img width="513"
+             src="images/094.png"
+             alt="ON A CERTAIN NIGHT, DURING A STORM OF THUNDER AND RAIN," />
+        <br />
+         "ON A CERTAIN NIGHT, DURING A STORM OF THUNDER AND RAIN,
+        HE LOST HIS WAY."
+    </div><span class="pagenum"><a name="page95"
+       id="page95"></a>[pg 95]</span>
+
+    <p>Then the Princes set out, each by a different road, agreeing
+    in a year's time to meet at a certain place a short distance
+    from their home.</p>
+
+    <p>The two elder met with many adventures, but it is only the
+    youngest that we shall follow.</p>
+
+    <p>This youngest Prince was very courteous, merry, clever and
+    accomplished, he was tall, handsome, and all that a prince
+    should be.</p>
+
+    <p>Very seldom a day passed without his buying dogs, little
+    dogs, big dogs, sporting dogs, spaniels, hounds, dogs of all
+    sorts. When he found a beautiful one and then came across a
+    still better, he let the first one go, for being
+    alone&mdash;the Princes had declined to take any
+    attendants&mdash;he could not take charge of thirty or forty
+    thousand dogs.</p>
+
+    <p>He travelled on, keeping to one road, until on a certain
+    night, during a storm of thunder and rain, he lost his way, and
+    after some wandering arrived at a most superb castle where
+    nobody was to be seen but about a dozen hands all holding
+    torches. Other hands pushed him forwards, and guided him
+    through one apartment after another, all so rich in precious
+    stones and beautiful paintings, that it was like
+    enchantment.</p>
+
+    <p>After passing through sixty rooms, the hands stopped him,
+    and here the wet garments of the Prince were taken away, and he
+    was clad in raiment of the most exquisite description. The
+    hands then conducted him into a banqueting hall, where entered
+    a little figure, not two feet high, covered with a long black
+    crepe veil, followed by a great procession of cats.</p>
+
+    <p>The Prince was too much astonished to move. The little
+    figure approached him, raising the veil, and he saw the most
+    beautiful White Cat he had ever beheld.</p>
+
+    <p>Addressing the Prince she said:</p>
+
+    <p>"King's son! welcome! my Feline Majesty sees you with
+    pleasure!"</p>
+
+    <p>"Madame Cat," replied the Prince, "it is very good of you to
+    receive me thus, but you are not an ordinary cat; being able to
+    speak, and possessing this superb castle, are proof of
+    that."</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page96"
+       id="page96"></a>[pg 96]</span>
+
+    <p>After they had conversed a little while, supper was served
+    to them, during which the Prince entertained the Cat by telling
+    her all sorts of news, and he discovered that she was well
+    informed as to what was taking place in the world.</p>
+
+    <p>Supper over, various cats came in, dressed in fancy
+    costumes, and danced a ballet, then the White Cat bid her
+    visitor good-night, and the hands which had conducted him
+    before, led him to a bed-chamber.</p>
+
+    <p>Early the next morning the hands awoke him, and dressing him
+    in a handsome hunting costume, led him to the courtyard, where
+    he found the White Cat upon a splendid monkey, with about five
+    hundred other cats assembled, all ready for the chase; and
+    never had the Prince enjoyed anything so much, for although
+    mounted only upon a wooden horse, he rode at a great pace.</p>
+
+    <p>Day after day passed in such delights as made the Prince
+    almost forget his own country.</p>
+
+    <p>"Alas!" said he to the White Cat again and again, "how sad I
+    shall be to leave you! I love you so dearly! Either become a
+    woman, or change me into a cat!"</p>
+
+    <p>A year passes very quickly when one has no care or trouble,
+    and is enjoying life. But the White Cat knew when the Prince
+    should return home, and reminded him, saying, "Don't you know
+    you have only three days to look for the little dog for your
+    father, and that your brothers will have found the most
+    beautiful?"</p>
+
+    <p>Then the Prince came to himself, and cried, "By what charm
+    have you made me forget what is so important? Where shall I
+    find the dog, and a horse swift enough for such a journey?" And
+    he was in great distress.</p>
+
+    <p>The White Cat comforted him, however, saying that the wooden
+    horse would take him to his journey's end sufficiently quickly,
+    and that she would herself also provide the little dog; then
+    she handed to him a walnut, saying, "Put your ear to this shell
+    and you will hear him barking."</p>
+
+    <p>So the Prince met his brothers, and they came into the
+    King's presence.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page97"
+       id="page97"></a>[pg 97]</span>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <img width="500"
+             src="images/097.png"
+             alt="Three riders" />
+    </div>
+
+    <p>The two elder sons had brought little dogs so delicate and
+    small that one hardly dared to touch them, and none could
+    decide which should have the kingdom. Then the youngest took
+    from his pocket the nut the Cat had given to him, and there was
+    seen a little dog so tiny that it could go through a ring
+    without touching it; he was also able to dance, and play the
+    castanets, while his ears touched the ground. The King was
+    embarassed, for it was impossible to find a flaw in this lovely
+    little creature.</p>
+
+    <p>However as he did not desire to part with his crown, he
+    declared that they had succeeded so well in their first quest
+    that now he should like them to search, by land and sea, for a
+    piece of linen so fine that it would pass through the eye of a
+    very small needle.</p>
+
+    <p>Then the three Princes set out once more, but the youngest
+    mounted his wooden horse and repaired at once to the White Cat,
+    who was rejoiced to see him, and the second year passed by as
+    the first had done.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page98"
+       id="page98"></a>[pg 98]</span>
+
+    <p>When the day came round appointed by the King for the return
+    of his sons, the two elder appeared before him, and, without
+    awaiting the arrival of their brother, displayed their pieces
+    of linen, which were of a fineness quite astonishing. But
+    although they would pass through the eye of a large needle,
+    through the small needle the King had selected they would not
+    go.</p>
+
+    <p>There was much murmuring at this, and while the brothers
+    were disputing the King's decision, a charming sound was heard
+    of trumpets and other musical instruments.</p>
+
+    <p>It was the youngest Prince who arrived in a chariot with
+    out-riders and numerous attendants, all of which had been
+    provided for him by the White Cat.</p>
+
+    <p>After respectfully greeting his father and embracing his
+    brothers, he took out of a jewelled box a nut which he broke.
+    On breaking the nut he found a cherry stone, the stone was
+    broken and there was the kernel, in the kernel was a grain of
+    corn, in the grain of corn a millet seed, and within that a
+    piece of linen so fine that it passed six times through the
+    smallest needle's eye, and moreover on it were exquisite
+    paintings of people and places without number.</p>
+
+    <p>The King heaved a deep sigh, and turning to his children
+    said,</p>
+
+    <p>"Nothing pleases me, in my old age, so much as your
+    deference to my desires, and I wish to prove you once more.
+    Travel for a year, and he who at the end of the year brings
+    home the most beautiful girl shall marry her, and be crowned
+    king on his marriage. I promise you that I will not defer this
+    reward any longer."</p>
+
+    <p>Our Prince saw the injustice of all this; his little dog and
+    piece of linen were worth ten kingdoms, not only one; but he
+    was too well brought up to go against his father's wishes, and,
+    mounting into his chariot, with his retinue, he returned to the
+    White Cat's Castle.</p>
+
+    <p>"Well! King's son!" said the White Cat, "you have returned
+    once more without your crown?"</p>
+
+    <p>"Madam," answered the Prince, "your gifts should have gained
+    it for me, but I am convinced that the King would have more
+    pain in giving it up than I should have pleasure in possessing
+    it!"</p>
+
+    <p>"Never mind," she replied, "you shall not neglect anything
+    <span class="pagenum"><a name="page99"
+       id="page99"></a>[pg 99]</span> that may deserve it; and if
+       you must conduct a beautiful girl to your father's court, I
+       will look for one so that you may gain the prize. Meanwhile
+       let us be happy."</p>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <img width="600"
+             src="images/099.png"
+             alt="King with princes" />
+    </div>
+
+    <p>If the Cat had not taken pains to remember the time when he
+    must return to the court, the Prince would surely have
+    forgotten it. On the evening before, she told him that she
+    would bring him to one of the most beautiful Princesses in the
+    world, that at last the hour had arrived to destroy the fatal
+    work of an evil fairy, and to do this he must make up his mind
+    to cut off her head and tail, which he was at once to throw
+    into the fire.</p>
+
+    <p>"I," cried the Prince, "Blanchette that I love: do you think
+    I <span class="pagenum"><a name="page100"
+       id="page100"></a>[pg 100]</span> should be cruel enough to
+       kill you? No doubt, you wish to prove my heart which will
+       certainly never forget what I owe to you for your
+       kindness."</p>
+
+    <p>"No! King's son," she continued, "I don't think you are
+    ungrateful. Do this that I beseech you, and then we shall begin
+    to be happy with one another, by the faith and honour of a cat,
+    believe that I am truly your friend."</p>
+
+    <p>Tears flowed from the Prince's eyes even at the thought, and
+    he said all that he could to avoid it, but she urged him so
+    vehemently that at last he took his sword and tremblingly cut
+    off the head and tail of his dear friend the Cat.</p>
+
+    <p>In the same moment took place the most marvellous change
+    imaginable.</p>
+
+    <p>The body of the White Cat grew large, and was transformed
+    into that of a girl; how, one could not say; one only knew it
+    was so. Her figure was majestic, her manners charming, her
+    whole appearance beautiful beyond words.</p>
+
+    <p>Then there entered an immense number of lords and ladies,
+    who carrying their cats' skins, or with them thrown across
+    their shoulders, came and cast themselves at the feet of the
+    Queen, expressing their joy at seeing her again in her rightful
+    form.</p>
+
+    <p>She received them all with a kindness which showed the
+    goodness of her heart, and then turning to the Prince she told
+    the story of her life, and how by a wicked enchantment she had
+    been transformed into a White Cat.</p>
+
+    <p>"But it is you, my Prince, who have freed me," she
+    concluded; "as soon as I saw you I knew my troubles were at an
+    end."</p>
+
+    <p>They set out forthwith in a splendid carriage. As they drew
+    near the castle, at the place where the three brothers were to
+    meet, the Queen entered into a little crystal rock ornamented
+    with precious stones, and this was carried by richly dressed
+    young men.</p>
+
+    <p>The Prince who had remained in the carriage, saw his
+    brothers, approaching with wondrously beautiful ladies.</p>
+
+    <p>On being questioned he told them that all he had brought was
+    a little White Cat.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page101"
+       id="page101"></a>[pg 101]</span>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <img width="498"
+             src="images/101.png"
+             alt="THE BODY OF THE WHITE CAT GREW LARGE AND WAS TRANSFORMED" />
+        <br />
+         "THE BODY OF THE WHITE CAT GREW LARGE AND<br />
+         WAS TRANSFORMED INTO THAT OF A GIRL."
+    </div><span class="pagenum"><a name="page102"
+       id="page102"></a>[pg 102]</span>
+
+    <p>They began to laugh at him, and drove on followed by the
+    young Prince, while after him was brought the crystal rock.</p>
+
+    <p>Arrived at the Palace the two elder Princes dismounted with
+    their marvellous Princesses.</p>
+
+    <p>The King received them graciously, and did not know to which
+    to award the prize.</p>
+
+    <p>He looked at his youngest son and said, "This time, then,
+    you have come alone." "Your Majesty will see in this rock a
+    little White Cat who mews sweetly and has soft little velvet
+    paws," answered the Prince.</p>
+
+    <p>The King smiled, and himself went to open the rock. But, as
+    he came near, the Queen, with a touch, made it shatter to
+    pieces, and from out of it she appeared like the sun that has
+    been hidden by clouds; her fair hair was spread over her
+    shoulders, and fell in waves to her feet, and she was robed in
+    a gown of white and rose-colour.</p>
+
+    <p>She made a deep curtsey to the King who, struck with
+    admiration, could not help exclaiming,</p>
+
+    <p>"Here is one who is matchless, and she deserves my
+    crown."</p>
+
+    <p>"Sire," she answered, "I have not come to take away the
+    throne that you fill with such dignity; I was born heir to six
+    kingdoms, allow me to offer you one, and one of them I give to
+    each of your sons. In return all I ask of you is this young
+    Prince for my husband. We shall still have three kingdoms."</p>
+
+    <p>The King and all the Court uttered loud cries of joy. The
+    marriage was at once celebrated, also that of the other two
+    Princes; and in such a manner that the Court spent several
+    months in fętes of all sorts.</p>
+
+    <p>Then each one of them departed to govern his kingdom, the
+    White Cat making herself ever remembered as much by her
+    kindness and generosity as by her rare merit and
+    beauty.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page103"
+       id="page103"></a>[pg 103]</span>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <img width="600"
+             src="images/103.png"
+             alt="Lady waving" />
+    </div>
+
+    <h2>BLUEBEARD</h2>
+
+    <p>In the long ago times, in a splendid house, surrounded by
+    fine gardens and a park, there lived a man who had riches in
+    abundance, and everything to make him popular except one, and
+    that was his beard, for his beard was neither black as a
+    raven's wing, golden as the sunlight, nor just an ordinary
+    every-day colour, but it was blue, bright
+    blue.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page104"
+       id="page104"></a>[pg 104]</span>
+
+    <p>Of course had blue beards come into fashion his would have
+    been considered beautiful beyond words, but, as far as we know,
+    blue beards have never as yet been fashionable, nor are they
+    likely to be so.</p>
+
+    <p>However, in spite of his blue beard this man had married
+    several times, though what had become of his wives nobody could
+    say.</p>
+
+    <p>Now, not far from Bluebeard's house there dwelt a widow with
+    two very lovely daughters, and one of these Bluebeard wished to
+    marry, but which he did not mind, they might settle that
+    between themselves.</p>
+
+    <p>Neither of these girls had the least desire to have a
+    husband with a blue beard, and also, not knowing the fate of
+    the other wives, they did not like to risk disappearing from
+    the world as those had done, but being very polite young women
+    they would not refuse Bluebeard's proposals outright. The
+    younger said, "I would not for a moment take away Sister Anne's
+    chance of marrying such a wealthy man," while Sister Anne
+    declared that, although the elder, she would much prefer to
+    give way to her sister. And so it went on for some time.</p>
+
+    <p>Then Bluebeard invited the widow and her daughters to spend
+    a week with him, and many of their neighbours he also
+    invited.</p>
+
+    <p>Most sumptuous was the entertainment provided for them.
+    Hunting and fishing expeditions, picnics and balls went on from
+    morning till night, and all the night through, so that there
+    was not time even to think of sleep, only feasting and pleasure
+    the whole week long.</p>
+
+    <p>So well, indeed, did the younger sister enjoy this, that by
+    the end of the week she had begun to think perhaps after all
+    her host's beard was not so very blue, and that it would be a
+    fine thing to be the mistress of such a magnificent mansion,
+    and the wife of such a rich husband.</p>
+
+    <p>And so, not long afterwards, there was a grand wedding, and
+    the widow's younger daughter became Mrs. Bluebeard.</p>
+
+    <p>About a month later, Bluebeard told his wife that he must
+    leave her for several weeks, having to travel on business.</p>
+
+    <p>"While I am absent, my dear," said he, "invite your
+    relations <span class="pagenum"><a name="page105"
+       id="page105"></a>[pg 105]</span> and friends and enjoy
+       yourself just as you please in entertaining them. See here
+       are my keys, the keys of the rooms and of the chests where I
+       keep my money, my gold and silver plate, and my jewels.
+       Unlock rooms and chests and use freely what you will."</p>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <img width="600"
+             src="images/105.png"
+             alt="Bleubeard gives key to wife" />
+    </div>
+
+    <p>"This small key," he added, pointing to quite a little one,
+    "is the key of the door at the end of the lower landing, you
+    will not need to use this at all. In fact, should you open that
+    door, or even put <span class="pagenum"><a name="page106"
+       id="page106"></a>[pg 106]</span> this key into the lock, I
+       should be dreadfully angry, indeed I should make you suffer
+       for it in a terrible way."</p>
+
+    <p>Then Bluebeard bid his wife good-bye, and departed.</p>
+
+    <p>As soon as Mrs. Bluebeard's friends and relations knew that
+    her husband was away, they came flocking to visit her, for they
+    longed to see all her splendid possessions, but had feared to
+    come before.</p>
+
+    <p>They could not enough admire the magnificent apartments, and
+    ran from one to another praising everything they beheld.</p>
+
+    <p>But the young wife heeded nothing they said or did, all she
+    thought of was that little key which she must not use,
+    wondering more and more why she ought not to open that one
+    particular door.</p>
+
+    <p>At last she could bear it no longer, but slipping away from
+    her visitors, she ran along the passages and stairs, nearly
+    falling down them, so great was her haste, until she came to
+    that door at the end of the corridor.</p>
+
+    <p>Not pausing an instant, she thrust the key into the lock,
+    and the door sprang open.</p>
+
+    <p>At first she could distinguish nothing, for the room was
+    dark and gloomy, but then, all of a sudden, she knew what had
+    become of Bluebeard's other wives, for there they lay, in a
+    long, straight row, all dead. She stood horrified for a moment
+    or two, gazing at the pale faces, and long hair spread out
+    around them, then picking up the little key which she had taken
+    from the lock but dropped in her fright, she hastily quitted
+    the room, shut and locked the door, and ran to her own chamber
+    to calm herself before returning to her guests. But she was
+    unable to rest for an instant, so dreadful were her feelings;
+    then with terror she noticed that on the key there was a stain.
+    She wiped it with her handkerchief, but alas! it was blood that
+    would not be wiped away. She washed the key and rubbed it, and
+    scraped it and polished it, but all to no purpose, if she
+    succeeded in cleansing one side, the mark came out on the
+    other. For the key was enchanted.</p>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <a href="images/166.jpg"
+             name="fig166s"
+             id="fig166s"><img width="482"
+             src="images/166s.jpg"
+             alt="BLUEBEARD" /></a>
+
+        <p><i>Painted by Jennie Harbour</i></p>BLUEBEARD
+    </div>
+
+    <p>That same evening Bluebeard returned saying he had met the
+    man whom he was wanting to see, and so the long journey was
+    unnecessary, and he was rejoiced to be at home again.</p>
+
+    <p>Next morning he called for the keys; his wife brought them
+    to <span class="pagenum"><a name="page107"
+       id="page107"></a>[pg 107]</span> him, but not the little
+       one; that she left behind. Bluebeard noticed this directly
+       and sent her to fetch it. Trembling, and white as a sheet,
+       she was forced to give it into his hand.</p>
+
+    <p>"Ha! what is this?" he cried, "what is this stain that I
+    see!"</p>
+
+    <p>His poor wife trembled still more, and could not speak.</p>
+
+    <p>"Wretched woman!" shouted Bluebeard, "you have used this
+    key, you have unlocked the door of that room at the end of the
+    passage. You shall die!!!"</p>
+
+    <p>In vain did his wife plead with him to spare her, kneeling
+    before him with tears streaming from her eyes. "You shall die!"
+    he cried again, more savagely than before.</p>
+
+    <p>"Let me have a few moments alone, to prepare for death,"</p>
+
+    <p>"Half a quarter of an hour, but not a moment longer," he
+    replied, and left her.</p>
+
+    <p>The poor young woman hastened to a room at the foot of the
+    turret stairs where was her Sister Anne, and called to her.</p>
+
+    <p>"Sister Anne, Sister Anne, look from the tower window. Can
+    you see no one coming?" And Sister Anne, looking out,
+    answered:</p>
+
+    <p>"Alas! No! Nothing but the green grass, and the sun which
+    shines upon it."</p>
+
+    <p>Bluebeard shouted from below that the time was almost
+    up.</p>
+
+    <p>"Sister Anne, Sister Anne, look once again, can you see no
+    one coming?" whispered the young wife wringing her hands. Her
+    brothers, she knew, were to visit her that day&mdash;if only
+    they would come in time!</p>
+
+    <p>"Alas, No!" Sister Anne replied. "I see a cloud of dust, but
+    it is only a flock of sheep on the road."</p>
+
+    <p>But now Bluebeard bawled out so loudly for his wife to come
+    down, that the whole house shook.</p>
+
+    <p>"Sister Anne, Sister Anne, tell me is no one coming?"</p>
+
+    <p>"I see two horsemen afar off," cried Sister Anne. "I will
+    beckon to them to hasten hither."</p>
+
+    <p>But Bluebeard would wait not a moment longer, and nearly
+    dead with terror his wife descended, still entreating him to
+    spare her life.</p>
+
+    <p>He would not, however, give heed to her prayers, and was
+    just <span class="pagenum"><a name="page108"
+       id="page108"></a>[pg 108]</span> brandishing his sword, so
+       that it might come down straight and true upon her slender
+       neck, when the door burst open and two young army officers
+       came rushing in, whom Bluebeard recognised as the brothers
+       of his wife. He swiftly fled, but they speedily followed,
+       and for his many crimes slew him then and there.</p>
+
+    <p>All his wealth now belonged to his widow, and she gratefully
+    rewarded her brothers by purchasing them commissions in the
+    army; she settled a large sum of money upon her sister, and
+    after a while she married again, and with a good husband lived
+    a happy life.</p>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:80%;">
+        <img width="400"
+             src="images/108.png"
+             alt="Woman at foot of stairs" />
+    </div><br />
+     <br />
+
+    <hr />
+    <br />
+     <br />
+     <span class="pagenum"><a name="page109"
+       id="page109"></a>[pg 109]</span>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <img width="600"
+             src="images/109.png"
+             alt="Mystical figure" />
+    </div>
+
+    <h2>BEAUTY AND THE BEAST</h2>
+
+    <p>Once upon a time, a long while ago, there was a Beast.</p>
+
+    <p>He was a Great Beast, and lived in a Great Castle that stood
+    in the middle of a Great Park, and everybody in the country
+    held the Beast in great fear. In fact everything about the
+    Beast was great; his roar was great and terrific and could be
+    heard for miles around the park, and when he roared the people
+    trembled.</p>
+
+    <p>Nobody ever saw the Beast, which was by no means remarkable,
+    for the Beast never came out of his Park, and no one, I can
+    assure you, ever ventured on to his estate.</p>
+
+    <p>But matters were not allowed to remain like this for ever,
+    for <span class="pagenum"><a name="page110"
+       id="page110"></a>[pg 110]</span> something very wonderful
+       happened to the Beast and to somebody else, and if that
+       something had not happened this story would never have been
+       written.</p>
+
+    <p>About two miles and three quarters from the Castle gates
+    there lived a rich merchant and his three daughters. The two
+    elder girls were ugly disagreeable things, and although they
+    had all they could wish for to make them happy they were always
+    grumbling; but the youngest daughter, whose name was Beauty,
+    was very pretty, and her nature was happy and good, her
+    presence was sunshine, and she was the joy of her father's
+    heart.</p>
+
+    <p>Well, one day the two elder sisters had something to grumble
+    about with a vengeance, for a telegram arrived to say that the
+    merchant was no longer a rich merchant, for he had lost all his
+    money.</p>
+
+    <p>So the horses and carriages had to be sold, and everything
+    that was of value was got rid of, the servants were sent away,
+    and the merchant and his daughters had to do their own
+    work.</p>
+
+    <p>Dear me, it was shocking, the way those two sisters
+    grumbled, but Beauty, oh dear no, she was all smiles, for her
+    heart was as sunny as ever, as she rolled up the sleeves of her
+    print frock, and cooked the dinner, and scrubbed the floors,
+    and made herself useful, here, there, and everywhere.</p>
+
+    <p>Things had been going on like this for about three months,
+    when one fine morning another telegram boy came with another
+    telegram to say that somebody who owed the merchant a great
+    deal of money was ready to pay the debt, and all the merchant
+    had to do was to go to the city and get it.</p>
+
+    <p>Of course, everybody was delighted at this good news, and
+    the merchant didn't waste any time, but started off to the city
+    at once.</p>
+
+    <p>"Mind you bring me something back," said the eldest daughter
+    as he was starting.</p>
+
+    <p>"What shall it be?" asked the merchant.</p>
+
+    <p>"A white satin dress trimmed with lace and pearls," said his
+    eldest daughter.</p>
+
+    <p>"And you must bring me something too, please, father," said
+    the second daughter.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page111"
+       id="page111"></a>[pg 111]</span>
+
+    <p>"And what do you want," asked the merchant.</p>
+
+    <p>"A purse full of gold so that I can buy what I want myself,"
+    said the second daughter.</p>
+
+    <p>"I will try and do what you both ask," he said, "and what
+    shall I bring for my Beauty?"</p>
+
+    <p>"I will wait a little for my dresses and things," replied
+    the smiling Beauty, as she helped her father on with his cloak,
+    "but I should like you to bring me home a rose, a lovely red
+    rose, if you can."</p>
+
+    <p>So her father kissed her, and promised he would bring her
+    the rose, and went on his way full of hopes.</p>
+
+    <p>What a pity it is that our hopes cannot be always realized,
+    and that we are so often doomed to disappointment! When the
+    merchant arrived at the city, to his dismay he found that the
+    man who owed him the money was still unable to pay him, the man
+    had been disappointed himself at the last moment.</p>
+
+    <p>So the unhappy father had to return home without the white
+    satin dress trimmed with lace and pearls, and without the bag
+    of money, and he dreaded meeting his two daughters, for he knew
+    they would be terribly angry.</p>
+
+    <div class="figright"
+         style="width:75%;">
+        <img width="400"
+             src="images/111.png"
+             alt="Beauty and father" />
+    </div>
+
+    <p>Now on his way home from the station to his house he had to
+    pass by part of the wall that surrounded the Great Park where
+    the Great Beast lived in his Great
+    <span class="pagenum"><a name="page112"
+       id="page112"></a>[pg 112]</span> Castle; and as he passed by
+       a corner of the wall what should he see hanging just over
+       the top, and just within his reach if he stood on his toes,
+       but a lovely red rose.</p>
+
+    <p>"At any rate I can take my Beauty what she asked for," he
+    said to himself, and, without so much as giving a thought to
+    the wrong he was doing, he stood on his toes and plucked the
+    rose.</p>
+
+    <p>He was sorry he did it.</p>
+
+    <p>Of a sudden there was a roar, such a roar that the very
+    ground shook, and as to the poor merchant he quivered like a
+    leaf.</p>
+
+    <p>Enough to make him quiver indeed, for a gate in the wall
+    suddenly opened, and out rushed the <i>Beast</i>.</p>
+
+    <p>Yes, the Beast, if you please, and he seized the merchant by
+    the scruff of his neck, and dragged him into the Park, and shut
+    the gate after him.</p>
+
+    <p>"Don't you know it's a sin to steal?" roared the Beast. "How
+    dare you steal my roses? I am going to kill you."</p>
+
+    <p>"Oh, mercy, Mr. Beast," cried the unhappy man, flinging
+    himself on his knees before the monster.</p>
+
+    <div class="figleft"
+         style="width:50%;">
+        <img width="400"
+             src="images/112.png"
+             alt="Frowning women" />
+    </div>
+
+    <p>"I'm going to kill you," roared the Beast still more loudly.
+    "It's taken years to cultivate this sort of rose, and&mdash;and
+    I'm going to kill you. Unless," he added after a pause, "you
+    send me one of your daughters here instead."</p>
+
+    <p>"All right," said the merchant and got on his feet
+    again.</p>
+
+    <p>"She must be here to-morrow by breakfast time, and I
+    breakfast <!--blank page-->
+     <span class="pagenum"><a name="page114"
+       id="page114"></a>[pg 114]</span> early," said the Beast, as
+       he let the merchant out of the gate. "If she is not here, I
+       shall come for you, and don't you forget it."</p>
+
+    <p>It was by no means likely that he would forget it, in fact
+    he could think of nothing else. He hurried home and told his
+    dreadful news, and received a dreadful scolding from his two
+    elder daughters, who were angry at not getting their
+    presents.</p>
+
+    <p>"And it is Beauty's fault that you have got into this
+    trouble," they said. "Beauty and her stupid rose. Beauty had
+    better get you out of the trouble." Beauty said little, but
+    smiled on, with sunshine in her heart, and trust in her loving
+    nature, and cooked the dinner.</p>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <img width="456"
+             src="images/113.png"
+             alt="WHEN SHE CAME TO THE GATE IN THE WALL SHE KNOCKED" /><br />
+
+         "WHEN SHE CAME TO THE GATE IN THE WALL<br />
+         SHE KNOCKED UPON IT THREE TIMES"
+    </div>
+
+    <p>Early next morning when the dawn was breaking she left her
+    father's house, leaving a little note behind her begging him
+    not to be anxious but that she had gone to the Beast's
+    castle.</p>
+
+    <p>When she came to the gate in the wall she knocked upon it
+    three times and it opened as if by magic, for she could see no
+    one. And she stepped into the garden of red roses, and in the
+    distance across the Park she saw the Castle, and she thought
+    she had never seen anything so beautiful. For it was built of
+    mother-of-pearl, and the red and yellow gleams of the rising
+    sun shone upon its glistening walls, and lit them up with a
+    thousand radiant lights.</p>
+
+    <p>Beauty marvelled at the loveliness and walked on. And when
+    she arrived at this beautiful Castle, the huge gates opened as
+    if by magic, and the doors opened as if by magic, for never a
+    soul did she see, nor living thing of any sort.</p>
+
+    <p>And in the great hall was the breakfast table laid for two.
+    It was a nice breakfast with steaming hot dishes, and jams,
+    honey, and hot rolls, and brightly polished silver, and sweet
+    flowers.</p>
+
+    <p>Then the Beast appeared suddenly from behind a curtain; oh,
+    he was an awful Beast, and Beauty's heart beat fast! But he
+    seemed a polite Beast for all that.</p>
+
+    <p>He handed Beauty a chair, and when she had sat down
+    said:</p>
+
+    <p>"I bid you welcome; which do you take, tea or coffee?"</p>
+
+    <p>"Tea please," answered Beauty.</p>
+
+    <p>"Then pour it out," he said, "and I'll take tea too, please.
+    Eggs, do you like eggs hard or
+    soft?"</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page115"
+       id="page115"></a>[pg 115]</span>
+
+    <p>"I always cook mine three minutes and a half," replied
+    Beauty.</p>
+
+    <p>"Half a minute too much, I think. But you shall have just
+    what you like."</p>
+
+    <p>And so she had; not only at the breakfast table but in
+    everything. She had only to express a wish and it was
+    immediately gratified. She had ponies to ride, and dogs and
+    cats, and pet birds, and the most beautiful dresses ever worn
+    by real princesses.</p>
+
+    <p>And if it had not been that she was away from her father she
+    would really have been happy.</p>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <a href="images/167.jpg"
+             name="fig167s"
+             id="fig167s"><img width="490"
+             src="images/167s.jpg"
+             alt="BEAUTY AND THE BEAST" /></a>
+
+        <p><i>Painted by Jennie Harbour</i></p>BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
+    </div>
+
+    <p>The Beast was most kind and attentive to her, and told her
+    that he loved her, and three times a day he asked her to marry
+    him, but Beauty shook her head and said, oh no, she
+    couldn't.</p>
+
+    <p>Well, Beauty had been at the great Castle some time when she
+    began to pine to go home and see her father, and she begged the
+    Beast to let her go.</p>
+
+    <p>"Very good," he said with a great sigh, "you may go home
+    to-day, but promise me that you will be back early to-morrow
+    morning. If you do not come back early I am sure I shall die
+    for I love you so dearly."</p>
+
+    <p>So Beauty promised and went home, and she took presents for
+    her father and her sisters, and when the sisters heard of all
+    the wonderful things at the great Castle, they were envious and
+    jealous, and made up their minds to do Beauty and the Beast a
+    great injury.</p>
+
+    <p>So they mixed something in Beauty's supper that made her
+    sleep nearly all the next day, and so she did not keep her
+    promise. It was evening when she arrived at the gate in the
+    wall, instead of early morning.</p>
+
+    <p>But she knocked three times and the gate opened by magic,
+    and she went through the garden and hurried to the Castle, that
+    shone like fire in the light of the setting sun. And the huge
+    gates opened by magic, and the doors opened by magic, and she
+    stood in the great hall, but there was no Beast there. She
+    searched in all the rooms but he was not there; with fear and
+    anxiety in her heart she ran into the gardens, and there she
+    found him at last. Found him lying stretched out on the grass,
+    and she thought he was
+    dead.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page116"
+       id="page116"></a>[pg 116]</span>
+
+    <p>"Oh, dear darling Beast," she cried, as she threw herself on
+    her knees beside him, and raised his ugly head, "dear Beast, do
+    not die, for I love you with all my heart, and will marry you
+    to-morrow." And she kissed him. Then of a sudden he sprang to
+    his feet, but no longer the Beast, no longer a hideous monster,
+    but a beautiful prince most beautifully dressed. "Dearest," he
+    said, "a wicked fairy turned me into this brute form until a
+    day should come when a good girl like you should tell me that
+    she loved me. And you will marry me to-morrow."</p>
+
+    <div class="figleft"
+         style="width:60%;">
+        <img width="350"
+             src="images/116.png"
+             alt="Beauty and the Beast" />
+    </div>
+
+    <p>"Oh, yes," answered Beauty, "but the wicked fairy could not
+    change your nature. I would have married you if you had
+    remained just as you were."</p>
+
+    <p>And so they married and lived happy ever afterwards, and
+    they took care of Beauty's father until the end of his days; so
+    he was happy, and they forgave the two sisters and gave them
+    fine dresses and jewels, and the two sisters turned over a new
+    leaf and were less selfish, and they were happy, so this is a
+    very happy ending to the story.</p>
+
+    <p>What a pity all stories can't end the same way!</p><br />
+     <br />
+
+    <hr />
+    <br />
+     <br />
+     <span class="pagenum"><a name="page117"
+       id="page117"></a>[pg 117]</span>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:90%;">
+        <img width="500"
+             src="images/117.png"
+             alt="Fairy with ugly baby" />
+    </div>
+
+    <h2>TUFTY RIQUET</h2>
+
+    <p>There was once upon a time a Queen who had the ugliest
+    little baby imaginable, so ugly, indeed, that it was almost
+    impossible to believe he was a little boy at all.</p>
+
+    <p>A fairy, however, assured his mother that the little baby
+    would be very good and clever, saying that she was also giving
+    him a gift which would enable him to make that person whom he
+    loved the best as clever as
+    himself.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page118"
+       id="page118"></a>[pg 118]</span>
+
+    <p>This somewhat consoled the Queen, but still she was very
+    unhappy because her son was so ugly, though no sooner had he
+    begun to speak than he could talk about all sorts of things,
+    and he had such pretty ways that people were charmed with
+    him.</p>
+
+    <p>I forgot to say, that, when he was quite a baby, he had a
+    funny little tuft of hair on his head, so he was called Tufty
+    Riquet, for Riquet was the family name.</p>
+
+    <p>When Riquet was about seven years old, the Queen of a
+    kingdom near by was given two baby daughters, twins, of which
+    one was so exquisitely beautiful that the Queen nearly died of
+    joy when she saw her, and so the fairy, the same one who had
+    given Riquet his gift of cleverness, to keep the Queen from
+    making herself ill with excitement, told her that this little
+    Princess would not be at all clever, indeed she would be as
+    stupid as she was beautiful.</p>
+
+    <div class="figleft"
+         style="width:65%;">
+        <img width="400"
+             src="images/118.png"
+             alt="The queen" />
+    </div>
+
+    <p>The Queen was very much grieved at this, and felt still more
+    troubled when she beheld her other daughter, for the second
+    Princess was extremely ugly.</p>
+
+    <p>"Do not take it too much to heart, madam," remarked the
+    fairy, "for this second daughter will be so clever that it will
+    scarcely be noticed that she is not beautiful."</p>
+
+    <p>"Well, if it must be so, it must," remarked the Queen, "but
+    I should certainly have liked the elder one, who is beautiful,
+    to be just a little bit clever too."</p>
+
+    <p>"I can do nothing as to her mind,
+    <span class="pagenum"><a name="page119"
+       id="page119"></a>[pg 119]</span> madam," replied the fairy,
+       "but for her beauty I can, and as there is nothing I would
+       not do to please you, I will give her a gift so that she can
+       make the one who wins her heart beautiful too."</p>
+
+    <p>As the Princesses grew up, their gifts likewise grew with
+    them, so that everybody spoke about the beauty of the one and
+    the cleverness of the other; but also their defects grew, so
+    that it could not but be noticed that the younger was daily
+    uglier, and the elder day by day became more stupid, until she
+    either said nothing in reply to a question, or something quite
+    silly, and so clumsy was she that she could not arrange four
+    china ornaments on the chimney piece without breaking one, or
+    drink a glass of water without spilling half of it on her
+    frock.</p>
+
+    <p>Although it is a great thing to have beauty, yet the younger
+    generally received more attention in company than her elder
+    sister.</p>
+
+    <p>At first, everybody would gather around the beautiful one
+    admiringly, but before long they would leave her for the clever
+    Princess, to listen to her pleasant conversation; and by the
+    end of a quarter of an hour the elder would be left alone,
+    while the other would be the centre of a group.</p>
+
+    <p>This the elder sister noticed, in spite of her stupidity,
+    and she would gladly have given all her beauty for half the
+    cleverness of her sister, and sometimes the Queen, although
+    full of kindness, would reproach her daughter for her
+    foolishness, which caused the Princess almost to die of
+    grief.</p>
+
+    <p>One day when she had retreated to a wood to brood over her
+    unhappiness, she saw a little man coming towards her. He was
+    uncommonly ugly and unpleasing in appearance, but was very
+    richly dressed.</p>
+
+    <p>It was the young Prince Tufty Riquet, who had fallen in love
+    with the pictures he had seen of her, and had left his father's
+    kingdom for the sake of making her acquaintance.</p>
+
+    <p>Delighted to meet her alone in this manner, he accosted her
+    as courteously as possible, but soon, noticing that she was
+    melancholy, he said:</p>
+
+    <p>"I cannot understand how it is that anyone as beautiful as
+    you <span class="pagenum"><a name="page120"
+       id="page120"></a>[pg 120]</span> are, can be as sad as you
+       appear to be; for I must own, that although I can boast of
+       having seen many beauties, not one have I ever met whose
+       beauty equalled yours."</p>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:80%;">
+        <img width="400"
+             src="images/120.png"
+             alt="Princess" />
+    </div>
+
+    <p>"It pleases you to say so, sir," replied the Princess, and
+    relapsed into silence.</p>
+
+    <p>"Beauty," went on Riquet, "is so delightful that one would
+    give everything for it, and if anyone is beautiful I can't
+    understand anything troubling
+    greatly."</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page121"
+       id="page121"></a>[pg 121]</span>
+
+    <p>"I would rather be as ugly as you," answered the Princess,
+    "and be clever, than as beautiful as I am, and be stupid."</p>
+
+    <p>"To think you are stupid is a sure sign that you have a
+    certain amount of cleverness, madam," replied Riquet.</p>
+
+    <p>"I don't think about that," said the Princess, "but I am
+    quite sure that I am very silly, and the grief of that is
+    killing me."</p>
+
+    <p>"If that is all that troubles you, I can soon put an end to
+    your grief," said Riquet, "for I have the power of giving
+    cleverness to the person whom I love the best, and if only you
+    will marry me, you shall become as clever as you can wish."</p>
+
+    <p>The Princess was greatly astonished, but remained
+    silent.</p>
+
+    <p>"I can see," continued Riquet, "that this proposal is not to
+    your taste, and I am not astonished. I will give you a year to
+    think about it."</p>
+
+    <p>So great was the longing of the Princess to be clever, that
+    she at once promised Riquet to marry him in a year's time, and
+    no sooner had she made the promise than a great change took
+    place in her, and she found she could say all sorts of pleasant
+    things, on all sorts of subjects, in quite an easy manner.</p>
+
+    <p>She at once began a conversation with Riquet, making such
+    brilliant remarks, that he could almost think he had given her
+    all his cleverness and had kept none for himself.</p>
+
+    <p>When the Princess returned to the Palace, everybody was
+    astonished at the sudden and extraordinary change, for, instead
+    of saying stupid things, or just nothing at all, she was now
+    full of beautiful ideas which she expressed most
+    charmingly.</p>
+
+    <p>The report of this transformation was soon spread abroad,
+    and all the young Princes of the neighbouring kingdoms asked
+    for her hand in marriage, but not one did she find altogether
+    suitable.</p>
+
+    <p>However, at last one arrived, who was so powerful, rich,
+    clever and handsome, that she could not help approving of him,
+    and her father, noticing this, told her she was quite free to
+    choose what husband she wished.</p>
+
+    <p>The Princess thanked him, and asked for time to consider the
+    matter.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page122"
+       id="page122"></a>[pg 122]</span>
+
+    <div class="figleft"
+         style="width:65%;">
+        <img width="375"
+             src="images/122.png"
+             alt="Tufty Riquet" />
+    </div>
+
+    <p>Then, to think it over, she went by chance, into the wood
+    where she had met Tufty Riquet.</p>
+
+    <p>While she was walking, deep in thought, she noticed a loud
+    noise beneath her feet, as of many persons hastening to and
+    fro; then, listening attentively, she heard a voice say, "Bring
+    me the saucepan," and another voice cry, "Put some wood on the
+    fire."</p>
+
+    <p>At the same moment the earth opened and she saw a big
+    kitchen full of cooks, and all sorts of things necessary for
+    the making of a magnificent banquet, and everybody hard at
+    work.</p>
+
+    <p>The Princess, astonished at this sight, asked the men for
+    whom they were working.</p>
+
+    <p>"For the Prince Tufty Riquet," answered the head cook, "for
+    to-morrow is his wedding day."</p>
+
+    <p>The Princess, more surprised than ever, all at once
+    recollected that it was just a year ago that very day that she
+    had promised to marry the ugly Tufty
+    Riquet.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page123"
+       id="page123"></a>[pg 123]</span>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <img width="479"
+             src="images/123.png"
+             alt="TO THINK IT OVER SHE WENT INTO THE WOOD." /><br />
+         "TO THINK IT OVER SHE WENT INTO THE WOOD."
+    </div><span class="pagenum"><a name="page124"
+       id="page124"></a>[pg 124]</span>
+
+    <p>The reason that she had not remembered her promise before
+    was that she was foolish when she made it, and in becoming
+    clever she had forgotten all her former stupidities.</p>
+
+    <p>She had only walked on a few steps further, when Riquet
+    appeared before her, magnificently clad, as a Prince about to
+    marry.</p>
+
+    <p>"Here you see me, madam," said he, "keeping my word, and I
+    have no doubt that you also came here to keep yours, and by
+    giving me your hand to make me the happiest of men."</p>
+
+    <p>"I frankly confess," replied the Princess, "that I have not
+    yet made up my mind, and I do not think I can ever do as you
+    wish."</p>
+
+    <p>"You surprise me, madam," said Riquet.</p>
+
+    <p>"I can quite believe that," said the Princess, "and if you
+    were not a good and clever man, I should not know how to act.
+    But you are well aware that it was when I was stupid I promised
+    to marry you, but now, as you may imagine, I am not so easily
+    pleased."</p>
+
+    <p>"Except for my ugliness," said Riquet, "have you anything
+    against me? Do you object to my birth, my character, or my
+    manners?"</p>
+
+    <p>"Not at all," replied the Princess, "I love those things in
+    you."</p>
+
+    <p>"If that is so," answered Riquet, "I shall indeed be made
+    happy, because you can cause me to become the most delightful
+    of men if only you will desire it. For know, madam, the same
+    fairy who at my birth gave me the power to impart cleverness to
+    whomsoever I should love, gave you a gift also, that of being
+    able to render beautiful the one to whom you would grant this
+    favour."</p>
+
+    <p>"If that is the case," exclaimed the Princess, "I desire
+    with all my heart that you might be the most handsome and
+    pleasing Prince in the world."</p>
+
+    <p>No sooner had the Princess uttered these words than her wish
+    was fulfilled, though some say that no change really took place
+    in Riquet, but that the Princess loved him now so much that all
+    his ugliness was seen as beauty by her eyes.</p>
+
+    <p>However that may be, she straightway consented to be his
+    bride, and, as the preparations had already been made, the
+    wedding took place the very next day.</p>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <a href="images/168.jpg"
+             name="fig168s"
+             id="fig168s"><img width="478"
+             src="images/168s.jpg"
+             alt="THE BEAUTIFUL PRINCESS&mdash;TUFTY RIQUET" /></a>
+
+
+        <p><i>Painted by Jennie Harbour</i></p>THE BEAUTIFUL
+        PRINCESS&mdash;"TUFTY RIQUET"
+    </div><br />
+     <br />
+
+    <hr />
+    <br />
+     <br />
+     <span class="pagenum"><a name="page125"
+       id="page125"></a>[pg 125]</span>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <img width="600"
+             src="images/125.png"
+             alt="The wood" />
+    </div>
+
+    <h2>THUMBLING</h2>
+
+    <p>There was once a poor woodman sitting by the fire in his
+    cottage and his wife sat by his side spinning. "How lonely it
+    is," said he, "for you and me to sit here by ourselves without
+    any children to play about and amuse us, while other people
+    seem so happy and merry with their children!" "What you say is
+    very true," said the wife, sighing, and turning her wheel; "how
+    happy should I be if I had but one child! and if it were ever
+    so small, nay, if it were no bigger than my thumb, I should be
+    very happy, and love it dearly." Now it came to pass that this
+    good woman's wish was fulfilled just as she desired; for, some
+    time afterwards, she had a little boy, who was quite healthy
+    and strong, but not much bigger than my thumb.
+    <span class="pagenum"><a name="page126"
+       id="page126"></a>[pg 126]</span> So they said, "Well, we
+       cannot say we have not got what we wished for, and, little
+       as he is, we will love him dearly;" and they called him
+       Thumbling.</p>
+
+    <p>They gave him plenty of food, yet he never grew bigger, but
+    remained just the same size as when he was born; still, his
+    eyes were sharp and sparkling and he soon showed himself to be
+    a clever little fellow, who always knew well what he was about.
+    One day, as the woodman was getting ready to go into the wood
+    to cut fuel, he said, "I wish I had some one to bring the cart
+    after me, for I want to make haste." "Oh, father!" cried
+    Thumbling, "I will take care of that; the cart shall be in the
+    wood by the time you want it." Then the woodman laughed and
+    said, "How can that be? You cannot reach up to the horse's
+    bridle." "Never mind that, father," said Thumbling; "if my
+    mother will only harness the horse, I will get into his ear,
+    and tell him which way to go." "Well," said the father, "we
+    will try for once."</p>
+
+    <p>When the time came, the mother harnessed the horse to the
+    cart, and put Thumbling into its ear; and as he sat there, the
+    little man told the beast how to go, crying out, "Go on," and
+    "Stop," as he wanted; so the horse went on just as if the
+    woodman had driven it himself into the wood. It happened that,
+    as the horse was going a little too fast, and Thumbling was
+    calling out "Gently, gently!" two strangers came up. "What an
+    odd thing that is!" said one, "there is a cart going along, and
+    I heard a carter talking to the horse but can see no one."
+    "That is strange," said the other; "let us follow the cart and
+    see where it goes." So they went on into the wood, till at last
+    they came to the place where the woodman was. Then Thumbling,
+    seeing his father, cried out, "See, father, here I am, with the
+    cart, all right and safe; now take me down." So his father took
+    hold of the horse with one hand, and with the other took his
+    son out of the ear; then he put him down upon a straw, where he
+    sat as merry as you please. The two strangers were all this
+    time looking on, and did not know what to say for wonder. At
+    last one took the other aside and said, "That little urchin
+    will make our fortune if we can get him, and carry him about
+    from town to town as <span class="pagenum"><a name="page127"
+       id="page127"></a>[pg 127]</span> a show; we must buy him."
+       So they went to the woodman and asked him what he would take
+       for the little man: "He will be better off," said they,
+       "with us than with you." "I won't sell him at all," said the
+       father, "my own flesh and blood is dearer to me than all the
+       silver and gold in the world." But Thumbling, hearing of the
+       bargain they wanted to make, crept up his father's coat to
+       his shoulder, and whispered in his ear, "Take the money,
+       father, and let them have me; I'll soon come back to
+       you."</p>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <img width="500"
+             src="images/127.png"
+             alt="Running" />
+    </div>
+
+    <p>So the woodman at last agreed to sell Thumbling to the
+    strangers for a large piece of gold. "Where do you like to
+    sit?" said one of them. "Oh! put me on the rim of your hat,
+    that will be a nice gallery for me; I can walk about there, and
+    see the country as we <span class="pagenum"><a name="page128"
+       id="page128"></a>[pg 128]</span> go along." So they did as
+       he wished; and when Thumbling had taken leave of his father,
+       they carried him away with them. They journeyed on till it
+       began to be dusky, and then the little man said, "Let me get
+       down, I'm tired." So the man took off his hat and set him
+       down on a clod of earth in a ploughed field by the side of
+       the road, But Thumbling ran about amongst the furrows, and
+       at last slipped into a mouse-hole. "Good-night, masters,"
+       said he, "I'm off! mind and look sharp after me the next
+       time." They ran directly to the place, and poked the ends of
+       their sticks into the mouse-hole, but all in vain; Thumbling
+       only crawled further and further in, and at last it became
+       quite dark, so they were obliged to go their way without
+       their prize, as sulky as you please.</p>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <img width="500"
+             src="images/128.png"
+             alt="Looking in the window" />
+    </div><span class="pagenum"><a name="page129"
+       id="page129"></a>[pg 129]</span>
+
+    <p>When Thumbling found they were gone, he came out of his
+    hiding-place. "What dangerous walking it is," said he, "in this
+    ploughed field! If I were to fall from one of these great
+    clods, I should certainly break my neck." At last, by good
+    chance, he found a large empty snail-shell. "This is lucky,"
+    said he, "I can sleep here very well," and in he crept. Just as
+    he was falling asleep he heard two men passing, and one said to
+    the other, "How shall we manage to steal that rich parson's
+    silver and gold?" "I'll tell you," cried Thumbling. "What noise
+    was that?" said the thief, frightened. "I am sure I heard some
+    one speak." They stood still listening, and Thumbling said,
+    "Take me with you, and I'll soon show you how to get the
+    parson's money." "But where are you?" said they. "Look about on
+    the ground," answered he, "and listen where the sound comes
+    from." At last the thieves found him out, and lifted him up in
+    their hands. "You little urchin!" said they, "what can you do
+    for us?" "Why, I can get between the iron window-bars of the
+    parson's house, and throw you out whatever you want." "That's a
+    good thought," said the thieves: "come along, we shall see what
+    you can do."</p>
+
+    <p>When they came to the parson's house, Thumbling slipped
+    through the window-bars into the room, and then called out as
+    loudly as he could bawl, "Will you have all that is here?" At
+    this the thieves were frightened, and said "Softly, softly,
+    speak low that you may not awaken anybody." But Thumbling
+    pretended not to understand them, and bawled out again, "How
+    much will you have? Shall I throw it all out?" Now the cook lay
+    in the next room, and hearing a noise she raised herself in her
+    bed and listened. Meanwhile the thieves were frightened, and
+    ran off to a little distance; but at last they plucked up
+    courage, and said, "The little urchin is only trying to make
+    fools of us." So they came back and whispered softly to him,
+    saying, "Now, let us have no more of your jokes, but throw out
+    some of the money." Then Thumbling called out as loudly as he
+    could, "Very well; hold out your hands, here it comes." The
+    cook heard this quite plainly, so she sprang out of bed and ran
+    to open the door. The thieves rushed off as if a wolf were at
+    their heels; <span class="pagenum"><a name="page130"
+       id="page130"></a>[pg 130]</span> and the maid, having groped
+       about and found nothing, went away for a light. By the time
+       she returned, Thumbling had slipped off into the barn; and
+       when the cook had looked about and searched every hole and
+       corner, and found nobody, she went to bed, thinking she must
+       have been dreaming with her eyes open. The little man
+       crawled about in the hay-loft, and at last found a glorious
+       place to finish his night's rest in; so he laid himself
+       down, meaning to sleep till daylight, and then find his way
+       home to his father and mother. But, alas! how cruelly was he
+       disappointed! what crosses and sorrows happen in this world!
+       The cook got up early, before daybreak, to feed the cows:
+       she went straight to the hay loft, and carried away a large
+       bundle of hay with the little man in the middle of it fast
+       asleep. He still, however, slept on, and did not wake till
+       he found himself in the mouth of the cow, who had taken him
+       up with a mouthful of hay: "Good lack-a-day!" said he, "how
+       did I manage to tumble into the mill?" But he soon found out
+       where he really was, and was obliged to have all his wits
+       about him in order that he might not get <!--blank page-->
+     <span class="pagenum"><a name="page132"
+       id="page132"></a>[pg 132]</span> between the cow's teeth,
+       and so be crushed to death. At last she swallowed him down.
+       "It is rather dark here," said he; "they forgot to build
+       windows in this room to let the sun in; a candle would be no
+       bad thing."</p>
+
+    <div class="figleft"
+         style="width:70%;">
+        <img width="400"
+             src="images/130.png"
+             alt="Thumbling getting small" />
+    </div>
+
+    <p>Though he made the best of his bad luck, he did not like his
+    quarters at all; and the worst of it was, that more and more
+    hay was always coming down, and the space in which he was
+    became smaller and smaller. At last he cried out as loudly as
+    he could, "Don't bring me any more hay! Don't bring me any more
+    hay!" The maid happened to be just then milking the cow, and
+    hearing someone speak and seeing nobody, and yet being quite
+    sure it was the same voice that she had heard in the night, she
+    was so much frightened that she fell off her stool and overset
+    the milk-pail. She ran off as fast as she could to her master,
+    the parson, and said, "Sir, sir, the cow is talking!" But the
+    parson said, "Woman, thou art surely mad!" However, he went
+    with her into the cow-house to see what was the matter.
+    Scarcely had they set their feet on the threshold when
+    Thumbling called out, "Don't bring me any more hay!" Then the
+    parson himself was frightened; and thinking the cow was surely
+    bewitched, ordered that she should be killed directly. So the
+    cow was killed, and the part in which Thumbling lay was thrown
+    away.</p>
+
+    <p>Thumbling soon set himself to work to get out, which was not
+    a very easy task; but at last, just as he had made room to get
+    his head through, a new misfortune befell him: a hungry wolf
+    passed by and swallowed Thumbling and all, at a single gulp,
+    and ran away. Thumbling, however, was not disheartened; and
+    thinking the wolf would not dislike having some chat with him
+    as he was going along, he called out, "My good friend, I can
+    show you a famous treat." "Where's that?" said the wolf. "In
+    such and such a house," said Thumbling, describing his father's
+    house, "you can crawl through the drain into the kitchen, and
+    there you will find cakes, ham, beef, and everything your heart
+    can desire." The wolf did not want to be asked twice; so that
+    very night he went to the house and crawled through the drain
+    into the kitchen, and ate and drank there
+    <span class="pagenum"><a name="page133"
+       id="page133"></a>[pg 133]</span> to his heart's content. As
+       soon as he was satisfied, he wanted to get away; but he had
+       eaten so much that he could not get out the same way that he
+       came in. This was just what Thumbling had reckoned upon; and
+       he now began to set up a great shout, making all the noise
+       he could. "Will you be quiet?" said the wolf, "you'll awaken
+       everybody in the house." "What's that to me?" said the
+       little man, "you have had your frolic, now I've a mind to be
+       merry myself;" and he began again singing and shouting as
+       loudly as he could.</p>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <img width="457"
+             src="images/131.png"
+             alt="THE WOODMAN AND HIS WIFE, BEING AWAKENED BY THE NOISE," />
+        <br />
+         "THE WOODMAN AND HIS WIFE, BEING AWAKENED BY THE
+        NOISE,<br />
+         PEEPED THROUGH A CRACK IN THE DOOR."
+    </div>
+
+    <p>The woodman and his wife, being awakened by the noise,
+    peeped through a crack in the door; but when they saw that the
+    wolf was there, you may well suppose that they were terribly
+    frightened; and the woodman ran for his axe, and gave his wife
+    a scythe. "Now do you stay behind," said the woodman; "and when
+    I have knocked him on the head, do you cut him open with the
+    scythe." Thumbling heard all this, and said, "Father, father! I
+    am here; the wolf has swallowed me;" and his father said,
+    "Heaven be praised! we have found our dear child again;" and he
+    told his wife not to use the scythe, for fear she should hurt
+    him. Then he aimed a great blow, and struck the wolf on the
+    head, and killed him on the spot; and when he was dead they cut
+    open his body and set Thumbling free. "Ah!" said the father,
+    "what fears we have had for you!" "Yes, father," answered he,
+    "I have travelled all over the world, since we parted, in one
+    way or other; and now I am very glad to get fresh air again."
+    "Why, where have you been?" said the father. "I have been in a
+    mouse-hole, in a snail-shell, down a cow's throat, and inside
+    the wolf; and yet here I am again safe and sound." "Well," said
+    they, "we will not sell you again for all the riches in the
+    world." So they hugged and kissed their dear little son, and
+    gave him plenty to eat and drink, and fetched new clothes for
+    him, for his old ones were quite spoiled on his
+    journey.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page134"
+       id="page134"></a>[pg 134]</span>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <img width="500"
+             src="images/134.png"
+             alt="From THE GOOSE GIRL" /><br />
+        <br />
+         From "THE GOOSE GIRL"
+    </div><span class="pagenum"><a name="page135"
+       id="page135"></a>[pg 135]</span> <br />
+     <br />
+
+    <hr class="full" />
+    <br />
+     <br />
+
+
+    <h3>THE RAPHAEL HOUSE LIBRARY OF GIFT BOOKS</h3>
+
+    <h3><i>FOR BOYS AND GIRLS</i></h3>
+
+    <h4>THIRTY BEAUTIFUL VOLUMES</h4>
+
+    <h4>Edited by CAPTAIN EDRIC VREDENBURG</h4>
+
+    <h4>Pictorial Boards, Cloth Back. Cloth, Bevelled Gilt
+    Edges</h4>
+
+    <p>A charming series of delightful volumes that have certainly
+    taken a foremost place amongst the cherished classics for young
+    people. Each book embodies a distinct feature, all are
+    carefully compiled, and appeal alike to children and their
+    elders. The tales are told by able authors of to-day and
+    celebrated writers of past years, with lavish and excellent
+    illustrations by popular artists. The volumes are bound in
+    attractive covers.</p>
+
+    <div class="figright"
+         style="width:50%;">
+        <img width="300"
+             src="images/135.png"
+             alt="From Children's Stories from Old British Legends." /><br />
+
+         <i>From "Children's Stories from Old British Legends."</i>
+    </div>
+
+    <h3>CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM OLD BRITISH LEGENDS</h3>
+
+    <h5>BY M. DOROTHY BELGRAVE AND HILDA HART.</h5>
+
+    <h5>ILLUSTRATED BY HARRY G. THEAKER.</h5>
+
+    <p>These ancient legends of England, Scotland, Wales, and
+    Ireland, delightfully narrated and brilliantly illustrated,
+    constitute a volume which may well claim to be amongst the most
+    beautiful books of this beautiful series. Printed on rough art
+    paper. 10 full-page colour plates, 144 pp. letterpress,
+    4to.</p><br />
+     <br />
+
+    <hr />
+    <br />
+     <br />
+     <span class="pagenum"><a name="page136"
+       id="page136"></a>[pg 136]</span>
+
+    <h3>MY BOOK OF FAVOURITE FAIRY TALES</h3>
+
+    <h5>STORIES RE-TOLD BY CAPT. EDRIC VREDENBURG AND OTHERS.</h5>
+
+    <h5>ILLUSTRATED BY JENNIE HARBOUR.</h5>
+
+    <p>The well-known stories of "Cinderella," "Beauty and the
+    Beast," "Red Riding Hood," etc., etc. Popular tales that are
+    ever in demand, sumptuously illustrated with exquisitely
+    decorative and highly original designs. Printed on rough art
+    paper. 12 full-page colour plates. 144 pp. letterpress, crown
+    4to.</p>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <i>From<br />
+         "My Book of Favourite Fairy Tales."</i><img width="600"
+             src="images/025.png"
+             alt="FromMy Book of Favourite Fairy Tales." />
+    </div>
+
+    <h3>HANS ANDERSEN'S FAIRY TALES</h3>
+
+    <h5>ILLUSTRATED BY MABEL LUCIE ATTWELL</h5>
+
+    <p>Dainty grace and quaint charm pervade this exquisite edition
+    of a selection from the beloved fairy tales. Numerous black and
+    white drawings. Printed on rough art paper. 12 full-page colour
+    plates. 144 pp. letterpress, crown 4to.</p>
+
+    <h3>GRIMM'S FAIRY TALES</h3>
+
+    <h5>ILLUSTRATED BY MABEL LUCIE ATTWELL</h5>
+
+    <p>New editions of these famous stories are ever acceptable,
+    and in these illustrations Mabel Lucie Attwell has excelled
+    herself, so admirably has she depicted the conceptions of the
+    famous writers. Printed on rough art paper. 12 full-page colour
+    plates. 144 pp. letterpress, crown
+    4to.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page137"
+       id="page137"></a>[pg 137]</span>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <img width="600"
+             src="images/137.png"
+             alt="From Animal Legends from many Lands." /><br />
+         <i>From "Animal Legends from many Lands."</i>
+    </div>
+
+    <h3>ANIMAL LEGENDS FROM MANY LANDS</h3>
+
+    <h5>BY ROSE YEATMAN WOOLF</h5>
+
+    <h5>ILLUSTRATED BY EDWIN NOBLE</h5>
+
+    <p>Truly splendid stories illustrative of the cunning of the
+    Fox, the greediness of the Wolf, the obstinacy of the Mule, and
+    other fancifully descriptive tales of the ways and doings of
+    the inhabitants of the Animal Kingdom. These stories, as the
+    title of the volume indicates, are collected from the legendary
+    lore of many lands. The pictures are in the artist's most
+    spirited and powerful style. Printed on rough art paper. 12
+    full-page colour plates. 144 pp. letterpress, crown
+    4to.</p><br />
+
+
+    <h3>ĆSOP'S FABLES</h3>
+
+    <h5>ILLUSTRATED BY EDWIN NOBLE</h5>
+
+    <p>A magnificent edition of these ever-applicable and
+    world-famed Fables, strikingly pictured with excellent coloured
+    and black and white drawings, and forming a most desirable
+    volume alike for young and old, and a handsome addition to any
+    library. Printed on rough art paper, 12 full-page colour
+    plates. 144 pp. letterpress, crown
+    4to.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page138"
+       id="page138"></a>[pg 138]</span>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <p class="author">From "Tales of King Arthur and the
+        Knights of the Round Table."</p><img width="600"
+             src="images/138.png"
+             alt="From Tales of King Arthur" />
+    </div>
+
+    <h3>TALES OF KING ARTHUR<br />
+     AND THE KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE</h3>
+
+    <h5>BY DORIS ASHLEY</h5>
+
+    <h5>ILLUSTRATED BY ARTHUR A. DIXON.</h5>
+
+    <p>A particularly apt selection from the marvellous exploits of
+    the Knights of the Round Table, related in thrilling language
+    and illustrated in an ideal manner with pictures in colour and
+    black and white. A perfect present for a boy or girl. Printed
+    on rough art paper. 12 full-page colour plates. 144 pp.
+    letterpress, crown 4to.</p>
+
+    <h3>GLORIOUS BATTLES OF ENGLISH HISTORY</h3>
+
+    <h5>BY MAJOR C.H. WYLLY</h5>
+
+    <h5>WITH FOREWORD BY SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE</h5>
+
+    <h5>ILLUSTRATED BY HARRY PAYNE</h5>
+
+    <p>Books of Battles are ever popular, and this one, with its
+    well-chosen incidents, told in an easy and interesting style by
+    an officer of the British Army, and its inspiring foreword,
+    will take a high rank and be greatly in demand particularly
+    amongst that large section of the public to whom fact appeals
+    so much more strongly than fiction. The illustrator has spared
+    no pains in making his pictures worthy of their subject.
+    Printed on rough art paper. 12 full-page colour plates and
+    numerous black and white drawings. 144 pp. letterpress, crown
+    4to.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page139"
+       id="page139"></a>[pg 139]</span>
+
+    <h3>CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM SHAKESPEARE</h3>
+
+    <h5>BY E. NESBIT; AND</h5>
+
+    <h3>WHEN SHAKESPEARE WAS A BOY</h3>
+
+    <h5>BY DR. F.J. FURNIVALL, M.A.</h5>
+
+    <h5>NEW EDITION</h5>
+
+    <p>This book brings before the minds of children, in a most
+    attractive manner, many of the great dramatic poet's works,
+    acquainting them with the characters and plots of the plays in
+    a delicate way, and in a style that is certain to make them
+    long for the time when they shall read the whole for
+    themselves. The introductory history by Dr. Furnivall is full
+    of charm and instruction. This entirely new edition has
+    full-page colour and black and white drawings by John H. Bacon,
+    A.R.A., Arthur Dixon, Howard Davie and Harold Copping. Printed
+    on rough art paper. 10 full-page colour plates. 144 pp.
+    letterpress, crown 4to.</p>
+
+    <h3>CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM TENNYSON</h3>
+
+    <h5>BY NORA CHESSON</h5>
+
+    <h5>NEW EDITION</h5>
+
+    <p>The most popular poems of Tennyson, "The Lily Maid," "Lady
+    Clare," "The Lord of Burleigh," "The Story of King Arthur,"
+    etc., etc., retold in prose, and so introducing to the minds of
+    young people the great poet's works, and familiarising them
+    with his celebrated characters. This is a new edition, with
+    additional beautiful illustrations in colour and black and
+    white by John H. Bacon, A.R.A., Gordon Browne, R.I., Arthur
+    Dixon and others. Printed on rough art paper. 10 full-page
+    colour plates. 144 pp. letterpress, crown 4to.</p>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <img width="600"
+             src="images/139.png"
+             alt="From Children's Stories from Tennyson." />
+
+        <p class="author"><i>From "Children's Stories from
+        Tennyson."</i></p>
+    </div><span class="pagenum"><a name="page140"
+       id="page140"></a>[pg 140]</span>
+
+    <div class="figleft"
+         style="width:50%;">
+        <p class="author"><i>From "Children's Stories from Italian
+        Fairy Tales."</i></p><img width="300"
+             src="images/140.png"
+             alt="From Children's Stories from Italian Fairy Tales." />
+    </div>
+
+    <h3>CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM ITALIAN FAIRY TALES AND
+    LEGENDS</h3>
+
+    <h5>BY LILIA ROMANO</h5>
+
+    <h5>ILLUSTRATED BY HOWARD DAVIE</h5>
+
+    <p>Their charm enhanced by the numerous characteristic
+    illustrations, these stories, with their vivid local colouring,
+    gathered from the fairy tales and folk-lore of lovely Italy,
+    translated and retold, form a truly magnificent volume. Printed
+    on rough art paper. 12 full-page colour plates. 144 pp.
+    letterpress, crown 4to.</p><br />
+
+
+    <h3>CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM JAPANESE FAIRY TALES AND
+    LEGENDS</h3>
+
+    <h5>BY N. KATO</h5>
+
+    <h5>ILLUSTRATED BY HARRY G. THEAKER</h5>
+
+    <p>The stories most sympathetic to the feelings of the
+    English-reading juvenile public have been collected and
+    translated, and the book, with its fascinating illustrations in
+    colour and black and white, has proved a valuable addition to
+    the series. Printed on rough art paper. 10 full-page colour
+    plates. 144 pp. letterpress, crown 4to.</p>
+
+    <h3>CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM RUSSIAN FAIRY TALES AND
+    LEGENDS</h3>
+
+    <h5>ILLUSTRATED BY A.A. DIXON</h5>
+
+    <p>Translated from the original, and adapted by Miss Seraphima
+    Pulman, these stories are truly charming, while they are
+    valuable as giving an insight into Russian life and habits. The
+    illustrations possess all that delicacy and beauty which is
+    characteristic of the artist. Printed on rough art paper. 12
+    full-page colour plates. 144 pp. letterpress, crown 4to.</p>
+
+    <h3>CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM INDIAN LEGENDS</h3>
+
+    <h5>BY M. DOROTHY BELGRAVE AND HILDA HART</h5>
+
+    <h5>ILLUSTRATED BY HARRY G. THEAKER</h5>
+
+    <p>Written with much feeling and charm, while the artist has
+    delineated the episodes with strikingly beautiful drawings in
+    colour and black and white, this book is also popular as
+    furthering the knowledge of a land and people so closely bound
+    in the heart of the British Empire. Printed on rough art paper.
+    12 full-page colour plates. 144 pp. letterpress, crown
+    4to.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page141"
+       id="page141"></a>[pg 141]</span>
+
+    <h3>CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM FRENCH FAIRY TALES</h3>
+
+    <h5>BY DORIS ASHLEY</h5>
+
+    <h5>ILLUSTRATED BY MABEL LUCIE ATTWELL</h5>
+
+    <p>Tales to be read with breathless interest, so full of
+    incident and romance are they, and in dealing with them the
+    writer has shown consummate tact, both in her choice of stories
+    and her manner of handling them, and this, combined with the
+    wholly fascinating illustrations, in colour and black and
+    white, has resulted in an altogether lovely volume. Printed on
+    rough art paper. 12 full-page colour plates. 144 pp.
+    letterpress, crown 4to.</p>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <p><i>From "Children's Stories from French Fairy
+        Tales"</i></p>
+
+        <p>&nbsp;</p><img width="600"
+             src="images/141.png"
+             alt="From Children's Stories from French Fairy Tales" />
+    </div>
+
+    <h3>CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM THE NORTHERN LEGENDS</h3>
+
+    <h5>BY M. DOROTHY BELGRAVE AND HILDA HART</h5>
+
+    <h5>ILLUSTRATED BY HARRY G. THEAKER</h5>
+
+    <p>Those entrancing legends of the Icelandic and Scandinavian
+    poets are here recounted in a cohesive and lucid style suitable
+    for boys and girls, thus in an easy way introducing the famous
+    and fantastic heroes and heroines of Norse Mythology. The
+    beautiful colour pictures, with the black and white drawings,
+    are full of poetry and interest. Printed on rough art paper. 12
+    full-page colour plates. 144 pp. letterpress, crown
+    4to.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page142"
+       id="page142"></a>[pg 142]</span>
+
+    <div class="figleft"
+         style="width:60%;">
+        <img width="400"
+             src="images/142.png"
+             alt="From Alice in Wonderland" />
+
+        <p class="author"><i>From<br />
+         "Alice in Wonderland"</i></p>
+    </div>
+
+    <h3>CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM LONGFELLOW</h3>
+
+    <h5>BY DORIS ASHLEY</h5>
+
+    <h5>(NEW EDITION)</h5>
+
+    <p>An admirable collection of the most famous poems,
+    delightfully translated into prose, and profusely illustrated
+    with exquisite pictures in colour and black and white by Harold
+    Copping, A. Dixon, M. Bowley and others, rendering the readers
+    anxious for, and appreciative of, such poems as "The Golden
+    Legend," "Evangeline," and "Hiawatha," which, with other
+    favourites, are placed before them in this attractive guise. To
+    this new edition more pictures have been added. Printed on
+    rough art paper. 10 full-page colour plates. 144 pp.
+    letterpress, crown 4to.</p>
+
+    <h3>CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM ENGLISH HISTORY</h3>
+
+    <h5>TOLD BY E. NESBIT AND DORIS ASHLEY</h5>
+
+    <p>Some of the most noteworthy and interesting historical
+    events woven into entertaining stories, and so of great value
+    in indelibly impressing them upon the mind. The volume is
+    charmingly illustrated throughout by the late John H. Bacon,
+    A.R.A., Howard Davie, M. Bowley, and other popular artists.
+    Printed on rough art paper. 9 full-page colour plates. 144 pp.
+    letterpress, crown 4to.</p>
+
+    <h3>CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM THE POETS</h3>
+
+    <h5>BY M. DOROTHY BELGRAVE AND HILDA HART</h5>
+
+    <h5>ILLUSTRATED BY FRANK ADAMS</h5>
+
+    <p>Characters and incidents in the works of Chaucer, Pope,
+    Keats, Milton, Browning, and other great poets, teeming with
+    interest, and with which all minds should be conversant, are
+    here presented in extremely fascinating prose narrative,
+    beautifully illustrated in colour and black and white by Frank
+    Adams. Printed on rough art paper. 12 full-page colour plates.
+    144 pp. letterpress, crown 4to.</p>
+
+    <h3>ALICE IN WONDERLAND</h3>
+
+    <h5>ILLUSTRATED BY MABEL LUCIE ATTWELL</h5>
+
+    <p>An exceptionally attractive edition of the popular Fairy
+    Tale by Lewis Carroll, characteristically and charmingly
+    illustrated with many black and white drawings and full-page
+    colour plates. This story, which will hold its own as long as
+    dreams are dreamed, is here presented in a worthy setting, and
+    one which will meet with universal approbation. Printed on
+    rough art paper. 12 full-page colour plates. 152 pp.
+    letterpress, crown
+    4to.</p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page143"
+       id="page143"></a>[pg 143]</span>
+
+    <h3>CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM DICKENS</h3>
+
+    <h5>BY MARY ANGELA DICKENS</h5>
+
+    <h5>ILLUSTRATED BY HAROLD COPPING</h5>
+
+    <p>The child interest from some of Dickens' masterpieces is
+    here depicted afresh, and told in simple and charming language
+    by his grand-daughter, Mary Angela Dickens, and other writers,
+    with an introduction by Percy Fitzgerald, the friend of, and
+    eminent authority on, Charles Dickens. The stories of Little
+    David Copperfield, Little Nell, Tiny Tim, Little Paul Dombey,
+    etc., etc., are here narrated, all being profusely illustrated.
+    Printed on rough art paper 11 full-page coloured plates. 144
+    pp. letterpress, crown 4to.</p>
+
+    <h3>CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM SCOTT</h3>
+
+    <h5>BY DORIS ASHLEY</h5>
+
+    <h5>ILLUSTRATED BY HAROLD C. EARNSHAW</h5>
+
+    <p>The histories of Sir Walter Scott's most popular characters
+    condensed into short stories, and thus adapted as an
+    interesting introduction to the Scott classics, so worthily
+    considered a part of the education of every up-to-date boy and
+    girl. These tales are admirably illustrated with numerous
+    drawings in colour and black and white. Printed on rough art
+    paper. 12 full-page colour plates. 144 pp. letterpress, crown
+    4to.</p>
+
+    <h3>CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS</h3>
+
+    <h5>BY ROSE YEATMAN WOOLF</h5>
+
+    <h5>ILLUSTRATED BY HARRY G. THEAKER</h5>
+
+    <p>An admirable collection of the most popular tales, carefully
+    compiled so as to form an entirely delightful and charming
+    volume. The book is beautifully illustrated with pictures
+    gorgeous in their Eastern colours, and innumerable black and
+    white drawings. Printed on rough art paper. 12 full-page colour
+    plates. 144 pp. letterpress, crown 4to.</p>
+
+    <div class="figcenter"
+         style="width:100%;">
+        <p class="author"><i>From<br />
+         "Children's<br />
+         Stories from<br />
+         Dickens"</i></p><img width="600"
+             src="images/143.png"
+             alt="From Children's Stories from Dickens" />
+    </div><span class="pagenum"><a name="page144"
+       id="page144"></a>[pg 144]</span>
+
+    <h3>THE RAPHAEL HOUSE LIBRARY OF GIFT BOOKS</h3>
+
+    <h5>Edited by CAPTAIN EDRIC VREDENBURG</h5>
+
+    <blockquote class="note">
+        <p>Thirty beautiful Volumes, profusely illustrated in
+        colour and black and white. Pictorial Boards, Cloth Back,
+        or Cloth. Bevelled, Gilt Edges. Crown 4to.</p>
+
+        <p><b>TALES OF THE ALHAMBRA</b>. By WASHINGTON IRVING.
+        Illustrated by H.M. BROCK. 12 full-page colour plates.
+        144pp.</p>
+
+        <p>"<b>ANIMAL LEGENDS FROM MANY LANDS</b>." By ROSE YEATMAN
+        WOOLF. Illustrated by EDWIN NOBLE. 12 full-page colour
+        plates. 144 pp.</p>
+
+        <p><b>TALES OF KING ARTHUR AND THE KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND
+        TABLE</b>. By DORIS ASHLEY. Illustrated by A.A. DIXON. 12
+        full-page colour plates. 144 pp.</p>
+
+        <p><b>MY BOOK OF FAVOURITE FAIRY TALES</b>. By CAPT. EDRIC
+        VREDENBURG and others. Illustrated by JENNIE HARBOUR. 12
+        full-page colour plates. 144pp.</p>
+
+        <p><b>CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM OLD BRITISH LEGENDS</b>. By
+        M. DOROTHY BELGRAVE and HILDA HART. Illustrated by HARRY G.
+        THEAKER. 10 full-page colour plates. 144 pp.</p>
+
+        <p><b>CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM FRENCH FAIRY TALES</b>. By
+        DORIS ASHLEY. Illustrated by MABEL LUCIE ATTWELL. 12
+        full-page colour plates. 144 pp.</p>
+
+        <p><b>CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM ITALIAN FAIRY TALES AND
+        LEGENDS</b>. By LILIA ROMANO. Illustrated by HOWARD DAVIE
+        12 full-page colour plates. 144pp.</p>
+
+        <p><b>CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM INDIAN LEGENDS</b>. By M.
+        DOROTHY BELGRAVE and HILDA HART. Illustrated by H.G.
+        THEAKER. 12 full-page colour plates. 144pp.</p>
+
+        <p><b>CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM JAPANESE FAIRY TALES AND
+        LEGENDS</b>. Translated and adapted by N. KATO. Illustrated
+        by H.G. THEAKER. 10 full-page colour plates. 144 pp.</p>
+
+        <p><b>CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM ROUMANIAN FAIRY TALES AND
+        LEGENDS</b> By Dr. M. GASTER, Ph.D., late President of the
+        English Folk-lore Society, &amp;c. Illustrated by C.E.
+        BROCK. 12 full-page colour plates. 144 pp.</p>
+
+        <p><b>CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM RUSSIAN FAIRY TALES AND
+        LEGENDS</b>. Translated and adapted by SERAPHIMA PULMAN.
+        Illustrated by ARTHUR A. DIXON. 12 full-page colour plates.
+        144pp.</p>
+
+        <p><b>CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM THE NORTHERN LEGENDS</b>. By
+        M. DOROTHY BELGRAVE and HILDA HART. Illustrated by HARRY G.
+        THEAKER. 12 full-page colour plates. 152 pp.</p>
+
+        <p><b>CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM SCOTT</b>. By DORIS ASHLEY.
+        Illustrated by HAROLD C. EARNSHAW. 12 full-page colour
+        plates. 144 pp.</p>
+
+        <p><b>CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM THE POETS</b>. By M. DOROTHY
+        BELGRAVE and HILDA HART. Illustrated by FRANK ADAMS. 12
+        full-page colour plates. 152pp.</p>
+
+        <p><b>CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM ENGLISH HISTORY</b>. By E.
+        NESBIT and DORIS ASHLEY. Illustrated by JOHN H. BACON,
+        A.R.A., HOWARD DAVIE, and others. 9 full-page colour
+        plates. 144pp.</p>
+
+        <p><b>CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS</b>. By
+        ROSE YEATMAN WOOLF. Illustrated by H.G. THEAKER 12
+        full-page colour plates. 144 pp.</p>
+
+        <p><b>CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM DICKENS</b>. By MARY ANGELA
+        DICKENS. Illustrated by HAROLD COPPING. 11 full-page colour
+        plates. 144 pp.</p>
+
+        <p><b>CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM SHAKESPEARE</b>. By E.
+        NESBIT. Illustrated by J.H. BACON, A.R.A., HOWARD DAVIE,
+        and H. COPPING. 10 full-page colour plates. 144 pp.</p>
+
+        <p><b>CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM TENNYSON</b>. By NORA
+        CHESSON. Illustrated by JOHN H. BACON, A.R.A., ARTHUR
+        DIXON, HAROLD COPPING, and other artists. 10 full-page
+        colour plates. 144pp.</p>
+
+        <p><b>CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM LONGFELLOW</b>. By DORIS
+        ASHLEY. Illustrated by A.A. DIXON, H. COPPING, and others.
+        10 full-page colour plates. 144 pp.</p>
+
+        <p><b>GLORIOUS BATTLES OF ENGLISH HISTORY</b>. By Major
+        C.H. WYLLY. With Foreword by Sir ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE.
+        Illustrated by HARRY PAYNE. 12 full-page colour plates. 144
+        pp.</p>
+
+        <p><b>THE WATER BABIES</b>. By CHARLES KINGSLEY. Abridged
+        Edition. Illustrated by MABEL LUCIE ATTWELL. 12 full-page
+        colour plates. 144pp.</p>
+
+        <p><b>HANS ANDERSEN'S FAIRY TALES</b>. Illustrated by MABEL
+        LUCIE ATTWELL. 12 full-page colour plates. 144 pp.</p>
+
+        <p><b>GRIMM'S FAIRY TALES</b>. Illustrated by MABEL LUCIE
+        ATTWELL. 12 full-page colour plates. 144 pp.</p>
+
+        <p><b>ALICE IN WONDERLAND</b>. By LEWIS CARROLL.
+        Illustrated by MABEL LUCIE ATTWELL. 12 full-page colour
+        plates. 152pp.</p>
+
+        <p><b>MOTHER GOOSE</b>. Illustrated by MABEL LUCIE ATTWELL.
+        12 full-page colour plates. 144 pp.</p>
+
+        <p><b>ĆSOP'S FABLES</b>. Illustrated by EDWIN NOBLE. 12
+        full-page colour plates. 144pp.</p>
+
+        <p><b>CURLY HEADS AND LONG LEGS</b>. Stories by the Editor,
+        GRACE C. FLOYD, and others. Illustrated by HILDA COWHAM. 12
+        full-page colour plates. 144 pp.</p>
+
+        <p><b>GOLDEN LOCKS AND PRETTY FROCKS</b>. Stories by NORMAN
+        GALE, GRACE C. FLOYD, the Editor, and others. Illustrated
+        by AGNES RICHARDSON. 12 full-page colour plates. 144pp.</p>
+
+        <p><b>TINKER, TAILOR</b>. Stories by Captain EDRIC
+        VREDENBURG. Illustrated by Louis WAIN. 12 full-page colour
+        plates. 144pp.</p>
+
+        <p class="ctr"><i>Raphael Tuck and Sons, Ltd., London,
+        Paris, New York.</i><br />
+         <i>Publishers by special appointment to Their Majesties
+        the King and Queen</i>.</p>
+    </blockquote>
+    <hr class="full" />
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of My Book of Favorite Fairy Tales
+by Edric  Vredenburg
+
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+</pre>
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+</body>
+</html>
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@@ -0,0 +1,4647 @@
+Project Gutenberg's My Book of Favorite Fairy Tales, by Edric  Vredenburg
+
+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: My Book of Favorite Fairy Tales
+
+Author: Edric  Vredenburg
+
+Release Date: February 22, 2005 [EBook #15145]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MY BOOK OF FAVORITE FAIRY TALES ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Sandra Brown and the PG Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+MY BOOK
+
+OF
+
+FAVOURITE FAIRY TALES
+
+
+ILLUSTRATED BY JENNIE HARBOUR.
+
+
+[Illustration: From "THE GOOSE GIRL"]
+
+[Illustration: _Painted by Jennie Harbour_
+THE GOOSE GIRL]
+
+
+
+
+
+MY BOOK OF
+
+FAVOURITE FAIRY TALES
+
+
+RETOLD BY THE EDITOR
+
+& OTHERS
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+ILLUSTRATED BY JENNIE HARBOUR
+
+
+EDITED BY CAPT. EDRIC VREDENBURG
+
+
+RAPHAEL TUCK &. SONS. LTP
+
+_Publishers in Their Majesties the King & Queen_
+
+LONDON & PARIS
+
+
+DESIGNED & PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN
+
+
+PHILADELPHIA
+
+DAVID MCKAY COMPANY
+
+WASHINGTON SQUARE
+
+
+[Illustration: From "THE SLEEPING BEAUTY"]
+
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+    THE OLD, OLD STORIES
+
+    THE GOOSE GIRL
+
+    LITTLE SNOW-WHITE
+
+    CINDERELLA
+
+    PRINCESS GOLDENHAIR
+
+    LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
+
+    THE WHITE FAWN
+
+    HANSEL AND GRETHEL
+
+    SNOW-WHITE AND ROSE-RED
+
+    THE SLEEPING BEAUTY
+
+    PRINCE CHERI
+
+    THE WHITE CAT
+
+    BLUEBEARD
+
+    BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
+
+    TUFTY RIQUET
+
+    THUMBLING
+
+[Illustration: From "THE WHITE FAWN"]
+
+
+
+
+LIST OF COLOUR PLATES
+
+    THE GOOSE GIRL _Frontispiece_
+
+    THE MAGIC MIRROR
+
+    CINDERELLA
+
+    LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
+
+    THE WHITE FAWN
+
+    HANSEL AND GRETHEL
+
+    SNOW-WHITE AND ROSE-RED
+
+    THE SLEEPING BEAUTY
+
+    ZELIE AND THE FAIRY CANDIDE
+
+    BLUEBEARD
+
+    BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
+
+    THE BEAUTIFUL PRINCESS
+
+[Illustration: From "PRINCESS GOLDENHAIR"]
+
+[Illustration: From "CINDERELLA"]
+
+
+
+
+THE OLD, OLD STORIES
+
+
+Here they are again, the old, old stories, the very best; dear
+Cinderella, wicked old Bluebeard, tiny Thumbling, beautiful Beauty and
+the ugly Beast, and a host of others. But the old stories, I may tell
+you, are always new, and always must be so, because there are new
+children to read them every day, and to these, of course, these old
+tales might have been written yesterday.
+
+But the stories in this book are new in another way. Look how they are
+clothed, look at their beautiful setting, the wonderful pictures! Have
+you ever seen such charming princes and lovely princesses, such dainty
+grace and delicate feeling?
+
+What would our grandfathers and grandmothers have said of such a book!
+They would have thought there was magic in the brush and pencil.
+
+Surely we are favoured in this generation when we see before us, the
+old, old fairy tales, which are ever new, dressed in such a beautiful
+and splendid fashion!
+
+_EDRIC VREDENBURG._
+
+[Illustration: From "HANSEL AND GRETHEL"]
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+THE GOOSE GIRL
+
+
+An old queen, whose husband had been dead some years, had a beautiful
+daughter. When she grew up, she was betrothed to a prince who lived
+a great way off; and as the time drew near for her to be married, she
+got ready to set off on her journey to his country. Then the queen,
+her mother, packed up a great many costly things--jewels, and gold,
+and silver; trinkets, fine dresses, and, in short, everything that
+became a royal bride; for she loved her child very dearly: and she
+gave her a waiting-maid to ride with her, and give her into the
+bridegroom's hands; and each had a horse for the journey. Now the
+princess's horse was called Falada, and could speak.
+
+When the time came for them to set out, the old queen went into her
+bed-chamber, and took a little knife, and cut off a lock of her hair,
+and gave it to her daughter, and said, "Take care of it, dear child;
+for it is a charm that may be of use to you on the road." Then they
+took a sorrowful leave of each other, and the princess put the lock of
+her mother's hair into her bosom, got upon her horse, and set off on
+her journey to her bridegroom's kingdom. One day, as they were riding
+along by the side of a brook, the princess began to feel very thirsty,
+and said to her maid, "Pray get down and fetch me some water, in my
+golden cup, out of yonder brook, for I want to drink." "Nay," said
+the maid, "if you are thirsty, get down yourself, and lie down by the
+water and drink; I shall not be your waiting-maid any longer." Then
+the princess was so thirsty that she got down, and knelt over the
+brook and drank, for she was frightened, and dared not bring out her
+golden cup; and then she wept, and said "Alas! what will become of
+me?" And the lock of hair answered her, and said--
+
+      "Alas! alas! if thy mother knew it,
+      Sadly, sadly her heart would rue it."
+
+But the princess was very humble and meek, so she said nothing to her
+maid's ill behaviour, but got upon her horse again.
+
+Then all rode further on their journey, till the day grew so warm, and
+the sun so scorching, that the bride began to feel very thirsty again;
+and at last, when they came to a river, she forgot her maid's rude
+speech, and said, "Pray get down and fetch me some water to drink
+in my golden cup." But the maid answered her, and even spoke more
+haughtily than before, "Drink, if you will, but I shall not be your
+waiting-maid." Then the princess was so thirsty that she got off her
+horse and lay down, and held her head over the running stream, and
+cried, and said, "What will become of me?" And the lock of hair
+answered her again--
+
+      "Alas! alas! if thy mother knew it,
+      Sadly, sadly her heart would rue it."
+
+And as she leaned down to drink, the lock of hair fell from her bosom
+and floated away with the water, without her seeing it, she was so
+frightened. But her maid saw it, and was very glad, for she knew the
+charm, and saw that the poor bride would be in her power now that she
+had lost the hair. So when the bride had drunk, and would have got
+upon Falada again, the maid said, "I shall ride upon Falada and you
+may have my horse instead;" so she was forced to give up her horse,
+and soon afterwards to take off her royal clothes, and put on her
+maid's shabby ones.
+
+At last, as they drew near the end of the journey, this treacherous
+servant threatened to kill her mistress if she ever told anyone what
+had happened. But Falada saw it all, and marked it well. Then the
+waiting-maid got upon Falada, and the real bride was set upon the
+other horse, and they went on in this way till at last they came
+to the royal court. There was great joy at their coming, the prince
+hurried to meet them, and lifted the maid from her horse, thinking she
+was the one who was to be his wife; and she was led upstairs to the
+royal chamber, but the true princess was told to stay in the court
+below.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+But the old king happened to be looking out of the window, and saw her
+in the yard below; and as she looked very pretty, and too delicate for
+a waiting-maid, he went into the royal chamber to ask the bride who it
+was she had brought with her, that was thus left standing in the
+court below. "I brought her with me for the sake of her company on the
+road," said she. "Pray give the girl some work to do, that she may not
+be idle." The old king could not for some time think of any work for
+her to do, but at last he said, "I have a lad who takes care of my
+geese; she may go and help him." Now the name of this lad, that the
+real bride was to help in watching the king's geese, was Curdken.
+
+Soon after, the false bride said to the prince, "Dear husband pray do
+me one piece of kindness." "That I will," said the prince. "Then tell
+one of your slaughterers to cut off the head of the horse I rode upon,
+for it was very unruly, and plagued me sadly on the road." But the
+truth was, she was very much afraid lest Falada should speak, and
+tell all she had done to the princess. She carried her point, and the
+faithful Falada was killed; but when the true princess heard of it she
+wept, and begged the man to nail up Falada's head against a large
+dark gate in the city through which she had to pass every morning
+and evening, that there she might still see him sometimes. Then the
+slaughterer said he would do as she wished; cut off the head, and
+nailed it fast under the dark gate.
+
+Early the next morning, as she and Curdken went out through the gate,
+she said sorrowfully--
+
+      "Falada, Falada, there thou art hanging!"
+
+and the head answered--
+
+      "Bride, bride, there thou art ganging!
+      Alas! alas! if thy mother knew it,
+      Sadly, sadly her heart would rue it."
+
+Then they went out of the city, and drove the geese in. And when she
+came to the meadow, she sat down upon a bank here, and let down her
+waving locks of hair, which were all of pure gold; and when Curdken
+saw it glitter in the sun, he ran up, and would have pulled some of
+the locks out; but she cried--
+
+      "Blow, breezes, blow!
+      Let Curdken's hat go!
+      Blow, breezes, blow!
+      Let him after it go!
+      O'er hills, dales, and rocks.
+      Away be it whirl'd,
+      Till the golden locks
+      Are all comb'd and curl'd!"
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Then there came a wind, so strong that it blew off Curdken's hat, and
+away it flew over the hills, and he after it; till, by the time he
+came back, she had done combing and curling her hair, and put it up
+again safe. Then he was very angry and sulky, and would not speak
+to her at all; but they watched the geese until it grew dark in the
+evening, and then drove them homewards.
+
+The next morning, as they were going through the dark gate, the poor
+girl looked up at Falada's head, and cried--
+
+      "Falada, Falada, there thou art hanging!"
+
+and it answered--
+
+      "Bride, bride, there thou art ganging!
+      Alas! alas! if thy mother knew it,
+      Sadly, sadly her heart would rue it."
+
+Then she drove on the geese and sat down again in the meadow, and
+began to comb out her hair as before, and Curdken ran up to her, and
+wanted to take hold of it; but she cried out quickly--
+
+      "Blow, breezes, blow!
+      Let Curdken's hat go,
+      Blow, breezes, blow!
+      Let him after it go!
+      O'er hills, dales, and rocks,
+      Away be it whirl'd,
+      Till the golden locks
+      Are all comb'd and curl'd!"
+
+Then the wind came and blew his hat, and off it flew a great way, over
+the hills and far away, so that he had to run after it; and when he
+came back, she had done up her hair again, and all was safe. So they
+watched the geese till it grew dark.
+
+In the evening, after they came home, Curdken went to the old king,
+and said, "I cannot have that strange girl to help me to keep the
+geese any longer."
+
+"Why?" said the king.
+
+"Because she does nothing but tease me all day long."
+
+Then the king made him tell all that had passed.
+
+And Curdken said, "When we go in the morning through the dark gate
+with our flock of geese, she weeps, and talks with the head of a horse
+that hangs upon the wall, and says--
+
+      "'Falada, Falada, there thou art hanging!'"
+
+and the head answers--
+
+      "'Bride, bride, there thou art ganging!
+      Alas! alas! if thy mother knew it,
+      Sadly, sadly her heart would rue it.'"
+
+And Curdken went on telling the king what had happened upon the meadow
+where the geese fed; and how his hat was blown away, and he was forced
+to run after it, and leave his flock. But the old king told him to
+go out again as usual the next day, and when morning came, the king
+placed himself behind the gate, and heard how she spoke to Falada, and
+how Falada answered; and then he went into the field and hid himself
+in a bush by the meadow's side, and soon saw with his own eyes how
+they drove the flock of geese, and how, after a little time, she let
+down her hair that glittered in the sun; and then he heard her say--
+
+      "Blow, breezes, blow!
+      Let Curdken's hat go!
+      Blow, breezes, blow!
+      Let him after it go!
+      O'er hills, dales, and rocks,
+      Away be it whirl'd,
+      Till the golden locks,
+      Are all comb'd and curl'd!"
+
+[Illustration: "THEN THERE CAME A WIND SO STRONG THAT IT BLEW OFF
+CURDKEN'S HAT."]
+
+And soon came a gale of wind, and carried away Curdken's hat, while
+the girl went on combing and curling her hair.
+
+All this the old king saw: so he went home without being seen; and
+when the little goose girl came back in the evening, he called her
+aside, and asked her why she did so: but she burst into tears, and
+said, "That I must not tell you or any man, or I shall lose my life."
+
+But the old king begged so hard that she had no peace till she had
+told him all, word for word: and it was very lucky for her that she
+did so, for the king ordered royal clothes to be put upon her, and
+gazed on her with wonder, she was so beautiful.
+
+Then he called his son, and told him that he had only the false bride,
+for that she was merely a waiting-maid, while the true one stood by.
+
+And the young king rejoiced when he saw her beauty, and heard how meek
+and patient she had been; and without saying anything, ordered a great
+feast to be got ready for all his court.
+
+The bridegroom sat at the top, with the false princess on one side,
+and the true one on the other; but nobody knew her, for she was quite
+dazzling to their eyes, and was not at all like the little goose-girl,
+now that she had her brilliant dress.
+
+When they had eaten and drunk, and were very merry, the old king told
+all the story, as one that he had once heard of, and asked the true
+waiting-maid what she thought ought to be done to anyone who would
+behave thus.
+
+"Nothing better," said this false bride, "than that she should be
+thrown into a cask stuck round with sharp nails, and that two white
+horses should be put to it, and should drag it from street to street
+till she is dead."
+
+"Thou art she!" said the old king; "and since thou hast judged
+thyself, it shall be so done to thee."
+
+And the young king was married to his true wife, and they reigned over
+the kingdom in peace and happiness all their lives.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+LITTLE SNOW-WHITE
+
+
+It was in the middle of winter, when the broad flakes of snow were
+falling around, that a certain queen sat working at the window, the
+frame of which was made of fine black ebony; and as she was looking
+out upon the snow, she pricked her finger, and three drops of blood
+fell upon it. Then she gazed thoughtfully upon the red drops which
+sprinkled the white snow, and said, "Would that my little daughter
+may be as white as that snow, as red as the blood, and as black as the
+ebony window-frame!" And so the little girl grew up: her skin was as
+white as snow, her cheeks as rosy as blood, and her hair as black as
+ebony; and she was called Snow-White.
+
+But this queen died; and the king soon married another wife, who was
+very beautiful, but so proud that she could not bear to think that any
+one could surpass her. She had a magical looking-glass, to which she
+used to go and gaze upon herself in it, and say,
+
+      "Tell me, glass, tell me true!
+      Of all the ladies in the land.
+      Who is fairest? Tell me who?"
+
+And the glass answered, "Thou, Queen, art fairest in the land."
+
+But Snow-White grew more and more beautiful; and when she was seven
+years old, she was as bright as the day, and fairer than the queen
+herself. Then the glass one day answered the queen, when she went to
+consult it as usual:
+
+      "Thou, Queen, may'st fair and beauteous be,
+      But Snow-White is lovelier far than thee!"
+
+When she heard this she turned pale with rage and envy; and calling
+to one of her servants said, "Take Snow-White away into the wide wood,
+that I may never see her more." Then the servant led her away; but his
+heart melted when she begged him to spare her life, and he said, "I
+will not hurt thee, thou pretty child." So he left her by herself, and
+though he thought it most likely that the wild beasts would tear her
+to pieces, he felt as if a great weight were taken off his heart when
+he had made up his mind not to kill her, but leave her to her fate.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Then poor Snow-White wandered along through the wood in great fear;
+and the wild beasts roared about her, but none did her any harm. In
+the evening she came to a little cottage, and went in there to rest
+herself, for her weary feet would carry her no further. Everything was
+spruce and neat in the cottage: on the table was spread a white cloth,
+and there were seven little plates with seven little loaves and seven
+little glasses with wine in them; and knives and forks laid in order,
+and by the wall stood seven little beds. Then, as she was very hungry,
+she picked a little piece off each loaf, and drank a very little wine
+out of each glass; and after that she thought she would lie down and
+rest. So she tried all the little beds; and one was too long, and
+another was too short, till at last the seventh suited her; and there
+she laid herself down and went to sleep. Presently in came the masters
+of the cottage, who were seven little dwarfs that lived among the
+mountains, and dug and searched about for gold. They lighted up their
+seven lamps, and saw directly that all was not right. The first said,
+"Who has been sitting on my stool?" The second, "Who has been eating
+off my plate?" The third, "Who has been picking at my bread?" the
+fourth, "Who has been meddling with my spoon?" The fifth, "Who has
+been handling my fork?" The sixth, "Who has been cutting with my
+knife?" The seventh, "Who has been drinking my wine?" Then the first
+looked round and said. "Who has been lying on my bed?" And the rest
+came running to him, and every one cried out that somebody had been
+upon his bed. But the seventh saw Snow-White, and called upon his
+brethren to come and see her; and they cried out with wonder and
+astonishment, and brought their lamps to look at her, and said, "Good
+heavens! What a lovely child she is!" and they were delighted to see
+her, and took care not to waken her; and the seventh dwarf slept an
+hour with each of the other dwarfs in turn, till the night was gone.
+
+[Illustration: THE MAGIC MIRROR--"LITTLE SNOW-WHITE"]
+
+In the morning Snow-White told them all her story; and they pitied
+her, and said if she would keep all things in order, and cook and
+wash, and knit and spin for them, she might stay where she was, and
+they would take good care of her. Then they went out all day long
+to their work, seeking for gold and silver in the mountains; and
+Snow-White remained at home: and they warned her, and said, "The queen
+will soon find out where you are, so take care and let no one in." But
+the queen, now that she thought Snow-White was dead, believed that
+she was certainly the handsomest lady in the land; and she went to her
+glass, and the glass answered,
+
+      "Thou, Queen, thou art fairest in all this land;
+      But over the hills, in the greenwood shade.
+      Where the seven dwarfs their dwelling have made.
+      There Snow-White is hiding her head; and she
+      Is lovelier far, O Queen, than thee."
+
+Then the queen was very much alarmed; for she knew that the glass
+always spoke the truth, and was sure that the servant had betrayed
+her. And she could not bear to think that anyone lived who was more
+beautiful than she was; so she disguised herself as a pedlar and went
+her way over the hills to the place where the dwarfs dwelt. Then
+she knocked at the door, and cried, "Fine wares to sell!" Snow-White
+looked out of the window, and cried, "Good-day, good woman; what have
+you to sell?" "Good wares, fine wares," said she; "laces and bobbins
+of all colours." "I will let the old lady in; she seems to be a
+very good sort of a body," thought Snow-White; so she ran down, and
+unbolted the door. "Bless me!" said the woman, "how badly your
+stays are laced. Let me lace them up with one of my nice new laces."
+Snow-White did not dream of any mischief; so she stood up before
+the old woman; but she set to work so nimbly, and pulled the lace so
+tight, that Snow-White lost her breath, and fell down as if she were
+dead. "There's an end of all thy beauty," said the spiteful queen, and
+went away home.
+
+[Illustration: "'THERE'S AN END TO ALL THY BEAUTY' SAID THE SPITEFUL
+QUEEN, AND SHE WENT AWAY HOME."]
+
+In the evening the seven dwarfs returned; and I need not say how
+grieved they were to see their faithful Snow-White stretched upon the
+ground motionless, as if she were quite dead. However, they lifted her
+up, and when they found what was the matter, they cut the lace; and in
+a little time she began to breathe, and soon came to life again. Then
+they said, "The old woman was the queen herself; take care another
+time, and let no one in when we are away."
+
+When the queen got home, she went to her glass, and spoke to it, but
+to her surprise it said the same words as before.
+
+Then the blood ran cold in her heart with spite and malice to see
+that Snow-White still lived; and she dressed herself up again in a
+disguise, but very different from the one she wore before, and took
+with her a poisoned comb, When she reached the dwarf's cottage, she
+knocked at the door, and cried, "Fine wares to sell!" but Snow-White
+said, "I dare not let anyone in." Then the queen begged, "Only look at
+my beautiful combs;" and gave her the poisoned one. And it looked so
+pretty that she took it up and put it into her hair to try it; but the
+moment it touched her head the poison was so powerful that she fell
+down senseless.
+
+"There you may lie," said the queen, and went her way. But by good
+luck the dwarfs returned very early that evening; and when they saw
+Snow-White lying on the ground, they thought what had happened,
+and soon found the poisoned comb. And when they took it away, she
+recovered, and told them all that had passed; and they warned her once
+more not to open the door to anyone.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Meantime the queen went home to her glass, and trembled with rage
+when she received exactly the same answer as before; and she said
+"Snow-White shall die, if it costs me my life." So she went secretly
+into a chamber, and prepared a poisoned apple; the outside looked very
+rosy and tempting, but whosoever tasted it was sure to die. Then she
+dressed herself up as a peasant's wife, and travelled over the hills
+to the dwarfs' cottage, and knocked at the door; but Snow-White put
+her head out of the window, and said, "I dare not let anyone in, for
+the dwarfs have told me not to." "Do as you please," said the old
+woman, "but at any rate take this pretty apple; I will make you a
+present of it." "No," said Snow-White, "I dare not take it." "You
+silly girl!" answered the other, "what are you afraid of? Do you think
+it is poisoned? Come! do you eat one part, and I will eat the other."
+Now the apple was so prepared that one side was good, though the other
+side was poisoned. Then Snow-White was very much tempted to taste, for
+the apple looked exceedingly nice; and when she saw the old woman eat,
+she could refrain no longer. But she had scarcely put the piece into
+her mouth, when she fell down dead upon the ground. "This time nothing
+will save thee," said the queen; and she went home to her glass, and
+at last it said,
+
+      "Thou, Queen, art the fairest of all the fair."
+
+And then her envious heart was glad, and as happy as such a heart
+could be.
+
+When evening came, and the dwarfs returned home, they found Snow-White
+lying on the ground; no breath passed her lips, and they were afraid
+that she was quite dead. They lifted her up, and combed her hair,
+and washed her face with wine and water; but all was in vain, for the
+little girl seemed quite dead. So they laid her down upon a bier, and
+all seven watched and bewailed her three whole days; and then they
+proposed to bury her; but her cheeks were still rosy, and her face
+looked just as it did while she was alive; so they said, "We will
+never bury her in the cold ground." And they made a coffin of glass
+so that they might still look at her, and wrote her name upon it in
+golden letters, and that she was a king's daughter. And the coffin
+was placed upon the hill, and one of the dwarfs always sat by it and
+watched. And the birds of the air came too, and bemoaned Snow-White.
+First of all came an owl, and then a raven, but at last came a dove.
+
+And thus Snow-White lay for a long, long time, and still only looked
+as though she were asleep; for she was even now as white as snow,
+and as red as blood, and as black as ebony. At last a prince came and
+called at the dwarfs' house; and he saw Snow-White, and read what
+was written in gold letters. Then he offered the dwarfs money, and
+earnestly prayed them to let him take her away; but they said, "We
+will not part with her for all the gold in the world." At last,
+however, they had pity on him, and gave him the coffin; but the moment
+he lifted it up to carry it home with him, the piece of apple fell
+from between her lips, and Snow-White awoke, and said, "Where am I?"
+And the prince answered, "Thou art safe with me." Then he told her all
+that had happened, and said, "I love you better than all the world;
+come with me to my father's palace, and you shall be my wife." And
+Snow-White consented, and went home with the prince; and everything
+was prepared with great pomp and splendour for their wedding.
+
+To the feast was invited, among the rest, Snow-White's old enemy,
+the queen; and as she was dressing herself in fine, rich clothes, she
+looked, in the glass, and the glass answered,
+
+      "Thou, lady, art the loveliest _here_, I ween;
+      But lovelier far is the new-made queen."
+
+When she heard this, she started with rage; but her envy and curiosity
+were so great, that she could not help setting out to see the bride.
+And when she arrived, and saw that it was none other than Snow-White,
+who she thought had been dead a long while, she choked with passion,
+and fell ill and died; but Snow-White and the prince lived and reigned
+happily over that land many, many years.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+CINDERELLA
+
+
+The wife of a rich man fell sick: and when she felt that her end drew
+nigh, she called her only daughter to her bedside, and said, "Always
+be a good girl, and I will look down from heaven and watch over you."
+Soon afterwards she shut her eyes and died, and was buried in the
+garden; and the little girl went every day to her grave and wept,
+and was always good and kind to all about her. And the snow spread a
+beautiful white covering over the grave: but by the time the sun had
+melted it away again, her father had married another wife. This new
+wife had two daughters of her own, that she brought home with her:
+they were fair in face but foul at heart, and it was now a sorry time
+for the poor little girl. "What does the good-for-nothing thing want
+in the parlour?" said they; "they who would eat bread should first
+earn it; away with the kitchen maid!" Then they took away her fine
+clothes, and gave her an old frock to put on, and laughed at her and
+turned her into the kitchen.
+
+Then she was forced to do hard work; to rise early, before daylight,
+to bring the water, to make the fire, to cook and to wash. Besides
+that, the sisters plagued her in all sorts of ways and laughed at her.
+In the evening, when she was tired, she had no bed to lie down on, but
+was made to sleep by the hearth among the ashes; and then, as she was
+of course always dusty and dirty, they called her Cinderella.
+
+It happened once that the father was going to the fair, and asked his
+wife's daughters what he should bring them. "Fine clothes," said the
+first: "Pearls and diamonds," said the second. "Now, child," said he
+to his own daughter, "what will you have?" "The first sprig, dear
+father, that rubs against your hat on your way home," said she. Then
+he bought for the two first the fine clothes and pearls and diamonds
+they had asked for: and on his way home as he rode through a green
+copse, a sprig of hazel brushed against him, and almost pushed off his
+hat; so he broke it off and brought it away; and when he got home he
+gave it to his daughter. Then she took it and went to her mother's
+grave and planted it there, and cried so much that it was watered with
+her tears; and there it grew and became a fine tree. Three times every
+day she went to it and wept; and soon a little bird came and built
+its nest upon the tree, and talked with her and watched over her, and
+brought her whatever she wished for.
+
+Now it happened that the king of the land held a feast which was to
+last three days, and out of those who came to it his son was to choose
+a bride for himself; and Cinderella's two sisters were asked to come.
+So they called her up and said, "Now, comb our hair, brush our shoes,
+and tie our sashes for us, for we are going to dance at the king's
+feast." Then she did as she was told, but when all was done she could
+not help crying, for she thought to herself, she would have liked to
+go to the dance too; and at last she begged her mother very hard to
+let her go. "You! Cinderella?" said she; "you who have nothing to
+wear, no clothes at all, and who cannot even dance--you want to go to
+the ball?" And when she kept on begging--to get rid of her, she said
+at last, "I will throw this basinful of peas into the ash heap, and
+if you have picked them all out in two hours' time you shall go to
+the feast too." Then she threw the peas into the ashes; but the little
+maiden ran out at the back door into the garden, and cried out--
+
+      "Hither, hither, through the sky.
+      Turtle-doves and linnets, fly!
+      Blackbird, thrush, and chaffinch gay,
+      Hither, hither, haste away!
+      One and all, come help me quick,
+      Haste ye, haste ye--pick, pick, pick!"
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Then first came two white doves flying in at the kitchen window; and
+next came two turtle-doves; and after them all the little birds under
+heaven came chirping and fluttering in, and flew down into the ashes;
+and the little doves stooped their heads down and set to work, pick,
+pick, pick; and then the others began to pick, pick, pick; and picked
+out all the good grain and put it in a dish, and left the ashes. At
+the end of one hour the work was done, and all flew out again at the
+windows. Then Cinderella brought the dish to her mother, overjoyed at
+the thought that now she should go to the feast. But she said, "No,
+no! Girl, you have no clothes and cannot dance, you shall not go." And
+when Cinderella begged very hard to go, she said, "If you can in one
+hour's time pick two of these dishes of peas out of the ashes, you
+shall go too." And thus she thought she should at last get rid of her.
+So she shook two dishes of peas into the ashes; but the little maiden
+went out into the garden at the back of the house, and cried as
+before--
+
+      "Hither, hither, through the sky.
+      Turtle-doves and linnets, fly!
+      Blackbird, thrush, and chaffinch gay,
+      Hither, hither, haste away!
+      One and all, come help me quick,
+      Haste ye, haste ye--pick, pick, pick!"
+
+Then first came two white doves in at the kitchen window; and next
+came the turtle-doves; and after them all the little birds under
+heaven came chirping and hopping about, and flew down about the ashes;
+and the little doves put their heads down and set to work, pick, pick,
+pick; and then the others began to pick, pick, pick; and they put
+all the good grain into the dishes, and left all the ashes, Before
+half-an-hour's time all was done, and out they flew again. And then
+Cinderella took the dishes to her mother, rejoicing to think that she
+should now go to the ball. But her mother said, "It is all of no use,
+you cannot go, you have no clothes, and cannot dance, and you would
+only put us to shame:" and off she went with her two daughters to the
+feast.
+
+Now when all were gone, and nobody left at home, Cinderella went
+sorrowfully and sat down under the hazel-tree, and cried out--
+
+      "Shake, shake, hazel tree,
+      Gold and silver over me!"
+
+Then her friend the bird flew out of the tree and brought a gold and
+silver dress for her, and slippers of spangled silk; and she put them
+on, and followed her sisters to the feast. But they did not know her,
+and thought it must be some strange princess, she looked so fine
+and beautiful in her rich clothes; and they never once thought of
+Cinderella, but took for granted that she was safe at home in the
+dirt.
+
+[Illustration: _Painted by Jennie Harbour_
+CINDERELLA]
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The king's son soon came up to her, and took her by the hand and
+danced with her and no one else; and he never left her hand; but when
+any one else came to ask her to dance, he said, "This lady is dancing
+with me." Thus they danced till a late hour of the night, and then she
+wanted to go home: and the king's son said, "I shall go and take care
+of you to your home;" for he wanted to see where the beautiful maid
+lived. But she slipped away from him unawares, and ran off towards
+home, and the prince followed her; but she jumped up into the
+pigeon-house and shut the door. Then he waited till her father came
+home, and told him that the unknown maiden who had been at the feast
+had hidden herself in the pigeon-house. But when they had broken open
+the door they found no one within; and as they came back into the
+house, Cinderella lay as she always did, in her dirty frock by the
+ashes, and her dim little lamp burnt in the chimney; for she had
+run as quickly as she could through the pigeon-house and on to the
+hazel-tree, and had there taken off her beautiful clothes, and laid
+them beneath the tree, that the bird might carry them away, and had
+seated herself amid the ashes again in her little old frock.
+
+The next day, when the feast was again held, and her father, mother,
+and sisters were gone, Cinderella went to the hazel tree, and said--
+
+      "Shake, shake, hazel tree,
+      Gold and silver over me!"
+
+And the bird came and brought a still finer dress than the one she had
+worn the day before. And when she came in it to the ball, every one
+wondered at her beauty; but the king's son, who was waiting for her,
+took her by the hand, and danced with her; and when any one asked
+her to dance, he said as before, "This lady is dancing with me." When
+night came she wanted to go home; and the king's son followed her as
+before, that he might see into what house she went; but she sprang
+away from him, all at once, into the garden behind her father's house.
+In this garden stood a fine large pear tree full of ripe fruit; and
+Cinderella, not knowing where to hide herself, jumped up into it
+without being seen. Then the king's son could not find out where she
+was gone, but waited till her father came home, and said to him, "The
+unknown lady who danced with me has slipped away, and I think she must
+have sprung into the pear tree." The father thought to himself, "Can
+it be Cinderella?" So he ordered an axe to be brought; and they cut
+down the tree, but found no one upon it. And when they came back into
+the kitchen, there lay Cinderella in the ashes as usual; for she had
+slipped down on the other side of the tree, and carried her beautiful
+clothes back to the bird at the hazel tree, and then put on her little
+old frock.
+
+The third day, when her father and mother and sisters were gone she
+went again into the garden, and said---
+
+      "Shake, shake, hazel tree,
+      Gold and silver over me!"
+
+Then her kind friend the bird brought a dress still finer than the
+former ones, and slippers which were all of gold; so that when she
+came to the feast no one knew what to say for wonder at her beauty;
+and the king's son danced with her alone; and when any one else asked
+her to dance he said, "This lady is my partner." Now when night came
+she wanted to go home; and the king's son would go with her, and said
+to himself, "I will not lose her this time;" but, however, she managed
+to slip away from him, though in such a hurry that she dropped her
+left golden slipper upon the stairs.
+
+[Illustration: "SHE SPRANG AWAY FROM HIM, ALL AT ONCE, INTO THE GARDEN
+BEHIND HER FATHER'S HOUSE."]
+
+So the prince took the shoe, and went the next day to the king his
+father, and said, "I will take for my wife the lady that this golden
+shoe fits." Then both the sisters were overjoyed to hear this; for
+they had beautiful feet, and had no doubt that they could wear the
+golden slipper. The eldest went first into the room where the slipper
+was, and wanted to try it on, and the mother stood by. But her great
+toe could not go into it, and the shoe was altogether much too small
+for her. Then the mother gave her a knife, and said, "Never mind, cut
+it off; when you are queen you will not care about toes, you will
+not want to go on foot." So the silly girl cut her great toe off, and
+squeezed the shoe on, and went to the king's son. Then he took her for
+his bride, and set her beside him on his horse and rode away with
+her. But on their way home they had to pass by the hazel tree that
+Cinderella had planted and there sat a little dove on the branch
+singing---
+
+      "Back again! back again! look to the shoe!
+      The shoe is too small, and not made for you!
+      Prince! prince! look again for thy bride,
+      For she's not the true one that sits by thy side."
+
+Then the prince got down and looked at her foot, and saw by the blood
+that streamed from it what a trick she had played him. So he turned
+his horse round and brought the false bride back to her home, and
+said, "This is not the right bride; let the other sister try and put
+on the slipper." Then she went into the room and got her foot into the
+shoe, all but the heel, which was too large. But her mother squeezed
+it in till the blood came, and took her to the king's son; and he set
+her as his bride beside him on his horse, and rode away with her. But
+when they came to the hazel tree the little dove sat there still, and
+sang--
+
+      "Back again! back again! look to the shoe!
+      The shoe is too small, and not made for you!
+      Prince! prince! look again for thy bride,
+      For she's not the true one that sits by thy side."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Then he looked down and saw that the blood streamed so from the shoe
+that her white stockings were quite red. So he turned his horse and
+brought her back again also. "This is not the true bride," said he to
+the father; "have you no other daughters?" "No," said he; "there is
+only a little dirty Cinderella here, the child of my first wife; I am
+sure she cannot be the bride." However, the prince told him to send
+her. But the mother said, "No, no, she is much too dirty, she will not
+dare to show herself;" still the prince would have her come. And she
+first washed her face and hands, and then went in and curtsied to him,
+and he handed to her the golden slipper.
+
+Then she took her clumsy shoe off her left foot and put on the golden
+slipper; and it fitted her as if it had been made for her. And when
+the Prince drew near and looked at her face he knew her, and said,
+"This is the right bride."
+
+But the mother and both the sisters were frightened and turned pale
+with anger as he took Cinderella on his horse, and rode away with her.
+And when they came to the hazel tree, the white dove sang--
+
+      "Home! home! look at the shoe!
+      Princess! the shoe was made for you!
+      Prince! prince! take home thy bride.
+      For she is the true one that sits by thy side!"
+
+And when the dove had done its song, it came flying and perched upon
+her shoulder, and so went home with her.
+
+
+
+
+PRINCESS GOLDENHAIR
+
+
+There was once a King's daughter who was the most beautiful thing in
+the world, and as her hair was fair and reached to her feet she was
+called the Princess Goldenhair.
+
+A handsome young King in the neighbourhood, although he had never seen
+this Princess, fell so deeply in love with her from what he had heard,
+that he could neither eat nor sleep.
+
+So an ambassador was sent with a magnificent chariot, more than a
+hundred horses, and fifty pages, to bring the Princess to the King,
+and great preparations were made for her reception.
+
+[Illustration: "AN AMBASSADOR WAS SENT WITH MORE THAN A HUNDRED
+HORSES, AND FIFTY PAGES TO BRING THE PRINCESS TO THE KING."]
+
+But whether the Princess Goldenhair was in an ill humour when the
+ambassador arrived at her Court, or whatever was the reason, certain
+it is that she sent a message to the young King thanking him but
+saying that she did not wish to marry.
+
+When the King heard of her refusal he wept like a child.
+
+Now at his Court there was a young man called Avenant. He was as
+beautiful as the sun, and a more finely made fellow than any in the
+kingdom; everybody loved him except a few envious people, who were
+angry because the King favoured and confided in him, and in the
+presence of these, one day, Avenant incautiously remarked,
+
+"If the King had sent me to fetch the Princess Goldenhair, I am
+certain she would have come," and these words were repeated to the
+King in such a manner that they made him very angry, and he ordered
+Avenant to be shut up in a high tower, to die of hunger.
+
+In this sad plight, Avenant exclaimed one day, "How have I offended
+his Majesty? He has no more faithful subject than I."
+
+The King who happened to be passing by the tower, heard this; he
+called for Avenant to be brought forth who, throwing himself on his
+knees, begged to know in what way he had offended his royal master.
+
+"You mocked me," said the King, "you said that you would have
+succeeded with the Princess Goldenhair where I have failed."
+
+"It is true, sir," replied Avenant, "I did say so, for I would have
+represented your noble qualities in such a way, that she could not
+help being persuaded."
+
+The King was convinced of the young man's sincerity, and with a letter
+of introduction, Avenant set out for the Court of the goldenhaired
+beauty, riding alone, according to his wish, and thinking as he went
+how he best could woo the Princess for his beloved master.
+
+One day, alighting from his horse to write down some suitable words
+that had come into his mind, he saw a golden carp who, leaping from
+the water to catch flies, had thrown herself upon the river bank, and
+was now nearly dead.
+
+Avenant pitied the poor thing, and put her carefully back into
+the water. Recovering directly, the carp dived to the bottom, but
+returning to the edge of the river, said,
+
+"Avenant, I thank you; you have saved my life, I will repay you;" then
+she swam off leaving the young man in great astonishment.
+
+Another day as Avenant journeyed he noticed a raven who was pursued by
+an eagle. "What right has that eagle to persecute the raven? thought
+Avenant, and he drew his bow and shot the fierce bird. The raven
+perched on a bough and cried.
+
+"Avenant you have saved my life, I will not be ungrateful, I will
+repay you."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Not long after this, Avenant found an owl caught in a snare, he cut
+the strings, and freed the trembling captive. "Avenant," said the owl,
+"you have saved my life, I will repay you."
+
+These three adventures were the most important that befell Avenant,
+and he went on his way, shortly before he arrived at his destination
+purchasing a beautiful little dog named Cabriole.
+
+When Avenant reached the Palace of the Princess Goldenhair, and saw
+the Princess seated upon her throne, she looked so lovely that at
+first all his fine speeches forsook him, and he could not utter a
+word; however, taking courage, he addressed her in exquisitely chosen
+language, begging her to become the King's bride.
+
+To this the Princess replied most graciously, saying that his petition
+moved her more than any other could do, "but know," she added, "as I
+was walking by the river a month ago, as I took off my glove, a ring,
+that I greatly value, fell into the water, and I have vowed that I
+will not heed any proposal of marriage, except from the ambassador who
+brings me back my ring."
+
+Sad at heart Avenant left the Palace, but his little dog, Cabriole,
+said, "My dear master, do not despair, you are too good to be unhappy.
+Early to-morrow morning let us go to the river-side." Avenant patted
+him, but did not answer, and, still sad, fell asleep.
+
+As soon as it was day, Cabriole awoke him saying, "Dress yourself, my
+master, and come out."
+
+They wandered down to the river, and there Avenant heard a voice
+calling him, and what should he see but the golden carp, with the
+Princess's ring in her mouth. "Take it, dear Avenant," said she, "I
+promised to repay you for saving my life, and now I can fulfil my
+promise."
+
+Thanking her a thousand times, Avenant, going at once to the Palace,
+said, "Princess, your command is fulfilled; may it please you to
+receive the King, my master, as your husband."
+
+The Princess thought she must be dreaming when she saw the ring, but
+she set Avenant another task.
+
+"Not far from here there is a prince named Galifron," said she; "he
+wishes to marry me, and threatens to ravish my kingdom if I refuse;
+but how can I accept him? He is a giant, taller than my highest tower,
+he eats a man as a monkey would eat a chestnut, and when he speaks,
+his voice is so loud that it deafens those who hear him. He will not
+take my refusal, but kills my subjects. You must fight and bring me
+his head."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"Well, madam," replied Avenant, "I will fight Galifron; I expect I
+shall be killed, but I shall die a brave man." And, taking Cabriole,
+Avenant set out for Galifron's country, asking news of the giant as he
+went along, and the more he heard the more he feared him, but Cabriole
+reassured him. "My dear master," said the little dog, "while you are
+fighting him I will bite his legs, then he will stoop to chase me, and
+you will kill him." Avenant admired the bravery of the little dog, but
+he knew his help would not be sufficient.
+
+Presently they perceived how the roads were covered with the bones of
+the men that Galifron had eaten, and soon they saw the giant coming
+towards them through a wood. His head was higher than the highest
+trees, and he sang in a terrific voice:
+
+      "Where are the children small, so small,
+      With my teeth I will crush them all,
+      On so many would I feed, feed, feed.
+      The whole world can't supply my need."
+
+Using the same tune, Avenant began to sing:
+
+      "Look down, here is Avenant beneath, beneath
+      He will draw from your head, the teeth, the teeth
+      Although he is not very big, 'tis true,
+      He is able to fight with such as you."
+
+The giant put himself into a terrible passion, and would have killed
+Avenant with one blow, only a raven from above flew at his head, and
+pecked him straight in the eyes, so violently that he was blinded. He
+began striking out on all sides, but Avenant avoided his blows, and
+with his sword pierced him so many times that at last he fell to the
+ground. Then Avenant cut off his head, and the raven, who had perched
+on a tree, said,
+
+"I have not forgotten how you rescued me from the eagle; I promised to
+repay you, I think I have done so to-day."
+
+"I owe everything to you, Mr. Raven," responded Avenant, as, holding
+Galifron's head, he rode off.
+
+When he entered the town, crowds followed him crying, "Here is the
+brave Avenant who has slain the monster."
+
+Avenant advanced to the Princess, and said, "Madam, your enemy is
+dead. I hope you will no more refuse the King, my master."
+
+"Although it is so," answered the Princess, "I shall refuse him unless
+you will bring me some water from the Grotto of Darkness. At the
+entrance there are two dragons, with fire in their eyes and mouths;
+inside the grotto there is a deep pit into which you must descend, it
+is full of toads, scorpions, and serpents. At the bottom of this pit
+there is a little cave where flows the fountain of beauty and health.
+Positively I must possess the water; all who wash in it, if they are
+beautiful, continue so always, if they are ugly they become beautiful;
+if they are young they remain young, if they are old they regain their
+youth. You cannot wonder, Avenant, that I will not leave my kingdom
+without taking it with me."
+
+So once more Avenant and Cabriole set out; they journeyed on until
+they came to a rock, black as ink, from which smoke was issuing, and
+a moment later there appeared one of the dragons belching forth fire
+from his eyes and mouth. He was a frightful looking creature with a
+green and yellow body, and his tail was so long that it went into a
+hundred curves. Avenant saw all this, but resolved to die, he drew his
+sword, and, carrying the flask the Princess had given to him to hold
+the water, he said to Cabriole:
+
+"My days are ended, I can never obtain that water the dragons are
+guarding; when I am dead, fill this flask with my blood and carry it
+to the Princess, that she may know what it has cost me, then go to the
+King, my master, and tell him of my misfortune."
+
+As he was speaking, a voice called, "Avenant, Avenant," and looking
+around he saw an owl. "You saved my life from the fowlers," said the
+owl. "I promised to repay you, the time has now come. Give me your
+flask. I will bring you the water of beauty."
+
+And carrying the flask, the owl entered the grotto, unhindered,
+returning in less than a quarter of an hour with it full to the brim.
+Avenant thanked the owl heartily, and joyously started for the town,
+where he presented the flask to the Princess, who immediately gave
+orders to prepare for her departure.
+
+But as she considered Avenant altogether charming, before she set out,
+she several times said to him: "If you wish, we need not go, for I
+will make you king of my country." But Avenant made reply:
+
+"I would not displease my master for all the kingdoms of earth,
+although your beauty I consider greater than that of the sun."
+
+Thus they arrived at the King's capital, and the wedding took place
+amidst great rejoicings; but Princess Goldenhair, who loved Avenant
+from the depths of her heart, was not happy unless she could see him,
+and was for ever singing his praises. "I should not have come, had it
+not been for Avenant," she told the King, "you ought to be very much
+obliged to him." Then the envious courtiers counselled the King, and
+Avenant was cast once more into the tower, chained hand and foot. When
+Princess Goldenhair heard of this imprisonment, she fell on her knees
+before the King, and begged for Avenant's release; but he would not
+heed her, so that she became saddened and would speak no more.
+
+Then the King thought: "Maybe I am not handsome enough to please her!"
+so he determined to wash his face in the water of beauty.
+
+Now it had happened that a chamber-maid had broken the flask
+containing this wonderful water, so that it was all spilled; then,
+without saying anything to anyone, she had replaced it by a similar
+flask taken from the King's apartment, but the liquid in this flask
+was really that which was used when the princes or great lords were
+condemned to death, for, instead of being beheaded, their faces were
+washed with this water and they fell asleep and did not wake again.
+And so the King using this water one evening, thinking it to be the
+beauty water, and hoping and expecting to be made more handsome, went
+to sleep and awoke no more. Upon hearing what had occurred, Cabriole
+at once went and told Avenant, who asked him to go to the Princess
+Goldenhair and beseech her to remember the poor prisoner. When the
+Princess received this message, she went straight to the tower, and,
+with her own hands, struck off the chains that bound Avenant, and
+placing a crown of gold upon his head, and a royal mantle upon his
+shoulders, said: "Come, dear Avenant, I will make you King, and take
+you for my husband." Then there was a grand wedding, and Princess
+Goldenhair and Avenant, with Cabriole, lived long, all of them happy
+and contented.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
+
+
+Many years ago there lived a dear little girl, who was beloved by
+everyone who knew her; but her grandmother was so very fond of her
+that she never felt that she could think and do enough for her.
+
+On her grand-daughter's birthday she presented her with a red silk
+hood; and as it suited her very well, she would never wear anything
+else; and so she was called Little Red Riding Hood. One day her mother
+said to her, "Come, Red Riding Hood, here is a nice piece of meat,
+and a bottle of wine: take these to your grandmother; she is weak and
+ailing, and they will do her good. Be there before she gets up; go
+quietly and carefully; and do not run, or you may fall and break the
+bottle, and then your grandmother will have nothing. When you go into
+her room, do not forget to say 'Good-morning'; and do not pry into all
+the corners." "I will do just as you say," answered Red Riding Hood,
+bidding good-bye to her mother.
+
+[Illustration: _Painted by Jennie Harbour_
+LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD]
+
+The grandmother lived far away in the wood, a long walk from the
+village, and as Little Red Riding Hood came among the trees she met a
+wolf; but she did not know what a wicked animal it was, and so she
+was not at all frightened. "Good-morning, Little Red Riding Hood," he
+said.
+
+"Thank you, Mr. Wolf," she said.
+
+"Where are you going so early, Little Red Riding Hood?"
+
+"To my grandmother's," she answered.
+
+"And what are you carrying under your apron?"
+
+"Some wine and meat," she replied. "We baked the meat yesterday, so
+that grandmother, who is very weak, might have a nice strengthening
+meal."
+
+"And where does your grandmother live?" asked the Wolf.
+
+"Oh, quite twenty minutes' walk further in the forest. The cottage
+stands under three great oak trees; and close by are some nut bushes,
+by which you will at once know it."
+
+The wolf was thinking to himself, "She is a nice tender thing, and
+will taste better than the old woman; I must act cleverly, that I may
+make a meal of both."
+
+[Illustration: "WHERE ARE YOU GOING SO EARLY, LITTLE RED RIDING
+HOOD."]
+
+Presently he came up again to Little Red Riding Hood and said. "Just
+look at the beautiful flowers which grow near you; why do you not look
+about you? I believe you don't hear how sweetly the birds are singing.
+You walk as if you were going to school; see how cheerful everything
+is around you in the forest."
+
+And Little Red Riding Hood opened her eyes; and when she saw how the
+sunbeams glanced and danced through the trees, and what bright flowers
+were blooming in her path, she thought, "If I take my grandmother a
+fresh nosegay she will be much pleased; and it is so very early that
+I can, even then, get there in good time:" and running into the forest
+she looked about for flowers. But when she had once begun she did
+not know how to leave off, and kept going deeper and deeper among the
+trees looking for some still more beautiful flower. The Wolf, however,
+ran straight to the house of the old grandmother, and knocked at the
+door.
+
+"Who's that?" asked the old lady.
+
+"Only little Red Riding Hood, bringing you some meat and wine; please
+open the door," answered the Wolf.
+
+"Lift up the latch," cried the grandmother; "I am much too ill to get
+up myself."
+
+So the Wolf lifted the latch, and the door flew open; and without a
+word he jumped on to the bed and gobbled up the poor old lady. Then he
+put on her clothes, and tied her night-cap over his head; got into the
+bed, and drew the blankets over him.
+
+All this time Red Riding Hood was gathering flowers; and when she had
+picked as many as she could carry, she thought of her grandmother, and
+hurried to the cottage. She wondered very much to find the door
+open; and when she got into the room, she began to feel very ill, and
+exclaimed, "How sad I feel! I wish I had not come to-day." Then she
+said, "Good morning," but received no reply; so she went up to the
+bed, and drew back the curtains, and there lay her grandmother as
+she imagined, with the cap drawn half over her eyes and looking very
+fierce.
+
+"Oh, grandmother, what great ears you have!"
+
+"All the better to hear you with," was the reply.
+
+"And what great eyes you have!"
+
+"All the better to see you with."
+
+"And what great hands you have!"
+
+"All the better to touch you with."
+
+"But, grandmother, what very great teeth you have!"
+
+"All the better to eat you with;" and hardly were the words spoken
+when the Wolf made a jump out of bed and swallowed down poor Little
+Red Riding Hood also.
+
+As soon as he had thus satisfied his hunger, he laid himself down
+again on the bed, and went to sleep and snored very loudly. A huntsman
+passing by overheard him, and said, "How loudly that old woman snores!
+I must see if anything is the matter."
+
+So he went into the cottage; and when he came to the bed, he saw the
+Wolf sleeping in it.
+
+"What! are you here, you old rascal? I have been looking for you,"
+exclaimed he; and taking up his gun, he shot the old Wolf through the
+head.
+
+But it is also said that the story ends in a different manner; for
+that one day, when Red Riding Hood was taking some presents to her
+grandmother, a Wolf met her, and wanted to mislead her; but she went
+straight on, and told her grandmother that she had met a Wolf, who
+said good-day; but he looked so hungrily out of his great eyes, as if
+he would have eaten her up had she not been on the high road.
+
+So her grandmother said, "We will shut the door, and then he cannot
+get in."
+
+Soon after, up came the Wolf, who tapped, and exclaimed, "I am Little
+Red Riding Hood, grandmother; I have some roast meat for you." But
+they kept quite quiet, and did not open the door; so the Wolf, after
+looking several times round the house, at last jumped on to the roof,
+thinking to wait till Red Riding Hood went home in the evening, and
+then to creep after her and eat her in the darkness.
+
+The old woman, however, saw what the villain intended. There stood
+before the door a large stone trough, and she said to Little Red
+Riding Hood, "Take this bucket, dear: yesterday I boiled some meat in
+this water, now pour it into the stone trough." Then the Wolf sniffed
+the smell of the meat, and his mouth watered, and he wished very much
+to taste.
+
+At last he stretched his neck too far over, so that he lost his
+balance, and fell down from the roof, right into the great trough
+below, and there he was drowned.
+
+[Illustration: "WITHOUT A WORD HE JUMPED ON TO THE BED AND GOBBLED UP
+THE POOR OLD LADY."]
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+THE WHITE FAWN
+
+
+There was once upon a time a King and Queen who were perfectly happy,
+with one exception, and that was that they had no child.
+
+One day when the Queen was staying in a watering-place, some distance
+from home, she was sitting by a fountain alone, sadly thinking of the
+daughter she longed to have, when she perceived a crab coming in her
+direction, who, to the Queen's surprise, addressed her thus:
+
+"Great Queen, if you will condescend to be conducted by a humble
+crab, I will lead you to a Fairies' palace and your wish shall be
+fulfilled."
+
+"I would certainly come with you," replied the Queen, "but I am afraid
+that I cannot walk backwards."
+
+The crab smiled, and transforming herself into a beautiful little old
+woman, said:
+
+"Now, madam, it is not necessary to go backwards. Come with me, and
+I beg of you to look upon me as your friend." She then escorted the
+Queen to the most magnificent palace that could possibly be imagined,
+it was built entirely of diamonds.
+
+In this superb place dwelt six Fairies who received the Queen with
+the greatest respect, and each one presented her with a flower made of
+precious stones--a rose, tulip, an anemone, a columbine, a violet, and
+a carnation.
+
+"Madam," they said, "we have pleasure in telling you that soon you
+will have a daughter whom you will name Desiree. Directly she arrives,
+do not fail to call upon us, for we will bestow all sorts of good
+gifts upon her. You have only to hold this bouquet, and mention each
+flower, thinking of us, and be assured that we shall at once appear in
+your chamber."
+
+The Queen, transported with joy, and overcome with gratitude, threw
+herself upon their necks, and warmly embraced them; she then spent
+several hours admiring the wonders of the palace and its gardens, and
+it was not until evening that she returned to her attendants, who were
+in a serious state of anxiety at the prolonged absence of Her Majesty.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Not very long afterwards, when the Queen was once more at home in her
+Royal Palace, a baby Princess was born, whom she named Desiree. Then
+taking the bouquet into her hand, the Queen, one by one, pronounced
+the names of the flowers, when there immediately appeared, flying
+through the air in elegant chariots drawn by different kinds of birds,
+the six Fairies who entered the apartment, bearing beautiful presents
+for the little baby. Marvellously fine linen, but so strong that it
+could be worn a hundred years without going into holes, lace of the
+finest, with the history of the world worked into its pattern, toys
+of all descriptions that a child would love to play with, and a cradle
+ornamented with rubies and diamonds, and supported by four Cupids
+ready to rock it should the baby cry. But, best of all, the Fairies
+endowed the little Princess with beauty, and virtue, and health, and
+every good thing that could be desired.
+
+The Queen was thanking the Fairies a thousand times for all their
+favours, when the door opened, and a crab appeared.
+
+"Ungrateful Queen," said the crab, "you have not deigned to remember
+me, the Fairy of the Fountain; and to punish your ingratitude, if the
+Princess sees daylight before she is fifteen years old, she will have
+cause to repent it, and it may cost her her life. It was well I took
+the form of a crab, for your friendship instead of advancing has gone
+backwards." Then in spite of all the Queen and the Fairies could say,
+the crab went backwards out of the door, leaving them in the saddest
+consternation, and it was long before they could decide what was best
+to be done.
+
+Then, with three waves of a wand, the Fairies caused a high tower to
+spring up; it had neither door nor window, an underground passage was
+made, through which everything necessary could be carried, and in
+this tower the little Princess was shut up and there she lived by
+candlelight, where never a glimpse of the sun could come.
+
+When the Princess Desiree was fourteen years old, the Queen had her
+portrait painted, and copies of it were carried to all the Courts
+in the world. All the Princes admired it greatly, but there was one
+Prince, named Guerrier, who loved it above everything; he used to
+stand before the picture and avow his passion, just as if it heard
+what he said, and at last he told the King, his father.
+
+"You have resolved that I shall marry the Princess Noire, but this I
+can never do, so great is my love for the Princess Desiree."
+
+"But where have you seen her?" enquired the King.
+
+The Prince hastened to fetch her portrait, and the King was so greatly
+struck by Desiree's beauty that he agreed to follow his son's wishes
+and break off his engagement with the Princess Noire, that he might
+wed the Princess Desiree. So the King despatched as ambassador a rich
+young lord named Becafigue.
+
+Becafigue was devoted to Prince Guerrier, and he fitted out a most
+splendid retinue to visit the Princess Desiree's Court. Besides
+numerous magnificent presents, Becafigue took with him the Prince's
+portrait, which had been painted by such a clever artist that it would
+speak; it could not exactly answer questions, but could make certain
+remarks. It was truly a speaking likeness of the young Prince.
+Desiree's father and mother were delighted when they heard that the
+Prince Guerrier was seeking their daughter's hand in marriage, for
+they knew him to be a brave and noble young man. But as it still
+wanted three months to the Princess's fifteenth year, warned by
+the Fairy Tulip, who had taken Desiree under her special care, they
+refused to let him see their daughter or to let her yet marry the
+Prince Guerrier, but they showed her the Prince's portrait, with
+which she was greatly pleased, and particularly when it said, "Lovely
+Desiree, you cannot imagine how ardently I am waiting for you; come
+soon into our Court to make it beautiful by your presence."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+When Prince Guerrier saw the ambassador return without Desiree, he
+was so terribly disappointed that he could neither eat nor sleep, and
+before long fell dangerously ill.
+
+Meanwhile Desiree had no less pleasure in looking at the Prince's
+portrait than he had had admiring hers, and this was soon discovered
+by those around her, and among others Giroflee and Longue Epine, her
+maids of honour. Giroflee loved her passionately and faithfully, but
+Longue Epine was full of envy of the Princess who was so good and
+beautiful, and, besides Longue Epine, Desiree had another enemy,
+and that was the Princess Noire, to whom Prince Guerrier had been
+betrothed. This Princess Noire now went to the Fairy of the Fountain,
+who was her best friend, and begged her to take revenge upon Princess
+Desiree, and this the Fairy promised to do. Meanwhile once more
+Becafigue came to the capital where Desiree's father lived, and
+throwing himself at the King's feet, besought him in most touching
+words to let his daughter go with him at once to the Prince, who would
+surely die if he could not behold her.
+
+When Princess Desiree heard of the Prince's illness, she suggested
+that she should set out without delay, but in a dark carriage,
+that only at night should be opened to give her food. This plan was
+approved of; the ambassador was told, and he departed full of joy. So
+in a carriage like a large dark box, shut up with her Lady in Waiting
+and her two Maids of Honour, Giroflee and Longue Epine, Princess
+Desiree departed for Prince Guerrier's Court.
+
+Perhaps you will remember that Longue Epine did not like Princess
+Desiree, but she greatly admired Prince Guerrier, for she had seen his
+portrait speaking, and she had told her mother, the Lady in Waiting,
+that she should die if he married Desiree.
+
+The King and Queen had begged the Lady in Waiting to take the greatest
+of care of their dear daughter, and above all to be heedful that she
+did not see the light of day until her fifteenth birthday, saying that
+the ambassador had promised that until then she should be placed where
+there was no other light than that of candles. But now as they drew
+near their destination, while it was broad daylight the wicked woman,
+urged by her envious daughter, Longue Epine, all at once took a large
+knife which she had brought for the purpose, and with it cut the
+covering of the carriage.
+
+Then, for the first time, the Princess Desiree saw the light of day!!!
+Hardly had she perceived it when, uttering a deep sigh, she threw
+herself from the carriage, and in the form of a white fawn fleetly
+fled into a forest near by.
+
+The Fairy of the Fountain, who was the cause of this disaster seeing
+that all who were accompanying the Princess were about to hasten to
+the town to tell the Prince Guerrier what had happened, called up a
+great thunderstorm and scattered them in every direction. Only the
+Lady in Waiting, Longue Epine and Giroflee were left, Giroflee, who
+ran after her mistress, making the trees and rocks echo with her
+mournful calls. Then Longue Epine clothed herself in the rich bridal
+robes provided for Desiree. She placed the crown upon her head, the
+sceptre and orb she carried in her hands, so that all should take her
+for the Princess. With her mother bearing her train she gravely walked
+in the direction of the town.
+
+[Illustration: "A GREAT THUNDERSTORM SCATTERED THEM IN EVERY
+DIRECTION."]
+
+They had not gone far when a brilliant procession came towards them,
+amongst whom was the sick Prince in a litter, and to those in advance
+Longue Epine announced that she was the Princess Desiree, with her
+Lady in Waiting, but that a jealous Fairy had sent a thunderstorm
+which had destroyed her carriage and scattered her other attendants.
+When the Prince was told of this, he could not refrain from saying
+to the messengers: "Now acknowledge, is she not truly a miracle of
+beauty, a Princess beyond compare?"
+
+No one replied at first, and then one of the boldest said,
+
+"Sir, you will see; apparently the fatigue of the journey has somewhat
+changed her." The Prince was surprised, but when he saw Longue Epine
+words fail to express what he felt.
+
+She was so tall that it was alarming, and the garments of the Princess
+hardly came to her knees. She was frightfully thin, and her nose,
+which was more hooked than a parrot's beak, shone like a danger
+signal. Then her teeth were black and uneven, and, in fact, she was as
+ugly as Desiree was beautiful.
+
+At first the Prince could not speak a word, he simply gazed at her
+in amazement. Then he said, turning to his father, "We have been
+deceived, that portrait was painted to mislead us. It will be the
+death of me."
+
+"What do I hear, they have deceived you," fiercely exclaimed Longue
+Epine.
+
+"It is not to be wondered at," remarked the King, "that your father
+kept such a treasure shut up for fifteen years."
+
+Then he and the Prince turned towards the town, and the false Princess
+and the Lady in Waiting, without any ceremony, were mounted each
+behind a soldier and taken to be shut up in a castle.
+
+[Illustration: _Painted by Jennie Harbour_
+THE WHITE FAWN]
+
+Soon after his terrible disappointment, Prince Guerrier, unable to
+bear any longer the life at court, secretly departed from the palace
+with his faithful friend Becafigue, leaving a letter for his father
+saying he would return to him as soon as his mind was in a happier
+state, and begging him meanwhile to keep the ugly Princess prisoner,
+and think of some revenge upon the deceitful king, her father.
+
+After three or four days' journeying, the wanderers found themselves
+in a thick forest. Quite wearied out, the Prince threw himself
+upon the ground, while Becafigue went on further in search of fruit
+wherewith to refresh his royal master.
+
+It is a long time since we left the White Fawn, that is to say the
+charming Princess.
+
+Very desolately she wept when in a stream she saw her figure
+reflected, and when night came she was in great fear, for she heard
+wild beasts about her, and sometimes forgetting she was a fawn she
+would try to climb a tree. But with morning dawn she felt a little
+safer, and the sun appeared a marvellous sight to her from which she
+could hardly turn her eyes. But now the Fairy Tulip, who had always
+loved the Princess guided Giroflee's feet in her direction, and
+when the White Fawn saw her faithful Maid of Honour her delight was
+boundless.
+
+It did not take Giroflee long to discover that this was her
+dearly-loved mistress, and she promised the White Fawn never to
+forsake her, for she found she could hear all that was said although
+she could not speak. Towards night the fear of having no shelter made
+the two friends so dreadfully dismayed that the Fairy Tulip suddenly
+appeared before them.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"I am not going to scold you," she said, "although it is through not
+following my advice that you are in this misfortune, for it goes to
+my heart to see you thus. I cannot release you altogether from this
+enchantment, but I have power to shorten the time, and also to say
+that during the night you may regain your rightful form, but by day
+again must you run through the forest as a Fawn." The fairy also told
+them where they could find a little hut in which to pass the nights.
+Then she disappeared. Giroflee and the Fawn walked in the direction
+the Fairy had pointed out, and arrived at a neat little cottage where
+an old woman showed them a room which they could occupy.
+
+As soon as it was night Desiree came to her rightful form, but when
+day appeared she was once more a Fawn and, escaping into the thicket,
+commenced to run about in the ordinary way.
+
+You have heard how Prince Guerrier rested in the forest while
+Becafigue searched for fruit; quite late in the evening Becafigue
+arrived at the cottage of the good woman who had given shelter to
+Giroflee and the White Fawn. He addressed her politely and asked for
+the things he required for his master. She hastened to fill a basket,
+and gave it to him, saying, "I fear that if you pass a night without
+shelter some harm may come to you. I can offer you a poor one, but at
+any rate it is secure from the lions."
+
+Becafigue went back to the Prince and together they returned to the
+cottage, where they were led into the room next to that occupied by
+the Princess.
+
+Next morning the Prince arose early and went out; he had not long been
+in the forest when he saw a beautiful little Fawn. Hunting had ever
+been his favourite pastime, and now he pursued the little creature.
+All day long hither and thither he chased, but did not succeed in
+capturing her, and as evening fell the Fawn slipped away and gained
+the little hut where Giroflee anxiously awaited her, and on hearing
+her adventure the Maid of Honour told her she must never again venture
+out, but the Princess replied:
+
+"It is no use talking thus, when I am a Fawn this room is stifling to
+me and I must depart from it."
+
+The next day the young Prince sought in vain for the White Fawn, and
+finally tired out threw himself upon the grass and fell asleep.
+
+While he lay there the little Fawn drew near and looking at him
+quietly, to her astonishment she recognised his features as those of
+the Prince Guerrier. Coming nearer and nearer she presently touched
+him and he awoke.
+
+His surprise was great at seeing close by the shy little Fawn, who
+stayed not an instant longer but fled away, the Prince following.
+
+"Stay, dear little Fawn," he cried, "I would not hurt you for the
+world." But the wind carried off the words before they reached her
+ears. Long he chased the poor creature, till at last worn out the Fawn
+sank down on the ground and the Prince came up to her.
+
+"Beautiful Fawn," said he, "do not fear me, I shall lead you with
+me everywhere." Then he covered her with roses and fed her with the
+choicest leaves and grasses.
+
+But as evening drew near the Fawn longed to escape, for what would
+happen should she suddenly change into a Princess there in the forest.
+Presently the Prince went to fetch some water for her, and while he
+was gone she ran homewards. The next day for a long time she hid from
+the Prince, but at last he found her, and as she dashed off he shot an
+arrow which wounded her in the leg.
+
+Sad that he should have done so cruel a thing, the Prince took herbs
+and laid them upon the wound, and at last he went to fetch Becafigue
+to help him carry her to the house. He tied her to a tree.
+
+Alas! Who would have thought that the most beautiful Princess in the
+world would be treated thus? While she was straining at the ribbons
+trying to break them, Giroflee arrived, and was leading her away when
+the Prince met them and claimed the Fawn as his.
+
+"Sir," politely replied Giroflee, "the Fawn was mine before it was
+yours," and she spoke to the Fawn, and the Fawn obeyed her in such
+a way that the Prince could not doubt that what she said was true.
+Giroflee then went on, and, to the surprise of the Prince and
+Becafigue, entered the old woman's house where they themselves lodged.
+Then Becafigue told the Prince that unless he was much mistaken the
+owner of the Fawn had lived with the Princess Desiree when he went
+there as ambassador.
+
+"I mean to see her again," said Becafigue, "there is only a partition
+between her room and ours." And soon he had made a hole large enough
+to peep through, and through it he saw the charming Princess dressed
+in a robe of brocaded silver, with flowers embroidered in gold and
+emeralds, her hair falling in heavy masses on the most beautiful neck
+in the world. Giroflee was on her knees before her, bandaging up
+one arm from which the blood was flowing. They both seemed greatly
+concerned about the wound: "Let me die," the Princess was saying,
+"death would be better than the life which I lead. To be a Fawn all
+the day, to hear him speaking, and not to be able to tell him of my
+sad fate."
+
+One can guess the astonishment of Becafigue and of the Prince.
+Guerrier would almost have died of pleasure had he not thought that
+it must be some enchantment, for did he not know that Desiree and her
+Lady in Waiting were shut up in the castle.
+
+He went softly and knocked at the chamber door, which Giroflee opened,
+thinking it was the old woman, for she required help for the wounded
+arm.
+
+The Prince entered, threw himself at Desiree's feet, and found she was
+indeed his Princess.
+
+Great was their joy thus at last meeting, and while they were talking
+to each other the night passed, and the day dawned, and daylight came,
+and the morning sun shone brightly before Desiree had time to notice
+that she had not again taken the shape of a Fawn, but was her own
+beautiful self.
+
+Then it was found that it was the Fairy Tulip in disguise of the old
+woman who had provided that sheltering cottage in the forest.
+
+The joy of the King upon once more seeing his son can well be
+imagined, and the marriage of the Prince and Desiree, and Becafigue
+and Giroflee took place on the same day, the Fairies giving their
+diamond palace as their wedding present to Princess Desiree, and Fairy
+Tulip presenting four gold mines in the Indies to Giroflee.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+And, in accordance with the wish of Princess Desiree, Longue Epine and
+her mother, the false Lady in Waiting, were set at liberty.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+HANSEL AND GRETHEL
+
+
+Once upon a time there dwelt near a large wood a poor wood cutter,
+with his wife, and two children by his former marriage, a little boy
+called Hansel, and a girl named Grethel. He had little enough to break
+or bite; and once, when there was a great famine in the land, he could
+hardly procure even his daily bread; and as he lay thinking in his bed
+one night, he sighed, and said to his wife, "What will become of us?
+How can we feed our children, when we have no more than we can eat
+ourselves?"
+
+"Know then, my husband," answered she, "we will lead them away, quite
+early in the morning, into the thickest part of the wood, and there
+make them a fire, and give them each a little piece of bread, then we
+will go to our work, and leave them alone, so they will not find the
+way home again, and we shall be freed from them."
+
+"No, wife," replied he, "that I can never do; how can you bring your
+heart to leave my children all alone in the wood; for the wild beasts
+will soon come and tear them to pieces?"
+
+"Oh, you simpleton!" said she, "then we must all four die of hunger;
+you had better plane the coffins for us." But she left him no peace
+till he consented, saying, "Ah, but I shall miss the poor children."
+
+The two children, however, had not gone to sleep, for very hunger, and
+so they overheard what the stepmother said to their father. Grethel
+wept bitterly, and said to Hansel, "What will become of us?"
+
+"Be quiet, Grethel," said he; "do not cry--I will help you." And as
+soon as their parents had gone to sleep, he got up, put on his coat,
+and, unbarring the back door, went out. The moon shone brightly, and
+the white pebbles which lay before the door seemed like silver pieces,
+they glittered so brightly. Hansel stooped down, and put as many into
+his pocket as it would hold; and then going back he said to Grethel,
+"Be of good cheer, dear sister, and sleep in peace; God will not
+forsake us." And so saying, he went to bed again.
+
+The next morning, before the sun arose, the wife went and awoke the
+two children. "Get up, you lazy things; we are going into the forest
+to chop wood." Then she gave them each a piece of bread, saying,
+"There is something for your dinner; do not eat it before the time,
+for you will get nothing else." Grethel took the bread in her apron,
+for Hansel's pocket was full of pebbles; and so they all set out upon
+their way. When they had gone a little distance, Hansel stood still,
+and peeped back at the house; and this he repeated several times, till
+his father said, "Hansel, what are you looking at, and why do you lag
+behind? Take care, and remember your legs."
+
+"Ah, father," said Hansel, "I am looking at my white cat sitting upon
+the roof of the house, and trying to say good-bye."
+
+"You simpleton!" said the wife, "that is not a cat; it is only the sun
+shining on the white chimney." But in reality Hansel was not looking
+at a cat; but every time he stopped, he dropped a pebble out of his
+pocket upon the path.
+
+When they came to the middle of the forest, the father told the
+children to collect wood, and he would make them a fire, so that they
+should not be cold. So Hansel and Grethel gathered together quite a
+little mount of twigs. Then they set fire to them; and as the flame
+burnt up high, the wife said, "Now, you children, lie down near the
+fire, and rest yourselves, whilst we go into the forest and chop more
+wood; when we are ready we will come and call you."
+
+Hansel and Grethel sat down by the fire, and when it was noon, each
+ate the piece of bread; and because they could hear the blows of an
+axe they thought their father was near; but it was not an axe, but a
+branch which he had bound to an old tree, so as to be blown to and fro
+by the wind. They waited so long, that at last their eyes closed from
+weariness, and they fell fast asleep. When they awoke, it was quite
+dark, and Grethel began to cry. "How shall we get out of the wood?"
+But Hansel tried to comfort her by saying, "Wait a little while till
+the moon rises, and then we will quickly find the way." The moon shone
+forth, and Hansel, taking his sister's hand, followed the pebbles,
+which glittered like new-coined silver pieces, and showed them the
+way. All night long they walked on, and as day broke they came to
+their father's house. They knocked at the door, and when the wife
+opened it, and saw Hansel and Grethel, she exclaimed, "You wicked
+children! Why did you sleep so long in the wood? We thought you were
+never coming home again." But their father was extremely glad, for it
+had grieved his heart to leave them all alone.
+
+[Illustration: "HANSEL AND GRETHEL SAT DOWN BY THE FIRE."]
+
+Not long afterwards there was again great scarcity in every corner of
+the land; and one night the children overheard their mother saying to
+their father, "Everything is once more consumed; we have only half a
+loaf left, and then the song is ended: the children must be sent away.
+We will take them deeper into the wood, so that they may not find the
+way out again; it is the only means of escape for us."
+
+But her husband felt heavy at heart, and thought, "It were better
+to share the last crust with the children." His wife, however, would
+listen to nothing that he said, and scolded and reproached him without
+end.
+
+He who says A must say B too; and he who consents the first time must
+also the second.
+
+The children, however, had heard the conversation as they lay awake,
+and as soon as their parents went to sleep Hansel got up, intending to
+pick up some pebbles as before; but the wife had locked the door, so
+that he could not get out. Nevertheless he comforted Grethel, saying,
+"Do not weep; sleep in quiet; the good God will not forsake us."
+
+Early in the morning the stepmother came and pulled them out of bed,
+and gave them each a slice of bread, which was still smaller than the
+former piece. On the way Hansel broke his in his pocket, and stopping
+every now and then, dropped a crumb upon the path. "Hansel, why do
+you stop and look about?" said the father, "keep in the path." "I am
+looking at my little dove," answered Hansel, "nodding a good-bye to
+me." "Simpleton!" said the wife, "that is no dove, but only the sun
+shining on the chimney." But Hansel kept still dropping crumbs as he
+went along.
+
+The mother led the children deep into the wood, where they had never
+been before, and there making a gigantic fire, she said to them, "Sit
+down here and rest, and when you feel tired you can sleep for a little
+while. We are going into the forest to hew wood, and in the evening,
+when we are ready, we will come and fetch you again."
+
+When noon came, Grethel shared her bread with Hansel, who had strewn
+his on the path. They then went to sleep; but the evening arrived and
+no one came to visit the poor children, and in the dark night they
+awoke, and Hansel comforted his sister by saying, "Only wait, Grethel,
+till the moon comes out, then we shall see the crumbs of bread which I
+have dropped, and they will show us the way home." The moon shone and
+they got up, but they could not see any crumbs, for the thousands of
+birds which had been flying about in the woods and fields had picked
+them all up. Hansel kept saying to Grethel, "We will soon find the
+way;" but they did not, and they walked the whole night long and the
+next day, but still they did not come out of the wood; and they got
+very hungry, for they had nothing to eat but the berries which they
+found upon the bushes. Soon they were so tired that they could not
+drag themselves along, then they lay down under a tree and again went
+to sleep.
+
+[Illustration: _Painted by Jennie Harbour_
+HANSEL AND GRETHEL]
+
+It was now the third morning since they had left their father's house,
+and they still walked on; but they only got deeper, and deeper, and
+deeper into the wood, and Hansel felt that if help did not come
+very soon they must die of hunger. As soon as it was noon they saw a
+beautiful, snow-white bird sitting upon a bough, singing so sweetly
+that they stood still and listened to it. It soon ceased, and
+spreading its wings flew off; and they followed it until it arrived at
+a cottage, upon the roof of which it perched; and when they went close
+up to it they saw that the cottage was made of bread and cakes, and
+the window-panes were of clear sugar.
+
+"We will go in here," said Hansel, "and have a glorious feast. I will
+eat a piece of the roof, and you can eat the window. Will they not be
+sweet?" So Hansel reached up and broke a piece off the roof, in order
+to see how it tasted; while Grethel stepped up to the window and
+began to bite it. Then a sweet voice called out in the room, "Tip-tap,
+tip-tap, who knocks at my door?" and the children answered, "The
+wind, the wind, the child of heaven;" and they went on eating without
+interruption. Hansel thought the roof tasted very nice, and so he tore
+off a great piece; while Grethel broke a large round pane out of the
+window, and sat down quite contentedly. Just then the door opened, and
+a very old woman, walking upon crutches, came out. Hansel and Grethel
+were so much frightened that they let fall what they had in their
+hands; but the old woman nodding her head, said, "Ah, you dear
+children, what has brought you here? Come in and stop with me, and no
+harm shall come to you;" and so saying she took them both by the hand,
+and led them into her cottage. A good meal of milk and pancakes, with
+sugar, apples and nuts, was spread on the table, and in the back
+room were two nice little beds, covered with white, where Hansel and
+Grethel laid themselves down, and were happy as could be. The old
+woman behaved very kindly to them, but in reality she was a wicked
+old witch who way-laid children, and built the breadhouse in order to
+entice them in; but as soon as they were in her power she killed them,
+cooked and ate them, and made a great festival of the day. Witches
+have red eyes, and cannot see very far; but they have a fine sense of
+smelling, like wild beasts, so that they know when children approach
+them. When Hansel and Grethel came near the witch's house she laughed
+wickedly, saying, "Here come two who shall not escape me." And early
+in the morning, before they awoke, she went up to them, and saw how
+lovingly they lay sleeping, with their chubby red cheeks; and she
+mumbled to herself, "That will be a good bite." Then she took up
+Hansel with her rough hand, and shut him up in a little cage with
+a lattice-door; and although he screamed loudly it was of no use.
+Grethel came next, and shaking her till she awoke, she said, "Get up,
+you lazy brat, and fetch some water to cook something good for your
+brother, who must remain in that stall and get fat; and when he is fat
+enough I shall eat him." Grethel began to cry, but it was all useless,
+for the old witch made her do as she wanted. So a nice meal was cooked
+for Hansel, but Grethel got nothing else but a crab's claw.
+
+Every morning the old witch came to the cage and said, "Hansel,
+stretch out your finger that I may feel whether you are getting fat."
+But Hansel used to stretch out a bone, and the old woman, having very
+bad sight, thought it was his finger, and wondered very much why he
+did not get fat. When four weeks had passed, and Hansel still kept
+quite lean, she lost all her patience, and would not wait any longer.
+"Grethel," she cried in a passion, "get some water quickly; be Hansel
+fat or lean, this morning I will kill and cook him." Oh, how the poor
+little sister grieved, as she was forced to fetch the water, and
+fast the tears ran down her cheeks! "Dear good God, help us now!" she
+prayed. "Had we only been eaten by the wild beasts in the wood, then
+we should have died together." But the old witch called out, "Leave
+off that noise; it will not help you a bit."
+
+So early in the morning Grethel was compelled to go out and fill the
+kettle, and make a fire. "First, we will bake, however," said the old
+woman; "I have already heated the oven and kneaded the dough;" and
+so saying, she pushed poor Grethel up to the oven, out of which the
+flames were burning fiercely. "Creep in," said the witch, "and see if
+it is hot enough, and then we will put in the bread," but she intended
+when Grethel got in, to shut up the oven and let her bake, so that she
+might eat her as well as Hansel. Grethel perceived her wicked thoughts
+and said, "I do not know how to do it; how shall I get in?" "You
+stupid goose," said she, "the opening is big enough. See, I could even
+get in myself!" and she got up, and put her head into the oven. Then
+Grethel gave her a push, so that she fell right in, and shutting the
+iron door bolted it. Oh! how horribly the witch howled; but Grethel
+ran away, and left her to burn to ashes.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Now she ran to Hansel, and, opening the door, called out, "Hansel we
+are saved; the old witch is dead?"
+
+So he sprang out, like a bird from his cage when the door was opened;
+and they were so glad that they fell upon each other's neck, and
+kissed each other over and over again. And now, as there was nothing
+to fear, they went back to the witch's house, where in every corner
+were caskets full of pearls and precious stones. "These are better
+than pebbles," said Hansel, putting as many into his pocket as it
+would hold; while Grethel thought, "I will take some home too," and
+filled her apron full.
+
+"We must be off now," said Hansel, "and get out of this enchanted
+forest;" but when they had walked for two hours they came to a large
+piece of water.
+
+"We cannot get over," said Hansel; "I can see no bridge at all." "And
+there is no boat either," said Grethel, "but there swims a white duck,
+I will ask her to help us over;" and she sang,
+
+      "Little Duck, good little Duck,
+      Grethel and Hansel, together we stand;
+      There is neither stile nor bridge,
+      Take us on your back to land."
+
+So the Duck came to them, and Hansel sat himself on, and bade his
+sister sit beside him. "No," replied Grethel, "that will be too much
+for the Duck, she shall take us over one at a time." This the good
+little bird did, and when both were happily arrived on the other side,
+and had gone a little way, they came to a well-known wood, which they
+knew the better every step they went, and at last they perceived their
+father's house. Then they began to run, and rushing into the house,
+they fell upon their father's neck. He had not had one happy hour
+since he had left the children in the forest; and his wife was dead.
+Grethel shook her apron, and the pearls and precious stones rolled out
+upon the floor, and Hansel threw down one handful after the other
+out of his pocket. Then all their sorrows were ended, and they lived
+together in great happiness.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+SNOW-WHITE AND ROSE-RED
+
+
+A poor widow once lived in a little cottage. In front of the cottage
+was a garden, in which were growing two rose trees; one of these bore
+white roses, and the other red.
+
+She had two children, who resembled the rose trees. One was called
+Snow-White, and the other Rose-Red; and they were as religious and
+loving, busy and untiring, as any two children ever were.
+
+Snow-White was more gentle, and quieter than her sister, who liked
+better skipping about the fields, seeking flowers, and catching summer
+birds; while Snow-White stayed at home with her mother, either helping
+her in her work, or, when that was done, reading aloud.
+
+The two children had the greatest affection the one for the other.
+They were always seen hand in hand; and should Snow-White say to her
+sister, "We will never separate," the other would reply, "Not while
+we live," the mother adding, "That which one has, let her always share
+with the other."
+
+They constantly ran together in the woods, collecting ripe berries;
+but not a single animal would have injured them; quite the reverse,
+they all felt the greatest esteem for the young creatures. The hare
+came to eat parsley from their hands, the deer grazed by their side,
+the stag bounded past them unheeding; the birds, likewise, did not
+stir from the bough, but sang in entire security. No mischance befell
+them; if benighted in the wood, they lay down on the moss to repose
+and sleep till the morning; and their mother was satisfied as to their
+safety, and felt no fear about them.
+
+Once, when they had spent the night in the wood, and the bright
+sunrise awoke them, they saw a beautiful child, in a snow-white
+robe, shining like diamonds, sitting close to the spot where they had
+reposed. She arose when they opened their eyes, and looked kindly at
+them; but said no word, and passed from their sight into the wood.
+When the children looked around they saw they had been sleeping on
+the edge of a precipice, and would surely have fallen over if they had
+gone forward two steps further in the darkness. Their mother said
+the beautiful child must have been the angel who watches over good
+children.
+
+Snow-White and Rose-Red kept their mother's cottage so clean that it
+gave pleasure only to look in. In summer-time Rose-Red attended to the
+house, and every morning, before her mother awoke, placed by her bed
+a bouquet which had in it a rose from each of the rose-trees. In
+winter-time Snow-White set light to the fire, and put on the kettle,
+after polishing it until it was like gold for brightness. In the
+evening, when snow was falling, her mother would bid her bolt the
+door, and then, sitting by the hearth, the good widow would read aloud
+to them from a big book while the little girls were spinning. Close
+by them lay a lamb, and a white pigeon, with its head tucked under its
+wing, was on a perch behind.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+One evening, as they were all sitting cosily together like this, there
+was a knock at the door, as if someone wished to come in.
+
+"Make haste, Rose-Red!" said her mother; "open the door; it is surely
+some traveller seeking shelter." Rose-Red accordingly pulled back the
+bolt, expecting to see some poor man. But it was nothing of the kind;
+it was a bear, that thrust his big head in at the open door. Rose-Red
+cried out and sprang back, the lamb bleated, the dove fluttered her
+wings and Snow-White hid herself behind her mother's bed. The bear
+began speaking, and said, "Do not be afraid: I will not do you any
+harm; I am half-frozen, and would like to warm myself a little at your
+fire."
+
+"Poor bear!" the mother replied; "come in and lie by the fire; only be
+careful that your hair is not burnt." Then she called Snow-White and
+Rose-Red, telling them that the bear was kind, and would not harm
+them. They came, as she bade them, and presently the lamb and the dove
+drew near also without fear.
+
+"Children," begged the bear; "knock some of the snow off my coat." So
+they brought the broom and brushed the bear's coat quite clean.
+
+After that he stretched himself out in front of the fire, and pleased
+himself by growling a little, only to show that he was happy and
+comfortable. Before long they were all quite good friends, and the
+children began to play with their unlooked for visitor, pulling his
+thick fur, or placing their feet on his back, or rolling him over and
+over. Then they took a slender hazel twig, using it upon his thick
+coat, and they laughed when he growled. The bear permitted them to
+amuse themselves in this way, only occasionally calling out, when it
+went a little too far, "Children, spare me an inch of life!"
+
+[Illustration]
+
+When it was night, and all were making ready to go to bed, the widow
+told the bear, "You may stay here and lie by the hearth, if you like,
+so that you will be sheltered from the cold and from the bad weather."
+
+The offer was accepted, but when morning came, as the day broke in
+the east, the two children let him out, and over the snow he went back
+into the wood.
+
+After this, every evening at the same time the bear came, lay by the
+fire, and allowed the children to play with him; so they became quite
+fond of their curious playmate, and the door was not ever bolted in
+the evening until he had appeared.
+
+When springtime came, and all around began to look green and bright,
+one morning the bear said to Snow-White, "Now I must leave you, and
+all the summer long I shall not be able to come back."
+
+"Where, then, are you going, dear bear?" asked Snow-White. "I have to
+go to the woods to protect my treasure from the bad dwarfs. In winter
+time when the earth is frozen hard, they must remain underground, and
+cannot make their way through; but now that the sunshine has thawed
+the earth they can come to the surface, and whatever gets into their
+hands, or is brought to their caves, seldom, if ever, again sees
+daylight."
+
+Snow-White was very sad when she said good-bye to the good-natured
+beast, and unfastened the door, that he might go; but in going out he
+was caught by a hook in the lintel, and a scrap of his fur being torn,
+Snow-White thought there was something shining like gold through the
+rent; but he went out so quickly that she could not feel certain what
+it was, and soon he was hidden among the trees.
+
+One day the mother sent her children into the wood to pick up sticks.
+They found a big tree lying on the ground. It had been felled, and
+towards the roots they noticed something skipping and springing, which
+they could not make out, as it was sometimes hidden in the grasses. As
+they came nearer they could see it was a dwarf, with a shrivelled up
+face and a snow-white beard an ell long. The beard was fixed in a gash
+in the tree trunk, and the tiny fellow was hopping to and fro, like a
+dog at the end of a string, but he could not manage to free himself.
+He stared at the children, with his red, fiery eyes, and called out,
+"Why are you standing there? Can't you come and try to help me?"
+
+"What were you doing, little fellow?" enquired Rose-Red.
+
+"Stupid, inquisitive goose!" replied the dwarf; "I meant to split the
+trunk, so that I could chop it up for kitchen sticks; big logs would
+burn up the small quantity of food we cook, for people like us do
+not consume great heaps of food, as you heavy, greedy folk do.
+The bill-hook I had driven in, and soon I should have done what
+I required; but the tool suddenly sprang from the cleft, which so
+quickly shut up again that it caught my handsome white beard; and
+here I must stop, for I cannot set myself free. You stupid, pale-faced
+creatures! You laugh, do you?"
+
+In spite of the dwarf's bad temper, the girls took all possible pains
+to release the little man, but without avail; the beard could not be
+moved, it was wedged too tightly.
+
+"I will run and get someone else," said Rose-Red.
+
+"Idiot!" cried the dwarf. "Who would go and get more people? Already
+there are two too many. Can't you think of something better?"
+
+"Don't be so impatient," said Snow-White. "I will try to think." She
+clapped her hands as if she had discovered a remedy, took out her
+scissors, and in a moment set the dwarf free by cutting off the end of
+his beard.
+
+Immediately the dwarf felt that he was free he seized a sackful
+of gold that was hidden among the tree roots, and, lifting it up,
+grumbled out, "Clumsy creatures, to cut off a bit of my beautiful
+beard, of which I am so proud! I leave the cuckoos to pay you for what
+you did." Saying this, he swung the sack across his shoulder and went
+off without even casting a glance at the children.
+
+Not long afterwards the two sisters went to angle in the brook,
+meaning to catch fish for dinner. As they were drawing near the water
+they perceived something, looking like a large grasshopper, springing
+towards the stream, as if it were going in. They hurried up to see
+what it might be, and found that it was the dwarf. "Where are you
+going?" said Rose-Red. "Surely you will not jump into the water?"
+
+"I'm not such a simpleton as that!" yelled the little man. "Don't you
+see that a wretch of a fish is pulling me in?"
+
+The dwarf had been sitting angling from the side of the stream when,
+by ill-luck, the wind had entangled his beard in his line, and just
+afterwards a big fish taking the bait, the unamiable little fellow had
+not sufficient strength to pull it out; so the fish had the advantage,
+and was dragging the dwarf after it. Certainly he caught at every
+stalk and spray near him, but that did not assist him greatly; he was
+forced to follow all the twistings of the fish, and was perpetually in
+danger of being drawn into the brook.
+
+The girls arrived just in time. They caught hold of him firmly, and
+endeavoured to untwist his beard from the line, but in vain; it was
+too tightly entangled. There was nothing left but again to make use of
+the scissors; so they were taken out, and the tangled portion was cut
+off.
+
+When the dwarf noticed what they were about, he exclaimed, in a great
+rage, "Is this how you damage my beard? Not content with making it
+shorter before, you are now making it still smaller, and completely
+spoiling it. I shall not ever dare to show my face to my friends.
+I wish you had missed your way before you took this road." Then he
+fetched a sack of pearls that lay among the rushes, and saying not
+another word, hobbled off and disappeared behind a large stone.
+
+Soon after this it chanced that the poor widow sent her children to
+the town to purchase cotton, needles, ribbon and tape. The way to the
+town ran over a common on which in every direction large masses
+of rocks were scattered about. The children's attention was soon
+attracted to a big bird that hovered in the air. They remarked that
+after circling slowly for a time, and gradually getting nearer to
+the ground, it all of a sudden pounced down amongst a mass of rock.
+Instantly a heart-rending cry reached their ears, and, running quickly
+to the place, they saw, with horror, that the eagle had seized their
+former acquaintance, the dwarf, and was just about to carry him off.
+The kind children did not hesitate for an instant. They took a firm
+hold of the little man, they strove so stoutly with the eagle for
+possession of his contemplated prey, that, after much rough treatment
+on both sides, the dwarf was left in the hands of his brave little
+friends, and the eagle took to flight.
+
+As soon as the little man had in some measure recovered from his
+alarm, his small, squeaky, cracked voice was heard saying, "Couldn't
+you have held me more gently? See my little coat; you have rent and
+damaged it in a fine manner, you clumsy, officious things!" Then he
+picked up a sack of jewels, and slipped out of sight behind a piece of
+rock.
+
+The maidens by this time were quite used to his ungrateful, ungracious
+ways; so they took no notice of it, but went on their way, made their
+purchases, and then were ready to return to their happy home.
+
+[Illustration: _Painted by Jennie Harbour_
+SNOW-WHITE AND ROSE-RED]
+
+On their way back, suddenly, once more they ran across their dwarf
+friend.
+
+Upon a clear space he had turned out his sack of jewels, so that he
+could count and admire them, for he had not imagined that anybody
+would at so late an hour be coming across the common. The setting sun
+was shining upon the brilliant stones, and their changing hues and
+sparkling rays caused the children to pause to admire them also.
+
+"What are you gazing at?" cried the dwarf, at the same time becoming
+red with rage; "and what are you standing there for, making ugly
+faces?"
+
+It is probable that he might have proceeded in the same complimentary
+manner, but suddenly a great growl was heard near by them, and a big
+bear joined the party. Up jumped the dwarf in extremest terror, but
+could not get to his hiding-place, the bear was too close to him; so
+he cried out in very evident anguish--
+
+"Dear Mr. Bear, forgive me, I pray! I will render to you all my
+treasure. Just see those precious stones lying there! Grant me my
+life! What would you do with such an insignificant little fellow?
+You would not notice me between your teeth. See, though, those
+two children, they would be delicate morsels, and are as plump as
+partridges; I beg of you to take them, good Mr. Bear, and let me go."
+
+But the bear would not be moved by his speeches. He gave the
+ill-disposed creature a blow with his paw, and he lay lifeless on the
+ground. Meanwhile, the maidens were running away, making off for home
+as well as they could; but all of a sudden they were stopped by a
+well-known voice that called out, "Snow-White, Rose-Red, stay! Do not
+fear. I will accompany you."
+
+The bear quickly came towards them, but as he reached their side,
+suddenly the bear-skin slipped to the ground, and there before them
+was standing a handsome man, completely garmented in gold, who said,
+"I am a king's son, who was enchanted by the wicked dwarf lying
+over there. He stole my treasure, and compelled me to roam the woods
+transformed into a big bear until his death should set me free.
+Therefore he has only received a well-deserved punishment."
+
+[Illustration: "THE BEARSKIN SLIPPED TO THE GROUND."]
+
+Then Rose-Red and Snow-White and the Prince all went back to the
+cottage, and some time afterwards Snow-White married the Prince, and
+Rose-Red, his brother, who shared between them the enormous treasure
+which the dwarf had collected in his cave.
+
+The old mother spent many happy years with her children. The two
+rose-trees she took with her when she left the cottage, and they grew
+in front of her window, where they continued to bear each year the
+most beautiful roses, red and white.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+THE SLEEPING BEAUTY
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a king and queen who had no children; and
+this they lamented very much. But one day, as the queen was walking by
+the side of the river, a little fish lifted its head out of the water,
+and said, "Your wish shall be fulfilled, and you shall soon have a
+daughter."
+
+What the little fish had foretold soon came to pass; and the Queen had
+a little girl who was so very beautiful that the king could not cease
+looking on her for joy, and determined to hold a great feast. So he
+invited not only his relations, friends, and neighbours, but also all
+the fairies, that they might be kind and good to his little daughter.
+Now there were thirteen fairies in his kingdom, and he had only twelve
+golden dishes for them to eat out of, so that he was obliged to leave
+one of the fairies without an invitation. The rest came, and after the
+feast was over they gave all their best gifts to the little princess;
+one gave her virtue, another beauty, another riches, and so on till
+she had all that was excellent in the world. When eleven had done
+blessing her, the thirteenth, who had not been invited, and was very
+angry on that account, came in, and determined to take her revenge.
+So she cried out, "The King's daughter shall in her fifteenth year be
+wounded by a spindle, and fall down dead." Then the twelfth, who had
+not yet given her gift, came forward and said that the bad wish
+must be fulfilled, but that she could soften it, and that the king's
+daughter should not die, but fall asleep for a hundred years.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+But the king hoped to save his dear child from the threatened evil,
+and ordered that all the spindles in the kingdom should be bought up
+and destroyed. All the fairies' gifts were in the meantime fulfilled;
+for the princess was so beautiful, and well-behaved, and amiable, and
+wise, that everyone who knew her loved her. Now it happened that on
+the very day she was fifteen years old the king and queen were not
+at home, and she was left alone in the palace. So she roved about by
+herself, and poked at all the rooms and chambers, till at last she
+came to an old tower, to which there was a narrow staircase ending
+with a little door. In the door there was a golden key, and when she
+turned it the door sprang open, and there sat an old lady spinning
+away very busily.
+
+"Why, how now, good mother," said the princess, "what are you doing
+there?"
+
+"Spinning," said the old lady, and nodded her head.
+
+"How prettily that little thing turns round!" said the princess, and
+took the spindle and began to spin. But scarcely had she touched it
+before the prophecy was fulfilled, and she fell down, as if lifeless,
+on the ground.
+
+However, she was not dead, but had only fallen into a deep sleep; and
+the king and queen, who just then came home, and all their court, fell
+asleep too, and the horses slept in the stables, and the dogs in the
+court, the pigeons on the house-top, and the flies on the walls. Even
+the fire on the hearth left off blazing, and went to sleep; and the
+meat that was roasting stood still; and the cook, who was at that
+moment pulling the kitchen-boy by the hair to give him a box on the
+ear for something he had done amiss, let him go, and both fell asleep;
+and so everything stood still, and slept soundly.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+A large hedge of thorns soon grew around the palace, and every year it
+became higher and thicker, till at last the whole place was surrounded
+and hidden, so that not even the roof or the chimneys could be seen.
+But there went a report, through all the land, of the beautiful
+sleeping Briar Rose (for so was the king's daughter called) so that
+from time to time several kings' sons came, and tried to break through
+the thicket into the palace. This they could never do; for the thorns
+and bushes laid hold of them as it were with hands, and there they
+stuck fast and died miserably.
+
+[Illustration: "ALL WAS SO QUIET THAT HE COULD HEAR EVERY BREATH HE
+DREW."]
+
+After many years came yet another king's son into that land, and
+an old man told him the story of the thicket of thorns, and how a
+beautiful palace stood behind it, in which was a wondrous princess,
+called Briar Rose, asleep with all her court. He told, too, how he had
+heard from his grandfather that many, many princes had come, and had
+tried to break through the thicket, but had stuck fast and died.
+
+Then the young prince said, "All this shall not frighten me; I will
+go and see Briar Rose." The old man tried to dissuade him, but he
+persisted in going.
+
+Now that very day were the hundred years completed; and as the prince
+came to the thicket he saw nothing but beautiful flowering shrubs,
+through which he passed with ease, and they closed after him, as firm
+as ever. Then he came at last to the palace, and there in the court
+lay the dogs asleep, and the horses in the stables, and on the roof
+sat the pigeons fast asleep with their heads under their wings; and
+when he came into the palace, the flies slept on the walls, and the
+cook in the kitchen was still holding up her hand as if she would beat
+the boy, and the maid with her pail in her hand was going a-milking.
+
+Then he went on still further, and all was so quiet that he could hear
+every breath he drew; till at last he came to the old tower and opened
+the door of the little room in which Briar Rose was, and there she lay
+fast asleep, and looked so beautiful that he could not turn his eyes
+away, and he stooped down and gave her a kiss. But the moment he
+kissed her she opened her eyes and awoke, and smiled upon him. For the
+spell was broken.
+
+Then they went out together, and presently the king and queen also
+awoke, and all the court, and they gazed on each other with great
+wonder. And the horses got up and shook themselves, and the dogs
+jumped about and barked; the pigeons took their heads from under their
+wings, and looked around and flew into the fields; the flies on the
+walls buzzed; the fire in the kitchen blazed up and cooked the dinner,
+and the roast meat turned round again; the cook gave the boy the box
+on his ear so that he cried out, and the maid went to milk the cows.
+And then was the wedding of the prince and Briar Rose celebrated, and
+they lived happily together all their lives long.
+
+[Illustration: _Painted by Jennie Harbour_
+THE SLEEPING BEAUTY]
+
+[Illustration:
+
+      More close and close his footsteps wind:
+      The Magic Music in his heart
+      Beats quick and quicker, till he find
+      The quiet chamber far apart.
+                                            Tennyson]
+
+
+
+
+
+PRINCE CHERI
+
+
+There was once a king who was such an honourable man that his subjects
+called him "The Good King."
+
+One day while he was out hunting, a little rabbit that his dogs were
+about to kill, threw itself into his arms. The King caressed the
+little creature, and said:
+
+"As you have put yourself under my protection nobody shall harm you,"
+and he carried the rabbit to his palace, and ordered a pretty little
+hutch to be made for it.
+
+That night when he was alone in his room, there appeared a lovely
+lady. She wore a robe as white as snow, and a wreath of white roses on
+her head. She addressed him thus:
+
+"I am the Fairy Candide; I wished to see if you were as good as
+everybody declares you are, and for this reason I changed myself into
+the little rabbit, and ran to you in my distress, for I know that
+those who have pity for dumb creatures have still more pity for
+mankind. I have come to thank you for what you did and to say that I
+shall always be your friend, and will grant any request you would now
+like to make."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"Madam," replied the King, "I have one only son whom I love devotedly;
+he is named Prince Cheri; if you have any good will for me, be a
+friend to my son."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"Willingly," responded the Fairy, "I will make your son the most
+handsome prince in the world, or the richest, or the most powerful;
+choose which you will for him."
+
+"I desire none of these things," replied the King, "but I shall be
+very much obliged if you will make him the best of all princes, for
+what good would it do to him to be handsome, rich, or powerful if he
+were wicked? You know he would be unhappy, for it is only goodness
+which brings content."
+
+"You are right," answered the Fairy, "but that I cannot do; Prince
+Cheri must himself strive to become good. All that I can promise is
+that I will give him good advice, and punish him for his faults, if he
+will not himself correct them."
+
+And with this the father had to rest content.
+
+Not long afterwards the good King died, and two days later the Fairy
+appeared to Prince Cheri.
+
+"I promised your father to be your friend," she told him; "here is a
+little gold ring, take care of it, for it is worth more than diamonds.
+Every time that you are about to do any wrong action it will prick
+you. If, in spite of the pricks, you continue your bad actions, you
+will lose my friendship and I shall become your enemy."
+
+Saying this the Fairy vanished, leaving the Prince very much
+astonished.
+
+For some time Cheri behaved so well that the ring did not prick
+at all, but one day when he returned from the chase, having caught
+nothing, he felt so ill-humoured, that when his dog Bibi came fawning
+upon him, he kicked the poor, faithful creature from him. At that
+moment the ring pricked like a pin running into his finger.
+
+"What is this?" he exclaimed: "the Fairy must be mocking me, surely
+I've done no great harm in kicking an animal that annoyed me. What's
+the use of being ruler of a great empire if I may not treat my dog as
+I will?"
+
+"I am not mocking you," he heard in reply to his thoughts; "you have
+been bad tempered, and you have behaved unkindly to a poor animal who
+did not deserve such treatment. I know you are higher than a dog, but
+the advantage of being ruler of a great empire is not in doing all the
+harm one wishes, but in doing all the good one can."
+
+Cheri promised to be better, but he did not keep his word, and so the
+ring often pricked him, sometimes until his finger bled, and at last,
+in anger, he threw it away.
+
+Now he thought he would be truly happy, and he gave way to any foolish
+fancies and wrong wishes that came into his head, until he really
+became very wicked and was disliked by everyone.
+
+One day when he was out walking he saw a girl named Zelie, who was so
+beautiful that he resolved to marry her.
+
+But Zelie was as good as she was beautiful, and said to him:
+
+"Sir, I am only a shepherdess and have no fortune, but, in spite of
+that, I will never marry you, for although I should be a Queen, and
+you are handsome and rich, your evil behaviour would make me hate
+you."
+
+Upon this, Cheri flew into a passion, and ordered his officers to
+carry Zelie to the Palace, but she was not used unkindly there, for
+the Prince loved her.
+
+However, after a while, urged by his foster-brother, a bad man who
+encouraged Cheri in his wickedness, the young man rushed in a rage to
+the room in which Zelie was confined, determined that, if she still
+refused to marry him, the very next day she should be sold as a slave.
+
+Great was his surprise, on entering the apartment, to find the captive
+had disappeared, for he carried the key of the door in his pocket.
+
+[Illustration: _Painted by Jennie Harbour_
+ZELIE AND THE FAIRY CANDIDE "PRINCE CHERI"]
+
+Amongst those at the Royal Court was a Councillor named Suliman, a man
+of a noble mind, who had often dared to tell the Prince of his faults,
+and had at first been thanked for this, but later on Cheri grew angry
+that anyone should presume to blame him while all others at the Court
+were full of flattery and praise, but in his heart of hearts the
+Prince respected this good man, and this the wicked flatterers knew
+full well, and therefore feared lest he should come into the Prince's
+favour.
+
+So now they falsely said, that it was Suliman who had helped Zelie
+to escape, and beyond himself with fury, Cheri commanded his
+foster-brother to send soldiers to bring Suliman to him in chains,
+like a criminal.
+
+After giving these orders Cheri retired to his chamber, but scarcely
+had he entered, when the earth trembled, there came a great clap of
+thunder, and the Fairy Candide appeared before him.
+
+"I promised your father," said she in a stern voice, "to give you
+good advice, and to punish you if you refused to follow it. You
+have despised my counsels and your crimes have converted you into a
+monster, the horror of heaven and earth. Now it is time to fulfill my
+promise of punishment. I condemn you to take the resemblance of the
+beasts you are like in disposition--A lion, because of your fury--a
+wolf, on account of your greediness--a serpent, for destroying him who
+has been your second father--a bull, by reason of your brutality."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Hardly had the Fairy pronounced these words, when Cheri perceived with
+horror that his body had been transformed.
+
+He had a lion's head, a bull's horns, the feet of a wolf, and the
+tail of a viper. At the same moment he found himself in a forest, and
+there, after roaming about miserably for some time, he fell into a
+pit dug by hunters. He was captured and led into the capital of his
+Kingdom.
+
+On the way thither instead of acknowledging that he had brought this
+evil plight upon himself, he bit at his chains, and cursed the Fairy.
+As he was nearing the city great rejoicings were seen on every side,
+and, on the hunters enquiring the reason, they were told that Prince
+Cheri, whose only pleasure it was to torment his people, had been
+crushed to death in his chamber by a thunder-bolt, a just punishment
+for his offences. Four of his wicked companions had tried to partition
+the Kingdom between them, but the people would have none such to rule,
+and they had offered the crown to the good and wise Suliman. Cheri
+panted with rage on hearing this, and in the Palace Square he saw
+Suliman on a superb throne, and all the people who shouted with joy,
+and wished him a long life to repair the evil brought about by their
+former sovereign. "I accept the throne," said Suliman, "but it is to
+preserve it for Prince Cheri. A fairy has revealed to me that he
+is not dead, and possibly will return to you as virtuous as in his
+earliest years. Alas!" cried Suliman, bursting into tears, "his
+flatterers have ruined him, I know that at heart he is good." These
+words moved Cheri to sorrow for his crimes, and he felt that he had
+not been punished as severely as he deserved, and he now resolved to
+amend his faults.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Therefore he obeyed the man who had charge over him, and who
+constantly cruelly beat him, and one day when this keeper lay asleep,
+and a tiger who had broken loose was about to devour him, Cheri fought
+the fierce beast, and saved the man's life.
+
+Then a voice was heard saying, "a good action shall be rewarded!" and,
+to Cheri's joy he was instantaneously transformed into a pretty little
+dog which the keeper carried to the Queen.
+
+The Queen was delighted with him, but, for fear he should grow bigger,
+she gave him only small pieces of bread to eat, so that poor Cheri
+nearly died of hunger.
+
+One day he carried his little piece of bread into the garden to eat it
+there, but wandering with it in his mouth, still further on, he saw a
+young girl pale and thin, and almost fainting for want of food.
+
+"I am hungry," thought Cheri, "but if I give my breakfast to this
+poor thing, perhaps I shall save her life." He placed his bread in the
+girl's hand, and she ate it hungrily. Just then he heard loud cries,
+and saw that it was the beautiful Zelie struggling to free herself
+from four men who were carrying her into a house near by.
+
+Cheri, longing to help her, followed them barking, and although the
+men kicked him savagely, he would not leave the place. Presently from
+a window was thrown a plateful of tempting-looking food. Cheri was
+just about to devour it, when the girl to whom he had given the bread,
+rushed forward and throwing her arms around him cried,
+
+[Illustration: "COME, MY CHILDREN, I AM GOING TO TRANSPORT YOU TO YOUR
+PALACE."]
+
+"Poor little dog, do not touch that food, it is poisoned." Just then
+a voice was heard saying, "You see that a good action meets with
+reward," and at the same time Cheri was changed into a pretty white
+pigeon. For several days he flew around hoping to catch sight of
+Zelie, and at last, seated by a hermit, outside a cave, he found
+her. Fluttering down he alighted upon her shoulder. Zelie stroked his
+feathers whispering that she now accepted his gift and would love
+him always, and at that moment Cheri regained his natural figure,
+and Fairy Candide appeared in place of the hermit whose form she had
+taken. "Come, my children," said she, "I am going to transport you
+to your Palace, that Cheri may receive his crown of which he has now
+become worthy," and hardly had she ceased speaking, when they found
+themselves in Suliman's presence. The worthy Governor was delighted to
+behold his dear master, and gladly resigned the throne to him. Cheri
+and Zelie reigned long and happily, and we are told that the ring,
+which the Prince now wore again, never once severely pricked him.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+THE WHITE CAT
+
+
+There was once a King who had three sons, all handsome and brave, but
+it came to his ears that they wished to reign now instead of waiting
+until he died, he therefore determined to divert their minds by making
+promises the fulfilment of which he would always be able to evade. So
+he called them to his room and spoke: "You must agree with me, my
+dear children, that at my great age I cannot manage the business of
+my kingdom as I used to do, and as I am intending retiring into the
+country, it seems to me that a clever, faithful dog would be very good
+company, and I promise you that whichever brings me the most beautiful
+little dog at once succeeds to the kingdom."
+
+The Princes were much surprised to hear their father's wish for a
+little dog, but agreed with pleasure to go in search of one. They said
+goodbye to the King, who gave them money and jewels, announcing that
+in a year he should expect them to return, all on the same day and at
+the same hour, bringing to him their little dogs.
+
+[Illustration: "ON A CERTAIN NIGHT, DURING A STORM OF THUNDER AND
+RAIN, HE LOST HIS WAY."]
+
+Then the Princes set out, each by a different road, agreeing in a
+year's time to meet at a certain place a short distance from their
+home.
+
+The two elder met with many adventures, but it is only the youngest
+that we shall follow.
+
+This youngest Prince was very courteous, merry, clever and
+accomplished, he was tall, handsome, and all that a prince should be.
+
+Very seldom a day passed without his buying dogs, little dogs, big
+dogs, sporting dogs, spaniels, hounds, dogs of all sorts. When he
+found a beautiful one and then came across a still better, he let the
+first one go, for being alone--the Princes had declined to take any
+attendants--he could not take charge of thirty or forty thousand dogs.
+
+He travelled on, keeping to one road, until on a certain night, during
+a storm of thunder and rain, he lost his way, and after some wandering
+arrived at a most superb castle where nobody was to be seen but about
+a dozen hands all holding torches. Other hands pushed him forwards,
+and guided him through one apartment after another, all so rich in
+precious stones and beautiful paintings, that it was like enchantment.
+
+After passing through sixty rooms, the hands stopped him, and here the
+wet garments of the Prince were taken away, and he was clad in raiment
+of the most exquisite description. The hands then conducted him into
+a banqueting hall, where entered a little figure, not two feet high,
+covered with a long black crepe veil, followed by a great procession
+of cats.
+
+The Prince was too much astonished to move. The little figure
+approached him, raising the veil, and he saw the most beautiful White
+Cat he had ever beheld.
+
+Addressing the Prince she said:
+
+"King's son! welcome! my Feline Majesty sees you with pleasure!"
+
+"Madame Cat," replied the Prince, "it is very good of you to receive
+me thus, but you are not an ordinary cat; being able to speak, and
+possessing this superb castle, are proof of that."
+
+After they had conversed a little while, supper was served to them,
+during which the Prince entertained the Cat by telling her all sorts
+of news, and he discovered that she was well informed as to what was
+taking place in the world.
+
+Supper over, various cats came in, dressed in fancy costumes, and
+danced a ballet, then the White Cat bid her visitor good-night, and
+the hands which had conducted him before, led him to a bed-chamber.
+
+Early the next morning the hands awoke him, and dressing him in a
+handsome hunting costume, led him to the courtyard, where he found the
+White Cat upon a splendid monkey, with about five hundred other cats
+assembled, all ready for the chase; and never had the Prince enjoyed
+anything so much, for although mounted only upon a wooden horse, he
+rode at a great pace.
+
+Day after day passed in such delights as made the Prince almost forget
+his own country.
+
+"Alas!" said he to the White Cat again and again, "how sad I shall be
+to leave you! I love you so dearly! Either become a woman, or change
+me into a cat!"
+
+A year passes very quickly when one has no care or trouble, and is
+enjoying life. But the White Cat knew when the Prince should return
+home, and reminded him, saying, "Don't you know you have only three
+days to look for the little dog for your father, and that your
+brothers will have found the most beautiful?"
+
+Then the Prince came to himself, and cried, "By what charm have you
+made me forget what is so important? Where shall I find the dog, and a
+horse swift enough for such a journey?" And he was in great distress.
+
+The White Cat comforted him, however, saying that the wooden horse
+would take him to his journey's end sufficiently quickly, and that she
+would herself also provide the little dog; then she handed to him
+a walnut, saying, "Put your ear to this shell and you will hear him
+barking."
+
+So the Prince met his brothers, and they came into the King's
+presence.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The two elder sons had brought little dogs so delicate and small that
+one hardly dared to touch them, and none could decide which should
+have the kingdom. Then the youngest took from his pocket the nut the
+Cat had given to him, and there was seen a little dog so tiny that
+it could go through a ring without touching it; he was also able to
+dance, and play the castanets, while his ears touched the ground.
+The King was embarassed, for it was impossible to find a flaw in this
+lovely little creature.
+
+However as he did not desire to part with his crown, he declared that
+they had succeeded so well in their first quest that now he should
+like them to search, by land and sea, for a piece of linen so fine
+that it would pass through the eye of a very small needle.
+
+Then the three Princes set out once more, but the youngest mounted his
+wooden horse and repaired at once to the White Cat, who was rejoiced
+to see him, and the second year passed by as the first had done.
+
+When the day came round appointed by the King for the return of his
+sons, the two elder appeared before him, and, without awaiting the
+arrival of their brother, displayed their pieces of linen, which were
+of a fineness quite astonishing. But although they would pass through
+the eye of a large needle, through the small needle the King had
+selected they would not go.
+
+There was much murmuring at this, and while the brothers were
+disputing the King's decision, a charming sound was heard of trumpets
+and other musical instruments.
+
+It was the youngest Prince who arrived in a chariot with out-riders
+and numerous attendants, all of which had been provided for him by the
+White Cat.
+
+After respectfully greeting his father and embracing his brothers, he
+took out of a jewelled box a nut which he broke. On breaking the
+nut he found a cherry stone, the stone was broken and there was the
+kernel, in the kernel was a grain of corn, in the grain of corn a
+millet seed, and within that a piece of linen so fine that it passed
+six times through the smallest needle's eye, and moreover on it were
+exquisite paintings of people and places without number.
+
+The King heaved a deep sigh, and turning to his children said,
+
+"Nothing pleases me, in my old age, so much as your deference to my
+desires, and I wish to prove you once more. Travel for a year, and he
+who at the end of the year brings home the most beautiful girl shall
+marry her, and be crowned king on his marriage. I promise you that I
+will not defer this reward any longer."
+
+Our Prince saw the injustice of all this; his little dog and piece
+of linen were worth ten kingdoms, not only one; but he was too well
+brought up to go against his father's wishes, and, mounting into his
+chariot, with his retinue, he returned to the White Cat's Castle.
+
+"Well! King's son!" said the White Cat, "you have returned once more
+without your crown?"
+
+"Madam," answered the Prince, "your gifts should have gained it for
+me, but I am convinced that the King would have more pain in giving it
+up than I should have pleasure in possessing it!"
+
+"Never mind," she replied, "you shall not neglect anything that may
+deserve it; and if you must conduct a beautiful girl to your father's
+court, I will look for one so that you may gain the prize. Meanwhile
+let us be happy."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+If the Cat had not taken pains to remember the time when he must
+return to the court, the Prince would surely have forgotten it. On the
+evening before, she told him that she would bring him to one of the
+most beautiful Princesses in the world, that at last the hour had
+arrived to destroy the fatal work of an evil fairy, and to do this he
+must make up his mind to cut off her head and tail, which he was at
+once to throw into the fire.
+
+"I," cried the Prince, "Blanchette that I love: do you think I should
+be cruel enough to kill you? No doubt, you wish to prove my heart
+which will certainly never forget what I owe to you for your
+kindness."
+
+"No! King's son," she continued, "I don't think you are ungrateful. Do
+this that I beseech you, and then we shall begin to be happy with one
+another, by the faith and honour of a cat, believe that I am truly
+your friend."
+
+Tears flowed from the Prince's eyes even at the thought, and he said
+all that he could to avoid it, but she urged him so vehemently that
+at last he took his sword and tremblingly cut off the head and tail of
+his dear friend the Cat.
+
+In the same moment took place the most marvellous change imaginable.
+
+The body of the White Cat grew large, and was transformed into that
+of a girl; how, one could not say; one only knew it was so. Her figure
+was majestic, her manners charming, her whole appearance beautiful
+beyond words.
+
+Then there entered an immense number of lords and ladies, who carrying
+their cats' skins, or with them thrown across their shoulders, came
+and cast themselves at the feet of the Queen, expressing their joy at
+seeing her again in her rightful form.
+
+She received them all with a kindness which showed the goodness of her
+heart, and then turning to the Prince she told the story of her life,
+and how by a wicked enchantment she had been transformed into a White
+Cat.
+
+"But it is you, my Prince, who have freed me," she concluded; "as soon
+as I saw you I knew my troubles were at an end."
+
+They set out forthwith in a splendid carriage. As they drew near the
+castle, at the place where the three brothers were to meet, the Queen
+entered into a little crystal rock ornamented with precious stones,
+and this was carried by richly dressed young men.
+
+The Prince who had remained in the carriage, saw his brothers,
+approaching with wondrously beautiful ladies.
+
+On being questioned he told them that all he had brought was a little
+White Cat.
+
+[Illustration: "THE BODY OF THE WHITE CAT GREW LARGE AND WAS
+TRANSFORMED INTO THAT OF A GIRL."]
+
+They began to laugh at him, and drove on followed by the young Prince,
+while after him was brought the crystal rock.
+
+Arrived at the Palace the two elder Princes dismounted with their
+marvellous Princesses.
+
+The King received them graciously, and did not know to which to award
+the prize.
+
+He looked at his youngest son and said, "This time, then, you have
+come alone." "Your Majesty will see in this rock a little White
+Cat who mews sweetly and has soft little velvet paws," answered the
+Prince.
+
+The King smiled, and himself went to open the rock. But, as he came
+near, the Queen, with a touch, made it shatter to pieces, and from out
+of it she appeared like the sun that has been hidden by clouds; her
+fair hair was spread over her shoulders, and fell in waves to her
+feet, and she was robed in a gown of white and rose-colour.
+
+She made a deep curtsey to the King who, struck with admiration, could
+not help exclaiming,
+
+"Here is one who is matchless, and she deserves my crown."
+
+"Sire," she answered, "I have not come to take away the throne that
+you fill with such dignity; I was born heir to six kingdoms, allow
+me to offer you one, and one of them I give to each of your sons. In
+return all I ask of you is this young Prince for my husband. We shall
+still have three kingdoms."
+
+The King and all the Court uttered loud cries of joy. The marriage was
+at once celebrated, also that of the other two Princes; and in such a
+manner that the Court spent several months in fetes of all sorts.
+
+Then each one of them departed to govern his kingdom, the White Cat
+making herself ever remembered as much by her kindness and generosity
+as by her rare merit and beauty.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+BLUEBEARD
+
+
+In the long ago times, in a splendid house, surrounded by fine
+gardens and a park, there lived a man who had riches in abundance, and
+everything to make him popular except one, and that was his beard, for
+his beard was neither black as a raven's wing, golden as the sunlight,
+nor just an ordinary every-day colour, but it was blue, bright blue.
+
+Of course had blue beards come into fashion his would have been
+considered beautiful beyond words, but, as far as we know, blue beards
+have never as yet been fashionable, nor are they likely to be so.
+
+However, in spite of his blue beard this man had married several
+times, though what had become of his wives nobody could say.
+
+Now, not far from Bluebeard's house there dwelt a widow with two very
+lovely daughters, and one of these Bluebeard wished to marry, but
+which he did not mind, they might settle that between themselves.
+
+Neither of these girls had the least desire to have a husband with a
+blue beard, and also, not knowing the fate of the other wives, they
+did not like to risk disappearing from the world as those had done,
+but being very polite young women they would not refuse Bluebeard's
+proposals outright. The younger said, "I would not for a moment take
+away Sister Anne's chance of marrying such a wealthy man," while
+Sister Anne declared that, although the elder, she would much prefer
+to give way to her sister. And so it went on for some time.
+
+Then Bluebeard invited the widow and her daughters to spend a week
+with him, and many of their neighbours he also invited.
+
+Most sumptuous was the entertainment provided for them. Hunting and
+fishing expeditions, picnics and balls went on from morning till
+night, and all the night through, so that there was not time even to
+think of sleep, only feasting and pleasure the whole week long.
+
+So well, indeed, did the younger sister enjoy this, that by the end of
+the week she had begun to think perhaps after all her host's beard was
+not so very blue, and that it would be a fine thing to be the mistress
+of such a magnificent mansion, and the wife of such a rich husband.
+
+And so, not long afterwards, there was a grand wedding, and the
+widow's younger daughter became Mrs. Bluebeard.
+
+About a month later, Bluebeard told his wife that he must leave her
+for several weeks, having to travel on business.
+
+"While I am absent, my dear," said he, "invite your relations and
+friends and enjoy yourself just as you please in entertaining them.
+See here are my keys, the keys of the rooms and of the chests where I
+keep my money, my gold and silver plate, and my jewels. Unlock rooms
+and chests and use freely what you will."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"This small key," he added, pointing to quite a little one, "is the
+key of the door at the end of the lower landing, you will not need to
+use this at all. In fact, should you open that door, or even put this
+key into the lock, I should be dreadfully angry, indeed I should make
+you suffer for it in a terrible way."
+
+Then Bluebeard bid his wife good-bye, and departed.
+
+As soon as Mrs. Bluebeard's friends and relations knew that her
+husband was away, they came flocking to visit her, for they longed to
+see all her splendid possessions, but had feared to come before.
+
+They could not enough admire the magnificent apartments, and ran from
+one to another praising everything they beheld.
+
+But the young wife heeded nothing they said or did, all she thought
+of was that little key which she must not use, wondering more and more
+why she ought not to open that one particular door.
+
+At last she could bear it no longer, but slipping away from her
+visitors, she ran along the passages and stairs, nearly falling down
+them, so great was her haste, until she came to that door at the end
+of the corridor.
+
+Not pausing an instant, she thrust the key into the lock, and the door
+sprang open.
+
+At first she could distinguish nothing, for the room was dark and
+gloomy, but then, all of a sudden, she knew what had become of
+Bluebeard's other wives, for there they lay, in a long, straight row,
+all dead. She stood horrified for a moment or two, gazing at the
+pale faces, and long hair spread out around them, then picking up
+the little key which she had taken from the lock but dropped in her
+fright, she hastily quitted the room, shut and locked the door, and
+ran to her own chamber to calm herself before returning to her guests.
+But she was unable to rest for an instant, so dreadful were her
+feelings; then with terror she noticed that on the key there was a
+stain. She wiped it with her handkerchief, but alas! it was blood that
+would not be wiped away. She washed the key and rubbed it, and
+scraped it and polished it, but all to no purpose, if she succeeded
+in cleansing one side, the mark came out on the other. For the key was
+enchanted.
+
+[Illustration: _Painted by Jennie Harbour_
+BLUEBEARD]
+
+That same evening Bluebeard returned saying he had met the man whom
+he was wanting to see, and so the long journey was unnecessary, and he
+was rejoiced to be at home again.
+
+Next morning he called for the keys; his wife brought them to him,
+but not the little one; that she left behind. Bluebeard noticed this
+directly and sent her to fetch it. Trembling, and white as a sheet,
+she was forced to give it into his hand.
+
+"Ha! what is this?" he cried, "what is this stain that I see!"
+
+His poor wife trembled still more, and could not speak.
+
+"Wretched woman!" shouted Bluebeard, "you have used this key, you have
+unlocked the door of that room at the end of the passage. You shall
+die!!!"
+
+In vain did his wife plead with him to spare her, kneeling before him
+with tears streaming from her eyes. "You shall die!" he cried again,
+more savagely than before.
+
+"Let me have a few moments alone, to prepare for death,"
+
+"Half a quarter of an hour, but not a moment longer," he replied, and
+left her.
+
+The poor young woman hastened to a room at the foot of the turret
+stairs where was her Sister Anne, and called to her.
+
+"Sister Anne, Sister Anne, look from the tower window. Can you see no
+one coming?" And Sister Anne, looking out, answered:
+
+"Alas! No! Nothing but the green grass, and the sun which shines upon
+it."
+
+Bluebeard shouted from below that the time was almost up.
+
+"Sister Anne, Sister Anne, look once again, can you see no one
+coming?" whispered the young wife wringing her hands. Her brothers,
+she knew, were to visit her that day--if only they would come in time!
+
+"Alas, No!" Sister Anne replied. "I see a cloud of dust, but it is
+only a flock of sheep on the road."
+
+But now Bluebeard bawled out so loudly for his wife to come down, that
+the whole house shook.
+
+"Sister Anne, Sister Anne, tell me is no one coming?"
+
+"I see two horsemen afar off," cried Sister Anne. "I will beckon to
+them to hasten hither."
+
+But Bluebeard would wait not a moment longer, and nearly dead with
+terror his wife descended, still entreating him to spare her life.
+
+He would not, however, give heed to her prayers, and was just
+brandishing his sword, so that it might come down straight and true
+upon her slender neck, when the door burst open and two young army
+officers came rushing in, whom Bluebeard recognised as the brothers
+of his wife. He swiftly fled, but they speedily followed, and for his
+many crimes slew him then and there.
+
+All his wealth now belonged to his widow, and she gratefully rewarded
+her brothers by purchasing them commissions in the army; she settled
+a large sum of money upon her sister, and after a while she married
+again, and with a good husband lived a happy life.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
+
+
+Once upon a time, a long while ago, there was a Beast.
+
+He was a Great Beast, and lived in a Great Castle that stood in the
+middle of a Great Park, and everybody in the country held the Beast in
+great fear. In fact everything about the Beast was great; his roar was
+great and terrific and could be heard for miles around the park, and
+when he roared the people trembled.
+
+Nobody ever saw the Beast, which was by no means remarkable, for the
+Beast never came out of his Park, and no one, I can assure you, ever
+ventured on to his estate.
+
+But matters were not allowed to remain like this for ever, for
+something very wonderful happened to the Beast and to somebody else,
+and if that something had not happened this story would never have
+been written.
+
+About two miles and three quarters from the Castle gates there lived
+a rich merchant and his three daughters. The two elder girls were ugly
+disagreeable things, and although they had all they could wish for to
+make them happy they were always grumbling; but the youngest daughter,
+whose name was Beauty, was very pretty, and her nature was happy and
+good, her presence was sunshine, and she was the joy of her father's
+heart.
+
+Well, one day the two elder sisters had something to grumble about
+with a vengeance, for a telegram arrived to say that the merchant was
+no longer a rich merchant, for he had lost all his money.
+
+So the horses and carriages had to be sold, and everything that was
+of value was got rid of, the servants were sent away, and the merchant
+and his daughters had to do their own work.
+
+Dear me, it was shocking, the way those two sisters grumbled, but
+Beauty, oh dear no, she was all smiles, for her heart was as sunny as
+ever, as she rolled up the sleeves of her print frock, and cooked the
+dinner, and scrubbed the floors, and made herself useful, here, there,
+and everywhere.
+
+Things had been going on like this for about three months, when one
+fine morning another telegram boy came with another telegram to say
+that somebody who owed the merchant a great deal of money was ready to
+pay the debt, and all the merchant had to do was to go to the city and
+get it.
+
+Of course, everybody was delighted at this good news, and the merchant
+didn't waste any time, but started off to the city at once.
+
+"Mind you bring me something back," said the eldest daughter as he was
+starting.
+
+"What shall it be?" asked the merchant.
+
+"A white satin dress trimmed with lace and pearls," said his eldest
+daughter.
+
+"And you must bring me something too, please, father," said the second
+daughter.
+
+"And what do you want," asked the merchant.
+
+"A purse full of gold so that I can buy what I want myself," said the
+second daughter.
+
+"I will try and do what you both ask," he said, "and what shall I
+bring for my Beauty?"
+
+"I will wait a little for my dresses and things," replied the smiling
+Beauty, as she helped her father on with his cloak, "but I should like
+you to bring me home a rose, a lovely red rose, if you can."
+
+So her father kissed her, and promised he would bring her the rose,
+and went on his way full of hopes.
+
+What a pity it is that our hopes cannot be always realized, and that
+we are so often doomed to disappointment! When the merchant arrived at
+the city, to his dismay he found that the man who owed him the money
+was still unable to pay him, the man had been disappointed himself at
+the last moment.
+
+So the unhappy father had to return home without the white satin dress
+trimmed with lace and pearls, and without the bag of money, and he
+dreaded meeting his two daughters, for he knew they would be terribly
+angry.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Now on his way home from the station to his house he had to pass by
+part of the wall that surrounded the Great Park where the Great Beast
+lived in his Great Castle; and as he passed by a corner of the wall
+what should he see hanging just over the top, and just within his
+reach if he stood on his toes, but a lovely red rose.
+
+"At any rate I can take my Beauty what she asked for," he said to
+himself, and, without so much as giving a thought to the wrong he was
+doing, he stood on his toes and plucked the rose.
+
+He was sorry he did it.
+
+Of a sudden there was a roar, such a roar that the very ground shook,
+and as to the poor merchant he quivered like a leaf.
+
+Enough to make him quiver indeed, for a gate in the wall suddenly
+opened, and out rushed the _Beast_.
+
+Yes, the Beast, if you please, and he seized the merchant by the
+scruff of his neck, and dragged him into the Park, and shut the gate
+after him.
+
+"Don't you know it's a sin to steal?" roared the Beast. "How dare you
+steal my roses? I am going to kill you."
+
+"Oh, mercy, Mr. Beast," cried the unhappy man, flinging himself on his
+knees before the monster.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"I'm going to kill you," roared the Beast still more loudly. "It's
+taken years to cultivate this sort of rose, and--and I'm going to
+kill you. Unless," he added after a pause, "you send me one of your
+daughters here instead."
+
+"All right," said the merchant and got on his feet again.
+
+"She must be here to-morrow by breakfast time, and I breakfast early,"
+said the Beast, as he let the merchant out of the gate. "If she is not
+here, I shall come for you, and don't you forget it."
+
+It was by no means likely that he would forget it, in fact he could
+think of nothing else. He hurried home and told his dreadful news, and
+received a dreadful scolding from his two elder daughters, who were
+angry at not getting their presents.
+
+"And it is Beauty's fault that you have got into this trouble," they
+said. "Beauty and her stupid rose. Beauty had better get you out of
+the trouble." Beauty said little, but smiled on, with sunshine in her
+heart, and trust in her loving nature, and cooked the dinner.
+
+[Illustration: "WHEN SHE CAME TO THE GATE IN THE WALL SHE KNOCKED UPON
+IT THREE TIMES"]
+
+Early next morning when the dawn was breaking she left her father's
+house, leaving a little note behind her begging him not to be anxious
+but that she had gone to the Beast's castle.
+
+When she came to the gate in the wall she knocked upon it three
+times and it opened as if by magic, for she could see no one. And she
+stepped into the garden of red roses, and in the distance across the
+Park she saw the Castle, and she thought she had never seen anything
+so beautiful. For it was built of mother-of-pearl, and the red and
+yellow gleams of the rising sun shone upon its glistening walls, and
+lit them up with a thousand radiant lights.
+
+Beauty marvelled at the loveliness and walked on. And when she arrived
+at this beautiful Castle, the huge gates opened as if by magic, and
+the doors opened as if by magic, for never a soul did she see, nor
+living thing of any sort.
+
+And in the great hall was the breakfast table laid for two. It was
+a nice breakfast with steaming hot dishes, and jams, honey, and hot
+rolls, and brightly polished silver, and sweet flowers.
+
+Then the Beast appeared suddenly from behind a curtain; oh, he was
+an awful Beast, and Beauty's heart beat fast! But he seemed a polite
+Beast for all that.
+
+He handed Beauty a chair, and when she had sat down said:
+
+"I bid you welcome; which do you take, tea or coffee?"
+
+"Tea please," answered Beauty.
+
+"Then pour it out," he said, "and I'll take tea too, please. Eggs, do
+you like eggs hard or soft?"
+
+"I always cook mine three minutes and a half," replied Beauty.
+
+"Half a minute too much, I think. But you shall have just what you
+like."
+
+And so she had; not only at the breakfast table but in everything. She
+had only to express a wish and it was immediately gratified. She
+had ponies to ride, and dogs and cats, and pet birds, and the most
+beautiful dresses ever worn by real princesses.
+
+And if it had not been that she was away from her father she would
+really have been happy.
+
+[Illustration: _Painted by Jennie Harbour_
+BEAUTY AND THE BEAST]
+
+The Beast was most kind and attentive to her, and told her that he
+loved her, and three times a day he asked her to marry him, but Beauty
+shook her head and said, oh no, she couldn't.
+
+Well, Beauty had been at the great Castle some time when she began to
+pine to go home and see her father, and she begged the Beast to let
+her go.
+
+"Very good," he said with a great sigh, "you may go home to-day, but
+promise me that you will be back early to-morrow morning. If you do
+not come back early I am sure I shall die for I love you so dearly."
+
+So Beauty promised and went home, and she took presents for her father
+and her sisters, and when the sisters heard of all the wonderful
+things at the great Castle, they were envious and jealous, and made up
+their minds to do Beauty and the Beast a great injury.
+
+So they mixed something in Beauty's supper that made her sleep nearly
+all the next day, and so she did not keep her promise. It was evening
+when she arrived at the gate in the wall, instead of early morning.
+
+But she knocked three times and the gate opened by magic, and she went
+through the garden and hurried to the Castle, that shone like fire in
+the light of the setting sun. And the huge gates opened by magic, and
+the doors opened by magic, and she stood in the great hall, but there
+was no Beast there. She searched in all the rooms but he was not
+there; with fear and anxiety in her heart she ran into the gardens,
+and there she found him at last. Found him lying stretched out on the
+grass, and she thought he was dead.
+
+"Oh, dear darling Beast," she cried, as she threw herself on her knees
+beside him, and raised his ugly head, "dear Beast, do not die, for
+I love you with all my heart, and will marry you to-morrow." And she
+kissed him. Then of a sudden he sprang to his feet, but no longer
+the Beast, no longer a hideous monster, but a beautiful prince most
+beautifully dressed. "Dearest," he said, "a wicked fairy turned me
+into this brute form until a day should come when a good girl like you
+should tell me that she loved me. And you will marry me to-morrow."
+
+"Oh, yes," answered Beauty, "but the wicked fairy could not change
+your nature. I would have married you if you had remained just as you
+were."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+And so they married and lived happy ever afterwards, and they took
+care of Beauty's father until the end of his days; so he was happy,
+and they forgave the two sisters and gave them fine dresses and
+jewels, and the two sisters turned over a new leaf and were less
+selfish, and they were happy, so this is a very happy ending to the
+story.
+
+What a pity all stories can't end the same way!
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+TUFTY RIQUET
+
+
+There was once upon a time a Queen who had the ugliest little baby
+imaginable, so ugly, indeed, that it was almost impossible to believe
+he was a little boy at all.
+
+A fairy, however, assured his mother that the little baby would be
+very good and clever, saying that she was also giving him a gift which
+would enable him to make that person whom he loved the best as clever
+as himself.
+
+This somewhat consoled the Queen, but still she was very unhappy
+because her son was so ugly, though no sooner had he begun to speak
+than he could talk about all sorts of things, and he had such pretty
+ways that people were charmed with him.
+
+I forgot to say, that, when he was quite a baby, he had a funny little
+tuft of hair on his head, so he was called Tufty Riquet, for Riquet
+was the family name.
+
+When Riquet was about seven years old, the Queen of a kingdom near by
+was given two baby daughters, twins, of which one was so exquisitely
+beautiful that the Queen nearly died of joy when she saw her, and so
+the fairy, the same one who had given Riquet his gift of cleverness,
+to keep the Queen from making herself ill with excitement, told her
+that this little Princess would not be at all clever, indeed she would
+be as stupid as she was beautiful.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The Queen was very much grieved at this, and felt still more troubled
+when she beheld her other daughter, for the second Princess was
+extremely ugly.
+
+"Do not take it too much to heart, madam," remarked the fairy, "for
+this second daughter will be so clever that it will scarcely be
+noticed that she is not beautiful."
+
+"Well, if it must be so, it must," remarked the Queen, "but I should
+certainly have liked the elder one, who is beautiful, to be just a
+little bit clever too."
+
+"I can do nothing as to her mind, madam," replied the fairy, "but for
+her beauty I can, and as there is nothing I would not do to please
+you, I will give her a gift so that she can make the one who wins her
+heart beautiful too."
+
+As the Princesses grew up, their gifts likewise grew with them, so
+that everybody spoke about the beauty of the one and the cleverness
+of the other; but also their defects grew, so that it could not but
+be noticed that the younger was daily uglier, and the elder day by
+day became more stupid, until she either said nothing in reply to a
+question, or something quite silly, and so clumsy was she that she
+could not arrange four china ornaments on the chimney piece without
+breaking one, or drink a glass of water without spilling half of it on
+her frock.
+
+Although it is a great thing to have beauty, yet the younger generally
+received more attention in company than her elder sister.
+
+At first, everybody would gather around the beautiful one admiringly,
+but before long they would leave her for the clever Princess, to
+listen to her pleasant conversation; and by the end of a quarter of
+an hour the elder would be left alone, while the other would be the
+centre of a group.
+
+This the elder sister noticed, in spite of her stupidity, and she
+would gladly have given all her beauty for half the cleverness of
+her sister, and sometimes the Queen, although full of kindness, would
+reproach her daughter for her foolishness, which caused the Princess
+almost to die of grief.
+
+One day when she had retreated to a wood to brood over her
+unhappiness, she saw a little man coming towards her. He was
+uncommonly ugly and unpleasing in appearance, but was very richly
+dressed.
+
+It was the young Prince Tufty Riquet, who had fallen in love with the
+pictures he had seen of her, and had left his father's kingdom for the
+sake of making her acquaintance.
+
+Delighted to meet her alone in this manner, he accosted her as
+courteously as possible, but soon, noticing that she was melancholy,
+he said:
+
+"I cannot understand how it is that anyone as beautiful as you are,
+can be as sad as you appear to be; for I must own, that although I
+can boast of having seen many beauties, not one have I ever met whose
+beauty equalled yours."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"It pleases you to say so, sir," replied the Princess, and relapsed
+into silence.
+
+"Beauty," went on Riquet, "is so delightful that one would give
+everything for it, and if anyone is beautiful I can't understand
+anything troubling greatly."
+
+"I would rather be as ugly as you," answered the Princess, "and be
+clever, than as beautiful as I am, and be stupid."
+
+"To think you are stupid is a sure sign that you have a certain amount
+of cleverness, madam," replied Riquet.
+
+"I don't think about that," said the Princess, "but I am quite sure
+that I am very silly, and the grief of that is killing me."
+
+"If that is all that troubles you, I can soon put an end to your
+grief," said Riquet, "for I have the power of giving cleverness to the
+person whom I love the best, and if only you will marry me, you shall
+become as clever as you can wish."
+
+The Princess was greatly astonished, but remained silent.
+
+"I can see," continued Riquet, "that this proposal is not to your
+taste, and I am not astonished. I will give you a year to think about
+it."
+
+So great was the longing of the Princess to be clever, that she at
+once promised Riquet to marry him in a year's time, and no sooner had
+she made the promise than a great change took place in her, and she
+found she could say all sorts of pleasant things, on all sorts of
+subjects, in quite an easy manner.
+
+She at once began a conversation with Riquet, making such brilliant
+remarks, that he could almost think he had given her all his
+cleverness and had kept none for himself.
+
+When the Princess returned to the Palace, everybody was astonished
+at the sudden and extraordinary change, for, instead of saying stupid
+things, or just nothing at all, she was now full of beautiful ideas
+which she expressed most charmingly.
+
+The report of this transformation was soon spread abroad, and all
+the young Princes of the neighbouring kingdoms asked for her hand in
+marriage, but not one did she find altogether suitable.
+
+However, at last one arrived, who was so powerful, rich, clever and
+handsome, that she could not help approving of him, and her father,
+noticing this, told her she was quite free to choose what husband she
+wished.
+
+The Princess thanked him, and asked for time to consider the matter.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Then, to think it over, she went by chance, into the wood where she had
+met Tufty Riquet.
+
+While she was walking, deep in thought, she noticed a loud noise
+beneath her feet, as of many persons hastening to and fro; then,
+listening attentively, she heard a voice say, "Bring me the saucepan,"
+and another voice cry, "Put some wood on the fire."
+
+At the same moment the earth opened and she saw a big kitchen full
+of cooks, and all sorts of things necessary for the making of a
+magnificent banquet, and everybody hard at work.
+
+The Princess, astonished at this sight, asked the men for whom they
+were working.
+
+"For the Prince Tufty Riquet," answered the head cook, "for to-morrow
+is his wedding day."
+
+The Princess, more surprised than ever, all at once recollected that
+it was just a year ago that very day that she had promised to marry
+the ugly Tufty Riquet.
+
+[Illustration: "TO THINK IT OVER SHE WENT INTO THE WOOD."]
+
+The reason that she had not remembered her promise before was that she
+was foolish when she made it, and in becoming clever she had forgotten
+all her former stupidities.
+
+She had only walked on a few steps further, when Riquet appeared
+before her, magnificently clad, as a Prince about to marry.
+
+"Here you see me, madam," said he, "keeping my word, and I have no
+doubt that you also came here to keep yours, and by giving me your
+hand to make me the happiest of men."
+
+"I frankly confess," replied the Princess, "that I have not yet made
+up my mind, and I do not think I can ever do as you wish."
+
+"You surprise me, madam," said Riquet.
+
+"I can quite believe that," said the Princess, "and if you were not
+a good and clever man, I should not know how to act. But you are well
+aware that it was when I was stupid I promised to marry you, but now,
+as you may imagine, I am not so easily pleased."
+
+"Except for my ugliness," said Riquet, "have you anything against me?
+Do you object to my birth, my character, or my manners?"
+
+"Not at all," replied the Princess, "I love those things in you."
+
+"If that is so," answered Riquet, "I shall indeed be made happy,
+because you can cause me to become the most delightful of men if only
+you will desire it. For know, madam, the same fairy who at my birth
+gave me the power to impart cleverness to whomsoever I should love,
+gave you a gift also, that of being able to render beautiful the one
+to whom you would grant this favour."
+
+"If that is the case," exclaimed the Princess, "I desire with all my
+heart that you might be the most handsome and pleasing Prince in the
+world."
+
+No sooner had the Princess uttered these words than her wish was
+fulfilled, though some say that no change really took place in Riquet,
+but that the Princess loved him now so much that all his ugliness was
+seen as beauty by her eyes.
+
+However that may be, she straightway consented to be his bride, and,
+as the preparations had already been made, the wedding took place the
+very next day.
+
+[Illustration: _Painted by Jennie Harbour_
+THE BEAUTIFUL PRINCESS--"TUFTY RIQUET"]
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+THUMBLING
+
+
+There was once a poor woodman sitting by the fire in his cottage and
+his wife sat by his side spinning. "How lonely it is," said he, "for
+you and me to sit here by ourselves without any children to play about
+and amuse us, while other people seem so happy and merry with their
+children!" "What you say is very true," said the wife, sighing, and
+turning her wheel; "how happy should I be if I had but one child! and
+if it were ever so small, nay, if it were no bigger than my thumb, I
+should be very happy, and love it dearly." Now it came to pass that
+this good woman's wish was fulfilled just as she desired; for, some
+time afterwards, she had a little boy, who was quite healthy and
+strong, but not much bigger than my thumb. So they said, "Well, we
+cannot say we have not got what we wished for, and, little as he is,
+we will love him dearly;" and they called him Thumbling.
+
+They gave him plenty of food, yet he never grew bigger, but remained
+just the same size as when he was born; still, his eyes were sharp and
+sparkling and he soon showed himself to be a clever little fellow,
+who always knew well what he was about. One day, as the woodman was
+getting ready to go into the wood to cut fuel, he said, "I wish I had
+some one to bring the cart after me, for I want to make haste." "Oh,
+father!" cried Thumbling, "I will take care of that; the cart shall
+be in the wood by the time you want it." Then the woodman laughed and
+said, "How can that be? You cannot reach up to the horse's bridle."
+"Never mind that, father," said Thumbling; "if my mother will only
+harness the horse, I will get into his ear, and tell him which way to
+go." "Well," said the father, "we will try for once."
+
+When the time came, the mother harnessed the horse to the cart, and
+put Thumbling into its ear; and as he sat there, the little man told
+the beast how to go, crying out, "Go on," and "Stop," as he wanted;
+so the horse went on just as if the woodman had driven it himself into
+the wood. It happened that, as the horse was going a little too fast,
+and Thumbling was calling out "Gently, gently!" two strangers came up.
+"What an odd thing that is!" said one, "there is a cart going along,
+and I heard a carter talking to the horse but can see no one." "That
+is strange," said the other; "let us follow the cart and see where it
+goes." So they went on into the wood, till at last they came to the
+place where the woodman was. Then Thumbling, seeing his father, cried
+out, "See, father, here I am, with the cart, all right and safe; now
+take me down." So his father took hold of the horse with one hand, and
+with the other took his son out of the ear; then he put him down upon
+a straw, where he sat as merry as you please. The two strangers were
+all this time looking on, and did not know what to say for wonder. At
+last one took the other aside and said, "That little urchin will make
+our fortune if we can get him, and carry him about from town to town
+as a show; we must buy him." So they went to the woodman and asked him
+what he would take for the little man: "He will be better off," said
+they, "with us than with you." "I won't sell him at all," said the
+father, "my own flesh and blood is dearer to me than all the silver
+and gold in the world." But Thumbling, hearing of the bargain they
+wanted to make, crept up his father's coat to his shoulder, and
+whispered in his ear, "Take the money, father, and let them have me;
+I'll soon come back to you."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+So the woodman at last agreed to sell Thumbling to the strangers for
+a large piece of gold. "Where do you like to sit?" said one of them.
+"Oh! put me on the rim of your hat, that will be a nice gallery for
+me; I can walk about there, and see the country as we go along."
+So they did as he wished; and when Thumbling had taken leave of his
+father, they carried him away with them. They journeyed on till it
+began to be dusky, and then the little man said, "Let me get down,
+I'm tired." So the man took off his hat and set him down on a clod of
+earth in a ploughed field by the side of the road, But Thumbling ran
+about amongst the furrows, and at last slipped into a mouse-hole.
+"Good-night, masters," said he, "I'm off! mind and look sharp after me
+the next time." They ran directly to the place, and poked the ends
+of their sticks into the mouse-hole, but all in vain; Thumbling only
+crawled further and further in, and at last it became quite dark, so
+they were obliged to go their way without their prize, as sulky as you
+please.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+When Thumbling found they were gone, he came out of his hiding-place.
+"What dangerous walking it is," said he, "in this ploughed field! If
+I were to fall from one of these great clods, I should certainly break
+my neck." At last, by good chance, he found a large empty snail-shell.
+"This is lucky," said he, "I can sleep here very well," and in he
+crept. Just as he was falling asleep he heard two men passing, and one
+said to the other, "How shall we manage to steal that rich parson's
+silver and gold?" "I'll tell you," cried Thumbling. "What noise was
+that?" said the thief, frightened. "I am sure I heard some one speak."
+They stood still listening, and Thumbling said, "Take me with you,
+and I'll soon show you how to get the parson's money." "But where are
+you?" said they. "Look about on the ground," answered he, "and listen
+where the sound comes from." At last the thieves found him out, and
+lifted him up in their hands. "You little urchin!" said they, "what
+can you do for us?" "Why, I can get between the iron window-bars of
+the parson's house, and throw you out whatever you want." "That's a
+good thought," said the thieves: "come along, we shall see what you
+can do."
+
+When they came to the parson's house, Thumbling slipped through the
+window-bars into the room, and then called out as loudly as he could
+bawl, "Will you have all that is here?" At this the thieves were
+frightened, and said "Softly, softly, speak low that you may not
+awaken anybody." But Thumbling pretended not to understand them, and
+bawled out again, "How much will you have? Shall I throw it all out?"
+Now the cook lay in the next room, and hearing a noise she raised
+herself in her bed and listened. Meanwhile the thieves were
+frightened, and ran off to a little distance; but at last they plucked
+up courage, and said, "The little urchin is only trying to make fools
+of us." So they came back and whispered softly to him, saying, "Now,
+let us have no more of your jokes, but throw out some of the money."
+Then Thumbling called out as loudly as he could, "Very well; hold out
+your hands, here it comes." The cook heard this quite plainly, so she
+sprang out of bed and ran to open the door. The thieves rushed off as
+if a wolf were at their heels; and the maid, having groped about
+and found nothing, went away for a light. By the time she returned,
+Thumbling had slipped off into the barn; and when the cook had looked
+about and searched every hole and corner, and found nobody, she went
+to bed, thinking she must have been dreaming with her eyes open. The
+little man crawled about in the hay-loft, and at last found a glorious
+place to finish his night's rest in; so he laid himself down, meaning
+to sleep till daylight, and then find his way home to his father and
+mother. But, alas! how cruelly was he disappointed! what crosses and
+sorrows happen in this world! The cook got up early, before daybreak,
+to feed the cows: she went straight to the hay loft, and carried away
+a large bundle of hay with the little man in the middle of it fast
+asleep. He still, however, slept on, and did not wake till he found
+himself in the mouth of the cow, who had taken him up with a mouthful
+of hay: "Good lack-a-day!" said he, "how did I manage to tumble into
+the mill?" But he soon found out where he really was, and was obliged
+to have all his wits about him in order that he might not get between
+the cow's teeth, and so be crushed to death. At last she swallowed him
+down. "It is rather dark here," said he; "they forgot to build windows
+in this room to let the sun in; a candle would be no bad thing."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Though he made the best of his bad luck, he did not like his quarters
+at all; and the worst of it was, that more and more hay was always
+coming down, and the space in which he was became smaller and smaller.
+At last he cried out as loudly as he could, "Don't bring me any more
+hay! Don't bring me any more hay!" The maid happened to be just then
+milking the cow, and hearing someone speak and seeing nobody, and
+yet being quite sure it was the same voice that she had heard in the
+night, she was so much frightened that she fell off her stool and
+overset the milk-pail. She ran off as fast as she could to her master,
+the parson, and said, "Sir, sir, the cow is talking!" But the parson
+said, "Woman, thou art surely mad!" However, he went with her into the
+cow-house to see what was the matter. Scarcely had they set their feet
+on the threshold when Thumbling called out, "Don't bring me any more
+hay!" Then the parson himself was frightened; and thinking the cow was
+surely bewitched, ordered that she should be killed directly. So the
+cow was killed, and the part in which Thumbling lay was thrown away.
+
+Thumbling soon set himself to work to get out, which was not a very
+easy task; but at last, just as he had made room to get his head
+through, a new misfortune befell him: a hungry wolf passed by
+and swallowed Thumbling and all, at a single gulp, and ran away.
+Thumbling, however, was not disheartened; and thinking the wolf would
+not dislike having some chat with him as he was going along, he called
+out, "My good friend, I can show you a famous treat." "Where's that?"
+said the wolf. "In such and such a house," said Thumbling, describing
+his father's house, "you can crawl through the drain into the kitchen,
+and there you will find cakes, ham, beef, and everything your heart
+can desire." The wolf did not want to be asked twice; so that very
+night he went to the house and crawled through the drain into the
+kitchen, and ate and drank there to his heart's content. As soon as he
+was satisfied, he wanted to get away; but he had eaten so much that
+he could not get out the same way that he came in. This was just what
+Thumbling had reckoned upon; and he now began to set up a great shout,
+making all the noise he could. "Will you be quiet?" said the wolf,
+"you'll awaken everybody in the house." "What's that to me?" said the
+little man, "you have had your frolic, now I've a mind to be merry
+myself;" and he began again singing and shouting as loudly as he
+could.
+
+[Illustration: "THE WOODMAN AND HIS WIFE, BEING AWAKENED BY THE NOISE,
+PEEPED THROUGH A CRACK IN THE DOOR."]
+
+The woodman and his wife, being awakened by the noise, peeped through
+a crack in the door; but when they saw that the wolf was there, you
+may well suppose that they were terribly frightened; and the woodman
+ran for his axe, and gave his wife a scythe. "Now do you stay behind,"
+said the woodman; "and when I have knocked him on the head, do you
+cut him open with the scythe." Thumbling heard all this, and said,
+"Father, father! I am here; the wolf has swallowed me;" and his father
+said, "Heaven be praised! we have found our dear child again;" and
+he told his wife not to use the scythe, for fear she should hurt
+him. Then he aimed a great blow, and struck the wolf on the head, and
+killed him on the spot; and when he was dead they cut open his body
+and set Thumbling free. "Ah!" said the father, "what fears we have had
+for you!" "Yes, father," answered he, "I have travelled all over the
+world, since we parted, in one way or other; and now I am very glad to
+get fresh air again." "Why, where have you been?" said the father. "I
+have been in a mouse-hole, in a snail-shell, down a cow's throat, and
+inside the wolf; and yet here I am again safe and sound." "Well," said
+they, "we will not sell you again for all the riches in the world." So
+they hugged and kissed their dear little son, and gave him plenty to
+eat and drink, and fetched new clothes for him, for his old ones were
+quite spoiled on his journey.
+
+[Illustration: From "THE GOOSE GIRL"]
+
+
+
+
+THE RAPHAEL HOUSE LIBRARY OF GIFT BOOKS
+
+_FOR BOYS AND GIRLS_
+
+THIRTY BEAUTIFUL VOLUMES
+
+Edited by CAPTAIN EDRIC VREDENBURG
+
+Pictorial Boards, Cloth Back. Cloth, Bevelled Gilt Edges
+
+A charming series of delightful volumes that have certainly taken a
+foremost place amongst the cherished classics for young people. Each
+book embodies a distinct feature, all are carefully compiled, and
+appeal alike to children and their elders. The tales are told by able
+authors of to-day and celebrated writers of past years, with lavish
+and excellent illustrations by popular artists. The volumes are bound
+in attractive covers.
+
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM OLD BRITISH LEGENDS
+
+BY M. DOROTHY BELGRAVE AND HILDA HART.
+
+ILLUSTRATED BY HARRY G. THEAKER.
+
+These ancient legends of England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland,
+delightfully narrated and brilliantly illustrated, constitute a volume
+which may well claim to be amongst the most beautiful books of this
+beautiful series. Printed on rough art paper. 10 full-page colour
+plates, 144 pp. letterpress, 4to.
+
+[Illustration: _From "Children's Stories from Old British Legends."_]
+
+
+MY BOOK OF FAVOURITE FAIRY TALES
+
+STORIES RE-TOLD BY CAPT. EDRIC VREDENBURG AND OTHERS.
+
+ILLUSTRATED BY JENNIE HARBOUR.
+
+The well-known stories of "Cinderella," "Beauty and the Beast,"
+"Red Riding Hood," etc., etc. Popular tales that are ever in demand,
+sumptuously illustrated with exquisitely decorative and highly
+original designs. Printed on rough art paper. 12 full-page colour
+plates. 144 pp. letterpress, crown 4to.
+
+
+HANS ANDERSEN'S FAIRY TALES
+
+ILLUSTRATED BY MABEL LUCIE ATTWELL
+
+Dainty grace and quaint charm pervade this exquisite edition of a
+selection from the beloved fairy tales. Numerous black and white
+drawings. Printed on rough art paper. 12 full-page colour plates. 144
+pp. letterpress, crown 4to.
+
+
+GRIMM'S FAIRY TALES
+
+ILLUSTRATED BY MABEL LUCIE ATTWELL
+
+New editions of these famous stories are ever acceptable, and in these
+illustrations Mabel Lucie Attwell has excelled herself, so admirably
+has she depicted the conceptions of the famous writers. Printed on
+rough art paper. 12 full-page colour plates. 144 pp. letterpress,
+crown 4to.
+
+[Illustration: _From "My Book of Favourite Fairy Tales."_]
+
+
+[Illustration: _From "Animal Legends from many Lands."_]
+
+ANIMAL LEGENDS FROM MANY LANDS
+
+BY ROSE YEATMAN WOOLF
+
+ILLUSTRATED BY EDWIN NOBLE
+
+Truly splendid stories illustrative of the cunning of the Fox,
+the greediness of the Wolf, the obstinacy of the Mule, and other
+fancifully descriptive tales of the ways and doings of the inhabitants
+of the Animal Kingdom. These stories, as the title of the volume
+indicates, are collected from the legendary lore of many lands. The
+pictures are in the artist's most spirited and powerful style. Printed
+on rough art paper. 12 full-page colour plates. 144 pp. letterpress,
+crown 4to.
+
+
+AESOP'S FABLES
+
+ILLUSTRATED BY EDWIN NOBLE
+
+A magnificent edition of these ever-applicable and world-famed Fables,
+strikingly pictured with excellent coloured and black and white
+drawings, and forming a most desirable volume alike for young and old,
+and a handsome addition to any library. Printed on rough art paper, 12
+full-page colour plates. 144 pp. letterpress, crown 4to.
+
+
+[Illustration: _From "Tales of King Arthur and the Knights of the
+Round Table."]
+
+TALES OF KING ARTHUR
+
+AND THE KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE
+
+BY DORIS ASHLEY
+
+ILLUSTRATED BY ARTHUR A. DIXON.
+
+A particularly apt selection from the marvellous exploits of the
+Knights of the Round Table, related in thrilling language and
+illustrated in an ideal manner with pictures in colour and black
+and white. A perfect present for a boy or girl. Printed on rough art
+paper. 12 full-page colour plates. 144 pp. letterpress, crown 4to.
+
+
+GLORIOUS BATTLES OF ENGLISH HISTORY
+
+BY MAJOR C.H. WYLLY
+
+WITH FOREWORD BY SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE
+
+ILLUSTRATED BY HARRY PAYNE
+
+Books of Battles are ever popular, and this one, with its well-chosen
+incidents, told in an easy and interesting style by an officer of the
+British Army, and its inspiring foreword, will take a high rank and
+be greatly in demand particularly amongst that large section of the
+public to whom fact appeals so much more strongly than fiction. The
+illustrator has spared no pains in making his pictures worthy of their
+subject. Printed on rough art paper. 12 full-page colour plates and
+numerous black and white drawings. 144 pp. letterpress, crown 4to.
+
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM SHAKESPEARE
+
+BY E. NESBIT; AND
+
+WHEN SHAKESPEARE WAS A BOY
+
+BY DR. F.J. FURNIVALL, M.A.
+
+NEW EDITION
+
+This book brings before the minds of children, in a most attractive
+manner, many of the great dramatic poet's works, acquainting them
+with the characters and plots of the plays in a delicate way, and in
+a style that is certain to make them long for the time when they
+shall read the whole for themselves. The introductory history by Dr.
+Furnivall is full of charm and instruction. This entirely new edition
+has full-page colour and black and white drawings by John H. Bacon,
+A.R.A., Arthur Dixon, Howard Davie and Harold Copping. Printed on
+rough art paper. 10 full-page colour plates. 144 pp. letterpress,
+crown 4to.
+
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM TENNYSON
+
+BY NORA CHESSON
+
+NEW EDITION
+
+The most popular poems of Tennyson, "The Lily Maid," "Lady Clare,"
+"The Lord of Burleigh," "The Story of King Arthur," etc., etc., retold
+in prose, and so introducing to the minds of young people the great
+poet's works, and familiarising them with his celebrated characters.
+This is a new edition, with additional beautiful illustrations in
+colour and black and white by John H. Bacon, A.R.A., Gordon Browne,
+R.I., Arthur Dixon and others. Printed on rough art paper. 10
+full-page colour plates. 144 pp. letterpress, crown 4to.
+
+[Illustration: _From "Children's Stories from Tennyson."_]
+
+
+[Illustration: _From "Children's Stories from Italian Fairy Tales."_]
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM ITALIAN FAIRY TALES AND LEGENDS
+
+BY LILIA ROMANO
+
+ILLUSTRATED BY HOWARD DAVIE Their charm enhanced by the numerous
+characteristic illustrations, these stories, with their vivid local
+colouring, gathered from the fairy tales and folk-lore of lovely
+Italy, translated and retold, form a truly magnificent volume. Printed
+on rough art paper. 12 full-page colour plates. 144 pp. letterpress,
+crown 4to.
+
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM JAPANESE FAIRY TALES AND LEGENDS
+
+BY N. KATO
+
+ILLUSTRATED BY HARRY G. THEAKER
+
+The stories most sympathetic to the feelings of the English-reading
+juvenile public have been collected and translated, and the book,
+with its fascinating illustrations in colour and black and white, has
+proved a valuable addition to the series. Printed on rough art paper.
+10 full-page colour plates. 144 pp. letterpress, crown 4to.
+
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM RUSSIAN FAIRY TALES AND LEGENDS
+
+ILLUSTRATED BY A.A. DIXON
+
+Translated from the original, and adapted by Miss Seraphima Pulman,
+these stories are truly charming, while they are valuable as giving
+an insight into Russian life and habits. The illustrations possess
+all that delicacy and beauty which is characteristic of the artist.
+Printed on rough art paper. 12 full-page colour plates. 144 pp.
+letterpress, crown 4to.
+
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM INDIAN LEGENDS
+
+BY M. DOROTHY BELGRAVE AND HILDA HART
+
+ILLUSTRATED BY HARRY G. THEAKER
+
+Written with much feeling and charm, while the artist has delineated
+the episodes with strikingly beautiful drawings in colour and black
+and white, this book is also popular as furthering the knowledge of a
+land and people so closely bound in the heart of the British Empire.
+Printed on rough art paper. 12 full-page colour plates. 144 pp.
+letterpress, crown 4to.
+
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM FRENCH FAIRY TALES
+
+BY DORIS ASHLEY
+
+ILLUSTRATED BY MABEL LUCIE ATTWELL
+
+Tales to be read with breathless interest, so full of incident and
+romance are they, and in dealing with them the writer has shown
+consummate tact, both in her choice of stories and her manner
+of handling them, and this, combined with the wholly fascinating
+illustrations, in colour and black and white, has resulted in an
+altogether lovely volume. Printed on rough art paper. 12 full-page
+colour plates. 144 pp. letterpress, crown 4to.
+
+[Illustration: _From "Children's Stories from French Fairy Tales_"]
+
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM THE NORTHERN LEGENDS
+
+BY M. DOROTHY BELGRAVE AND HILDA HART
+
+ILLUSTRATED BY HARRY G. THEAKER
+
+Those entrancing legends of the Icelandic and Scandinavian poets are
+here recounted in a cohesive and lucid style suitable for boys and
+girls, thus in an easy way introducing the famous and fantastic heroes
+and heroines of Norse Mythology. The beautiful colour pictures, with
+the black and white drawings, are full of poetry and interest. Printed
+on rough art paper. 12 full-page colour plates. 144 pp. letterpress,
+crown 4to.
+
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM LONGFELLOW
+
+BY DORIS ASHLEY
+
+(NEW EDITION)
+
+An admirable collection of the most famous poems, delightfully
+translated into prose, and profusely illustrated with exquisite
+pictures in colour and black and white by Harold Copping, A. Dixon, M.
+Bowley and others, rendering the readers anxious for, and appreciative
+of, such poems as "The Golden Legend," "Evangeline," and "Hiawatha,"
+which, with other favourites, are placed before them in this
+attractive guise. To this new edition more pictures have been added.
+Printed on rough art paper. 10 full-page colour plates. 144 pp.
+letterpress, crown 4to.
+
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM ENGLISH HISTORY
+
+TOLD BY E. NESBIT AND DORIS ASHLEY
+
+Some of the most noteworthy and interesting historical events
+woven into entertaining stories, and so of great value in indelibly
+impressing them upon the mind. The volume is charmingly illustrated
+throughout by the late John H. Bacon, A.R.A., Howard Davie, M. Bowley,
+and other popular artists. Printed on rough art paper. 9 full-page
+colour plates. 144 pp. letterpress, crown 4to.
+
+[Illustration: _From "Alice in Wonderland"_]
+
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM THE POETS
+
+BY M. DOROTHY BELGRAVE AND HILDA HART
+
+ILLUSTRATED BY FRANK ADAMS
+
+Characters and incidents in the works of Chaucer, Pope, Keats, Milton,
+Browning, and other great poets, teeming with interest, and with
+which all minds should be conversant, are here presented in extremely
+fascinating prose narrative, beautifully illustrated in colour
+and black and white by Frank Adams. Printed on rough art paper. 12
+full-page colour plates. 144 pp. letterpress, crown 4to.
+
+
+ALICE IN WONDERLAND
+
+ILLUSTRATED BY MABEL LUCIE ATTWELL
+
+An exceptionally attractive edition of the popular Fairy Tale by Lewis
+Carroll, characteristically and charmingly illustrated with many black
+and white drawings and full-page colour plates. This story, which will
+hold its own as long as dreams are dreamed, is here presented in a
+worthy setting, and one which will meet with universal approbation.
+Printed on rough art paper. 12 full-page colour plates. 152 pp.
+letterpress, crown 4to.
+
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM DICKENS
+
+BY MARY ANGELA DICKENS
+
+ILLUSTRATED BY HAROLD COPPING
+
+The child interest from some of Dickens' masterpieces is here
+depicted afresh, and told in simple and charming language by his
+grand-daughter, Mary Angela Dickens, and other writers, with an
+introduction by Percy Fitzgerald, the friend of, and eminent authority
+on, Charles Dickens. The stories of Little David Copperfield, Little
+Nell, Tiny Tim, Little Paul Dombey, etc., etc., are here narrated, all
+being profusely illustrated. Printed on rough art paper 11 full-page
+coloured plates. 144 pp. letterpress, crown 4to.
+
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM SCOTT
+
+BY DORIS ASHLEY
+
+ILLUSTRATED BY HAROLD C. EARNSHAW
+
+The histories of Sir Walter Scott's most popular characters condensed
+into short stories, and thus adapted as an interesting introduction to
+the Scott classics, so worthily considered a part of the education of
+every up-to-date boy and girl. These tales are admirably illustrated
+with numerous drawings in colour and black and white. Printed on rough
+art paper. 12 full-page colour plates. 144 pp. letterpress, crown 4to.
+
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS
+
+BY ROSE YEATMAN WOOLF
+
+ILLUSTRATED BY HARRY G. THEAKER
+
+An admirable collection of the most popular tales, carefully compiled
+so as to form an entirely delightful and charming volume. The book
+is beautifully illustrated with pictures gorgeous in their Eastern
+colours, and innumerable black and white drawings. Printed on rough
+art paper. 12 full-page colour plates. 144 pp. letterpress, crown 4to.
+
+[Illustration: _From "Children's Stories from Dickens"_]
+
+
+
+
+THE RAPHAEL HOUSE LIBRARY OF GIFT BOOKS
+
+Edited by CAPTAIN EDRIC VREDENBURG
+
+Thirty beautiful Volumes, profusely illustrated in colour and black
+and white. Pictorial Boards, Cloth Back, or Cloth. Bevelled, Gilt
+Edges. Crown 4to.
+
+TALES OF THE ALHAMBRA. By WASHINGTON IRVING. Illustrated by H.M.
+BROCK. 12 full-page colour plates. 144pp.
+
+"ANIMAL LEGENDS FROM MANY LANDS." By ROSE YEATMAN WOOLF. Illustrated
+by EDWIN NOBLE. 12 full-page colour plates. 144 pp.
+
+TALES OF KING ARTHUR AND THE KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE. By DORIS
+ASHLEY. Illustrated by A.A. DIXON. 12 full-page colour plates. 144 pp.
+
+MY BOOK OF FAVOURITE FAIRY TALES. By CAPT. EDRIC VREDENBURG and
+others. Illustrated by JENNIE HARBOUR. 12 full-page colour plates.
+144pp.
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM OLD BRITISH LEGENDS. By M. DOROTHY BELGRAVE
+and HILDA HART. Illustrated by HARRY G. THEAKER. 10 full-page colour
+plates. 144 pp.
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM FRENCH FAIRY TALES. By DORIS ASHLEY.
+Illustrated by MABEL LUCIE ATTWELL. 12 full-page colour plates. 144
+pp.
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM ITALIAN FAIRY TALES AND LEGENDS. By LILIA
+ROMANO. Illustrated by HOWARD DAVIE 12 full-page colour plates. 144pp.
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM INDIAN LEGENDS. By M. DOROTHY BELGRAVE and
+HILDA HART. Illustrated by H.G. THEAKER. 12 full-page colour plates.
+144pp.
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM JAPANESE FAIRY TALES AND LEGENDS. Translated
+and adapted by N. KATO. Illustrated by H.G. THEAKER. 10 full-page
+colour plates. 144 pp.
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM ROUMANIAN FAIRY TALES AND LEGENDS By Dr. M.
+GASTER, Ph.D., late President of the English Folk-lore Society, &c.
+Illustrated by C.E. BROCK. 12 full-page colour plates. 144 pp.
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM RUSSIAN FAIRY TALES AND LEGENDS. Translated
+and adapted by SERAPHIMA PULMAN. Illustrated by ARTHUR A. DIXON. 12
+full-page colour plates. 144pp.
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM THE NORTHERN LEGENDS. By M. DOROTHY BELGRAVE
+and HILDA HART. Illustrated by HARRY G. THEAKER. 12 full-page colour
+plates. 152 pp.
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM SCOTT. By DORIS ASHLEY. Illustrated by HAROLD
+C. EARNSHAW. 12 full-page colour plates. 144 pp.
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM THE POETS. By M. DOROTHY BELGRAVE and HILDA
+HART. Illustrated by FRANK ADAMS. 12 full-page colour plates. 152pp.
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM ENGLISH HISTORY. By E. NESBIT and DORIS
+ASHLEY. Illustrated by JOHN H. BACON, A.R.A., HOWARD DAVIE, and
+others. 9 full-page colour plates. 144pp.
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS. By ROSE YEATMAN WOOLF.
+Illustrated by H.G. THEAKER 12 full-page colour plates. 144 pp.
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM DICKENS. By MARY ANGELA DICKENS. Illustrated
+by HAROLD COPPING. 11 full-page colour plates. 144 pp.
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM SHAKESPEARE. By E. NESBIT. Illustrated by
+J.H. BACON, A.R.A., HOWARD DAVIE, and H. COPPING. 10 full-page colour
+plates. 144 pp.
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM TENNYSON. By NORA CHESSON. Illustrated by JOHN
+H. BACON, A.R.A., ARTHUR DIXON, HAROLD COPPING, and other artists. 10
+full-page colour plates. 144pp.
+
+CHILDREN'S STORIES FROM LONGFELLOW. By DORIS ASHLEY. Illustrated by
+A.A. DIXON, H. COPPING, and others. 10 full-page colour plates. 144
+pp.
+
+GLORIOUS BATTLES OF ENGLISH HISTORY. By Major C.H. WYLLY. With
+Foreword by Sir ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE. Illustrated by HARRY PAYNE. 12
+full-page colour plates. 144 pp.
+
+THE WATER BABIES. By CHARLES KINGSLEY. Abridged Edition. Illustrated
+by MABEL LUCIE ATTWELL. 12 full-page colour plates. 144pp.
+
+HANS ANDERSEN'S FAIRY TALES. Illustrated by MABEL LUCIE ATTWELL. 12
+full-page colour plates. 144 pp.
+
+GRIMM'S FAIRY TALES. Illustrated by MABEL LUCIE ATTWELL. 12 full-page
+colour plates. 144 pp.
+
+ALICE IN WONDERLAND. By LEWIS CARROLL. Illustrated by MABEL LUCIE
+ATTWELL. 12 full-page colour plates. 152pp.
+
+MOTHER GOOSE. Illustrated by MABEL LUCIE ATTWELL. 12 full-page colour
+plates. 144 pp.
+
+AESOP'S FABLES. Illustrated by EDWIN NOBLE. 12 full-page colour plates.
+144pp.
+
+CURLY HEADS AND LONG LEGS. Stories by the Editor, GRACE C. FLOYD, and
+others. Illustrated by HILDA COWHAM. 12 full-page colour plates. 144
+pp.
+
+GOLDEN LOCKS AND PRETTY FROCKS. Stories by NORMAN GALE, GRACE C.
+FLOYD, the Editor, and others. Illustrated by AGNES RICHARDSON. 12
+full-page colour plates. 144pp.
+
+TINKER, TAILOR. Stories by Captain EDRIC VREDENBURG. Illustrated by
+Louis WAIN. 12 full-page colour plates. 144pp.
+
+
+_Raphael Tuck and Sons, Ltd., London, Paris, New York._
+_Publishers by special appointment to Their Majesties the King and
+Queen_.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of My Book of Favorite Fairy Tales
+by Edric  Vredenburg
+
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