diff options
| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:48:41 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:48:41 -0700 |
| commit | 1e74a173493c00572c60fe4ae9d72c9ad1ae8804 (patch) | |
| tree | 487908aeeb5151861514f4e5527617ac37946855 | |
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 16347-8.txt | 7479 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 16347-8.zip | bin | 0 -> 135614 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 16347-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 1844520 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 16347-h/16347-h.htm | 9154 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 16347-h/images/114.gif | bin | 0 -> 78618 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 16347-h/images/177.gif | bin | 0 -> 27658 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 16347-h/images/195.gif | bin | 0 -> 133111 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 16347-h/images/202.gif | bin | 0 -> 57570 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 16347-h/images/206.gif | bin | 0 -> 47866 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 16347-h/images/211.gif | bin | 0 -> 102166 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 16347-h/images/213.gif | bin | 0 -> 112508 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 16347-h/images/216.gif | bin | 0 -> 65404 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 16347-h/images/221.gif | bin | 0 -> 92051 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 16347-h/images/224.gif | bin | 0 -> 78864 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 16347-h/images/232.gif | bin | 0 -> 71114 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 16347-h/images/236.gif | bin | 0 -> 85603 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 16347-h/images/239.gif | bin | 0 -> 111575 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 16347-h/images/244.gif | bin | 0 -> 103040 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 16347-h/images/255.gif | bin | 0 -> 92884 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 16347-h/images/256.gif | bin | 0 -> 104946 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 16347-h/images/262.gif | bin | 0 -> 100593 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 16347-h/images/267.gif | bin | 0 -> 12635 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 16347-h/images/268.gif | bin | 0 -> 30820 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 16347-h/images/274.gif | bin | 0 -> 84976 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 16347-h/images/281.gif | bin | 0 -> 81142 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 16347-h/images/283.gif | bin | 0 -> 83685 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 16347.txt | 7479 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 16347.zip | bin | 0 -> 135576 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
31 files changed, 24128 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/16347-8.txt b/16347-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0d9942d --- /dev/null +++ b/16347-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7479 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Miscellanea, by Juliana Horatia Ewing + +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: Miscellanea + +Author: Juliana Horatia Ewing + +Release Date: July 22, 2005 [EBook #16347] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MISCELLANEA *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Paul Ereaut and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + +MISCELLANEA. + + +BY + +JULIANA HORATIA EWING. + + +SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE, +London: Northumberland Avenue, W.C. +43, Queen Victoria Street, E.C. +Brighton: 129, North Street. +New York: E. & J.B. YOUNG & CO. + + +[Published under the direction of the General Literature +Committee.] + + + + +PREFACE. + + +The contents of this volume are republished in order to make the Edition +a complete collection of Mrs. Ewing's works, rather than because of +their intrinsic worth. The fact that she did not republish the papers +during her life shows that she did not estimate them very highly +herself; but as each one has a special interest connected with it, I +feel I am not violating her wishes in bringing the collection before the +public. + +One of Mrs. Ewing's strongest gifts was her power of mimicry; this made +her an actor above the average of amateurs, and also enabled her to +imitate any special style of writing that she wished. The first four +stories in this volume are instances of this power. _The Mystery of the +Bloody Hand_ was an attempt to vie with some of the early sensational +novels, such as _Lady Audley's Secret_ and _The Moonstone_;--tales in +which a glimpse of the supernatural is introduced amongst scenes of +every-day life. + +During my sister's girlhood we had a family MS. Magazine (as our Mother +had done in her young days), and two of the stories in Mrs. Gatty's +"Aunt Judy's Letters," _The Flatlands Fun Gazette_ and _The Black Bag_, +were founded on this custom, Mrs. Ewing being the typical "Aunt Judy" of +the book. Mrs. Gatty described how the children were called upon each to +contribute a tale for _The Black Bag_, and how No. 5 remonstrated by +saying--"I've been sitting over the fire this evening trying to think, +but what _could_ come, with only the coals and the fire-place before one +to look at? I dare say neither Hans Andersen nor Grimm nor any of those +fellows would have written anything, if they had not gone about into +caves and forests and those sort of places, or boated in the North +Seas!" Aunt Judy replied that she also had been looking into the fire, +and the longer she did so, the more she decided "that Hans Andersen was +not beholden to caves or forests or any curious things or people for his +story-telling inspirations"; but as it was difficult for the "little +ones" to write she enclosed three tales as "jokes, imitations, in fact, +of the Andersenian power of spinning gold threads out of old tow-ropes." +So far this was Mrs. Gatty's own writing, but the three tales were the +work of the real Aunt Judy, Mrs. Ewing herself. These three are (1) +_The Smut_, (2) _The Crick_, (3) _The Brothers_. The last sentence in +_The Brothers_ recalls the last entry in Mrs. Ewing's commonplace book, +which is quoted in her Life--"If we still love those we lose, can we +altogether lose those we love?" + +_Cousin Peregrine's Wonder Stories_ and _Traveller's Tales_ were written +after Mrs. Ewing's marriage, with the help of her husband; he supplied +the facts and descriptions from things which he had seen during his long +residence abroad. Colonel Ewing also helped my sister in translating the +_Tales of the Khoja_ from the Turkish. The illustrations now reproduced +were drawn by our brother, Alfred Scott-Gatty. + +In _Little Woods_ and _May-Day Customs_ Mrs. Ewing showed her ready +ability to take up any subject of interest that came under her +notice--botany, horticulture, archæology, folk-lore, or whatever it +might be. The same readiness was shown in her adaptation of the various +versions of the _Mumming Play_, or _The Peace Egg_. + +_In Memoriam_ was written under considerable restraint soon after our +Mother's death. My sister knew that she did not wish her biography to be +written, but still it was impossible to let the originator and editor of +_Aunt Judy's Magazine_ pass away without some little record being given +to the many children who loved her writings. In Ecclesfield Church +there is a tablet erected to Mrs. Gatty's memory by one thousand +children, who each contributed sixpence. + +_The Snarling Princess_ and _The Little Parsnip Man_ are adaptations of +two fairy tales which appeared in a German magazine; and as both the +tales and their illustrations took Mrs. Ewing's fancy, she made a free +rendering of them for _Aunt Judy's Magazine_. + +_A Child's Wishes_ and _War and the Dead_ are more accurate +translations, but it may be said they have not suffered in their +transmission from one language to another. My sister's selection of the +last sketch for translation is noticeable, as giving a foretaste of her +keen sympathy with military interests. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +The Mystery of the Bloody Hand + +The Smut + +The Crick + +The Brothers + +Cousin Peregrine's Wonder Stories: + 1. The Chinese Jugglers, and the Englishman's Hands + + 2. Waves of the Great South Seas + +Cousin Peregrine's Traveller's Tales: + Jack of Pera + +The Princes of Vegetation + +Little Woods + +May-Day, Old Style and New Style + +In Memoriam, Margaret Gatty + +Tales of the Khoja (_from the Turkish_) + +The Snarling Princess (_adapted from the German_) + +The Little Parsnip-Man (_adapted from the German_) + +A Child's Wishes (_from the German of R. Reinick_) + +War and the Dead (_from the French of Jean Macé_) + + + + +THE MYSTERY OF THE BLOODY HAND. + + +CHAPTER I. + +A MEMORABLE NEW YEAR'S DAY. + + +_Dorothy to Eleanor_, + +Dearest Eleanor, + +You have so often reminded me how rapidly the most startling facts pass +from the memory of man, and I have so often thereupon promised to write +down a full account of that mysterious affair in which I was +providentially called upon to play so prominent a part, that it is with +shame I reflect that the warning has been unheeded and the promise +unfulfilled. Do not, dear friend, accuse my affection, but my engrossing +duties and occupations, for this neglect, and believe that I now take +advantage of my first quiet evening for many months to fulfil your wish. + +Betty has just brought me a cup of tea, and I have told the girl to be +within call; for once a heroine is not always a heroine, dear Nell. I am +full of childish terrors, and I assure you it is with no small mental +effort that I bring myself to recall the terrible events of the year +1813. + +Oddly enough, it was on the first day of this year that I made the +acquaintance of Mr. George Manners; and I think I can do no better than +begin by giving you an extract from the first page of my journal at that +time. + +"_Jan. 1, 1813_.--It is mid-day, and very fine, but it was no easy +matter to be at service this morning after all good Dr. Penn's +injunctions, as last night's dancing, and the long drive home, made me +sleepy, and Harriet is still in bed. + +"Though I am not so handsome as Harriet, and boast of no conquests, and +though the gentlemen do not say the wonderfully pretty things to me that +they seem to do to her, I have much enjoyed several balls since my +introduction into society. But for ever first and foremost on my list of +dances must be Lady Lucy Topham's party on New Year's Eve. Let me say +New Year's Day, for the latter part of the evening was the happy one to +me. During the first part I danced a little and watched the others much. +To sit still is mortifying, and yet I almost think the dancing was the +greater penance, since I never had much to say to men of whom I know +nothing: the dances seem interminable, and I am ever haunted by a vague +feeling that my partner is looking out over my head for some one +prettier and more lively, which is not inspiring. I must not forget a +little incident, as we came up the stairs into the ball-room. With my +customary awkwardness I dropped my fan, and was about to stoop for it, +when some one who had been following us darted forward and presented it +to me. I curtsied low, he bowed lower; our eyes met for a moment, and +then he fell behind. It was by his eyes that I recognized him afterwards +in the ball-room, for in the momentary glance on the stairs I had not +had time to observe his prominent height and fine features. How +strangely one's fancy is sometimes seized upon by a foolish wish! My +modest desire last night was to dance with this Mr. George Manners, the +handsomest man and best dancer of the room, to be whose partner even +Harriet was proud. Though I had not a word for my second-rate partners, +I fancied that I could talk to _him_. Oh, foolish heart! how I chid +myself for my folly in watching his tall figure thread the dances, in +fancying that I had met his eyes many times that evening, and, above +all, for the throb of jealous disappointment that came with every dance +when he did not do what I never soberly expected he would--ask me. A +little before twelve I was sitting out among the turbans, when I saw him +standing at some distance, and unmistakably looking at me. A sudden +horror seized me that something was wrong--my hair coming down, my dress +awry--and I was not comforted by Harriet passing at this moment with-- + +"'What! sitting out still? You should be more lively, child! Men don't +like dancing with dummies.' + +"When her dress had whisked past me I looked up and saw him again, but +at that moment he sharply turned his back on me and walked into the +card-room. I was sitting still when he came out again with Mr. Topham. +The music had just struck up, the couples were gathering; he was going +to dance then. I looked down at my bouquet with tears in my eyes, and +was trying hard to subdue my folly and to count the petals of a white +camellia, when Mr. Topham's voice close by me said-- + +"'Miss Dorothy Lascelles, may I introduce Mr. Manners to you?' and in +two seconds more my hand was in his arm, and he was saying in a voice as +commonplace as if the world had not turned upside down-- + +"'I think it is Sir Roger.' + +"It is a minor satisfaction to me to reflect that, for once in my life, +I was right. I did talk to Mr. George Manners. The first thing I said +was-- + +"'I am very much obliged to you for picking up my fan.' To which he +replied (if it can be called a reply)-- + +"'I wish I had known sooner that you were Miss Lascelles' sister.' + +"I said, 'Did you not see her with me on the stairs?' and he answered-- + +"'I saw no one but you.' + +"Which, as it is the nearest approach to a pretty speech that ever was +made to me, I confide solemnly to this my fine new diary, which is to be +my dearest friend and confidante this year. Why the music went so fast, +and the dance was so short on this particular occasion, I never could +fathom; both had just ceased, and we were still chatting, when midnight +struck, deep-toned or shrill, from all the clocks in the house; and, in +the involuntary impressive pause, we could hear through the open window +the muffled echo from the village church. Then Mr. Topham ran in with a +huge loving-cup, and, drinking all our good healths, it was passed +through the company. + +"When the servant brought it to me, Mr. Manners took it from him, and +held it for me himself by both handles, saying-- + +"'It is too heavy for your hands;' and I drank, he quoting in jest from +_Hamlet_-- + +"'Nymph, in thine orisons be all my sins remembered.' + +"Then he said, '_I_ shall wish in silence,' and paused a full minute +before putting it to his lips. When the servant had taken it away, he +heaved so profound a sigh that (we then being very friendly) I said-- + +"'What is the matter?' + +"'Do you believe in presentiments, Miss Lascelles?' he said. + +"'I don't think I ever had a presentiment,' I answered. + +"'Don't think me a fool,' he said, 'but I have had the most intense +dread of the coming of this year. I have a presentiment (for which there +is no reason) that it will bring me a huge, overwhelming misfortune: and +yet I have just wished for a blessing of which I am vastly unworthy, but +which, if it does come, will probably come this year, and which would +make it the brightest one that I have ever seen. Be a prophet, Miss +Lascelles, and tell me--which will it be?--the joy or the sorrow?' + +"He gazed so intently that I had some difficulty in answering with +composure-- + +"'Perhaps both. We are taught to believe that life is chequered.' + +"'See,' he went on. 'This is the beginning of the year. We are standing +here safe and happy. Miss Lascelles, where shall we be when the year +ends?' + +"The question seemed to me faithless in a Christian, and puerile in a +brave man: I did not say so; but my face may have expressed it, for he +changed the subject suddenly, and could not be induced to return to it. +I danced twice with him afterwards; and when we parted I said, +emphatically-- + +"'A happy new year to you, Mr. Manners.' + +"He forced a smile as he answered, 'Amen!' + +"Mrs. Dallas (who kindly chaperoned us) slept all the way home; and Miss +Dallas and Harriet chatted about their partners. Once only they appealed +to me. What first drew my attention was Mr. Manners' name. + +"'Poor Mr. Manners!' Harriet said; 'I am afraid I was very rude to him. +He had to console himself with you, eh, Dolly?--on the principle of love +me love my dog, I suppose?' + +"Am I so conceited that this had never struck me? And yet--but here +comes Harriet, and I must put you away, dear diary. I blush at my +voluminousness. If every evening is to take up so many pages, my book +will be full at Midsummer! But was not this a red-letter day?" + +Well may I blush, dear Nell, to re-read this girlish nonsense. And yet +it contains not the least strange part of this strange story--poor Mr. +Manners' presentiment of evil. After this he called constantly, and we +met him often in society; and, blinded by I know not what delusion, +Harriet believed him to be devoted to herself, up to the period, as I +fancy, when he asked me to be his wife. I was staying with the Tophams +at the time. I believe that they had asked me there on purpose, being +his friends. Ah, George! what a happy time that was! How, in the sweet +days of the sweetest of summers, I laughed at your "presentiment"! How +you told me that the joy had come, and, reminding me of my own sermon on +the chequered nature of life, asked if the sorrow would yet tread it +down. Too soon, my love! too soon! + +Nelly! forgive me this outburst. I must write more calmly. It is sad to +speak ill of a sister; but surely it was cruel, that she, who had so +many lovers, should grudge me my happiness; should pursue George with +such unreasonable malice; should rouse the senseless but immovable +obstinacy of our poor brother against him. Oh, Eleanor! think of my +position! Our father and mother dead; under the care of our only +brother, who, as you know, dear Nell, was at one time feared to be a +complete idiot, and had, poor boy! only so much sense as to make him +sane in the eyes of the law. You know the fatal obstinacy with which he +pursued an idea once instilled; the occasional fits of rage that were +not less than insanity. Knowing all this, my dear, imagine what I must +have suffered when angrily recalled home. I was forbidden to think of +Mr. Manners again. In vain I asked for reasons. They had none, and yet a +thousand to give me. When I think of the miserable stories that were +raked up against him,--the misconstruction of everything he did, or +said, or left undone,--my own impotent indignation, and my poor +brother's senseless rage, and the insulting way in which I was watched, +and taunted, and tortured,--oh, Nelly! it is agony to write. I did the +only thing left to me--I gave him up, and prayed for peace. I do not say +that I was right: I say that I did the best I could in a state of things +that threatened to deprive me of reason. + +My submission did not produce an amount of harmony in the house in any +way proportionate to the price I paid for it. Harriet was obliged to +keep the slanders of my lover constantly in view, to quiet the +self-reproach which I think she must sometimes have experienced. As to +Edmund, my obedience had somewhat satisfied him, and made way for +another subject of interest which was then engrossing his mind. + +A man on his estate, renting a farm close to us, who was a Quaker, and +very "strict" in his religious profession, had been for a long time +grossly cheating him, relying, no doubt, on my poor brother's deficient +intellect. But minds that are intellectually and in reason deficient, +are often endowed with a large share of cunning and caution, especially +in monetary affairs. Edmund guessed, watched, and discovered; but when +the proof was in his hands, his proceedings were characteristically +peculiar. He did not discharge the man, and have done with it; he +retained him in his place, but seemed to take a--let me say--insane +delight in exposing him to the religious circle in which he had been a +star, and from which he was ignominiously expelled; and in heaping every +possible annoyance and disgrace upon him that the circumstances +admitted. My dear, I think I should have preferred his wrath upon +myself, to being the witness of my brother's miserable exultation over +the wretched man, Parker. His chief gratification lay in the thought +that, exquisite as were the vexations he heaped upon him, the man was +obliged to express gratitude for his master's forbearance as regarded +the law. + +"He said he should never forget my consideration for him till death! Ha! +ha!" + +"My only puzzle," I said, "is, what can induce him to stay with you." + +And then the storm turned upon me, Eleanor. + +You will ask me, my dear, how, meanwhile, had Mr. Manners taken my +letter of dismissal. I know now, Nell, and so will not revive the +mystery that then added weight to my distress. He wrote me many +letters,--but I never saw one! + + * * * * * + +And now, dear friend, let me pause and gather courage to relate the +terrible events of that sultry, horrible--that accursed June. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE TERRIBLE JUNE. + + +It was about the middle of the month. Harriet was spending some hours +with a friend, Edmund was out, and I had been left alone all day for the +first time since I came home. I remember everything that happened with +the utmost distinctness. I spent the day chiefly in the garden, +gathering roses for pot-pourri, being disinclined for any more +reasonable occupation, partly by the thundery oppressiveness of the air, +partly by a vague, dull feeling of dread that made me restless, and +which was yet one of those phases of feeling in which, if life depended +on an energetic movement, one must trifle. In this mood, when the +foreclouded mind instinctively shrinks from its own great troubles, +little things assume an extraordinary distinctness. I trode carefully in +the patterns of the terrace pavement, counted the roses on the white +bush by the dial (there were twenty-six), and seeing a beetle on the +path, moved it to a bank at some distance. There it crept into a hole, +and such a wild, weary desire seized on me to creep after it and hide +from what was coming, that--I thought it wise to go in. + +As I sat in the drawing-room there was a rose still whole in my lap. I +had begun to pluck off the petals, when the door-bell rang. Though I +heard the voice distinctly when the door was opened, I vow to you, dear +Nell, that my chief desire was to get the rose pulled to pieces before I +was disturbed. I had flung the last petal into my lap, when the door +opened and Mr. Manners came into the room. + +He did not speak; he opened his arms, and I ran straight into them, +roses and all. The petals rained over us and over the floor. He talked +very fast, and I did nothing but cling to him, and endure in silence the +weight which his presence could not remove from my mind, while he +pleaded passionately for our marriage. He said that it was the extreme +of all that was unreasonable, that our lives' happiness should be +sacrificed to the insane freak of a hardly responsible mind. He +complained bitterly (though I could but confess justly!) of the +insulting and intolerable treatment that he had received. He had come, +he said, in the first place, to assure himself of my constancy--in the +second, for a powerful and final remonstrance with my brother--and, if +that failed, to remind me that I should be of age next month; and to +convey the entreaty of the Tophams that, as a last resource, I would +come to them and be married from their house. I made up my mind, and +promised: then I implored him to be careful in his interview with my +brother, for my sake--to calm his own natural anger, and to remember +Edmund's infirmity. He promised, but I saw that he was slightly piqued +by my dwelling so much on Edmund's feelings rather than on his. Ah! +Nelly, he had never seen one of the poor boy's rages. + +It may have been half-past six when Mr. Manners arrived; it had just +struck a quarter to nine when Edmund came in and found us together. He +paused for a minute, clicking his tongue in his mouth, in a way he had +when excited; and then he turned upon me, and heaped abuse on insult, +loading me with accusations and reproaches. George, white with +suppressed rage, called incessantly upon me to go; and at last I dared +disobey no longer; but as I went I touched his arm and whispered, +"Remember! for my sake." His intense "I promise, my darling," comforted +me then--and afterwards, Nelly. I went into a little room that opened +into the hall and waited. + +In about twenty minutes the drawing-room door opened, and they came out. +I heard George's voice saying this or something equivalent (afterwards +I could not accurately recall the words)-- + +"Good-night, Mr. Lascelles; I trust our next meeting may be a different +one." + +The next sentences on both sides I lost. Edmund seems to have refused to +shake hands with Mr. Manners. The last words I heard were George's +half-laughing-- + +"Next time, Lascelles, I shall not ask for your hand--I shall take it." + +Then the door shut, and Edmund went into his study. An hour later he +also went out, and I was left alone once more. I went back into the +drawing-room; the rose-leaves were fading on the floor; and on the table +lay George Manners' penknife. It was a new one, that he had been showing +to me, and had left behind him. I kissed it and put it in my pocket: +then I knelt down by the chair, Nell, and wept till I prayed; and then +prayed till I wept again; and then I got up and tidied the room, and got +some sewing; and, like other women, sat down with my trouble, waiting +for the storm to break. + +It broke at eleven o'clock that night, when two men carried the dead +body of my brother into his own kitchen--foully murdered. + +But when I knelt by the poor body, lying awfully still upon the table; +when I kissed the face, which in death had curiously regained the +appearance of reason as well as beauty; when I saw and knew that life +had certainly gone till the Resurrection:--that was not all. The storm +had not fully broken till I turned and saw, standing by the fire, George +Manners, with his hands and coat dabbled with blood. I did not speak or +scream; but a black horror seemed to settle down like mist upon me. +Through it came Mr. Manners' voice (I had not looked again at him)-- + +"Miss Dorothy Lascelles, why do you not ask who did it?" + +I gave a sharp cry, and one of the labourers who had helped to bring +Edmund in said gravely-- + +"Eh, Master! the less you say the better. God forgive you this +night's work!" + +George's hoarse voice spoke again. + +"Do you hear him?" and then it faltered a little--"Dorolice, do you +think this?" + +It was his pet name for me (he was an Italian scholar), and touched me +inexpressibly, and a conviction seized upon me that if he had done it, +he would not have dared to appeal to my affection. I tried to clear my +mind that I might see the truth, and then I looked up at him. Our eyes +met, and we looked at each other for a full minute, and I was content. +Oh! there are times when the instinctive trust of one's heart is, so far +more powerful than any proofs or reasons, that faith seems a higher +knowledge. I would have pledged ten thousand lives, if I had had them, +on the honesty of those eyes, that had led me like a will-o'-the-wisp in +the ball-room half a year ago! The new-year's dance came back on me as I +stood there--my ball-dress was in the drawer up-stairs--and now! oh +dear! was I going mad? + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE TIME OF TRIAL. + + +Meanwhile he was waiting for my answer. I stepped forward, intending to +take his hand, but the stains drove me back again. Where so much depends +upon a right--or a mis-understanding, the only way is to speak the fair +truth. I did so; by a sort of forced calm holding back the seething of +my brain. + +"George, I should like to touch you, but--I cannot! I beg you to forgive +the selfishness of my grief--my mind is confused--I shall be better +soon. God has sent us a great sorrow, in which I know you are +as innocent as I am. I am very sorry--I think that is all." And I put my +hand to my head, where a sharp pain was beginning to throb. Mr. Manners +spoke, emphatically-- + +"God bless you, Dorolice! You know I promised. Thank you, for +ever!" + +"If you fancy you have any reason to thank me," I said, "do me this +favour. Whatever happens, believe that I believe!" + +I could bear no more, so I went out of the kitchen. As I went I heard a +murmur of pity run through the room, and I knew that they were +pitying--not the dead man, but me; and me--not for my dead brother, but +for his murderer. When I got into the passage, the mist that had still +been dark before my eyes suddenly became darker, and I remember no more. + +When my senses returned, Harriet had come home. From the first she would +never hear George's name except to accuse him with frantic bitterness of +poor Edmund's death; and as nothing would induce me to credit his guilt, +the subject was as much as possible avoided. I cannot dwell on those +terrible days. I was very ill for some time, and after I had come +down-stairs, one day I found a newspaper containing the following +paragraph, which I copy here, as it is the shortest and least painful +way of telling you the facts of poor Edmund's death. + +"THE MURDER AT CROSSDALE HALL. + +"Universal horror has been excited in the neighbourhood by the murder of +Edmund Lascelles, Esq., of Crossdale Hall. Mr. Lascelles was last seen +alive a little after ten o'clock on Friday night, at which time he left +the house alone, and was not seen again living. At the inquest on +Saturday, James Crosby, a farm labourer, gave the following evidence:-- + +"'I had been sent into the village for some medicine for a sick beast, +and was returning to the farm by the park a little before eleven, when +near the low gate I saw a man standing with his back to me. The moon was +shining, and I recognized him at once for Mr. George Manners, of +Beckfield. When Mr. Manners saw me he seemed much excited, and called +out, "Quick! help! Mr. Lascelles has been murdered." I said, "Good +God! who did it?" He said, "I don't know; I found him in the +ditch; help me to carry him in." By this time I had come up and saw Mr. +Lascelles on the ground, lying on his side. I said, "How do you know +he's dead?" He said, "I fear there's very little hope; he has bled so +profusely. I am covered with blood." I was examining the body, and as I +turned it over I found that the right hand was gone. It had been cut off +at the wrist. I said, "Look here! Did you know this?" He spoke very low, +and only said, "How horrible!" I said, "Let us look for the hand; it may +be in the ditch." He said, "No, no! we are wasting time. Bring him in, +and let us send for the doctor." I ran to the ditch, however, but could +see nothing but a pool of blood. Coming back, I found on the ground a +thick hedge-stake covered with blood. The grass by the ditch was very +much stamped and trodden. I said, "There has been a desperate struggle." +He said, "Mr. Lascelles was a very strong man." I said, "Yes; as strong +as you, Mr. Manners." He said, "Not quite; very nearly though." He said +nothing more till we got to the hall; then he said, "Who can break it to +his sister?" I said, "They will have to know. It's them that killed him +has brought this misery upon them." The low gate is a quarter of a mile, +or more, from the hall.' + +"Death seems to have been inflicted by two instruments--a wounding and a +cutting one. As yet, no other weapon but the stake has been discovered, +and a strict search for the missing hand has also proved fruitless. No +motive for this wanton outrage suggests itself, except that the unhappy +gentleman was in the habit of wearing on his right hand a sapphire ring +of great value." (An heirloom; it is on my finger as I write, dear Nell. +Oh! my poor boy.) "All curiosity is astir to discover the perpetrator of +this horrible deed; and it is with the deepest regret that we are +obliged to state that every fresh link in the chain of evidence points +with fatal accuracy to one whose position, character, and universal +popularity would seem to place him above suspicion. We would not +willingly intrude upon the privacy of domestic interests, but the +following facts will too soon be matters of public notoriety. + +"A younger sister of the deceased appears to have formed a matrimonial +engagement with George Manners, Esq., of Beckfield. It was strongly +opposed by Mr. Lascelles, and the objection (which at the time appeared +unreasonable) may have been founded on a more intimate knowledge of the +suitor's character than was then possessed by others. The match was +broken off, and all intercourse was suspended till the night of the +murder, when Mr. Manners gained admittance to the hall in the absence of +Mr. Lascelles, and was for some hours alone in the young lady's company. +They were found together a little before nine o'clock by Mr. Lascelles, +and a violent scene ensued, in the course of which the young lady left +the apartment. (Miss Lascelles has been ill ever since the unhappy +event, and is so still. Her deposition was taken in writing at the +hall.) From the young lady's evidence it appears, first, that the +passions of both were strongly excited, and she admits having felt +sufficient apprehension to induce her to twice warn Mr. Manners to +self-control. Secondly, that Mr. Manners avowed himself prepared to defy +Mr. Lascelles' authority in the matter of the marriage; and thirdly, the +two sentences of their final conversation that she overheard (both Mr. +Manners') were what can hardly be interpreted otherwise than as a +threat, that 'their next meeting should be a different one,' and that +then '_he would not ask for Mr. Lascelles' hand, but take it_.' The +diabolical character of determined and premeditated vindictiveness thus +given to an otherwise unaccountable outrage upon his victim, goes far to +take away the feeling of pity which we should otherwise have felt for +the murderer, regarding him as under the maddening influences of +disappointed love and temporary passion. Perhaps, however, the most +fatally conclusive evidence against Mr. Manners lies in the time that +elapsed between his leaving the hall and being found in the park by the +murdered body. He left the house at a quarter past nine--he was found by +the body of the deceased a little before eleven; so that either it must +have taken him more than an hour and a half to walk a quarter of a +mile--which is obviously absurd--or he must have been waiting for nearly +two hours in the grounds. Why did he not return at once to the house of +Mr. Topham? (where it appears that he was staying). For what--or for +whom--was he waiting? If he were in the park at the time of the murder, +how came it that he heard no cries, gave the unhappy gentleman no +assistance, and offers no suggestion or clue to the mystery beyond the +obstinate denial of his own guilt, though he confesses to having been in +the grounds during the whole time of the deadly struggle, and though he +was found alone with scratched hands and blood-stained clothes beside +the corpse of his avowed enemy? We leave these questions to the +consideration of our readers, as they will be for that of a +conscientious and impartial jury, not, we trust, blinded by the wealth +and position of the criminal to the hideous nature of the crime. + +"The funeral is to take place to-morrow; George Manners is fully +committed to take his trial for wilful murder at the ensuing assizes." + +The above condemning extract only too well represented the state of +public feeling. All Middlesex--nay, all England--was roused to +indignation, and poor Edmund's youth and infirmities made the crime +appear the more cowardly and detestable. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +DRIFTING TO THE END. + + +My misery between the time of the murder and the trial was terrible from +many causes: my brother's death; George's position; the knowledge of his +sufferings, and my inability to see or soothe them--and, worst of all, +the firm conviction of his guilt in every one's mind, and Harriet's +ceaseless reproaches. I do not think that I should have lived through +it, but for Dr. Penn. That excellent and revered man's kindness will, I +trust, ever be remembered by me with due gratitude. He went up to town +constantly, at his own expense, and visited my dear George in Newgate, +administering all the consolations of his high office and long +experience, and being the bearer of our messages to each other. From him +also I gleaned all the news of which otherwise I should have been kept +in ignorance; how George's many friends were making every possible +exertion on his behalf, and how an excellent counsel was retained for +him. But far beyond all his great kindness, was to me the simple fact +that he shared my belief in George's innocence; for there were times +when the universal persuasion of his guilt almost shook, not my faith, +but my reason. + +There were early prayers in our little church in the morning; too early, +Harriet said, for her to attend much, especially of late, when Dr. +Penn's championship of George Manners had led her to discover more +formalism in his piety, and northern broadness in his accent, than +before. But these quiet services were my daily comfort in those +troublous days; and in the sweet fresh walk home across the park, my +more than father and I hatched endless conspiracies on George's behalf +between the church porch and the rectory gate. Our chief difficulty, I +confess, lay in the question that the world had by this time so terribly +answered--who did it? If George were innocent, who was guilty? My poor +brother had not been popular, and I do not say that one's mind could not +have fixed on a man more likely to commit the crime than George, under +not less provocation. But it was an awful deed, Nelly, to lay to any +man's charge, even in thought; and no particle of evidence arose to fix +the guilt on any one else, or even to suggest an accomplice. As the time +wore on, suspense became sickening. + +"Sir," I said to him one day, "I am breaking down. I have brought some +plants to set in your garden. I wish you would give me something to do +for you. Your shirts to make, your stockings to darn. If I were a poor +woman I should work down my trouble. As it is--" + +"Hush!" said the doctor; you are what God has made you. My dear +madam, Janet tells me, what my poor eyes have hardly observed, that my +ruffles are more worn than beseems a doctor in divinity. Now for +myself--" + +"Hush!" said I, mimicking him. "My dear sir, you have taught me to plot +and conspire, and this very afternoon I shall hold a secret interview +with Mistress Janet. But say something about my trouble. What will +happen?--How will it end?--What shall we do?" + +"My love," he said, "keep heart. I fully believe in his innocence. There +is heavy evidence against him, but there are also some strong points in +his favour; and you must believe that the jury have no object to do +anything but justice, or believe anything but the truth, and that they +will find accordingly. And God defend the right!" + +Eleanor!--they found him Guilty. + + * * * * * + +I have asked Dr. Penn to permit me to make an extract from his journal +in this place. It is less harrowing to copy than to recall. I omit the +pious observations and reflections which grace the original. Comforting +as they are to me, it seems a profanity to make them public; besides, it +is his wish that I should withhold them, which is sufficient. + +_From the Diary of the Rev. Arthur Penn, D.D., +Rector of Crossdale, Middlesex._ + +"When he came into the dock he looked (so it seemed to me) altered since +I had last seen him; more anxious and worn, that is, but yet composed +and dignified. Doubtless I am but a prejudiced witness; but his face to +me lacks both the confusion and the effrontery of guilt. He looks like +one pressed by a heavy affliction, but enduring it with fortitude. I +think his appearance affected and astonished many in the court. Those +who were prepared to see a hardened ruffian, or, at best, a cowering +criminal, must have been startled by the intellectual and noble style of +his beauty, the grace and dignity of his carriage, and the modest +simplicity of his behaviour. I am but a doting old man; for I think on +no evidence could I convict him in the face of those good eyes of his, +to which sorrow has given a wistful look that at times is terrible; as +if now and then the agony within showed its face at the windows of the +soul. Once only every trace of composure vanished--it was when sweet +Mistress Dorothy was called; then he looked simply mad. I wonder--but +no! no!--he did not commit this great crime,--not even in a fit of +insanity. + +"Mr. A---- is a very able advocate, and, in his cross-examination of the +man Crosby and of Mistress Dorothy, did his best to atone for the cruel +law which keeps the prisoner's counsel at such disadvantage. The counsel +for the prosecution had pressed hard on my dear lady, especially in +reference to those farewell words overheard by her, which seem to give +the only (though that, I say, an incredible) clue to what remains the +standing mystery of the event--the missing hand. Then Mr. A---- rose to +cross-examine. He said-- + +"'During that part of the quarrel when you were present, did the +prisoner use any threats or suggestions of personal violence?' + +"'No.' + +"'In the fragment of conversation that you overheard at the last, did +you at the time understand the prisoner to be conveying taunts or +threats?' + +"'No.' + +"'How did you interpret the unaccountable anxiety on the prisoner's part +to shake hands with a man by whom he believed himself to be injured, and +with whom he was quarrelling!' + +"'Mr. Manners' tone was such as one uses to a spoilt child. I believed +that he was determined to avoid a quarrel at any price, in deference to +my brother's infirmity and his own promise to me. He was very angry +before Edmund came in; but I believe that afterwards he was shocked and +sobered at the obviously irresponsible condition of my poor brother when +enraged. He had never seen him so before.' + +"'Is it true that Mr. Manners' pocket-knife was in your possession at +the time of the murder?' + +"'It is.' + +"'Does your window look upon the "Honeysuckle Walk," where the prisoner +says that he spent the time between leaving your house and the finding +of the body?' + +"'Yes.' + +"'Was the prisoner likely to have any attractive associations connected +with it, in reference to yourself?' + +"'We had often been there together before we were engaged. It was a +favourite walk of mine.' + +"'Do you suppose that any one in this walk could hear cries proceeding +from the low gate?' + +"'Certainly not.' + +"The cross-examination of Crosby was as follows:-- + +"Mr. A.---- 'Were the prisoner's clothes much disordered, as if +he had been struggling?' + +"'No; he looked much as usual; but he was covered with blood.' + +"'So we have heard you say. Do you think that a man, in perfectly clean +clothes, could have lifted the body out of the ditch without being +covered with blood?' + +"'No: perhaps not.' + +"'Was there any means by which so much blood could have been accumulated +in the ditch, unless the body had been thrown there?' + +"'I think not. The pool were too big.' + +"'I have two more questions to ask, and I beg the special attention of +the jury to the answers. Is the ditch, or is it not, very thickly +overgrown with brambles and brushwood?' + +"'Yes; there be a many brambles.' + +"'Do you think that any single man could drag a heavy body from the +bottom of the ditch on to the bank, without severely scratching his +hands?' + +"'No; I don't suppose he could.' + +"'That is all I wish to ask.' + +"Not being permitted to address the jury, it was all that he could do. +Then the Recorder summed up. God forgive him the fatal accuracy +with which he placed every link in a chain of evidence so condemning +that I confess poor George seemed almost to have been taken _in +flagrante delicto_. The jury withdrew; and my sweet Mistress Dorothy, +who had remained in court against my wish, suddenly dropped like an +apple-blossom, and I carried her out in my arms. When I had placed her +in safety, I came back, and pressed through the crowd to hear the +verdict. + +"As I got in, the Recorder's voice fell on my ear, every word like a +funeral knell,--'_May the Lord have mercy on your soul!_' + +"I think for a few minutes I lost my senses. I have a confused +remembrance of swaying hither and thither in a crowd; of execration, and +pity, and gaping curiosity; and then I got out, and some one passed me, +whose arm I grasped. It was Mr. A----. + +"'Tell me,' I said, 'is there no hope? No recommendation to mercy? +Nothing?' + +"He dragged me into a room, and, seizing me by the button, exclaimed-- + +"'We don't want mercy; we want justice! I say, sir, curse the present +condition of the law! It _must_ be altered, and I shall live to see it. +If I might have addressed the jury--there were a dozen points--we should +have carried him through. Besides,' he added, in a tone that seemed to +apologize for such a secondary consideration, 'I may say to you that I +fully believe that he is innocent, and am as sorry on his account as on +my own that we have lost the case.' + +"And so the day is ended. _Fiat voluntas Domini!_" + + * * * * * + +Yes, Eleanor! Dr. Penn was right. The day did end--and the next--and +the next; and drop by drop the cup of sorrow was drained. And when the +draught is done, should we be the better, Nelly, if it had been nectar? + +I had neither died nor gone mad when the day came--the last complete day +that George was to see on earth. It was Sunday; and, after a sleepless +night, I saw the red sun break through the grey morning. I always sleep +with my window open; and, as I lay and watched the sunrise, I thought-- + +"He will see this sunrise, and to-morrow's sunrise; but no other! No, +no!--never more!" + +But then a stronger thought seemed to rise involuntarily against that +one-- + +"Peace, fool! If this be the sorrow, it is one that must come to all +men." + +And then, Nelly (it is strange, but it was so), there broke out in the +stone pine by my window a chorus of little birds whom the sunbeams had +awakened; and they sang so sweet and so loud (like the white bird that +sang to the monk Felix), that earthly cares seemed to fade away, and I +fell asleep, and slept the first sound, dreamless sleep that had blessed +me since our great trouble came. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +BETWEEN TWO WORLDS. + + +Dr. Penn was with George this day, and was to be with him to the last. +His duty was taken by a curate. + +I will not attempt to describe my feelings at this terrible time, but +merely narrate circumstantially the wonderful events (or illusions, call +them which you will) of the evening. + +We sat up-stairs in the blue room, and Harriet fell asleep on the sofa. + +It was about half-past ten o'clock when she awoke with a scream, and in +such terror that I had much difficulty in soothing her. She seemed very +unwilling to tell me the cause of her distress; but at last confessed +that on the two preceding nights she had had a vivid and alarming dream, +on each night the same. Poor Edmund's hand (she recognized it by the +sapphire ring) seemed to float in the air before her; and even after she +awoke, she still seemed to see it floating towards the door, and then +coming back again, till it vanished altogether. She had seen it again +now in her sleep. I sat silent, struggling with a feeling of +indignation. Why had she not spoken of it before? I do not know how long +it might have been before I should have broken the silence, but that my +eyes turned to the partially-open window and the dark night that lay +beyond. Then I shrieked, louder than she had done-- + +"Harriet! _There it is!_" + +There it was--to my eyes--the detached hand, round which played a pale +light--the splendid sapphire gleaming unearthlily, like the flame of a +candle that is burning blue. But Harriet could see nothing. She said +that I frightened her, and shook her nerves, and took pleasure in doing +so; that I was the author of all our trouble, and she wished I would +drop the dreadful subject. She would have said much more, but that I +startled her by the vehemence of my interruption. I said that the day +was past when I would sacrifice my peace or my duty to her whims; and +she ventured no remonstrance when I announced that I intended to follow +the hand so long as it moved, and discover the meaning of the +apparition. I then flew downstairs and out into the garden, where it +still gleamed, and commenced a slow movement towards the gate. But my +flight had been observed, Nelly, by Robert, our old butler. I had +always been his favourite in the family, and since my grief, his humble +sympathy had only been second to that of Dr. Penn. I had noticed the +anxious watch he had kept over me since the trial, with a sort of sad +amusement. I afterwards learnt that all his fears had culminated to a +point when he saw me rush wildly from the house that night. He had +thought I was going to drown myself. He concealed his fears at the time, +however, and only said-- + +"What be the matter, Miss Dorothy?" + +"Is that you, Robert?" I said. "Come here. Look! Do you see?" + +"See what?" he said. + +"Don't you see anything?" I said. "No light? Nothing?" + +"Nothin' whatever," said Robert, decidedly; "it be as dark as pitch." + +I stood silent, gazing at the apparition, which, having reached the +gate, was slowly re-advancing. If it were fancy, why did it not vanish? +I rubbed my eyes, but it was there still. Robert interrupted me, +solemnly-- + +"Miss Dorothy, do _you_ see anything?" + +"Robert," I said, "you are a faithful friend. Listen! I see before me +the lost hand of your dead master. I know it by the sapphire ring. It is +surrounded by a pale light, and moves slowly. My sister has seen it +three times in her sleep; and I see it now with my waking eyes. You may +laugh, Robert; but it is too true." + +I was not prepared for the indignant reply: + +"Laugh, Miss Dorothy! The Lord forbid! If so be you do see anything, and +it should be the Lord's will to reveal anything about poor dear Master +Edmund to you as loved him, and is his sister, who am I that I should +laugh? My mother had a cousin (many a time has she told me the story) as +married a sailor (he was mate on board a vessel bound for the West +Indies), and one night, about three weeks after her husband had--" + +"Robert!" I said, "you shall tell me that story another day with +pleasure; but no time is to be lost now. I mean to follow the hand: will +you come with me and take care of me?" + +"Go in, ma'am," he said; "wrap up warm, and put on thick shoes, and come +quietly down to this door. I'll just slip in and quiet the servants, and +meet you." + +"And bring a lantern," I said; "this light does not light you." + +In five minutes we were there again; and the hand was vivid as ever. + +"Do you see it now?" whispered the butler, anxiously. + +"Yes," I said; "it is moving." + +"Go on," he said; "I will keep close behind you." + +It was pitch dark, and, except for the gleaming hand, and the erratic +circles of light cast by the lantern, we could see nothing. The hand +gradually moved faster, increasing to a good walking pace, passing over +the garden-gate and leading us on till I completely lost knowledge of +our position; but still we went steadily forward. At last we got into a +road, and went along by a wall; and, after a few steps, the hand, which +was before me, moved sharply aside. + +"Robert," I said, "it has gone over a gate--we must go too! Where are +we?" + +He answered, in a tone of the deepest horror-- + +"Miss Dorothy! for the Lord's sake, think what you are doing, and let us +turn back while we can! You've had sore affliction; but it's an awful +thing to bring an innocent man to trouble." + +"The innocent man _is_ in trouble!" I said, passionately. "Is it nothing +that he should die, if truth could save him? You may go back if you +like; but I shall go on. Tell me, whose place is this?" + +"Never mind, my dear young lady," he said, soothingly. "Go on, and the +Lord be with you! But be careful. You're sure you see it now?" + +"Certain," I said. "It is moving. Come on." + +We went forward, and I heard a click behind me. + +"What is that?" I said. + +"Hush!" he whispered; "make no noise! It was my pistol. Go gently, my +dear young lady. It is a farmyard, and you may stumble." + +"It has stopped over a building!" I whispered. + +"Not the house!" he returned, hoarsely. + +"I am going on," I said. "Here we are. What is it? Whose is it?" + +He came close to me, and whispered solemnly-- + +"Miss Dorothy! be brave, and make no noise! We are in Farmer Parker's +yard; and this is a barn." + +Then the terror came over me. + +"Let us turn back," I said. "You are right. One may bear one's own +troubles, but not drag in other people. Take me home!" + +But Robert would not take me home; and my courage came back, and I held +the lantern whilst he unfastened the door. Then the ghastly hand passed +into the barn, and we followed it. + +"It has stopped in the far corner," I said. "There seems to be wood or +something." + +"It's bundles of wood," he whispered. "I know the place. Sit down, and +tell me if it moves." + +I sat down, and waited long and wearily, while he moved heavy bundles of +firewood, pausing now and then to ask, "Is it here still?" At last he +asked no more; and in a quarter of an hour he only spoke once: then it +was to say-- + +"This plank has been moved." + +After a while he came away to look for a spade. He found one, and went +back again. At last a smothered sound made me spring up and rush to him; +but he met me, driving me back. + +"I beg of you, dear Miss Dorothy, keep away. Have you a handkerchief +with you?" + +I had one, and gave it to him. His hands were covered with earth. He had +only just gone back again when I gave a cry-- + +"Robert! _It has gone!_" + +He came up to me, keeping one hand behind him. + +"Miss Dorothy, if ever you were good and brave, hold out now!" + +I beat my hands together--"It has gone! It has gone!" + +"It has not gone!" he said. "Master Edmund's hand is in this +handkerchief. It has been buried under a plank of the flooring!" + +I gasped, "Let me see it!" + +But he would not. "No, no! my dear lady, you must not--cannot. I only +knew it by the ring!" + +Then he made me sit down again, whilst he replaced the firewood; and +then, with the utmost quietness, we set out to return, I holding the +lantern in one hand, and with the other clinging to his arm (for the +apparition that had been my guide before was gone), and he carrying the +awful relic in his other hand. Once, as we were leaving the yard, he +whispered-- + +"Look!" + +"I see nothing," said I. + +"Hold up your lantern," he whispered. + +"There is nothing but the dog-kennel," I said. + +"Miss Dorothy," he said, "_the dog has not barked tonight!_" + +By the time we reached home, my mind had fully realized the importance +of our discovery, and the terribly short time left us in which to profit +by it, supposing, as I fully believed, that it was the first step to the +vindication of George's innocence. As we turned into the gate, Robert, +who had been silent for some time broke out-- + +"Miss Dorothy! Mr. George Manners is as innocent as I am; and +God forgive us all for doubting him! What shall we do?" + +"I am going up to town," I said, "and you are going with me. We will go +to Dr. Penn. He has a lodging close by the prison: I have the address. +At eight o'clock to-morrow the king himself could not undo this +injustice. We have, let me see, how many hours?" + +Robert pulled out his old silver watch and brought it to the lantern. + +"It is twenty minutes to twelve." + +"Rather more than eight hours. Heaven help us! You will get something to +eat, Robert, and put the horses at once into the chariot. I will be +ready." + +I went straight up-stairs, and met Harriet at the door. I pushed her back +into the room and took her hands. + +"Harriet! Robert has found poor Edmund's hand, _with the ring_, buried +under some wood in Thomas Parker's barn. I am going up to town with him +at once, to put the matter into Dr. Penn's hands, and save George +Manners' life, if it be not too late." + +She wrenched her hands away, and flung herself at my feet. I never saw +such a change come over any face. She had had time in the (what must +have been) anxious interval of our absence, for some painful enough +reflection, and my announcement had broken through the blindness of a +selfish mind, and found its way where she seldom let anything come--to +her feelings. + +"Oh, Dolly! Dolly! will you ever forgive me? Why did I not tell you +before? But I thought it was only a dream. And indeed, indeed I thought +Mr. Manners had done it. But that man Parker! If it had not been for +Mr. Manners being found there, I should have sworn that Parker had done +it. Dolly! I saw him that night. He came in and helped. And once I saw +him look at Mr. Manners with such a strange expression, and he seemed so +anxious to make him say that it was a quarrel, and that he had done it +in self-defence. But you know I thought it must be Mr. Manners--and I +did so love poor Edmund!" + +And she lay sobbing in agony on the ground. I said-- + +"My love, I pray that it is not too late: but we must not waste time. +Help me _now_, Harriet!" + +She sprang up at once. + +"Yes! you must have food. You shall go. I shall not go with you. I am +not worthy, but I will pray till you come back again." + +I said, "There is one most important thing for you to do. Let no soul go +out or come into the house till I return, or some gossip will bring it +to Parker's ears that we have gone to London." + +Harriet promised, and rushed off to get me food and wine. With her own +hands she filled a hot-water bottle for my feet in the chariot, supplied +my purse with gold, and sewed some notes up in my stays; and (as if +anxious to crowd into this one occasion all the long-withheld offices +of sisterly kindness) came in with her arms full of a beautiful set of +sables that belonged to her--cloak, cuffs, muff, etc.--and in these she +dressed me. And then we fell into each others arms, and I wept upon her +neck the first tears I had shed that day. As I stood on the doorstep, +she held up the candle and looked at me. + +"My dear!" she said, "how pretty your sweet face does look out of those +great furs! You shall keep them always." + +Dear Harriet! Her one idea--beauty. I suppose the "ruling passion," +whatever it may be, is strong with all of us, even in the face of death. +Moreover, hers was one of those shallow minds that seem instinctively to +escape by any avenue from a painful subject; and by the time that I was +in the chariot, she had got over the first shock, and there was an +almost infectious cheerfulness in her farewell. + +"It _must_ be all right, Dolly!" + +Then I fell back, and we started. The warm light of the open door became +a speck, and then nothing; and in the long dark drive, when every +footfall of the horses seemed to consume an age, the sickening agony of +suspense was almost intolerable. Oh, my dear! never, never shall I +forget that night. The black trees and hedges whirling past us in the +darkness, always the same, like an enchanted drive; then the endless +suburbs, and at last the streets where people lounged in corners and +stopped the way, as if every second of time were not worth a king's +ransom; and sedan-chairs trotted lightly home from gay parties as if +life were not one long tragedy. Once the way was stopped, once we lost +it. That mistake nearly killed me. At last a watchman helped us to the +little by-street where Dr. Penn was lodging, near which a loud sound of +carpenters' work and hurrying groups of people puzzled me exceedingly. +After much knocking, an upper window was opened and a head put out, and +my dear friend's dear voice called to us. I sprang out on to the +pavement and cried-- + +"Dr. Penn, this is Dorothy." + +He came down and took us in, and then (my voice failing) Robert +explained to him the nature of our errand, and showed him the ghastly +proof. Dr. Penn came back to me. + +"My love," he said, "you must come up-stairs and rest." + +"Rest!" I shrieked, "never! Get your hat, doctor, and come quickly. Let +us go to the king. Let us do something. We have very little time, and he +must be saved." + +I believe I was very unreasonable; I fear that I delayed them some +minutes before good Dr. Penn could persuade me that I should only be a +hindrance, that he would do everything that was possible, and could do +so much better with no one but Robert. + +"My love," he said, "trust me. To obey is better than sacrifice!" + +I went up-stairs into the dingy little sitting-room, and he went to call +his landlady--"a good woman," he said: "I have known her long." Then he +went away, and Robert with him, to the house of the Home Secretary. + +It was three o'clock. Five hours still! + +I sat staring at the sprawling paper on the walls, and at the long snuff +of the candle that Dr. Penn had lighted, and at a framed piece of +embroidery, representing Abraham sacrificing Isaac, that hung upon the +wall. Were there no succouring angels now? + +The door opened, and I looked wearily round. A motherly woman, with +black eyes, fat cheeks, and a fat wedding-ring, stood curtseying at the +door. I said, "I think you are Dr. Penn's landlady? He says you are very +good. Pray come in." + +Then I dropped my head on my hand again, and stared vacantly as before. +Exhaustion had almost become stupor, and it was in a sort of dream that +I watched the stout figure moving softly to and fro, lighting the fire, +and bringing an air of comfort over the dreary little parlour. Then she +was gone for a little bit, and I felt a little more lonely and weary; +and then I heard that cheerful clatter, commonly so grateful to +feminine exhaustion, and the good woman entered with a toasted glow upon +her face, bearing a tray with tea, and such hospitable accompaniments as +she could command. She set them down and came up to me with an air of +determination. + +"My dear, you must be a good young lady and take some tea. We all have +our troubles, but a good heart goes a long way." + +Her pitying face broke me down. How sadly without feminine sympathy I +had been through all my troubles I had never felt as I felt it now that +it had come. I fairly dropped my head upon her shoulder and sobbed out +the apparently irrelevant remark-- + +"Dear madam, I have no mother!" + +She understood me, and flinging her arms round me sobbed louder than I. +It would have been wicked to offer further resistance. She brought down +pillows, covered them with a red shawl, and propped me up till the +horsehair sofa became an easy couch, and with mixed tears and smiles I +contrived to swallow a few mouthfuls, a feat which she exalted to an act +of sublime virtue. + +"And now, my dear," she said, "you will have some warm water and wash +your hands and face and smooth your hair, and go to sleep for a bit." + +"I cannot sleep," I said. + +But Mrs. Smith was not to be baffled. + +"I shall give you something to make you," said she. + +And so, when the warm water had done its work, I had to swallow a +sleeping-draught and be laid easily upon the sofa. Her last words as she +"tucked me up" were, oddly enough-- + +"The tea's brought back a bit of colour to your cheeks, miss, and I will +say you do look pretty in them beautiful sables!" + +A very different thought was working in my head as the sleeping-draught +tingled through my veins. + +"Will the birds sing at sunrise?" + +Nelly, I slept twelve long hours without a dream. It was four o'clock in +the afternoon of Monday when I awoke, and only then, I believe, from the +mesmeric influence of being gazed at. Eleanor! there is only one such +pair of eyes in all the world! George Manners was kneeling by my side. + +Abraham was still sacrificing his son upon the wall, but my Isaac was +restored to me. I sat up and flung myself into his arms. It was long, +long before either of us could speak, and, oddly enough, one of the +first things he said was (twitching my cloak with the quaint curiosity +of a man very ignorant about feminine belongings), "My darling, you seem +sadly ill, but yet, Doralice, your sweet face does look so pretty in +these great furs." + + * * * * * + +My story is ended, Nelly, and my promise fulfilled. The rest you know. +How the detective, who left London before four o'clock that morning, +found the rusty knife that had been buried with the hand, and +apprehended Parker, who confessed his guilt. The wretched man said, that +being out on the fatal night about some sick cattle, he had met poor +Edmund by the low gate; that Edmund had begun, as usual, to taunt him; +that the opportunity of revenge was too strong, and he had murdered him. +His first idea had been flight, and being unable to drag the ring from +Edmund's hand, which was swollen, he had cut it off, and thrown the body +into the ditch. On hearing of the finding of the body, and of poor +George's position, he determined to brave it out, with what almost fatal +success we have seen. He dared not then sell the ring, and so buried it +in his barn. Two things respecting his end were singular: First, at the +last he sent for Dr. Penn, imploring him to stay with him till he died. +That good man, as ever, obeyed the call of duty and kindness, but he was +not fated to see the execution of my brother's murderer. The night +before, Thomas Parker died in prison; not by his own hand, Nelly. A fit +of apoplexy, the result of intense mental excitement, forestalled the +vengeance of the law. + +Need I tell you, dear friend, who know it so well, that I am happy? + +Not, my love, that such tragedies can be forgotten--these deep wounds +leave a scar. This one brought my husband's first white hairs, and took +away my girlhood for ever. But if the first blush of careless gaiety has +gone from life, if we are a little "old before our time," it may be that +this state of things has its advantages. Perhaps, having known together +such real affliction, we cannot now afford to be disturbed by the petty +vexations and worthless misunderstandings that form the troubles of +smoother lives. Perhaps, having been all but so awfully parted, we can +never afford, in this short life, to be otherwise than of one heart and +one soul. Perhaps, my dear, in short, the love that kept faith through +shame, and was cemented by fellow-suffering, can hardly do otherwise +than flourish to our heart's best content in the sunshine of prosperity +with which God has now blessed us. + + + + +THE SMUT. + + +The councillor's chimney smoked. It always did smoke when the wind was +in the north. A Smut came down and settled on a brass knob of the +fender, which the councillor's housekeeper had polished that very +morning. The shining surface reflected the Smut, and he seemed to +himself to be two. + +"How large I am!" said he, with complacency. "I am quite a double Smut. +I am bigger than any other. If I were a little harder, I should be a +cinder, not to say a coal. Decidedly my present position is too low for +so important an individual. Will no one recognize my merit and elevate +me?" + +But no one did. So the Smut determined to raise himself, and taking +advantage of a draught under the door, he rose upwards and alighted on +the nose of the councillor, who was reading the newspaper. + +"This is a throne, a crimson one," said the Smut, "made on purpose for +me. But somehow I do not seem so large as I was." + +The truth is that the councillor (though a great man) was, in respect +of his nose, but mortal. It was not made of brass; it would not (as the +cabinet-makers say) take a polish. It did not reflect the object seated +on it. + +"It is unfortunate," said the Smut. "But it is not fit that an +individual of my position (almost, as I may say, a coal) should have a +throne that does not shine. I must certainly go higher." + +But unhappily for the Smut, at this moment the councillor became aware +of something on his nose. He put up his hand and rubbed the place. In an +instant the poor Smut was destroyed. But it died on the throne, which +was some consolation. + + +Moral. + +More chimneys smoke than the councillor's chimney, and there are many +Smuts in the world. Let those who have found a brass knob be satisfied. + + + + +THE CRICK. + + +It was a Crick in the wall, a very small Crick too. But it is not always +the biggest people who have the strongest affections. + +When the wind was in the east, it blew the Dust into the Crick, and when +it set the other way, the Dust was blown out of it. The Crick was of a +warm and passionate temperament, and was devotedly attached to the Dust. + +"I love you," he whispered. "I am your husband. I protect, surround, +defend, cherish you, and house you, you poor fragile Dust. You are my +wife. You fill all the vacant space of my heart. I adore you. I am all +heart!" + +And if vacant space is heart, this last assertion was quite true. + +"Remain with me always," said the Crick. + +"Ever with thee," said the Dust, who spoke like a valentine. + +But the most loving couples cannot control destiny. The wind went round +to the west, and the Crick was emptied in a moment. In the first thrill +of agony he stretched himself and became much wider. + +"I am empty," he cried; "I shall never be filled again. This is the +greatest misfortune that could possibly have happened." + +The Crick was wrong. He was not to remain empty; and a still greater +misfortune was in store. The owner of the wall was a careful man, and +came round his premises with a trowel of mortar. + +"What a crack!" said he; "it must be the frost. A stitch in time saves +nine, however." And so saying he slapped a lump of mortar into the Crick +with the dexterity of a mason. + +In due time the wind went back to the east, and with it came the Dust. + +"Cruel Crick!" she wept. "You have taken another wife to your heart!" + +And the Crick could not answer, for he had ceased to exist. + +This is a tragedy of real life, and cannot fail to excite sympathy. + + + + +THE BROTHERS. + + +They were brothers--twin brothers, and the most intense fraternal +affection subsisted between them. They were Peas--Sweet-peas, born +together in the largest end of the same Pod. When they were little, +flat, skinny, green things, they regarded the Pod in which they were +born with the same awful dread which the greatest of men have at one +time felt for nursery authority. They believed that the Pod ruled the +world. + +It was impossible to conceive a limit to the power of a thing that could +hold so tight. But in due time the Peas became large and round and +black, and the Pod got yellow and shrunken, and was thoroughly despised. + +"It is time we left the nursery," said the brothers. "Where shall we go +to, when we enter the world?" they inquired of the mother plant. + +"You will fall on the ground," said she, "in the south border, where we +now are. The soil is good, and the situation favourable. You will then +lie quiet for the winter, and in the spring you will come up and flower, +and bear pods as I have done. That will be your fate. Not eventful +perhaps, but prosperous; and it comforts me to think that you are so +well provided for." + +But the best of parents cannot foresee everything in the future career +of their children, and the mother plant was wrong. + +The Peas burst from the Pod, it is true; but they fell, not into the +south border, but into the hand of the seedsman to whom the garden +belonged. + +"This is an adventure," said the brothers. + +They were put with a lot of other Sweet-peas, and a brown paper bag was +ready to receive them. + +"Any way we are together," said they. + +But at that moment one of the brothers rolled from the bag on the floor. +The seedsman picked him up, and he found himself tossed into a bag of +peas. + +"It is all right," said he; "I shall find my brother in time." + +But though he rolled about as much as he could, he could not find him; +for the truth is, that he had been put by mistake into a paper of eating +peas; but he did not know this. + +"Patience!" cried he; "we shall be sown shortly, and when we come up we +shall find each other, if not before." + +The other Pea thought that his brother was in the bag with him, and when +he could not find him he consoled himself in the same manner. + +"When we come up we shall find each other, if not before." + +They were both sold in company with others, and they were both sown. No. +1 was sown in a cosy little garden near a cosy little cottage in the +country. No. 2 was sown in a field, being intended for the market. + +They both came up and made leaves, and budded and blossomed, and the +first thing each did when he opened his petals was to look round for his +brother. + +No. 1 found himself among other Sweet-peas, but his brother was not +there; and soon a beautiful girl, who came into a garden to gather a +nosegay, plucked him from his stalk. + +No. 2 found himself also among Peas--a field full--but they were all +white ones, and had no scent whatever. He had been sown near the wall, +and he leant against it and wept. + +Just then a young sailor came whistling down the road. He was sunburnt +but handsome, and he was picking flowers from the roadside. When he saw +the Sweet-pea he shouted. + +"That's the best of the bunch," said he, and put it with the others. +Then he went whistling down the road into the village, past the old grey +church, and up to a cosy little cottage in a cosy little garden. He +opened the door and went into a room where a beautiful girl was +arranging some flowers that lay on the table. When she saw him they gave +a cry and embraced each other. After a while he said, "I have brought +you some wild flowers; but this is the best," and he held up the +Sweet-pea. + +"This is not a wild flower," said she; "it is a garden flower, and must +have been sown by accident. It shall be put with the other garden +flowers." + +And she laid the Sweet-pea among the rest on the table, and so the +brothers met at last. + +The young couple sat hand in hand in the sunshine, and talked of the +past. + +"Time seemed to go slowly while we were parted," said the young man; +"and now, to look back upon, all our misery seems but a dream." + +"That is just what _we_ feel," said the Sweet-peas. + +"I was very sad," said the young girl softly, "very sad indeed; for, I +thought you might be dead, or have married some one else, and that we +might never meet again. But in spite of everything I couldn't quite +despair. It seemed impossible that those who really loved each other +should be separated for ever." + +Meanwhile the Sweet-peas lay on the table. They were very happy, but +just a little anxious, for the lovers had forgotten to put them in +water, and they were fading fast. + +"We are very happy," they murmured, "very happy. This moment alone is +worth all that we have endured. It is true we are fading before we have +ever fully bloomed, and after this we do not know what will happen to +us. But the young girl is right. One cannot quite despair. It seems +impossible that those who really love each other should be separated for +ever." + + + + +COUSIN PEREGRINE'S WONDER STORIES. + + +THE CHINESE JUGGLERS, AND THE ENGLISHMAN'S HANDS. + +(_Founded on Fact_.) + + +Cousin Peregrine had never been away quite so long before. He had been +in the East, and the latter part of his absence from home had been spent +not only in a foreign country, but in parts of it where Englishmen had +seldom been before, and amid the miserable scenes of war. + +However, he was at home at last, very much to the satisfaction of his +young cousins, and also to his own. They had been assured by him, in a +highly illustrated letter, that his arms were safe and sound in his +coat-sleeves, that he had no wooden legs, and that they might feel him +all over for wounds as hard as they liked. Only Maggie, the eldest, +could even fancy she remembered Cousin Peregrine, but they all seemed +to know him by his letters, even before he arrived. At last he came. + +Cousin Peregrine was dressed like other people, much to the +disappointment of his young relatives, who when they burst (with more or +less attention to etiquette) into the dining-room with the dessert, were +in full expectation of seeing him in his uniform, or at least with his +latest medal pinned to his dress-coat. + +Perhaps it was because Cousin Peregrine was so very seldom troubled by +chubby English children with a claim on his good nature that he was +particularly indulgent to his young cousins. However this may be, they +soon stood in no awe of him, and a chorus cried around him-- + +"Where's your new medal, Cousin? What's it about? What's on it?" + +"Taku Forts," said Cousin Peregrine, smiling grimly. + +"What's Tar--Koo?" inquired the young people. + +"Taku is the name of a place in China, and you know I've just come from +China," said Cousin Peregrine. + +On which six voices cried-- + +"Did you drink nothing but tea?" + +"Did you buy lots of old China dragons?" + +"Did you see any ladies with half their feet cut off?" + +"Did you live in a house with bells hanging from the roof?" + +"Are the Chinese like the people on Mamma's fan?" + +"Did you wear a pigtail?" + +Cousin Peregrine's hair was so very short that the last question raised +a roar of laughter, after which the chorus spoke with one voice-- + +"Do tell us all about China!" + +At which he put on a serio-comic countenance, and answered with much +gravity-- + +"Oh, certainly, with all my heart. It will be rather a long story, but +never mind. By the way, I am afraid I can hardly begin much before the +birth of Confucius, but as that happened in or about the year 550 +B.C., you will still have to hear about two thousand four +hundred years of its history or so, which will keep us going for a few +months". + +"Confucius--whose real name was Kwang-Foo-Tsz (and if you can pronounce +that last word properly you can do more than many eminent Chinese +scholars can)--was born in the province of Kan Tang ----. + +"Oh, not about Confuse-us!" pleaded a little maid on Cousin Peregrine's +knee. "Tell us what you did." + +"But tell us _wonderful_ things," stipulated a young gentleman, fresh +from _The Boy Hunters_ and kindred works. + +If young bachelors have a weak point when they are kind to children, it +is that they are apt to puzzle them with paradoxes. Even Cousin +Peregrine did "sometimes tease," so his cousins said. + +On this occasion he began a long rambling speech, in which he pretended +not to know what things are and what are not _wonderful_. The _Boy +Hunters_ young gentleman fell headlong into the quagmire of definitions, +but the oldest sister, who had her own ideas about things, said firmly-- + +"Wonderful things are things which surprise you very much, and which you +never saw before, and which you don't understand. Like as if you saw a +lot of giants coming out of a hole in the road. At least that's what +_we_ mean by wonderful." + +"Upon my word, Maggie," said Cousin Peregrine, "your definition is most +admirable. I cannot say that I have met with giants in China, even in +the north, where the men are taller than in the south. But I can tell +you of something I saw in China which surprised me very much, which I +had never seen before, and which, I give you my word, I don't understand +to this hour, but which I have no doubt was not in the least wonderful +to the poor half-naked Chinaman who did it in my courtyard. And then, if +you like, I will tell you something else which surprised some Chinese +country-folk very much, which they never saw before, and which they +certainly did not understand when they did see it. Will that do?" + +"Oh yes, yes! Thank you, yes!" cried the chorus, and Maggie said-- + +"First all about the thing _you_ thought wonderful, you know." + +"Well, the thing I thought wonderful was a conjuring trick done by a +Chinese juggler." + +"Did he only do one trick?" said the little maid on Cousin Peregrine's +knee. + +"Oh, he did lots of tricks," said Cousin Peregrine, "many of them common +Eastern ones, which are now familiar in England, but which he certainly +performed in a wonderful way: because, you see, he had not the advantage +of doing his tricks on a stage fitted up by himself, he did them in the +street, or in my courtyard, with very little apparatus, and naked to the +waist. For instance, the common trick of bringing a glass bowl full of +water and fish out of a seemingly empty shawl is not so marvellous if +the conjurer has a well-draped table near him from behind which he can +get such things, or even good wide sleeves to hide them in. But my poor +conjurer was almost naked, and the bit of carpet, about the size of this +hearthrug, which he carried with him, did not seem capable of holding +glass bowls of water, most certainly. Besides which he shook it, and +spread it on the ground close by me, after which he threw himself down +and rolled on it. And yet from underneath this he drew out a glass bowl +of water with gold-fish swimming in it. But that trick and many others +one can see very well done in London now, though not so utterly without +apparatus. The trick which he did so particularly well, and which +puzzled me so much, I have never seen in Europe. This is the one I am +going to describe to you." + +"Describe the conjurer a bit more first, Cousin Peregrine." + +"There is nothing more to describe. He was not at all a grand conjurer, +he was only a poor common juggler, exhibiting his tricks in the public +streets many times in the day for the few small coins which the +bystanders chose to give him. He was a very merry fellow, and all the +time he was about his performance he kept making fun and jokes; and +these amused the audience so much that you may believe that I was sorry +my ignorance of his language hindered me from understanding them. + +"All sorts of people used to stop and look at the juggler: brawny +porters, with loads of merchandise, or boxes of tea, or bars of silver, +which they carried in boxes or baskets slung on bamboo poles over their +shoulders." + +"Like the pictures on the tea-boxes," whispered little Bessy. + +"There's a figure of it in the grocer's window," said her brother, who +had seen more of the world than Bessy; "not a picture, a figure dressed +in silk; and they're square boxes, not baskets, that he's got--wooden +panniers I call them." + +"Who else used to stop, Cousin Peregrine?" asked Maggie. + +"Street confectioners, Maggie, with small movable sweetmeat stalls, +which they carry on their backs. Men with portable stoves too, who +always have a cup of tea ready for you for a small coin worth about the +twentieth part of a penny. Tiny-footed women toddling awkwardly along, +with children--also cramp-footed--toddling awkwardly after them, dressed +in all the colours of the rainbow, and with their poor little arms stuck +out at right angles with their bodies, to help them to keep their +balance. Even the blind beggars, who go along striking on a bell to let +people know that they are blind, as otherwise they might be knocked +over, even they used to stop and listen to my juggler's jokes, though +they could not see his tricks. + +"All this was in the street; but sometimes I got him to come into my own +courtyard to do his tricks there, that I might watch him more carefully. +But watch as I might, I could never see how he did this particular +feat. He used to do it with no clothes on except a pair of short +trousers, for in the hot season, you must know, the lower classes of +Chinese go about naked to the waist. Indeed, hot as it is, they don't +wear hats. The juggler possessed both a hat and a jacket, as it +happened, but he took them off when he did his trick." + +"And what _was_ the trick?" asked several impatient voices. "What did he +do?" + +"He used to swallow ten or twelve needles one after the other, and 'wash +them down' with a ball of thread, which he swallowed next, and by and by +he used to draw the thread slowly out of his mouth, yard after yard, and +it had all the needles threaded on it." + +"Oh, Cousin Peregrine!" + +"He used to come quite close to me, Maggie, as close as I am to you now, +and take each needle--one after the other--between the finger and thumb +of his right hand--keeping all the other fingers away from it, stick the +point of it for a moment into his other palm, to show that it was sharp, +and then to all appearance swallow it bodily before your eyes. In this +way he seemed to swallow successively all the twelve needles. Then he +opened his mouth, that you might ascertain that they were not there, and +you certainly could not see them. He next swallowed a little ball of +thread, not much bigger than a pea. This being done, he seemed to be +very uneasy (as well he might be!), and he made fearful faces and +violent gestures, and stamped on the ground, and muttered incantations, +and threw up his hands and eyes to the sky; and presently the end of a +thread was to be seen coming out between his teeth, upon which he took +hold of this end, and carefully drew out the thread with all the needles +threaded on it. Then there was always much applause, and the small coins +used to be put pretty liberally into the hat which he handed round to +receive them." + +"Was that all?" asked the young gentleman of the adventure books. + +"All what, Fred?" + +"All that you thought wonderful." + +"Yes," said Cousin Peregrine. "Don't you think it curious?" + +"Oh, very, Cousin, and I like it very much indeed, only if that's all +_you_ thought wonderful, now I want you to tell us what _you_ did that +_the Chinese_ thought wonderful." + +"It's not very easy to surprise a town-bred Chinaman," said Cousin +Peregrine. "What I am going to tell you about now happened in the +country. It was up in the north, and in a part where Europeans had very +rarely been seen." + +"How came you to be there, Cousin Peregrine?" + +"I was not on duty. I had got leave for a few days to go up and see +Pekin. Therefore I was not in uniform, remember, but in plain clothes. + +"On this particular occasion I was on the river Peiho, in one of the +clumsy Chinese river-boats. If the wind were favourable, we sailed; if +we went with the stream--well and good. If neither stream nor wind were +in our favour, the boat was towed." + +"Like a barge--with a horse--Cousin Peregrine?" + +"Like a barge, Maggie, but not with a horse. One or two of the Chinamen +put the rope round them and pulled us along. It was not a quick way of +travelling, as you may believe, and when the Peiho was slow and winding, +I got out and walked by the paths among the fields." + +"Paths and fields--like ours?" + +"Yes. Very like some bits of the agricultural parts of England. But no +pretty meadows. Every scrap of land seemed to be cultivated for crops. +You know the population of China is enormous, and the Chinese are very +economical in using their land to produce food, and as they are not +great meat-eaters--as we are--their fields are mostly ploughed and sown, +so I walked along among rice-fields and cotton-fields, and with little +villages here and there, where the cottages are built of mud or stone +with tile roofs." + +"Did you see any of the villagers?" + +"Most certainly I did. You must know that the inhospitable way in which +the Chinese and Japanese have for many long years received strangers has +come from misunderstandings, and ignorance, and suspicion, and perhaps +from some other reasons; but the Chinese and Japanese villagers who see +strangers for the first time, and have lived quiet country lives out of +the way of politics, are often very hospitable and friendly. I am bound, +however, to except the women; not because they wished us ill, but they +are afraid of strangers, and they kept well out of our way." + +"Do the village Chinese women have those funny smashed-up feet, Cousin +Peregrine?" + +"In the north of China they have. In the south only ladies deform +themselves in this fashion; and the Tartar women always leave their own +beautiful little feet uninjured. Well, the men came out of their +cottages and fields, and pressed eagerly but good-naturedly round me." + +"Do the village men wear pigtails?" + +"Every Chinaman wears a pigtail. A Chinaman without a pigtail would be +as great a rarity as a Manx cat, or rather, I ought to say, he would be +like the tailless fox in the fable; only you would never catch a +Chinaman trying to persuade his friends that it was creditable to have +no tail! For I must tell you that pigtails are sometimes cut off--as a +degradation--when a man has committed some crime. But as soon as he can, +he gets the barber to put him on a false pigtail, as a closely-cropped +convict might wear a wig. They roll them up when they are at work if +they are in the way, but if a servant came into your room with his tail +tucked up you would be very angry with him, It would be like a +housemaid coming in with her sleeves and skirt tucked up for +house-cleaning--_most_ disrespectful!" + +"Were these the men you showed something to that _they_ thought +wonderful?" + +"Yes, Fred. And now I'll tell you what it was. You must know that I +could speak no Chinese, and my new friends could speak no English, so +they chattered like magpies to each other, and laughed like children or +Chinamen--for the Chinese are very fond of a joke. When they laughed I +laughed, and we bowed and shook hands, and they turned me round and felt +me all over, and _felt my hands_." + +"What about your hands, Cousin?" + +"I had on dog-skin gloves, yellow ones. Now when all the male population +of the hamlet had stroked these very carefully, I perceived that they +had never seen gloves before, and that they believed themselves to be +testing the feel of a barbarian's skin." + +"Barbarian?" + +"Certainly, Bessie. They give us the same polite name that we feel +ourselves more justified in applying to them. Well, when they had +laughed, and I had laughed, and we had shaken hands afresh, laughing +heartily as we did so, and I began to feel it was time to go on and +catch up my boat, which was floating sluggishly down the winding stream +of the Peiho, I resolved on one final effect, like the last scene of a +dramatic performance. Making vigorous signs and noises, to intimate that +something was coming, and they must look out sharp, and feeling very +much like a conjurer who has requested his audience to keep their eyes +on him and 'see how it's done'--I slyly unbuttoned my gloves, and then +with much parade began to draw one off by the finger-tips. + +"'Eyah! Eyah!' cried the Chinamen on all the notes of the gamut, as they +fell back over each other. _They thought I was skinning my hands_. I +'smiled superior,' as I took the gloves off, and made an effect almost +as great by putting them on again." + +"Oh, Cousin Peregrine, weren't they astonished?" + +"They were, Maggie, And unless they are more familiar with Europeans +now, the mystery is probably to this day as unsolved to them as the +trick of the ball of thread and the twelve needles still is to me. By +this time, however, my boat was + +'Far off, a blot upon the stream,' + +and I had to hasten away as fast as I could to catch it up. I parted on +the most friendly terms from my narrow-eyed acquaintance, but when I had +nearly regained my boat I could still see them in their blue-cotton +dresses and long pigtails, gazing open-mouthed at my vanishing figure +across the rice-fields." + + * * * * * + +After a few seconds' silence, during which Maggie had sat with her eyes +thoughtfully fixed on the fire, she said, "Cousin Peregrine, you said in +your letters that it was very cold in the north of China. If Chinamen +know nothing about gloves, how can they keep their hands warm?" Maggie +had a little the air of regarding this question as a poser, but Cousin +Peregrine was not disconcerted. + +"My dear Maggie, your question reminds me of another occasion, when I +astonished a most respectable old China gentleman by my gloves. I will +tell you about it, as it will show you how the Chinese keep their hands +warm. + +"It was on this very same expedition. We were at Tung-Chow, about eight +miles from Pekin. At this place we had to leave the river, and take to +our Tartar ponies, which our Chinese horse-boys had ridden up to this +point to meet us. We had hired a little cart to convey our baggage, and +I was sitting on my pony watching the lading up of the cart, when a dear +old Chinaman, dressed in blue wadded silk, handsomely lined with fur, +came up to me, and with that air of gentlemanly courtesy which is by no +means confined to Europe, began to explain and expound in his own +language for my benefit." + +"What was he talking about? Could you tell?" + +"I soon guessed. The fact is I am not very apt to wear gloves when I can +help it, especially if I am working at anything. At the moment the old +Chinese gentleman came up I was holding the reins of my pony with bare +hands (my gloves being in my pocket), and as the morning was cold, my +fingers looked rather blue. Having ascertained by feeling that my +coat-sleeves would not turn down any lower than my wrists, he touched my +hands softly, and made courteous signs, indicating that he was about to +do me a good turn. Having signalled a polite disapprobation of the +imperfect nature of my sleeves, he drew my attention to his own deep +wide ones. Turning them back so as to expose the hands, the fine fur +lining lay like a rich trimming above his wrists. Then with a glance of +infinite triumph he bespoke my close attention as, shivering, to express +cold, he turned the long sleeves, each a quarter of a yard, over his +hands, and stuffing each hand into the opposite sleeve they were warm +and comfortable, as it were in a muff, which was a part of his coat. +More sensible than our muffs too, the fur was inside instead of out. + +"He was the very pink of politeness, but at this point his pride of +superior intelligence could not be restrained, and he broke into fits of +delighted laughter, in which the horse-boys, the spectators, my friends, +and (as is customary in China) everybody within sight and hearing +joined. + +"I took good care to laugh heartily too. After which I made signs the +counterpart of his. He looked anxious. I put my hand in my pocket, and +drew out my gloves. He stared. _I put them on_, and nodded, to show that +that was the way we barbarians did it. + +"'Eyah!' cried the silk-robed old gentleman. + +"'Eyah!' echoed the horse-boys and the crowd. + +"Then I laughed, and the horse-boys laughed loudly, and the crowd louder +still, and finally the old gentleman doubled himself up in his blue silk +fur-lined robe in fits of laughter. + +"An Asiatic only relishes one thing better than being outwitted--that is +to outwit. + +"'Eyah! Eyah! Ha! ha! ha!' they cried as we rode away. + +"'Ha! ha! ha!' replied I, waving a well-gloved hand, on my road to +Pekin." + + + + +WAVES OF THE GREAT SOUTH SEAS. + +(_Founded on Fact_.) + + +"Very likely the man who drew it had been nearly drowned by one +himself." + +"Very likely nothing of the sort!" + +"How could he draw it if he hadn't seen it?" + +"Why, they always do. Look at Uncle Alfred, he drew a splendid picture +of a shipwreck. Don't you remember his doing it at the dining-room +table, and James coming in to lay the cloth, and he would have a bit of +the table left clear for him, because he was in the middle of putting in +the drowning men, and wanted to get them in before luncheon? And Uncle +Herbert wrote a beautiful poem to it, and they were both put into a real +magazine. And Uncle Alfred and Uncle Herbert never were in shipwrecks. +So there!" + +"Well, Uncle Alfred drew it very well, and he made very big waves. So +there!" + +"Ah, but he didn't make waves like a great wall. He did it very +naturally, and he draws a great deal better than those rubbishy old +pictures in Father's _Robinson Crusoe_." + +"Well, I don't care. The Bible says that when the Children of Israel +went through the Red Sea the waters were a wall to them on their right +hand and on their left. And I believe they were great waves like the +wave in _Robinson Crusoe_, only they weren't allowed to fall down till +Pharaoh and his host came, and then they washed them all away." + +"But that's a miracle. I don't believe there are waves like that now." + +"I believe there are in other countries. Uncle Alfred's shipwreck was +only an English shipwreck, with waves like the waves at the seaside." + +"Let's ask Cousin Peregrine. He's been in foreign countries, and he's +been at sea." + +The point in dispute between Maggie and her brother was this:--The +nursery copy of _Robinson Crusoe_ was an old one which had belonged to +their father, with very rough old wood-cuts, one of which represented +Robinson Crusoe cowering under a huge wave, which towered far above his +head, and threatened to overwhelm him. This wave Maggie had declared to +be unnatural and impossible, whilst the adventure-book young gentleman +clung to and defended an illustration which had helped him so vividly to +realize the sea-perils of his hero. + +It was the day following that of Cousin Peregrine's arrival, and when +evening arrived the two children carried the book down with them to +dessert, and attacked Cousin Peregrine simultaneously. + +"Cousin Peregrine, you've been at sea: isn't that an impossible wave?" + +"Cousin Peregrine, you've been at sea: aren't there sometimes waves like +that in foreign places?" + +"It's not very cleverly drawn," said Cousin Peregrine, examining the +wood-cut; "but making allowance for that, I have seen waves not at all +unlike this one." + +"There!" cried the young gentleman triumphantly. "Maggie laughed at it, +and said it was like a wall." + +"Some waves are very like walls, but those are surf-waves, as they are +called, that is, waves which break upon a shore. The waves I am thinking +of just now are more like mountains--translucent blackish-blue +mountains--mountains that look as if they were made of bottle-green +glass, like the glass mountain in the fairy tale, or shining mountains +of phosphorescent light--meeting you as if, they would overwhelm you, +passing under you, and tossing you like the old woman in the blanket, +and then running away behind you as you go to meet another. Every wave +with a little running white crest on its ridge; though not quite such a +curling frill as this one has which is engulfing poor Robinson Crusoe. +But his is a surf-wave, of course. Those I am speaking of are waves in +mid-ocean." + +"Not as tall as a man, Cousin Peregrine?" + +"As tall as many men piled one upon another, Maggie." + +"It certainly is very funny that the children should choose this subject +to tease you about tonight, Peregrine," said Mamma. + +We are all apt to speak inaccurately. Mamma did not mean that the +subject was a comical one, but that it was remarkable that the children +should have started it at dessert, when the grown-up people had been +discussing it at dinner. + +They had not been talking about Robinson Crusoe's wave, but about the +loss of an Australian vessel, in sad circumstances which were in every +one's mouth. A few people only had been saved. They had spent many days +in an open boat in great suffering, and the particular question +discussed at dinner was, whether the captain of a certain vessel which +had passed without rescuing them had been so inhuman as to see and yet +to leave them. + +"How could he help seeing them?" Mamma had indignantly asked. "It was +daylight, and of course somebody was on the deck, even if the captain +was still in bed. Don't talk to me, Peregrine! You would say black is +white for the sake of argument, especially if it was to defend somebody. +But little as I know about the sea, I know that it's flat." + +"And that's flat!" interposed Papa. + +"It's all very well making fun of me," Mamma had continued with +good-humoured vehemence, "but there were no Welsh hills and valleys to +block the view of castaway fellow-creatures not a mile off, and it was +daylight, and he _must_ have seen them." + +"I'm not quite sure about the hills and valleys," Cousin Peregrine had +replied; "and hills of water are quite as troublesome to see through as +hills of earth." + +At this moment the dining-room door had opened to admit the children, +Maggie coming first, and making her courtesy in the doorway, with the +old fat, brown-calf-bound _Robinson Crusoe_ under her arm. It opened +without the slightest difficulty at the picture of the big wave, and the +children appealed to Cousin Peregrine as has been related. + +Maggie was a little taken aback by a decision which was in favour of her +brother's judgment. She was apt to think rather highly of her own, and +even now she pondered, and then put another question-- + +"But if the waves were so very, very big, Cousin, they would swallow up +the ships!" + +"No, Maggie, not if the sailors manage their ship properly, and turn her +about so that she meets the wave in the right way. Then she rides over +it instead of being buried under it." + +"It would be dreadful if they didn't!" said Maggie. + +"I remember being in a ship that didn't meet one of these waves in the +right way," said Cousin Peregrine. + +"Tell us all about it," said Fred, settling himself with two or three +severe fidgets into the seat of his chair. + +"I _was_ going to have protested against the children asking you for +another story so soon, Peregrine," said Mamma, "but now I feel selfish, +for your wave-story will be quite as much for me as for the little +ones." + +"Where was it, Cousin Peregrine?" + +"Where was the wave, do you mean? It was in the great South Seas. As to +where I was, I was in a sailing-vessel bound for South Australia. To +begin at the beginning, I must explain to you that this vessel was one +of those whose captains accepted the instruments offered by the Board of +Trade to any ship that would keep a meteorological log. I was fond of +such matters, and I took the trouble off the captain's hands, by keeping +his meteorological log for him." + +"What is a meteorological log, Cousin?" + +"A kind of diary, in which you put down the temperature of the sea and +air, how cold or hot they are--the way the wind blows, how the barometer +is, and anything special and interesting about the weather overhead or +the currents in the sea. Now I must tell you that there had been a good +deal of talk about currents of warm water in the Southern Ocean, like +the Gulf Stream of the Atlantic, which keeps the west coasts of Great +Britain so warm. But these South Sea currents had not been very +accurately observed, and information on the subject was desired. Well, +one day we got right into a warm current." + +"How did you know, Cousin?" + +"By drawing up a bucket of water out of the sea, and putting the +thermometer into it. But I ought to tell you what a thermometer is--" + +"We know quite well," said Maggie. "Nurse always put it into Baby's bath +when he had fits, to see if the water was the right warmth." + +"Very good, Maggie. Then let me tell you that the water of the sea got +nearly thirty degrees warmer on that day between noon and midnight." + +"How did you know about midnight?" Maggie inquired doubtfully; "weren't +you in bed?" + +"No, I was not, I was very busy all day 'taking observations' every hour +or two, and it was at twelve o'clock this very night that the 'comber' +broke on deck." + +"What _is_ a 'comber'?" + +"A 'comber' is the name for a large wave with a comb or crest of foam, a +sort of wave over which our ship ought to have ridden; but I must tell +you that it was no easy matter to meet them on this occasion, because +(owing to the cross currents) the waves did not all go one way, but came +at us from various points. The sea was very heavy, and the night was +very dark. I tried the heat of the water for the last time that evening, +and having bade good-night to the officer whose watch was just over, I +stayed for a few minutes to talk to the officer whose watch was just +beginning, before going below to go to bed. We were standing aft, and, +fortunately for us, near one of the masts, when through the darkness we +saw the sloping sides of a great South Sea wave coming at the fore part +of the ship, but sideways. 'The rigging!' shouted the officer of the +watch, and as we both clung to the ropes the wave broke on our bows, +smashed the jib-boom, and swept the decks from stem to stern." + +"And if you hadn't held on by the rigging you would have been washed +away?" + +"I am afraid we should, Fred, for every loose thing on deck was swept +off in less than a minute. The bull kept his feet, by the bye; but then +he had four, and I have only two." + +"The bull! what bull?" + +"We were taking some cattle out to Australia. There was a bull who lived +in a stable that had been made for him on deck. When this comber broke +over us it tore up the bull's house, and carried it overboard, but I met +the bull himself taking a walk at large as I went below to change my +clothes and get some sleep." + +"Were you wet?" + +"Drenched, my dear Maggie; but when I got to my cabin I found that there +was no hope of rest for some hours. The wave had flooded the cabins, +broken in doors, and washed everything and everybody about. So we all +had to set to work to bale out water, and mop up our bed-rooms; and as +the wave had also put out what lights there were, we had to work in the +dark, and very uncomfortable work it was! What the women and children +did, and the poor people who were sea-sick, I hardly know. Of course we +who could keep our feet did the work." + +"Weren't you ever sea-sick?" + +"Never, I am thankful to say." + +"Not when it's very, very rough?" + +"Not in a gale. I have once or twice on that voyage been the captain's +only companion at dinner, tied to the mast to keep myself steady, and +with the sherry in one pocket and my wine-glass in another to keep +_them_ steady, and quite ashamed of my appetite, for if the sea doesn't +make you feel very ill it makes you feel very well." + +"I had no idea there were such very big waves really," said Maggie, +thoughtfully. + +"I see that they are quite big enough to shelter the captain's +character, Peregrine," said Mamma, smiling, "and I am much obliged to +you for correcting my ignorance. I don't _wish_ to believe that any +English sailor would pass a boat in distress without giving help, if he +saw it." + +"I am quite sure no English sailor would, and very few real sailors of +any nation, I think. A real seaman knows too well what sea-perils are, +and that what is another man's case one day may be his the next; and +cowardice and cold-heartedness are the last sins that can be laid at +Jack Tar's door as a rule. But I will finish my story by telling the +children what happened next morning, as it goes to illustrate both my +statements, that it is not easy to see an open boat in a heavy sea, and +that sailors are very ready to risk their lives for each other." + +"You're like Captain Marryat, Cousin Peregrine," said Fred. + +"He's not a sailor captain, he's a soldier captain," said Maggie. "Go +on, Cousin." + +"As I told you, we had two or three hours of very disagreeable work +before our cabins were even tolerably comfortable; but it made us more +tired than ever, and when I did turn in I slept like a top, and the +rolling of the ship only rocked me to sounder slumbers. I was awakened +at seven o'clock next morning by a fellow-passenger, who popped in to +cry, 'There's a man overboard!' 'Who?' shouted I as I jumped up. +'Giovanni,' he replied as he vanished, leaving me to follow him on deck +as quickly as possible. Now, Fred, picture to yourself a grey morning, +the damp deck of our vessel being rapidly crowded with everybody on +board, and all eyes strained towards a heavy sea, with big blue-black +mountains of water running at us, and under us, and away from us all +along; every wave had a white crest: but there were some other patches +of snowy white hovering over the dark sea, on which all the experienced +eyes were soon fixed!" + +"What were they?" whispered Fred. + +"Albatross," said Cousin Peregrine. "They had been following us for +days, hovering, swooping, and whirling those great white wings of +theirs, which sometimes measure nine feet from tip to tip." + +"What did they follow you for?" + +"They came to pick up anything that may be thrown overboard, and they +came now, as we knew, after poor Giovanni, whose curly black head kept +ducking out of their way as he swam with desperate courage in our wake." + +"Oh, Cousin Peregrine! Didn't the captain stop the ship?" + +"Certainly, Maggie, though, quickly as it was done, it left the poor +fellow far away behind. And heavy as the sea was, they were lowering a +boat when I got on deck, and the captain had called for volunteers among +the sailors to man it." + +"Oh, I hope he got them!" + +"I hope you won't insult a noble and gallant profession by having any +doubt about it, Maggie. He might have had the ship's crew bodily if he +had wanted them, and if the waves had run twice as high." + +"Spare me!" said Mamma. + +"As it was the few men needed were soon ready. The boat was launched +without being upset, and the men got in without mishap. Then they laid +themselves to their oars, we gave them a parting cheer, and they +vanished from our sight." + +"_Drowned_, Cousin Peregrine?" + +"No, no. Though I can tell you we were as anxious for them as for +Giovanni now. But when they had crossed the first water-mountains, and +gone down into the water-valleys beyond, they were quite out of sight of +the crowd on the deck of the ship, daylight though it was." + +"I retract everything I ever said," cried Mamma impetuously. + +"And not only could we not see them, but they could not see the man they +were risking their lives to save. Those crested mountains which hid them +from us hid him from them." + +"What _did_ you do?" + +"Men were sent up the masts to look out from such a height that they +could look over the waves. _They_ could see both Giovanni and the boat, +and as they were so high up the men in the boat could see them. So the +men on the masts kept their eyes on Giovanni, and the men in the boat +kept their eyes on the men on the masts, and steered their course +according to the signals from the look-out." + +"And they saved him?" + +"Yes, they brought him back; and if we cheered when they went away, you +may believe we cheered when they got safe to the ship's side again." + +"And who was Giovanni? and did he get all right?" + +"Giovanni was one of the sailors, an Italian. He was a fine young +fellow, and appeared to think nothing whatever of his adventure. I +remember he resolutely refused to go below and change his clothes till +he had helped to haul up the boat. With his white teeth shining through +a broad grin, he told us in his broken English that he had been +overboard every voyage he had taken. He said he didn't mind anything +except the swooping and pecking of the albatross. They obliged him to +dive so constantly, to keep his eyes from their beaks." + +"Was it a comber washed him overboard?" + +"No. He was mending the jib-boom, and lost his hold and fell into the +sea. He really had a very narrow escape. A less active swimmer might +easily have been drowned. I always think, too, that he had an advantage +in the fact that the water was warm." + +"I am so glad the nasty albatross were disappointed." + +"The nasty albatross were probably disappointed when they found that +Giovanni was not a piece of spoilt pork. However, they set their +beautiful wings, and went their way, and we set our sails, and went our +way, which was to Adelaide, South Australia." + + + + +COUSIN PEREGRINE'S TRAVELLER'S TALES. + +JACK OF PERA. + +(_Founded on Fact_.) + + +"Cousin Peregrine, oughtn't we to love our neighbour, whether he's a +nice neighbour or a nasty neighbour?" + +"Certainly, Maggie." + +"But need we when he's a nasty _next-door_ neighbour?" asked Fred, in +such rueful tones that Cousin Peregrine burst out laughing and said, +"Who is your nasty next-door neighbour, Fred, and what has he done?" + +"Well, his name is Mackinnon, Cousin; and everybody says he's always +quarrelling; and he complained of our screaming and the cockatoo +playing--no, of the cockatoo's screaming and our playing prisoners' +base, and he kept our ball once, and now he has complained of poor dear +Ponto's going into his garden, and the dear darling old thing has to be +tied up, except when we take him out for stiff walks." + +"I didn't notice anything stiff about his walk yesterday, Fred, He took +the fence into your nasty neighbour's garden at one bound, and came back +with another." + +"I don't know what can make him go there!" cried Fred; "I wish he +understood about keeping to his own grounds." + +"Ponto never lived in Constantinople, that is evident," said Cousin +Peregrine. + +"Did you ever live in Constantinople, Cousin?" asked Maggie. + +"Yes, Maggie, I am happy to say I have." + +"Why are you glad, Cousin?" + +"Because in some respects it is the loveliest city on earth, and I am +glad to have seen it." + +"Tell us what it is like." + +"And tell us why you say Ponto never lived there." + +"I was a good deal younger than I am now," said Cousin Peregrine, "when +I saw Constantinople for the first time, and had seen much less of the +world than I have seen since; but even now I remember nothing in my +travels with greater delight than my first sight of that lovely city. It +was from the sea. Do you know anything about the Sea of Marmora, Fred?" + +"I don't think I know much," said Fred doubtfully. + +"But we've got an atlas," said Maggie, "so you can show it us, you +know." + +"Well, give me the map. Here is the Sea of Marmora, with +Turkey-in-Europe on one side of it, and Turkey-in-Asia on the other side +of it. This narrower part that you come into it by is called the +Dardanelles, that narrower part that you go out of it by is called the +Bosphorus. The Bosphorus is about two miles broad; it is salt water, you +know, and leads from the Sea of Marmora to the Black Sea, which is +farther north. This narrow piece of water going westward out of the +Bosphorous is called the Golden Horn. Constantinople--which is built, +like Rome, on hills--rises above the shores of the Bosphorus and on both +sides of the Golden Horn. The part of it which is south of the Golden +Horn is called Stamboul, and is the especially Turkish Quarter. Across +the Golden Horn from Stamboul lies the Quarter called Galata--the +commercial port--and beyond that Pera--beautiful Pera!--the Quarter +where English people live when they live at Constantinople. North of +these are more suburbs, and then detached Turkish villages and gay +gardens dotting the banks of the Bosphorus." + +"But you lived at Pera?" + +"Yes, I lived at Pera; in a house looking into the Turkish cemetery." + +"Was it nice, Cousin, like our churchyard? or do the Turks do horrid +things with their dead people, like those Chinese you told us about, who +put them in boxes high up in the air?" + +"The Turks bury their dead as we do, my dear Maggie, and they plant +their graveyards with cypresses, which, standing tall and dark among the +headstones of the graves, have a very picturesque effect. The cemetery +in all Turkish towns is a favourite place of public resort, but I cannot +say that it is kept in very nice order, as a rule. For the sake of a +water-colour sketch I made in one, I was very glad that the upright +headstones were tumbling about in all directions, it took away the look +of stiffness and monotony; but I am bound to say that the graves looked +neglected as well as picturesque. The cemetery at Pera had too much +refuse, and too many cocks, hens, and dogs in it. It looked very pretty, +however, from my windows, sloping down towards the Golden Horn, beyond +which I could catch a glimpse of Stamboul on the heights across the +water. But I have not yet told you what Constantinople looked like when +I first saw it." + +"You began about the Sea of Marmora, Cousin, and here it is. I've had +my middle finger on it ever since we found it, to keep the place." + +"Very good, Maggie. We were coming up the Sea of Marmora one evening, +and drew near to Constantinople about sunrise. I knew we were near, but +I could not see anything, because a thick white mist hung in front of us +like a veil resting on the sea. We were near the mouth of the Bosphorus +when the sun broke out, the white mist rose slowly, like the curtain of +a theatre, and--more beautiful than any scene that human hands can ever +paint--I saw the Queen of Cities glittering in the sunshine." + +"What made it glitter? Are the houses built of shiny stuff?" + +"The houses are built of wood, but they are painted in many colours. The +rounded domes of the mosques are white, and the minarets, tall, slender, +and fretted, are white, with golden tops, or white and blue. I can give +you no idea how beautifully the shapes of the mosques and minarets break +the uniformity of the mass of houses, nor how the gay colours, the white +and the gold, shone like gems against a cloudless blue sky when the mist +rose. No princess in an Eastern fairy-tale ever dazzled and delighted +the beholder by lifting her veil and displaying her beauty and her +jewels more than my eyes were charmed when the veil was lifted from +Constantinople, and I saw her lovely and sparkling in the sun." + +"Are the streets very beautiful when you get into them?" + +"Ah, Fred, I am sorry to say--no. They are very dirty, and very narrow. +But they are picturesque, and made doubly so by the fact that in them +you meet people of all nations, in every kind of dress, gay with all +colours of the rainbow." + +"Are there shops in the streets?" + +"Most of the shops are all together in certain streets by themselves, +forming what is called a Bazaar. But in the other streets there are a +few, such as sweetmeat shops and coffee shops, where the old Turks go to +drink thick black coffee, and smoke, and hear the news; and (if they +wish it) to be shaved." + +"I thought Turks wore long beards?" + +"The lower-class Turks, and the country ones, and those who like to +follow the old fashions, wear beards, but they have their heads shaved, +and wear the turban. Most modern Turks, Government officials, and so +forth, shave off their beards and whiskers, and wear short hair and a +moustache, with the fez, or cloth cap. The old-fashioned dress is much +the handsomest, I think, and I am sorry it is dying out." + +"The poor women-Turks aren't allowed to go out, are they, Cousin +Peregrine?" + +"Oh yes, they are, but they have to be veiled, and so bundled up that +you can not only not tell one woman from another, but they hardly look +like women at all--more like unsteady balloons, or inflated sacks of +different colours. They wear yellow leather boots, and no stockings. +Over the boots they wear large slippers, in which they shuffle along +with a gait very little less awkward than the toddle of a cramp-footed +lady in China. If they are ungraceful on foot, matters are not much +better when they ride. Sitting astride a donkey (for they do not use +side-saddles), a Turkish lady is about as comical an object as you could +wish to behold, though I have no doubt she is quite unconscious of +looking anything but dignified, as she presses on to her shopping in the +Bazaar, screaming to the half-naked Arab donkey-boy to urge on her steed +with his stick. As the great cloak dress, in which women envelop +themselves from head to foot when they go out, is all of one colour, +they have this advantage over Englishwomen out shopping, that they do +not look ugly from being bedizened with ill-assorted hues and frippery +trimmings. In fact a mass of Turkish women, each clothed in one shade of +colour, looks very like a flower-bed--a flower-bed of sole-coloured +tulips without stalks!" + +"The Bazaars are bigger than Charity Bazaars, I suppose," said Maggie +thoughtfully; "are they as big as the Baker Street Bazaar?" + +"The Bazaar of Stamboul, the Turkish Quarter of Constantinople, is +almost a Quarter by itself. It takes up many, many streets, Maggie. I am +sure I wish with all my heart I could take you children through it. You +would think yourselves in fairy-land, or rather in some of those +underground caves full of dazzling treasures such as Aladdin found +himself in." + +"But why, Cousin Peregrine? Do the Turks have very wonderful things in +their shops?" + +"I fancy, Maggie, that in no place in the world can one see such a +collection of valuable merchandise gathered from all quarters of the +globe. But it is not only the gold, the jewels, the ivories, the +gorgeous silks and brocades, morocco leathers, and priceless furs, which +make these great Eastern markets unlike ours. The common wares for +everyday use are often of a much more picturesque kind than with us. +There is no great beauty in an English boot-shop, but the shoe-bazaar in +Stamboul is gay with slippers of all colours, embroidered with gold and +silver thread, to say nothing of the ladies' yellow leather boots. A +tobacconist's shop with us is interesting to none but smokers, but +Turkish pipes have stems several feet long, made of various kinds of +wood, and these and the amber mouth-pieces, which are often of very +great value, and enriched with jewels, make the pipe-seller's wares +ornamental as well as useful. Nor can our gunsmiths' shops compete for +picturesqueness with the Bazaar devoted to arms, of all sorts and kinds, +elaborately mounted, decorated, sheathed, and jewelled. Turkey and +Persian carpets and rugs are common enough in England now, and you know +how handsome they are. Turbans, and even fezes, you will allow to look +prettier than English hats. Then some of the shops display things that +one does not see at all at home, such as the glass lamps for hanging in +the mosques and Greek churches. Nor is it the things for sale alone +which make the Bazaar so wonderful a sight. The buyers and sellers are +at least as picturesque as what they sell and buy. The floor of each +shop is raised two or three feet from the ground, and on a gay rug the +turbaned Turk who keeps it sits cross-legged and smokes his pipe and +makes his bargains, whilst down the narrow street (which in many +instances is arched overhead with stone) there struggle, and swarm, and +scream, and fight, black slaves, obstinate camels, primitive-looking +chariots full of Turkish ladies, people of all colours in all costumes, +and from every part of the world." + +"It must be a wonderful place," sighed Maggie; "streets full of +beautiful shoes, and streets full of beautiful carpets." + +"Just so, Maggie." + +"Not at all like a London Bazaar, then. I thought perhaps it was a place +that shut up to itself, with a beadle sitting at the door?" + +"I never was in Stamboul at night, but my belief is that the Bazaar is +secured at night by the locking up of gates. You know the people who own +the shops do not live in them, and as most valuable merchandise remains +in the Bazaar, it must be protected in some way. I suppose the watchmen +look after it." + +"Have the Turks watchmen like the old London watchmen, Cousin? With +nightcaps, and rattles, and lanterns, and big coats?" + +"The Turkish watchmen wear turbans--not nightcaps; but they have +lanterns and big coats, and in one respect they are remarkably like the +old 'Charlies,' as the London watchmen used to be called. Their object +is not (like policemen) to find robbers and misdoers, but to frighten +them away. Just as the old Charlies used to spring their wooden rattles +that the thieves might get out of their way, so the Turkish watchman +strikes the ground with an iron-shod staff, that makes a great noise, +for the same purpose. In one respect, however, the Turkish watchmen are +most useful--they give warning of fires." + +"Are there often fires in Constantinople?" + +"Very often, Fred. And when a big straggling city is built of wood in a +hot climate which keeps the wood so dry that a spark will set it ablaze, +when the water-supply is small, and the water-carriers, who feed the +fire-engines from their leathern water-pots, are chiefly bent upon +securing their pay for the help they give; and when, to crown all, the +sufferers themselves are generally of the belief that what is to happen +will happen, and that there is very little use in trying to avert +calamity--you may believe that a fire, once started, spreads not by +houses, but by streets, leaving acres of black ruins dotted with the +still standing chimneys. However, I fancy that of late years wider +streets and stone buildings are becoming commoner. There were stone +houses, built by Europeans, in Constantinople even when I was there." + +"Did you see a fire whilst you were there?" + +"Yes, indeed. One came so near the house where I lived that I had +everything packed up ready for a start, but fortunately my house +escaped. I must tell you that the Turks have one very sensible custom in +connection with these fires. They have what are called fire-towers, on +which men are stationed to give warning when a fire breaks out in any +part of the town. They have a system of signals, by which they show in +what quarter of the city the fire is. At night the signalling is done by +lamps. There is an old Genoese tower between Pera and Galata which has +been made into a fire-tower. The one at Stamboul I think is modern. +These buildings are tall--like light-houses--so that the signals can be +seen from all parts of Constantinople, and so that the men stationed on +them have the whole city in view. Besides these signals, it is part of +the watchman's duty, as I told you, to give warning of a fire, and the +quarter in which it has broken out. I assure you one listens with some +anxiety when the ring of his iron-tipped staff on the rough pavement +is followed by the cry, '_Yan ghun vah! Stamboul-dah_' ('There is a +fire! In Stamboul'); or '_Yan ghun vah! Pera-dah_' ('There is a fire! +In Pera')." + +"But there are fire-engines?" + +"There may be very good ones now. In my time nothing could be more +futile than the trumpery one which was carried on men's shoulders. +Indeed, until the streets are much less rough, narrow, and steep, I do +not see how one could be _driven_ at any speed." + +"Did the men who carried the engine run?" + +"Yes, and at a good swinging pace too, their half-naked bodies streaming +with perspiration, and (I should have thought) their labours quite +doubled by yelling as they ran. Their cries are echoed by the +formidable-looking band which follows, waving long poles armed with +hooks, &c., for pulling down houses to stop the progress of the flames. +On the heels of these figures follow mounted officials, whose dignity is +in a fixed proportion to the extent of the calamity. If the fire is a +very very extensive one, the Sultan himself has to be upon the spot." + +"It must be very exciting," said Fred, in a tone of relish. + +"You've told us lots about Constantinople now, Cousin Peregrine," said +Maggie, who had the air of having heard quite enough on the subject; +"now tell us about why you said Ponto never was in Constantinople. Don't +the Turks keep dogs?" + +"Not as we do, for pets and friends; and yet the dog population of +Constantinople is more numerous and powerful, and infinitely more noisy, +than I can easily describe to you." + +"Whom do they belong to then?" + +"They have no special masters or mistresses. They are more like troops +of wolves than a collection of Pontos." + +"But who gives them their dinners?" + +"They live on offal and the offscourings of the city, and though the +Turks freely throw all their refuse into their streets, there are so +many dogs that they are all half-starved. They are very fierce, and have +as a rule a great dislike to strangers. At night they roam about the +streets, and are said to fall upon any one who does not carry a +lantern." + +"But does anybody carry a lantern--except the watchmen?" + +"Everybody does. Coloured paper lanterns, like the Chinese ones, with a +bit of candle inside. With one of these in one hand and a heavy stone or +stick in the other, you may get safely through a night-walk among the +howling dogs of Stamboul." + +"What horrible beasts!" + +"I think you would pity them if you were there. They are half starved, +and have no friends." + +"There isn't a home for lost and starving dogs in Constantinople then?" + +"The whole city may be considered as the headquarters of starving dogs, +but not of lost ones. That reminds me why I said Ponto had not lived +there. If he had he would know his own grounds, and keep to them." + +"But, Cousin Peregrine, I thought you said the Turkish dogs had no +particular homes?" + +"Every dog in Constantinople belongs to a particular Quarter of the +town, which he knows, and to which he confines himself with marvellous +sagacity. In the Quarter in which he was born, there he must live, and +there (if he wishes to die peaceably) he must die. If he strays on any +pretext into another Quarter, the dogs of the Quarter he has invaded +will tear him to pieces, and dine upon his bones." + +"How does he know where his own part of the town begins and ends?" + +"I cannot tell you, Maggie. But I can tell you of my own knowledge that +he does. Jack did, though we tried to deceive him over and over again." + +"Who was Jack?" + +"The handsomest dog I ever saw in Constantinople. The Turkish dogs are +by no means beautiful as a rule, they are too much like jackals, and as +they are apt to be maimed and covered with scars from fights with each +other, they do not make much of what good looks they have. However, Jack +was rather less wild and wolfish-looking than most of his friends. He +was of a fine tawny yellow, and had an intelligent face, poor fellow. He +belonged to our Quarter--in fact the cemetery was his home till he took +to lying at our door." + +"Then he was a Pera dog?" + +[Illustration] + +"Yes, and I and the brother-officers who were living with me made friends +with him. We gave him food and spoke kindly to him, and he laid aside his +prejudices against foreigners, and laid his tawny limbs on our threshold. +We became really attached to each other. He received the very British +name of Jack, and seemed quite contented with it. He took walks with us. +It was then that again and again we tried to deceive him about the limits +of his Quarter, and get him into another one unawares. He never was +misled. But later on, as he grew tame, less fearful of things in general, +and more unwilling to quit us when we were out together, he sometimes +strayed beyond his bounds, not because he was deceived as to his limits, +but he ventured on the risk for our sakes. Even then, however, he would +not walk in the public thoroughfares, he 'dodged' through gardens, empty +courtyards and quiet by-places where he was not likely to meet the +outraged dogs of the Quarter he was invading. The moment we were safe back +'in bounds' he came freely and happily to our side once more. I have often +wondered, since I left Constantinople, how long Jack lived, and how he +died." + +"Oh, didn't you take him away?" + +"I couldn't, my dear. And you must not think, Maggie, that if Turks do +not pet dogs they are cruel to them. It is not the case. A Turk would +never dream of petting a dog, but if he saw one looking hot and thirsty +in the street he would be more likely to take trouble to get it a dish +of water than many English people who feed their own particular pets on +mutton-chops. Jack was not likely to be ill-treated after our departure, +but I sometimes have a heart-sore suspicion that we may have raised +dreams in his doggish heart never again to be realized. If he were at +all like other dogs (and the more we knew of him the more companionable +he became), he must have waited many a long hour in patient faithfulness +at our deserted threshold. He must have felt his own importance as a dog +with a name, in that wild and nameless tribe to which he belonged. He +must have dreamed of his foreign friends on many a blazing summer's +afternoon. Perhaps he stole cautiously into other Quarters to look for +us. I hope he did not venture too far--Maggie--my dear Maggie! You are +not fretting about poor Jack? I assure you that really the most probable +thing is that our successors made friends with him." + +"Do you really and truly think so, Cousin Peregrine?" + +"On my word of honour I do, Maggie. You must remember that Jack was not +a Stamboul dog. He belonged to Pera, where Europeans live, so there is a +strong probability that his unusual tameness and beauty won other +friends for him when we had gone." + +"I hope somebody very nice lived in your house when you went away." + +"I hope so, Maggie." + +"Cousin Peregrine, do you think we could teach Ponto to know his own +quarter?" + +"I think you could, Fred. I once lived next door to a man who was very +fond of his garden. It was a mere strip in front of his hut--for we were +quartered in camp at this time--and not even a paling separated it from +a similar strip in front of my quarters. My bit, I regret to say, was +not like his in any respect but shape. I had a rather ragged bit of +turf, and he had a glowing mass of flowers. The monotony of my +grass-plat was only broken by the marrow-bones and beef-ribs which my +dog first picked and then played with under my windows. I was as fond of +him as my brother-officer was of his flowers. I am sorry to say that +Dash had a fancy for the gayer garden, and for some time my +good-tempered neighbour bore patiently with his inroads, and with a sigh +buried the beef-bone that Dash had picked among the mignonette at the +roots of a magnificent rose which he often alluded to as 'John Hopper,' +and seemed to treat as a friend. Mr. Hopper certainly throve on Dash's +bones, but unfortunately Dash took to applying them himself to the roots +of plants for which I believe that bone manure is not recommended. When +he made a hole two foot deep in the Nemophila bed, and laid a sheep's +head by in it against a rainy day, I felt that something must be done. +After the humblest apologies to my neighbour, I begged for a few days' +grace. He could not have spoken more feelingly of the form, scent, and +colour of his friend John Hopper than I ventured to do in favour of the +intelligence of my friend Dash. In short I begged for a week's patience +on his part, that I might teach Dash to know his own garden. If I failed +to do so, I promised to put him on the chain, much as I dislike tying up +dogs." + +"How did you manage, Cousin?" + +"Whenever Dash strayed into the next garden, I began to scold him in the +plainest English, and covered him with reproaches, till he slunk +gradually back to his own untidy grass-plat. When he touched his own +grounds, I changed my tone at once, to approbation. At first this change +simply brought him flying to my feet again, if I was standing with my +friend in his garden. But after a plentiful application of, 'How dare +you, Sir? Go back' (pointing), 'go back to your garden. If this +gentleman catches you here again, he'll grind your bones to make John +Hopper's bread. That's a good dog. No! Down! Stay where you are!'--Dash +began to understand. It took many a wistful gaze of his brown eyes +before he fully comprehended what I meant, but he learned it at last. He +never put paw into Major E----'s garden without looking thoroughly +ashamed of himself. He would lie on his own ragged lawn and wistfully +watch me sitting and smoking among the roses; but when I returned to our +own quarters he welcomed me with an extravagant delight which seemed to +congratulate me on my escape from the enemy's country." + +"Oh, Cousin Peregrine! We must try and teach Ponto to know his own +garden." + +"I strongly advise you to do so. Ponto is a gentleman of honour and +intelligence, I feel convinced. I think he will learn his neighbourly +duties, and if he does do so as well as Dash did--whatever you may think +of Mr. Mackinnon--I think Mr. Mackinnon will soon cease to regard Ponto +as--a nasty next-door neighbour." + + + + +THE PRINCES OF VEGETATION. + + +This fanciful and high-sounding title was given by the great Swedish +botanist, Linnæus, to a race of plants which are in reality by no means +distantly allied to a very humble family--the family of Rushes. + +The great race of Palms puzzled the learned Swede. He did not know where +to put them in his system; so he gave them an appendix all to +themselves, and called them the Princes of Vegetation. + +The appendix cannot have been a small one, for the Order of Palms is +very large. About five hundred different species are known and named, +but there are probably many more. + +They are a very beautiful order of plants; indeed, the striking elegance +of their forms has secured them a prominence in pictures, poetry, and +proverbs, which makes them little less familiar to those who live in +countries too cold for them to grow in, than to those whose home, like +theirs, is in the tropics. The name Palm (Latin, _Palma_) is supposed to +have been applied to them from a likeness in the growth of their +branches to the outspread palm of the hand; and the fronds of some of +the fan-palms are certainly not unlike the human hand, as commonly drawn +by street-boys upon doors and walls. + +So beautiful a tree, when it flourished in the symbol-loving East, was +sure to be invested with poetical and emblematical significance. +Conquerors were crowned with wreaths of palm, which is said to have been +chosen as a symbol of victory, because of the elasticity with which it +rises after the pressure of the heaviest weight--an explanation, +perhaps, more appropriate to it as the emblem of spiritual triumphs--the +Palm of Martyrdom and the Palms of the Blessed. + +But as a religious symbol it is not confined to the Church triumphant. +Not only is the "great multitude which no man can number" represented to +us as "clothed in white robes, and palms in their hands"--the word +"palmer" records the fact that he who returned from a pilgrimage to the +Holy Land was known, not only by the cockle-shell on his gown, but by +the staff of palm on which he leant. St. Gregory also alludes to the +palm-tree as an accepted emblem of the life of the righteous, and adds +that it may well be so, since it is rough and bare below, and expands +above into greenness and beauty. + +The palm here alluded to is evidently the date palm (_Phoenix +dactylifera_). This is pre-eminently the palm-tree of the Bible, and was +in ancient times abundant in the Holy Land, though, curiously enough, it +is now comparatively rare. Jericho was known as "the city of palm-trees" +in the time of Moses (Deut. xxxiv. 3). It is alluded to again in the +times of the Judges (Judges i. 11; iii. 13), and it bore the same title +in the days of Ahaz (2 Chron. xxviii. 15). Josephus speaks of it as +still famous for its palm-groves in his day, but it is said that a few +years ago only one tree remained, which is now gone. + +It was under a palm that Deborah the prophetess sat when all Israel came +up to her for judgment; and to an audience under the shadow of this +tree, which bore her name, that she summoned Barak out of +Kedesh-naphtali. Bethany means "the House of Dates," and the branches of +palm which the crowd cut down to strew before our Lord as He rode into +Jerusalem were no doubt of this particular species. + +Women--as well as places--were often named after the Princes of +Vegetation, whose graceful and stately forms approved them to lovers and +poets as fit types of feminine beauty. + +Usefulness, however, even more than ornament, is the marked +characteristic of the tribe. "From this order (_Palmæ_)," says one +writer, "are obtained wine, oil, wax, flour, sugar, salt, thread, +utensils, weapons, habitations, and food"--a goodly list of the +necessaries of life, to which one may add many smaller uses, such as +that of "vegetable ivory" for a variety of purposes, and the materials +for walking-sticks, canework, marine soap, &c., &c. + +The Princes of Vegetation are to be found in all parts of the world +where the climate is adapted to the tropical tastes of their Royal +Highnesses. + +They have come into our art, our literature, and our familiar knowledge +from the East; but they abound in the tropics of the West, and some +species are now common in South America whose original home was in +India. + +The cocoa-nut palm (_Cocos nucifera_) is an Indian and South Sea Islands +Prince; but his sway extends now over all tropical countries. The +cocoa-nut palm begins to bear fruit in from seven to eight years after +planting, and it bears on for no less than seventy to eighty years. + +Length of days, you see, as well as beauty and beneficence, mark this +royal race which Linnæus placed alone! + +Cocoa-nuts are useful in many ways. The milk is pleasant, and in hot +and thirsty countries is no doubt often a great boon. The white flesh--a +familiar school-boy dainty--is eaten raw and cooked. It produces oil, +and is used in the manufacture of stearine candles. It is also used to +make _marine soap_, which will lather in salt water. The wood of the +palm is used for ornamental joinery, the leaves for thatch and +basket-work, the fibre for cordage and cocoa-nut matting, and the husk +for fuel and brushes. + +Cocoa and chocolate come from another palm (_Theobroma cacao_), which is +cultivated largely in South America and the West Indies. + +Sago and tapioca are made from the starch yielded by several species of +palm. The little round balls of sago are formed from a white powder +(sago flour, as it is called), just as homoeopathic pillules are +formed from sugar. It is possible to see chemists make pills from +boluses to globules, but the Malay Indians are said jealously to keep +the process of "pearling" sago a trade secret. Tapioca is only another +form of sago starch. Sago flour is now imported into England in +considerable quantities. It is used for "dressing" calicoes. + +Among those products of the palm which we import most liberally is +"vegetable ivory." + +Vegetable ivory is the kernel of the fruit of one of the most beautiful +of palms (_Phytelephas macrocarpa_). + +This Prince of Vegetation is a native of South America. "It is +short-stemmed and procumbent, but has a magnificent crown of light green +ostrich-feather-like leaves, which rise from thirty to forty feet high." +The fruit is as big as a man's head. Two or three millions of the nuts +are imported by us every year, and applied to all the purposes of use +and ornament for which real ivory is available. + +The Coquilla-nut palm (_Attalea funifera_), whose fruit is about the +size of an ostrich-egg, also supplies a kind of vegetable ivory. + +Our ideas of palm-trees are so much derived from the date palm of Judæa, +that an erect and stately growth is probably inseparably connected in +our minds with the Princes of Vegetation. But some of the most beautiful +are short-stemmed and creeping; whilst others fling giant arms from tree +to tree of the tropical forests, now drooping to the ground, and then +climbing up again in very luxuriance of growth. Many of the rattan palms +(_Calamus_) are of this character. They wind in and out, hanging in +festoons from the branches, on which they lean in princely +condescension, with stems upwards of a thousand feet in length. + +There is something comical in having to add that these clinging rattan +stems, which cannot support their own weight, have a proverbial fame, +and are in great request for the manufacture of walking-sticks. They +are also largely imported into Great Britain for canework. + +Another very striking genus (_Astrocaryum_) is remarkable for being +clothed in every part--stem, leaves, and spathe--with sharp spines, +which are sometimes twelve inches long. _Astrocaryum murumura_ is +edible. The pulp of the fruit is said to be like that of a melon, and it +has a musky odour. It is a native of tropical America, and abundant on +the Amazon. Cattle wander about the forests in search of it, and pigs +fatten on the nut, which they crunch with their teeth, though it is +exceedingly hard. + +The date palm yields a wine called toddy, or palm wine, and from the +Princes of Vegetation is also distilled a strong spirit called arrack. + +And speaking again of the Judæan palms, I must here say a word of those +which we associate with Palm Sunday--the willow palms--for which we used +to hunt when we were children. + +It is hardly necessary to state that these willow branches, with their +soft silvery catkins, the crown of the earliest spring nosegays which +the hedges afford, are not even distantly related to the Princes of +Vegetation, though we call them palms. They are called palms simply from +having taken the place of real palm-branches in the ceremonies of the +Sunday of our Lord's Entry into Jerusalem, where these do not grow. + +A very old writer, speaking of the Jews strewing palm-branches before +Christ, says: "And thus we take palm and flowers in procession as they +did ... in the worship and mind of Him that was done on the cross, +worshipping and welcoming Him with song into the Church, as the people +did our Lord into the city of Jerusalem. It is called Palm Sunday for +because the palm betokeneth victory; wherefore all Christian people +should bear palm in procession, in token that He hath foughten with the +fiend our enemy, and hath the victory of hym." + +A curious old Scotch custom is recorded in Lanark, as "kept by the boys +of the Grammar-school, beyond all memory in regard to date, on the +Saturday before Palm Sunday. They then parade the streets with a palm, +or its substitute, a large tree of the willow kind (_Salix caprea_), in +blossom, ornamented with daffodils, mezereon, and box-tree. This day is +called Palm Saturday, and the custom is certainly a popish relic of very +ancient standing." + +But to return to palms proper. Before taking leave of them, there is one +more word to be said in their praise which may endear this noble race to +eyes which will never be permitted to see the wonders of tropical +forests. + +As pot-plants they are not less remarkable for the picturesqueness of +their forms, than for the patience with which they endure those +vicissitudes of stuffiness and chill, dryness, dust, and gas, which +prove fatal to so many inmates of the flower-stand or the window-sill. +Pot-palms may be bought of any good nurseryman at prices varying from +two or three shillings to two or three pounds. _Latania borbonica_ and +_Phoenix reclinata_ are good and cheap. Sandy-peaty soil, with a +little leaf-mould, is what they like, and this should be renewed (with a +larger pot) every second year. Thus, with the most moderate care, and an +occasional sponging, or a stand-out in a soft shower, the exiled Princes +of Vegetation, whose shoots in their native forests would have been of +giant luxuriance, will live for years, patiently adapting themselves by +slow growth to the rooms which they adorn, easier of management than the +next fern you dig up on your rambles, and, in the incomparable beauty of +their forms, the perpetual delight of an artistic eye. + + + + +LITTLE WOODS. + + +By little woods are here meant--not woods of small extent, but--woods in +which the trees never grow big, woods that are to grown-up woods as +children to grown-up people, woods that seem made on purpose for +children, and dwarfs, and dolls, and fairies. + +These little woods have many names, varying with the trees of which they +are composed, or the districts in which they are found. One of the +best-known names is that of copse or coppice, and it brings with it +remembrances of the fresh beauty of spring days, on which--sheltered by +the light copse-wood from winds that are still keen--we have revelled in +sunshine warm enough to persuade us that summer was come "for good," as +we picked violets and primroses to the tolling of the cuckoo. + +Things "in miniature" have a natural charm for little people, and most +of my young readers have probably been familiar with favourite copses, +or miniature pine-forests. Perhaps some of them would like to know why +these little woods never grow into big ones, and something also of the +history and uses of those trees of which little woods are composed. + +They are not made of dwarf trees. There are little woods, as well as big +woods, of oak, elm, ash, pine, willow, birch, beech, and larch. In some +cases the little woods are composed of the growth which shoots up when +the principal trunk of the tree has been cut down, but they are +generally little merely because they are young, and are cut down for use +before they have time to grow into forest-trees. The object of this +little paper is to give some account of their growth and uses. It will +be convenient to take them alphabetically, by their English names. + +The Ash (_Fraxinus excelsior_ and other varieties) is a particularly +graceful and fine tree at its full growth. It is a native of Great +Britain, and of many other parts of the world. It is long lived. The +most profitable age for felling it as a forest-tree is from eighty to a +hundred years. The flower comes out before the leaves, which are late, +like those of the oak. The bunches of seed-vessels, or "ash-keys," as +they are fancifully called, were pickled in salt and water and eaten in +old times. The Greeks and Romans made their spears of ash-wood. The wood +is not so durable as that of some other trees, but it is tough, and is +thus employed for work subject to sudden strains. It is good for +kitchen-tables, as it scours well and does not easily splinter. + +In little woods, or ash-holts, or ash-coppices, the ash is very +valuable. They are either cut over entirely at certain intervals, or +divided into portions which are cut yearly in succession. At four or +five years old the ash makes good walking-sticks, crates to pack glass +and china in, hoops, basket handles, fences, and hurdles. +Croquet-mallets are also made of ash. At twelve or fourteen it is strong +enough for hop-poles. There are many old superstitions in connection +with the ash, and there is a midland counties saying that if there are +no keys on the ash, within a twelvemonth there will be no king. + +There are several fine American varieties, and both in the States and in +Canada the wood is used for purposes similar to ours. + +The Alder (_Alnus glutinosa_, &c.) is never a very large tree. It is +supposed to be in maturity when it is sixty years old. It will grow in +wetter places than any other tree in Europe--even than the willow. +Though the wood is soft, it is very durable in water. Virgil speaks of +it as being used for boats. It is highly valued in Holland for piles, +and it is said that the famous bridge of the Rialto at Venice is built +on piles of alder-wood. Though invaluable for water-pipes, pump-barrels, +foundations for bridges, &c., alder-wood is of little use on dry land +unless it can be kept _perfectly_ dry. Wooden vessels and sabots, +however, are made of it. + +Alders are chiefly grown in little woods. Planted by the side of rivers, +too, their tough and creeping roots bind and support the banks. +Alder-coppices are very valuable to the makers of--gunpowder! Every five +or six years the little alders are cut down and burned to charcoal, and +the charcoal of alder-wood is reckoned particularly good by gunpowder +manufacturers. + +The Aspen, or Trembling Poplar (_Populus tremula_), like the alder, is +fond of damp situations. It has also a white soft wood, used by the +turner and engraver, and for such small articles as clogs, butchers' +trays, &c, &c. + +The quivering of its leaves is a favourite topic with poets, and there +is a curious old Highland superstition that the Cross of Christ was made +of aspen-wood, and that thenceforward the tree could never rest. + +In "little woods" it may be cut every seven or eight years for faggots, +and at fifteen or twenty years old for poles. + +The Beech (_Fagus sylvatica_). With this beautiful tree all our young +readers must be familiar. There may be those whose minds are not quite +clear about wych-elms and sycamores, but the appearance of the +beech-tree is too strongly marked to allow of any confusion on the +subject. + +The beech is spoken of by Greek and Roman writers, and old writers on +British agriculture count it among the four timber trees indigenous to +England: the beech, the oak, the ash, and the elm. + +It is said, however, not to be a native of Scotland or Ireland. It +attains its full growth in from sixty to eighty years, but is believed +to live to be as old as two hundred. The timber is not so valuable as +that of the other three British trees, but it is used for a great +variety of purposes. Like the alder, it will bear the action of water +well, and has thus been used for piles, flood-gates, mill-wheels, &c. It +is largely used by cabinet-makers for house furniture. It is employed +also by carriage-makers and turners, and for various small articles, +from rolling-pins to croquet-balls. The dried leaves are used in +Switzerland to fill beds with, and very nice such beds must be! Long ago +they were used for this purpose in England. Evelyn says that they remain +sweet and elastic for seven or eight years, by which time a straw +mattress would have become hard and musty. They have a pleasant +restorative scent, something like that of green tea. When we think how +many poor people lie on musty mattresses, or have none at all, whilst +the beech-leaves lie in the woods and go very slowly to decay, we see +one more of the many instances of people remaining uncomfortable when +they need not be so, because of their ignorance. The fact that +beech-leaves are very slow to rot makes them useful in the garden for +mulching and protecting plants from frost. + +In Scotland the beech-chips and branches are burned to smoke herrings, +and pyroligneous acid (a form of which is probably known to any of our +young readers who suffer from toothache as _creosote_!) is distilled +from them. Mr. Loudon tells us that the word "book" comes from the +German word _buch_, which, in the first instance, means a beech, and was +applied to books because the old German bookbinders used beech-wood +instead of paste-board for the sides of thick volumes. Beech-wood is +especially good for fuel. Only the sycamore, the Scotch pine, and the +ash give out more heat and light when they burn. Beech-nuts--or +beech-mast, as it is called--are eaten by many animals. Pigs, deer, +poultry, &c., are turned into beech-woods to fatten on the mast. +Squirrels and dormice delight in it. In France it is used to make +beech-oil. This oil is used both for cooking and burning, and for the +latter purpose has the valuable property of having no nasty smell. + +Of the beauty of the beech as a forest-tree--let artists rave! Its +smooth and shapely bole does not tempt the sketcher's eye alone. To the +lover and the school-boy (and, alas! to that inartistic animal the +British holiday-maker) it offers an irresistible surface for cutting +names and dates. Upon its branches and beneath its shadow grow many +_fungi_, several of which are eatable. Truffles are found there; those +underground dainties which dogs (and sometimes pigs!) are trained to +grub up for our benefit. They discover the whereabouts of the truffle by +scent, for there is no sign of it above ground. Nothing else will grow +under beech-trees, except holly. + +Scarcely less charming than the beech-forests are beech-hedges. They cut +and thrive with cutting like yew-hedges. + +"Little woods" of beech are common in Buckinghamshire. They are chiefly +grown for the charcoal, which is valuable for gunpowder. + +"Copper-Beeches"--red-leaved beech-trees, very beautiful for ornamental +purposes--all come from one red-leaved beech, a sort of freak of nature, +which was found about a century ago in a wood in Germany. + +The Birch (_Betula alba_, &c.) is also a tree of very distinctive +appearance. The silver-white bark, which peels so delightfully under +childish fingers, is not less charming to the sketcher's eye, whether as +a near study or as gleaming points of high light against the grey +greens and misty purples of a Highland hillside. It is emphatically the +tree of the Highlands of the North. It bends and breaks not under the +wildest winds, it thrives on poor soil, and defies mist and cold. So +varied are its uses that it has been said that the Scotch Highlander +makes everything of birch, from houses to candles, and beds to ropes! +The North American Indians and the Laplanders apply it almost as +universally as the Chinese use paper. The wigwams or huts of the North +American Indians are made of birch-bark laid over a framework of +birch-poles or trunks, and their canoes or boats are cased in it. The +Laplander makes his great-coat of it,--a circular _poncho_ with a hole +for his head,--as well as his houses and his boots and shoes. It will be +easily believed that birch-bark was used in ancient times for writing on +before the invention of paper. + +Birch-wood makes good fuel. It is also used by cabinet-makers. Its uses +in "little woods" are many. The charcoal is good for gunpowder, and it +is that of which _crayons_ are made. Birch-coppices are cut for brooms, +hoops, &c., at five to six years old, and at ten to twelve for +faggot-wood, poles, fencing, and bark for the tanners. Birch-spray (that +is, the twigs and leaves) is used for smoking hams and herrings, and for +brooms to sweep grass. It is also used to make birch-rods; but as we +think very ill of the discipline of any household in which the children +and the pets cannot be kept in order without being beaten, we hope our +own young readers are only familiar with birch-rods in picture-books. + +The (Sweet or Spanish) Chestnut (_Castanca vesca_) is grown in "little +woods" for hop-poles, fence-wood, and hoops. The wood of the full-grown +tree is also valuable. + +Evelyn says, "A decoction of the rind of the tree tinctures hair of a +golden colour, esteemed a beauty in some countries." It would be +entertaining to know if this is the foundation of the "auricomous +fluids" advertised by hair-dressers! + +Amongst "little woods" the dearest of all to the school-boy must surely +be the hazel-copse! The Hazel (_Corylus avellana_) is never a large +tree. It is, however, long lived, and of luxuriant growth. When cut it +"stoles" or throws up shoots very freely, and when treated so will live +a hundred years. With a single stem, Mr. Loudon assures us, it would +live much longer. Filbert-hazels are a variety with longer nuts. Hazels +are cultivated not only for the nuts, but for corf-rods,[1] hoops, +fencing, &c., and hazel-charcoal, like beech-charcoal, is used for +crayons. Like many other plants, the hazel has two kinds of flowers, +which come out before the leaves. The long pale catkins appear first, +and a little later tiny crimson flowers come where the nuts are +afterwards to be. + +Many old superstitions are connected with the hazel. Hazel-rods were +used to "divine" for water and minerals by professors of an art which +received the crack-jaw title of Rhabdomancy. Having tried our own hand +at Rhabdomancy, we are able to say that the freaks of the divining-rod +in sensitive fingers are sometimes as curious as those of a table among +table-turners; and are probably susceptible of similar explanations. + +The Larch (_Larix Europæa_, &c.). Though traceable in England for two +hundred years, it is within this century that the larch has been +extensively cultivated for profit. The exact date of its introduction +from the mountain ranges of some other part of Europe is not known, but +there is a popular tradition that it was first brought to Scotland with +some orange-trees from Italy, and having begun to wither under hot-house +treatment, was thrown outside, where it took root and throve thereafter. +The wood of full-grown larch-trees is very valuable. To John, Duke of +Athol, Scotland is indebted for the introduction of larch plantations on +an enormous scale. He is said to have planted 6500 acres of +mountain-ground with these valuable trees, which not only bring in heavy +returns as timber, but so enrich the ground on which they grow, by the +decayed _spicula_ or spines which fall from them, as to increase its +value in the course of some years eight or tenfold. The Duke was buried +in a coffin made of larch-wood! This sounds as if the merits of the +larch-tree had been indeed a hobby with him, but when one comes to +enumerate them one does not wonder that a man should feel his life very +usefully devoted to establishing so valuable a tree in his native +country, and that the pains and pride it brought him should have +awakened sentiment enough to make him desire to make his last cradle +from his favourite tree. + +Larch-wood is light, strong, and durable. It is used for beams and for +ship-building, for railroad-sleepers and mill-axles, for water-pipes, +and for panels for pictures. Evelyn says that Raphael, the great +painter, painted many of his pictures on larch-wood. It will stand in +heat and wet, under water and above ground. It yields good turpentine, +but trees that have been tapped to procure this are of no use afterwards +for building purposes. The larch is said not to make good masts for +ships, but its durability in all varieties of temperature and changes of +weather make it valuable for vine-props. When made of larch-poles these +are never taken up as hop-poles are. Year after year the vines climb +them and fade at their feet, and they are said to have outlasted at +least one generation of vine-growers. + +In "little woods" the larches are planted very close, so that they may +"spindle up" and become tall before they grow thick. They are then used +for hop-poles and props of various kinds. + +The Oak (_Quercus robur_, &c.) is pre-eminently a British tree. Of its +beauty, size, the venerable age it will attain, and its historical +associations, we have no space to speak here, and our young readers are +probably not ignorant on the subject. + +The durability of its wood is proverbial. The bark is also of great +value, and though the slow growth of the oak in its earlier years +postpones profit to the planter, it does so little harm to other wood +grown with it (being in this respect very different from the beech), +that profitable coppice-wood and other trees may be grown in the same +plantation. + +The age at which the oak should be felled for ship-timber, &c., depends +on many circumstances, and is fixed by different authorities at from +eighty to a hundred and fifty years. + +Oaks are said to be more liable than other trees to be struck by +lightning. + +Oak-coppices or "little woods" are cut over at from twelve to thirty +years old. The bark is valuable as well as the wood. + +The Pine (_Pinus sylvestris_, &c.), like the larch, will flourish on +poor soils. It is valuable as a protection for other trees. The +varieties and variations of this tree are very numerous. + +It is a very valuable timber-tree, the wood being loosely known as +"deal"; but "deals" are, properly speaking, planks of pine-wood of a +certain thickness, "boards" being the technical name for a thicker kind. +Pine trunks are used for the masts of ships. "In the north of Russia and +in Lapland the outer bark is used, like that of the birch, for covering +huts, for lining them inside, and as a substitute for cork for floating +the nets of fishermen; and the inner bark is woven into mats like those +made from the lime-tree. Ropes are also made from the bark, which are +said to be very strong and elastic, and are generally used by the +fishermen." + +In the north of Europe great quantities of tar are procured from the +Scotch pine. Torches are made from the roots and trunk. + +Varieties of the pine are grown in "little woods" for hop-poles. + +_Pinus sylvestris_ (the "Scotch Pine"), though a native of Scotland, has +only been planted and cultivated in Great Britain for about a century. + +On the subject of "thinning and pruning" in plantations planters--like +doctors--differ. An amusing story was sent to Mr. Loudon by the Duke of +Bedford, in reference to his grandfather, who was an advocate for +vigorous thinning in the pine plantations. + +"The Duke perceived that the plantation required thinning, in order to +admit a free circulation of air, and give health and vigour to the young +trees. He accordingly gave instructions to his gardener, and directed +him as to the mode and extent of the thinning required. The gardener +paused and hesitated, and at length said: 'Your Grace must pardon me if +I humbly remonstrate against your orders, but I cannot possibly do what +you desire; it would at once destroy the young plantation; and, +moreover, it would be seriously injurious to my reputation as a +planter.' My grandfather, who was of an impetuous and decided character, +but always just, instantly replied, 'Do as I desire you, and I will take +care of your reputation.' The plantation was accordingly thinned +according to the instructions of the Duke, who caused a board to be +fixed in the plantation, facing the wood, on which was inscribed, '_This +plantation has been thinned by John, Duke of Bedford, contrary to the +advice and opinion of his gardener._'" + +The Willow (_Salix caprea_, &c.). The species of willow are so numerous +that we shall not attempt to give a list of them. + +Willow-wood wears well in water, and has been used in shipbuilding and +carpentery, and especially for small ware, cricket-bats and toys. +Full-grown willows of all kinds are picturesque and very graceful trees. +The growth of the tree kinds when young is very rapid. + +Willows are largely cultivated in "little woods" for basket-making, +hoops, &c. Shoots of the _Salix caprea_ of only a year's growth are +large enough to be valuable for wicker-work. It appears to be held by +cultivators that the poorer the soil in which they are grown the oftener +these willows should be cut over. "In a good soil a coppice of this +species will produce the greatest return in poles, hoops, and rods every +five, six, seven, or eight years; and in middling soil, where it is +grown chiefly for faggot-wood, it will produce the greatest return every +three, four, or five years." + +Horses and cattle are fed on the leaves of the willow in some parts of +France. + +Willows are often "pollarded." That is, their tops are cut off, which +makes a large crop of young shoots spring out, giving a shock-headed +effect which in gnarled old pollards by river-banks is picturesque +enough. + +The "little woods" of willow on the river Thames and the Cam are well +known. They are small islands planted entirely with willows, and are +called osier-holts. + +Osier-beds of all kinds are very attractive "little woods." One always +fancies one ought to be able to make something of the long pliable +"sally-withys"--as the Wiltshire folk call willow switches. Indeed, as a +matter of fact, the making of rough garden-baskets is a very simple art, +especially on the Scotch and German system. Let any ingenious little +prowler in an osier-bed get two thickish willow-rods and fasten them at +the ends with a bit of wire, so as to make two hoops. These hoops are +then to intersect each other half-way up, one being perpendicular, to +form the handle and the bottom of the basket, the other being placed +horizontally, to form the rim. More wire will be needed to fix them in +their positions. Much finer willow-wands are used to wattle, or weave, +the basket-work; ribs of split osiers are added, and the wattling goes +in and out among them, and at once secures them and rests upon them. + +This account is not likely to be enough to teach the most intelligent of +our readers! But one fancies that a rough sort of basket-making might +almost be devised out of one's own head, especially if he had been +taught (as we were, by a favourite nursemaid) to plait rushes. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 1: A corf is a large basket used for carrying coals or other +minerals in a mine.] + + + + +MAY-DAY, + +OLD STYLE AND NEW STYLE. + + "Now the bright morning star, day's harbinger, + Comes dancing from the East, and leads with her + The flow'ry May, who from her green lap throws + The yellow cowslip and the pale primrose."--Milton. + + +On the whole, perhaps, May is the most beautiful of the English months, +especially the latter half of it; and yet I suppose very few May-days +come round on which we are not disposed to wonder why our ancestors did +not choose a warmer, and indeed a more flowery season for Maypoles and +garlands and out-door festivities. + +Children who live in the north of England especially must have a +painfully large proportion of disappointments out of the few May-days of +childhood. + +Books and pictures, old stories told by Papa or Mamma of clattering +chimney-sweeps and dancing May Queens, such as they saw in their young +days, or heard of from their elders, have perhaps roused in us two of +the strongest passions of childhood--the love of imitation and the love +of flowers. We are determined to have a May-bush round the +nursery-window, duly gathered before sunrise. "Pretty Bessy," our +nursemaid, can do anything with flowers, from a cowslip ball to a +growing forget-me-not garland. The girls are apt pupils, and pride +themselves on their birthday wreaths. The boys are admirably adapted for +May sweeps. Clatter is melodious in their ears. They would rather be +black than white. Burnt cork will disguise them effectually; but they +would prefer soot. A pole is forthcoming; ribbons are not wanting; the +poodle will dance with the best of us. We have a whole holiday on +Saints' Days, and the 1st of May is SS. Philip and James'. + +What then hinders our enjoyment, and makes it impossible to keep May-day +according to our hopes? + +Too often this. It is "too cold to dawdle about." Flowers are by no +means plentiful; they are pinched by the east wind. The May Queen would +have to dance in her winter clothes, and would probably catch cold even +then. It is not improbable that it will rain, and it is possible that it +may snow. Worse than all, the hawthorn-trees are behind time, and are as +obstinate as the head-nurse in not thinking the weather fit for coming +out. The May is not in blossom on May-day. + +And yet May-day used to be kept in the north of England as well as in +warmer nooks and corners. The truth is that one reason why we find the +weather less pleasant, and the flowers fewer than our forefathers did, +is that we keep May-day eleven days earlier in the year than they used +to do. + +To explain how this is, I must try and explain what Old Style and New +Style--in reckoning the days of the year--mean. + +First let me ask you how you can count the days. Supposing you wish to +remain just one day and night in a certain place, how will you know when +you have stayed the proper time? In one of two ways. Either you will +count twenty-four hours on the clock, or you will stay through all the +light of one day, and all the darkness of one night. That is, you will +count time either by the Clock or by the Sun. + +Now we say that there are 365 days in the year. But there are really a +few odd hours and minutes and seconds into the bargain. The reason of +this is that the Sun does not go by the Clock in making the days and +nights. Sometimes he spends rather more than twenty-four hours by the +Clock over a day and night; sometimes he takes less. On the whole, +during the year, he uses up more time than the Clock does. + +The Clock makes exactly 365 days of 24 hours each. The Sun makes 365 +days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, 49 seconds, and a tiny bit besides. + +Now in time these odd hours added together would come to days, and the +days to years. About fifteen hundred years of this little difference +between the Sun and the Clock would bring it up to a year. So that if +you went by the Clock you would say, "It is fifteen hundred years since +such a thing happened." And if you went by the Sun you would say, "It is +fifteen hundred and one years since it happened." + +Men who could think and calculate saw how inconvenient this would be, +and what mistakes it would lead to. If the difference did not come to +much in their lifetime, they could see that it would come to a serious +error for other people some day. So Julius Cæsar thought he would pull +the Clock and the Sun together by adding one day every four years to the +Clock's year to make up for the odd hours the Sun had been spinning out +during the three years before. The odd day was added to the month of +February, and that year (in which there are three hundred and sixty-six +days) is called Leap Year. + +You remember the old saw-- + + "Thirty days hath September, + April, June, and November; + February hath twenty-eight alone, + All the rest have thirty-one; + _Except in Leap Year, at which time + February's days are twenty-nine_." + +This is called the Old Style of reckoning. + +Now I dare say you think the matter was quite settled; but it was not, +unfortunately--the odd day every four years was just a tiny little bit +too much, and now the Clock was spending more time over her years than +the Sun. After more than sixteen hundred years the small mistake was +becoming serious, and Pope Gregory XIII decided that we must not have so +many leap years. For the future, in every four hundred years, three of +the Clock's extra days must be given up, and ten days were to be left +out of count at once to make up for the mistakes of years past. + +This change is what is called the New Style of Reckoning. Pope Gregory +began it in the year 1582, but we did not adopt it in England till 1752, +and as we had then nearly two hundred years more of the little mistake +to correct, _we_ had to leave _eleven_ days out of count. In Russia, +where our new Princess comes from, they have not got it yet. The New +Style was begun in England on September the 2nd. The next day, instead +of being called September the 3rd, was called September the 14th. Since +then we have gone on quite steadily, and played no more tricks with +either the Sun's year or the Clock's year. + +I wonder what happened in the year 1752 to all the children whose +birthdays came between September the 2nd and September the 14th! I hope +their birthday presents did not drop through because his Majesty George +the Second had let eleven birthdays slip out of that year's calendar, to +get the Clock and the Sun to work comfortably together. + +Now I think you will be able to see that in the next year after this +change, May-day was kept eleven days earlier in the Sun's year than the +year before; and it has been at an earlier season ever since, and +therefore in colder weather. May-day in the Old Style would have come +this year about the middle of the month; and as years rolled on it would +have been kept later and later in the summer, and thus in warmer and +warmer weather, because of that little mistake of Julius Cæsar. At last, +instead of complaining that the May is not out by May-day, people would +have had to complain that it was over. + +Now in the New Style we keep May-day almost in Spring, and, thanks to +Pope Gregory's clever arrangement, we shall always keep it at the same +season. + +It is not always cold on a May-day even in the north of England. I have +a vivid remembrance of at least one which was most balmy; and, when they +are warm enough for out-door enjoyment, the early days of the year seem, +like the early hours of the day, to have an exquisite freshness +peculiarly their own. Then the month of May, as a whole, is certainly +the month of flowers in the woods and fields. Autumn is the gayest +season of the garden, but Spring and early Summer give us the prettiest +of the wild-flowers. + + "Among the changing months May stands confest + The sweetest, and in fairest colours drest." + +That fine weather is not quite to be relied upon for May-day, even in +the Old Style, some of the old May-day customs seem to suggest. In the +Isle of Man it was the custom not only to have a "Queen of May," but +also a "Queen of Winter." The May Queen was, as elsewhere, some pretty +and popular damsel, gaily dressed, and with a retinue of maids of +honour. The Winter Queen was a man or boy dressed in woman's clothes of +the warmest kind--"woollen hood, fur tippet," &c. Fiddles and flutes +were played before the May Queen and her followers, whilst the Queen of +Winter and her troop marched to the sound of the tongs and cleaver. The +rival companies met on a common and had a mock battle, symbolizing the +struggle of Winter and Summer for supremacy. If the Queen of Winter's +forces contrived to capture the Queen of May, her floral majesty had to +be ransomed by payment of the expenses of the day's festivity. + +Whether the Queen of Winter conquered in bad weather, and her fairer +rival when the season was warm and the flowers abundant, we are not +told. + +This ceremony was probably learnt from the Danes and Norwegians, who +were long masters of the Isle of Man. _Olaus Magnus_, speaking of the +May-day customs of the Goths and Southern Swedes, says, "The captain of +one band hath the name and appearance of Winter, is clothed in skins of +beasts, and he and his band armed with fire-forks. They fling about +ashes, by way of prolonging the reign of Winter; while another band, +whose captain is called Florro, represents Spring, with green boughs +such as the season affords. These parties skirmish in sport, and the +mimic contest concludes with a general feast." + +A few years ago in the Isle of Man the hillsides blazed with bonfires +and resounded to horns on the 11th of May (May-eve, Old Style). "May +flowers" were put at the doors of houses and cattle-sheds, and these +were not hawthorn blossoms, but the flowers of the kingcup, or marsh +marigold. Crosses made of sprays of mountain ash were worn the same +night, and they, the bonfires and May flowers, were reckoned charms +against "wizards, witches, enchanters, and mountain hags." + +At Helston, in Cornwall, May-day seems to have been known by the name of +Furry Day. Perhaps a corruption of "Flora's Day." People wore hawthorn +in their hats, and danced hand-in-hand through the town to the sound of +a fiddle. This particular performance was known as a "faddy." + +It is probable that some of our May-day customs came from the Romans, +who kept the festival of Flora, the goddess of flowers, at this season. +Others, perhaps, have a different, if not an older source. One custom +was certainly common to both nations. When the feast of Flora was +celebrated, the young Romans went into the woods and brought back green +boughs with which they decked the houses. + +To "go a-Maying" is in fact the principal ceremony of the day wherever +kept, and for whatever reason. In the north of England children and +young folk "were wont to rise a little after midnight on the morning of +May-day, and walk to some neighbouring wood accompanied with music and +the blowing of horns, where they broke down branches from the trees, and +adorned them with nosegays and crowns of flowers. This done, they +returned homewards with their booty about the time of sunrise, and made +their doors and windows triumph in the flowery spoil." Stubbs, in the +_Anatomie of Abuses_ (A.D. 1585), speaks of this custom as +common to "every parish, town, and village." The churches, as well as +the houses, seem in some places to have been dressed with flowers and +greenery. + +In an old MS. of the sixteenth century it is said that on the feast of +SS. Philip and James, the Eton boys were allowed to go out at four +o'clock in the morning to gather May to dress their rooms, and sweet +herbs to perfume them, "if they can do it without wetting their feet!" + +Thirty or forty years ago May-day decorations, in some country places, +consisted of strewing the cottage doorsteps with daisies, or other +flowers. + +In Hertfordshire a curious custom obtained of decking the neighbours' +doors with May if they were popular, and with nettles if they were the +reverse. + +In Lancashire rustic wags put boughs of various trees at the doors of +the girls of the neighbourhood. Each tree had a meaning (well known in +the district), sometimes complimentary, and sometimes the reverse. + +In France it was customary for lovers to deck over-night the houses of +the ladies they wished to please, and school-boys paid a like compliment +to their masters. They do not seem, however, to have been satisfied with +nosegays or even with green branches; they transplanted young trees from +the woods to the side of the door they wished to honour, and then decked +them with ribbons, &c. There is a curious record that "Henry II., +wishing to recompense the clerks of Bazoche for their good services in +quelling an insurrection in Guienne, offered them money; but they would +only accept the permission granted them by the king, of cutting in the +royal woods such trees as they might choose for the planting of the +May--a privilege which existed at the commencement of the French +Revolution." In Cornwall, too, it seems to have been the custom to plant +"stumps of trees" before the houses, as well as to decorate them with +boughs and blossoms. And Mr. Aubrey (1686) says, "At Woodstock in Oxon +they every May-eve goe into the parke, and fetch away a number of +haw-thorne-trees, which they set before their dores; 'tis a pity that +they make such a destruction of so fine a tree." + +One certainly agrees with Mr. Aubrey. Thorns are slow to grow, hard to +transplant, and very lovely when they are old. It is not to be regretted +that such ruthless destruction of them has gone out of fashion. + +In Ireland "tall slender trees" seem to have been set up before the +doors, as well as "a green bush, strewed over with yellow flowers, which +the meadows yield plentifully." A writer, speaking of this in 1682, +adds, "A stranger would go nigh to imagine that they were all signs of +ale-sellers, and that all houses were ale-houses," referring to the old +custom of a bunch of green as the sign of an inn, which is illustrated +by the proverb, "Good wine needs no bush." I have an old etching of a +river-side inn, in which the sign is a garland hanging on a pole. + +I fancy the yellow flowers must have been cowslips, which the green +fields of Erin do indeed "yield plentifully." + +Besides these private May-trees, every village had its common Maypole, +gaily adorned with wreaths and flags and ribbons, and sometimes painted +in spiral lines of colour. The Welsh Maypoles seem to have been made +from birch-trees, elms were used in Cornwall, and young oaks in other +parts of England. Round these Maypoles the young villagers danced, and +green booths were often set up on the grass near them. + +In many villages the Maypole was as much a fixture as the parish stocks, +but when a new one was required, it was brought home on May-eve in grand +procession with songs and instrumental music. I am afraid there is a +good deal of evidence to show that the Maypoles were not always honestly +come by! However, the Puritan writers (from whose bitter and detailed +complaints we learn most of what we know about the early English May-day +customs) are certainly prejudiced, and perhaps not quite trustworthy +witnesses. One good man groans lamentably: "What adoe make our young men +at the time of May? Do they not use night watchings to rob and steale +young trees out of other men's grounde, and bring them into their +parishe, with minstrels playing before?" + +But as the theft must have been committed with all the publicity that a +fixed day, a large crowd, and a full band could ensure, and as we seem +to have no record of interference at the time, or prosecutions +afterwards, I hope we may infer that the owners of the woods did not +grudge one tree for the village Maypole. A quainter vengeance seems to +have sometimes followed the trespass. Honesty was at a discount. What +had been once stolen was liable to be re-stolen. There seems to have +been great rivalry among the villages as to which had the best Maypole. +The happy parish which could boast the finest was not left at ease in +its supremacy, for the lads of the other villages were always on the +watch to steal it. A record of this custom amongst the Welsh reminds one +that Wales was at once the land of bards and the home of Taffy the +Thief. "If successful," says Owen, speaking of these Maypole robbers, +they "had their feats recorded in songs." + +In old times oxen were commonly used for farmwork, and it seems that +they had their share in the May fun. Another Puritan writer says, "They +have twentie or fortie yoke of oxen, every oxe having a sweete nosegaie +of flowers tyed on the tippe of his hornes, and these oxen draw home +this Maie poole." + +How well one can imagine their slow swinging pace, unmoved by the +shouts and music which would stir a horse's more delicate nerves! Their +broad moist noses; their large, liquid eyes, and, doubtless, a certain +sense of pride in their "sweet nosegaies," like the pride of the Beast +of a Regiment in his badge. + +Horses, too, came in for their share of May decorations. It was an old +custom to give the waggoner a ribbon for his team at every inn he passed +on May-day. + +In the last century there was a fixed Maypole near Horncastle, in +Lincolnshire, to which the boys made a pilgrimage in procession every +May-day with May-gads in their hands. May-gads are white willow wands, +peeled, and dressed with cowslips. + +There was a fixed Maypole in the Strand for many years--or rather a +succession of Maypoles. One, when only four years old, was given to Sir +Isaac Newton to make a stand for his telescope, and another seems to +have had a narrow escape from being handed over to a less celebrated +astronomer, some years later. + +The wandering Maypole, with its Queen of the May and her chimney-sweeps, +is a modern compound of the village Maypole and May Queen with the May +games in which (as in the Christmas festivities) morris-dancers played a +part. The May-day morris-dancers, like the Christmas mummers, performed +sword-dances and sang appropriate doggerels in costume. The characters +represented at one time or another were Maid Marian or the May Queen, +Robin Hood or Lord of the May, Friar Tuck, Will Scarlet, Little John +Stokesley, Tom the Piper, Mad Moll and her Husband, Mutch, the Fool and +the Hobby Horse. Archery was amongst the May-day sports, especially in +the company of Robin Hood. The Summer King and Queen were perhaps the +oldest characters. They seem to be identical with the Lord and Lady, and +sometimes to have been merged in Robin Hood and Maid Marian. + + "Maid Marian fair as ivory bone, + Scarlet, and Mutch, and Little John." + +The King and Queen of May are spoken of in the thirteenth century, but +morris-dancing at May-time does not seem to date earlier than Henry +VII., and is not so old a custom as the immemorial one of going a-Maying + + "To bring the summer home + The summer and the May-O!" + +This was not confined to young people or to country-folk. Chaucer says +that on May-day early "fourth goth al the court, both most and lest, to +fetche the flowrès fresh, and braunch, and blome," and Henry VIII. kept +May-day very orthodoxly in the early years of his reign. + +Milkmaids have been connected with May-day customs from an early period. +Perhaps because syllabub and cream were the recognized dainties of the +festival. In Northumberland a ring used to be dropped into the syllabub +and fished for with a ladle. Whoever got it was to be the first married +of the party. An odd old custom in Suffolk suggests that the hawthorn +was not always ready even for the Old Style May-day. Any farm-servant +who could find a branch in full blossom might claim a dish of cream for +breakfast. The milkmaids who supplied London and other places used to +dress themselves gaily on May-day and go round from house to house +performing a dance, and receiving gratuities from their customers. On +their heads--instead of a milk-pail--they carried a curious trophy, +called the "Milkmaids' Garland," made of silver or pewter jugs, cups, +and other pieces of plate, which they borrowed for the occasion, and +which shone out of a mass of greenery and flowers. Possibly these were +at first the pewter measures with which they served out the milk. The +music to which the milkmaids' dance was performed, was the jangling of +bells of different tones depending from a round plate of brass mounted +upon a Maydecked pole; but a bag-pipe or fiddle was sometimes +substituted. + +Cream, syllabub, and dainties compounded with milk, belong in England to +the May festival. In Germany there is a "May drink" (said to be very +nice) made by putting woodruff into white Rhine wine, in the proportion +of a handful to a quart. Black currant, balm, or peppermint leaves are +sometimes added, and water and sugar. + +The milkmaids' place has been completely usurped by the sweeps, who +clatter a shovel and broom instead of the old plate and bells, and who +seem to have added the popular Jack-in-the-green to the entertainment. +Jack-in-the-green's costume is very simple. A wicker-work frame of an +extinguisher shape, thickly covered with green, is supported by the man +who carries it, and who peeps through a hole left for the purpose. +May-day has become the Sweeps' Carnival. Mrs. Montague (whose son is +said to have been stolen for a sweep in his childhood, and afterwards +found) used to give the sweeps of London a good dinner every May-day, on +the lawn before her house in Portman Square. + +Another May-day custom is that of the choristers assembling at five +o'clock in the morning on the top of the beautiful tower of Magdalen +College, Oxford, and ushering in the day with singing. At the same time +boys of the city armed with tin trumpets, called "May-horns," assemble +beneath the tower, and contribute more sound than harmony to the +celebration. Let us hope that it is not strictly a part of the old +ceremony, but rather a minor manifestation of "Town and Gown" feeling, +that the town boys jeer the choristers, and in return are pelted with +rotten eggs. The origin of this special Oxford custom is said to be a +requiem which was sung on the tower for the soul of Henry VII., founder +of the College. In the villages girls used to carry round May-garlands. +The party consisted of four children. Two girls in white dresses and gay +ribbons carried the garland, and were followed by a boy and girl called +"Lord and Lady," linked together by a white handkerchief, of which each +held an end. The Lady carried the purse, and when she received a +donation the Lord doffed his cap and kissed her. They sang a doggerel +rhyme, and the form in which money was asked was, "Please to handsel the +Lord and Lady's purse." + +One cannot help thinking that some of our flowers, such as Milkmaids, +Lords and Ladies, and Jack-in-the-green Primrose, bear traces of having +got their common names at the great flower festival of the year. + +In Cornwall boys carried the May-garland, which was adorned with painted +birds' eggs. Old custom gave these young rogues the privilege of +drenching with water from a bucket any one whom they caught abroad on +May-morning without a sprig of May. + +Mr. Aubrey says (1686): "At Oxford, the boyes do blow cows' horns all +night; and on May-day the young maids of every parish carry about their +parish garlands of flowers, which afterwards they hang up in their +churches." + +A generation or more ago the little boys of Oxford used to blow horns +early on May-day--as they said--"to call up the old maids." There was +once a custom in Lynn for the workhouse children to be allowed to go out +with horns and garlands every May-day, after which a certain worthy +gentleman gave them a good dinner. + +In Cambridgeshire, within the present century, the children had a doll +dressed as the "May Lady," before which they set a table with wine and +food on it; they also begged money and garlands for "the poor May Lady." + +There are some quaint superstitions connected with May-day and +May-blossom. To bathe the face in the dew of a May morning was reckoned +an infallible recipe for a good complexion. A bath of May dew was also +supposed to strengthen weakly children. Girls divined for dreams of +their future husbands with a sprig of hawthorn gathered before dusk on +May-eve, and carried home in the mouth without speaking. Hawthorn rods +were used at all seasons of the year to divine for water and minerals. +Bunches of May fastened against houses were supposed to keep away +witches and venomous reptiles, and to bring prosperity in various +shapes. + +The Irish of the neighbourhood of Killarney have a pretty superstition +that on May-day the O'Donoghue, a popular prince of by-gone days, +returns from the land of Immortal Youth beneath the water to bless the +country over which he once ruled. + +Some curious customs among the Scotch Highlanders (who call May 1st +_Beltan_ Day) have nothing in common with our Green Festival except as +celebrating the Spring. They seem to be the remains of very ancient +heathen sacrifices to Baal. They were performed by the herdsmen of the +district, and included an open-air feast of cakes and custard, to which +every one contributed, and which was cooked upon a fire on a turf left +in the centre of a square trench which had been dug for the purpose. +Some custard was poured out by way of libation. Every one then took a +cake of oatmeal, on which nine knobs had been pinched up before baking, +and turning his face to the fire threw the knobs over his shoulder, some +as offerings to the supposed guardians of the flock, and the rest in +propitiation of beasts and birds of prey, with the form "This to thee, +O Fox! spare my lambs! This to thee, O hooded Crow!" &c. In some places +the boys of the hamlet met on the moors for a similar feast, but the +turf table was round, and the oatcake divided into bits, one of which +was blackened with charcoal. These being drawn from a bonnet, the holder +of the black bit was held _devoted_ to Baal, and had to leap three times +over the bonfire. + +I do not know of any children's games that were peculiar to May-day. In +France they had a May-day game called _Sans-vert_. Those who played had +to wear leaves of the hornbeam-tree, and these were to be kept fresh, +under penalty of a fine. The chief object of the players was to surprise +each other without the proper leaves, or with faded specimens. + +A stupid old English custom of making fools of your friends on the 1st +of May as well as on the 1st of April hardly deserves the title of a +game. The victims were called "May goslings." + +One certainly would not expect to meet with anything like "Aunt Sally" +among May-day games, especially with the "May Lady" for butt! But not +the least curious part of a very curious account of May-day in +Huntingdonshire, which was sent to _Notes and Queries_ some years ago, +is the pelting of the May Lady as a final ceremony of the festival. The +May-garlands carried round in Huntingdonshire villages appear to have +been more like the "milkmaids' garland" than genuine wreaths. They were +four to five feet high, extinguisher-shaped, with every kind of spring +flower in the apex, and with ribbons and gay kerchiefs hanging down from +the base, by the round rim of which the garland was carried; the +flower-peak towering above, and the gay streamers depending below. +Against this erection (not unlike the "mistletoe boughs" of the North of +England) was fastened a gaily-dressed doll. The bearers were two little +girls, who acted as maids of honour to the May Queen. Mr. Cuthbert Bede +describes her Majesty as he saw her twenty years ago. She wore a white +frock, and a bonnet with a white veil. A wreath of real flowers lay on +the bonnet. She carried a pocket-handkerchief bag and a parasol (the +latter being regarded as a special mark of dignity). An "Odd Fellows'" +ribbon and badge completed her costume. The maids of honour bore the +garland after her, whose peak was crowned with "tulips, anemones, +cowslips, kingcups, meadow-orchis, wall-flower, primrose, +crown-imperial, lilac, laburnum," and "other bright flowers." Votive +offerings were dropped into the pocket-handkerchief bag, and with these +a feast was provided for the children. If the gifts had been liberal, +"goodies" were proportionately plentiful. Finally, the May-garland was +suspended from a rope hung across the village street, and the children +pelted the May-doll with balls provided for the occasion. Their chief +aim was to hit her nose. + +Another correspondent of _Notes and Queries_ speaks of ropes with dolls +suspended from them as being stretched across every village street in +Huntingdonshire on May-day, and adds, that not only ribbons and flowers +were attached to these swinging May Ladies, but articles of every +description, including "candlesticks, snuffers, spoons, and forks." + +There are no May carols rivalling those of Christmas, and the verses +which children sing with their garlands are very bald as a rule. + +A Maypole song of the Gloucestershire children would do very well to +dance to-- + + "Round the Maypole, trit-trit-trot! + See what a Maypole we have got; + Fine and gay, + Trip away, + Happy is our New May-day." + +I have read of a pretty old Italian custom for the friends of prisoners +to assemble outside the prison walls on May-day and join with them in +songs. They are also said to have permission to have a May-day feast +with them. + +Under all its various shapes, and however adapted to the service of +particular heathen deities, or to very rude social festivity, the root +of the May-day festival lies in the expression of feelings both natural +and right. Thankfulness for the return of Spring, anxiety for the coming +harvests of the fruits of the earth, and that sense of exhilaration and +hopefulness which the most exquisite of seasons naturally brings--brings +more strongly perhaps in the youth of a nation, in those earlier stages +of civilization when men are very dependent upon the weather, and upon +the produce of their own particular neighbourhood--brings most strongly +of all to one's own youth, to the light heart, the industrious fancy, +the uncorrupted taste of childhood. + +May-day seems to me so essentially a children's festival, that I think +it is a great pity that English children should allow it to fall into +disuse. One certainly does not love flowers less as one grows up, but +they are more like persons, and their ways are more mysterious to one in +childhood. The cares of grown-up life, too, are not of the kind from +which we can easily get a whole holiday. We should do well to try +oftener than we do. Wreaths do not become us, and we have allowed our +joints to grow too stiff for Maypole dancing. But we who used to sigh +for whole holidays can give them! We can prepare the cakes and cream, +and provide ribbons for the Maypole, and show how garlands were made in +our young days. We are very grateful for wild-flowers for the +drawing-room. To say the truth, they last longer with us than with the +children, and perhaps we combine the delicate hues of spring, and +lighten our nosegays by grass and sword-flags and rushes with more +cunning fingers than those of the little ones who gathered them. + +For these is reserved the real bloom of May-day! And the orthodox +customs are so various, that families of any size or age may pick and +choose. One brother and sister can be Lord and Lady of the May. One +sister among many brothers must be May Queen without opposition. Those +of the party most apt to catch cold in the treacherous sunshine and damp +winds of spring should certainly represent the Winter Queen and her +attendants, in the warmest possible clothing and the thickest of boots. +The morning air will then probably only do them a great deal of good. It +is not desirable to dig up the hawthorn-trees, or to try to do so, even +with wooden spades. The votive offering of flowers for her drawing-room +should undoubtedly await Mamma when she comes down to breakfast, and I +heartily wish her as abundant a variety as Mr. Cuthbert Bede saw on the +Huntingdonshire garland. That Nurse should have a bunch of May is only +her due; and of course the nursery must be decorated. Long strips of +coloured calico form good ribbons for the Maypole. Bows and arrows are +easily made. It is also easy to cut one's fingers in notching the +arrows. When you are tired of dancing, you can be Robin Hood's merry +men, and shoot. When all the arrows are lost, and you have begun to +quarrel about the target, it will be well to hang up an old doll and +throw balls at her nose. Dressing-up is, at any time, a delightful +amusement, and there is a large choice among May-day characters. No +wardrobe can fail to provide the perfectly optional costumes of Mad Moll +and her husband. There are generally some children who never will learn +their parts, and who go astray from every pre-arranged plan. By any two +such the last-named characters should be represented. In these, as in +all children's games, "the more the merrier"; and as there is no limit +to the number of sweeps, the largest of families may revel in burnt +cork, even if dust-pans in proportion fail. If a bonfire is more +appropriate to the weather than a Maypole, we have the comfort of +feeling that it is equally correct. + +It is hardly needful to impress upon the boys what vigour the blowing of +horns and penny trumpets will impart to the ceremonies; but they may +require to be reminded that Eton men in old days were only allowed to go +a-Maying on condition that they did not wet their feet! + +Above all, out-door May Fun is no fun unless the weather is fine; and I +hope this little paper will show that if the 1st of May is chilly, and +the flowers are backward, nothing can be more proper than to keep our +feast on the 12th of May--_May-day, Old Style_. If the Clerk of the +Weather Office is unkind on both these days, give up out-door fun at +once, and prepare for a fancy-ball in the nursery; all the guests to be +dressed as May-day characters. Garland-making and country expeditions +can then be deferred till Midsummer-day. It is not _very_ long to wait, +and penny trumpets do not spoil with keeping. + +But do not be defrauded of at least one early ramble in the woods and +fields. It is well, in the impressionable season of life, to realize, if +only occasionally, how much of the sweetest air, the brightest and best +hours of the day, people spend in bed. Any one who goes out every day +before breakfast knows how very seldom he is kept in by bad weather. For +one day when it rains very early there are three or four when it rains +later. But we wait till the world has got dirty, and the air full of the +smoke of thousands of breakfasts, and clouds are beginning to gather, +and then we say England has a horrible climate. I do not believe in many +quack medical prescriptions, but I have the firmest faith in May dew as +a wash for the complexion. Any morning dew is nearly as efficacious if +it is gathered in warm clothes, thick boots, and at a sufficient +distance from home. + +There are some households in which there are no children, and there are +some in which the good things of this life are very abundant. To these +it may not be very impertinent to suggest a remembrance of the old +alderman of Lynn's kindly benefaction. To beg leave for the children of +the workhouse to gather May-day nosegays for you, and to give them a May +feast afterwards, would be to give pleasure of a kind in which such +unhomely lives are most deficient. A country ramble "with an object," +and the grace-in-memory of a traditionary holiday and feast, shared in +common with many homes and with other children. + +To go a-Maying "to fetche the flowrès fresh" is indeed the best part of +the whole affair. + +But, when the sunny bank under the hedge is pale with primroses, when +dog-violets spread a mauve carpet over clearings in the little wood, if +cowslips be plentiful though oxslips are few, and rare orchids bless the +bogs of our locality, pushing strange insect heads, through beds of +_Drosera_ bathed in perpetual dew--then, dear children, restrain the +natural impulse to grub everything up and take the whole flora of the +neighbourhood home in your pinafores. In the first place, you can't. In +the second place, it would be very hard on other people if you could. +Cull skilfully, tenderly, unselfishly, and remember what my mother used +to say to me and my brothers and sisters when we were "collecting" +anything, from fresh-water algæ to violet roots for our very own +gardens, "_Leave some for the Naiads and Dryads_." + + + + +IN MEMORIUM, MARGARET GATTY + + In Memoriam. + + MARGARET, + + [Daughter of the Rev. Alexander John Scott, D.D.] + + (LORD NELSON'S CHAPLAIN, AND THE FRIEND IN WHOSE ARMS HE DIED AT + TRAFALGAR), + + was Born June 3rd, 1809. + + In 1839 she was Married to the Rev. Alfred Gatty, + + OF ECCLESFIELD, YORKSHIRE, + + where she Died on October the 4th, 1873, aged 64. + +My mother became editor of _Aunt Judy's Magazine_ in May 1866. It was +named after one of her most popular books--_Aunt Judy's Tales_; and Aunt +Judy became a name for herself with her numerous child-correspondents. + +The ordinary work of editorship was heavily increased by her kindness to +tyro authors, and to children in want of everything, from advice on a +life-vocation to old foreign postage stamps. No consideration of the +value of her own time could induce her to deal summarily with what one +may call her magazine children, and her correspondents were of all ages +and acquirements, from nursery aspirants barely beyond pothooks to such +writers as the author of _A Family Man for Six Days_, and other charming +Australian reminiscences, who still calls her his "literary godmother." + +The peculiar relation in which she stood to so many of the readers of +_Aunt Judy_ has been urged upon me as a reason for telling them +something more about her than that she is dead and gone, especially as +by her peremptory wish no larger record of her life will ever be made +public. I need hardly disclaim any thought of expressing an opinion on +her natural powers, or the value of those labours from which she rests; +but whatever of good there was in them she devoted with real +affectionate interest to the service of a much larger circle of children +than of those who now stand desolate before her empty chair. And those +whom she has so long taught have, perhaps, some claim upon the lessons +of her good example. + +Most well-loved pursuits, perhaps most good habits of our lives, owe +their origin to our being stirred at one time or another to the +imitation of some one better, or better gifted than ourselves. We can +remember dates at which we began to copy what our present friends may +fancy to be innate peculiarities of our own character. The conviction of +this truth, and of the strong influence which little details of lives +we admire have in forming our characters in childhood, persuade me to +the hard task of writing at all of my dear mother, and guide me in +choosing those of the things that we remember about her which may help +her magazine children on matters about which they have oftenest asked +her counsel. + +Many of her own innumerable hobbies had such origins, I know. The +influence of German literature on some of her writings is very obvious, +and this most favourite study sprang chiefly from a very early fit of +hero-worship for Elizabeth Smith, whose precocious and unusual +acquirements she was stirred to emulate, and whose enthusiasm for +Klopstock she caught. The fly-leaf of her copy of the Smith _Remains_ +bears (in her handwriting) the date 1820, with her name as Meta Scott; a +form of her own Christian name which she probably adopted in honour of +Margaretta--or Meta--Klopstock, and by which she was well known to +friends of her youth. + +She often told us, too, of the origin of another of her accomplishments. +She was an exquisite caligraphist. Not only did she write the most +beautiful and legible of handwritings, but, long before illuminating was +"fashionable," she illuminated on vellum; not by filling up printed +texts or copying ornamental letters from handbooks of the art, but in +valiant emulation of ancient MSS.; designing her own initial letters, +with all varieties of characters, with "strawberry" borders, and gold +raised and burnished as in the old models. I do not know when she first +saw specimens of the old illuminations, for which she had always the +deepest admiration, but it was in a Dante fever that she had resolved to +write beautifully, because fine penmanship had been among the +accomplishments of the great Italian poet. How well she succeeded her +friends and her printers knew to their comfort! To Dante she dedicated +some of her best efforts in this art. In 1826, when she was seventeen, +she began to translate the _Inferno_ into English verse. She made fair +copies of each canto in exquisite writing, and dedicated them to various +friends on covers which she illuminated. The most highly-finished was +that dedicated to an old friend, Lord Tyrconnel, and the only plain one +was the one dedicated to another friend, Sir Thomas Lawrence. The +dedication was written in fine long characters, but there was no +painting on the cover of the canto dedicated to the painter. + +I do not know at what date my mother began to etch on copper. It was a +very favourite pursuit through many years of her life, both before and +after her marriage. She never sketched much in colour, but her +pencil-drawings are amongst the most valuable legacies she has left us. +Trees were her favourite subjects. One of her most beautiful drawings in +my possession is of a tree, marked to fall, beneath which she wrote: + + "Das ist das Loos des Schönen auf der Erde."[2] + +Of another talent nothing now remains to us but her old music-books and +memories of long evenings when she played Weber and Mozart. + +But to a large circle of friends, most of whom have gone before her, she +was best known as a naturalist in the special department of phycology. +She has left a fine collection of British and foreign sea-weeds and +zoophytes. Never permitted the privilege of foreign travel--for which +she so often longed--her sea-spoils have been gathered from all shores +by those who loved her; and there are sea-weeds yet in press sent by +_Aunt Judy_ friends from Tasmania, which gave pleasure to the last days +of her life. She did so keenly enjoy everything at which she worked that +it is difficult to say in which of her hobbies she found most happiness; +but I am disposed to give her natural history pursuits the palm. + +Natural history brought her some of her dearest friends. Dr. Johnston, +of Berwick-on-Tweed, to whom she dedicated the first volume of the +_Parables from Nature_, was one of these; and with Dr. Harvey (author of +the _Phycologia Britannica_, &c.) she corresponded for ten years before +they met. Like herself, he combined a playful and poetical fancy with +the scientific faculty, and they had sympathy together in the +distinctive character of their religious belief, and in the worship of +God in His works. But these, and many others, have "gone +before." + +One of her "collections" was an unusual one. Through nearly forty years +she collected the mottoes on old sun-dials, and made sketches of the +dials themselves. In this also she had many helpers, and the collection, +which had swelled to about four hundred, was published last year. +Amateur bookbinding and mowing were among the more eccentric of her +hobbies. With the latter she infected Mr. Tennyson, and sent him a light +Scotch scythe like her own. + +The secret of her success and of her happiness in her labours was her +thoroughness. It was a family joke that in the garden she was never +satisfied to dabble in her flower-beds like other people, but would +always clear out what she called "the Irish corners," and attack bits of +waste or neglected ground from which everybody else shrank. And amongst +our neighbours in the village, those with whom, day after day, time +after time, she would plead "the Lord's controversy," were those with +whom every one else had failed. Some old village would-be sceptic, half +shame-faced, half conceited, who had not prayed for half a lifetime, or +been inside a church except at funerals; careworn mothers fossilized in +the long neglect, of religious duties; sinners whom every one else +thought hopeless, and who most-of all counted themselves so--if +God indeed permits us hereafter to bless those who led us to +Him here, how many of these will rise up and call her blessed! + +Her strong powers of sympathy were not confined to human beings alone. A +more devoted lover of "beasts" can hardly exist. The household pets were +about her to the end; and she only laughed when the dogs stole the bread +and butter from her helpless hands. + +Her long illness, perhaps, did less to teach us to do without her, than +long illnesses commonly do; because her sick-room was so little like a +sick-room, and her interests never narrowed to the fretful circle of +mere invalid fears and fancies. The strong sense of humour, which never +left her, helped her through many a petty annoyance; and to the last she +kept one of her most striking qualities, so well described by Trench-- + + ---- "a child's pure delight in little things." + +Whatever interest this little record of some of my mother's tastes and +acquirements may have for her young readers, its value must be in her +example. + +Whatever genius she may have had, her industry was far more remarkable. +The pen of a ready writer is not grasped by all fingers, and gifts are +gifts, not earnings. But to cultivate the faculties God has +given us to His glory, to lose petty cares, ignoble pleasures, and small +grievances, in the joy of studying His great works, to be good to His +creatures, to be truthful beyond fear or flattery, to be pure of heart +and tongue far beyond the common, to keep up an honest, zealous war with +wickedness, and never to lose heart or hope for wicked men--these things +are within the power as well as the ambition of us all. + +I must point out to some of the young aspirants after her literary fame, +that though the date in Elizabeth Smith's _Remains_ shows my mother to +have been only eleven years old when she got it, and though she worked +and studied indefatigably all her girlhood, her first original work was +not published till she was forty-two years old. + +Of the lessons of her long years of suffering I cannot speak. A form of +paralysis which left her brain as vigorous as ever, stole the cunning +from her hand, and the use of her limbs and voice, through ten years of +pain and privation, in which she made a willing sacrifice of her powers +to the will of God. + +If some of her magazine children who enjoy "advantages" she never had, +who visit places and see sights for which she longed in vain, and who +are spared the cross she bore so patiently, are helped by this short +record of their old friend, it may somewhat repay the pain it has cost +in writing. + +Trench's fine sonnet was a great favourite of my mother's-- + + "To leave unseen so many a glorious sight, + To leave so many lands unvisited, + To leave so many books unread, + Unrealized so many visions bright;-- + Oh! wretched yet inevitable spite + Of our short span, and we must yield our breath, + And wrap us in the unfeeling coil of death, + So much remaining of unproved delight, + But hush, my soul, and vain regrets be still'd; + Find rest in Him Who is the complement + Of whatsoe'er transcends our mortal doom, + Of broken hope and frustrated intent; + In the clear vision and aspect of Whom + All wishes and all longings are fulfill'd." + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 2: "Such is the lost of the beautiful upon +earth."--_Wallenstein's Tod_.] + + + + +TALES OF THE KHOJA.[3] + +(_Adapted from the Turkish._) + +INTRODUCTION. + + +"O my children!" said the story-teller, "do you indeed desire amusement +by the words of my lips? Then shut your mouths, that the noise you make +may be abated, and I may hear myself speak; and open your ears, that you +may be entertained by the tales that I shall tell you. Shut your mouths +and open your ears, I say, and you will, without doubt, receive pleasure +from what I shall have to relate of Khoja Nasr-ed-Deen-Effendi. + +"This Khoja was not altogether a wise man, nor precisely a fool, nor +entirely a knave. + +"It is true, O children, that his wisdom was flecked with folly, but +what saith the proverb? 'No one so wise but he has some folly to spare.' +Moreover, in his foolishness there was often a hidden meaning, as a +letter is hid in a basket of dates--not for every eye. + +"As to his knaveries, they were few, and more humorous than injurious. +Though be it far from me, O children, as a man of years and probity, to +defend the conduct of the Khoja to the Jew money-lender. + +"What about the Jew money-lender, do you ask? + +"This is the tale." + + +_Tale_ 1.--The Khoja and the Nine Hundred and Ninety-nine Pieces of +Gold. + +This Khoja was very poor. + +One day, wishing for a piece of gold, he corrected himself, saying: "It +costs no more to wish for a thousand pieces than for one. I wish for a +thousand gold pieces." + +And he repeated aloud--"I wish for a thousand pieces of gold. _I would +not accept one less._" + +Now it so happened that he was overheard by a certain covetous Jew +money-lender. This man was of a malicious disposition; and the poverty +of the Khoja was a satisfaction to him. When he heard what the Khoja +said he chuckled to himself, saying, "Truly this Khoja is a funny +fellow, and it would be a droll thing to see him refuse nine hundred and +ninety-nine pieces of gold. For without doubt he would keep his word." + +And as he spoke, the Jew put nine hundred and ninety-nine gold pieces +into a purse, and dropped the purse down the Khoja's chimney, with the +intention of giving him annoyance. + +The Khoja picked up the purse and opened it. + +"Allah be praised!" he cried, "for the fulfilment of my desires. Here +are the thousand pieces." + +Meanwhile the Jew was listening at the chimney-top, and he heard the +Khoja begin to count the coins. When he got to the nine hundred and +ninety-ninth, and had satisfied himself that there was not another, he +paused, and the Jew merchant held his breath. + +At last the Khoja spoke. + +"O my soul!" said he, "is it decent to spit in the face of good fortune +for the sake of one gold piece in a thousand? Without doubt it is an +oversight, and he who sent these will send the missing one also." Saying +which, the Khoja put the money into his sash and sat down to smoke. + +The Jew now became fidgety, and he hastened down to the Khoja's door, at +which he knocked, and entering, said, "Good-day, Khoja Effendi. May I +ask you to be good enough to restore to me my nine hundred and +ninety-nine gold pieces?" + +"Are you mad, O Jew money-lender?" replied the Khoja. "Is it likely +that you would throw gold down my chimney? These pieces fell from heaven +in fulfilment of my lawful desires." + +"O my soul, Khoja!" cried the Jew, "I did it, indeed! It was a jest, O +Khoja! You said, 'I will not take one less than a thousand,' wherefore I +put nine hundred and ninety-nine pieces in the purse, and it was for a +joke." + +"I do not see the joke," said the Khoja, "but I have accepted the gold +pieces." And he went on smoking. + +The Jew money-lender now became desperate. + +"Let us go to the magistrate," he cried. "The Cadi Effendi shall decide +between us." + +"It is well said," replied the Khoja. "But it would not beseem a Khoja +like myself to go through the public streets to the court on foot; and I +am poor, and have no mule." + +"O my soul!" said the Jew, "let not that trouble you. I will send and +fetch one of my mules." + +But when the mule was at the door, the Khoja said: "Is it fitting, O +money-lender, that a Khoja like myself should appear in these rags +before a Cadi Effendi? But I am poor, and have no suitable dress." + +"Let not that be a hindrance, O Khoja!" said the Jew. "For I have a +pelisse made of the most beautiful fur, which I will send for without +delay." + +In due time this arrived, and, richly clothed, the Khoja rode through +the streets with a serene countenance, the Jew money-lender running +after him in the greatest anxiety. + +When they came before the Cadi, the Jew prostrated himself, and cried in +piteous tones, "Help, O most noble Dispenser of Justice! This Khoja has +stolen from me nine hundred and ninety-nine pieces of gold--and now he +denies it." + +Then the Cadi turned to the Khoja, who said: "O Cadi Effendi, I did +indeed earnestly desire a thousand pieces of gold, and this purse came +to me in fulfilment of my wishes. But when I counted the pieces I found +one short. Then I said, 'The bountiful giver of these will certainly +send the other also.' So I accepted what was given to me. But in this +Jew money-lender is the spirit of covetousness. For half a farthing, O +Cadi, he would, without doubt, lay claim to the beast I ride, or to the +coat on my back." + +"O my soul!" screamed the Jew. "It is indeed true that they are mine. +The mule and the fur pelisse belong to me, O Cadi!" + +"O you covetous rascal!" said the Cadi, "you will lay claim to my turban +next, or to the Sultan's horses." And he commanded the Jew to be driven +from his presence. + +But the Khoja rode home again, and--he accepted the mule and the fur +pelisse, as well as the nine hundred and ninety-nine pieces of gold. + + +_Tale_ 2.--The Khoja at the Marriage Feast. + +On the following day Khoja Effendi went to a marriage feast, dressed in +his old clothes. + +His appearance was indeed very shabby, and the attendants were almost +disposed to refuse him admission, but he slipped in whilst honours and +compliments were being paid on the arrival of some grander guests. Even +those who knew him well were so much ashamed of his dress as to be glad +to look another way to avoid saluting him. + +All this was quickly observed by the Khoja, and after a few moments +(during which no one asked him to be seated) he slipped out and ran +home, where he put on the splendid fur pelisse which he had accepted +from the Jew money-lender, and so returned to the door of the house of +feasting. + +Seeing a guest so richly apparelled draw near, the servants ran out to +meet him with all signs of respect, and the master of the feast came out +also to meet him with other guests, saluting him and saying, "Welcome, +O most learned Khoja!" And all who knew him saluted him in like manner, +and secretly blessed themselves that his acquaintance did them credit. + +But the Khoja looked neither to the right hand nor to the left, and he +made no reply. + +Then they led him to the upper end of the table, crying, "Please to be +seated, Khoja Effendi!" + +Whereupon the Khoja seated himself, but he did not speak, and the guests +stood round him, waiting to hear what should fall from his lips. + +And when the Khoja had been served with food, he took hold of the sleeve +of his pelisse and pulled it towards the dish, saying, in a tone of +respect, "O most worthy and honourable pelisse! be good enough to +partake of this dish. In the name of the Prophet I beseech you do not +refuse to taste what has been hospitably provided." + +"What is this, Khoja?" cried the people, "and what do you mean by +offering food to a fur pelisse that can neither hear nor eat?" + +"O most courteous entertainers!" replied the Khoja, "since the pelisse +has commanded such respect at your hands, is it not proper that it +should also partake of the food?" + + +_Tale_ 3.--The Khoja's Slippers. + +One day, when the idle boys of the neighbourhood were gathered together +and ready for mischief, they perceived the Khoja approaching. + +"Here comes this mad Khoja!" they said. "Let us now persuade him to +climb the largest of these mulberry-trees, and whilst he is climbing we +will steal his slippers." + +And when the Khoja drew near, they cried, "O Khoja, here is indeed a +tree which it is not possible to climb." + +The Khoja looked at the mulberry-tree and said, "You are in error, my +children, any one of you could climb that tree." + +But they said, "We cannot." + +Then said the Khoja, "I, who am an old man, could climb that +mulberry-tree." + +Then the boys cried, "O most illustrious Khoja! we beseech of you to +climb the tree before our eyes, that we may believe what you say, and +also be encouraged to try ourselves." + +"I will climb it," said the Khoja. Thereupon he kicked off his slippers +as the children had anticipated; and tucking his skirts into his girdle, +he prepared to climb. + +[Illustration: THE KHOJA'S SLIPPERS.] + +But whilst they were waiting to steal his slippers, the Khoja put them +into his pocket. + +"Effendi Khoja," said the children, "wherefore do you not leave your +slippers on the ground? What will you do with slippers up in the +mulberry-tree?" + +"O my children!" said the Khoja dryly, "it is good to be provided +against everything. I may come upon a road further up." + + +_Tale_ 4.--The Khoja and the Three Wise Men. + +In the days of Effendi Nasr-ed-Deen Khoja there appeared in the world +three Sages, who excelled in every science and in all wisdom. + +Now it came to pass that in their journeys these wise men passed through +the country of the Sultan Ala-ed-Deen, who desired to see them, and to +make them partake of his hospitality. + +And when the Sultan had seen and heard them, he said: "O Sages, there is +indeed nothing wanting to you but that you should embrace the faith and +become Turks, and remain in my kingdom. Wherefore I beseech of you to do +this without further delay." + +Then the wise men replied to the Padisha: "We will, if it please you, +ask three questions of your learned men. One question shall be asked by +each of us, and if they are able to answer these questions, we will +embrace your faith, and remain with you as you desire. And if not, we +will depart in peace, and prolong our journeys as heretofore." + +Then the Padisha replied: "So be it." And he assembled the learned men +and counsellors of his kingdom, and the Sages put questions to them, +which they could not answer. + +Then the Sultan Ala-ed-Deen was full of wrath, and he said, "Is this my +kingdom, and am I the ruler of it; and is there not indeed one man of my +subjects wise enough to answer the questions of these unbelieving +Sages?" + +And his servants replied: "There is indeed no one who could answer these +questions, except it be Khoja Nasr-ed-Deen Effendi." + +Then the Sultan commanded, and they despatched a Tatar in all haste to +summon Nasr-ed-Deen Effendi to the presence of the Padisha. + +When the messenger arrived, he told his errand to the Khoja, who at once +rose up, saddled his donkey, took a stick in his hand, and mounted, +saying to the Tatar, "Go before me!" + +Thus they came to the palace, and the Khoja entered the presence of the +Sultan, and gave the salaam and received it in return. Then he was shown +where to sit, and being seated, and having made a prayer for the +Padisha, "O most noble Sultan," said he, "wherefore have you brought me +hither, and what is your will with me?" + +Then the Sultan explained the circumstances of the case, and the Khoja +cried, "What are the questions? Let me hear them." + +Then the first wise man came forward and said: "_My_ question, most +worshipful Effendi, is this: Where is the middle of the world?" + +The Khoja, without an instant's hesitation, pointed with his stick to a +fore-hoof of his donkey. + +"There," said he, "exactly where my donkey's foot is placed--there is +the centre of the earth." + +"How do you know that?" asked the Sage. + +"If you do not believe me," replied the Khoja, "measure for yourself. If +you find it wrong one way or the other, I will acknowledge my error." + +The second Sage now came forward and said: "O Khoja Effendi, how many +stars are there on the face of this sky?" + +"The same number," replied the Khoja, "as there are hairs on my donkey." + +"How do you know that?" asked the wise man. + +"If you do not believe me," replied the Khoja, "count for yourself. If +there is a hair too few or too many, I will acknowledge my error." + +"O most learned Khoja!" said the wise man, "have you indeed counted the +hairs on your donkey?" + +"O most venerable Sage!" replied the Khoja, "have you indeed numbered +the stars of the sky?" + +But as the Khoja spoke the third wise man came forward and said: "Most +worshipful Effendi! Be pleased now to hear my question, and if you can +answer it, we will conform to the wishes of the Sultan. How many hairs +are there in my beard?" + +"As many," replied the Khoja, "as there are hairs in my donkey's tail." + +"How do you know that?" asked the wise man. + +"If you do not believe me, count for yourself," said the Khoja. + +But the wise man replied: "It is for you to count, and to prove to me +the truth of what you say." + +"With all my heart," replied the Khoja. "And I will do it in a way that +cannot possibly fail. I shall first pull out a hair from your beard, and +then one from my donkey's tail, and then another from your beard, and so +on. Thus at the end it will be seen whether the number of the hairs of +each kind exactly correspond." + +But the wise man did not wait for this method of proof to be enforced by +the Sultan. He hastily announced himself as a convert to the Padisha's +wishes. The other two Sages followed his example, and their wisdom was +for many years the light of the court of the Sultan Ala-ed-Deen. + +Moreover, they became disciples of the Khoja. + + +_Tale_ 5.--The Khoja's Donkey. + +One day there came a man to the house of the Khoja to ask him for the +loan of his donkey. + +"The donkey is not at home," replied the Khoja, who was unwilling to +lend his beast. + +At this moment the donkey brayed loudly from within. + +"O Khoja Effendi!" cried the man, "what you say cannot be true, for I +can hear your donkey quite distinctly as I stand here." + +"What a strange man you must be," said the Effendi. "Is it possible that +you believe a donkey rather than me, who am grey-haired and a Khoja?" + + +_Tale_ 6.--The Khoja's Gown. + +One day the Khoja's wife, having washed her husband's gown, hung it out +in the garden to dry. + +Now in the dusk of the evening the Khoja repaired to his garden, where +he saw, as he believed, a thief standing with outstretched arms. + +"O you rascal!" he cried, "is it you who steal my fruit? But you shall +do so no more." + +And having called to his wife for his bow and arrows, the Khoja took +aim and pierced his gown through the middle. Then without waiting to see +the result he hastened into his house, secured the door with much care, +and retired to rest. + +When morning dawned, the Khoja went out into the garden, where +perceiving that what he had hit was his own gown, he seated himself and +returned thanks to the All-merciful Disposer of Events. + +"Truly," said he, "I have had a narrow escape. If I had been inside it, +I should have been dead long before this!" + + +_Tale_ 7.--The Khoja and the Fast of Ramadan. + +In a certain year, when the holy month of the fast of Ramadan was +approaching, Khoja Nasr-ed-Deen took counsel with himself and resolved +not to observe it. + +"Truly," said he, "there is no necessity that I should fast like the +common people. I will rather provide myself with a vase into which I +will drop a stone every day. When there are thirty pebbles in the vase, +I shall know that Ramadan is over, and I shall then be able to keep the +feast of Bairam at the proper season." + +Accordingly, on the first day of the month the Khoja dropped a stone +into the vase, and so he continued to do day by day. + +Now the Khoja had a little daughter, and it came to pass that one day +the child, having observed the pebbles in the vase, went out and +gathered a handful and added them to the rest. But her father was not +aware of it. + +[Illustration: THE KHOJA COUNTS.] + +On the twenty-fifth day of Ramadan the Khoja met at the Bazaar with +certain of his neighbours, who said to him, "Be good enough, most +learned Khoja, to tell us what day of the month it is." + +"Wait a bit, and I will see," replied the Khoja. Saying this, he ran to +his house, emptied the vase, and began to count the stones. To his +amazement he found that there were a hundred and twenty! + +"If I say as much as this," thought the Khoja, "they will call me a +fool. Even half would be more than could be believed." + +So he went back to the Bazaar and said, "It is the full forty-fifth of +the month, quite that." + +"O Khoja!" the neighbours replied, "there are only thirty days in a +complete month, and do you tell us to-day is the forty-fifth?" + +"O neighbours!" answered the Khoja, "believe me, I speak with +moderation. If you look into the vase, you will find that according to +its account to-day is the one hundred and twentieth." + + +_Tale_ 8.--The Khoja and the Thief. + +One day a thief got into the Khoja's house, and the Khoja watched him. + +The thief poked here, there, and everywhere, and after collecting all +that he could carry, he put the load on his back and went off. + +The Khoja then came out, and hastily gathering up the few things which +were left of his property, he put them on his own back, and hurried +after the thief. + +At last he arrived before the door of the thief's house, at which he +knocked. + +"What do you want?" said the thief. + +"Why, we are moving into this house, aren't we?" said the Khoja. "I've +brought the rest of the things." + + +_Tale_ 9.--The Bird of Prey and the Piece of Soap. + +One day the Khoja went with his wife to wash clothes at the head of a +spring. + +They had placed the soap beside them on the ground, and were just about +to begin, when a black bird of prey swooped suddenly down, and snatching +up the soap, flew away with it, believing it to be some kind of food. + +"Run, Khoja, run!" cried the distracted wife. "Make haste, I beseech +you, and catch that thief of a bird. He has carried off my soap." + +"O wife!" replied the Khoja, "let him alone. He wants it more than we +do, poor fellow! Our clothes are not half so black as what he has got +on." + + +_Tale_ 10.--The Khoja and the Wolves. + +"Wife!" said the Khoja one day, "how do you know when a man is dead?" + +"When his hands and feet have become cold, Khoja," replied the good +woman, "I know that it is all over then. The man is dead." + +Some time afterwards the Khoja went to the mountain to cut wood. It was +in the winter, and after he had worked for an hour or two his hands and +feet became very cold. + +"It is really a melancholy thing," said he; "but I fear that there can +be no doubt that I am dead. If this is the case, however, I have no +business to be on my feet, much less to be chopping firewood which I +have not lived to require." So he went and lay down under a tree. + +By and by came the wolves, and they fell upon the Khoja's donkey, and +devoured it. + +The Khoja watched them from the place where he was lying. + +"Ah, you brutes!" said he, "it is lucky for you that you have found a +donkey whose master is dead, and cannot interfere." + + +_Tale_ 11.--A Penny a Head. + +The Turks shave their heads and allow their beards to grow. Thus the +Khoja went every week to the barber to have his head shaved, and when it +was done, the barber held out the mirror to him, that, having looked at +himself, he might place a penny fee on the mirror as the custom is. + +Now as he grew old the Khoja became very bald. + +One day when he was about to be shaved, passing his hand over his head, +he perceived that the crown was completely bald. But he said nothing, +and having paid his penny, took his departure as usual. + +[Illustration: THE KHOJA IS SHAVED.] + +Next week Khoja Effendi went again to the barber's. + +When his head had been shaved he looked in the mirror as before; but he +put nothing on it. + +As he rose to depart, the barber stopped him, saying, "Most worshipful +Effendi, you have forgotten to pay." + +"My head is now half bald," said the Khoja; "will not one penny do for +two shavings?" + + +_Tale_ 12.--The Khoja a Cadi. + +The late Khoja Effendi when he filled the office of Cadi had some +puzzling cases to decide. + +One day two men came before him, and one of them said, "This fellow has +bitten my ear, O Cadi!" + +"No, no, most learned Cadi!" said the other; "that is not true. He bit +his own ear, and now tries to lay the blame upon me." + +"One cannot bite his own ear," said the first man; "wherefore the lies +of this scoundrel are obvious." + +"Begone, both of you," said the Khoja; "but come back to-morrow, when I +will give judgment." + +When the men had gone, the Khoja withdrew to a quiet place, where he +would be undisturbed, that he might try if he could bite his own ear. +Taking the ear in his fingers, he made many efforts to seize it with his +teeth, crying, "Can I bite it?" + +But in the vehemence of his efforts the Khoja lost his balance and fell +backwards, wounding his head. + +The following day he took his seat with his head bound up in a linen +cloth, and the men coming before him related their dispute as before, +and cried, "Now, is it possible, O Cadi?" + +"O, you fellows!" said the Khoja, "biting is easy enough, and you can +fall and break your own head into the bargain." + + +_Tale_ 13.--The Khoja's Quilt. + +One night after Khoja Nasr-ed-Deen had retired to rest he was disturbed +by a man making a great noise before his door in the street outside. + +"O wife!" said he, "get up, I pray you, and light a candle, that I may +discover what this noise in the street is about." + +"Lie still, man," said his wife. "What have we to do with street +brawlers? Keep quiet and go to sleep." + +But the Khoja would not listen to her advice, and taking the bed-quilt, +he threw it round his shoulders, and went out to see what was the +matter. + +Then the rascal who was making the disturbance, seeing a fine quilt +floating from the Khoja's shoulders, came behind him and snatched it +away, and ran off with it. + +After a while the Khoja felt thoroughly chilled, and he went back to +bed. + +"Well, Effendi," said his wife: "what have you discovered?" + +"We were more concerned in the noise than you thought," said the Khoja. + +"What was it about, O Khoja?" asked his wife. + +"It must have been about our quilt," he replied; "for when the man got +that he went off quietly enough." + + +_Tale_ 14.--The Khoja and the Beggar. + +One day whilst Nasr-ed-Deen Effendi was in his house, a man knocked at +the door. + +The Khoja looked out from an upper window. + +"What dost thou want?" said he. But the man was a beggar by trade, and +fearing that the Khoja might refuse to give alms when he was so well +beyond reach of the mendicant's importunities, he would not state his +business, but continued to cry, "Come down, come down!" as if he had +something of importance to relate. + +So the Khoja went down, and on his again saying "What dost thou +want?" the beggar began to beg, crying, "The Inciter of Compassion move +thee to enable me to purchase food for my supper! I am the guest of the +Prophet!" with other exclamations of a like nature. + +"Come up-stairs," replied the Khoja, turning back into his house. + +Well pleased, the beggar followed him, but when they reached the upper +room the Khoja turned round and dismissed him, saying, "Heaven supply +your necessities. I have nothing for you." + +"O Effendi!" said the beggar, "why did you not tell me this whilst I was +below?" + +"O Beggar!" replied the Khoja, "why did you call me down when I was +up-stairs?" + + +_Tale_ 15.--The Khoja Turned Nightingale. + +One day the Khoja went into a garden which did not belong to him, and +seeing an apricot-tree laden with delicious fruit, he climbed up among +the branches and began to help himself. + +Whilst he was eating the apricots the owner of the garden came in and +discovered him. + +"What are you doing up there, Khoja?" said he. + +"O my soul!" said the Khoja, "I am not the person you imagine me to be. +Do you not see that I am a nightingale? I am singing in the +apricot-tree." + +"Let me hear you sing," said the gardener. + +The Khoja began to trill like a bird; but the noise he made was so +uncouth that the man burst out laughing. + +"What kind of a song is this?" said he. "I never heard a nightingale's +note like that before." + +[Illustration: THE KHOJA SINGS.] + +"It is not the voice of a native songster," said the Khoja demurely, +"but the foreign nightingale sings so." + + +_Tale_ 16.--The Khoja's Donkey and The Woollen Pelisse. + +One day the Khoja mounted his donkey to ride to the garden, but on the +way there he had business which obliged him to dismount and leave the +donkey for a short time. + +When he got down he took off his woollen pelisse, and throwing it over +the saddle, went about his affairs. But he had hardly turned his back +when a thief came by who stole the woollen pelisse, and made off with +it. + +When the Khoja returned and found that the pelisse was gone, he became +greatly enraged, and beat the donkey with his stick. Then, dragging the +saddle from the poor beast's back, he put it on his own shoulders, +crying, "Find my pelisse, you careless rascal, and then you shall have +your saddle again!" + + +_Tale_ 17.--A Ladder To Sell. + +There was a certain garden into which the Khoja was desirous to enter, +but the gate was fastened, and he could not. + +One day, therefore, he took a ladder upon his shoulder, and repaired to +the place, where he put the ladder against the garden-wall, and having +climbed to the top, drew the ladder over, and by this means descended +into the garden. + +As he was prying about in came the gardener. + +"Who are you?" said he to the Khoja. "And what do you want?" + +"I sell ladders," replied the Khoja, running hastily back to the wall, +and throwing the ladder once more upon his shoulders. + +[Illustration: THE KHOJA TRESPASSES.] + +"Come, come!" said the gardener, "that answer will not do. This is not a +place for selling ladders." + +"You must be very ignorant," replied the Khoja gravely, "if you do not +know that ladders are salable anywhere." + + +_Tale_ 18.--The Cat and the Khoja's Supper. + +The Khoja, like many another man, was fond of something nice for his +supper. + +But no matter how often he bought a piece of liver to make a tasty dish, +his wife always gave it away to a certain friend of hers, and when the +Khoja came home in the evening he got nothing to eat but cakes. + +"Wife," said he at last, "I bring home some liver every day that we may +have a good supper, and you put nothing but pastry before me. What +becomes of the meat?" + +"The cat steals it, O Khoja!" replied his wife. + +On this the Khoja rose from his seat, and taking the axe proceeded to +lock it up in a box. + +"What are you doing with the axe, Khoja?" said his wife. + +"I am hiding it from the cat," replied the Khoja. "The sort of cat who +steals two pennyworth of liver is not likely to spare an axe worth forty +pence." + + +_Tale_ 19.--The Cadi's Ferejeh. + +One day a certain Cadi of Sur-Hissar, being very drunk, lay down in a +garden and fell asleep. The Khoja, having gone out for a walk, passed +by the spot and saw the Cadi lying dead drunk and senseless, with his +ferejeh--or overcoat--half off his back. + +It was a very valuable ferejeh, of rich material, and the Khoja took it +and went home remarkably well dressed. + +When the Cadi recovered his senses he found that his ferejeh was gone. +Thereupon he called his officers and commanded them, saying: "On +whomsoever ye shall see my ferejeh, bring the fellow before me." + +Meanwhile the Khoja wore it openly, and at last the officers took him +and brought him before the Cadi. + +"O Khoja!" said the Cadi, "how came you by what belongs to me? Where did +you find that ferejeh?" + +"Most exemplary Cadi," replied the Khoja, "I went out yesterday for a +short time before sunset, and as I walked I perceived a +disreputable-looking fellow lying shamefully drunk, and exposed to the +derision of passers-by in the public gardens. His ferejeh was half off +his back, and I said within myself, 'This valuable ferejeh will +certainly be stolen, whilst he to whom it belongs is sleeping the sleep +of drunkenness. I will therefore take it and wear it, and when the owner +has his senses restored to him, he will be able to see and reclaim it.' +So I took the ferejeh, and if it be thine, O Cadi, take it!" + +"It cannot be my ferejeh, of course," said the Cadi hastily; "though +there is a similarity which at first deceived me." + +"Then I will keep it till the man claims it," said the Khoja. + +And he did so. + + +_Tale_ 20.--The Two Pans. + +One day the Khoja borrowed a big pan of his next-door neighbour. + +[Illustration: THE KHOJA IS ARTFUL.] + +When he had done with it he put a smaller pan inside it, and carried it +back. + +"What is this?" said the neighbour. + +"It is a young pan," replied the Khoja. "It is the child of your big +pan, and therefore belongs to you." + +The neighbour laughed in his sleeve. + +"If this Khoja is mad," said he, "a sensible man like myself need not +refuse to profit by his whims." + +So he replied, "It is well, O Khoja! The pan is a very good pan. May its +posterity be increased!" + +And he took the Khoja's pan as well as his own, and the Khoja departed. + +After a few days the Khoja came again to borrow the big pan, which his +neighbour lent him willingly, saying to himself, "Doubtless +something else will come back in it." But after he had waited +two--three--four--and five days, and the Khoja did not return it, the +neighbour betook himself to the Khoja's house and asked for his pan. + +The Khoja came to the door with a sad countenance. + +"Allah preserve you, neighbour!" said he. "May your health be better +than that of our departed friend, who will return to you no more. The +big pan is dead." + +"Nonsense, Khoja Effendi!" said the neighbour, "You know well enough +that a pan cannot die." + +"You were quite willing to believe that it had had a child," said the +Khoja; "it seems odd you cannot believe that it is dead." + + +_Tale_ 21.--The Day of the Month. + +One day Khoja Effendi walked into the bazaar. As he went about among the +buyers and sellers, a man came up to him and said, "Is it the third or +fourth day of the month to-day?" + +"How should I know?" replied the Khoja. "I don't deal in the moon." + + +_Tale_ 22.--The Khoja's Dream. + +One night when he was asleep the Khoja dreamed that he found nine pieces +of money. + +"Bountiful heaven!" said he, "let me have been mistaken. I will count +them afresh. Let there be ten!" And when he counted them there were ten. +Then he said, "Let there be nineteen!" And vehemently contending for +nineteen he awoke. But when he was awake and found that there was +nothing in his hands, he shut his eyes again, and stretching his hands +out said, "Make it nine pieces, I'll not say another word." + + +_Tale_ 23.--The Old Moon. + +One day some of the neighbours said, "Let us ask this Khoja something +that will puzzle him, and see what he will say." So they came to the +Khoja and said, "The moon is on the wane, Khoja Effendi, and we shall +soon have a new one; what will be done with the old moon?" + +"They will break it up and make stars of it," said the Khoja. + + +_Tale_ 24.--The Short Piece of Muslin. + +One day Nasr-ed-Deen Effendi was tying a new piece of muslin for his +turban, when to his annoyance he discovered that it was too short. He +tried a second time, but still it was not long enough, and he spoiled +his turban, and lost his temper. Much vexed with the muslin, the Khoja +took it to the bazaar, and gave it in to be sold by auction. + +By and by the sale began, and after a time the muslin was put up, and a +man came forward and began to bid. Another man bid against him, and the +first man continued to raise his price. + +The Khoja was standing near, and at last he could bear it no longer. +"That rascal of a muslin has cheated me and put me to infinite +inconvenience," said he; "it played me false; and am I bound to conceal +its deficiencies?" + +Then he came softly up to the highest bidder, and whispered, "Take care +what you are about, brother, in buying that muslin. It's a short +length." + + +_Tale_ 25.--The Khoja Peeps Into Futurity. + +Having need of a stout piece of wood, the Khoja one day decided to cut +off a certain branch from a tree that belonged to him, as he perceived +that it would serve his purpose. + +Taking, therefore, his axe in his hand, and tucking his skirts into his +girdle, he climbed the tree, and the branch he desired being firm and +convenient, he seated himself upon it, and then began to hack and hew. + +As he sat and chopped a man passed by below him, who called out and +said, "O stupid man! What are you doing? When the branch is cut through +you will certainly fall to the ground." + +"Are the decrees of the future less veiled from this man than from me, +who am a Khoja?" said Nasr-ed-Deen Effendi to himself, and he made the +man no reply, but chopped on. + +In a few moments the branch gave way, and the Khoja fell to the ground. + +When he recovered himself he jumped up, and ran after the man who had +warned him. + +[Illustration: THE KHOJA FALLS.] + +"O you fellow!" cried he. "It has happened to me even as you foretold. +At the moment when the branch was cut through I fell to the ground. Now, +therefore, since the future is open to thee, I beseech thee to tell me +the day of my death." + +"This madness is greater than the other," replied the man. "The day of +death is among the hidden counsels of the Most High." + +But the Khoja held him by the gown and continued to urge him, saying, +"You told me when I should fall from the tree, and it came to pass to +the moment. Tell me now how long I have to live." And as he would not +release him, but kept crying, "How much time have I left?" the man lost +patience, and said, "O fool! there is no more time left to thee. The +days of the years of thy life are numbered." + +"Then I am dead, lo I am dead!" said the Khoja, and he lay down, and +stiffened himself, and did not move. + +By and by his neighbours came and stood at his head, and having observed +him, they brought a bier and laid him on it, saying, "Let us take him to +his own house." + +Now in the way thither there was in the road a boggy place, which it was +difficult to pass, and the bearers of the bier stood still and +consulted, saying, "Which way shall we go?" + +And they hesitated so long that the Khoja, becoming impatient, raised +his head from the bier, and said, "_That's_ the way I used to go myself, +when I was alive." + + +_Tale_ 26.--The Two Moons. + +On a certain day when the Khoja went to Sur-Hissar he saw a group of +persons looking at the new moon. + +"What extraordinary people the men of this place must be!" said he, "In +our country the moon may be seen as large as a plate, and no one +troubles his head about it, and here people stare at it when it is only +a quarter the size." + + +_Tale_ 27.--The Khoja Preaching. + +One of the Khoja's duties--as a religious teacher--was to preach to the +people. But once upon a time he became very lazy about this, and was +always seeking an excuse to shorten or omit his sermons. + +On a certain day about this time he mounted into the pulpit, and looking +down on the congregation assembled to listen to him, he stretched forth +his hands and cried, "Ah, Believers! what shall I say to you?" + +And the men beat upon their breasts, and replied with one voice, "We do +not know, most holy Khoja! we do not know." + +"Oh, if you don't know--" said the Khoja indignantly, and gathering his +robe about him, he quitted the pulpit without another word. + +The men looked at each other in dismay, for the Khoja was a very +popular preacher. + +[Illustration: THE KHOJA PREACHES.] + +"We have done wrong," said they, "though we know not how; without doubt +our ignorance is an offence to his learning. Wherefore, if he comes +again, whatever he says to us we will seem as if we knew all about it." + +The following week the Khoja got again into the pulpit, from which he +could see a larger assembly than before. + +"O ye Muslims!" he began, "what am I to say--" + +But before the words were fairly out of his mouth the congregation cried +out with one voice, "_We_ know, good Khoja! We know!" + +"Oh, if you _know_--" said the Khoja sarcastically, and shrugging his +shoulders, and lifting his eyebrows, he left the place as one who feels +that he can be of no further use. + +"This is worse than before," said the Muslims in despair. But after a +while they took counsel, and said, "Let him come once more, and we will +not lose our sermon this time. If he asks the same question we will +reply that some of us know, but that some of us do not know." + +So when the Khoja next appeared before the congregation, and after he +had cried as before, "O Brethren! do ye know what I am about to say?" +they answered, "Some of us know, but some of us do not know." + +"How nice!" said the Khoja, smiling benevolently upon the crowd beneath +him, as he prepared to take his departure. "Then those of you who know +can explain it all to those who do not know." + + +_Tale_ 28.--The Khoja and the Horsemen. + +One day when Khoja Effendi was crossing a certain desert plain a troop +of horsemen suddenly appeared riding towards him. + +"No doubt these are Bedawee robbers," thought the Khoja, "who will kill +me without remorse for the sake of the Cadi's ferejeh which I wear." And +in much alarm he hastened towards a cemetery which he had perceived to +be near. Here he quickly stripped off his clothes, and, having hidden +them, crept naked into an empty tomb and lay down. + +But the horsemen pursued after him, and by and by they came into the +cemetery, and one of them peeped into the tomb and saw the Khoja. + +"Here is the man we saw!" cried the horseman; and he said to the Khoja, +"What are you lying there for, and where are your clothes?" + +"The dead have no possessions, O Bedawee!" replied the Khoja. "I am +buried here. If you saw me on the plain as I used to appear in life, +without doubt you are one of those who can see ghosts and apparitions." + + +_Tale_ 29.--The Ox Trespassing. + +One day Khoja Effendi, repairing to a piece of ground which belonged to +him, found that a strange ox had got into the enclosure. The Khoja took +a thick stick to beat it with, but the beast, seeing him coming, ran +away and escaped. + +Next week the Khoja met a Turk driving the ox, which was harnessed to a +waggon. + +Thereupon the Khoja took a stick in his hand, and, running after the ox, +belaboured it soundly. "O man!" cried the Turk, "what are you beating my +beast for?" + +"Hold your tongue, you fool," said the Khoja, "and don't meddle with +what doesn't concern you. _The ox knows well enough._" + + +_Tale_ 30.--The Khoja's Camel. + +The next time Khoja Effendi was obliged to take a journey he resolved to +accompany a caravan for protection. + +Now the Khoja had lately become possessed of a valuable camel, and he +said to himself, "I will ride my camel instead of going on foot; the +journey will then be a pleasure, and I shall not be fatigued." So he +mounted the camel and set forth. + +But as he was riding with the caravan the camel stumbled, and the Khoja +was thrown off and severely hurt. The people of the caravan coming to +his assistance found that he was stunned, but after a while they +succeeded in restoring him. + +When the Khoja came to his senses he tore his clothes, and cried in +great rage and indignation, "O Muslims! you do not know what care I have +taken of this camel, and this is how I am rewarded! Will no one kill it +for me? It has done its best to kill me." + +But his friends said, "Be appeased, most worthy Effendi, we could not +kill your valuable camel." + +"O benefactors!" replied the Khoja, "since you desire the brute's life +it must be spared. But it shall have no home with me. I am about to +drive it into the desert, where it may stumble to its heart's content." + +So the Khoja drove the camel away; but before he did so he tore the +furniture and trappings furiously from its back, crying, "I won't leave +you a rag, you ungrateful beast!" + +And he pursued his journey on foot, carrying the camel's furniture as +best as he might. + + +_Tale_ 31.--An Open Question. + +The Khoja wanted vegetables for cooking, so he took a sack and slipped +into a neighbouring garden, which was abundantly supplied. He picked +some herbs, and pulled up some turnips, and got a little of everything +he could find to fill his bag. Both hands were full, when the gardener +suddenly appeared and seized him. + +"What are you doing here?" said the gardener. + +The Khoja was confounded, and not being able to find a good excuse, he +said, "A very strong wind blew during the night. Having driven me a long +way, it blew me here." + +"Oh," said the gardener; "but who plucked these herbs which I see in +your hands?" + +"The wind was so very strong," answered the Khoja, "that when it blew me +into this place I clutched with both hands at the first things I could +lay hold of, lest it should drive me further. And so they remain in my +grasp." + +"Oh," said the gardener; "but who put these into the sack, I wonder?" + +"That is just what puzzles me," the Khoja replied; "I was thinking about +it when you came in." + + +_Tale_ 32.--The Spurting Fountain. + +One summer's day the Khoja had come a long way, and was very hot and +thirsty. By and by he perceived a fountain, of which the pipe was +stopped up with a piece of wood. + +"Now I shall quench my thirst," said the Khoja, and he pulled out the +stopper, on which the water rushed out with vehement force over the +Khoja's head, and drenched him in a moment. + +"Ah!" cried the Khoja angrily, "it's because of your running so madly +that they have stuck that stick into you, I suppose." + + +_Tale_ 33.--Well-meant Soup. + +One day as the Khoja was returning home he met a party of students +walking together. + +"Good-evening, Effendis!" said he. "Pray come home with me, and we will +have some soup." + +The students did not think twice about accepting the invitation, and +they followed the Khoja home to his house. + +"Pray be seated," said the Khoja, and when they had seated themselves he +went to the upper room. "Wife," said he, "I have brought home some +guests. Let us give them a good bowl of soup." + +"O Effendi!" cried the wife, "is there any butter in the house? Is there +any rice? Have you brought anything home for me to make it of, that you +ask for soup?" + +"Give me the soup-bowl," said the Khoja. Then taking the empty bowl in +his hand he returned to the students. + +"O Effendis!" said he, "be good enough, I beseech you, to take the will +for the deed. You are indeed most welcome, and if there had been butter +or rice, or anything else in our house, you would have had excellent +soup out of this very bowl." + + +_Tale_ 34.--The Khoja and the Ten Blind Men. + +Once upon a time Khoja Nasr-ed-Deen, wandering by the banks of a river, +came to a certain ford near which he seated himself to rest. + +By and by came ten blind men, who were desirous of crossing the river, +and they agreed with the Khoja that he should help them across for the +payment of one penny each. + +The Khoja accordingly exerted himself to the utmost of his power, and he +got nine of the blind men safely across; but as he was helping the +tenth, the man lost his footing, and in spite of the Khoja's efforts the +river overpowered him, and bore him away. + +Thereupon the nine blind men on the opposite shore set up a lamentable +wail, crying, "What has happened, O Khoja?" + +"One penny less to pay than you expected," said the Khoja. + + +_Tale_ 35.--The End of the World. + +Now Khoja Nasr-ed-Deen Effendi had a lamb which he brought up and +fattened with much care. + +[Illustration: THE KHOJA RECOMPENSES HIS FRIENDS.] + +Some of his friends were very desirous to get hold of this lamb and make +a feast of it. So they came to the Khoja and begged him earnestly to +give up the lamb for a feast, but the Khoja would not consent. + +At last one day came one of them and said, "O Khoja! to-morrow is the +end of the world. What will you do with this lamb on the last day? We +may as well eat it this evening." + +"If it be so, let us do as you say," replied the Khoja, for he thought +that the man was in earnest. So they lighted the fire and roasted the +lamb, and had an excellent feast. But the Khoja perceived that they had +played a trick upon him. + +By and by his friends went to some little distance to play games +together, but the Khoja would not accompany them, so they left their +upper garments in his charge and departed to their amusements. + +When they were gone the Khoja took the clothes and put them on to the +fire where the lamb had been roasted, and burnt them all. + +After a while the friends returned and found their robes burnt to ashes. + +"O Khoja!" they cried, "who has burnt our clothes? Alas, alas! what +shall we do?" + +"Never mind," said the Khoja, "to-morrow the world comes to an end, you +know. You would not have wanted them for long." + + +_Tale_ 36.--The Dog on the Tomb. + +One day the Khoja was wandering among the tombs. As he strolled along he +perceived a dog lying upon a grave-stone. + +Indignant at this profanation of a tomb, the Khoja took a stout stick +and made up his mind to chastise the intruder. But the dog, who saw what +was coming, got up and prepared to fly at him. + +The Khoja never ran any unnecessary risk. When he perceived that the dog +was about to attack him, and that he would have the worst of it, he +lowered his stick. + +"Pray don't disturb yourself," said he; "I give in." + + +_Tale_ 37.--The Khoja and the Mullas. + +Once upon a time the Khoja, riding on his donkey, was proceeding to a +certain place to give public instruction, when he was followed by +several law-students, who walked behind him. + +Perceiving this, the Khoja dismounted, and got up again with his face to +the donkey's tail. + +"O Khoja!" cried the Mullas, "why do you ride backwards?" + +"It is the only way in which we can show each other proper civility," +replied the Khoja; "for when I ride in the usual fashion, if you walk +behind me I turn my back on you, and if you walk before me you turn your +backs on me." + + +_Tale_ 38.--The Students and the Khoja's Wife. + +Khoja Nasr-ed-Deen Effendi met a party of students who were walking +together. + +"Allow me to join you, worthy Effendis," said he, "and if it is +agreeable to you we will proceed to my house." + +"With the greatest possible pleasure," replied all the students, and the +Khoja, beguiling the way with smart sayings and agreeable compliments, +led them to the door of his dwelling. + +"Be good enough to wait an instant," said the Khoja, and the students +waited whilst the Khoja entered his house, where--being in a mischievous +mood--he said to his wife, "O wife, go down and send those men away who +are hanging about the door. If they want me, say that I have not come +home." + +So the woman went down and said, "The Khoja has not come home, +gentlemen." + +"What are you talking about?" cried the students; "he came home with +us." + +"He's not at home, I tell you," said the Khoja's wife. + +"We know that he is," said the students. + +"He's not," repeated the woman. + +"He is," reiterated the students. + +[Illustration: THE KHOJA IS NOT AT HOME.] + +And so they contradicted each other and bandied words, till the Khoja, +who was listening from above, put his head out of the window and cried, +"Neither you nor my wife have any sense in your heads. Don't you see +there are two doors to the place? If he did come in by one he may have +gone out again through the other." + + +_Tale_ 39.--The Khoja and His Guest. + +One day a man came to the Khoja and became his guest for the night. + +When they had had supper they lay down to sleep. + +After a while the light went out; but the Khoja was lazy, and pretended +not to observe it, for he did not want to get up. + +"Khoja! Khoja!" cried the guest. + +"What's the matter?" said the Khoja. + +"Don't you see that the light's gone out?" said the guest. + +"I see nothing," said the Khoja. + +"It's pitch dark," complained the guest: "do get up and see if you have +a candle in the house." + +"You must be mad," replied the Khoja; "am I a cat? If it is really as +dark as you say how can I possibly see whether I have got any or not?" + + +_Tale_ 40.--The Wise Donkey. + +Once upon a time the Khoja was smoking in his garden, when a certain man +came to borrow his donkey. + +Now this man was cruel to animals, therefore the Khoja did not like to +lend him his beast; but as he was also a man of some consideration, the +Khoja hesitated to refuse point blank. + +"O Effendi!" said he, "I will gladly lend you my donkey, but he is a +very wise animal, and knows what is about to befall him. If he foresees +good luck for this journey all will be well, and you could not have a +better beast. But if he foresees evil he will be of no use, and I should +be ashamed to offer him to you." + +"Be good enough to inquire of him," said the borrower. + +Thereupon the Khoja departed on pretence of taking counsel with his +donkey. But he only smoked another pipe in his garden, and then returned +to the man, who was anxiously awaiting him, and whom he saluted with all +possible politeness, saying-- + +"May it be far from you, most worthy Effendi, ever to experience such +misfortune as my wise donkey foresees on this occasion!" + +"What does he foresee?" inquired the borrower. + +[Illustration: THE KHOJA AND HIS DONKEY.] + +"Broken knees, sore ribs, aching bones, long marches, and short meals," +said the Khoja. + +Then the man looked foolish, and sneaked away without reply. + +But the Khoja went back to his pipe. + + +_Tale_ 41.--The Khoja's Horse. + +Once upon a time the Khoja was travelling in company with a caravan, +when they halted for the night at a certain place, and all the horses +were tied up together. + +Next morning the Khoja could not for the life of him remember which was +his own horse, and he was much afraid of being cheated if he confessed +this to the rest. + +So, as they were all coming out, he seized his bow and arrow, and aimed +among the horses at random. + +"Don't shoot!" cried the men; "what is the matter?" + +"I am desperate," replied the Khoja; "I am determined to kill somebody's +horse, so let every one look to his own." + +Laughing at the Khoja's folly, each man untied his own horse as quickly +as possible, and took it away. + +Then the Khoja knew that the one left was his own. + +He at once proceeded to mount, but putting his right foot into the +stirrup, he came round with his face to the tail. + +"What makes you get up backwards, Khoja?" said his friends. + +"It is not I who am in the wrong," said the Khoja, "but the horse that +is left-handed." + + +_Tale_ 42.--The Khoja on the Bey's Horse. + +On a certain occasion Khoja Nasr-ed-Deen went to see the Bey, and the +Bey invited him to go out hunting. + +The Khoja agreed, but when they were about to start he found that he had +been mounted on a horse which would not move out of a snail's pace. He +said nothing, however, for it is not well to be too quick in seeing +affronts. + +By and by it began to rain heavily. The Bey and the rest of the party +galloped off with all speed towards shelter, and the Khoja was left in +the lurch. + +When they were all out of sight the Khoja got down and took off all his +clothes and folded them neatly together, and put them on the saddle. +Then he got up again and sat on his clothes, to keep them dry. + +By and by the rain ceased, and the Khoja dressed himself and went +leisurely home. When he reached the Bey's palace all the guests were +assembled, and presently the Bey perceived him and cried out, "Why, here +is the worthy Khoja! And--how extraordinary!--his clothes are not as wet +as ours." + +"Why do you not praise the horse on which you mounted me?" answered the +Khoja; "it carried me through the storm without a single thread of my +clothes being wet." + +"They must have made a mistake about the horses," thought the Bey to +himself, and he invited the Khoja to go hunting on the following day. + +The Khoja accepted, and when the time came he was mounted on the horse +which the Bey had ridden the day before, and the Bey seated himself on +that which had carried the Khoja with dry clothes through the shower. + +By and by it began to rain; every one rode off as usual, and this time +the Khoja among them. + +The Bey, however, could not induce his horse to stir out of a foot's +pace, and when he arrived at his palace he was drenched to the skin. + +"Wretched man!" he cried to the Khoja, "is it not through you that I +was induced to ride this useless horse?" + +"Most eminent Bey," replied the Khoja, "the beast has treated you no +worse than he served me. But perhaps your Eminence did not think of +taking off your clothes and sitting on them?" + + +_Tale_ 43.--The Khoja's Donkey brays to Good Purpose. + +One day the Khoja dismounted at the door of a shop, and threw his +woollen pelisse on the donkey's back till he should return. He then went +in to buy sweetmeats. + +In a few minutes there passed a man, who snatched the woollen pelisse +from the donkey's back, and went off with it. At this moment the donkey +began to bray. + +"O bawl away!" cried the Khoja, who had come out just in time to see his +pelisse disappear; "much good that will do." + +But as it happened, when the man heard the noise he was afraid of being +caught, and, throwing the pelisse back on to the donkey, he ran away as +hard as he could. + +[Illustration: THE KHOJA PRAYS.] + + +_Tale_ 44.--The Khoja's Left Leg. + +During one very hot season there was a scarcity of water in the city. + +One day, the Khoja was performing his religious ablutions: he washed +himself all over with the exception of his left leg, but before that +could be washed the water was all used up. + +When the Khoja began to recite the customary prayers he stood on one leg +like a goose. + +"O Khoja Effendi!" cried the people, "why do you pray standing on your +right leg?" + +"I could not pray on my left leg," said the Khoja; "it has not performed +the appointed ablutions." + + +_Tale_ 45.--"Figs Would Be More Acceptable." + +Nasr-ed-Deen Effendi had some plums, of which he resolved to make a +present to the Bey. He therefore took three of them, and putting them on +a fine tray, he carried them into the royal presence, and duly offered +them for the Bey's acceptance. + +Being in a good humour, the Bey took the present in good part, and gave +the Khoja several pence in return. + +After some days the Khoja thought he would take something else to the +Bey, and having some fine large beetroots, he set off as before. + +On his way to the palace he met a man, who saluted him. + +"What are you doing with all those beetroots?" said he. + +"I am about to present them to the Bey," replied the Khoja. + +"Figs would be more acceptable, I should think," said the man. + +The Khoja pursued his journey, but as he went the man's words troubled +him--"Figs would be more acceptable." + +At last he perceived a fig-tree by the roadside, so, throwing away all +the beetroots, he put two or three figs in their place, and having +arrived at the palace, he presented them to the Bey. + +But this time the Bey was not in a good humour. + +"What madman is this," he cried, "who mocks me by the gift of a few +worthless figs? Throw them at his head and drive him away!" + +So they pelted the Khoja with his figs, and drove him out. But as he +ran, instead of cursing his ill luck, the Khoja gave thanks for his good +fortune. + +"This is indeed madness," cried the servants of the Bey; "for what, O +Khoja, do you return thanks, after this ignominious treatment?" + +"O ignorant time-servers," replied the Khoja, "I have good reason to +give thanks. For I was bringing beetroots to the Bey--large beetroots, +and many of them--and I met a man who persuaded me, saying, "Figs would +be more acceptable," so I brought figs; and you have cast them at my +head. But there were few of them, and they are soft, and I am none the +worse. If, however, I had not by good luck thrown away the beetroots, +which are hard, my skull would certainly have been cracked." + + +_Tale_ 46.--Timur and the One-legged Geese. + +One day the Khoja caused a goose to be cooked. He was about to present +it to the King. + +When it was nicely done he set off with it, but on the road he became +very hungry. If the smell of it were to be trusted it was a most +delicious bird! At last the Khoja could resist no longer, and he tore +off a leg and ate it with much relish. + +On arriving in the royal presence he placed the goose before Timur the +King, who, when he had examined the Khoja's gift, was exceedingly +annoyed. + +"This Khoja is deriding me!" said he. And then in a voice of thunder he +demanded, "_Where is the other leg?_" + +"The geese of our country are one-legged," replied Nasr-ed-Deen, with +much gravity. "If your Majesty does not believe me, be good enough to +let your eyes be informed of the truth of what I say by looking at the +geese at yonder spring." + +As it happened there were a number of geese at the fountain, and they +were all standing on one leg. + +The King could not help laughing, but he called to his drummers and +said, "March towards yonder fountain, and lay your drumsticks well about +your drums." + +The drummers forthwith began to drum, and they rattled away so heartily +that all the geese put down their legs and ran off in alarm. + +"O Khoja!" cried Timur, "how is this? All your geese have become +two-legged!" + +"It is the effect of your Majesty's wonderful drumsticks," replied the +Khoja. "If you were to eat one of them, you yourself would undoubtedly +become four-legged." + + +_Tale_ 47.--The Khoja Rewards the Frogs. + +Khoja Nasr-ed-Deen Effendi had been riding his donkey for some miles. It +was very hot, and the Khoja dismounted to ease his beast. At this moment +they came within sight of a pond, and the donkey smelling the water set +off towards it as hard as he could canter. + +The side of the pond was very steep, and in its haste the donkey would +probably have fallen in, but that the frogs set up such a terrific +croaking at its approach that the beast, in alarm, turned sharply round, +and was caught by its master. + +The Khoja was not wanting in grateful and liberal feelings. + +"Well done, my little pond-birds!" said he, throwing a handful of coins +into the water. "Divide that among you to buy sweetmeats with." + + +_Tale_ 48.--The Khoja reproaches his Cock. + +Once upon a time the Khoja was carrying his fowls in a cage to the city +for sale. + +As he went along he began to feel sorry for them. + +"O my soul!" said he, "these poor fowls are sadly imprisoned. I will let +them go a little." So he opened the cage, and the birds scrambled out. +One ran one way, and another another; but the Khoja contrived to keep up +with the cock, which he drove before him with his stick, the poor bird +waddling hither and thither, and fluttering from side to side with +distress and indecision pitiable to behold. + +On seeing this the Khoja began to reproach him. "You never thought it +would come to this, my fine bird, did you?" said he. "And yet what a +wiseacre you are! You know when it's day better than the sun himself, +and can crow loud enough for all the world to hear your wisdom." + +The poor cock made no reply, but waddled on with hoarse cries and +flapping wings. + +"You're a poor prophet!" said the Khoja. "You know that it is morning in +the middle of the night: how is it you could not foresee that you were +to be driven to market? Thus--and thus!" And turning him at every corner +by which he would escape, the Khoja drove the distracted cock into the +city. + + +_Tale_ 49.--Hare-soup. + +One day there came a man from the village who made the Khoja a present +of a hare. + +The Khoja brought him in, treating him with all honour and hospitality, +and gave him some rich and excellent soup. + +In a week's time the man called again; but the Khoja had forgotten him, +and said, "Who are you?" + +"I am the man who brought the hare," he replied. The Khoja entertained +him as before, though the soup was not quite so rich. + +After a few days came some men who desired to be guests to the Khoja. + +"Who are you?" said he. + +"We are neighbours of the man who brought the hare," said they. + +This time the soup was certainly thin, but that did not hinder the +arrival of some fresh guests in a very few days. + +"Who are you?" said the Khoja. + +"We are neighbours of the neighbours of the man who brought the hare," +was the reply. + +"You are welcome," said their host; and he set a bowl of clear water +before them. + +"What is this, O Khoja?" cried the men. + +"It is soup of soup of soup of the hare-soup," answered the Khoja. + + +_Tale_ 50.--The Khoja out Fishing. + +One day the Khoja accompanied some men who were going a-fishing, and he +became much excited in watching the sport. + +Suddenly, as they cast the net into the sea, the Khoja threw himself +into it. + +"What can you be thinking of, Effendi?" cried the fishermen. + +"I forgot," said the Khoja; "I was thinking I was a fish." + + +_Tale_ 51.--A Desire Satisfied. + +Nasr-ed-Deen Effendi had an old cow with horns so exceedingly broad that +one could certainly sit between them if he had a mind to do so. + +"I should very much like to try," the Khoja kept thinking; "I should +exceedingly like to sit for once between those horns." + +The notion haunted him, and he kept saying to himself, "I certainly +should like it, just for once." + +One day the cow came before the house, and after a while lay down. + +"The opportunity has arrived," cried the Khoja, and running out, he +seated himself between the cow's horns. "It is just as I thought," said +he; but as he spoke the cow got up, and tossed the Khoja violently to +the ground. + +The Khoja was stunned, and when his wife hastened to the spot she found +him lying senseless. After some time he opened his eyes, and perceived +his wife weeping near him. + +"O wife!" said the Khoja, "weep not; I am not less fortunate than other +men. I have suffered for it, but I have had my desire." + + +_Tale_ 52.--The Khoja and the Incompetent Barber. + +On one occasion the Khoja was shaved by a most incompetent barber. At +every stroke the man cut his head with the razor, and kept sticking on +bits of cotton to stop the bleeding. + +At last the Khoja lost patience. + +"That will do," said he, jumping up: "you've sown cotton on half my +head, I'll keep the other half for flax;" and he ran out of the shop +with his head half shaved. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 3: A _Khoja_ is a religious teacher, and sometimes a +school-master also.] + + + + +THE SNARLING PRINCESS. + +(_Freely adapted from the German._) + +[Illustration] + + +Ever so long ago there lived a certain king, at whose court great +rejoicings were held for the birth of a child. But this joy was soon +turned to sorrow, when the young queen died, and left her infant +daughter motherless. As the body of the young queen lay in state, +wrapped in a shroud of gold all embroidered with flowers, and with so +sweet a smile upon her face that she looked like one who dreams happy +dreams in sleep, the sorrowing king took the child in his arms, and +kneeling by the bier vowed never to marry again, but to make his wife's +only child the heir of his crown and kingdom. This promise he faithfully +fulfilled, and remaining a widower, he devoted his life to the +upbringing of his daughter. + +It is true that the young princess had a fairy godmother--a distant +cousin of the deceased queen--but the king could not endure that any one +but himself should have a voice in the management of his child, and the +fairy godmother, who was accustomed to the utmost deference to her +opinions, very soon quitted the court in a huff, and left the king as +supreme in the nursery as he was in the council-chamber. + +[Illustration] + +When the precious baby was washed, this was done with no common care. +The bath itself was made of gold, and the two chief physicians of the +kingdom assisted the king by their counsels. When hot water of crystal +clearness had been poured into the bath, the more celebrated of the two +physicians dipped the tip of his little finger in, and looking +inquiringly at his colleague, said "_Hum_." On which the physician of +lesser degree dipped in his little finger and said "_Hem_." And after +this the water always proved to be of the right temperature, and did the +young princess no harm whatever. The king himself on these occasions +always dropped--with much state--a few drops of exquisite scent into the +bath, from a golden flask studded with diamonds. The chief +lady-in-waiting brought the baby, wrapped in gorgeous robes, and put it +into the bath. The court doctors laid their fingers on their noses, and +looked very important, whilst the king--who was short-sighted--put on +his spectacles to enjoy the sight of the little princess, who gambolled +in the water like a fish. The rest of her toilette was carried out with +no less formality, and as the same scrupulous care watched over every +incident of her daily life, the child grew every day more healthy and +beautiful. + +Time passed on without lessening the king's devotion to his daughter. +Her beauty was the standing theme of conversation in every corner of the +palace where the king was likely to overhear it, and the courtiers +rivalled each other in trying to read the wishes of the little princess +in her blue eyes, and in endeavouring to forestall them. + +No wonder the little lady grew up exceedingly self-willed, and with no +thought of any one's pleasure but her own. + +The king hired governesses, it is true, but he strictly forbade them +ever to say a harsh word to his darling; and one who had so far +transgressed this order as to reprove the princess for some fault, was +dismissed in disgrace. Thus it came about that the child grew daily more +and more wilful and capricious. Do what every one would, it was +impossible to please her, and as she was allowed to fly into a rage +about the most trifling matters, and as she sulked and scolded, and +growled and grumbled for the smallest annoyances, her voice gradually +acquired a peculiar snarling tone, which was as painful to listen to as +it was unbecoming in a young and pretty princess. + +The whole court suffered from the depressing effects of the young +lady's ill-temper. Behind the king's back, the courtiers complained +pretty freely, but before his face no one dared show his annoyance, and +two old court ladies, whose nerves were not so strong as they had been, +and who feared to betray themselves, were obliged to employ a celebrated +professor of cosmetics to paint smiles on their faces that could not be +disturbed by the snarling and grumbling of the princess; but the Lord +Chamberlain concealed his feelings by a free use of his gold snuff-box, +and snuffed away his annoyance pretty successfully. + +As his daughter grew up, the king was not without his share of suffering +from her ill-temper. But he bore it all very patiently,--"She will be a +queen," said he to himself, "and it is fit that she should have a will +of her own." The king himself was of an imperious temper, but such was +his love for his only child, that he bent it completely to her caprices. + +In private, the courtiers were by no means so indulgent in their views, +and the future queen was known amongst them, behind her back, as the +Snarling Princess. + +In spite of her ill-temper and unpleasing voice, however, she was so +beautiful, that--being also heir to the throne of a large kingdom--many +princes sought her hand in marriage. But the Snarling Princess was +resolved to reign alone, and she refused every suitor who appeared. + +The princess's rooms were, of course, the most beautiful in the palace. +One of these, which looked out on to the forest, was her favourite +chamber, but it was also the source of her greatest vexation. + +Never did she look out of the window towards the wood without snarling +in her harshest tone, "Hateful! Intolerable!" + +The source of her annoyance was this: + +On the edge of the forest, clearly to be seen from her window, there +stood a tiny cottage, in which lived an aged woman who was known amongst +the poor folks of the neighbourhood as the "Three-legged Wood-wife." +This was because of a wooden staff on which she leaned to eke out the +failing strength of her own limbs. The wood-wife was both feared and +hated by the people, amongst whom she bore the character of a very +malicious witch. The king's daughter hated not only her, but her +tumble-down house, and had sent again and again, with large offers of +gold, to try and purchase the cottage. But the wood-wife laughed +spitefully at the messengers, and only replied that the cottage suited +her, and that for no money would she quit it whilst she lived. + +The poor have their rights, however, as well as the rich, and even the +Snarling Princess was obliged to submit to the disappointment at which +she could only grumble. + +At one time she resolved never to go into her favourite room again. But +she could not keep her resolution. Back she went, and some irresistible +power always seemed to draw her to the window to irritate herself by the +sight of the wretched hovel which belonged to the Three-legged Witch. + +At last, however, by constantly snarling and complaining to the king, +she induced him to turn the old woman by force out of her cottage. The +king, who was just and upright, did so very unwillingly, and he built +her a new and much better cottage elsewhere. + +The wood-wife could not resist, but she never put her foot across the +threshold of the new house. Meanwhile the old hovel was swept away as +fast as possible, and by the princess's wish a pretty summer-house was +built on the spot where it had stood, and there she and her court ladies +were wont to amuse themselves on warm summer evenings to their hearts' +content. + +One evening the princess strolled out by herself into the forest. She +had been in several distinct rages; first with her court ladies, +secondly with her dressmaker, thirdly with the sky, which, in spite of +her wishes for fine weather, had become overcast with clouds. + +[Illustration] + +In this ill-humour nothing in all the beautiful green forest gave her +any satisfaction. She snarled at the birds because they sang so merrily. +The rustling of the green fir-tops in the evening breeze annoyed her: +"Why should pine-trees have needles instead of leaves?" she asked +angrily; and then she grumbled because there were no roses on the +juniper bushes. Still snarling, she wandered on, till she came to a spot +where she stood still and silent in sheer amazement. + +In an open space there was a circle of grotesque-looking stones, +strangely linked together by creeping plants and ferns of curious +growth. And as the Snarling Princess looked at them, it seemed to her +that the stones took dwarf-like shapes, and glared about them with weird +elfin faces. The princess seemed rooted to the spot. An invisible power +appeared to draw her towards the group, and to attract her by a +beautiful flower, whose calyx opened at her approach. Unable to resist +the impulse, she stepped into the circle and plucked the flower. + +No sooner had she done so than her feet took deep root in the earth, her +hair stiffened into fir-needles, and her arms became branches. She was +now firmly fixed in the centre of the group of stones, a slender, +swaying pine-tree, which creaked and croaked, and snapped and snarled +with every gust of wind, as the princess had hardly ever done in her +most ill-tempered moments. And as her limbs stiffened under their +magical transformation, the hideous figure of the wood-wife might have +been seen hovering round the charmed circle, her arms half changed into +bird's wings, and her hands into claws. And as the king's daughter +fairly turned into a pine-tree, the wood-wife took the form of an owl, +and for a moment rested triumphantly on her branches. Then with a shrill +"Tu-whit! tu-whoo!" it vanished into the forest. + +When the princess did not return to the palace, and all search after her +proved utterly vain, the poor old king fell into a state of the deepest +melancholy, and spent most of his time in the summer-house, bewailing +the mysterious loss of his only child. + +One day, many months afterwards, he wandered into the forest. A storm +was raging, of which he took no heed. But suddenly he stopped beneath a +pine-tree, and looked up--"How like my poor dear daughter's voice!" said +he; "especially when she was the least bit in the world--" He did not +like to finish the sentence, but sat down under the tree and wept +bitterly. And for every tear he shed, the pine-tree dropped a shower of +needles. For the Snarling Princess recognized her father, and heartily +lamented the pain he suffered now, and had so often suffered before on +her account. + +"Tu-whit! tu-whoo!" said a voice, from a hole beneath the pine-tree. + +"Who speaks?" said the king. + +"It is I, cousin," said the owl, hopping into the daylight, and +gradually assuming the form and features of the fairy godmother. "You +did not know me as the Three-legged Wood-wife, whom you so unjustly +sacrificed to your daughter's caprices. But I have had a hand in her +education after all! For twelve months has she croaked and creaked, +snapped and snarled, beneath the summer heat, the winter snow, and the +storms of spring and autumn. Her punishment--and yours--is over." + +As the fairy godmother spoke, the pine-tree became a princess once more, +and fell into her father's arms. + +But the wood-wife took again the shape of an owl, and the enchanted +stones became bats, and they all disappeared into the shadows of the +forest. + +And as the princess shortly afterwards married a very charming prince, +she no doubt changed her name. + +Certainly she was never more known as the Snarling Princess. + + + + +THE LITTLE PARSNIP-MAN. + +(_Freely adapted from the German._) + +WHAT PETER FOUND IN THE PAN--AN UGLY SMILE--THE WIDOW'S RECKONINGS--REST +BY RUSHLIGHT. + +[Illustration] + + +On a cold winter's evening it is very cosy to sit by a warm hearth, +where the fire crackles pleasantly, and the old saucepan, which Mother +has set on the fire, sings monotonously to itself between-whiles. + +On such a night the wind howled in the street without, beat upon the +window-panes, and rustled through the trees, which stood, tall and +leafless, in the big garden over the way. + +Little Peter did not trouble his head on the subject. He sat indoors on +a little footstool, near the fire, and close also to his mother, who was +busy cutting up parsnips for next day's dinner. + +Peter paid great attention as his mother took a well-boiled parsnip out +of the saucepan, scraped it, cut it, and laid the pieces on a clean +white dish. + +His mother's thoughts were elsewhere. She looked sad and pensive. Only +from time to time she nodded across the dish towards her little Peter, +and when he got up and came and laid his head in her lap, she gently +smoothed his fair hair from his brow, and then she smiled too. + +[Illustration] + +Peter had no idea that his mother was sad. He had got another parsnip +out of the pan, and wanted to scrape it all by himself; but he was not +very skilful, and he worked so slowly that in the end his mother had to +finish it for him. + +The next thing he did was to upset the saucepan; the parsnips fell out, +and Peter began to count them. + +All at once he gave a cry that made his mother jump. He had found a +parsnip-root that looked exactly like a little man. It had a regular +head of its own, with a long nose, its body was short, and it had two +shrivelled stringy little legs; arms it had none. + +"That's a little Parsnip-man," said his mother, when Peter showed it to +her. + +"A Parsnip-man?" muttered Peter below his breath, and he gazed +doubtfully at the odd-looking root in his hand. + +It seemed to him that the little man was smiling at him; but with a very +ugly kind of smile. + +Suddenly the stove gave such a loud crack, that Peter let the parsnip +fall out of his hands with a start. + +"What's the matter?" asked his mother, as Peter buried his face in her +arms; for he began to feel frightened. + +"The little Parsnip-man grinned so nastily at me, and such a loud noise +came out of the stove--and I let him fall!" His mother laughed at him. + +"You've been dreaming," said she. "The little man could not smile if he +tried. The Parsnip-mannikins are only roots in the day-time, you know. +It is at midnight, when you have long, long been asleep, and the church +clock strikes twelve, that they come to life. Then away they all go to +the great cave where the queen dwells in state, and here they hold high +festival. There they dance, sing, play, and eat out of golden dishes. +But as soon as the clock strikes one, all is over, and the Parsnip-men +are only roots once more. + +"But you've fallen asleep," she added. "Come, my child, and I'll put you +to bed. You are tired, are you not?" + +"Yes, I'll go to bed," said little Peter, rubbing his drowsy eyes. So +his mother took him into the bedroom and lighted the rushlight. Then she +undressed him and put him to bed. And Peter had hardly touched the +pillow before he was fast asleep. + +But the mother went back to the kitchen-table, and seated herself once +more by the light of the dimly-burning lamp. The parsnips were all cut +up long ago. She put the dish aside and began to sew. Now and then she +paused in her work to lean back in her chair, and tears welled up in her +eyes. Perhaps she remembered that the rent was due, or she may have been +reflecting that Peter's jacket was past further patching. In either case +she began to count over in her mind a certain small stock of savings +which she had laid by in a money-box, and to puzzle her poor head what +she should turn her hand to next to earn the wherewithal to buy the boy +some decent clothes. Nothing likely suggested itself, however, and with +a heavy sigh she bent once more over her work and stitched away faster +than ever. For the work she was doing had to be taken home next morning; +and there was a great deal yet to do if she hoped to get it finished in +time, and to pay her rent with the price of it. + +After sitting like this for a while, she got up. Her eyes ached, and it +was getting late. The big kitchen clock was on the stroke of twelve. She +put her sewing away in her work-basket, and carried the saucepan and the +dish of parsnips into the scullery. Then she swept up the spare roots +into a corner of the hearth, and put the little stool tidily away under +the table. + +But she could not see anything of the parsnip which Peter had let fall. +Possibly it had rolled behind the stove. + +"I shall be sure to find it in the morning, when I light the fire," she +thought. + +She put out the lamp, and stepped softly into the chamber where the +rushlight burned dimly. Then with one passing glance at the sleeping +boy, she undressed herself and prepared for bed. + +In a few moments more all her cares and troubles had vanished in +slumber. + + + + +THE LITTLE MAN IN THE YELLOW COAT--A MOUSE-RIDE AT MIDNIGHT--THE HOLE +IN THE WALL--AMONG THE PARSNIP-MEN--QUEEN MARY--THE BLUE DRESS--A +CAKE-FEAST--ONE! + +Little Peter had been asleep for a long time, when all at once he found +himself suddenly twitched by the arm. He rolled over, rubbed his eyes, +and then, to his amazement, saw the little Parsnip-man sitting by him on +the quilt. + +He did not look a bit like a parsnip now. He had on a long yellow coat, +and a little green hat on his head; and he nodded in quite a friendly +way to Peter. + +"Come along! Be quick!" he said. "We must be off. But wrap up well, for +it's cold outside." + +"Where are we going to?" asked little Peter. "Into the cave? And is +Mamma going too?" + +"No," said the little man. "She's stopping at home. But do be quick, for +the feast has begun." + +And with that he gave such a jump on to the floor that the boards fairly +creaked again, and little Peter, slipped out of bed after him. The +little Parsnip-man helped him on with his shoes and stockings, and Peter +put on the rest of his clothes himself. + +Then the Mannikin pulled out a little whistle and blew on it. +Immediately there was a rustling under the bed, and then two mice peeped +out. + +In a moment the Parsnip-man caught one, and vaulted on to its back. + +"You get on the other," he said to Peter. + +"But it isn't big enough to carry me," said Peter doubtfully. + +"Get up, I tell you!" said the little man, laughing. + +Peter did as he was told. Doubtless he had been growing smaller, for +when he was fairly astride he sat the mouse as if it had been made for +him. As to the mouse, it kept perfectly still for Peter to mount. + +"Now, sit fast!" cried the Mannikin; and Peter had hardly seized the +ears of the mouse (for want of reins), when his new steed ran away with +him under the bed. + +Then all of a sudden it became quite dark. + +"Where are we?" cried Peter, for the mouse galloped on, and Peter was +getting frightened. + +"We are in the cellar," the voice of the Parsnip-man replied at his +side. "Don't be frightened; it will be light again in a minute or two." + +Accordingly, in a few moments, Peter could see all around him. They had +emerged from the cellar, and were now in the street. The wind had +fallen, and there was a dead calm. The street-lamps were burning with a +somewhat dim light, however. + +Peter could now plainly see the form of the little Parsnip-man riding +beside him. The mice scampered on and on. + +[Illustration] + +A watchman was standing in the doorway of a house. His halberd reposed +against the wall beside him. Probably the watchman himself was reposing, +for he never moved when the mice and their riders went by. They rode to +the end of the street, and there, before an old deserted house which +Peter had often shuddered to look at in the daytime, the mice stopped. + +"Here we are!" said the Parsnip-man, jumping down from his mouse. + +Peter dismounted more leisurely, and the two mice ran off. + +It was almost pitch dark by the old house. Only one distant lamp gave a +feeble glimmer. The Parsnip-man whistled as before. By and by Peter +heard a sound like "Bst! bst!" + +He looked all round, but could see nothing. At this moment the Mannikin +caught him by the arm and pointed upwards to a hole in the wall of the +old house. Peter then perceived that something was moving higher up, and +very shortly he heard a rustling noise as if a ladder of ropes were +being let down from above. + +"Come quickly!" said a shrill, slender voice. "The chimes have sounded +once since the hour. The Queen is waiting." + +"Climb on to my shoulders, Peter," said the Parsnip-man, stooping as he +spoke. Peter did so, and held fast by the little man's neck, who climbed +nimbly up the rope-ladder to the opening in the wall above; and there +Peter got down. + +Here there stood another Parsnip-man with a little lantern in his hand, +which he turned on Peter's face, and then nodded to him in a friendly +way. After which he unhooked the rope-ladder and drew it up. + +The two Parsnip-men now took Peter between them, each holding a hand. +They went through long dark passages, and then they began to go +down-stairs. Peter counted a hundred steps, but still they went down, +down, and he could count no more. + +All at once he heard music, which sounded as if it came from a distance. +They were now at the bottom of the steps, and walking on level ground. +The further they went the louder grew the music, and at last the +Parsnip-men came to a standstill. + +The one who held the lantern threw its light upon the wall till it +disclosed a knob, on which he pressed. Then he put out his lantern, and +all was dark. But the music sounded louder than before. + +Suddenly the wall parted and moved aside, and Peter could hardly +restrain his cries of astonishment, for what he now saw was like nothing +he had ever seen before. He was looking into a great big hall. It was as +light as day. Dazzling lustres of crystal, with thousands and thousands +of wax tapers, whose flames were reflected from the mirrors suspended +round the room, hung from the roof. Strange music shook the walls, and +to the time of this music hundreds and hundreds of little Parsnip-men +twirled and danced. All of them were dressed in yellow coats and green +hats, and many of them wore long white beards. And oh, how they chirped +and smirked, and laughed and jumped about, as if they were mad! + +For a long time Peter stood bewildered. At last the little Parsnip-men +who had brought him so far led him right into the room, and the wall +closed behind them. + +"Now for the Queen!" whispered one of them. "Come along." + +They went down the side of the room, against the wall of which were +ranged chairs with grand purple coverings and gilded arms. Once or twice +Peter nearly slipped, so polished was the floor. From time to time some +little Parsnip-man in the company nodded to him; otherwise no one paid +much attention to him. + +In this way they reached the farther end of the hall, where there was a +throne, raised on a dais and covered by a canopy hung with purple. It +was something like the throne Peter once saw when his aunt took him with +her to the palace. A few steps led up to the throne, with a wonderfully +elaborate balustrade made of gold. + +The little mannikins seized his hands and led him up the steps between +them. Then they drew back the purple curtains, and displayed a grand +throne on which was seated a little girl in a snow-white dress. On her +head she wore a little gold crown, from which hung a long transparent +veil. She was resting her head on her hand, and did not look up till +Peter and the Parsnip-men were quite close to her. Then she gave a cry +of joy. + +"So you've come at last, Peter!" she cried, her eyes brightening with +delight; and as she took his hand, he saw that she was no other than his +favourite playfellow and neighbour, little Mary. + +There was a second seat beside her, and to this she drew Peter. Then she +beckoned to the Parsnip-men, and said, "You have got everything ready, +have you not?" The Parsnip-men bowed low, and hurried away. + +In a minute or two they returned, followed by about thirty mannikins +like themselves, who bore a magnificent dress which they deposited +before Peter. There was a coat of blue silk, turned up with fur, and +trimmed with precious stones. Besides this there were knee-breeches of +the same material, slashed with white and fringed with gold, white silk +stockings, and smart shoes with gold buckles. To complete the whole, +there lay on the top a cap, with a heron's plume fastened by an aigrette +of gold. + +But Peter's attention all this time had been fixed upon Mary. He fancied +she looked bigger than usual and unfamiliar in some way. + +"Take the clothes into that room," said she to the little men; "and you, +Peter," she added, "go with them and dress. Then we will go to supper." + +"But--er--does your mamma know you're here?" asked Peter. He could not +get over his amazement at the style and tone in which little Mary +issued her orders in this strange place. + +"I should think not!" laughed the little girl. "But never mind, Peter: +we shall soon be at home again. What you've got to do just now is to put +on your things." + +As if in a dream, Peter went into the room into which the clothes had +been taken, and where the little men helped him to take off his things +and dress himself in his new-finery. Some of them then brought a long +mirror, in which Peter could see himself from head to foot, and he +fairly laughed with delight at his fine appearance in his new clothes. + +Then the little men led him back to the Queen, who looked him well over, +and she also smiled complacently. + +"Did you bring your doll, Mary?" said Peter presently. + +"That's not very likely," replied she. "It would not do for a queen to +play at dolls." + +"Have you been a queen very long?" Peter inquired. + +"For several years," said Mary. + +"But you and I were playing together only yesterday," said poor Peter, +in puzzled tones. + +But Mary had turned her back to him, and was pulling a bell at the back +of her throne. + +Although the music was still going on, the clear tone of the bell which +the Queen had rung was heard above every other sound. + +The music and the dancing stopped at once. + +"Come, Peter, give me your arm," said Mary. "We're going into the +supper-room." + +They stepped down into the hall, where all the Parsnip-men had now +ranged themselves in two long rows, down the centre of which the Queen +and her companion now passed, and then the Parsnip-men closed in and +formed a long procession behind them. + +In this way they came to the other end of the hall. The large +folding-doors swung open, and Peter fancied he was looking into a large +garden. But it was only another hall in which tall foreign-looking trees +were planted, whilst many-tinted flowers of gorgeous colours and strange +shapes hung from the walls, and hither and thither among them flitted +curious birds of many hues. As in the first hall, crystal lustres with +wax tapers descended from the roof, and in the middle of the room, to +which they now advanced, was a long table covered with a white +table-cloth, and laid out with gold and silver plate of all sorts. There +were golden vases with handles, golden tankards, golden dessert-dishes +filled with splendid fruits; silver plates and goblets and +drinking-cups, and beside them stood crystal flasks. Hundreds of chairs +were placed round the table, and in every place was a little silver +knife and a plate. + +Peter could not gaze long enough. He wanted to stop every moment, but +Mary only laughed, and dragged him on. + +[Illustration] + +About the middle of the long table there was a dais raised above the +level on which the other chairs and table stood. It was covered by a +canopy of yellow silk, and under this was a table more richly laid out +than the big one, and two seats of pure gold. To this Mary led Peter, +and then said emphatically--"These are _our_ seats." + +Up they climbed, and then Mary dropped Peter's arm and sat down on one +of the seats, and he seated himself beside her on the other. + +From his present elevation Peter was well able to observe the +Parsnip-men as they passed by in procession, and took their places on +the chairs. + +When all were seated the music recommenced. Then out of a side door came +about fifty mannikins carrying large cakes on silver dishes, which they +set down on the long table, and having cut them up handed them round to +the guests. Others poured red or golden wine from the vases into the +goblets. Everybody ate and drank, and chatted and laughed +between-whiles. + +Among the golden dishes on the golden table where Peter and Mary sat, +was one which held a cake which had a particularly inviting smell. Mary +cut a piece off and put it on to Peter's golden plate. Then, from a +beautiful golden goblet, she poured ruby-coloured wine into their +crystal glasses. + +Peter ate and drank with great relish, and soon disposed of the cake and +wine. + +[Illustration] + +"I should like to have some of that beautiful fruit, too, if I may," +said he. And as he spoke Mary filled his plate with grapes, apples, and +pears. + +"Eat away, Peter!" said she, laughing till her white teeth shone through +her lips. "Don't be afraid of emptying the dish. There is plenty more +fruit if we want it." + +"I should like to take some home to Mamma," said Peter, biting into an +apple. "May I, Mary?" + +Mary nodded kindly, and handed him a golden dish full of sweetmeats, +saying, "Put as many of these into your pocket as you like." And he +filled his pockets accordingly. + +Peter felt as happy as a king. His head was quite turned. He shouted +aloud for joy, and swung his legs backwards and forwards as he sat on +his golden chair. + +"But I say, Mary," said he, laughing, "we shall go on playing together +the same as ever, sha'n't we? I shall bring my leaden soldiers, and +you'll bring your dolls again, won't you?" + +But at this moment Mary seized his arm, and whispered in a frightened +voice--"Hush, Peter, hush! Don't you hear?" + +The music had suddenly ceased, and with it all the talking and laughing +at the long table, and in the silence the sound of the church clock +could be distinctly heard. _It struck one._ + +At one stroke--the lights went out, a blast of wind blew through the +banqueting-room, and then all was as still as death. + + * * * * * + + +LEFT ALONE IN THE DARK--MOTHER--THE PARSNIP-MAN BY DAYLIGHT--THREE +POUNDS. + +Peter sat in his chair, as if petrified with terror, Mary still holding +fast by his arm. + +"Quick, quick!" she cried, breathlessly. "We must get away from here." +Then she let his arm go, and hurried away from him. + +"Wait, wait!" he cried, anxiously; "I don't know where I am. Take me +with you, Mary! I can't see my way. Mary! Mary! Mary!" + +Nobody replied. + +Peter slid down from his chair and groped his way forward till he +knocked against the corner of the table. Terror fairly overcame him, and +he cried--"Mother! Mother! Mother!" + +"What's the matter, dear?" said his mother's gentle voice. + +"I am here, Mother," cried Peter; "but I am so frightened! Mary has run +away and left me all alone in the dark hall." + +"Come, Peter, come; collect yourself," said his mother, who was +standing by the bed where poor Peter was sitting straight up with an +anxious face, down which big tears were running. + +"You're here, Peter, you know; in your own little bed," said his mother, +putting her arms round him. + +Peter began to take heart a little, and looked round him with big +wide-open eyes. + +"But how did I get here?" he asked, still stupefied with sleep. + +"You've never been anywhere else, you know," said his mother. + +"But I know the Parsnip-man took me away, and I rode on the mouse, too," +said little Peter. + +"Nonsense, nonsense; you're still dreaming. There, get up and put on +your clothes." + +"But I want the other clothes, the beautiful blue dress. These things +are so dreadfully patched and darned," said Peter, in a lamentable tone. +"And I have brought something nice for you too, Mother dear. It's in the +pockets of the blue coat." + +"You haven't got a blue coat, child," said his mother. "Come, come. Put +on your clothes and come into the warm kitchen." And she carried Peter +out into the arm-chair by the breakfast-table, and began to pour out +some coffee for him. And she put the Parsnip-man (who had been lying all +night behind the stove) into his hand. "See," she continued, "here's +your Parsnip-man, about whom you have been dreaming all this fine +nonsense." + +Peter examined it with eager eyes. It looked exactly the same as it had +done the night before. + +"But Mary was there too," he said, still doubtfully. "She is the Queen +of the Parsnip-men, you know. And she gave me cake and wine and fruit." + +"Well, we'll ask her about it next time she comes," said his mother, +laughing. + +Just then there was a knock at the door. The mother hastened to open it, +and found a messenger waiting with a letter in his hand which had +several seals on it. It was addressed to herself, and beside the address +was written, "_Three pounds enclosed._" Having given a small sum to the +messenger for his trouble, the widow broke the seals of the letter with +trembling fingers. The three pounds were duly enclosed, but no letter +accompanied the welcome money. + +Overcome with joy, the widow seized Peter, who had crept curiously to +her side, in her arms and exclaimed with delight, "Ah! you shall have a +nice blue dress, after all, my child." + +But when the boy asked, "Who has sent us all this money, Mother?" all +she could say was, "I wish I knew, my dear. But you see there is no +letter with it." + +Then Peter smiled expressively, but said nothing, for he +thought--"Mother won't believe me, I know. But who can the money have +come from, except from the little Parsnip-man?" + + + + +A CHILD'S WISHES. + +(_From the German of R. Reinick._) + + +A certain old knight had a little daughter called Gertrude; and when his +brother died, leaving an only son, he took the boy into his castle, and +treated him as his own son. The boy's name was Walter. The two children +lived together like brother and sister; they only played where they +could play together, and were of one heart and of one soul. But one day, +when Gertrude had gone out alone to pick flowers beyond the castle gate, +some gipsies came along the high-road, who stole the child and took her +away. No one knew what had become of her; the poor old father died of +grief, and Walter wept long days and nights for his Gertrude. + +At last there came a warm spring day, when the trees began to bud, and +Walter went out into the wood. There, in a beautiful green spot, a brook +bubbled under the trees, where he had often sat with Gertrude, floating +little boats of nutshells on the stream. He sat down there now, cut +himself a hazel stick for a hobby-horse, and as he did so he said to +himself-- + +"Ah! if I were but a grown-up knight, as tall and stately as those who +used to come to my uncle's castle, I would ride out into the wide world +and look for Gertrude!" + +Meanwhile, he heard something screaming near him, and when he looked up +he saw a raven, which was stuck so fast between two branches of a tree +that it could not move, whilst a snake was gliding towards it to devour +it. Walter hastily seized his stick, beat the snake to death, and set +the raven free. + +"A thousand thanks, my dear child!" said the raven, who had flown up +into a tree, from which he spoke--"a thousand thanks! And now, since you +have saved my life, wish for whatever you like, and it shall be granted +immediately. A year hence we will speak of this again." + +When Walter heard this, he saw at once that the raven was an enchanted +bird, and exclaimed with joy-- + +"I should like to be a noble knight with a helmet and a shield, a +charger and a sword!" + +All happened just as he wished. In an instant he was a tall, stately +knight; his shield stood near him, and his hobby-horse became a proud +charger, which, to show that it was no ghost, but a real horse of flesh +and blood, began then and there to drink out of the stream. + +At first, Walter could not think what had happened to him, but stood as +if he were in a dream. Soon, however, a new life seemed to wake within +him; he swung himself on to his horse with all the energy of youth, and +rode far out into the land to look for little Gertrude. + +Like other knights, he met with many adventures on his way. There was +always something to contend with, either wild beasts or else knights, +who, like himself, roved about the country delighting to find any one +with whom they could do battle. On every occasion, however, Walter came +off conqueror, for he was far more valiant than any of his opponents. + +At last, one day he came within sight of a mountain, on which stood a +high castle belonging to a certain queen. As he reached the summit, he +saw from afar a little maiden, who sat playing with her doll before the +castle gate, and when he drew nearer he found that it was his little +Gertrude. Then he put spurs to his horse and shouted joyfully-- + +"Good-day, dear Gertrude!" But the child knew him not. As he drew +nearer, he called again: "It is I indeed!--it is Cousin Walter!" but the +child believed him not. And when he sprang from his horse to kiss her, +and his armour, sword, and spurs rattled and clashed as he did so, the +child was afraid that this strange man would hurt her, and she ran away +back into the castle. + +Poor Walter was very much troubled. He went in, however, and presented +himself to the queen, who received him very graciously. He told her all +that had happened, and learnt from her that she had bought Gertrude from +the gipsies. But when he begged that she would let him take his dear +little cousin away with him, she consented only on condition that the +child herself should be willing, for Gertrude had become very dear to +the old queen. So she called the little maid in, and said-- + +"Now look here, my child: this really is your Cousin Walter. Do you no +longer love him, and will you not go away with him?" + +The child looked at the knight from head to foot, and then said in a +troubled voice-- + +"Since you both declare that it is Walter, I suppose I must believe it. +Ah! if only he were still as little as he was a year ago, I would go +into the wide world with him, wherever he wanted; but now, I never can. +It would be no good, whilst he is like that. If I wanted to play +hide-and-seek, as we used to do, his armour would shine, and his spurs +rattle, and I should know where he was directly. If I wanted to go to +school with him, he could not sit by me on the little benches at the +little tables. Then what could a poor child like me do for such a +stately knight? If I tried to work for him, I should burn my little +hands; if I tried to make his clothes, I should prick my little fingers; +and if I ran races with him, I should hurt my little feet. If I were a +grown-up princess, indeed, it would be a different thing." + +Walter could not but feel that what Gertrude said was true. So he took +leave of them both, mounted his horse, and rode away; but the queen and +Gertrude watched him from the battlements of the castle. + +He had not ridden many steps when a voice from a tree called "Walter! +Walter!" and when he looked up, there was the raven, who said-- + +"A year has passed since you wished to be a knight. If you have another +wish, speak, and it shall be granted; but observe, what you wished +before will then be at an end." + +To these last words Walter paid no attention. The raven had no sooner +said that he might have another wish than he interrupted it, exclaiming: +"Then I wish Gertrude to be a grown-up princess!" + +But even as he spoke he himself became a child again, and his horse a +hobby-horse, just as they had been a year ago. But when he looked up to +the battlements, there stood by the queen a wonderfully beautiful +princess, tall and slim and stately; and this was--his Gertrude! Then +the boy, taking his hobby-horse, went back up to the castle steps, and +wept bitterly. But the queen was sorry for him, took him in, and tried +to comfort him. + +And now there was another trouble. Dearly as the Princess Gertrude and +the boy Walter loved each other, they were not so happy as they should +have been. If Walter said to her, "Come, Gertrude, and we'll run races, +and jump over the ditches," she would answer, "Oh! that would never do +for a princess; what would people say?" + +If Walter said, "Come and play hide-and-seek," Gertrude would answer +again, "Oh! but that would never do for a princess; I should leave my +train hanging on the thorns, and my coronet would be tumbling off my +head." + +Then if Gertrude asked Walter to bring in some venison for the table, +the boy would bring her a mouse instead; and if a bull or a mad dog came +after them, Gertrude must snatch Walter up in her arms, and run off with +him, for she was so much bigger than he, and could run a great deal +quicker. Meanwhile he remained in the castle, and the boy became very +dear to the old queen. + +Another year passed by, and one morning Gertrude sat under a tree in the +garden with her embroidery, whilst Walter played at her feet. Then, as +before, a voice called out of the tree, "Walter! Walter!" And when the +boy looked up, the raven was sitting on a branch, who said: "Now once +more you may wish, and it shall be granted; but this is the last time, +therefore think it well over." + +But Walter did not think long before he answered: "Ah! let us both be +children all our lives long." + +And as he wished so it happened. They both became children as before, +played together more happily than ever, and were of one heart and of one +soul. + +But when another year had passed by, and the children sat plucking +flowers and singing together in the garden, an angel flew down from +heaven, who took them both in his arms and carried them away--away to +the celestial gardens of Paradise, where they are yet together, +gathering the flowers that never fade, and singing songs so wondrously +beautiful, that even the blessed angels hear with joy. + + + + +WAR AND THE DEAD. + +A DRAMATIC DIALOGUE. + +(_From the French of Jean Macé._) + + +Dramatis Personæ. + +Peace. +War. +A French Grenadier. +A German Hussar. +A Scotch Highlander. +A Cossack. +A Russian Peasant Woman. +A French Peasant Woman. +A German Peasant Woman. +An English Peasant Woman. + + +Soldiers _are lying on the ground._ Peace _is seated +at the back, leaning her elbow on one knee, her head resting on her +hand_. + +_Enter_ War. + + +War. To-day is the 18th of June, the anniversary of the battle +of Waterloo, the day of a wrath which still mutters, and of a hatred yet +unappeased. Let us employ it in re-animating this torpid century, which +succumbs to the coward sweetness of an inglorious peace. After forty +years of forced repose brighter days seemed at last to have returned to +me. Twice did I unfurl the old colours in the breeze; twice I made +hearts beat as of old at the magic din of battles; and twice that +hateful Peace, rising suddenly before me, snatched the yet rusty sword +from my hands. + +Up! up! O heroes of great battles! you whom twenty-five years of warfare +did not satiate: rise from your graves and shame your degenerate +successors. Up! up! Bid some remember that they have a revenge to take, +and tell others that they are not yet enough avenged. + +Peace _rises_. + +Peace. What do you want here, relentless War? Dispute the world +of the living with me if you will, but at least respect the peace of the +grave. + +War. I have a right to summon the Dead when it is in the name +of their country. + +Peace. The Dead are with God; they have but one +country among them. + +War. You may dispense with set speeches, most eloquent Peace, +for I pay no attention to them. I go forward, and leave talk to +chatterers. The world belongs to the brave. + +Peace. The world belongs to those who are in the right. Since, +however, you will not listen to me, you shall hear the Dead themselves, +and see if they agree with you. (_Turns to the_ Dead.) Arise, +my children; come and confound those who wish to fight with the bones of +the departed. + +_The_ Dead _rise_. + +Grenadier. I have slept a long time since Austerlitz. Who are +you, comrades? + +Hussar. I come from the battle-field of Leipsic, where the +great German race broke the yoke which your Emperor had laid upon it. + +Grenadier. You were left upon the field? + +Hussar. I am proud to say so. + +Grenadier. And you are right, old fellow; every man owes +himself to his country. We others have done just the same. If you had +let us alone in '92 we should not have come to you. + +Cossack. I was killed under the walls of Paris, where great +Russia went to return the insult she had received at Moscow. + +Highlander. I fell at Waterloo, avenging the great English +people for the threats of the camp at Boulogne. I drowned in my blood +the last effort of your Imperial Eagle. + +Grenadier. Well! we are well matched. My blood reddened the +plain of Austerlitz, where the great French nation was avenged on +Brunswick and Souwaroff. We have all perished, buried in a triumph. We +can shake hands upon it. + +Cossack. Brave men are equals, in whatever dress. Let us shake +hands. + +Hussar. We have all died for our country. Let us be brothers. + +Highlander. Let us be brothers. The hatreds of earth do not +extend beyond the grave. + +[_They join hands._ + +Grenadier. And now Peace is proclaimed, let us tell each other +what we used to do before we became warriors. + +Cossack. I cultivated a piece of ground in the steppes and took +care of my old mother. + +Highlander. I brought up my daughter by farming a piece of +ground which I had cleared on my native heath. + +Hussar. I lived with my wife on the piece of land which we +cultivated. + +Grenadier. I tilled a piece of ground also, and supported my +sister. It seems that we were all four of the same way of life. How did +we come to kill one another? + +Cossack. The Czar spoke, and I marched. + +Highlander. Parliament voted for war, and I marched. + +Hussar. Our princes cried, "To arms!" and I marched. + +Grenadier. As for me, my comrades cried, "To arms!" and I put +on my best sabots. But after all, what have we against each other? Where +was the quarrel between our respective ploughshares? (_To the_ +Hussar.) You, for instance, who began, what did you come into +my country for? + +Hussar. We came to destroy brigands. + +Grenadier. Brigands! That is to say, my unfortunate self, and +other labourers like you and me. After this, well might we be made to +sing about + +"Vile blood soaking our furrows!" + +I see now this "vile blood" was yours, my friend, and that of brave men +like you. Cursed be those who forced us to fight together! + +Hussar. Cursed be the contrivers of War! + +War (_advancing_). Shame on you, degraded warriors! Your very +wives would disown you. (_The_ Dead _gaze fixedly._) You are +silent! What have you to answer? + +Peace. The Dead do not reply. (_Points with her hand to the +stage entrance._) These shall answer for them. + +_Enter_ Four Veiled Women. + +[_One of the_ Veiled Women _slowly advances. When in front of +the stage she lifts her veil, and is seen by the audience. The others +afterwards do the same._ + +First Woman. Oh, my brother! where are you now? If you are ill, +who nurses you? If you are wounded, who watches over you? If you are a +prisoner, who comforts you? If you are dead--Alas! every night I go to +rest weeping, because I have had no news of you; and every morning I +awake dreading to receive it. We were so happy! We lived so comfortably +together! and now I sit at our little table, with your empty place +before me, and cannot eat for looking at it. Yet I made you promise to +come back when we said good-bye. Ah! unkind! Why are you so long in +fulfilling your promise? + +[_She closes her veil and crosses to one side of the stage. The others +afterwards do the same._ + +Grenadier. It is my sister, friends. She is repeating the words +of our last adieu. + +Second Woman. Oh, my father! why have you left your child? +Alas! when you went away I played--poor fool!--with your brilliant +uniform. (Dark livery of death, would that I had never seen thee!) I +said I should be proud of you when you came back to me, having killed a +great many of your enemies. Child that I was to speak of killing, not +knowing what it meant! And now, when will you return? What have they +done with you, dear Father? What has become of that revered head, which +my lips never approached but with respect? Perhaps at this very moment +it is dragged, all stained and livid, through the dust or in the mud. +Oh, God! if my prayers may still avail for him, withdraw him +speedily from those frightful conflicts, where every blow falls upon a +father, a son, a brother, or a husband. Pity the many tears that flow +for every drop of blood! + +Highlander. It is my daughter! I yet hear the last farewell +her innocent mouth sent after me. + +Third Woman. Oh, my beloved! where can I go to look for you? +Little did we think, when we vowed before God never in this +life to forsake each other, that War would come and carry you away as a +leaf is driven before the wind. Perhaps at this moment you are stretched +upon an armful of bloody straw, and other hands than mine dress your +glorious wounds. Ah, miserable me! of what does my tender jealousy +complain? Who knows if you are not by this time safe from wounds for +ever? Oh, my God! if Thou hast taken him, take me also. I +promised to follow him when I received his parting kiss. + +Hussar. It is my wife beyond a doubt! I recognize the words her +sweet voice murmured that very day in my ear. + +Fourth Woman. I said, "Go, and bear yourself like a man." He +went, and he has not returned. Ah, merciless tigers! we rear our +children with fear and weeping. We pass whole nights bent over their +little cradles, and when we have made men of them you come and take them +away from us that you may send them to death. And we, miserable women! +must encourage them to die if we would not have them dishonoured. Poor +dear boy! so strong! so handsome! so good to his mother! Ah! if there be +a God of vengeance, surely the cries of desolate mothers will +allow no sleep to those who provoke such massacres. They will haunt them +to the grave, and rise behind them to the foot of that throne where the +great Judge of all awaits them. + +[_She buries her face in her hands._ + +Cossack. It is my mother! I recognize her last words. (_He +springs towards her_.) It is I, Mother, it is I! (_She raises her +head_.) What do I see? A stranger! and it is an Englishwoman! + +Highlander (_raising the daughter's veil_). Good heavens! She +is a German. + +Hussar (_raising the wife's veil_). It is not she! It is a +Frenchwoman. + +Grenadier (_raising the sister's veil_). She is a Russian! It +is not for us that they are weeping; perhaps it is for some of those +whom we have killed. How could we be so deceived? + +Peace (_advancing_). There are sisters, wives, daughters, and +mothers everywhere, my children, and Nature has but one language in all +countries. (_To WAR_.) As for you, go and sound your trumpet in +barracks and drinking-houses, but invoke the Dead no more, and do not +reckon upon women. + + +Note.--The battle of Austerlitz was fought December 2, 1805. +The battle of Leipsic, August 16-19, 1813. The Allies took Paris March +30, 1814. + + + + +_Richard Clay & Sons, Limited, London & Bungay._ + +_The present Series of Mrs. Ewing's Works is the only authorised, +complete, and uniform Edition published._ + +_It will consist of 18 volumes, Small Crown 8vo, at 2s. 6d. per vol., +issued, as far as possible, in chronological order, and these will +appear at the rate of two volumes every two months, so that the Series +will be completed within 18 months. The device of the cover was +specially designed by a Friend of Mrs. Ewing._ + +_The following is a list of the books included in the Series--_ + +1. MELCHIOR'S DREAM, AND OTHER TALES. + +2. MRS. OVERTHEWAY'S REMEMBRANCES. + +3. OLD-FASHIONED FAIRY TALES. + +4. A FLAT IRON FOR A FARTHING. + +5. THE BROWNIES, AND OTHER TALES. + +6. SIX TO SIXTEEN. + +7. LOB LIE-BY-THE-FIRE, AND OTHER TALES. + +8. JAN OF THE WINDMILL. + +9. VERSES FOR CHILDREN, AND SONGS. + +10. THE PEACE EGG--A CHRISTMAS MUMMING PLAY--HINTS FOR PRIVATE +THEATRICALS, &c. + +11. A GREAT EMERGENCY, AND OTHER TALES. + +12. BROTHERS OF PITY, AND OTHER TALES OF BEASTS AND MEN. + +13. WE AND THE WORLD, Part I. + +14. WE AND THE WORLD, Part II. + +15. JACKANAPES--DADDY DARWIN'S DOVECOTE--THE STORY OF A SHORT LIFE. + +16. MARY'S MEADOW, AND OTHER TALES OF FIELDS AND FLOWERS. + +17. MISCELLANEA, including The Mystery of the Bloody Hand--Wonder +Stories--Tales of the Khoja, and other translations. + +18. JULIANA HORATIA EWING AND HER BOOKS, with a selection from +Mrs. Ewing's Letters. + +S.P.C.K., Northumberland Avenue, London, W.C. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Miscellanea, by Juliana Horatia Ewing + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MISCELLANEA *** + +***** This file should be named 16347-8.txt or 16347-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/3/4/16347/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Paul Ereaut and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +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 + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + +*** END: FULL LICENSE *** + diff --git a/16347-8.zip b/16347-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..14b0707 --- /dev/null +++ b/16347-8.zip diff --git a/16347-h.zip b/16347-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..dc6009c --- /dev/null +++ b/16347-h.zip diff --git a/16347-h/16347-h.htm b/16347-h/16347-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..38da360 --- /dev/null +++ b/16347-h/16347-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,9154 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" + content="text/html; charset=us-ascii" /> + + <title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Miscellanea, by Juliana + Horatia Ewing.</title> + <style type="text/css"> + /*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ + <!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; font-size: smaller; text-align: right;} /* page numbers */ + .sidenote {width: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em; margin-left: 1em; + float: right; clear: right; margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; background: #eeeeee; border: dashed 1px;} + + .bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + .bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + .bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + .br {border-right: solid 2px;} + .bbox {border: solid 2px;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: super; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> +</head> + +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Miscellanea, by Juliana Horatia Ewing + +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: Miscellanea + +Author: Juliana Horatia Ewing + +Release Date: July 22, 2005 [EBook #16347] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MISCELLANEA *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Paul Ereaut and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + <p><a name="Page_1" + id="Page_1"></a></p> + + <h1>MISCELLANEA.</h1> + + <h3>BY</h3> + + <h2>JULIANA HORATIA EWING.<br /></h2> + + <p class="center"><br />SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE,<br /> + <span class="smcap">London: Northumberland Avenue,</span> W.C.<br /> + <span class="smcap">43, Queen Victoria Street,</span> E.C.<br /> + <span class="smcap">Brighton: 129, North Street.</span><br /> + <span class="smcap">New York:</span> E. & J.B. YOUNG & + CO.<br /></p> + + <p><br /><a name="Page_2" + id="Page_2"></a></p> + + <p class="center">[Published under the direction of the General + Literature Committee.]</p> + + <p><a name="Page_3" + id="Page_3"></a></p> + + <h2>PREFACE.</h2> + + <p>The contents of this volume are republished in order to make + the Edition a complete collection of Mrs. Ewing's works, rather + than because of their intrinsic worth. The fact that she did + not republish the papers during her life shows that she did not + estimate them very highly herself; but as each one has a + special interest connected with it, I feel I am not violating + her wishes in bringing the collection before the public.</p> + + <p>One of Mrs. Ewing's strongest gifts was her power of + mimicry; this made her an actor above the average of amateurs, + and also enabled her to imitate any special style of writing + that she wished. The first four stories in this volume are + instances of this power. <i>The Mystery of the Bloody Hand</i> + was an attempt to vie with some of the early sensational + <a name="Page_4" + id="Page_4"></a>novels, such as <i>Lady Audley's Secret</i> + and <i>The Moonstone</i>;—tales in which a glimpse of + the supernatural is introduced amongst scenes of every-day + life.</p> + + <p>During my sister's girlhood we had a family MS. Magazine (as + our Mother had done in her young days), and two of the stories + in Mrs. Gatty's "Aunt Judy's Letters," <i>The Flatlands Fun + Gazette</i> and <i>The Black Bag</i>, were founded on this + custom, Mrs. Ewing being the typical "Aunt Judy" of the book. + Mrs. Gatty described how the children were called upon each to + contribute a tale for <i>The Black Bag</i>, and how No. 5 + remonstrated by saying—"I've been sitting over the fire + this evening trying to think, but what <i>could</i> come, with + only the coals and the fire-place before one to look at? I dare + say neither Hans Andersen nor Grimm nor any of those fellows + would have written anything, if they had not gone about into + caves and forests and those sort of places, or boated in the + North Seas!" Aunt Judy replied that she also had been looking + into the fire, and the longer she did so, the more she decided + "that Hans Andersen was not beholden to caves or forests or any + curious things or people for his story-telling inspirations"; + but as it was difficult for the "little ones" to write she + enclosed three tales as "jokes, imitations, in fact, of the + Andersenian power of spinning gold threads out of old + tow-ropes." So far this was Mrs. Gatty's own + writin<a name="Page_5" + id="Page_5"></a>g, but the three tales were the work of the + real Aunt Judy, Mrs. Ewing herself. These three are (1) + <i>The Smut</i>, (2) <i>The Crick</i>, (3) <i>The + Brothers</i>. The last sentence in <i>The Brothers</i> + recalls the last entry in Mrs. Ewing's commonplace book, + which is quoted in her Life—"If we still love those we + lose, can we altogether lose those we love?"</p> + + <p><i>Cousin Peregrine's Wonder Stories</i> and <i>Traveller's + Tales</i> were written after Mrs. Ewing's marriage, with the + help of her husband; he supplied the facts and descriptions + from things which he had seen during his long residence abroad. + Colonel Ewing also helped my sister in translating the <i>Tales + of the Khoja</i> from the Turkish. The illustrations now + reproduced were drawn by our brother, Alfred Scott-Gatty.</p> + + <p>In <i>Little Woods</i> and <i>May-Day Customs</i> Mrs. Ewing + showed her ready ability to take up any subject of interest + that came under her notice—botany, horticulture, + archæology, folk-lore, or whatever it might be. The same + readiness was shown in her adaptation of the various versions + of the <i>Mumming Play</i>, or <i>The Peace Egg</i>.</p> + + <p><i>In Memoriam</i> was written under considerable restraint + soon after our Mother's death. My sister knew that she did not + wish her biography to be written, but still it was impossible + to let the originator and editor of <i>Aunt Judy's Magazine</i> + pass away without some little re<a name="Page_6" + id="Page_6"></a>cord being given to the many children who + loved her writings. In Ecclesfield Church there is a tablet + erected to Mrs. Gatty's memory by one thousand children, who + each contributed sixpence.</p> + + <p><i>The Snarling Princess</i> and <i>The Little Parsnip + Man</i> are adaptations of two fairy tales which appeared in a + German magazine; and as both the tales and their illustrations + took Mrs. Ewing's fancy, she made a free rendering of them for + <i>Aunt Judy's Magazine</i>.</p> + + <p><i>A Child's Wishes</i> and <i>War and the Dead</i> are more + accurate translations, but it may be said they have not + suffered in their transmission from one language to another. My + sister's selection of the last sketch for translation is + noticeable, as giving a foretaste of her keen sympathy with + military interests.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_7" + id="Page_7"></a></p> + + + <h2>CONTENTS.</h2> +<p> + <span class="smcap"><a href="#THE_MYSTERY_OF_THE_BLOODY_HAND">The Mystery of the Bloody Hand</a></span><br /> + <br /> + <span class="smcap"><a href="#THE_SMUT">The Smut</a></span> <br /> + <br /> + <span class="smcap"><a href="#THE_CRICK">The Crick</a></span> <br /> + <br /> + <span class="smcap"><a href="#THE_BROTHERS">The Brothers</a></span> <br /> + <br /> + <span class="smcap"><a href="#COUSIN_PEREGRINES_WONDER_STORIES">Cousin Peregrine's Wonder Stories</a></span>:<br /> + <span style="margin-left: 2.5em;" class="smcap">1. The Chinese Jugglers, and the Englishman's Hands</span><br /> + <span style="margin-left: 2.5em;" class="smcap">2. Waves of the Great South Seas</span><br /> + <br /> + <span class="smcap"><a href="#COUSIN_PEREGRINES_TRAVELLERS_TALES">Cousin Peregrine's Traveller's Tales</a></span>:<br /> + <span style="margin-left: 2.5em;" class="smcap">Jack of Pera</span><br /> + <br /> + <span class="smcap"><a href="#THE_PRINCES_OF_VEGETATION">The Princes of Vegetation</a></span> <br /> + <br /> + <span class="smcap"><a href="#LITTLE_WOODS">Little Woods</a></span> <br /> + <br /> + <span class="smcap"><a href="#MAY-DAY">May-Day, Old Style and New Style</a></span><br /> + <br /> + <span class="smcap"><a href="#IN_MEMORIUM_MARGARET_GATTY">In Memoriam, Margaret Gatty</a></span><br /> + <br /> + <span class="smcap"><a href="#TALES_OF_THE_KHOJA">Tales of the Khoja</a></span> (<i>from the Turkish</i>) <br /> <a name="Page_8" id="Page_8"></a> + <br /> + <span class="smcap"><a href="#THE_SNARLING_PRINCESS">The Snarling Princess</a></span> (<i>adapted from the German</i>) <br /> + <br /> + <span class="smcap"><a href="#THE_LITTLE_PARSNIP-MAN">The Little Parsnip-Man</a></span> (<i>adapted from the German</i>) <br /> + <br /> + <span class="smcap"><a href="#A_CHILDS_WISHES">A Child's Wishes</a></span> + (<i>from the German of R. Reinick</i>) <br /> + <br /> + <span class="smcap"><a href="#WAR_AND_THE_DEAD">War and the Dead</a></span> + (<i>from the French of Jean Macé</i>) +</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + + <p><a name="Page_9" + id="Page_9"></a></p> + + <h2><a name="THE_MYSTERY_OF_THE_BLOODY_HAND" + id="THE_MYSTERY_OF_THE_BLOODY_HAND"></a>THE MYSTERY OF THE + BLOODY HAND.</h2> + + <h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> + + <h3>A MEMORABLE NEW YEAR'S DAY.</h3> + + <p><i>Dorothy to Eleanor</i>,</p> + + <p><span class="smcap">Dearest Eleanor</span>,</p> + + <p>You have so often reminded me how rapidly the most startling + facts pass from the memory of man, and I have so often + thereupon promised to write down a full account of that + mysterious affair in which I was providentially called upon to + play so prominent a part, that it is with shame I reflect that + the warning has been unheeded and the promise unfulfilled. Do + not, dear friend, accuse my affection, but my engrossing duties + and occupations, for this neglect, and believe that I now take + advantage of my first quiet evening for many months to fulfil + your wish.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_10" + id="Page_10"></a></p> + + <p>Betty has just brought me a cup of tea, and I have told the + girl to be within call; for once a heroine is not always a + heroine, dear Nell. I am full of childish terrors, and I assure + you it is with no small mental effort that I bring myself to + recall the terrible events of the year 1813.</p> + + <p>Oddly enough, it was on the first day of this year that I + made the acquaintance of Mr. George Manners; and I think I can + do no better than begin by giving you an extract from the first + page of my journal at that time.</p> + + <p>"<i>Jan. 1, 1813</i>.—It is mid-day, and very fine, + but it was no easy matter to be at service this morning after + all good Dr. Penn's injunctions, as last night's dancing, and + the long drive home, made me sleepy, and Harriet is still in + bed.</p> + + <p>"Though I am not so handsome as Harriet, and boast of no + conquests, and though the gentlemen do not say the wonderfully + pretty things to me that they seem to do to her, I have much + enjoyed several balls since my introduction into society. But + for ever first and foremost on my list of dances must be Lady + Lucy Topham's party on New Year's Eve. Let me say New Year's + Day, for the latter part of the evening was the happy one to + me. During the first part I danced a little and watched the + others <a name="Page_11" + id="Page_11"></a>much. To sit still is mortifying, and yet I + almost think the dancing was the greater penance, since I + never had much to say to men of whom I know nothing: the + dances seem interminable, and I am ever haunted by a vague + feeling that my partner is looking out over my head for some + one prettier and more lively, which is not inspiring. I must + not forget a little incident, as we came up the stairs into + the ball-room. With my customary awkwardness I dropped my + fan, and was about to stoop for it, when some one who had + been following us darted forward and presented it to me. I + curtsied low, he bowed lower; our eyes met for a moment, and + then he fell behind. It was by his eyes that I recognized + him afterwards in the ball-room, for in the momentary glance + on the stairs I had not had time to observe his prominent + height and fine features. How strangely one's fancy is + sometimes seized upon by a foolish wish! My modest desire + last night was to dance with this Mr. George Manners, the + handsomest man and best dancer of the room, to be whose + partner even Harriet was proud. Though I had not a word for + my second-rate partners, I fancied that I could talk to + <i>him</i>. Oh, foolish heart! how I chid myself for my + folly in watching his tall figure thread the dances, in + fancying that I had met his eyes many times that evening, + and, above all, for the throb of jealous disappointment that + ca<a name="Page_12" + id="Page_12"></a>me with every dance when he did not do what + I never soberly expected he would—ask me. A little + before twelve I was sitting out among the turbans, when I + saw him standing at some distance, and unmistakably looking + at me. A sudden horror seized me that something was + wrong—my hair coming down, my dress awry—and I + was not comforted by Harriet passing at this moment + with—</p> + + <p>"'What! sitting out still? You should be more lively, child! + Men don't like dancing with dummies.'</p> + + <p>"When her dress had whisked past me I looked up and saw him + again, but at that moment he sharply turned his back on me and + walked into the card-room. I was sitting still when he came out + again with Mr. Topham. The music had just struck up, the + couples were gathering; he was going to dance then. I looked + down at my bouquet with tears in my eyes, and was trying hard + to subdue my folly and to count the petals of a white camellia, + when Mr. Topham's voice close by me said—</p> + + <p>"'Miss Dorothy Lascelles, may I introduce Mr. Manners to + you?' and in two seconds more my hand was in his arm, and he + was saying in a voice as commonplace as if the world had not + turned upside down—</p> + + <p>"'I think it is Sir Roger.'</p> + + <p>"It is a minor satisfaction to me to reflect that, for once + in my life, I was right. I did talk to Mr. George Manners. The + first thing I said was—</p> + + <p><a name="Page_13" + id="Page_13"></a></p> + + <p>"'I am very much obliged to you for picking up my fan.' To + which he replied (if it can be called a reply)—</p> + + <p>"'I wish I had known sooner that you were Miss Lascelles' + sister.'</p> + + <p>"I said, 'Did you not see her with me on the stairs?' and he + answered—</p> + + <p>"'I saw no one but you.'</p> + + <p>"Which, as it is the nearest approach to a pretty speech + that ever was made to me, I confide solemnly to this my fine + new diary, which is to be my dearest friend and confidante this + year. Why the music went so fast, and the dance was so short on + this particular occasion, I never could fathom; both had just + ceased, and we were still chatting, when midnight struck, + deep-toned or shrill, from all the clocks in the house; and, in + the involuntary impressive pause, we could hear through the + open window the muffled echo from the village church. Then Mr. + Topham ran in with a huge loving-cup, and, drinking all our + good healths, it was passed through the company.</p> + + <p>"When the servant brought it to me, Mr. Manners took it from + him, and held it for me himself by both handles, + saying—</p> + + <p>"'It is too heavy for your hands;' and I drank, he quoting + in jest from <i>Hamlet</i>—</p> + + <p>'Nymph, in thine orisons be all my sins remembered.'</p> + + <p><a name="Page_14" + id="Page_14"></a></p> + + <p>Then he said, '<i>I</i> shall wish in silence,' and paused a + full minute before putting it to his lips. When the servant had + taken it away, he heaved so profound a sigh that (we then being + very friendly) I said—</p> + + <p>"'What is the matter?'</p> + + <p>"'Do you believe in presentiments, Miss Lascelles?' he + said.</p> + + <p>"'I don't think I ever had a presentiment,' I answered.</p> + + <p>"'Don't think me a fool,' he said, 'but I have had the most + intense dread of the coming of this year. I have a presentiment + (for which there is no reason) that it will bring me a huge, + overwhelming misfortune: and yet I have just wished for a + blessing of which I am vastly unworthy, but which, if it does + come, will probably come this year, and which would make it the + brightest one that I have ever seen. Be a prophet, Miss + Lascelles, and tell me—which will it be?—the joy or + the sorrow?'</p> + + <p>"He gazed so intently that I had some difficulty in + answering with composure—</p> + + <p>"'Perhaps both. We are taught to believe that life is + chequered.'</p> + + <p>"'See,' he went on. 'This is the beginning of the year. We + are standing here safe and happy. Miss Lascelles, where shall + we be when the year ends?'</p> + + <p><a name="Page_15" + id="Page_15"></a></p> + + <p>"The question seemed to me faithless in a Christian, and + puerile in a brave man: I did not say so; but my face may have + expressed it, for he changed the subject suddenly, and could + not be induced to return to it. I danced twice with him + afterwards; and when we parted I said, emphatically—</p> + + <p>"'A happy new year to you, Mr. Manners.'</p> + + <p>"He forced a smile as he answered, 'Amen!'</p> + + <p>"Mrs. Dallas (who kindly chaperoned us) slept all the way + home; and Miss Dallas and Harriet chatted about their partners. + Once only they appealed to me. What first drew my attention was + Mr. Manners' name.</p> + + <p>"'Poor Mr. Manners!' Harriet said; 'I am afraid I was very + rude to him. He had to console himself with you, eh, + Dolly?—on the principle of love me love my dog, I + suppose?'</p> + + <p>"Am I so conceited that this had never struck me? And + yet—but here comes Harriet, and I must put you away, dear + diary. I blush at my voluminousness. If every evening is to + take up so many pages, my book will be full at Midsummer! But + was not this a red-letter day?"</p> + + <p>Well may I blush, dear Nell, to re-read this girlish + nonsense. And yet it contains not the least strange part of + this strange story—po<a name="Page_16" + id="Page_16"></a>or Mr. Manners' presentiment of evil. After + this he called constantly, and we met him often in society; + and, blinded by I know not what delusion, Harriet believed + him to be devoted to herself, up to the period, as I fancy, + when he asked me to be his wife. I was staying with the + Tophams at the time. I believe that they had asked me there + on purpose, being his friends. Ah, George! what a happy time + that was! How, in the sweet days of the sweetest of summers, + I laughed at your "presentiment"! How you told me that the + joy had come, and, reminding me of my own sermon on the + chequered nature of life, asked if the sorrow would yet + tread it down. Too soon, my love! too soon!</p> + + <p>Nelly! forgive me this outburst. I must write more calmly. + It is sad to speak ill of a sister; but surely it was cruel, + that she, who had so many lovers, should grudge me my + happiness; should pursue George with such unreasonable malice; + should rouse the senseless but immovable obstinacy of our poor + brother against him. Oh, Eleanor! think of my position! Our + father and mother dead; under the care of our only brother, + who, as you know, dear Nell, was at one time feared to be a + complete idiot, and had, poor boy! only so much sense as to + make him sane in the eyes of the law. You know the fatal + obstinacy with which he pursued an idea once instilled; the + occasional fits<a name="Page_17" + id="Page_17"></a> of rage that were not less than insanity. + Knowing all this, my dear, imagine what I must have suffered + when angrily recalled home. I was forbidden to think of Mr. + Manners again. In vain I asked for reasons. They had none, + and yet a thousand to give me. When I think of the miserable + stories that were raked up against him,—the + misconstruction of everything he did, or said, or left + undone,—my own impotent indignation, and my poor + brother's senseless rage, and the insulting way in which I + was watched, and taunted, and tortured,—oh, Nelly! it + is agony to write. I did the only thing left to me—I + gave him up, and prayed for peace. I do not say that I was + right: I say that I did the best I could in a state of + things that threatened to deprive me of reason.</p> + + <p>My submission did not produce an amount of harmony in the + house in any way proportionate to the price I paid for it. + Harriet was obliged to keep the slanders of my lover constantly + in view, to quiet the self-reproach which I think she must + sometimes have experienced. As to Edmund, my obedience had + somewhat satisfied him, and made way for another subject of + interest which was then engrossing his mind.</p> + + <p>A man on his estate, renting a farm close to us, who was a + Quaker, and very "strict" in his religious profession, had been + for a long time <a name="Page_18" + id="Page_18"></a>grossly cheating him, relying, no doubt, on + my poor brother's deficient intellect. But minds that are + intellectually and in reason deficient, are often endowed + with a large share of cunning and caution, especially in + monetary affairs. Edmund guessed, watched, and discovered; + but when the proof was in his hands, his proceedings were + characteristically peculiar. He did not discharge the man, + and have done with it; he retained him in his place, but + seemed to take a—let me say—insane delight in + exposing him to the religious circle in which he had been a + star, and from which he was ignominiously expelled; and in + heaping every possible annoyance and disgrace upon him that + the circumstances admitted. My dear, I think I should have + preferred his wrath upon myself, to being the witness of my + brother's miserable exultation over the wretched man, + Parker. His chief gratification lay in the thought that, + exquisite as were the vexations he heaped upon him, the man + was obliged to express gratitude for his master's + forbearance as regarded the law.</p> + + <p>"He said he should never forget my consideration for him + till death! Ha! ha!"</p> + + <p>"My only puzzle," I said, "is, what can induce him to stay + with you."</p> + + <p>And then the storm turned upon me, Eleanor.</p> + + <p>You will ask me, my dear, ho<a name="Page_19" + id="Page_19"></a>w, meanwhile, had Mr. Manners taken my + letter of dismissal. I know now, Nell, and so will not + revive the mystery that then added weight to my distress. He + wrote me many letters,—but I never saw one!</p> + <hr style='width: 45%;' /> + + <p>And now, dear friend, let me pause and gather courage to + relate the terrible events of that sultry, horrible—that + accursed June.</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <p><a name="Page_20" + id="Page_20"></a></p> + + <h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" + id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + + <h3>THE TERRIBLE JUNE.</h3> + + <p>It was about the middle of the month. Harriet was spending + some hours with a friend, Edmund was out, and I had been left + alone all day for the first time since I came home. I remember + everything that happened with the utmost distinctness. I spent + the day chiefly in the garden, gathering roses for pot-pourri, + being disinclined for any more reasonable occupation, partly by + the thundery oppressiveness of the air, partly by a vague, dull + feeling of dread that made me restless, and which was yet one + of those phases of feeling in which, if life depended on an + energetic movement, one must trifle. In this mood, when the + foreclouded mind instinctively shrinks from its own great + troubles, little things assume an extraordinary distinctness. I + trode carefully in the patterns of the terrace pavement, + counted the roses on the white bush by the dial (there + w<a name="Page_21" + id="Page_21"></a>ere twenty-six), and seeing a beetle on the + path, moved it to a bank at some distance. There it crept + into a hole, and such a wild, weary desire seized on me to + creep after it and hide from what was coming, that—I + thought it wise to go in.</p> + + <p>As I sat in the drawing-room there was a rose still whole in + my lap. I had begun to pluck off the petals, when the door-bell + rang. Though I heard the voice distinctly when the door was + opened, I vow to you, dear Nell, that my chief desire was to + get the rose pulled to pieces before I was disturbed. I had + flung the last petal into my lap, when the door opened and Mr. + Manners came into the room.</p> + + <p>He did not speak; he opened his arms, and I ran straight + into them, roses and all. The petals rained over us and over + the floor. He talked very fast, and I did nothing but cling to + him, and endure in silence the weight which his presence could + not remove from my mind, while he pleaded passionately for our + marriage. He said that it was the extreme of all that was + unreasonable, that our lives' happiness should be sacrificed to + the insane freak of a hardly responsible mind. He complained + bitterly (though I could but confess justly!) of the insulting + and intolerable treatment that he had received. He had come, he + said, in the first place, to assure himself of my + constancy—in the second, for a po<a name="Page_22" + id="Page_22"></a>werful and final remonstrance with my + brother—and, if that failed, to remind me that I + should be of age next month; and to convey the entreaty of + the Tophams that, as a last resource, I would come to them + and be married from their house. I made up my mind, and + promised: then I implored him to be careful in his interview + with my brother, for my sake—to calm his own natural + anger, and to remember Edmund's infirmity. He promised, but + I saw that he was slightly piqued by my dwelling so much on + Edmund's feelings rather than on his. Ah! Nelly, he had + never seen one of the poor boy's rages.</p> + + <p>It may have been half-past six when Mr. Manners arrived; it + had just struck a quarter to nine when Edmund came in and found + us together. He paused for a minute, clicking his tongue in his + mouth, in a way he had when excited; and then he turned upon + me, and heaped abuse on insult, loading me with accusations and + reproaches. George, white with suppressed rage, called + incessantly upon me to go; and at last I dared disobey no + longer; but as I went I touched his arm and whispered, + "Remember! for my sake." His intense "I promise, my darling," + comforted me then—and afterwards, Nelly. I went into a + little room that opened into the hall and waited.</p> + + <p>In about twenty minutes<a name="Page_23" + id="Page_23"></a> the drawing-room door opened, and they + came out. I heard George's voice saying this or something + equivalent (afterwards I could not accurately recall the + words)—</p> + + <p>"Good-night, Mr. Lascelles; I trust our next meeting may be + a different one."</p> + + <p>The next sentences on both sides I lost. Edmund seems to + have refused to shake hands with Mr. Manners. The last words I + heard were George's half-laughing—</p> + + <p>"Next time, Lascelles, I shall not ask for your hand—I + shall take it."</p> + + <p>Then the door shut, and Edmund went into his study. An hour + later he also went out, and I was left alone once more. I went + back into the drawing-room; the rose-leaves were fading on the + floor; and on the table lay George Manners' penknife. It was a + new one, that he had been showing to me, and had left behind + him. I kissed it and put it in my pocket: then I knelt down by + the chair, Nell, and wept till I prayed; and then prayed till I + wept again; and then I got up and tidied the room, and got some + sewing; and, like other women, sat down with my trouble, + waiting for the storm to break.</p> + + <p>It broke at eleven o'clock that night, when two men carried + the dead body of my brother into his own kitchen—foully + murdered.</p> + + <p>But when I knelt by the poor body<a name="Page_24" + id="Page_24"></a>, lying awfully still upon the table; when + I kissed the face, which in death had curiously regained the + appearance of reason as well as beauty; when I saw and knew + that life had certainly gone till the + Resurrection:—that was not all. The storm had not + fully broken till I turned and saw, standing by the fire, + George Manners, with his hands and coat dabbled with blood. + I did not speak or scream; but a black horror seemed to + settle down like mist upon me. Through it came Mr. Manners' + voice (I had not looked again at him)—</p> + + <p>"Miss Dorothy Lascelles, why do you not ask who did it?"</p> + + <p>I gave a sharp cry, and one of the labourers who had helped + to bring Edmund in said gravely—</p> + + <p>"Eh, Master! the less you say the better. + <span class="smcap">God</span> forgive you this night's + work!"</p> + + <p>George's hoarse voice spoke again.</p> + + <p>"Do you hear him?" and then it faltered a + little—"Dorolice, do you think this?"</p> + + <p>It was his pet name for me (he was an Italian scholar), and + touched me inexpressibly, and a conviction seized upon me that + if he had done it, he would not have dared to appeal to my + affection. I tried to clear my mind that I might see the truth, + and then I looked up at him. Our eyes met, and we looked at + each other for a full minute, and I was content. Oh! there are + times when the inst<a name="Page_25" + id="Page_25"></a>inctive trust of one's heart is, so far + more powerful than any proofs or reasons, that faith seems a + higher knowledge. I would have pledged ten thousand lives, + if I had had them, on the honesty of those eyes, that had + led me like a will-o'-the-wisp in the ball-room half a year + ago! The new-year's dance came back on me as I stood + there—my ball-dress was in the drawer + up-stairs—and now! oh dear! was I going mad?</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <p><a name="Page_26" + id="Page_26"></a></p> + + <h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" + id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + + <h3>THE TIME OF TRIAL.</h3> + + <p>Meanwhile he was waiting for my answer. I stepped forward, + intending to take his hand, but the stains drove me back again. + Where so much depends upon a right—or a + mis-understanding, the only way is to speak the fair truth. I + did so; by a sort of forced calm holding back the seething of + my brain.</p> + + <p>"George, I should like to touch you, but—I cannot! I + beg you to forgive the selfishness of my grief—my mind is + confused—I shall be better soon. + <span class="smcap">God</span> has sent us a great sorrow, in + which I know you are as innocent as I am. I am very + sorry—I think that is all." And I put my hand to my head, + where a sharp pain was beginning to throb. Mr. Manners spoke, + emphatically—</p> + + <p>"<span class="smcap">God</span> bless you, Dorolice! You + know I promised. Thank you, for ever!"</p> + + <p>"If you fancy you have any reason to thank me," + <a name="Page_27" + id="Page_27"></a> + I said, "do me this favour. Whatever happens, believe that I + believe!"</p> + + <p>I could bear no more, so I went out of the kitchen. As I + went I heard a murmur of pity run through the room, and I knew + that they were pitying—not the dead man, but me; and + me—not for my dead brother, but for his murderer. When I + got into the passage, the mist that had still been dark before + my eyes suddenly became darker, and I remember no more.</p> + + <p>When my senses returned, Harriet had come home. From the + first she would never hear George's name except to accuse him + with frantic bitterness of poor Edmund's death; and as nothing + would induce me to credit his guilt, the subject was as much as + possible avoided. I cannot dwell on those terrible days. I was + very ill for some time, and after I had come down-stairs, one + day I found a newspaper containing the following paragraph, + which I copy here, as it is the shortest and least painful way + of telling you the facts of poor Edmund's death.</p> + + <p>"THE MURDER AT CROSSDALE HALL.</p> + + <p>"Universal horror has been excited in the neighbourhood by + the murder of Edmund Lascelles, Esq., of Crossdale Hall. Mr. + Lascelles wa<a name="Page_28" + id="Page_28"></a>s last seen alive a little after ten + o'clock on Friday night, at which time he left the house + alone, and was not seen again living. At the inquest on + Saturday, James Crosby, a farm labourer, gave the following + evidence:—</p> + + <p>"'I had been sent into the village for some medicine for a + sick beast, and was returning to the farm by the park a little + before eleven, when near the low gate I saw a man standing with + his back to me. The moon was shining, and I recognized him at + once for Mr. George Manners, of Beckfield. When Mr. Manners saw + me he seemed much excited, and called out, "Quick! help! Mr. + Lascelles has been murdered." I said, "Good + <span class="smcap">God</span>! who did it?" He said, "I don't + know; I found him in the ditch; help me to carry him in." By + this time I had come up and saw Mr. Lascelles on the ground, + lying on his side. I said, "How do you know he's dead?" He + said, "I fear there's very little hope; he has bled so + profusely. I am covered with blood." I was examining the body, + and as I turned it over I found that the right hand was gone. + It had been cut off at the wrist. I said, "Look here! Did you + know this?" He spoke very low, and only said, "How horrible!" I + said, "Let us look for the hand; it may be in the ditch." He + said, "No, no! we are wasting time. Bring him in, and let us + send for the doctor." I ran to the ditch, however, but + co<a name="Page_29" + id="Page_29"></a>uld see nothing but a pool of blood. Coming + back, I found on the ground a thick hedge-stake covered with + blood. The grass by the ditch was very much stamped and + trodden. I said, "There has been a desperate struggle." He + said, "Mr. Lascelles was a very strong man." I said, "Yes; + as strong as you, Mr. Manners." He said, "Not quite; very + nearly though." He said nothing more till we got to the + hall; then he said, "Who can break it to his sister?" I + said, "They will have to know. It's them that killed him has + brought this misery upon them." The low gate is a quarter of + a mile, or more, from the hall.'</p> + + <p>"Death seems to have been inflicted by two + instruments—a wounding and a cutting one. As yet, no + other weapon but the stake has been discovered, and a strict + search for the missing hand has also proved fruitless. No + motive for this wanton outrage suggests itself, except that the + unhappy gentleman was in the habit of wearing on his right hand + a sapphire ring of great value." (An heirloom; it is on my + finger as I write, dear Nell. Oh! my poor boy.) "All curiosity + is astir to discover the perpetrator of this horrible deed; and + it is with the deepest regret that we are obliged to state that + every fresh link in the chain of evidence points with fatal + accuracy to one whose position, character, and universal + popularity would seem to place him above + suspic<a name="Page_30" + id="Page_30"></a>ion. We would not willingly intrude upon + the privacy of domestic interests, but the following facts + will too soon be matters of public notoriety.</p> + + <p>"A younger sister of the deceased appears to have formed a + matrimonial engagement with George Manners, Esq., of Beckfield. + It was strongly opposed by Mr. Lascelles, and the objection + (which at the time appeared unreasonable) may have been founded + on a more intimate knowledge of the suitor's character than was + then possessed by others. The match was broken off, and all + intercourse was suspended till the night of the murder, when + Mr. Manners gained admittance to the hall in the absence of Mr. + Lascelles, and was for some hours alone in the young lady's + company. They were found together a little before nine o'clock + by Mr. Lascelles, and a violent scene ensued, in the course of + which the young lady left the apartment. (Miss Lascelles has + been ill ever since the unhappy event, and is so still. Her + deposition was taken in writing at the hall.) From the young + lady's evidence it appears, first, that the passions of both + were strongly excited, and she admits having felt sufficient + apprehension to induce her to twice warn Mr. Manners to + self-control. Secondly, that Mr. Manners avowed himself + prepared to defy Mr. Lascelles' authority in the matter of the + marriage; and thirdly, the two sentences of their final + conversation that<a name="Page_31" + id="Page_31"></a> she overheard (both Mr. Manners') were + what can hardly be interpreted otherwise than as a threat, + that 'their next meeting should be a different one,' and + that then '<i>he would not ask for Mr. Lascelles' hand, but + take it</i>.' The diabolical character of determined and + premeditated vindictiveness thus given to an otherwise + unaccountable outrage upon his victim, goes far to take away + the feeling of pity which we should otherwise have felt for + the murderer, regarding him as under the maddening + influences of disappointed love and temporary passion. + Perhaps, however, the most fatally conclusive evidence + against Mr. Manners lies in the time that elapsed between + his leaving the hall and being found in the park by the + murdered body. He left the house at a quarter past + nine—he was found by the body of the deceased a little + before eleven; so that either it must have taken him more + than an hour and a half to walk a quarter of a + mile—which is obviously absurd—or he must have + been waiting for nearly two hours in the grounds. Why did he + not return at once to the house of Mr. Topham? (where it + appears that he was staying). For what—or for + whom—was he waiting? If he were in the park at the + time of the murder, how came it that he heard no cries, gave + the unhappy gentleman no assistance, and offers no + suggestion or clue to the mystery beyond the obstinate + de<a name="Page_32" + id="Page_32"></a>nial of his own guilt, though he confesses + to having been in the grounds during the whole time of the + deadly struggle, and though he was found alone with + scratched hands and blood-stained clothes beside the corpse + of his avowed enemy? We leave these questions to the + consideration of our readers, as they will be for that of a + conscientious and impartial jury, not, we trust, blinded by + the wealth and position of the criminal to the hideous + nature of the crime.</p> + + <p>"The funeral is to take place to-morrow; George Manners is + fully committed to take his trial for wilful murder at the + ensuing assizes."</p> + + <p>The above condemning extract only too well represented the + state of public feeling. All Middlesex—nay, all + England—was roused to indignation, and poor Edmund's + youth and infirmities made the crime appear the more cowardly + and detestable.</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <p><a name="Page_33" + id="Page_33"></a></p> + + <h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" + id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + + <h3>DRIFTING TO THE END.</h3> + + <p>My misery between the time of the murder and the trial was + terrible from many causes: my brother's death; George's + position; the knowledge of his sufferings, and my inability to + see or soothe them—and, worst of all, the firm conviction + of his guilt in every one's mind, and Harriet's ceaseless + reproaches. I do not think that I should have lived through it, + but for Dr. Penn. That excellent and revered man's kindness + will, I trust, ever be remembered by me with due gratitude. He + went up to town constantly, at his own expense, and visited my + dear George in Newgate, administering all the consolations of + his high office and long experience, and being the bearer of + our messages to each other. From him also I gleaned all the + news of which otherwise I should have been kept in ignorance; + how George's many friends were making every possible exertion + <a name="Page_34" + id="Page_34"></a>on his behalf, and how an excellent counsel + was retained for him. But far beyond all his great kindness, + was to me the simple fact that he shared my belief in + George's innocence; for there were times when the universal + persuasion of his guilt almost shook, not my faith, but my + reason.</p> + + <p>There were early prayers in our little church in the + morning; too early, Harriet said, for her to attend much, + especially of late, when Dr. Penn's championship of George + Manners had led her to discover more formalism in his piety, + and northern broadness in his accent, than before. But these + quiet services were my daily comfort in those troublous days; + and in the sweet fresh walk home across the park, my more than + father and I hatched endless conspiracies on George's behalf + between the church porch and the rectory gate. Our chief + difficulty, I confess, lay in the question that the world had + by this time so terribly answered—who did it? If George + were innocent, who was guilty? My poor brother had not been + popular, and I do not say that one's mind could not have fixed + on a man more likely to commit the crime than George, under not + less provocation. But it was an awful deed, Nelly, to lay to + any man's charge, even in thought; and no particle of evidence + arose to fix the guilt on any one else, or even to suggest an + accomplice. As the time wore on, suspense became sickening.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_35" + id="Page_35"></a></p> + + <p>"Sir," I said to him one day, "I am breaking down. I have + brought some plants to set in your garden. I wish you would + give me something to do for you. Your shirts to make, your + stockings to darn. If I were a poor woman I should work down my + trouble. As it is—"</p> + + <p>"Hush!" said the doctor; you are what + <span class="smcap">God</span> has made you. My dear madam, + Janet tells me, what my poor eyes have hardly observed, that my + ruffles are more worn than beseems a doctor in divinity. Now + for myself—"</p> + + <p>"Hush!" said I, mimicking him. "My dear sir, you have taught + me to plot and conspire, and this very afternoon I shall hold a + secret interview with Mistress Janet. But say something about + my trouble. What will happen?—How will it end?—What + shall we do?"</p> + + <p>"My love," he said, "keep heart. I fully believe in his + innocence. There is heavy evidence against him, but there are + also some strong points in his favour; and you must believe + that the jury have no object to do anything but justice, or + believe anything but the truth, and that they will find + accordingly. And <span class="smcap">God</span> defend the + right!"</p> + + <p>Eleanor!—they found him + <span class="smcap">Guilty</span>.</p> + <hr style='width: 45%;' /> + + <p>I have asked Dr. Penn to permit me to make an extract from + his journal in thi<a name="Page_36" + id="Page_36"></a>s place. It is less harrowing to copy than + to recall. I omit the pious observations and reflections + which grace the original. Comforting as they are to me, it + seems a profanity to make them public; besides, it is his + wish that I should withhold them, which is sufficient.</p> + + <p><i>From the Diary of the Rev. Arthur Penn, D.D.,<br /> + Rector of Crossdale, Middlesex.</i></p> + + <p>"When he came into the dock he looked (so it seemed to me) + altered since I had last seen him; more anxious and worn, that + is, but yet composed and dignified. Doubtless I am but a + prejudiced witness; but his face to me lacks both the confusion + and the effrontery of guilt. He looks like one pressed by a + heavy affliction, but enduring it with fortitude. I think his + appearance affected and astonished many in the court. Those who + were prepared to see a hardened ruffian, or, at best, a + cowering criminal, must have been startled by the intellectual + and noble style of his beauty, the grace and dignity of his + carriage, and the modest simplicity of his behaviour. I am but + a doting old man; for I think on no evidence could I convict + him in the face of those good eyes of his, to which sorrow has + given a wistful look that at times is terrible; as if now and + then the agony within showed its face at the windows of the + soul. Once only every trace of composure + vanished—<a name="Page_37" + id="Page_37"></a>it was when sweet Mistress Dorothy was + called; then he looked simply mad. I wonder—but no! + no!—he did not commit this great crime,—not even + in a fit of insanity.</p> + + <p>"Mr. A—— is a very able advocate, and, in his + cross-examination of the man Crosby and of Mistress Dorothy, + did his best to atone for the cruel law which keeps the + prisoner's counsel at such disadvantage. The counsel for the + prosecution had pressed hard on my dear lady, especially in + reference to those farewell words overheard by her, which seem + to give the only (though that, I say, an incredible) clue to + what remains the standing mystery of the event—the + missing hand. Then Mr. A—— rose to cross-examine. + He said—</p> + + <p>"'During that part of the quarrel when you were present, did + the prisoner use any threats or suggestions of personal + violence?'</p> + + <p>"'No.'</p> + + <p>"'In the fragment of conversation that you overheard at the + last, did you at the time understand the prisoner to be + conveying taunts or threats?'</p> + + <p>"'No.'</p> + + <p>"'How did you interpret the unaccountable anxiety on the + prisoner's part to shake hands with a man by whom he believed + himself to be injured, and with whom he was quarrelling!'</p> + + <p>"'Mr. Manners' tone was su<a name="Page_38" + id="Page_38"></a>ch as one uses to a spoilt child. I + believed that he was determined to avoid a quarrel at any + price, in deference to my brother's infirmity and his own + promise to me. He was very angry before Edmund came in; but + I believe that afterwards he was shocked and sobered at the + obviously irresponsible condition of my poor brother when + enraged. He had never seen him so before.'</p> + + <p>"'Is it true that Mr. Manners' pocket-knife was in your + possession at the time of the murder?'</p> + + <p>"'It is.'</p> + + <p>"'Does your window look upon the "Honeysuckle Walk," where + the prisoner says that he spent the time between leaving your + house and the finding of the body?'</p> + + <p>"'Yes.'</p> + + <p>"'Was the prisoner likely to have any attractive + associations connected with it, in reference to yourself?'</p> + + <p>"'We had often been there together before we were engaged, + It was a favourite walk of mine.'</p> + + <p>"'Do you suppose that any one in this walk could hear cries + proceeding from the low gate?'</p> + + <p>"'Certainly not.'</p> + + <p>"The cross-examination of Crosby was as follows:—</p> + + <p>"<span class="smcap">Mr</span>. A.—— 'Were the + prisoner's clothes much disordered, as if he had been + struggling?'</p> + + <p>"'No; he looked much as usual; but he was covered with + blood.'</p> + + <p><a name="Page_39" + id="Page_39"></a></p> + + <p>"'So we have heard you say. Do you think that a man, in + perfectly clean clothes, could have lifted the body out of the + ditch without being covered with blood?'</p> + + <p>"'No: perhaps not.'</p> + + <p>"'Was there any means by which so much blood could have been + accumulated in the ditch, unless the body had been thrown + there?'</p> + + <p>"'I think not. The pool were too big.'</p> + + <p>"'I have two more questions to ask, and I beg the special + attention of the jury to the answers. Is the ditch, or is it + not, very thickly overgrown with brambles and brushwood?'</p> + + <p>"'Yes; there be a many brambles.'</p> + + <p>"'Do you think that any single man could drag a heavy body + from the bottom of the ditch on to the bank, without severely + scratching his hands?'</p> + + <p>"'No; I don't suppose he could.'</p> + + <p>"'That is all I wish to ask.'</p> + + <p>"Not being permitted to address the jury, it was all that he + could do. Then the Recorder summed up. + <span class="smcap">God</span> forgive him the fatal accuracy + with which he placed every link in a chain of evidence so + condemning that I confess poor George seemed almost to have + been taken <i>in flagrante delicto</i>. The jury withdrew; and + my sweet Mistr<a name="Page_40" + id="Page_40"></a>ess Dorothy, who had remained in court + against my wish, suddenly dropped like an apple-blossom, and + I carried her out in my arms. When I had placed her in + safety, I came back, and pressed through the crowd to hear + the verdict.</p> + + <p>"As I got in, the Recorder's voice fell on my ear, every + word like a funeral knell,—'<i>May the Lord have mercy on + your soul!</i>'</p> + + <p>"I think for a few minutes I lost my senses. I have a + confused remembrance of swaying hither and thither in a crowd; + of execration, and pity, and gaping curiosity; and then I got + out, and some one passed me, whose arm I grasped. It was Mr. + A——.</p> + + <p>"'Tell me,' I said, 'is there no hope? No recommendation to + mercy? Nothing?'</p> + + <p>"He dragged me into a room, and, seizing me by the button, + exclaimed—</p> + + <p>"'We don't want mercy; we want justice! I say, sir, curse + the present condition of the law! It <i>must</i> be altered, + and I shall live to see it. If I might have addressed the + jury—there were a dozen points—we should have + carried him through. Besides,' he added, in a tone that seemed + to apologize for such a secondary consideration, 'I may say to + you that I fully believe that he is innocent, and am as sorry + on his account as on my own that we have lost the case.'</p> + + <p>"And so the day is ended. <i>Fiat voluntas Domini!</i>"</p> + <hr style='width: 45%;' /> + + <p><a name="Page_41" + id="Page_41"></a></p> + + <p>Yes, Eleanor! Dr. Penn was right. The day did end—and + the next—and the next; and drop by drop the cup of sorrow + was drained. And when the draught is done, should we be the + better, Nelly, if it had been nectar?</p> + + <p>I had neither died nor gone mad when the day came—the + last complete day that George was to see on earth. It was + Sunday; and, after a sleepless night, I saw the red sun break + through the grey morning. I always sleep with my window open; + and, as I lay and watched the sunrise, I thought—</p> + + <p>"He will see this sunrise, and to-morrow's sunrise; but no + other! No, no!—never more!"</p> + + <p>But then a stronger thought seemed to rise involuntarily + against that one—</p> + + <p>"Peace, fool! If this be the sorrow, it is one that must + come to all men."</p> + + <p>And then, Nelly (it is strange, but it was so), there broke + out in the stone pine by my window a chorus of little birds + whom the sunbeams had awakened; and they sang so sweet and so + loud (like the white bird that sang to the monk Felix), that + earthly cares seemed to fade away, and I fell asleep, and slept + the first sound, dreamless sleep that had blessed me since our + great trouble came.</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <p><a name="Page_42" + id="Page_42"></a></p> + + <h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" + id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + + <h3>BETWEEN TWO WORLDS.</h3> + + <p>Dr. Penn was with George this day, and was to be with him to + the last. His duty was taken by a curate.</p> + + <p>I will not attempt to describe my feelings at this terrible + time, but merely narrate circumstantially the wonderful events + (or illusions, call them which you will) of the evening.</p> + + <p>We sat up-stairs in the blue room, and Harriet fell asleep + on the sofa.</p> + + <p>It was about half-past ten o'clock when she awoke with a + scream, and in such terror that I had much difficulty in + soothing her. She seemed very unwilling to tell me the cause of + her distress; but at last confessed that on the two preceding + nights she had had a vivid and alarming dream, on each night + the same. Poor Edmund's hand (she recognized it by the sapphire + ring) seemed to float in <a name="Page_43" + id="Page_43"></a>the air before her; and even after she + awoke, she still seemed to see it floating towards the door, + and then coming back again, till it vanished altogether. She + had seen it again now in her sleep. I sat silent, struggling + with a feeling of indignation. Why had she not spoken of it + before? I do not know how long it might have been before I + should have broken the silence, but that my eyes turned to + the partially-open window and the dark night that lay + beyond. Then I shrieked, louder than she had done—</p> + + <p>"Harriet! <i>There it is!</i>"</p> + + <p>There it was—to my eyes—the detached hand, round + which played a pale light—the splendid sapphire gleaming + unearthlily, like the flame of a candle that is burning blue. + But Harriet could see nothing. She said that I frightened her, + and shook her nerves, and took pleasure in doing so; that I was + the author of all our trouble, and she wished I would drop the + dreadful subject. She would have said much more, but that I + startled her by the vehemence of my interruption. I said that + the day was past when I would sacrifice my peace or my duty to + her whims; and she ventured no remonstrance when I announced + that I intended to follow the hand so long as it moved, and + discover the meaning of the apparition. I then flew down-stairs + and out into the garden, where it still gleamed, and commenced + a slow <a name="Page_44" + id="Page_44"></a>movement towards the gate. But my flight + had been observed, Nelly, by Robert, our old butler. I had + always been his favourite in the family, and since my grief, + his humble sympathy had only been second to that of Dr. + Penn. I had noticed the anxious watch he had kept over me + since the trial, with a sort of sad amusement. I afterwards + learnt that all his fears had culminated to a point when he + saw me rush wildly from the house that night. He had thought + I was going to drown myself. He concealed his fears at the + time, however, and only said—</p> + + <p>"What be the matter, Miss Dorothy?"</p> + + <p>"Is that you, Robert?" I said. "Come here. Look! Do you + see?"</p> + + <p>"See what?" he said.</p> + + <p>"Don't you see anything?" I said. "No light? Nothing?"</p> + + <p>"Nothin' whatever," said Robert, decidedly; "it be as dark + as pitch."</p> + + <p>I stood silent, gazing at the apparition, which, having + reached the gate, was slowly re-advancing. If it were fancy, + why did it not vanish? I rubbed my eyes, but it was there + still. Robert interrupted me, solemnly—</p> + + <p>"Miss Dorothy, do <i>you</i> see anything?"</p> + + <p>"Robert," I said, "you are a faithful friend. Listen! I see + before me the<a name="Page_45" + id="Page_45"></a> lost hand of your dead master. I know it + by the sapphire ring. It is surrounded by a pale light, and + moves slowly. My sister has seen it three times in her + sleep; and I see it now with my waking eyes. You may laugh, + Robert; but it is too true."</p> + + <p>I was not prepared for the indignant reply:</p> + + <p>"Laugh, Miss Dorothy! The Lord forbid! If so be you do see + anything, and it should be the Lord's will to reveal anything + about poor dear Master Edmund to you as loved him, and is his + sister, who am I that I should laugh? My mother had a cousin + (many a time has she told me the story) as married a sailor (he + was mate on board a vessel bound for the West Indies), and one + night, about three weeks after her husband had—"</p> + + <p>"Robert!" I said, "you shall tell me that story another day + with pleasure; but no time is to be lost now. I mean to follow + the hand: will you come with me and take care of me?"</p> + + <p>"Go in, ma'am," he said; "wrap up warm, and put on thick + shoes, and come quietly down to this door. I'll just slip in + and quiet the servants, and meet you."</p> + + <p>"And bring a lantern," I said; "this light does not light + you."</p> + + <p>In five minutes we were there again; and the hand was vivid + as ever.</p> + + <p>"Do you see it now?" whispered the butler, anxiously.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_46" + id="Page_46"></a></p> + + <p>"Yes," I said; "it is moving."</p> + + <p>"Go on," he said; "I will keep close behind you."</p> + + <p>It was pitch dark, and, except for the gleaming hand, and + the erratic circles of light cast by the lantern, we could see + nothing. The hand gradually moved faster, increasing to a good + walking pace, passing over the garden-gate and leading us on + till I completely lost knowledge of our position; but still we + went steadily forward. At last we got into a road, and went + along by a wall; and, after a few steps, the hand, which was + before me, moved sharply aside.</p> + + <p>"Robert," I said, "it has gone over a gate—we must go + too! Where are we?"</p> + + <p>He answered, in a tone of the deepest horror—</p> + + <p>"Miss Dorothy! for the Lord's sake, think what you are + doing, and let us turn back while we can! You've had sore + affliction; but it's an awful thing to bring an innocent man to + trouble."</p> + + <p>"The innocent man <i>is</i> in trouble!" I said, + passionately. "Is it nothing that he should die, if truth could + save him? You may go back if you like; but I shall go on. Tell + me, whose place is this?"</p> + + <p>"Never mind, my dear young lady," he said, soothingly. "Go + on, and the Lord be with you! But be careful. You're sure you + see it now?"</p> + + <p>"Certain," I said. "It is moving. Come on."</p> + + <p><a name="Page_47" + id="Page_47"></a></p> + + <p>We went forward, and I heard a click behind me.</p> + + <p>"What is that?" I said.</p> + + <p>"Hush!" he whispered; "make no noise! It was my pistol. Go + gently, my dear young lady. It is a farmyard, and you may + stumble."</p> + + <p>"It has stopped over a building!" I whispered.</p> + + <p>"Not the house!" he returned, hoarsely.</p> + + <p>"I am going on," I said. "Here we are. What is it? Whose is + it?"</p> + + <p>He came close to me, and whispered solemnly—</p> + + <p>"Miss Dorothy! be brave, and make no noise! We are in Farmer + Parker's yard; and this is a barn."</p> + + <p>Then the terror came over me.</p> + + <p>"Let us turn back," I said. "You are right. One may bear + one's own troubles, but not drag in other people. Take me + home!"</p> + + <p>But Robert would not take me home; and my courage came back, + and I held the lantern whilst he unfastened the door. Then the + ghastly hand passed into the barn, and we followed it.</p> + + <p>"It has stopped in the far corner," I said. "There seems to + be wood or something."</p> + + <p>"It's bundles of wood," he whispered. "I know the place. Sit + down, and tell me if it moves."</p> + + <p>I sat down, and waited lon<a name="Page_48" + id="Page_48"></a>g and wearily, while he moved heavy bundles + of firewood, pausing now and then to ask, "Is it here + still?" At last he asked no more; and in a quarter of an + hour he only spoke once: then it was to say—</p> + + <p>"This plank has been moved."</p> + + <p>After a while he came away to look for a spade. He found + one, and went back again. At last a smothered sound made me + spring up and rush to him; but he met me, driving me back.</p> + + <p>"I beg of you, dear Miss Dorothy, keep away. Have you a + handkerchief with you?"</p> + + <p>I had one, and gave it to him. His hands were covered with + earth. He had only just gone back again when I gave a + cry—</p> + + <p>"Robert! <i>It has gone!</i>"</p> + + <p>He came up to me, keeping one hand behind him.</p> + + <p>"Miss Dorothy, if ever you were good and brave, hold out + now!"</p> + + <p>I beat my hands together—"It has gone! It has + gone!"</p> + + <p>"It has not gone!" he said. "Master Edmund's hand is in this + handkerchief. It has been buried under a plank of the + flooring!"</p> + + <p>I gasped, "Let me see it!"</p> + + <p>But he would not. "No, no! my dear lady, you must + not—cannot. I only knew it by the ring!"</p> + + <p><a name="Page_49" + id="Page_49"></a></p> + + <p>Then he made me sit down again, whilst he replaced the + firewood; and then, with the utmost quietness, we set out to + return, I holding the lantern in one hand, and with the other + clinging to his arm (for the apparition that had been my guide + before was gone), and he carrying the awful relic in his other + hand. Once, as we were leaving the yard, he + whispered—</p> + + <p>"Look!"</p> + + <p>"I see nothing," said I.</p> + + <p>"Hold up your lantern," he whispered.</p> + + <p>"There is nothing but the dog-kennel," I said.</p> + + <p>"Miss Dorothy," he said, "<i>the dog has not barked + tonight!</i>"</p> + + <p>By the time we reached home, my mind had fully realized the + importance of our discovery, and the terribly short time left + us in which to profit by it, supposing, as I fully believed, + that it was the first step to the vindication of George's + innocence. As we turned into the gate, Robert, who had been + silent for some time broke out—</p> + + <p>"Miss Dorothy! Mr. George Manners is as innocent as I am; + and <span class="smcap">God</span> forgive us all for doubting + him! What shall we do?"</p> + + <p>"I am going up to town," I said, "and you are going with me. + We will go to Dr. Penn. He has a lodging close by the prison: I + <a name="Page_50" + id="Page_50"></a>have the address. At eight o'clock to-morrow + the king himself could not undo this injustice. We have, let + me see, how many hours?"</p> + + <p>Robert pulled out his old silver watch and brought it to the + lantern.</p> + + <p>"It is twenty minutes to twelve."</p> + + <p>"Rather more than eight hours. Heaven help us! You will get + something to eat, Robert, and put the horses at once into the + chariot. I will be ready."</p> + + <p>I went straight up-stairs, and met Harriet at the door. I + pushed her back into the room and took her hands.</p> + + <p>"Harriet! Robert has found poor Edmund's hand, <i>with the + ring</i>, buried under some wood in Thomas Parker's barn. I am + going up to town with him at once, to put the matter into Dr. + Penn's hands, and save George Manners' life, if it be not too + late."</p> + + <p>She wrenched her hands away, and flung herself at my feet. I + never saw such a change come over any face. She had had time in + the (what must have been) anxious interval of our absence, for + some painful enough reflection, and my announcement had broken + through the blindness of a selfish mind, and found its way + where she seldom let anything come—to her feelings.</p> + + <p>"Oh, Dolly! Dolly! will you ever forgive me? Why did I not + tell you befo<a name="Page_51" + id="Page_51"></a>re? But I thought it was only a dream. And + indeed, indeed I thought Mr. Manners had done it. But that + man Parker! If it had not been for Mr. Manners being found + there, I should have sworn that Parker had done it. Dolly! I + saw him that night. He came in and helped. And once I saw + him look at Mr. Manners with such a strange expression, and + he seemed so anxious to make him say that it was a quarrel, + and that he had done it in self-defence. But you know I + thought it must be Mr. Manners—and I did so love poor + Edmund!"</p> + + <p>And she lay sobbing in agony on the ground. I + said—</p> + + <p>"My love, I pray that it is not too late: but we must not + waste time. Help me <i>now</i>, Harriet!"</p> + + <p>She sprang up at once.</p> + + <p>"Yes! you must have food. You shall go. I shall not go with + you. I am not worthy, but I will pray till you come back + again."</p> + + <p>I said, "There is one most important thing for you to do. + Let no soul go out or come into the house till I return, or + some gossip will bring it to Parker's ears that we have gone to + London."</p> + + <p>Harriet promised, and rushed off to get me food and wine. + With her own hands she filled a hot-water bottle for my feet in + the chariot, supplied my purse with gold, and sewed some notes + up in m<a name="Page_52" + id="Page_52"></a>y stays; and (as if anxious to crowd into + this one occasion all the long-withheld offices of sisterly + kindness) came in with her arms full of a beautiful set of + sables that belonged to her—cloak, cuffs, muff, + etc.—and in these she dressed me. And then we fell + into each others arms, and I wept upon her neck the first + tears I had shed that day. As I stood on the doorstep, she + held up the candle and looked at me.</p> + + <p>"My dear!" she said, "how pretty your sweet face does look + out of those great furs! You shall keep them always."</p> + + <p>Dear Harriet! Her one idea—beauty. I suppose the + "ruling passion," whatever it may be, is strong with all of us, + even in the face of death. Moreover, hers was one of those + shallow minds that seem instinctively to escape by any avenue + from a painful subject; and by the time that I was in the + chariot, she had got over the first shock, and there was an + almost infectious cheerfulness in her farewell.</p> + + <p>"It <i>must</i> be all right, Dolly!"</p> + + <p>Then I fell back, and we started. The warm light of the open + door became a speck, and then nothing; and in the long dark + drive, when every footfall of the horses seemed to consume an + age, the sickening agony of suspense was almost intolerable. + Oh, my dear! never, never shall I forget that night. The black + trees and hedges whirli<a name="Page_53" + id="Page_53"></a>ng past us in the darkness, always the + same, like an enchanted drive; then the endless suburbs, and + at last the streets where people lounged in corners and + stopped the way, as if every second of time were not worth a + king's ransom; and sedan-chairs trotted lightly home from + gay parties as if life were not one long tragedy. Once the + way was stopped, once we lost it. That mistake nearly killed + me. At last a watchman helped us to the little by-street + where Dr. Penn was lodging, near which a loud sound of + carpenters' work and hurrying groups of people puzzled me + exceedingly. After much knocking, an upper window was opened + and a head put out, and my dear friend's dear voice called + to us. I sprang out on to the pavement and cried—</p> + + <p>"Dr. Penn, this is Dorothy."</p> + + <p>He came down and took us in, and then (my voice failing) + Robert explained to him the nature of our errand, and showed + him the ghastly proof. Dr. Penn came back to me.</p> + + <p>"My love," he said, "you must come up-stairs and rest."</p> + + <p>"Rest!" I shrieked, "never! Get your hat, doctor, and come + quickly. Let us go to the king. Let us do something. We have + very little time, and he must be saved."</p> + + <p>I believe I was very unreasonable; I fear that I delayed + them some minutes bef<a name="Page_54" + id="Page_54"></a>ore good Dr. Penn could persuade me that I + should only be a hindrance, that he would do everything that + was possible, and could do so much better with no one but + Robert.</p> + + <p>"My love," he said, "trust me. To obey is better than + sacrifice!"</p> + + <p>I went up-stairs into the dingy little sitting-room, and he + went to call his landlady—"a good woman," he said: "I + have known her long." Then he went away, and Robert with him, + to the house of the Home Secretary.</p> + + <p>It was three o'clock. Five hours still!</p> + + <p>I sat staring at the sprawling paper on the walls, and at + the long snuff of the candle that Dr. Penn had lighted, and at + a framed piece of embroidery, representing Abraham sacrificing + Isaac, that hung upon the wall. Were there no succouring angels + now?</p> + + <p>The door opened, and I looked wearily round. A motherly + woman, with black eyes, fat cheeks, and a fat wedding-ring, + stood curtseying at the door. I said, "I think you are Dr. + Penn's landlady? He says you are very good. Pray come in."</p> + + <p>Then I dropped my head on my hand again, and stared vacantly + as before. Exhaustion had almost become stupor, and it was in a + sort of dream that I watched the stout figure moving softly to + and fro, lighting the fire, and bringing an air of comfort over + the dreary little parlour. Then she <a name="Page_55" + id="Page_55"></a>was gone for a little bit, and I felt a + little more lonely and weary; and then I heard that cheerful + clatter, commonly so grateful to feminine exhaustion, and + the good woman entered with a toasted glow upon her face, + bearing a tray with tea, and such hospitable accompaniments + as she could command. She set them down and came up to me + with an air of determination.</p> + + <p>"My dear, you must be a good young lady and take some tea. + We all have our troubles, but a good heart goes a long + way."</p> + + <p>Her pitying face broke me down. How sadly without feminine + sympathy I had been through all my troubles I had never felt as + I felt it now that it had come. I fairly dropped my head upon + her shoulder and sobbed out the apparently irrelevant + remark—</p> + + <p>"Dear madam, I have no mother!"</p> + + <p>She understood me, and flinging her arms round me sobbed + louder than I. It would have been wicked to offer further + resistance. She brought down pillows, covered them with a red + shawl, and propped me up till the horsehair sofa became an easy + couch, and with mixed tears and smiles I contrived to swallow a + few mouthfuls, a feat which she exalted to an act of sublime + virtue.</p> + + <p>"And now, my dear," she said, "you will have some warm water + and wash your hands and face and smooth your hair, and go to + sleep for a bit."</p> + + <p>"I cannot sleep," I said.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_56" + id="Page_56"></a></p> + + <p>But Mrs. Smith was not to be baffled.</p> + + <p>"I shall give you something to make you," said she.</p> + + <p>And so, when the warm water had done its work, I had to + swallow a sleeping-draught and be laid easily upon the sofa. + Her last words as she "tucked me up" were, oddly + enough—</p> + + <p>"The tea's brought back a bit of colour to your cheeks, + miss, and I will say you do look pretty in them beautiful + sables!"</p> + + <p>A very different thought was working in my head as the + sleeping-draught tingled through my veins.</p> + + <p>"Will the birds sing at sunrise?"</p> + + <p>Nelly, I slept twelve long hours without a dream. It was + four o'clock in the afternoon of Monday when I awoke, and only + then, I believe, from the mesmeric influence of being gazed at. + Eleanor! there is only one such pair of eyes in all the world! + George Manners was kneeling by my side.</p> + + <p>Abraham was still sacrificing his son upon the wall, but my + Isaac was restored to me. I sat up and flung myself into his + arms. It was long, long before either of us could speak, and, + oddly enough, one of the first things he said was (twitching my + cloak with the quaint curiosity of a man very ignorant + a<a name="Page_57" + id="Page_57"></a>bout feminine belongings), "My darling, you + seem sadly ill, but yet, Doralice, your sweet face does look + so pretty in these great furs."</p> + <hr style='width: 45%;' /> + + <p>My story is ended, Nelly, and my promise fulfilled. The rest + you know. How the detective, who left London before four + o'clock that morning, found the rusty knife that had been + buried with the hand, and apprehended Parker, who confessed his + guilt. The wretched man said, that being out on the fatal night + about some sick cattle, he had met poor Edmund by the low gate; + that Edmund had begun, as usual, to taunt him; that the + opportunity of revenge was too strong, and he had murdered him. + His first idea had been flight, and being unable to drag the + ring from Edmund's hand, which was swollen, he had cut it off, + and thrown the body into the ditch. On hearing of the finding + of the body, and of poor George's position, he determined to + brave it out, with what almost fatal success we have seen. He + dared not then sell the ring, and so buried it in his barn. Two + things respecting his end were singular: First, at the last he + sent for Dr. Penn, imploring him to stay with him till he died. + That good man, as ever, obeyed the call of duty and kindness, + but he was not fated to see the execution of my brother's + murderer. The night bef<a name="Page_58" + id="Page_58"></a>ore, Thomas Parker died in prison; not by + his own hand, Nelly. A fit of apoplexy, the result of + intense mental excitement, forestalled the vengeance of the + law.</p> + + <p>Need I tell you, dear friend, who know it so well, that I am + happy?</p> + + <p>Not, my love, that such tragedies can be + forgotten—these deep wounds leave a scar. This one + brought my husband's first white hairs, and took away my + girlhood for ever. But if the first blush of careless gaiety + has gone from life, if we are a little "old before our time," + it may be that this state of things has its advantages. + Perhaps, having known together such real affliction, we cannot + now afford to be disturbed by the petty vexations and worthless + misunderstandings that form the troubles of smoother lives. + Perhaps, having been all but so awfully parted, we can never + afford, in this short life, to be otherwise than of one heart + and one soul. Perhaps, my dear, in short, the love that kept + faith through shame, and was cemented by fellow-suffering, can + hardly do otherwise than flourish to our heart's best content + in the sunshine of prosperity with which + <span class="smcap">God</span> has now blessed us.</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <p><a name="Page_59" + id="Page_59"></a></p> + + <h2><a name="THE_SMUT" + id="THE_SMUT"></a>THE SMUT.</h2> + + <p>The councillor's chimney smoked. It always did smoke when + the wind was in the north. A Smut came down and settled on a + brass knob of the fender, which the councillor's housekeeper + had polished that very morning. The shining surface reflected + the Smut, and he seemed to himself to be two.</p> + + <p>"How large I am!" said he, with complacency. "I am quite a + double Smut. I am bigger than any other. If I were a little + harder, I should be a cinder, not to say a coal. Decidedly my + present position is too low for so important an individual. + Will no one recognize my merit and elevate me?"</p> + + <p>But no one did. So the Smut determined to raise himself, and + taking advantage of a draught under the door, he rose upwards + and alighted on the nose of the councillor, who was reading the + newspaper.</p> + + <p>"This is a throne, a crimson one," said the Smut, "made on + purpose for me. But somehow I do not seem so large as I + was."</p> + + <p><a name="Page_60" + id="Page_60"></a></p> + + <p>The truth is that the councillor (though a great man) was, + in respect of his nose, but mortal. It was not made of brass; + it would not (as the cabinet-makers say) take a polish. It did + not reflect the object seated on it.</p> + + <p>"It is unfortunate," said the Smut. "But it is not fit that + an individual of my position (almost, as I may say, a coal) + should have a throne that does not shine. I must certainly go + higher."</p> + + <p>But unhappily for the Smut, at this moment the councillor + became aware of something on his nose. He put up his hand and + rubbed the place. In an instant the poor Smut was destroyed. + But it died on the throne, which was some consolation.</p> + + <p><span class="smcap">Moral.</span></p> + + <p>More chimneys smoke than the councillor's chimney, and there + are many Smuts in the world. Let those who have found a brass + knob be satisfied.</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <p><a name="Page_61" + id="Page_61"></a></p> + + <h2><a name="THE_CRICK" + id="THE_CRICK"></a>THE CRICK.</h2> + + <p>It was a Crick in the wall, a very small Crick too. But it + is not always the biggest people who have the strongest + affections.</p> + + <p>When the wind was in the east, it blew the Dust into the + Crick, and when it set the other way, the Dust was blown out of + it. The Crick was of a warm and passionate temperament, and was + devotedly attached to the Dust.</p> + + <p>"I love you," he whispered. "I am your husband. I protect, + surround, defend, cherish you, and house you, you poor fragile + Dust. You are my wife. You fill all the vacant space of my + heart. I adore you. I am all heart!"</p> + + <p>And if vacant space is heart, this last assertion was quite + true.</p> + + <p>"Remain with me always," said the Crick.</p> + + <p>"Ever with thee," said the Dust, who spoke like a + valentine.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_62" + id="Page_62"></a></p> + + <p>But the most loving couples cannot control destiny. The wind + went round to the west, and the Crick was emptied in a moment. + In the first thrill of agony he stretched himself and became + much wider.</p> + + <p>"I am empty," he cried; "I shall never be filled again. This + is the greatest misfortune that could possibly have + happened."</p> + + <p>The Crick was wrong. He was not to remain empty; and a still + greater misfortune was in store. The owner of the wall was a + careful man, and came round his premises with a trowel of + mortar.</p> + + <p>"What a crack!" said he; "it must be the frost. A stitch in + time saves nine, however." And so saying he slapped a lump of + mortar into the Crick with the dexterity of a mason.</p> + + <p>In due time the wind went back to the east, and with it came + the Dust.</p> + + <p>"Cruel Crick!" she wept. "You have taken another wife to + your heart!"</p> + + <p>And the Crick could not answer, for he had ceased to + exist.</p> + + <p>This is a tragedy of real life, and cannot fail to excite + sympathy.</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <p><a name="Page_63" + id="Page_63"></a></p> + + <h2><a name="THE_BROTHERS" + id="THE_BROTHERS"></a>THE BROTHERS.</h2> + + <p>They were brothers—twin brothers, and the most intense + fraternal affection subsisted between them. They were + Peas—Sweet-peas, born together in the largest end of the + same Pod. When they were little, flat, skinny, green things, + they regarded the Pod in which they were born with the same + awful dread which the greatest of men have at one time felt for + nursery authority. They believed that the Pod ruled the + world.</p> + + <p>It was impossible to conceive a limit to the power of a + thing that could hold so tight. But in due time the Peas became + large and round and black, and the Pod got yellow and shrunken, + and was thoroughly despised.</p> + + <p>"It is time we left the nursery," said the brothers. "Where + shall we go to, when we enter the world?" they inquired of the + mother plant.</p> + + <p>"You will fall on the groun<a name="Page_64" + id="Page_64"></a>d," said she, "in the south border, where + we now are. The soil is good, and the situation favourable. + You will then lie quiet for the winter, and in the spring + you will come up and flower, and bear pods as I have done. + That will be your fate. Not eventful perhaps, but + prosperous; and it comforts me to think that you are so well + provided for."</p> + + <p>But the best of parents cannot foresee everything in the + future career of their children, and the mother plant was + wrong.</p> + + <p>The Peas burst from the Pod, it is true; but they fell, not + into the south border, but into the hand of the seedsman to + whom the garden belonged.</p> + + <p>"This is an adventure," said the brothers.</p> + + <p>They were put with a lot of other Sweet-peas, and a brown + paper bag was ready to receive them.</p> + + <p>"Any way we are together," said they.</p> + + <p>But at that moment one of the brothers rolled from the bag + on the floor. The seedsman picked him up, and he found himself + tossed into a bag of peas.</p> + + <p>"It is all right," said he; "I shall find my brother in + time."</p> + + <p>But though he rolled about as much as he could, he could not + find him; for the truth is, that he had been put by mistake + into a paper of eating peas; but he did not know this.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_65" + id="Page_65"></a></p> + + <p>"Patience!" cried he; "we shall be sown shortly, and when we + come up we shall find each other, if not before."</p> + + <p>The other Pea thought that his brother was in the bag with + him, and when he could not find him he consoled himself in the + same manner.</p> + + <p>"When we come up we shall find each other, if not + before."</p> + + <p>They were both sold in company with others, and they were + both sown. No. 1 was sown in a cosy little garden near a cosy + little cottage in the country. No. 2 was sown in a field, being + intended for the market.</p> + + <p>They both came up and made leaves, and budded and blossomed, + and the first thing each did when he opened his petals was to + look round for his brother.</p> + + <p>No. 1 found himself among other Sweet-peas, but his brother + was not there; and soon a beautiful girl, who came into a + garden to gather a nosegay, plucked him from his stalk.</p> + + <p>No. 2 found himself also among Peas—a field + full—but they were all white ones, and had no scent + whatever. He had been sown near the wall, and he leant against + it and wept.</p> + + <p>Just then a young sailor came whistling down the road. He + was sunburnt but handsome, and he was picking flowers from the + roadside. When he saw the Sweet-pea he shouted.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_66" + id="Page_66"></a></p> + + <p>"That's the best of the bunch," said he, and put it with the + others. Then he went whistling down the road into the village, + past the old grey church, and up to a cosy little cottage in a + cosy little garden. He opened the door and went into a room + where a beautiful girl was arranging some flowers that lay on + the table. When she saw him they gave a cry and embraced each + other. After a while he said, "I have brought you some wild + flowers; but this is the best," and he held up the + Sweet-pea.</p> + + <p>"This is not a wild flower," said she; "it is a garden + flower, and must have been sown by accident. It shall be put + with the other garden flowers."</p> + + <p>And she laid the Sweet-pea among the rest on the table, and + so the brothers met at last.</p> + + <p>The young couple sat hand in hand in the sunshine, and + talked of the past.</p> + + <p>"Time seemed to go slowly while we were parted," said the + young man; "and now, to look back upon, all our misery seems + but a dream."</p> + + <p>"That is just what <i>we</i> feel," said the Sweet-peas.</p> + + <p>"I was very sad," said the young girl softly, "very sad + indeed; for, I thought you might be dead, or have married some + one else, and that we might never meet again. But in spite of + everything I couldn't quite despair. It seemed impossible that + those who really loved each other should be separated for + ever."</p> + + <p><a name="Page_67" + id="Page_67"></a></p> + + <p>Meanwhile the Sweet-peas lay on the table. They were very + happy, but just a little anxious, for the lovers had forgotten + to put them in water, and they were fading fast.</p> + + <p>"We are very happy," they murmured, "very happy. This moment + alone is worth all that we have endured. It is true we are + fading before we have ever fully bloomed, and after this we do + not know what will happen to us. But the young girl is right. + One cannot quite despair. It seems impossible that those who + really love each other should be separated for ever."</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <p><a name="Page_68" + id="Page_68"></a></p> + + <p><a name="Page_69" + id="Page_69"></a></p> + + <h2><a name="COUSIN_PEREGRINES_WONDER_STORIES" + id="COUSIN_PEREGRINES_WONDER_STORIES"></a>COUSIN PEREGRINE'S + WONDER STORIES.</h2> + + <h3>THE CHINESE JUGGLERS, AND THE ENGLISHMAN'S HANDS.</h3> + + <p>(<i>Founded on Fact</i>.)</p> + + <p>Cousin Peregrine had never been away quite so long before. + He had been in the East, and the latter part of his absence + from home had been spent not only in a foreign country, but in + parts of it where Englishmen had seldom been before, and amid + the miserable scenes of war.</p> + + <p>However, he was at home at last, very much to the + satisfaction of his young cousins, and also to his own. They + had been assured by him, in a highly illustrated letter, that + his arms were safe and sound in his coat-sleeves, that he had + no wooden legs, and that they might feel him all over for + wounds as hard as they liked. Only Maggie, the + eld<a name="Page_70" + id="Page_70"></a>est, could even fancy she remembered Cousin + Peregrine, but they all seemed to know him by his letters, + even before he arrived. At last he came.</p> + + <p>Cousin Peregrine was dressed like other people, much to the + disappointment of his young relatives, who when they burst + (with more or less attention to etiquette) into the dining-room + with the dessert, were in full expectation of seeing him in his + uniform, or at least with his latest medal pinned to his + dress-coat.</p> + + <p>Perhaps it was because Cousin Peregrine was so very seldom + troubled by chubby English children with a claim on his good + nature that he was particularly indulgent to his young cousins. + However this may be, they soon stood in no awe of him, and a + chorus cried around him—</p> + + <p>"Where's your new medal, Cousin? What's it about? What's on + it?"</p> + + <p>"Taku Forts," said Cousin Peregrine, smiling grimly.</p> + + <p>"What's Tar—Koo?" inquired the young people.</p> + + <p>"Taku is the name of a place in China, and you know I've + just come from China," said Cousin Peregrine.</p> + + <p>On which six voices cried—</p> + + <p>"Did you drink nothing but tea?"</p> + + <p>"Did you buy lots of old China dragons?"</p> + + <p>"Did you see any ladies with half their feet cut off?"</p> + + <p><a name="Page_71" + id="Page_71"></a></p> + + <p>"Did you live in a house with bells hanging from the + roof?"</p> + + <p>"Are the Chinese like the people on Mamma's fan?"</p> + + <p>"Did you wear a pigtail?"</p> + + <p>Cousin Peregrine's hair was so very short that the last + question raised a roar of laughter, after which the chorus + spoke with one voice—</p> + + <p>"Do tell us all about China!"</p> + + <p>At which he put on a serio-comic countenance, and answered + with much gravity—</p> + + <p>"Oh, certainly, with all my heart. It will be rather a long + story, but never mind. By the way, I am afraid I can hardly + begin much before the birth of Confucius, but as that happened + in or about the year 550 <span class="smcap">b.c.</span>, you + will still have to hear about two thousand four hundred years + of its history or so, which will keep us going for a few + months".</p> + + <p>"Confucius—whose real name was Kwang-Foo-Tsz (and if + you can pronounce that last word properly you can do more than + many eminent Chinese scholars can)—was born in the + province of Kan Tang——.</p> + + <p>"Oh, not about Confuse-us!" pleaded a little maid on Cousin + Peregrine's knee. "Tell us what you did."</p> + + <p><a name="Page_72" + id="Page_72"></a></p> + + <p>"But tell us <i>wonderful</i> things," stipulated a young + gentleman, fresh from <i>The Boy Hunters</i> and kindred + works.</p> + + <p>If young bachelors have a weak point when they are kind to + children, it is that they are apt to puzzle them with + paradoxes. Even Cousin Peregrine did "sometimes tease," so his + cousins said.</p> + + <p>On this occasion he began a long rambling speech, in which + he pretended not to know what things are and what are not + <i>wonderful</i>. The <i>Boy Hunters</i> young gentleman fell + headlong into the quagmire of definitions, but the oldest + sister, who had her own ideas about things, said + firmly—</p> + + <p>"Wonderful things are things which surprise you very much, + and which you never saw before, and which you don't understand. + Like as if you saw a lot of giants coming out of a hole in the + road. At least that's what <i>we</i> mean by wonderful."</p> + + <p>"Upon my word, Maggie," said Cousin Peregrine, "your + definition is most admirable. I cannot say that I have met with + giants in China, even in the north, where the men are taller + than in the south. But I can tell you of something I saw in + China which surprised me very much, which I had never seen + before, and which, I give you my word, I don't understand to + this hour, but which I have no doubt was not in the least + wonderful <a name="Page_73" + id="Page_73"></a>to the poor half-naked Chinaman who did it + in my courtyard. And then, if you like, I will tell you + something else which surprised some Chinese country-folk + very much, which they never saw before, and which they + certainly did not understand when they did see it. Will that + do?"</p> + + <p>"Oh yes, yes! Thank you, yes!" cried the chorus, and Maggie + said—</p> + + <p>"First all about the thing <i>you</i> thought wonderful, you + know."</p> + + <p>"Well, the thing I thought wonderful was a conjuring trick + done by a Chinese juggler."</p> + + <p>"Did he only do one trick?" said the little maid on Cousin + Peregrine's knee.</p> + + <p>"Oh, he did lots of tricks," said Cousin Peregrine, "many of + them common Eastern ones, which are now familiar in England, + but which he certainly performed in a wonderful way: because, + you see, he had not the advantage of doing his tricks on a + stage fitted up by himself, he did them in the street, or in my + courtyard, with very little apparatus, and naked to the waist. + For instance, the common trick of bringing a glass bowl full of + water and fish out of a seemingly empty shawl is not so + marvellous if the conjurer has a well-draped table near him + from behind which he can get such things, or even good wide + sleeves to hide them in. But my poor conjurer was almost naked, + and the bit of carpet, about the size of this <a name="Page_74" + id="Page_74"></a>hearthrug, which he carried with him, did + not seem capable of holding glass bowls of water, most + certainly. Besides which he shook it, and spread it on the + ground close by me, after which he threw himself down and + rolled on it. And yet from underneath this he drew out a + glass bowl of water with gold-fish swimming in it. But that + trick and many others one can see very well done in London + now, though not so utterly without apparatus. The trick + which he did so particularly well, and which puzzled me so + much, I have never seen in Europe. This is the one I am + going to describe to you."</p> + + <p>"Describe the conjurer a bit more first, Cousin + Peregrine."</p> + + <p>"There is nothing more to describe. He was not at all a + grand conjurer, he was only a poor common juggler, exhibiting + his tricks in the public streets many times in the day for the + few small coins which the bystanders chose to give him. He was + a very merry fellow, and all the time he was about his + performance he kept making fun and jokes; and these amused the + audience so much that you may believe that I was sorry my + ignorance of his language hindered me from understanding + them.</p> + + <p>"All sorts of people used to stop and look at the juggler: + brawny porters, with loads of merchandise, or boxes of tea, or + bars of silver, which they carried in boxes or baskets slung on + bamboo poles over their shoulders."</p> + + <p><a name="Page_75" + id="Page_75"></a></p> + + <p>"Like the pictures on the tea-boxes," whispered little + Bessy.</p> + + <p>"There's a figure of it in the grocer's window," said her + brother, who had seen more of the world than Bessy; "not a + picture, a figure dressed in silk; and they're square boxes, + not baskets, that he's got—wooden panniers I call + them."</p> + + <p>"Who else used to stop, Cousin Peregrine?" asked Maggie.</p> + + <p>"Street confectioners, Maggie, with small movable sweetmeat + stalls, which they carry on their backs. Men with portable + stoves too, who always have a cup of tea ready for you for a + small coin worth about the twentieth part of a penny. + Tiny-footed women toddling awkwardly along, with + children—also cramp-footed—toddling awkwardly after + them, dressed in all the colours of the rainbow, and with their + poor little arms stuck out at right angles with their bodies, + to help them to keep their balance. Even the blind beggars, who + go along striking on a bell to let people know that they are + blind, as otherwise they might be knocked over, even they used + to stop and listen to my juggler's jokes, though they could not + see his tricks.</p> + + <p>"All this was in the street; but sometimes I got him to come + into my own cour<a name="Page_76" + id="Page_76"></a>tyard to do his tricks there, that I might + watch him more carefully. But watch as I might, I could + never see how he did this particular feat. He used to do it + with no clothes on except a pair of short trousers, for in + the hot season, you must know, the lower classes of Chinese + go about naked to the waist. Indeed, hot as it is, they + don't wear hats. The juggler possessed both a hat and a + jacket, as it happened, but he took them off when he did his + trick."</p> + + <p>"And what <i>was</i> the trick?" asked several impatient + voices. "What did he do?"</p> + + <p>"He used to swallow ten or twelve needles one after the + other, and 'wash them down' with a ball of thread, which he + swallowed next, and by and by he used to draw the thread slowly + out of his mouth, yard after yard, and it had all the needles + threaded on it."</p> + + <p>"Oh, Cousin Peregrine!"</p> + + <p>"He used to come quite close to me, Maggie, as close as I am + to you now, and take each needle—one after the + other—between the finger and thumb of his right + hand—keeping all the other fingers away from it, stick + the point of it for a moment into his other palm, to show that + it was sharp, and then to all appearance swallow it bodily + before your eyes. In this way he seemed to swallow successively + all the twelve needles. Then he opened his mouth, that you + might ascertain that they w<a name="Page_77" + id="Page_77"></a>ere not there, and you certainly could not + see them. He next swallowed a little ball of thread, not + much bigger than a pea. This being done, he seemed to be + very uneasy (as well he might be!), and he made fearful + faces and violent gestures, and stamped on the ground, and + muttered incantations, and threw up his hands and eyes to + the sky; and presently the end of a thread was to be seen + coming out between his teeth, upon which he took hold of + this end, and carefully drew out the thread with all the + needles threaded on it. Then there was always much applause, + and the small coins used to be put pretty liberally into the + hat which he handed round to receive them."</p> + + <p>"Was that all?" asked the young gentleman of the adventure + books.</p> + + <p>"All what, Fred?"</p> + + <p>"All that you thought wonderful."</p> + + <p>"Yes," said Cousin Peregrine. "Don't you think it + curious?"</p> + + <p>"Oh, very, Cousin, and I like it very much indeed, only if + that's all <i>you</i> thought wonderful, now I want you to tell + us what <i>you</i> did that <i>the Chinese</i> thought + wonderful."</p> + + <p>"It's not very easy to surprise a town-bred Chinaman," said + Cousin Peregrine. "What I am going to tell you about now + happened in the country. It was up in the north, and in a part + where Europeans had very rarely been seen."</p> + + <p><a name="Page_78" + id="Page_78"></a></p> + + <p>"How came you to be there, Cousin Peregrine?"</p> + + <p>"I was not on duty. I had got leave for a few days to go up + and see Pekin. Therefore I was not in uniform, remember, but in + plain clothes.</p> + + <p>"On this particular occasion I was on the river Peiho, in + one of the clumsy Chinese river-boats. If the wind were + favourable, we sailed; if we went with the stream—well + and good. If neither stream nor wind were in our favour, the + boat was towed."</p> + + <p>"Like a barge—with a horse—Cousin + Peregrine?"</p> + + <p>"Like a barge, Maggie, but not with a horse. One or two of + the Chinamen put the rope round them and pulled us along. It + was not a quick way of travelling, as you may believe, and when + the Peiho was slow and winding, I got out and walked by the + paths among the fields."</p> + + <p>"Paths and fields—like ours?"</p> + + <p>"Yes. Very like some bits of the agricultural parts of + England. But no pretty meadows. Every scrap of land seemed to + be cultivated for crops. You know the population of China is + enormous, and the Chinese are very economical in using their + land to produce food, and as they are not great + meat-eaters—as we are—their fields are mostly + ploughed and sown, so I walked along among rice-fields and + cotton-fields, and with little villages here and there, where + the cottages are built of mud or stone with tile roofs."</p> + + <p><a name="Page_79" + id="Page_79"></a></p> + + <p>"Did you see any of the villagers?"</p> + + <p>"Most certainly I did. You must know that the inhospitable + way in which the Chinese and Japanese have for many long years + received strangers has come from misunderstandings, and + ignorance, and suspicion, and perhaps from some other reasons; + but the Chinese and Japanese villagers who see strangers for + the first time, and have lived quiet country lives out of the + way of politics, are often very hospitable and friendly. I am + bound, however, to except the women; not because they wished us + ill, but they are afraid of strangers, and they kept well out + of our way."</p> + + <p>"Do the village Chinese women have those funny smashed-up + feet, Cousin Peregrine?"</p> + + <p>"In the north of China they have. In the south only ladies + deform themselves in this fashion; and the Tartar women always + leave their own beautiful little feet uninjured. Well, the men + came out of their cottages and fields, and pressed eagerly but + good-naturedly round me."</p> + + <p>"Do the village men wear pigtails?"</p> + + <p>"Every Chinaman wears a pigtail. A Chinaman without a + pigtail would be as great a rarity as a Manx cat, or rather, I + ought to say, he would be like the tailless fox in the fable; + only you would never catch a Chinaman trying to persuade his + fr<a name="Page_80" + id="Page_80"></a>iends that it was creditable to have no + tail! For I must tell you that pigtails are sometimes cut + off—as a degradation—when a man has committed + some crime. But as soon as he can, he gets the barber to put + him on a false pigtail, as a closely-cropped convict might + wear a wig. They roll them up when they are at work if they + are in the way, but if a servant came into your room with + his tail tucked up you would be very angry with him. It + would be like a housemaid coming in with her sleeves and + skirt tucked up for house-cleaning—<i>most</i> + disrespectful!"</p> + + <p>"Were these the men you showed something to that <i>they</i> + thought wonderful?"</p> + + <p>"Yes, Fred. And now I'll tell you what it was. You must know + that I could speak no Chinese, and my new friends could speak + no English, so they chattered like magpies to each other, and + laughed like children or Chinamen—for the Chinese are + very fond of a joke. When they laughed I laughed, and we bowed + and shook hands, and they turned me round and felt me all over, + and <i>felt my hands</i>."</p> + + <p>"What about your hands, Cousin?"</p> + + <p>"I had on dog-skin gloves, yellow ones. Now when all the + male population of the hamlet had stroked these very carefully, + I perceived that they had never seen gloves before, and that + they believed themselves to be testing the feel of a + barbarian's skin."</p> + + <p>"Barbarian?"</p> + + <p><a name="Page_81" + id="Page_81"></a></p> + + <p>"Certainly, Bessie. They give us the same polite name that + we feel ourselves more justified in applying to them. Well, + when they had laughed, and I had laughed, and we had shaken + hands afresh, laughing heartily as we did so, and I began to + feel it was time to go on and catch up my boat, which was + floating sluggishly down the winding stream of the Peiho, I + resolved on one final effect, like the last scene of a dramatic + performance. Making vigorous signs and noises, to intimate that + something was coming, and they must look out sharp, and feeling + very much like a conjurer who has requested his audience to + keep their eyes on him and 'see how it's done'—I slyly + unbuttoned my gloves, and then with much parade began to draw + one off by the finger-tips.</p> + + <p>"'Eyah! Eyah!' cried the Chinamen on all the notes of the + gamut, as they fell back over each other. <i>They thought I was + skinning my hands</i>. I 'smiled superior,' as I took the + gloves off, and made an effect almost as great by putting them + on again."</p> + + <p>"Oh, Cousin Peregrine, weren't they astonished?"</p> + + <p>"They were, Maggie, And unless they are more familiar with + Europeans now, the mystery is probably to this day as unsolved + to them as the trick of the ball of thread and the twelve + needles still is to me. By this time, however, my boat was</p> + + <p>'Far off, a blot upon the stream,'</p> + + <p><a name="Page_82" + id="Page_82"></a></p> + + <p>and I had to hasten away as fast as I could to catch it up. + I parted on the most friendly terms from my narrow-eyed + acquaintance, but when I had nearly regained my boat I could + still see them in their blue-cotton dresses and long pigtails, + gazing open-mouthed at my vanishing figure across the + rice-fields."</p> + <hr style='width: 45%;' /> + + <p>After a few seconds' silence, during which Maggie had sat + with her eyes thoughtfully fixed on the fire, she said, "Cousin + Peregrine, you said in your letters that it was very cold in + the north of China. If Chinamen know nothing about gloves, how + can they keep their hands warm?" Maggie had a little the air of + regarding this question as a poser, but Cousin Peregrine was + not disconcerted.</p> + + <p>"My dear Maggie, your question reminds me of another + occasion, when I astonished a most respectable old China + gentleman by my gloves. I will tell you about it, as it will + show you how the Chinese keep their hands warm.</p> + + <p>"It was on this very same expedition. We were at Tung-Chow, + about eight miles from Pekin. At this place we had to leave the + river, and take to our Tartar ponies, which our Chinese + horse-boys had ridden up to this point to meet us. We had hired + a little cart to convey our baggage, and I wa<a name="Page_83" + id="Page_83"></a>s sitting on my pony watching the lading up + of the cart, when a dear old Chinaman, dressed in blue + wadded silk, handsomely lined with fur, came up to me, and + with that air of gentlemanly courtesy which is by no means + confined to Europe, began to explain and expound in his own + language for my benefit."</p> + + <p>"What was he talking about? Could you tell?"</p> + + <p>"I soon guessed. The fact is I am not very apt to wear + gloves when I can help it, especially if I am working at + anything. At the moment the old Chinese gentleman came up I was + holding the reins of my pony with bare hands (my gloves being + in my pocket), and as the morning was cold, my fingers looked + rather blue. Having ascertained by feeling that my coat-sleeves + would not turn down any lower than my wrists, he touched my + hands softly, and made courteous signs, indicating that he was + about to do me a good turn. Having signalled a polite + disapprobation of the imperfect nature of my sleeves, he drew + my attention to his own deep wide ones. Turning them back so as + to expose the hands, the fine fur lining lay like a rich + trimming above his wrists. Then with a glance of infinite + triumph he bespoke my close attention as, shivering, to express + cold, he turned the long sleeves, each a quarter of a yard, + over his hands, and stuffing each hand into the opposite sleeve + they were warm and c<a name="Page_84" + id="Page_84"></a>omfortable, as it were in a muff, which was + a part of his coat. More sensible than our muffs too, the + fur was inside instead of out.</p> + + <p>"He was the very pink of politeness, but at this point his + pride of superior intelligence could not be restrained, and he + broke into fits of delighted laughter, in which the horse-boys, + the spectators, my friends, and (as is customary in China) + everybody within sight and hearing joined.</p> + + <p>"I took good care to laugh heartily too. After which I made + signs the counterpart of his. He looked anxious. I put my hand + in my pocket, and drew out my gloves. He stared. <i>I put them + on</i>, and nodded, to show that that was the way we barbarians + did it.</p> + + <p>"'Eyah!' cried the silk-robed old gentleman.</p> + + <p>"'Eyah!' echoed the horse-boys and the crowd.</p> + + <p>"Then I laughed, and the horse-boys laughed loudly, and the + crowd louder still, and finally the old gentleman doubled + himself up in his blue silk fur-lined robe in fits of + laughter.</p> + + <p>"An Asiatic only relishes one thing better than being + outwitted—that is to outwit.</p> + + <p>"'Eyah! Eyah! Ha! ha! ha!' they cried as we rode away.</p> + + <p>"'Ha! ha! ha!' replied I, waving a well-gloved hand, on my + road to Pekin."</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <p><a name="Page_85" + id="Page_85"></a></p> + + <h3><a name="WAVES_OF_THE_GREAT_SOUTH_SEAS" + id="WAVES_OF_THE_GREAT_SOUTH_SEAS"></a>WAVES OF THE GREAT + SOUTH SEAS.</h3> + + <p>(<i>Founded on Fact</i>.)</p> + + <p>"Very likely the man who drew it had been nearly drowned by + one himself."</p> + + <p>"Very likely nothing of the sort!"</p> + + <p>"How could he draw it if he hadn't seen it?"</p> + + <p>"Why, they always do. Look at Uncle Alfred, he drew a + splendid picture of a shipwreck. Don't you remember his doing + it at the dining-room table, and James coming in to lay the + cloth, and he would have a bit of the table left clear for him, + because he was in the middle of putting in the drowning men, + and wanted to get them in before luncheon? And Uncle Herbert + wrote a beautiful poem to it, and they were both put into a + real magazine. And Uncle Alfred and Uncle Herbert never were in + shipwrecks. So there!"</p> + + <p>"Well, Uncle Alfred drew it very well, and he made very big + waves. So there!"</p> + + <p>"Ah, but he didn't make waves like a great wall. He did it + very naturally, and he draws a great deal better than those + rubbishy old pictures in Father's <i>Robinson Crusoe</i>."</p> + + <p>"Well, I don't care. The Bibl<a name="Page_86" + id="Page_86"></a>e says that when the Children of Israel + went through the Red Sea the waters were a wall to them on + their right hand and on their left. And I believe they were + great waves like the wave in <i>Robinson Crusoe</i>, only + they weren't allowed to fall down till Pharaoh and his host + came, and then they washed them all away."</p> + + <p>"But that's a miracle. I don't believe there are waves like + that now."</p> + + <p>"I believe there are in other countries. Uncle Alfred's + shipwreck was only an English shipwreck, with waves like the + waves at the seaside."</p> + + <p>"Let's ask Cousin Peregrine. He's been in foreign countries, + and he's been at sea."</p> + + <p>The point in dispute between Maggie and her brother was + this:—The nursery copy of <i>Robinson Crusoe</i> was an + old one which had belonged to their father, with very rough old + wood-cuts, one of which represented Robinson Crusoe cowering + under a huge wave, which towered far above his head, and + threatened to overwhelm him. This wave Maggie had declared to + be unnatural and impossible, whilst the adventure-book young + gentleman clung to and defended an illustration which had + helped him so vividly to realize the sea-perils of his + hero.</p> + + <p>It was the day following that of Cousin Peregrine's arrival, + and when evening arrived the two children carried the book down + with them to dessert, and attacked Cousin Peregrine + simultaneously.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_87" + id="Page_87"></a></p> + + <p>"Cousin Peregrine, you've been at sea: isn't that an + impossible wave?"</p> + + <p>"Cousin Peregrine, you've been at sea: aren't there + sometimes waves like that in foreign places?"</p> + + <p>"It's not very cleverly drawn," said Cousin Peregrine, + examining the wood-cut; "but making allowance for that, I have + seen waves not at all unlike this one."</p> + + <p>"There!" cried the young gentleman triumphantly. "Maggie + laughed at it, and said it was like a wall."</p> + + <p>"Some waves are very like walls, but those are surf-waves, + as they are called, that is, waves which break upon a shore. + The waves I am thinking of just now are more like + mountains—translucent blackish-blue + mountains—mountains that look as if they were made of + bottle-green glass, like the glass mountain in the fairy tale, + or shining mountains of phosphorescent light—meeting you + as if, they would overwhelm you, passing under you, and tossing + you like the old woman in the blanket, and then running away + behind you as you go to meet another. Every wave with a little + running white crest on its ridge; though not quite such a + curling frill as this one has which is engulfing poor Robinson + Crusoe. But his is a surf-wave, of course. Those I am speaking + of are waves in mid-ocean."</p> + + <p>"Not as tall as a man, Cousin Peregrine?"</p> + + <p><a name="Page_88" + id="Page_88"></a></p> + + <p>"As tall as many men piled one upon another, Maggie."</p> + + <p>"It certainly is very funny that the children should choose + this subject to tease you about tonight, Peregrine," said + Mamma.</p> + + <p>We are all apt to speak inaccurately. Mamma did not mean + that the subject was a comical one, but that it was remarkable + that the children should have started it at dessert, when the + grown-up people had been discussing it at dinner.</p> + + <p>They had not been talking about Robinson Crusoe's wave, but + about the loss of an Australian vessel, in sad circumstances + which were in every one's mouth. A few people only had been + saved. They had spent many days in an open boat in great + suffering, and the particular question discussed at dinner was, + whether the captain of a certain vessel which had passed + without rescuing them had been so inhuman as to see and yet to + leave them.</p> + + <p>"How could he help seeing them?" Mamma had indignantly + asked. "It was daylight, and of course somebody was on the + deck, even if the captain was still in bed. Don't talk to me, + Peregrine! You would say black is white for the sake of + argument, especially if it was to defend somebody. But little + as I know about the sea, I know that it's flat."</p> + + <p>"And that's flat!" interposed Papa.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_89" + id="Page_89"></a></p> + + <p>"It's all very well making fun of me," Mamma had continued + with good-humoured vehemence, "but there were no Welsh hills + and valleys to block the view of castaway fellow-creatures not + a mile off, and it was daylight, and he <i>must</i> have seen + them."</p> + + <p>"I'm not quite sure about the hills and valleys," Cousin + Peregrine had replied; "and hills of water are quite as + troublesome to see through as hills of earth."</p> + + <p>At this moment the dining-room door had opened to admit the + children, Maggie coming first, and making her courtesy in the + doorway, with the old fat, brown-calf-bound <i>Robinson + Crusoe</i> under her arm. It opened without the slightest + difficulty at the picture of the big wave, and the children + appealed to Cousin Peregrine as has been related.</p> + + <p>Maggie was a little taken aback by a decision which was in + favour of her brother's judgment. She was apt to think rather + highly of her own, and even now she pondered, and then put + another question—</p> + + <p>"But if the waves were so very, very big, Cousin, they would + swallow up the ships!"</p> + + <p>"No, Maggie, not if the sailors manage their ship properly, + and turn her about so that she meets the wave in the right way. + Then she rides over it instead of being buried under it."</p> + + <p>"It would be dreadful if they didn't!" said Maggie.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_90" + id="Page_90"></a></p> + + <p>"I remember being in a ship that didn't meet one of these + waves in the right way," said Cousin Peregrine.</p> + + <p>"Tell us all about it," said Fred, settling himself with two + or three severe fidgets into the seat of his chair.</p> + + <p>"I <i>was</i> going to have protested against the children + asking you for another story so soon, Peregrine," said Mamma, + "but now I feel selfish, for your wave-story will be quite as + much for me as for the little ones."</p> + + <p>"Where was it, Cousin Peregrine?"</p> + + <p>"Where was the wave, do you mean? It was in the great South + Seas. As to where I was, I was in a sailing-vessel bound for + South Australia. To begin at the beginning, I must explain to + you that this vessel was one of those whose captains accepted + the instruments offered by the Board of Trade to any ship that + would keep a meteorological log. I was fond of such matters, + and I took the trouble off the captain's hands, by keeping his + meteorological log for him."</p> + + <p>"What is a meteorological log, Cousin?"</p> + + <p>"A kind of diary, in which you put down the temperature of + the sea and air, how cold or hot they are—the way the + wind blows, how the barometer is, and anything special and + interesting about the weather overhead or the currents in + the<a name="Page_91" + id="Page_91"></a> sea. Now I must tell you that there had + been a good deal of talk about currents of warm water in the + Southern Ocean, like the Gulf Stream of the Atlantic, which + keeps the west coasts of Great Britain so warm. But these + South Sea currents had not been very accurately observed, + and information on the subject was desired. Well, one day we + got right into a warm current."</p> + + <p>"How did you know, Cousin?"</p> + + <p>"By drawing up a bucket of water out of the sea, and putting + the thermometer into it. But I ought to tell you what a + thermometer is—"</p> + + <p>"We know quite well," said Maggie. "Nurse always put it into + Baby's bath when he had fits, to see if the water was the right + warmth."</p> + + <p>"Very good, Maggie. Then let me tell you that the water of + the sea got nearly thirty degrees warmer on that day between + noon and midnight."</p> + + <p>"How did you know about midnight?" Maggie inquired + doubtfully; "weren't you in bed?"</p> + + <p>"No, I was not, I was very busy all day 'taking + observations' every hour or two, and it was at twelve o'clock + this very night that the 'comber' broke on deck."</p> + + <p>"What <i>is</i> a 'comber'?"</p> + + <p>"A 'comber' is the name for a large wave with a comb or + crest of foam, a sort of wave over which our ship ought to have + ridden; but I m<a name="Page_92" + id="Page_92"></a>ust tell you that it was no easy matter to + meet them on this occasion, because (owing to the cross + currents) the waves did not all go one way, but came at us + from various points. The sea was very heavy, and the night + was very dark. I tried the heat of the water for the last + time that evening, and having bade good-night to the officer + whose watch was just over, I stayed for a few minutes to + talk to the officer whose watch was just beginning, before + going below to go to bed. We were standing aft, and, + fortunately for us, near one of the masts, when through the + darkness we saw the sloping sides of a great South Sea wave + coming at the fore part of the ship, but sideways. 'The + rigging!' shouted the officer of the watch, and as we both + clung to the ropes the wave broke on our bows, smashed the + jib-boom, and swept the decks from stem to stern."</p> + + <p>"And if you hadn't held on by the rigging you would have + been washed away?"</p> + + <p>"I am afraid we should, Fred, for every loose thing on deck + was swept off in less than a minute. The bull kept his feet, by + the bye; but then he had four, and I have only two."</p> + + <p>"The bull! what bull?"</p> + + <p>"We were taking some cattle out to Australia. There was a + bull who lived in a stable that had been made for him on deck. + When this comber broke over us it tore up the bull's + hous<a name="Page_93" + id="Page_93"></a>e, and carried it overboard, but I met the + bull himself taking a walk at large as I went below to + change my clothes and get some sleep."</p> + + <p>"Were you wet?"</p> + + <p>"Drenched, my dear Maggie; but when I got to my cabin I + found that there was no hope of rest for some hours. The wave + had flooded the cabins, broken in doors, and washed everything + and everybody about. So we all had to set to work to bale out + water, and mop up our bed-rooms; and as the wave had also put + out what lights there were, we had to work in the dark, and + very uncomfortable work it was! What the women and children + did, and the poor people who were sea-sick, I hardly know. Of + course we who could keep our feet did the work."</p> + + <p>"Weren't you ever sea-sick?"</p> + + <p>"Never, I am thankful to say."</p> + + <p>"Not when it's very, very rough?"</p> + + <p>"Not in a gale. I have once or twice on that voyage been the + captain's only companion at dinner, tied to the mast to keep + myself steady, and with the sherry in one pocket and my + wine-glass in another to keep <i>them</i> steady, and quite + ashamed of my appetite, for if the sea doesn't make you feel + very ill it makes you feel very well."</p> + + <p>"I had no idea there were such very big waves really," said + Maggie, thoughtfully.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_94" + id="Page_94"></a></p> + + <p>"I see that they are quite big enough to shelter the + captain's character, Peregrine," said Mamma, smiling, "and I am + much obliged to you for correcting my ignorance. I don't + <i>wish</i> to believe that any English sailor would pass a + boat in distress without giving help, if he saw it."</p> + + <p>"I am quite sure no English sailor would, and very few real + sailors of any nation, I think. A real seaman knows too well + what sea-perils are, and that what is another man's case one + day may be his the next; and cowardice and cold-heartedness are + the last sins that can be laid at Jack Tar's door as a rule. + But I will finish my story by telling the children what + happened next morning, as it goes to illustrate both my + statements, that it is not easy to see an open boat in a heavy + sea, and that sailors are very ready to risk their lives for + each other."</p> + + <p>"You're like Captain Marryat, Cousin Peregrine," said + Fred.</p> + + <p>"He's not a sailor captain, he's a soldier captain," said + Maggie. "Go on, Cousin."</p> + + <p>"As I told you, we had two or three hours of very + disagreeable work before our cabins were even tolerably + comfortable; but it made us more tired than ever, and when I + did turn in I slept like a top, and the rolling of the ship + only rocked me to sounder slumbers. I was awakened at + se<a name="Page_95" + id="Page_95"></a>ven o'clock next morning by a + fellow-passenger, who popped in to cry, 'There's a man + overboard!' 'Who?' shouted I as I jumped up. 'Giovanni,' he + replied as he vanished, leaving me to follow him on deck as + quickly as possible. Now, Fred, picture to yourself a grey + morning, the damp deck of our vessel being rapidly crowded + with everybody on board, and all eyes strained towards a + heavy sea, with big blue-black mountains of water running at + us, and under us, and away from us all along; every wave had + a white crest: but there were some other patches of snowy + white hovering over the dark sea, on which all the + experienced eyes were soon fixed!"</p> + + <p>"What were they?" whispered Fred.</p> + + <p>"Albatross," said Cousin Peregrine. "They had been following + us for days, hovering, swooping, and whirling those great white + wings of theirs, which sometimes measure nine feet from tip to + tip."</p> + + <p>"What did they follow you for?"</p> + + <p>"They came to pick up anything that may be thrown overboard, + and they came now, as we knew, after poor Giovanni, whose curly + black head kept ducking out of their way as he swam with + desperate courage in our wake."</p> + + <p>"Oh, Cousin Peregrine! Didn't the captain stop the + ship?"</p> + + <p>"Certainly, Maggie, though, <a name="Page_96" + id="Page_96"></a>quickly as it was done, it left the poor + fellow far away behind. And heavy as the sea was, they were + lowering a boat when I got on deck, and the captain had + called for volunteers among the sailors to man it."</p> + + <p>"Oh, I hope he got them!"</p> + + <p>"I hope you won't insult a noble and gallant profession by + having any doubt about it, Maggie. He might have had the ship's + crew bodily if he had wanted them, and if the waves had run + twice as high."</p> + + <p>"Spare me!" said Mamma.</p> + + <p>"As it was the few men needed were soon ready. The boat was + launched without being upset, and the men got in without + mishap. Then they laid themselves to their oars, we gave them a + parting cheer, and they vanished from our sight."</p> + + <p>"<i>Drowned</i>, Cousin Peregrine?"</p> + + <p>"No, no. Though I can tell you we were as anxious for them + as for Giovanni now. But when they had crossed the first + water-mountains, and gone down into the water-valleys beyond, + they were quite out of sight of the crowd on the deck of the + ship, daylight though it was."</p> + + <p>"I retract everything I ever said," cried Mamma + impetuously.</p> + + <p>"And not only could we not see them, but they could not see + the man they were risking their lives to save. Those crested + mountains which hid them from us hid him from them."</p> + + <p><a name="Page_97" + id="Page_97"></a></p> + + <p>"What <i>did</i> you do?"</p> + + <p>"Men were sent up the masts to look out from such a height + that they could look over the waves. <i>They</i> could see both + Giovanni and the boat, and as they were so high up the men in + the boat could see them. So the men on the masts kept their + eyes on Giovanni, and the men in the boat kept their eyes on + the men on the masts, and steered their course according to the + signals from the look-out."</p> + + <p>"And they saved him?"</p> + + <p>"Yes, they brought him back; and if we cheered when they + went away, you may believe we cheered when they got safe to the + ship's side again."</p> + + <p>"And who was Giovanni? and did he get all right?"</p> + + <p>"Giovanni was one of the sailors, an Italian. He was a fine + young fellow, and appeared to think nothing whatever of his + adventure. I remember he resolutely refused to go below and + change his clothes till he had helped to haul up the boat. With + his white teeth shining through a broad grin, he told us in his + broken English that he had been overboard every voyage he had + taken. He said he didn't mind anything except the swooping and + pecking of the albatross. They obliged him to dive so + constantly, to keep his eyes from their beaks."</p> + + <p>"Was it a comber washed him overboard?"</p> + + <p><a name="Page_98" + id="Page_98"></a></p> + + <p>"No. He was mending the jib-boom, and lost his hold and fell + into the sea. He really had a very narrow escape. A less active + swimmer might easily have been drowned. I always think, too, + that he had an advantage in the fact that the water was + warm."</p> + + <p>"I am so glad the nasty albatross were disappointed."</p> + + <p>"The nasty albatross were probably disappointed when they + found that Giovanni was not a piece of spoilt pork. However, + they set their beautiful wings, and went their way, and we set + our sails, and went our way, which was to Adelaide, South + Australia."</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <p><a name="Page_99" + id="Page_99"></a></p> + + <h2><a name="COUSIN_PEREGRINES_TRAVELLERS_TALES" + id="COUSIN_PEREGRINES_TRAVELLERS_TALES"></a>COUSIN + PEREGRINE'S TRAVELLER'S TALES.</h2> + + <h3>JACK OF PERA.</h3> + + <p>(<i>Founded on Fact</i>.)</p> + + <p>"Cousin Peregrine, oughtn't we to love our neighbour, + whether he's a nice neighbour or a nasty neighbour?"</p> + + <p>"Certainly, Maggie."</p> + + <p>"But need we when he's a nasty <i>next-door</i> neighbour?" + asked Fred, in such rueful tones that Cousin Peregrine burst + out laughing and said, "Who is your nasty next-door neighbour, + Fred, and what has he done?"</p> + + <p>"Well, his name is Mackinnon, Cousin; and everybody says + he's always quarrelling; and he complained of our screaming and + the cockatoo playing—no, of the cockatoo's screaming and + our playing prisoners' base, and he kept o<a name="Page_100" + id="Page_100"></a>ur ball once, and now he has complained of + poor dear Ponto's going into his garden, and the dear + darling old thing has to be tied up, except when we take him + out for stiff walks."</p> + + <p>"I didn't notice anything stiff about his walk yesterday, + Fred, He took the fence into your nasty neighbour's garden at + one bound, and came back with another."</p> + + <p>"I don't know what can make him go there!" cried Fred; "I + wish he understood about keeping to his own grounds."</p> + + <p>"Ponto never lived in Constantinople, that is evident," said + Cousin Peregrine.</p> + + <p>"Did you ever live in Constantinople, Cousin?" asked + Maggie.</p> + + <p>"Yes, Maggie, I am happy to say I have."</p> + + <p>"Why are you glad, Cousin?"</p> + + <p>"Because in some respects it is the loveliest city on earth, + and I am glad to have seen it."</p> + + <p>"Tell us what it is like."</p> + + <p>"And tell us why you say Ponto never lived there."</p> + + <p>"I was a good deal younger than I am now," said Cousin + Peregrine, "when I saw Constantinople for the first time, and + had seen much less of the world than I have seen since; but + even now I remember nothing in my travels with greater delight + than my first sight of that lovely city. It was from the + sea. <a name="Page_101" + id="Page_101"></a> + + Do you know anything about the Sea of Marmora, Fred?"</p> + + <p>"I don't think I know much," said Fred doubtfully.</p> + + <p>"But we've got an atlas," said Maggie, "so you can show it + us, you know."</p> + + <p>"Well, give me the map. Here is the Sea of Marmora, with + Turkey-in-Europe on one side of it, and Turkey-in-Asia on the + other side of it. This narrower part that you come into it by + is called the Dardanelles, that narrower part that you go out + of it by is called the Bosphorus. The Bosphorus is about two + miles broad; it is salt water, you know, and leads from the Sea + of Marmora to the Black Sea, which is farther north. This + narrow piece of water going westward out of the Bosphorous is + called the Golden Horn. Constantinople—which is built, + like Rome, on hills—rises above the shores of the + Bosphorus and on both sides of the Golden Horn. The part of it + which is south of the Golden Horn is called Stamboul, and is + the especially Turkish Quarter. Across the Golden Horn from + Stamboul lies the Quarter called Galata—the commercial + port—and beyond that Pera—beautiful Pera!—the + Quarter where English people live when they live at + Constantinople. North of these are more suburbs, and then + detached Turkish villages and gay gardens dotting the banks of + the Bosphorus."</p> + + <p><a name="Page_102" + id="Page_102"></a></p> + + <p>"But you lived at Pera?"</p> + + <p>"Yes, I lived at Pera; in a house looking into the Turkish + cemetery."</p> + + <p>"Was it nice, Cousin, like our churchyard? or do the Turks + do horrid things with their dead people, like those Chinese you + told us about, who put them in boxes high up in the air?"</p> + + <p>"The Turks bury their dead as we do, my dear Maggie, and + they plant their graveyards with cypresses, which, standing + tall and dark among the headstones of the graves, have a very + picturesque effect. The cemetery in all Turkish towns is a + favourite place of public resort, but I cannot say that it is + kept in very nice order, as a rule. For the sake of a + water-colour sketch I made in one, I was very glad that the + upright headstones were tumbling about in all directions, it + took away the look of stiffness and monotony; but I am bound to + say that the graves looked neglected as well as picturesque. + The cemetery at Pera had too much refuse, and too many cocks, + hens, and dogs in it. It looked very pretty, however, from my + windows, sloping down towards the Golden Horn, beyond which I + could catch a glimpse of Stamboul on the heights across the + water. But I have not yet told you what Constantinople looked + like when I first saw it."</p> + + <p><a name="Page_103" + id="Page_103"></a></p> + + <p>"You began about the Sea of Marmora, Cousin, and here it is. + I've had my middle finger on it ever since we found it, to keep + the place."</p> + + <p>"Very good, Maggie. We were coming up the Sea of Marmora one + evening, and drew near to Constantinople about sunrise. I knew + we were near, but I could not see anything, because a thick + white mist hung in front of us like a veil resting on the sea. + We were near the mouth of the Bosphorus when the sun broke out, + the white mist rose slowly, like the curtain of a theatre, + and—more beautiful than any scene that human hands can + ever paint—I saw the Queen of Cities glittering in the + sunshine."</p> + + <p>"What made it glitter? Are the houses built of shiny + stuff?"</p> + + <p>"The houses are built of wood, but they are painted in many + colours. The rounded domes of the mosques are white, and the + minarets, tall, slender, and fretted, are white, with golden + tops, or white and blue. I can give you no idea how beautifully + the shapes of the mosques and minarets break the uniformity of + the mass of houses, nor how the gay colours, the white and the + gold, shone like gems against a cloudless blue sky when the + mist rose. No princess in an Eastern fairy-tale ever dazzled + and delighted the beholder by lifting her veil and displaying + her beauty and her jew<a name="Page_104" + id="Page_104"></a>els more than my eyes were charmed when + the veil was lifted from Constantinople, and I saw her + lovely and sparkling in the sun."</p> + + <p>"Are the streets very beautiful when you get into them?"</p> + + <p>"Ah, Fred, I am sorry to say—no. They are very dirty, + and very narrow. But they are picturesque, and made doubly so + by the fact that in them you meet people of all nations, in + every kind of dress, gay with all colours of the rainbow."</p> + + <p>"Are there shops in the streets?"</p> + + <p>"Most of the shops are all together in certain streets by + themselves, forming what is called a Bazaar. But in the other + streets there are a few, such as sweetmeat shops and coffee + shops, where the old Turks go to drink thick black coffee, and + smoke, and hear the news; and (if they wish it) to be + shaved."</p> + + <p>"I thought Turks wore long beards?"</p> + + <p>"The lower-class Turks, and the country ones, and those who + like to follow the old fashions, wear beards, but they have + their heads shaved, and wear the turban. Most modern Turks, + Government officials, and so forth, shave off their beards and + whiskers, and wear short hair and a moustache, with the fez, or + cloth cap. The old-fashioned dress is much the handsomest, I + think, and I am sorry it is dying out."</p> + + <p>"The poor women-Turks aren't allowed to go out, are they, + Cousin Peregrine?"</p> + + <p><a name="Page_105" + id="Page_105"></a></p> + + <p>"Oh yes, they are, but they have to be veiled, and so + bundled up that you can not only not tell one woman from + another, but they hardly look like women at all—more like + unsteady balloons, or inflated sacks of different colours. They + wear yellow leather boots, and no stockings. Over the boots + they wear large slippers, in which they shuffle along with a + gait very little less awkward than the toddle of a cramp-footed + lady in China. If they are ungraceful on foot, matters are not + much better when they ride. Sitting astride a donkey (for they + do not use side-saddles), a Turkish lady is about as comical an + object as you could wish to behold, though I have no doubt she + is quite unconscious of looking anything but dignified, as she + presses on to her shopping in the Bazaar, screaming to the + half-naked Arab donkey-boy to urge on her steed with his stick. + As the great cloak dress, in which women envelop themselves + from head to foot when they go out, is all of one colour, they + have this advantage over Englishwomen out shopping, that they + do not look ugly from being bedizened with ill-assorted hues + and frippery trimmings. In fact a mass of Turkish women, each + clothed in one shade of colour, looks very like a + flower-bed—a flower-bed of sole-coloured tulips without + stalks!"</p> + + <p><a name="Page_106" + id="Page_106"></a></p> + + <p>"The Bazaars are bigger than Charity Bazaars, I suppose," + said Maggie thoughtfully; "are they as big as the Baker Street + Bazaar?"</p> + + <p>"The Bazaar of Stamboul, the Turkish Quarter of + Constantinople, is almost a Quarter by itself. It takes up + many, many streets, Maggie. I am sure I wish with all my heart + I could take you children through it. You would think + yourselves in fairy-land, or rather in some of those + underground caves full of dazzling treasures such as Aladdin + found himself in."</p> + + <p>"But why, Cousin Peregrine? Do the Turks have very wonderful + things in their shops?"</p> + + <p>"I fancy, Maggie, that in no place in the world can one see + such a collection of valuable merchandise gathered from all + quarters of the globe. But it is not only the gold, the jewels, + the ivories, the gorgeous silks and brocades, morocco leathers, + and priceless furs, which make these great Eastern markets + unlike ours. The common wares for everyday use are often of a + much more picturesque kind than with us. There is no great + beauty in an English boot-shop, but the shoe-bazaar in Stamboul + is gay with slippers of all colours, embroidered with gold and + silver thread, to say nothing of the ladies' yellow leather + boots. A tobacconist's shop with us is interesting to none but + smokers, but Turkish pipes have stems several feet long, made + of various kinds of wood, <a name="Page_107" + id="Page_107"></a>and these and the amber mouth-pieces, + which are often of very great value, and enriched with + jewels, make the pipe-seller's wares ornamental as well as + useful. Nor can our gunsmiths' shops compete for + picturesqueness with the Bazaar devoted to arms, of all + sorts and kinds, elaborately mounted, decorated, sheathed, + and jewelled. Turkey and Persian carpets and rugs are common + enough in England now, and you know how handsome they are. + Turbans, and even fezes, you will allow to look prettier + than English hats. Then some of the shops display things + that one does not see at all at home, such as the glass + lamps for hanging in the mosques and Greek churches. Nor is + it the things for sale alone which make the Bazaar so + wonderful a sight. The buyers and sellers are at least as + picturesque as what they sell and buy. The floor of each + shop is raised two or three feet from the ground, and on a + gay rug the turbaned Turk who keeps it sits cross-legged and + smokes his pipe and makes his bargains, whilst down the + narrow street (which in many instances is arched overhead + with stone) there struggle, and swarm, and scream, and + fight, black slaves, obstinate camels, primitive-looking + chariots full of Turkish ladies, people of all colours in + all costumes, and from every part of the world."</p> + + <p>"It must be a wonderful place," sighed Maggie; "streets full + of beautiful shoes, and streets full of beautiful carpets."</p> + + <p><a name="Page_108" + id="Page_108"></a></p> + + <p>"Just so, Maggie."</p> + + <p>"Not at all like a London Bazaar, then. I thought perhaps it + was a place that shut up to itself, with a beadle sitting at + the door?"</p> + + <p>"I never was in Stamboul at night, but my belief is that the + Bazaar is secured at night by the locking up of gates. You know + the people who own the shops do not live in them, and as most + valuable merchandise remains in the Bazaar, it must be + protected in some way. I suppose the watchmen look after + it."</p> + + <p>"Have the Turks watchmen like the old London watchmen, + Cousin? With nightcaps, and rattles, and lanterns, and big + coats?"</p> + + <p>"The Turkish watchmen wear turbans—not nightcaps; but + they have lanterns and big coats, and in one respect they are + remarkably like the old 'Charlies,' as the London watchmen used + to be called. Their object is not (like policemen) to find + robbers and misdoers, but to frighten them away. Just as the + old Charlies used to spring their wooden rattles that the + thieves might get out of their way, so the Turkish watchman + strikes the ground with an iron-shod staff, that makes a great + noise, for the same purpose. In one respect, however, the + Turkish watchmen are most useful—they give warning of + fires."</p> + + <p>"Are there often fires in Constantinople?"</p> + + <p><a name="Page_109" + id="Page_109"></a></p> + + <p>"Very often, Fred. And when a big straggling city is built + of wood in a hot climate which keeps the wood so dry that a + spark will set it ablaze, when the water-supply is small, and + the water-carriers, who feed the fire-engines from their + leathern water-pots, are chiefly bent upon securing their pay + for the help they give; and when, to crown all, the sufferers + themselves are generally of the belief that what is to happen + will happen, and that there is very little use in trying to + avert calamity—you may believe that a fire, once started, + spreads not by houses, but by streets, leaving acres of black + ruins dotted with the still standing chimneys. However, I fancy + that of late years wider streets and stone buildings are + becoming commoner. There were stone houses, built by Europeans, + in Constantinople even when I was there."</p> + + <p>"Did you see a fire whilst you were there?"</p> + + <p>"Yes, indeed. One came so near the house where I lived that + I had everything packed up ready for a start, but fortunately + my house escaped. I must tell you that the Turks have one very + sensible custom in connection with these fires. They have what + are called fire-towers, on which men are stationed to give + warning when a fire breaks out in any part of the town. They + have a system of signals, by which they show in what quarter of + the cit<a name="Page_110" + id="Page_110"></a>y the fire is. At night the signalling is + done by lamps. There is an old Genoese tower between Pera + and Galata which has been made into a fire-tower. The one at + Stamboul I think is modern. These buildings are + tall—like light-houses—so that the signals can + be seen from all parts of Constantinople, and so that the + men stationed on them have the whole city in view. Besides + these signals, it is part of the watchman's duty, as I told + you, to give warning of a fire, and the quarter in which it + has broken out. I assure you one listens with some anxiety + when the ring of his iron-tipped staff on the rough pavement + is followed by the cry, '<i>Yan ghun vah! Stamboul-dah</i>' + ('There is a fire! In Stamboul'); or '<i>Yan ghun vah! + Pera-dah</i>' ('There is a fire! In Pera')."</p> + + <p>"But there are fire-engines?"</p> + + <p>"There may be very good ones now. In my time nothing could + be more futile than the trumpery one which was carried on men's + shoulders. Indeed, until the streets are much less rough, + narrow, and steep, I do not see how one could be <i>driven</i> + at any speed."</p> + + <p>"Did the men who carried the engine run?"</p> + + <p>"Yes, and at a good swinging pace too, their half-naked + bodies streaming with perspiration, and (I should have thought) + their labours quite doubled by yelling as they ran. Their cries + are echoed by<a name="Page_111" + id="Page_111"></a> the formidable-looking band which + follows, waving long poles armed with hooks, &c., for + pulling down houses to stop the progress of the flames. On + the heels of these figures follow mounted officials, whose + dignity is in a fixed proportion to the extent of the + calamity. If the fire is a very very extensive one, the + Sultan himself has to be upon the spot."</p> + + <p>"It must be very exciting," said Fred, in a tone of + relish.</p> + + <p>"You've told us lots about Constantinople now, Cousin + Peregrine," said Maggie, who had the air of having heard quite + enough on the subject; "now tell us about why you said Ponto + never was in Constantinople. Don't the Turks keep dogs?"</p> + + <p>"Not as we do, for pets and friends; and yet the dog + population of Constantinople is more numerous and powerful, and + infinitely more noisy, than I can easily describe to you."</p> + + <p>"Whom do they belong to then?"</p> + + <p>"They have no special masters or mistresses. They are more + like troops of wolves than a collection of Pontos."</p> + + <p>"But who gives them their dinners?"</p> + + <p>"They live on offal and the offscourings of the city, and + though the Turks freely throw all their refuse into their + streets, there are so many dogs that they are all half-starved. + They are very fie<a name="Page_112" + id="Page_112"></a>rce, and have as a rule a great dislike to + strangers. At night they roam about the streets, and are + said to fall upon any one who does not carry a lantern."</p> + + <p>"But does anybody carry a lantern—except the + watchmen?"</p> + + <p>"Everybody does. Coloured paper lanterns, like the Chinese + ones, with a bit of candle inside. With one of these in one + hand and a heavy stone or stick in the other, you may get + safely through a night-walk among the howling dogs of + Stamboul."</p> + + <p>"What horrible beasts!"</p> + + <p>"I think you would pity them if you were there. They are + half starved, and have no friends."</p> + + <p>"There isn't a home for lost and starving dogs in + Constantinople then?"</p> + + <p>"The whole city may be considered as the headquarters of + starving dogs, but not of lost ones. That reminds me why I said + Ponto had not lived there. If he had he would know his own + grounds, and keep to them."</p> + + <p>"But, Cousin Peregrine, I thought you said the Turkish dogs + had no particular homes?"</p> + + <p>"Every dog in Constantinople belongs to a particular Quarter + of the town, which he knows, and to which he confines himself + with marvellous sagacity. In the Quarter in which he was born, + there he must live, and there (if he wishes to die + pea<a name="Page_113" + id="Page_113"></a>ceably) he must die. If he strays on any + pretext into another Quarter, the dogs of the Quarter he has + invaded will tear him to pieces, and dine upon his + bones."</p> + + <p>"How does he know where his own part of the town begins and + ends?"</p> + + <p>"I cannot tell you, Maggie. But I can tell you of my own + knowledge that he does. Jack did, though we tried to deceive + him over and over again."</p> + + <p>"Who was Jack?"</p> + + <p>"The handsomest dog I ever saw in Constantinople. The + Turkish dogs are by no means beautiful as a rule, they are too + much like jackals, and as they are apt to be maimed and covered + with scars from fights with each other, they do not make much + of what good looks they have. However, Jack was rather less + wild and wolfish-looking than most of his friends. He was of a + fine tawny yellow, and had an intelligent face, poor fellow. He + belonged to our Quarter—in fact the cemetery was his home + till he took to lying at our door."</p> + + <p>"Then he was a Pera dog?"</p> + <div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/114.gif" alt="(Jack the dog)" /> + </div> + + <p>"Yes, and I and the brother-officers who were living with me + made friends with him. We gave him food and spoke kindly to + him, and he laid aside his prejudices against foreigners, and + laid his tawny limbs on our threshold. We became really + attached to each other. He received the very + Brit<a name="Page_114" + id="Page_114"></a>ish name of Jack, and seemed quite + contented with it. He took walks with us. It was then that + again and a<a name="Page_115" + id="Page_115"></a>gain we tried to deceive him about the + limits of his Quarter, and get him into another one + unawares. He never was misled. But later on, as he grew + tame, less fearful of things in general, and more unwilling + to quit us when we were out together, he sometimes strayed + beyond his bounds, not because he was deceived as to his + limits, but he ventured on the risk for our sakes. Even + then, however, he would not walk in the public + thoroughfares, he 'dodged' through gardens, empty courtyards + and quiet by-places where he was not likely to meet the + outraged dogs of the Quarter he was invading. The moment we + were safe back 'in bounds' he came freely and happily to our + side once more. I have often wondered, since I left + Constantinople, how long Jack lived, and how he died."</p> + + <p>"Oh, didn't you take him away?"</p> + + <p>"I couldn't, my dear. And you must not think, Maggie, that + if Turks do not pet dogs they are cruel to them. It is not the + case. A Turk would never dream of petting a dog, but if he saw + one looking hot and thirsty in the street he would be more + likely to take trouble to get it a dish of water than many + English people who feed their own particular pets on + mutton-chops. Jack was not likely to be ill-treated after our + departure, but I sometimes have a heart-sore suspicion that we + may have raised dreams in his doggish heart never again to be + rea<a name="Page_116" + id="Page_116"></a>lized. If he were at all like other dogs + (and the more we knew of him the more companionable he + became), he must have waited many a long hour in patient + faithfulness at our deserted threshold. He must have felt + his own importance as a dog with a name, in that wild and + nameless tribe to which he belonged. He must have dreamed of + his foreign friends on many a blazing summer's afternoon. + Perhaps he stole cautiously into other Quarters to look for + us. I hope he did not venture too far—Maggie—my + dear Maggie! You are not fretting about poor Jack? I assure + you that really the most probable thing is that our + successors made friends with him."</p> + + <p>"Do you really and truly think so, Cousin Peregrine?"</p> + + <p>"On my word of honour I do, Maggie. You must remember that + Jack was not a Stamboul dog. He belonged to Pera, where + Europeans live, so there is a strong probability that his + unusual tameness and beauty won other friends for him when we + had gone."</p> + + <p>"I hope somebody very nice lived in your house when you went + away."</p> + + <p>"I hope so, Maggie."</p> + + <p>"Cousin Peregrine, do you think we could teach Ponto to know + his own quarter?"</p> + + <p>"I think you could, Fred. I once lived next door to a man + who was very fond of hi<a name="Page_117" + id="Page_117"></a>s garden. It was a mere strip in front of + his hut—for we were quartered in camp at this + time—and not even a paling separated it from a similar + strip in front of my quarters. My bit, I regret to say, was + not like his in any respect but shape. I had a rather ragged + bit of turf, and he had a glowing mass of flowers. The + monotony of my grass-plat was only broken by the + marrow-bones and beef-ribs which my dog first picked and + then played with under my windows. I was as fond of him as + my brother-officer was of his flowers. I am sorry to say + that Dash had a fancy for the gayer garden, and for some + time my good-tempered neighbour bore patiently with his + inroads, and with a sigh buried the beef-bone that Dash had + picked among the mignonette at the roots of a magnificent + rose which he often alluded to as 'John Hopper,' and seemed + to treat as a friend. Mr. Hopper certainly throve on Dash's + bones, but unfortunately Dash took to applying them himself + to the roots of plants for which I believe that bone manure + is not recommended. When he made a hole two foot deep in the + Nemophila bed, and laid a sheep's head by in it against a + rainy day, I felt that something must be done. After the + humblest apologies to my neighbour, I begged for a few days' + grace. He could not have spoken more feelingly of the form, + scent, and colour of his friend John Hopper than I ventured + to do in favou<a name="Page_118" + id="Page_118"></a>r of the intelligence of my friend Dash. + In short I begged for a week's patience on his part, that I + might teach Dash to know his own garden. If I failed to do + so, I promised to put him on the chain, much as I dislike + tying up dogs."</p> + + <p>"How did you manage, Cousin?"</p> + + <p>"Whenever Dash strayed into the next garden, I began to + scold him in the plainest English, and covered him with + reproaches, till he slunk gradually back to his own untidy + grass-plat. When he touched his own grounds, I changed my tone + at once, to approbation. At first this change simply brought + him flying to my feet again, if I was standing with my friend + in his garden. But after a plentiful application of, 'How dare + you, Sir? Go back' (pointing), 'go back to your garden. If this + gentleman catches you here again, he'll grind your bones to + make John Hopper's bread. That's a good dog. No! Down! Stay + where you are!'—Dash began to understand. It took many a + wistful gaze of his brown eyes before he fully comprehended + what I meant, but he learned it at last. He never put paw into + Major E——'s garden without looking thoroughly + ashamed of himself. He would lie on his own ragged lawn and + wistfully watch me sitting and smoking among the roses; but + when I returned to our own quarters he welcomed me with an + extravagant delight which seemed to congratulate me on my + escape from the enemy's country."</p> + + <p><a name="Page_119" + id="Page_119"></a></p> + + <p>"Oh, Cousin Peregrine! We must try and teach Ponto to know + his own garden."</p> + + <p>"I strongly advise you to do so. Ponto is a gentleman of + honour and intelligence, I feel convinced. I think he will + learn his neighbourly duties, and if he does do so as well as + Dash did—whatever you may think of Mr. Mackinnon—I + think Mr. Mackinnon will soon cease to regard Ponto as—a + nasty next-door neighbour."</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <p><a name="Page_120" + id="Page_120"></a></p> + + <p><a name="Page_121" + id="Page_121"></a></p> + + <h2><a name="THE_PRINCES_OF_VEGETATION" + id="THE_PRINCES_OF_VEGETATION"></a>THE PRINCES OF + VEGETATION.</h2> + + <p>This fanciful and high-sounding title was given by the great + Swedish botanist, Linnæus, to a race of plants which are + in reality by no means distantly allied to a very humble + family—the family of Rushes.</p> + + <p>The great race of Palms puzzled the learned Swede. He did + not know where to put them in his system; so he gave them an + appendix all to themselves, and called them the Princes of + Vegetation.</p> + + <p>The appendix cannot have been a small one, for the Order of + Palms is very large. About five hundred different species are + known and named, but there are probably many more.</p> + + <p>They are a very beautiful order of plants; indeed, the + striking elegance of their forms has secured them a prominence + in pictures, poetry, and proverbs, which makes them little less + familiar to tho<a name="Page_122" + id="Page_122"></a>se who live in countries too cold for them + to grow in, than to those whose home, like theirs, is in the + tropics. The name Palm (Latin, <i>Palma</i>) is supposed to + have been applied to them from a likeness in the growth of + their branches to the outspread palm of the hand; and the + fronds of some of the fan-palms are certainly not unlike the + human hand, as commonly drawn by street-boys upon doors and + walls.</p> + + <p>So beautiful a tree, when it flourished in the symbol-loving + East, was sure to be invested with poetical and emblematical + significance. Conquerors were crowned with wreaths of palm, + which is said to have been chosen as a symbol of victory, + because of the elasticity with which it rises after the + pressure of the heaviest weight—an explanation, perhaps, + more appropriate to it as the emblem of spiritual + triumphs—the Palm of Martyrdom and the Palms of the + Blessed.</p> + + <p>But as a religious symbol it is not confined to the Church + triumphant. Not only is the "great multitude which no man can + number" represented to us as "clothed in white robes, and palms + in their hands"—the word "palmer" records the fact that + he who returned from a pilgrimage to the Holy Land was known, + not only by the cockle-shell on his gown, but by the staff of + palm on which he leant. St. Gregory also alludes to the + palm-tree as an a<a name="Page_123" + id="Page_123"></a>ccepted emblem of the life of the + righteous, and adds that it may well be so, since it is + rough and bare below, and expands above into greenness and + beauty.</p> + + <p>The palm here alluded to is evidently the date palm + (<i>Phœnix dactylifera</i>). This is pre-eminently the + palm-tree of the Bible, and was in ancient times abundant in + the Holy Land, though, curiously enough, it is now + comparatively rare. Jericho was known as "the city of + palm-trees" in the time of Moses (Deut. xxxiv. 3). It is + alluded to again in the times of the Judges (Judges i. 11; iii. + 13), and it bore the same title in the days of Ahaz (2 Chron. + xxviii. 15). Josephus speaks of it as still famous for its + palm-groves in his day, but it is said that a few years ago + only one tree remained, which is now gone.</p> + + <p>It was under a palm that Deborah the prophetess sat when all + Israel came up to her for judgment; and to an audience under + the shadow of this tree, which bore her name, that she summoned + Barak out of Kedesh-naphtali. Bethany means "the House of + Dates," and the branches of palm which the crowd cut down to + strew before our Lord as He rode into Jerusalem were no doubt + of this particular species.</p> + + <p>Women—as well as places—were often named after + the Princes of Vegetation, whose graceful and stately forms + approved them to lovers and poets as fit types of feminine + beauty.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_124" + id="Page_124"></a></p> + + <p>Usefulness, however, even more than ornament, is the marked + characteristic of the tribe. "From this order + (<i>Palmæ</i>)," says one writer, "are obtained wine, + oil, wax, flour, sugar, salt, thread, utensils, weapons, + habitations, and food"—a goodly list of the necessaries + of life, to which one may add many smaller uses, such as that + of "vegetable ivory" for a variety of purposes, and the + materials for walking-sticks, canework, marine soap, &c., + &c.</p> + + <p>The Princes of Vegetation are to be found in all parts of + the world where the climate is adapted to the tropical tastes + of their Royal Highnesses.</p> + + <p>They have come into our art, our literature, and our + familiar knowledge from the East; but they abound in the + tropics of the West, and some species are now common in South + America whose original home was in India.</p> + + <p>The cocoa-nut palm (<i>Cocos nucifera</i>) is an Indian and + South Sea Islands Prince; but his sway extends now over all + tropical countries. The cocoa-nut palm begins to bear fruit in + from seven to eight years after planting, and it bears on for + no less than seventy to eighty years.</p> + + <p>Length of days, you see, as well as beauty and beneficence, + mark this royal race which Linnæus placed alone!</p> + + <p><a name="Page_125" + id="Page_125"></a></p> + + <p>Cocoa-nuts are useful in many ways. The milk is pleasant, + and in hot and thirsty countries is no doubt often a great + boon. The white flesh—a familiar school-boy + dainty—is eaten raw and cooked. It produces oil, and is + used in the manufacture of stearine candles. It is also used to + make <i>marine soap</i>, which will lather in salt water. The + wood of the palm is used for ornamental joinery, the leaves for + thatch and basket-work, the fibre for cordage and cocoa-nut + matting, and the husk for fuel and brushes.</p> + + <p>Cocoa and chocolate come from another palm (<i>Theobroma + cacao</i>), which is cultivated largely in South America and + the West Indies.</p> + + <p>Sago and tapioca are made from the starch yielded by several + species of palm. The little round balls of sago are formed from + a white powder (sago flour, as it is called), just as + homœopathic pillules are formed from sugar. It is possible + to see chemists make pills from boluses to globules, but the + Malay Indians are said jealously to keep the process of + "pearling" sago a trade secret. Tapioca is only another form of + sago starch. Sago flour is now imported into England in + considerable quantities. It is used for "dressing" + calicoes.</p> + + <p>Among those products of the palm which we import most + liberally is "vegetable ivory."</p> + + <p>Vegetable ivory is the kernel of the fruit of one of the + most beautiful of palms (<i>Phytelephas macrocarpa</i>).</p> + + <p><a name="Page_126" + id="Page_126"></a></p> + + <p>This Prince of Vegetation is a native of South America. "It + is short-stemmed and procumbent, but has a magnificent crown of + light green ostrich-feather-like leaves, which rise from thirty + to forty feet high." The fruit is as big as a man's head. Two + or three millions of the nuts are imported by us every year, + and applied to all the purposes of use and ornament for which + real ivory is available.</p> + + <p>The Coquilla-nut palm (<i>Attalea funifera</i>), whose fruit + is about the size of an ostrich-egg, also supplies a kind of + vegetable ivory.</p> + + <p>Our ideas of palm-trees are so much derived from the date + palm of Judæa, that an erect and stately growth is + probably inseparably connected in our minds with the Princes of + Vegetation. But some of the most beautiful are short-stemmed + and creeping; whilst others fling giant arms from tree to tree + of the tropical forests, now drooping to the ground, and then + climbing up again in very luxuriance of growth. Many of the + rattan palms (<i>Calamus</i>) are of this character. They wind + in and out, hanging in festoons from the branches, on which + they lean in princely condescension, with stems upwards of a + thousand feet in length.</p> + + <p>There is something comical in having to add that these + clinging rattan stems, which cannot support their own weight, + have a proverbial fame, <a name="Page_127" + id="Page_127"></a>and are in great request for the + manufacture of walking-sticks. They are also largely + imported into Great Britain for canework.</p> + + <p>Another very striking genus (<i>Astrocaryum</i>) is + remarkable for being clothed in every part—stem, leaves, + and spathe—with sharp spines, which are sometimes twelve + inches long. <i>Astrocaryum murumura</i> is edible. The pulp of + the fruit is said to be like that of a melon, and it has a + musky odour. It is a native of tropical America, and abundant + on the Amazon. Cattle wander about the forests in search of it, + and pigs fatten on the nut, which they crunch with their teeth, + though it is exceedingly hard.</p> + + <p>The date palm yields a wine called toddy, or palm wine, and + from the Princes of Vegetation is also distilled a strong + spirit called arrack.</p> + + <p>And speaking again of the Judæan palms, I must here + say a word of those which we associate with Palm + Sunday—the willow palms—for which we used to hunt + when we were children.</p> + + <p>It is hardly necessary to state that these willow branches, + with their soft silvery catkins, the crown of the earliest + spring nosegays which the hedges afford, are not even distantly + related to the Princes of Vegetation, though we call them + palms. They are called palms simply from having taken the place + of real palm-branches in the ceremonies of the Sunday of our + Lord's Entry into Jerusalem, where these do not grow.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_128" + id="Page_128"></a></p> + + <p>A very old writer, speaking of the Jews strewing + palm-branches before Christ, says: "And thus we take palm and + flowers in procession as they did ... in the worship and mind + of Him that was done on the cross, worshipping and welcoming + Him with song into the Church, as the people did our Lord into + the city of Jerusalem. It is called Palm Sunday for because the + palm betokeneth victory; wherefore all Christian people should + bear palm in procession, in token that He hath foughten with + the fiend our enemy, and hath the victory of hym."</p> + + <p>A curious old Scotch custom is recorded in Lanark, as "kept + by the boys of the Grammar-school, beyond all memory in regard + to date, on the Saturday before Palm Sunday. They then parade + the streets with a palm, or its substitute, a large tree of the + willow kind (<i>Salix caprea</i>), in blossom, ornamented with + daffodils, mezereon, and box-tree. This day is called Palm + Saturday, and the custom is certainly a popish relic of very + ancient standing."</p> + + <p>But to return to palms proper. Before taking leave of them, + there is one more word to be said in their praise which may + endear this noble race to eyes which will never be permitted to + see the wonders of tropical forests.</p> + + <p>As pot-plants they are not less rem<a name="Page_129" + id="Page_129"></a>arkable for the picturesqueness of their + forms, than for the patience with which they endure those + vicissitudes of stuffiness and chill, dryness, dust, and + gas, which prove fatal to so many inmates of the + flower-stand or the window-sill. Pot-palms may be bought of + any good nurseryman at prices varying from two or three + shillings to two or three pounds. <i>Latania borbonica</i> + and <i>Phœnix reclinata</i> are good and cheap. + Sandy-peaty soil, with a little leaf-mould, is what they + like, and this should be renewed (with a larger pot) every + second year. Thus, with the most moderate care, and an + occasional sponging, or a stand-out in a soft shower, the + exiled Princes of Vegetation, whose shoots in their native + forests would have been of giant luxuriance, will live for + years, patiently adapting themselves by slow growth to the + rooms which they adorn, easier of management than the next + fern you dig up on your rambles, and, in the incomparable + beauty of their forms, the perpetual delight of an artistic + eye.</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <p><a name="Page_130" + id="Page_130"></a></p> + + <p><a name="Page_131" + id="Page_131"></a></p> + + <h2><a name="LITTLE_WOODS" + id="LITTLE_WOODS"></a>LITTLE WOODS.</h2> + + <p>By little woods are here meant—not woods of small + extent, but—woods in which the trees never grow big, + woods that are to grown-up woods as children to grown-up + people, woods that seem made on purpose for children, and + dwarfs, and dolls, and fairies.</p> + + <p>These little woods have many names, varying with the trees + of which they are composed, or the districts in which they are + found. One of the best-known names is that of copse or coppice, + and it brings with it remembrances of the fresh beauty of + spring days, on which—sheltered by the light copse-wood + from winds that are still keen—we have revelled in + sunshine warm enough to persuade us that summer was come "for + good," as we picked violets and primroses to the tolling of the + cuckoo.</p> + + <p>Things "in miniature" have a natural charm for little + people, and most of <a name="Page_132" + id="Page_132"></a>my young readers have probably been + familiar with favourite copses, or miniature pine-forests. + Perhaps some of them would like to know why these little + woods never grow into big ones, and something also of the + history and uses of those trees of which little woods are + composed.</p> + + <p>They are not made of dwarf trees. There are little woods, as + well as big woods, of oak, elm, ash, pine, willow, birch, + beech, and larch. In some cases the little woods are composed + of the growth which shoots up when the principal trunk of the + tree has been cut down, but they are generally little merely + because they are young, and are cut down for use before they + have time to grow into forest-trees. The object of this little + paper is to give some account of their growth and uses. It will + be convenient to take them alphabetically, by their English + names.</p> + + <p>The Ash (<i>Fraxinus excelsior</i> and other varieties) is a + particularly graceful and fine tree at its full growth. It is a + native of Great Britain, and of many other parts of the world. + It is long lived. The most profitable age for felling it as a + forest-tree is from eighty to a hundred years. The flower comes + out before the leaves, which are late, like those of the oak. + The bunches of seed-vessels, or "ash-keys," as they are + fancifully called, were pickled in salt and water and eaten in + old times. The Greeks and Romans made their spears of ash-wood. + The wood is no<a name="Page_133" + id="Page_133"></a>t so durable as that of some other trees, + but it is tough, and is thus employed for work subject to + sudden strains. It is good for kitchen-tables, as it scours + well and does not easily splinter.</p> + + <p>In little woods, or ash-holts, or ash-coppices, the ash is + very valuable. They are either cut over entirely at certain + intervals, or divided into portions which are cut yearly in + succession. At four or five years old the ash makes good + walking-sticks, crates to pack glass and china in, hoops, + basket handles, fences, and hurdles. Croquet-mallets are also + made of ash. At twelve or fourteen it is strong enough for + hop-poles. There are many old superstitions in connection with + the ash, and there is a midland counties saying that if there + are no keys on the ash, within a twelvemonth there will be no + king.</p> + + <p>There are several fine American varieties, and both in the + States and in Canada the wood is used for purposes similar to + ours.</p> + + <p>The Alder (<i>Alnus glutinosa</i>, &c.) is never a very + large tree. It is supposed to be in maturity when it is sixty + years old. It will grow in wetter places than any other tree in + Europe—even than the willow. Though the wood is soft, it + is very durable in water. Virgil speaks of it as being used for + boats. It is highly valued in Holland for piles, and it is said + that the famous bridge of the Rialto<a name="Page_134" + id="Page_134"></a> at Venice is built on piles of + alder-wood. Though invaluable for water-pipes, pump-barrels, + foundations for bridges, &c., alder-wood is of little + use on dry land unless it can be kept <i>perfectly</i> dry. + Wooden vessels and sabots, however, are made of it.</p> + + <p>Alders are chiefly grown in little woods. Planted by the + side of rivers, too, their tough and creeping roots bind and + support the banks. Alder-coppices are very valuable to the + makers of—gunpowder! Every five or six years the little + alders are cut down and burned to charcoal, and the charcoal of + alder-wood is reckoned particularly good by gunpowder + manufacturers.</p> + + <p>The Aspen, or Trembling Poplar (<i>Populus tremula</i>), + like the alder, is fond of damp situations. It has also a white + soft wood, used by the turner and engraver, and for such small + articles as clogs, butchers' trays, &c., &c.</p> + + <p>The quivering of its leaves is a favourite topic with poets, + and there is a curious old Highland superstition that the Cross + of Christ was made of aspen-wood, and that thenceforward the + tree could never rest.</p> + + <p>In "little woods" it may be cut every seven or eight years + for faggots, and at fifteen or twenty years old for poles.</p> + + <p>The Beech (<i>Fagus sylvatica</i><a name="Page_135" + id="Page_135"></a>). With this beautiful tree all our young + readers must be familiar. There may be those whose minds are + not quite clear about wych-elms and sycamores, but the + appearance of the beech-tree is too strongly marked to allow + of any confusion on the subject.</p> + + <p>The beech is spoken of by Greek and Roman writers, and old + writers on British agriculture count it among the four timber + trees indigenous to England: the beech, the oak, the ash, and + the elm.</p> + + <p>It is said, however, not to be a native of Scotland or + Ireland. It attains its full growth in from sixty to eighty + years, but is believed to live to be as old as two hundred. The + timber is not so valuable as that of the other three British + trees, but it is used for a great variety of purposes. Like the + alder, it will bear the action of water well, and has thus been + used for piles, flood-gates, mill-wheels, &c. It is largely + used by cabinet-makers for house furniture. It is employed also + by carriage-makers and turners, and for various small articles, + from rolling-pins to croquet-balls. The dried leaves are used + in Switzerland to fill beds with, and very nice such beds must + be! Long ago they were used for this purpose in England. Evelyn + says that they remain sweet and elastic for seven or eight + years, by which time a straw mattress would have become hard + and musty. They have a pleasant restorative scent, something + like<a name="Page_136" + id="Page_136"></a> that of green tea. When we think how many + poor people lie on musty mattresses, or have none at all, + whilst the beech-leaves lie in the woods and go very slowly + to decay, we see one more of the many instances of people + remaining uncomfortable when they need not be so, because of + their ignorance. The fact that beech-leaves are very slow to + rot makes them useful in the garden for mulching and + protecting plants from frost.</p> + + <p>In Scotland the beech-chips and branches are burned to smoke + herrings, and pyroligneous acid (a form of which is probably + known to any of our young readers who suffer from toothache as + <i>creosote</i>!) is distilled from them. Mr. Loudon tells us + that the word "book" comes from the German word <i>buch</i>, + which, in the first instance, means a beech, and was applied to + books because the old German bookbinders used beech-wood + instead of paste-board for the sides of thick volumes. + Beech-wood is especially good for fuel. Only the sycamore, the + Scotch pine, and the ash give out more heat and light when they + burn. Beech-nuts—or beech-mast, as it is called—are + eaten by many animals. Pigs, deer, poultry, &c., are turned + into beech-woods to fatten on the mast. Squirrels and dormice + delight in it. In France it is used to make beech-oil. This oil + is used both for cooking and burning, and for the latter + purpose has the valuable property of having no nasty smell.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_137" + id="Page_137"></a></p> + + <p>Of the beauty of the beech as a forest-tree—let + artists rave! Its smooth and shapely bole does not tempt the + sketcher's eye alone. To the lover and the school-boy (and, + alas! to that inartistic animal the British holiday-maker) it + offers an irresistible surface for cutting names and dates. + Upon its branches and beneath its shadow grow many + <i>fungi</i>, several of which are eatable. Truffles are found + there; those underground dainties which dogs (and sometimes + pigs!) are trained to grub up for our benefit. They discover + the whereabouts of the truffle by scent, for there is no sign + of it above ground. Nothing else will grow under beech-trees, + except holly.</p> + + <p>Scarcely less charming than the beech-forests are + beech-hedges. They cut and thrive with cutting like + yew-hedges.</p> + + <p>"Little woods" of beech are common in Buckinghamshire. They + are chiefly grown for the charcoal, which is valuable for + gunpowder.</p> + + <p>"Copper-Beeches"—red-leaved beech-trees, very + beautiful for ornamental purposes—all come from one + red-leaved beech, a sort of freak of nature, which was found + about a century ago in a wood in Germany.</p> + + <p>The Birch (<i>Betula alba</i>, &c.) is also a tree of + very distinctive appearance. The silver-white bark, which peels + so delightfully under childish fingers, is not less charming to + the sketcher's eye,<a name="Page_138" + id="Page_138"></a> whether as a near study or as gleaming + points of high light against the grey greens and misty + purples of a Highland hillside. It is emphatically the tree + of the Highlands of the North. It bends and breaks not under + the wildest winds, it thrives on poor soil, and defies mist + and cold. So varied are its uses that it has been said that + the Scotch Highlander makes everything of birch, from houses + to candles, and beds to ropes! The North American Indians + and the Laplanders apply it almost as universally as the + Chinese use paper. The wigwams or huts of the North American + Indians are made of birch-bark laid over a framework of + birch-poles or trunks, and their canoes or boats are cased + in it. The Laplander makes his great-coat of it,—a + circular <i>poncho</i> with a hole for his head,—as + well as his houses and his boots and shoes. It will be + easily believed that birch-bark was used in ancient times + for writing on before the invention of paper.</p> + + <p>Birch-wood makes good fuel. It is also used by + cabinet-makers. Its uses in "little woods" are many. The + charcoal is good for gunpowder, and it is that of which + <i>crayons</i> are made. Birch-coppices are cut for brooms, + hoops, &c., at five to six years old, and at ten to twelve + for faggot-wood, poles, fencing, and bark for the tanners. + Birch-spray (that is, the twigs and leaves) is used for smoking + hams and herrings, and for brooms to sweep grass. It + i<a name="Page_139" + id="Page_139"></a>s also used to make birch-rods; but as we + think very ill of the discipline of any household in which + the children and the pets cannot be kept in order without + being beaten, we hope our own young readers are only + familiar with birch-rods in picture-books.</p> + + <p>The (Sweet or Spanish) Chestnut (<i>Castanca vesca</i>) is + grown in "little woods" for hop-poles, fence-wood, and hoops. + The wood of the full-grown tree is also valuable.</p> + + <p>Evelyn says, "A decoction of the rind of the tree tinctures + hair of a golden colour, esteemed a beauty in some countries." + It would be entertaining to know if this is the foundation of + the "auricomous fluids" advertised by hair-dressers!</p> + + <p>Amongst "little woods" the dearest of all to the school-boy + must surely be the hazel-copse! The Hazel (<i>Corylus + avellana</i>) is never a large tree. It is, however, long + lived, and of luxuriant growth. When cut it "stoles" or throws + up shoots very freely, and when treated so will live a hundred + years. With a single stem, Mr. Loudon assures us, it would live + much longer. Filbert-hazels are a variety with longer nuts. + Hazels are cultivated not only for the nuts, but for + corf-rods,<a name="FNanchor_1_1" + id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" + class="fnanchor">[1]</a> hoops, fencing, &c., and + hazel-charcoal, like beech-charcoal, is used for crayons. + Li<a name="Page_140" + id="Page_140"></a>ke many other plants, the hazel has two + kinds of flowers, which come out before the leaves. The long + pale catkins appear first, and a little later tiny crimson + flowers come where the nuts are afterwards to be.</p> + + <p>Many old superstitions are connected with the hazel. + Hazel-rods were used to "divine" for water and minerals by + professors of an art which received the crack-jaw title of + Rhabdomancy. Having tried our own hand at Rhabdomancy, we are + able to say that the freaks of the divining-rod in sensitive + fingers are sometimes as curious as those of a table among + table-turners; and are probably susceptible of similar + explanations.</p> + + <p>The Larch (<i>Larix Europæa</i>, &c.). Though + traceable in England for two hundred years, it is within this + century that the larch has been extensively cultivated for + profit. The exact date of its introduction from the mountain + ranges of some other part of Europe is not known, but there is + a popular tradition that it was first brought to Scotland with + some orange-trees from Italy, and having begun to wither under + hot-house treatment, was thrown outside, where it took root and + throve thereafter. The wood of full-grown larch-trees is very + valuable. To John, Duke of Athol, Scotland is indebted for the + introduction of larch plantations on an enormous scale. He is + said to have planted 6500 acres of <a name="Page_141" + id="Page_141"></a>mountain-ground with these valuable trees, + which not only bring in heavy returns as timber, but so + enrich the ground on which they grow, by the decayed + <i>spicula</i> or spines which fall from them, as to + increase its value in the course of some years eight or + tenfold. The Duke was buried in a coffin made of larch-wood! + This sounds as if the merits of the larch-tree had been + indeed a hobby with him, but when one comes to enumerate + them one does not wonder that a man should feel his life + very usefully devoted to establishing so valuable a tree in + his native country, and that the pains and pride it brought + him should have awakened sentiment enough to make him desire + to make his last cradle from his favourite tree.</p> + + <p>Larch-wood is light, strong, and durable. It is used for + beams and for ship-building, for railroad-sleepers and + mill-axles, for water-pipes, and for panels for pictures. + Evelyn says that Raphael, the great painter, painted many of + his pictures on larch-wood. It will stand in heat and wet, + under water and above ground. It yields good turpentine, but + trees that have been tapped to procure this are of no use + afterwards for building purposes. The larch is said not to make + good masts for ships, but its durability in all varieties of + temperature and changes of weather make it valuable for + vine-props. When made of larch-poles these are never taken up + as h<a name="Page_142" + id="Page_142"></a>op-poles are. Year after year the vines + climb them and fade at their feet, and they are said to have + outlasted at least one generation of vine-growers.</p> + + <p>In "little woods" the larches are planted very close, so + that they may "spindle up" and become tall before they grow + thick. They are then used for hop-poles and props of various + kinds.</p> + + <p>The Oak (<i>Quercus robur</i>, &c.) is pre-eminently a + British tree. Of its beauty, size, the venerable age it will + attain, and its historical associations, we have no space to + speak here, and our young readers are probably not ignorant on + the subject.</p> + + <p>The durability of its wood is proverbial. The bark is also + of great value, and though the slow growth of the oak in its + earlier years postpones profit to the planter, it does so + little harm to other wood grown with it (being in this respect + very different from the beech), that profitable coppice-wood + and other trees may be grown in the same plantation.</p> + + <p>The age at which the oak should be felled for ship-timber, + &c., depends on many circumstances, and is fixed by + different authorities at from eighty to a hundred and fifty + years.</p> + + <p>Oaks are said to be more liable than other trees to be + struck by lightning.</p> + + <p>Oak-coppices or "little woods" are cut over at from twelve + to thirty years old. The bark is valuable as well as the + wood.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_143" + id="Page_143"></a></p> + + <p>The Pine (<i>Pinus sylvestris</i>, &c.), like the larch, + will flourish on poor soils. It is valuable as a protection for + other trees. The varieties and variations of this tree are very + numerous.</p> + + <p>It is a very valuable timber-tree, the wood being loosely + known as "deal"; but "deals" are, properly speaking, planks of + pine-wood of a certain thickness, "boards" being the technical + name for a thicker kind. Pine trunks are used for the masts of + ships. "In the north of Russia and in Lapland the outer bark is + used, like that of the birch, for covering huts, for lining + them inside, and as a substitute for cork for floating the nets + of fishermen; and the inner bark is woven into mats like those + made from the lime-tree. Ropes are also made from the bark, + which are said to be very strong and elastic, and are generally + used by the fishermen."</p> + + <p>In the north of Europe great quantities of tar are procured + from the Scotch pine. Torches are made from the roots and + trunk.</p> + + <p>Varieties of the pine are grown in "little woods" for + hop-poles.</p> + + <p><i>Pinus sylvestris</i> (the "Scotch Pine"), though a native + of Scotland, has only been planted and cultivated in Great + Britain for about a century.</p> + + <p>On the subject of "thinning <a name="Page_144" + id="Page_144"></a>and pruning" in plantations + planters—like doctors—differ. An amusing story + was sent to Mr. Loudon by the Duke of Bedford, in reference + to his grandfather, who was an advocate for vigorous + thinning in the pine plantations.</p> + + <p>"The Duke perceived that the plantation required thinning, + in order to admit a free circulation of air, and give health + and vigour to the young trees. He accordingly gave instructions + to his gardener, and directed him as to the mode and extent of + the thinning required. The gardener paused and hesitated, and + at length said: 'Your Grace must pardon me if I humbly + remonstrate against your orders, but I cannot possibly do what + you desire; it would at once destroy the young plantation; and, + moreover, it would be seriously injurious to my reputation as a + planter.' My grandfather, who was of an impetuous and decided + character, but always just, instantly replied, 'Do as I desire + you, and I will take care of your reputation.' The plantation + was accordingly thinned according to the instructions of the + Duke, who caused a board to be fixed in the plantation, facing + the wood, on which was inscribed, '<i>This plantation has been + thinned by John, Duke of Bedford, contrary to the advice and + opinion of his gardener.</i>'"</p> + + <p>The Willow (<i>Salix caprea</i>, &c.). The species of + willow are so numerous that we shall not attempt to give a list + of them.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_145" + id="Page_145"></a></p> + + <p>Willow-wood wears well in water, and has been used in + shipbuilding and carpentery, and especially for small ware, + cricket-bats and toys. Full-grown willows of all kinds are + picturesque and very graceful trees. The growth of the tree + kinds when young is very rapid.</p> + + <p>Willows are largely cultivated in "little woods" for + basket-making, hoops, &c. Shoots of the <i>Salix caprea</i> + of only a year's growth are large enough to be valuable for + wicker-work. It appears to be held by cultivators that the + poorer the soil in which they are grown the oftener these + willows should be cut over. "In a good soil a coppice of this + species will produce the greatest return in poles, hoops, and + rods every five, six, seven, or eight years; and in middling + soil, where it is grown chiefly for faggot-wood, it will + produce the greatest return every three, four, or five + years."</p> + + <p>Horses and cattle are fed on the leaves of the willow in + some parts of France.</p> + + <p>Willows are often "pollarded." That is, their tops are cut + off, which makes a large crop of young shoots spring out, + giving a shock-headed effect which in gnarled old pollards by + river-banks is picturesque enough.</p> + + <p>The "little woods" of willow on the river Thames and the Cam + are well known. They are small islands planted entirely with + willows, and are called osier-holts.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_146" + id="Page_146"></a></p> + + <p>Osier-beds of all kinds are very attractive "little woods." + One always fancies one ought to be able to make something of + the long pliable "sally-withys"—as the Wiltshire folk + call willow switches. Indeed, as a matter of fact, the making + of rough garden-baskets is a very simple art, especially on the + Scotch and German system. Let any ingenious little prowler in + an osier-bed get two thickish willow-rods and fasten them at + the ends with a bit of wire, so as to make two hoops. These + hoops are then to intersect each other half-way up, one being + perpendicular, to form the handle and the bottom of the basket, + the other being placed horizontally, to form the rim. More wire + will be needed to fix them in their positions. Much finer + willow-wands are used to wattle, or weave, the basket-work; + ribs of split osiers are added, and the wattling goes in and + out among them, and at once secures them and rests upon + them.</p> + + <p>This account is not likely to be enough to teach the most + intelligent of our readers! But one fancies that a rough sort + of basket-making might almost be devised out of one's own head, + especially if he had been taught (as we were, by a favourite + nursemaid) to plait rushes.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_147" + id="Page_147"></a></p> + + <div class="footnotes"> + <h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + + <div class="footnote"> + <p><a name="Footnote_1_1" + id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label"> + [1]</span></a> A corf is a large basket used for + carrying coals or other minerals in a mine.</p> + </div> + </div> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <h2><a name="MAY-DAY" + id="MAY-DAY"></a>MAY-DAY,</h2> + + <h3>OLD STYLE AND NEW STYLE.</h3> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <span class="i0">"Now the bright morning star, day's harbinger,</span><br /> + <span class="i0">Comes dancing from the East, and leads with her</span><br /> + <span class="i0">The flow'ry May, who from her green lap throws</span><br /> + <span class="i0">The yellow cowslip and the pale primrose."</span><br /></div> + —<span class="smcap">Milton</span>.</div> + + <p>On the whole, perhaps, May is the most beautiful of the + English months, especially the latter half of it; and yet I + suppose very few May-days come round on which we are not + disposed to wonder why our ancestors did not choose a warmer, + and indeed a more flowery season for Maypoles and garlands and + out-door festivities.</p> + + <p>Children who live in the north of England especially must + have a painfully large proportion of disappointments out of the + few May-days of childhood.</p> + + <p>Books and pictures, old stories told by Papa or Mamma of + clattering chimne<a name="Page_148" + id="Page_148"></a>y-sweeps and dancing May Queens, such as + they saw in their young days, or heard of from their elders, + have perhaps roused in us two of the strongest passions of + childhood—the love of imitation and the love of + flowers. We are determined to have a May-bush round the + nursery-window, duly gathered before sunrise. "Pretty + Bessy," our nursemaid, can do anything with flowers, from a + cowslip ball to a growing forget-me-not garland. The girls + are apt pupils, and pride themselves on their birthday + wreaths. The boys are admirably adapted for May sweeps. + Clatter is melodious in their ears. They would rather be + black than white. Burnt cork will disguise them effectually; + but they would prefer soot. A pole is forthcoming; ribbons + are not wanting; the poodle will dance with the best of us. + We have a whole holiday on Saints' Days, and the 1st of May + is SS. Philip and James'.</p> + + <p>What then hinders our enjoyment, and makes it impossible to + keep May-day according to our hopes?</p> + + <p>Too often this. It is "too cold to dawdle about." Flowers + are by no means plentiful; they are pinched by the east wind. + The May Queen would have to dance in her winter clothes, and + would probably catch cold even then. It is not improbable that + it will rain, and it is possible that it may snow. Worse than + all, the hawthorn-trees are behind time<a name="Page_149" + id="Page_149"></a>, and are as obstinate as the head-nurse + in not thinking the weather fit for coming out. The May is + not in blossom on May-day.</p> + + <p>And yet May-day used to be kept in the north of England as + well as in warmer nooks and corners. The truth is that one + reason why we find the weather less pleasant, and the flowers + fewer than our forefathers did, is that we keep May-day eleven + days earlier in the year than they used to do.</p> + + <p>To explain how this is, I must try and explain what Old + Style and New Style—in reckoning the days of the + year—mean.</p> + + <p>First let me ask you how you can count the days. Supposing + you wish to remain just one day and night in a certain place, + how will you know when you have stayed the proper time? In one + of two ways. Either you will count twenty-four hours on the + clock, or you will stay through all the light of one day, and + all the darkness of one night. That is, you will count time + either by the Clock or by the Sun.</p> + + <p>Now we say that there are 365 days in the year. But there + are really a few odd hours and minutes and seconds into the + bargain. The reason of this is that the Sun does not go by the + Clock in making the days and nights. Sometimes he spends rather + more than twenty-four hours by the Clock over a day and night; + sometimes he takes less. On the whole, during the year, he uses + up more time than the Clock does.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_150" + id="Page_150"></a></p> + + <p>The Clock makes exactly 365 days of 24 hours each. The Sun + makes 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, 49 seconds, and a tiny bit + besides.</p> + + <p>Now in time these odd hours added together would come to + days, and the days to years. About fifteen hundred years of + this little difference between the Sun and the Clock would + bring it up to a year. So that if you went by the Clock you + would say, "It is fifteen hundred years since such a thing + happened." And if you went by the Sun you would say, "It is + fifteen hundred and one years since it happened."</p> + + <p>Men who could think and calculate saw how inconvenient this + would be, and what mistakes it would lead to. If the difference + did not come to much in their lifetime, they could see that it + would come to a serious error for other people some day. So + Julius Cæsar thought he would pull the Clock and the Sun + together by adding one day every four years to the Clock's year + to make up for the odd hours the Sun had been spinning out + during the three years before. The odd day was added to the + month of February, and that year (in which there are three + hundred and sixty-six days) is called Leap Year.</p> + + <p>You remember the old saw—</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <span class="i0">"Thirty days hath September,<br /></span> + <span class="i0">April, June, and November;<br /></span> + <span class="i0">February hath twenty-eight alone,</span> + <span class="i0"><a name="Page_151" + id="Page_151"></a>All the rest have thirty-one;<br /></span> + <span class="i0"><i>Except in Leap Year, at which time</i><br /></span> + <span class="i0"><i>February's days are twenty-nine</i>."</span> + </div> + </div> + + <p>This is called the Old Style of reckoning.</p> + + <p>Now I dare say you think the matter was quite settled; but + it was not, unfortunately—the odd day every four years + was just a tiny little bit too much, and now the Clock was + spending more time over her years than the Sun. After more than + sixteen hundred years the small mistake was becoming serious, + and Pope Gregory XIII decided that we must not have so many + leap years. For the future, in every four hundred years, three + of the Clock's extra days must be given up, and ten days were + to be left out of count at once to make up for the mistakes of + years past.</p> + + <p>This change is what is called the New Style of Reckoning. + Pope Gregory began it in the year 1582, but we did not adopt it + in England till 1752, and as we had then nearly two hundred + years more of the little mistake to correct, <i>we</i> had to + leave <i>eleven</i> days out of count. In Russia, where our new + Princess comes from, they have not got it yet. The New Style + was begun in England on September the 2nd. The next day, + instead of being called September the 3rd, was called September + the 14th. Since then we have gone on quite steadily, and played + no more tricks with either the Sun's year or the Clock's + year.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_152" + id="Page_152"></a></p> + + <p>I wonder what happened in the year 1752 to all the children + whose birthdays came between September the 2nd and September + the 14th! I hope their birthday presents did not drop through + because his Majesty George the Second had let eleven birthdays + slip out of that year's calendar, to get the Clock and the Sun + to work comfortably together.</p> + + <p>Now I think you will be able to see that in the next year + after this change, May-day was kept eleven days earlier in the + Sun's year than the year before; and it has been at an earlier + season ever since, and therefore in colder weather. May-day in + the Old Style would have come this year about the middle of the + month; and as years rolled on it would have been kept later and + later in the summer, and thus in warmer and warmer weather, + because of that little mistake of Julius Cæsar. At last, + instead of complaining that the May is not out by May-day, + people would have had to complain that it was over.</p> + + <p>Now in the New Style we keep May-day almost in Spring, and, + thanks to Pope Gregory's clever arrangement, we shall always + keep it at the same season.</p> + + <p>It is not always cold on a May-day even in the north of + England. I have a vivid remembrance of at least one which was + most balmy; and, when they are warm enough for out-door + enjo<a name="Page_153" + id="Page_153"></a>yment, the early days of the year seem, + like the early hours of the day, to have an exquisite + freshness peculiarly their own. Then the month of May, as a + whole, is certainly the month of flowers in the woods and + fields. Autumn is the gayest season of the garden, but + Spring and early Summer give us the prettiest of the + wild-flowers.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Among the changing months May stands confest<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The sweetest, and in fairest colours drest."</span></div></div> + + <p>That fine weather is not quite to be relied upon for + May-day, even in the Old Style, some of the old May-day customs + seem to suggest. In the Isle of Man it was the custom not only + to have a "Queen of May," but also a "Queen of Winter." The May + Queen was, as elsewhere, some pretty and popular damsel, gaily + dressed, and with a retinue of maids of honour. The Winter + Queen was a man or boy dressed in woman's clothes of the + warmest kind—"woollen hood, fur tippet," &c. Fiddles + and flutes were played before the May Queen and her followers, + whilst the Queen of Winter and her troop marched to the sound + of the tongs and cleaver. The rival companies met on a common + and had a mock battle, symbolizing the struggle of Winter and + Summer for supremacy. If the Queen of Winter's forces contrived + to capture the Queen of May, her floral majesty had to be + ransomed by payment of the expenses of the day's festivity.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_154" + id="Page_154"></a></p> + + <p>Whether the Queen of Winter conquered in bad weather, and + her fairer rival when the season was warm and the flowers + abundant, we are not told.</p> + + <p>This ceremony was probably learnt from the Danes and + Norwegians, who were long masters of the Isle of Man. <i>Olaus + Magnus</i>, speaking of the May-day customs of the Goths and + Southern Swedes, says, "The captain of one band hath the name + and appearance of Winter, is clothed in skins of beasts, and he + and his band armed with fire-forks. They fling about ashes, by + way of prolonging the reign of Winter; while another band, + whose captain is called Florro, represents Spring, with green + boughs such as the season affords. These parties skirmish in + sport, and the mimic contest concludes with a general + feast."</p> + + <p>A few years ago in the Isle of Man the hillsides blazed with + bonfires and resounded to horns on the 11th of May (May-eve, + Old Style). "May flowers" were put at the doors of houses and + cattle-sheds, and these were not hawthorn blossoms, but the + flowers of the kingcup, or marsh marigold. Crosses made of + sprays of mountain ash were worn the same night, and they, the + bonfires and May flowers, were reckoned charms against + "wizards, witches, enchanters, and mountain hags."</p> + + <p>At Helston, in Cornwall, May-day seems to have been known by + the name of <a name="Page_155" + id="Page_155"></a>Furry Day. Perhaps a corruption of + "Flora's Day." People wore hawthorn in their hats, and + danced hand-in-hand through the town to the sound of a + fiddle. This particular performance was known as a + "faddy."</p> + + <p>It is probable that some of our May-day customs came from + the Romans, who kept the festival of Flora, the goddess of + flowers, at this season. Others, perhaps, have a different, if + not an older source. One custom was certainly common to both + nations. When the feast of Flora was celebrated, the young + Romans went into the woods and brought back green boughs with + which they decked the houses.</p> + + <p>To "go a-Maying" is in fact the principal ceremony of the + day wherever kept, and for whatever reason. In the north of + England children and young folk "were wont to rise a little + after midnight on the morning of May-day, and walk to some + neighbouring wood accompanied with music and the blowing of + horns, where they broke down branches from the trees, and + adorned them with nosegays and crowns of flowers. This done, + they returned homewards with their booty about the time of + sunrise, and made their doors and windows triumph in the + flowery spoil." Stubbs, in the <i>Anatomie of Abuses</i> + (<span class="smcap">A.D.</span> 1585), speaks of this custom + as common to "every parish, town, and village." The churches, + as well as the houses, seem in some places to have been dressed + with flowers and greenery.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_156" + id="Page_156"></a></p> + + <p>In an old MS. of the sixteenth century it is said that on + the feast of SS. Philip and James, the Eton boys were allowed + to go out at four o'clock in the morning to gather May to dress + their rooms, and sweet herbs to perfume them, "if they can do + it without wetting their feet!"</p> + + <p>Thirty or forty years ago May-day decorations, in some + country places, consisted of strewing the cottage doorsteps + with daisies, or other flowers.</p> + + <p>In Hertfordshire a curious custom obtained of decking the + neighbours' doors with May if they were popular, and with + nettles if they were the reverse.</p> + + <p>In Lancashire rustic wags put boughs of various trees at the + doors of the girls of the neighbourhood. Each tree had a + meaning (well known in the district), sometimes complimentary, + and sometimes the reverse.</p> + + <p>In France it was customary for lovers to deck over-night the + houses of the ladies they wished to please, and school-boys + paid a like compliment to their masters. They do not seem, + however, to have been satisfied with nosegays or even with + green branches; they transplanted young trees from the woods to + the side of the door they wished to honour, and then decked + them with ribbons, &c. There is a curious record that + "Henry II., wishing to recompense the clerks of Bazoche for + th<a name="Page_157" + id="Page_157"></a>eir good services in quelling an + insurrection in Guienne, offered them money; but they would + only accept the permission granted them by the king, of + cutting in the royal woods such trees as they might choose + for the planting of the May—a privilege which existed + at the commencement of the French Revolution." In Cornwall, + too, it seems to have been the custom to plant "stumps of + trees" before the houses, as well as to decorate them with + boughs and blossoms. And Mr. Aubrey (1686) says, "At + Woodstock in Oxon they every May-eve goe into the parke, and + fetch away a number of haw-thorne-trees, which they set + before their dores; 'tis a pity that they make such a + destruction of so fine a tree."</p> + + <p>One certainly agrees with Mr. Aubrey. Thorns are slow to + grow, hard to transplant, and very lovely when they are old. It + is not to be regretted that such ruthless destruction of them + has gone out of fashion.</p> + + <p>In Ireland "tall slender trees" seem to have been set up + before the doors, as well as "a green bush, strewed over with + yellow flowers, which the meadows yield plentifully." A writer, + speaking of this in 1682, adds, "A stranger would go nigh to + imagine that they were all signs of ale-sellers, and that all + houses were ale-houses," referring to the old custom of a bunch + of green as the sign of an inn, whi<a name="Page_158" + id="Page_158"></a>ch is illustrated by the proverb, "Good + wine needs no bush." I have an old etching of a river-side + inn, in which the sign is a garland hanging on a pole.</p> + + <p>I fancy the yellow flowers must have been cowslips, which + the green fields of Erin do indeed "yield plentifully."</p> + + <p>Besides these private May-trees, every village had its + common Maypole, gaily adorned with wreaths and flags and + ribbons, and sometimes painted in spiral lines of colour. The + Welsh Maypoles seem to have been made from birch-trees, elms + were used in Cornwall, and young oaks in other parts of + England. Round these Maypoles the young villagers danced, and + green booths were often set up on the grass near them.</p> + + <p>In many villages the Maypole was as much a fixture as the + parish stocks, but when a new one was required, it was brought + home on May-eve in grand procession with songs and instrumental + music. I am afraid there is a good deal of evidence to show + that the Maypoles were not always honestly come by! However, + the Puritan writers (from whose bitter and detailed complaints + we learn most of what we know about the early English May-day + customs) are certainly prejudiced, and perhaps not quite + trustworthy witnesses. One good man groans lamentably: "What + adoe make our young men at the<a name="Page_159" + id="Page_159"></a> time of May? Do they not use night + watchings to rob and steale young trees out of other men's + grounde, and bring them into their parishe, with minstrels + playing before?"</p> + + <p>But as the theft must have been committed with all the + publicity that a fixed day, a large crowd, and a full band + could ensure, and as we seem to have no record of interference + at the time, or prosecutions afterwards, I hope we may infer + that the owners of the woods did not grudge one tree for the + village Maypole. A quainter vengeance seems to have sometimes + followed the trespass. Honesty was at a discount. What had been + once stolen was liable to be re-stolen. There seems to have + been great rivalry among the villages as to which had the best + Maypole. The happy parish which could boast the finest was not + left at ease in its supremacy, for the lads of the other + villages were always on the watch to steal it. A record of this + custom amongst the Welsh reminds one that Wales was at once the + land of bards and the home of Taffy the Thief. "If successful," + says Owen, speaking of these Maypole robbers, they "had their + feats recorded in songs."</p> + + <p>In old times oxen were commonly used for farmwork, and it + seems that they had their share in the May fun. Another Puritan + writer says, "They have twentie or fortie yoke of oxen, every + oxe having a sweete nosegaie of flowers tyed on the tippe of + his hornes, and these oxen draw home this Maie poole."</p> + + <p><a name="Page_160" + id="Page_160"></a></p> + + <p>How well one can imagine their slow swinging pace, unmoved + by the shouts and music which would stir a horse's more + delicate nerves! Their broad moist noses; their large, liquid + eyes, and, doubtless, a certain sense of pride in their "sweet + nosegaies," like the pride of the Beast of a Regiment in his + badge.</p> + + <p>Horses, too, came in for their share of May decorations. It + was an old custom to give the waggoner a ribbon for his team at + every inn he passed on May-day.</p> + + <p>In the last century there was a fixed Maypole near + Horncastle, in Lincolnshire, to which the boys made a + pilgrimage in procession every May-day with May-gads in their + hands. May-gads are white willow wands, peeled, and dressed + with cowslips.</p> + + <p>There was a fixed Maypole in the Strand for many + years—or rather a succession of Maypoles. One, when only + four years old, was given to Sir Isaac Newton to make a stand + for his telescope, and another seems to have had a narrow + escape from being handed over to a less celebrated astronomer, + some years later.</p> + + <p>The wandering Maypole, with its Queen of the May and her + chimney-sweeps, is a modern compound of the village Maypole and + May Que<a name="Page_161" + id="Page_161"></a>en with the May games in which (as in the + Christmas festivities) morris-dancers played a part. The + May-day morris-dancers, like the Christmas mummers, + performed sword-dances and sang appropriate doggerels in + costume. The characters represented at one time or another + were Maid Marian or the May Queen, Robin Hood or Lord of the + May, Friar Tuck, Will Scarlet, Little John Stokesley, Tom + the Piper, Mad Moll and her Husband, Mutch, the Fool and the + Hobby Horse. Archery was amongst the May-day sports, + especially in the company of Robin Hood. The Summer King and + Queen were perhaps the oldest characters. They seem to be + identical with the Lord and Lady, and sometimes to have been + merged in Robin Hood and Maid Marian.</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <span class="i0">"Maid Marian fair as ivory bone,<br /></span> + <span class="i0">Scarlet, and Mutch, and Little John."</span></div></div> + + <p>The King and Queen of May are spoken of in the thirteenth + century, but morris-dancing at May-time does not seem to date + earlier than Henry VII., and is not so old a custom as the + immemorial one of going a-Maying</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <span class="i0">"To bring the summer home<br /></span> + <span class="i0">The summer and the May-O!"</span></div></div> + + <p>This was not confined to young people or to country-folk. + Chaucer says <a name="Page_162" + id="Page_162"></a>that on May-day early "fourth goth al the + court, both most and lest, to fetche the flowrès + fresh, and braunch, and blome," and Henry VIII. kept May-day + very orthodoxly in the early years of his reign.</p> + + <p>Milkmaids have been connected with May-day customs from an + early period. Perhaps because syllabub and cream were the + recognized dainties of the festival. In Northumberland a ring + used to be dropped into the syllabub and fished for with a + ladle. Whoever got it was to be the first married of the party. + An odd old custom in Suffolk suggests that the hawthorn was not + always ready even for the Old Style May-day. Any farm-servant + who could find a branch in full blossom might claim a dish of + cream for breakfast. The milkmaids who supplied London and + other places used to dress themselves gaily on May-day and go + round from house to house performing a dance, and receiving + gratuities from their customers. On their heads—instead + of a milk-pail—they carried a curious trophy, called the + "Milkmaids' Garland," made of silver or pewter jugs, cups, and + other pieces of plate, which they borrowed for the occasion, + and which shone out of a mass of greenery and flowers. Possibly + these were at first the pewter measures with which they served + out the milk. The music to which the milkmaids' dance was + performed, was the jangling of bells of d<a name="Page_163" + id="Page_163"></a>ifferent tones depending from a round + plate of brass mounted upon a Maydecked pole; but a bag-pipe + or fiddle was sometimes substituted.</p> + + <p>Cream, syllabub, and dainties compounded with milk, belong + in England to the May festival. In Germany there is a "May + drink" (said to be very nice) made by putting woodruff into + white Rhine wine, in the proportion of a handful to a quart. + Black currant, balm, or peppermint leaves are sometimes added, + and water and sugar.</p> + + <p>The milkmaids' place has been completely usurped by the + sweeps, who clatter a shovel and broom instead of the old plate + and bells, and who seem to have added the popular + Jack-in-the-green to the entertainment. Jack-in-the-green's + costume is very simple. A wicker-work frame of an extinguisher + shape, thickly covered with green, is supported by the man who + carries it, and who peeps through a hole left for the purpose. + May-day has become the Sweeps' Carnival. Mrs. Montague (whose + son is said to have been stolen for a sweep in his childhood, + and afterwards found) used to give the sweeps of London a good + dinner every May-day, on the lawn before her house in Portman + Square.</p> + + <p>Another May-day custom is that of the choristers assembling + at five o'clock in the morning on the top of the beautiful + tower of Magdale<a name="Page_164" + id="Page_164"></a>n College, Oxford, and ushering in the day + with singing. At the same time boys of the city armed with + tin trumpets, called "May-horns," assemble beneath the + tower, and contribute more sound than harmony to the + celebration. Let us hope that it is not strictly a part of + the old ceremony, but rather a minor manifestation of "Town + and Gown" feeling, that the town boys jeer the choristers, + and in return are pelted with rotten eggs. The origin of + this special Oxford custom is said to be a requiem which was + sung on the tower for the soul of Henry VII., founder of the + College. In the villages girls used to carry round + May-garlands. The party consisted of four children. Two + girls in white dresses and gay ribbons carried the garland, + and were followed by a boy and girl called "Lord and Lady," + linked together by a white handkerchief, of which each held + an end. The Lady carried the purse, and when she received a + donation the Lord doffed his cap and kissed her. They sang a + doggerel rhyme, and the form in which money was asked was, + "Please to handsel the Lord and Lady's purse."</p> + + <p>One cannot help thinking that some of our flowers, such as + Milkmaids, Lords and Ladies, and Jack-in-the-green Primrose, + bear traces of having got their common names at the great + flower festival of the year.</p> + + <p>In Cornwall boys carried<a name="Page_165" + id="Page_165"></a> the May-garland, which was adorned with + painted birds' eggs. Old custom gave these young rogues the + privilege of drenching with water from a bucket any one whom + they caught abroad on May-morning without a sprig of + May.</p> + + <p>Mr. Aubrey says (1686): "At Oxford, the boyes do blow cows' + horns all night; and on May-day the young maids of every parish + carry about their parish garlands of flowers, which afterwards + they hang up in their churches."</p> + + <p>A generation or more ago the little boys of Oxford used to + blow horns early on May-day—as they said—"to call + up the old maids." There was once a custom in Lynn for the + workhouse children to be allowed to go out with horns and + garlands every May-day, after which a certain worthy gentleman + gave them a good dinner.</p> + + <p>In Cambridgeshire, within the present century, the children + had a doll dressed as the "May Lady," before which they set a + table with wine and food on it; they also begged money and + garlands for "the poor May Lady."</p> + + <p>There are some quaint superstitions connected with May-day + and May-blossom. To bathe the face in the dew of a May morning + was reckoned an infallible recipe for a good complexion. A bath + of May dew was also supposed to strengthen weakly children. + Girls divined for dreams of <a name="Page_166" + id="Page_166"></a>their future husbands with a sprig of + hawthorn gathered before dusk on May-eve, and carried home + in the mouth without speaking. Hawthorn rods were used at + all seasons of the year to divine for water and minerals. + Bunches of May fastened against houses were supposed to keep + away witches and venomous reptiles, and to bring prosperity + in various shapes.</p> + + <p>The Irish of the neighbourhood of Killarney have a pretty + superstition that on May-day the O'Donoghue, a popular prince + of by-gone days, returns from the land of Immortal Youth + beneath the water to bless the country over which he once + ruled.</p> + + <p>Some curious customs among the Scotch Highlanders (who call + May 1st <i>Beltan</i> Day) have nothing in common with our + Green Festival except as celebrating the Spring. They seem to + be the remains of very ancient heathen sacrifices to Baal. They + were performed by the herdsmen of the district, and included an + open-air feast of cakes and custard, to which every one + contributed, and which was cooked upon a fire on a turf left in + the centre of a square trench which had been dug for the + purpose. Some custard was poured out by way of libation. Every + one then took a cake of oatmeal, on which nine knobs had been + pinched up before baking, and turning his face to the fire + threw the knobs over his shoulder, some as offerings to the + supposed guardians of <a name="Page_167" + id="Page_167"></a>the flock, and the rest in propitiation of + beasts and birds of prey, with the form "This to thee, O + Fox! spare my lambs! This to thee, O hooded Crow!" &c. + In some places the boys of the hamlet met on the moors for a + similar feast, but the turf table was round, and the oatcake + divided into bits, one of which was blackened with charcoal. + These being drawn from a bonnet, the holder of the black bit + was held <i>devoted</i> to Baal, and had to leap three times + over the bonfire.</p> + + <p>I do not know of any children's games that were peculiar to + May-day. In France they had a May-day game called + <i>Sans-vert</i>. Those who played had to wear leaves of the + hornbeam-tree, and these were to be kept fresh, under penalty + of a fine. The chief object of the players was to surprise each + other without the proper leaves, or with faded specimens.</p> + + <p>A stupid old English custom of making fools of your friends + on the 1st of May as well as on the 1st of April hardly + deserves the title of a game. The victims were called "May + goslings."</p> + + <p>One certainly would not expect to meet with anything like + "Aunt Sally" among May-day games, especially with the "May + Lady" for butt! But not the least curious part of a very + curious account of May-day in Huntingdonshire, which was sent + to <i>Notes and Queries</i> some years ago, is the pelting of + the May Lady as a final cere<a name="Page_168" + id="Page_168"></a>mony of the festival. The May-garlands + carried round in Huntingdonshire villages appear to have + been more like the "milkmaids' garland" than genuine + wreaths. They were four to five feet high, + extinguisher-shaped, with every kind of spring flower in the + apex, and with ribbons and gay kerchiefs hanging down from + the base, by the round rim of which the garland was carried; + the flower-peak towering above, and the gay streamers + depending below. Against this erection (not unlike the + "mistletoe boughs" of the North of England) was fastened a + gaily-dressed doll. The bearers were two little girls, who + acted as maids of honour to the May Queen. Mr. Cuthbert Bede + describes her Majesty as he saw her twenty years ago. She + wore a white frock, and a bonnet with a white veil. A wreath + of real flowers lay on the bonnet. She carried a + pocket-handkerchief bag and a parasol (the latter being + regarded as a special mark of dignity). An "Odd Fellows'" + ribbon and badge completed her costume. The maids of honour + bore the garland after her, whose peak was crowned with + "tulips, anemones, cowslips, kingcups, meadow-orchis, + wall-flower, primrose, crown-imperial, lilac, laburnum," and + "other bright flowers." Votive offerings were dropped into + the pocket-handkerchief bag, and with these a feast was + provided for the children. If the gifts had been liberal, + "goodies" were proportionately plentif<a name="Page_169" + id="Page_169"></a>ul. Finally, the May-garland was suspended + from a rope hung across the village street, and the children + pelted the May-doll with balls provided for the occasion. + Their chief aim was to hit her nose.</p> + + <p>Another correspondent of <i>Notes and Queries</i> speaks of + ropes with dolls suspended from them as being stretched across + every village street in Huntingdonshire on May-day, and adds, + that not only ribbons and flowers were attached to these + swinging May Ladies, but articles of every description, + including "candlesticks, snuffers, spoons, and forks."</p> + + <p>There are no May carols rivalling those of Christmas, and + the verses which children sing with their garlands are very + bald as a rule.</p> + + <p>A Maypole song of the Gloucestershire children would do very + well to dance to—</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <span class="i0">"Round the Maypole, trit-trit-trot!<br /></span> + <span class="i0">See what a Maypole we have got;<br /></span> + <span class="i4">Fine and gay,<br /></span> + <span class="i4">Trip away,<br /></span> + <span class="i0">Happy is our New May-day."</span> +</div></div> + + <p>I have read of a pretty old Italian custom for the friends + of prisoners to assemble outside the prison walls on May-day + and join with them in songs. They are also said to have + permission to have a May-day feast with them.</p> + + <p>Under all its various shapes, and howev<a name="Page_170" + id="Page_170"></a>er adapted to the service of particular + heathen deities, or to very rude social festivity, the root + of the May-day festival lies in the expression of feelings + both natural and right. Thankfulness for the return of + Spring, anxiety for the coming harvests of the fruits of the + earth, and that sense of exhilaration and hopefulness which + the most exquisite of seasons naturally brings—brings + more strongly perhaps in the youth of a nation, in those + earlier stages of civilization when men are very dependent + upon the weather, and upon the produce of their own + particular neighbourhood—brings most strongly of all + to one's own youth, to the light heart, the industrious + fancy, the uncorrupted taste of childhood.</p> + + <p>May-day seems to me so essentially a children's festival, + that I think it is a great pity that English children should + allow it to fall into disuse. One certainly does not love + flowers less as one grows up, but they are more like persons, + and their ways are more mysterious to one in childhood. The + cares of grown-up life, too, are not of the kind from which we + can easily get a whole holiday. We should do well to try + oftener than we do. Wreaths do not become us, and we have + allowed our joints to grow too stiff for Maypole dancing. But + we who used to sigh for whole holidays can give them! We can + prepare the cakes and cream, <a name="Page_171" + id="Page_171"></a>and provide ribbons for the Maypole, and + show how garlands were made in our young days. We are very + grateful for wild-flowers for the drawing-room. To say the + truth, they last longer with us than with the children, and + perhaps we combine the delicate hues of spring, and lighten + our nosegays by grass and sword-flags and rushes with more + cunning fingers than those of the little ones who gathered + them.</p> + + <p>For these is reserved the real bloom of May-day! And the + orthodox customs are so various, that families of any size or + age may pick and choose. One brother and sister can be Lord and + Lady of the May. One sister among many brothers must be May + Queen without opposition. Those of the party most apt to catch + cold in the treacherous sunshine and damp winds of spring + should certainly represent the Winter Queen and her attendants, + in the warmest possible clothing and the thickest of boots. The + morning air will then probably only do them a great deal of + good. It is not desirable to dig up the hawthorn-trees, or to + try to do so, even with wooden spades. The votive offering of + flowers for her drawing-room should undoubtedly await Mamma + when she comes down to breakfast, and I heartily wish her as + abundant a variety as Mr. Cuthbert Bede saw on the + Huntingdonshire garland. That Nurse should have a bunch of May + is only her due; and of course the<a name="Page_172" + id="Page_172"></a> nursery must be decorated. Long strips of + coloured calico form good ribbons for the Maypole. Bows and + arrows are easily made. It is also easy to cut one's fingers + in notching the arrows. When you are tired of dancing, you + can be Robin Hood's merry men, and shoot. When all the + arrows are lost, and you have begun to quarrel about the + target, it will be well to hang up an old doll and throw + balls at her nose. Dressing-up is, at any time, a delightful + amusement, and there is a large choice among May-day + characters. No wardrobe can fail to provide the perfectly + optional costumes of Mad Moll and her husband. There are + generally some children who never will learn their parts, + and who go astray from every pre-arranged plan. By any two + such the last-named characters should be represented. In + these, as in all children's games, "the more the merrier"; + and as there is no limit to the number of sweeps, the + largest of families may revel in burnt cork, even if + dust-pans in proportion fail. If a bonfire is more + appropriate to the weather than a Maypole, we have the + comfort of feeling that it is equally correct.</p> + + <p>It is hardly needful to impress upon the boys what vigour + the blowing of horns and penny trumpets will impart to the + ceremonies; but they may require to be reminded that Eton men + in old days were only allowed to go a-Maying on condition that + they did not wet their feet!</p> + + <p><a name="Page_173" + id="Page_173"></a></p> + + <p>Above all, out-door May Fun is no fun unless the weather is + fine; and I hope this little paper will show that if the 1st of + May is chilly, and the flowers are backward, nothing can be + more proper than to keep our feast on the 12th of + May—<i>May-day, Old Style</i>. If the Clerk of the + Weather Office is unkind on both these days, give up out-door + fun at once, and prepare for a fancy-ball in the nursery; all + the guests to be dressed as May-day characters. Garland-making + and country expeditions can then be deferred till + Midsummer-day. It is not <i>very</i> long to wait, and penny + trumpets do not spoil with keeping.</p> + + <p>But do not be defrauded of at least one early ramble in the + woods and fields. It is well, in the impressionable season of + life, to realize, if only occasionally, how much of the + sweetest air, the brightest and best hours of the day, people + spend in bed. Any one who goes out every day before breakfast + knows how very seldom he is kept in by bad weather. For one day + when it rains very early there are three or four when it rains + later. But we wait till the world has got dirty, and the air + full of the smoke of thousands of breakfasts, and clouds are + beginning to gather, and then we say England has a horrible + climate. I do not believe in many quack medical prescriptions, + but I have the firmest faith in May dew as a + wash<a name="Page_174" + id="Page_174"></a> for the complexion. Any morning dew is + nearly as efficacious if it is gathered in warm clothes, + thick boots, and at a sufficient distance from home.</p> + + <p>There are some households in which there are no children, + and there are some in which the good things of this life are + very abundant. To these it may not be very impertinent to + suggest a remembrance of the old alderman of Lynn's kindly + benefaction. To beg leave for the children of the workhouse to + gather May-day nosegays for you, and to give them a May feast + afterwards, would be to give pleasure of a kind in which such + unhomely lives are most deficient. A country ramble "with an + object," and the grace-in-memory of a traditionary holiday and + feast, shared in common with many homes and with other + children.</p> + + <p>To go a-Maying "to fetche the flowrès fresh" is + indeed the best part of the whole affair.</p> + + <p>But, when the sunny bank under the hedge is pale with + primroses, when dog-violets spread a mauve carpet over + clearings in the little wood, if cowslips be plentiful though + oxslips are few, and rare orchids bless the bogs of our + locality, pushing strange insect heads, through beds of + <i>Drosera</i> bathed in perpetual dew—then, dear + children, restrain the natural impulse to grub everything up + and take the whole flora of the neighbourhood home in your + pinafores. In the first place, you can't. In the + secon<a name="Page_175" + id="Page_175"></a>d place, it would be very hard on other + people if you could. Cull skilfully, tenderly, unselfishly, + and remember what my mother used to say to me and my + brothers and sisters when we were "collecting" anything, + from fresh-water algæ to violet roots for our very own + gardens, "<i>Leave some for the Naiads and Dryads</i>."</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <h2><a name="IN_MEMORIUM_MARGARET_GATTY" + id="IN_MEMORIUM_MARGARET_GATTY"></a>IN MEMORIUM, MARGARET + GATTY</h2> + + <p><a name="Page_176" + id="Page_176"></a></p> + + <p><a name="Page_177" + id="Page_177"></a></p> + + <div class="figcenter"><img src="images/177.gif" + alt="(In Memorium card)" /></div> + <br /><br /> + <p>My mother became editor of <i>Aunt Judy's Magazine</i> in + May 1866. It was named after one of her most popular + books—<i>Aunt Judy's Tales</i>; and Aunt Judy became a + name for herself with her numerous child-correspondents.</p> + + <p>The ordinary work of editorship was heavily increased by her + kindness to tyro authors, and to children in want of + everything, from advice on a life-vocation to old foreign + postage stamps. No consideration of the value of her own time + could induce her to deal summarily with what <a name="Page_178" + id="Page_178"></a>one may call her magazine children, and + her correspondents were of all ages and acquirements, from + nursery aspirants barely beyond pothooks to such writers as + the author of <i>A Family Man for Six Days</i>, and other + charming Australian reminiscences, who still calls her his + "literary godmother."</p> + + <p>The peculiar relation in which she stood to so many of the + readers of <i>Aunt Judy</i> has been urged upon me as a reason + for telling them something more about her than that she is dead + and gone, especially as by her peremptory wish no larger record + of her life will ever be made public. I need hardly disclaim + any thought of expressing an opinion on her natural powers, or + the value of those labours from which she rests; but whatever + of good there was in them she devoted with real affectionate + interest to the service of a much larger circle of children + than of those who now stand desolate before her empty chair. + And those whom she has so long taught have, perhaps, some claim + upon the lessons of her good example.</p> + + <p>Most well-loved pursuits, perhaps most good habits of our + lives, owe their origin to our being stirred at one time or + another to the imitation of some one better, or better gifted + than ourselves. We can remember dates at which we began to copy + what our present friends may fancy to be innate peculiarities + of our own character. The co<a name="Page_179" + id="Page_179"></a>nviction of this truth, and of the strong + influence which little details of lives we admire have in + forming our characters in childhood, persuade me to the hard + task of writing at all of my dear mother, and guide me in + choosing those of the things that we remember about her + which may help her magazine children on matters about which + they have oftenest asked her counsel.</p> + + <p>Many of her own innumerable hobbies had such origins, I + know. The influence of German literature on some of her + writings is very obvious, and this most favourite study sprang + chiefly from a very early fit of hero-worship for Elizabeth + Smith, whose precocious and unusual acquirements she was + stirred to emulate, and whose enthusiasm for Klopstock she + caught. The fly-leaf of her copy of the Smith <i>Remains</i> + bears (in her handwriting) the date 1820, with her name as Meta + Scott; a form of her own Christian name which she probably + adopted in honour of Margaretta—or Meta—Klopstock, + and by which she was well known to friends of her youth.</p> + + <p>She often told us, too, of the origin of another of her + accomplishments. She was an exquisite caligraphist. Not only + did she write the most beautiful and legible of handwritings, + but, long before illuminating was "fashionable," she + illuminated on vellum; not by filling up printed texts or + copying ornamental letters from handbooks of the + art<a name="Page_180" + id="Page_180"></a>, but in valiant emulation of ancient + MSS.; designing her own initial letters, with all varieties + of characters, with "strawberry" borders, and gold raised + and burnished as in the old models. I do not know when she + first saw specimens of the old illuminations, for which she + had always the deepest admiration, but it was in a Dante + fever that she had resolved to write beautifully, because + fine penmanship had been among the accomplishments of the + great Italian poet. How well she succeeded her friends and + her printers knew to their comfort! To Dante she dedicated + some of her best efforts in this art. In 1826, when she was + seventeen, she began to translate the <i>Inferno</i> into + English verse. She made fair copies of each canto in + exquisite writing, and dedicated them to various friends on + covers which she illuminated. The most highly-finished was + that dedicated to an old friend, Lord Tyrconnel, and the + only plain one was the one dedicated to another friend, Sir + Thomas Lawrence. The dedication was written in fine long + characters, but there was no painting on the cover of the + canto dedicated to the painter.</p> + + <p>I do not know at what date my mother began to etch on + copper. It was a very favourite pursuit through many years of + her life, both before and after her marriage. She never + sketched much in colour, but her pencil-drawings are amongst + the most valuable legacies she has left us. + Tre<a name="Page_181" + id="Page_181"></a>es were her favourite subjects. One of her + most beautiful drawings in my possession is of a tree, + marked to fall, beneath which she wrote:</p> + + <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> + <span class="i0">"Das ist das Loos des Schönen auf der + Erde."<a name="FNanchor_2_2" + id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" + class="fnanchor">[2]</a></span> + </div></div> + + <p>Of another talent nothing now remains to us but her old + music-books and memories of long evenings when she played Weber + and Mozart.</p> + + <p>But to a large circle of friends, most of whom have gone + before her, she was best known as a naturalist in the special + department of phycology. She has left a fine collection of + British and foreign sea-weeds and zoophytes. Never permitted + the privilege of foreign travel—for which she so often + longed—her sea-spoils have been gathered from all shores + by those who loved her; and there are sea-weeds yet in press + sent by <i>Aunt Judy</i> friends from Tasmania, which gave + pleasure to the last days of her life. She did so keenly enjoy + everything at which she worked that it is difficult to say in + which of her hobbies she found most happiness; but I am + disposed to give her natural history pursuits the palm.</p> + + <p>Natural history brought her some of her dearest friends. Dr. + Johnston, of Berwick-on-Tweed, to whom she dedicated the first + volume of the <i>Parables from Nature</i>, was one of these; + a<a name="Page_182" + id="Page_182"></a>nd with Dr. Harvey (author of the + <i>Phycologia Britannica</i>, &c.) she corresponded for + ten years before they met. Like herself, he combined a + playful and poetical fancy with the scientific faculty, and + they had sympathy together in the distinctive character of + their religious belief, and in the worship of + <span class="smcap">God</span> in His works. But these, and + many others, have "gone before."</p> + + <p>One of her "collections" was an unusual one. Through nearly + forty years she collected the mottoes on old sun-dials, and + made sketches of the dials themselves. In this also she had + many helpers, and the collection, which had swelled to about + four hundred, was published last year. Amateur bookbinding and + mowing were among the more eccentric of her hobbies. With the + latter she infected Mr. Tennyson, and sent him a light Scotch + scythe like her own.</p> + + <p>The secret of her success and of her happiness in her + labours was her thoroughness. It was a family joke that in the + garden she was never satisfied to dabble in her flower-beds + like other people, but would always clear out what she called + "the Irish corners," and attack bits of waste or neglected + ground from which everybody else shrank. And amongst our + neighbours in the village, those with whom, day after day, time + after time, she would plead "the Lord's controversy," were + those with whom every one else had failed. Some old village + would-be s<a name="Page_183" + id="Page_183"></a>ceptic, half shame-faced, half conceited, + who had not prayed for half a lifetime, or been inside a + church except at funerals; careworn mothers fossilized in + the long neglect, of religious duties; sinners whom every + one else thought hopeless, and who most-of all counted + themselves so—if <span class="smcap">God</span> indeed + permits us hereafter to bless those who led us to Him here, + how many of these will rise up and call her blessed!</p> + + <p>Her strong powers of sympathy were not confined to human + beings alone. A more devoted lover of "beasts" can hardly + exist. The household pets were about her to the end; and she + only laughed when the dogs stole the bread and butter from her + helpless hands.</p> + + <p>Her long illness, perhaps, did less to teach us to do + without her, than long illnesses commonly do; because her + sick-room was so little like a sick-room, and her interests + never narrowed to the fretful circle of mere invalid fears and + fancies. The strong sense of humour, which never left her, + helped her through many a petty annoyance; and to the last she + kept one of her most striking qualities, so well described by + Trench—</p> + + <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> + <span class="i0">—— "a child's pure delight in little things."</span> + </div></div> + + <p>Whatever interest this little record of some of my mother's + tastes and acquirements may have for her young readers, its + value must be in her example.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_184" + id="Page_184"></a></p> + + <p>Whatever genius she may have had, her industry was far more + remarkable. The pen of a ready writer is not grasped by all + fingers, and gifts are gifts, not earnings. But to cultivate + the faculties <span class="smcap">God</span> has given us to + His glory, to lose petty cares, ignoble pleasures, and small + grievances, in the joy of studying His great works, to be good + to His creatures, to be truthful beyond fear or flattery, to be + pure of heart and tongue far beyond the common, to keep up an + honest, zealous war with wickedness, and never to lose heart or + hope for wicked men—these things are within the power as + well as the ambition of us all.</p> + + <p>I must point out to some of the young aspirants after her + literary fame, that though the date in Elizabeth Smith's + <i>Remains</i> shows my mother to have been only eleven years + old when she got it, and though she worked and studied + indefatigably all her girlhood, her first original work was not + published till she was forty-two years old.</p> + + <p>Of the lessons of her long years of suffering I cannot + speak. A form of paralysis which left her brain as vigorous as + ever, stole the cunning from her hand, and the use of her limbs + and voice, through ten years of pain and privation, in which + she made a willing sacrifice of her powers to the will of + <span class="smcap">God</span>.</p> + + <p>If some of her magazine c<a name="Page_185" + id="Page_185"></a>hildren who enjoy "advantages" she never + had, who visit places and see sights for which she longed in + vain, and who are spared the cross she bore so patiently, + are helped by this short record of their old friend, it may + somewhat repay the pain it has cost in writing.</p> + + <p>Trench's fine sonnet was a great favourite of my + mother's—</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <span class="i0">"To leave unseen so many a glorious + sight,<br /></span> <span class="i0">To leave so many + lands unvisited,<br /></span> <span class="i0">To leave + so many books unread,<br /></span> + <span class="i0">Unrealized so many visions + bright;—<br /></span> <span class="i0">Oh! + wretched yet inevitable spite<br /></span> + <span class="i0">Of our short span, and we must yield + our breath,<br /></span> <span class="i0">And wrap us + in the unfeeling coil of death,<br /></span> + <span class="i0">So much remaining of unproved + delight,<br /></span> <span class="i0">But hush, my + soul, and vain regrets be still'd;<br /></span> + <span class="i0">Find rest in Him Who is the + complement<br /></span> <span class="i0">Of whatsoe'er + transcends our mortal doom,<br /></span> + <span class="i0">Of broken hope and frustrated + intent;<br /></span> <span class="i0">In the clear + vision and aspect of Whom<br /></span> + <span class="i0">All wishes and all longings are + fulfill'd."<br /></span> + </div> + </div> + + <p><a name="Page_186" + id="Page_186"></a></p> + + <p><a name="Page_187" + id="Page_187"></a></p> + + <div class="footnotes"> + <h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + + <div class="footnote"> + <p><a name="Footnote_2_2" + id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label"> + [2]</span></a> "Such is the lost of the beautiful upon + earth."—<i>Wallenstein's Tod</i>.</p> + </div> + </div> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <h2><a name="TALES_OF_THE_KHOJA" + id="TALES_OF_THE_KHOJA"></a>TALES OF THE + KHOJA.<a name="FNanchor_3_3" + id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" + class="fnanchor">[3]</a></h2> + + <p>(<i>Adapted from the Turkish.</i>)</p> + + <p>INTRODUCTION.</p> + + <p>"O my children!" said the story-teller, "do you indeed + desire amusement by the words of my lips? Then shut your + mouths, that the noise you make may be abated, and I may hear + myself speak; and open your ears, that you may be entertained + by the tales that I shall tell you. Shut your mouths and open + your ears, I say, and you will, without doubt, receive pleasure + from what I shall have to relate of Khoja + Nasr-ed-Deen-Effendi.</p> + + <p>"This Khoja was not altogether a wise man, nor precisely a + fool, nor entirely a knave.</p> + + <p>"It is true, O children, that his wisdom was flecked with + folly, but what saith the proverb? 'No one so wise but he has + som<a name="Page_188" + id="Page_188"></a>e folly to spare.' Moreover, in his + foolishness there was often a hidden meaning, as a letter is + hid in a basket of dates—not for every eye.</p> + + <p>"As to his knaveries, they were few, and more humorous than + injurious. Though be it far from me, O children, as a man of + years and probity, to defend the conduct of the Khoja to the + Jew money-lender.</p> + + <p>"What about the Jew money-lender, do you ask?</p> + + <p>"This is the tale."</p> + <br /> + <p><i>Tale</i> 1.—<span class="smcap">The Khoja and the + Nine Hundred and Ninety-nine Pieces of Gold.</span></p> + + <p>This Khoja was very poor.</p> + + <p>One day, wishing for a piece of gold, he corrected himself, + saying: "It costs no more to wish for a thousand pieces than + for one. I wish for a thousand gold pieces."</p> + + <p>And he repeated aloud—"I wish for a thousand pieces of + gold. <i>I would not accept one less.</i>"</p> + + <p>Now it so happened that he was overheard by a certain + covetous Jew money-lender. This man was of a malicious + disposition; and the poverty of the Khoja was a satisfaction to + him. When he heard what the Khoja said he chuckled to himself, + saying, "Truly this Khoja is a funny <a name="Page_189" + id="Page_189"></a>fellow, and it would be a droll thing to + see him refuse nine hundred and ninety-nine pieces of gold. + For without doubt he would keep his word."</p> + + <p>And as he spoke, the Jew put nine hundred and ninety-nine + gold pieces into a purse, and dropped the purse down the + Khoja's chimney, with the intention of giving him + annoyance.</p> + + <p>The Khoja picked up the purse and opened it.</p> + + <p>"Allah be praised!" he cried, "for the fulfilment of my + desires. Here are the thousand pieces."</p> + + <p>Meanwhile the Jew was listening at the chimney-top, and he + heard the Khoja begin to count the coins. When he got to the + nine hundred and ninety-ninth, and had satisfied himself that + there was not another, he paused, and the Jew merchant held his + breath.</p> + + <p>At last the Khoja spoke.</p> + + <p>"O my soul!" said he, "is it decent to spit in the face of + good fortune for the sake of one gold piece in a thousand? + Without doubt it is an oversight, and he who sent these will + send the missing one also." Saying which, the Khoja put the + money into his sash and sat down to smoke.</p> + + <p>The Jew now became fidgety, and he hastened down to the + Khoja's door, at which he knocked, and entering, said, + "Good-day, Khoja Effendi. May I ask you to be good enough to + restore to me my nine hundred and ninety-nine gold pieces?"</p> + + <p><a name="Page_190" + id="Page_190"></a></p> + + <p>"Are you mad, O Jew money-lender?" replied the Khoja. "Is it + likely that you would throw gold down my chimney? These pieces + fell from heaven in fulfilment of my lawful desires."</p> + + <p>"O my soul, Khoja!" cried the Jew, "I did it, indeed! It was + a jest, O Khoja! You said, 'I will not take one less than a + thousand,' wherefore I put nine hundred and ninety-nine pieces + in the purse, and it was for a joke."</p> + + <p>"I do not see the joke," said the Khoja, "but I have + accepted the gold pieces." And he went on smoking.</p> + + <p>The Jew money-lender now became desperate.</p> + + <p>"Let us go to the magistrate," he cried. "The Cadi Effendi + shall decide between us."</p> + + <p>"It is well said," replied the Khoja. "But it would not + beseem a Khoja like myself to go through the public streets to + the court on foot; and I am poor, and have no mule."</p> + + <p>"O my soul!" said the Jew, "let not that trouble you. I will + send and fetch one of my mules."</p> + + <p>But when the mule was at the door, the Khoja said: "Is it + fitting, O money-lender, that a Khoja like myself should appear + in these rags before a Cadi Effendi? But I am poor, and have no + suitable dress."</p> + + <p>"Let not that be a h<a name="Page_191" + id="Page_191"></a>indrance, O Khoja!" said the Jew. "For I + have a pelisse made of the most beautiful fur, which I will + send for without delay."</p> + + <p>In due time this arrived, and, richly clothed, the Khoja + rode through the streets with a serene countenance, the Jew + money-lender running after him in the greatest anxiety.</p> + + <p>When they came before the Cadi, the Jew prostrated himself, + and cried in piteous tones, "Help, O most noble Dispenser of + Justice! This Khoja has stolen from me nine hundred and + ninety-nine pieces of gold—and now he denies it."</p> + + <p>Then the Cadi turned to the Khoja, who said: "O Cadi + Effendi, I did indeed earnestly desire a thousand pieces of + gold, and this purse came to me in fulfilment of my wishes. But + when I counted the pieces I found one short. Then I said, 'The + bountiful giver of these will certainly send the other also.' + So I accepted what was given to me. But in this Jew + money-lender is the spirit of covetousness. For half a + farthing, O Cadi, he would, without doubt, lay claim to the + beast I ride, or to the coat on my back."</p> + + <p>"O my soul!" screamed the Jew. "It is indeed true that they + are mine. The mule and the fur pelisse belong to me, O + Cadi!"</p> + + <p>"O you covetous rascal!" <a name="Page_192" + id="Page_192"></a>said the Cadi, "you will lay claim to my + turban next, or to the Sultan's horses." And he commanded + the Jew to be driven from his presence.</p> + + <p>But the Khoja rode home again, and—he accepted the + mule and the fur pelisse, as well as the nine hundred and + ninety-nine pieces of gold.</p> + <br /> + <p><i>Tale</i> 2.—<span class="smcap">The Khoja at the + Marriage Feast.</span></p> + + <p>On the following day Khoja Effendi went to a marriage feast, + dressed in his old clothes.</p> + + <p>His appearance was indeed very shabby, and the attendants + were almost disposed to refuse him admission, but he slipped in + whilst honours and compliments were being paid on the arrival + of some grander guests. Even those who knew him well were so + much ashamed of his dress as to be glad to look another way to + avoid saluting him.</p> + + <p>All this was quickly observed by the Khoja, and after a few + moments (during which no one asked him to be seated) he slipped + out and ran home, where he put on the splendid fur pelisse + which he had accepted from the Jew money-lender, and so + returned to the door of the house of feasting.</p> + + <p>Seeing a guest so richly apparelled draw near, the servants + ran out to meet him with all signs of respect, and the master + of the fea<a name="Page_193" + id="Page_193"></a>st came out also to meet him with other + guests, saluting him and saying, "Welcome, O most learned + Khoja!" And all who knew him saluted him in like manner, and + secretly blessed themselves that his acquaintance did them + credit.</p> + + <p>But the Khoja looked neither to the right hand nor to the + left, and he made no reply.</p> + + <p>Then they led him to the upper end of the table, crying, + "Please to be seated, Khoja Effendi!"</p> + + <p>Whereupon the Khoja seated himself, but he did not speak, + and the guests stood round him, waiting to hear what should + fall from his lips.</p> + + <p>And when the Khoja had been served with food, he took hold + of the sleeve of his pelisse and pulled it towards the dish, + saying, in a tone of respect, "O most worthy and honourable + pelisse! be good enough to partake of this dish. In the name of + the Prophet I beseech you do not refuse to taste what has been + hospitably provided."</p> + + <p>"What is this, Khoja?" cried the people, "and what do you + mean by offering food to a fur pelisse that can neither hear + nor eat?"</p> + + <p>"O most courteous entertainers!" replied the Khoja, "since + the pelisse has commanded such respect at your hands, is it not + proper that it should also partake of the food?"</p> + + <p><a name="Page_194" + id="Page_194"></a></p> + <br /> + <p><i>Tale</i> 3.—<span class="smcap">The Khoja's + Slippers.</span></p> + + <p>One day, when the idle boys of the neighbourhood were + gathered together and ready for mischief, they perceived the + Khoja approaching.</p> + + <p>"Here comes this mad Khoja!" they said. "Let us now persuade + him to climb the largest of these mulberry-trees, and whilst he + is climbing we will steal his slippers."</p> + + <p>And when the Khoja drew near, they cried, "O Khoja, here is + indeed a tree which it is not possible to climb."</p> + + <p>The Khoja looked at the mulberry-tree and said, "You are in + error, my children, any one of you could climb that tree."</p> + + <p>But they said, "We cannot."</p> + + <p>Then said the Khoja, "I, who am an old man, could climb that + mulberry-tree."</p> + + <p>Then the boys cried, "O most illustrious Khoja! we beseech + of you to climb the tree before our eyes, that we may believe + what you say, and also be encouraged to try ourselves."</p> + + <p>"I will climb it," said the Khoja. Thereupon he kicked off + his slippers as the children had anticipated; and tucking his + skirts into his girdle, he prepared to climb.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_195" + id="Page_195"></a></p> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/195.gif" alt="(The KHOJA'S SLIPPERS)"/> + </div> + + <p><a name="Page_196" + id="Page_196"></a></p> + + <p>But whilst they were waiting to steal his slippers, the + Khoja put them into his pocket.</p> + + <p>"Effendi Khoja," said the children, "wherefore do you not + leave your slippers on the ground? What will you do with + slippers up in the mulberry-tree?"</p> + + <p>"O my children!" said the Khoja dryly, "it is good to be + provided against everything. I may come upon a road further + up."</p> + <br /> + <p><i>Tale</i> 4.—<span class="smcap">The Khoja and the + Three Wise Men.</span></p> + + <p>In the days of Effendi Nasr-ed-Deen Khoja there appeared in + the world three Sages, who excelled in every science and in all + wisdom.</p> + + <p>Now it came to pass that in their journeys these wise men + passed through the country of the Sultan Ala-ed-Deen, who + desired to see them, and to make them partake of his + hospitality.</p> + + <p>And when the Sultan had seen and heard them, he said: "O + Sages, there is indeed nothing wanting to you but that you + should embrace the faith and become Turks, and remain in my + kingdom. Wherefore I beseech of you to do this without further + delay."</p> + + <p>Then the wise men replied to the Padisha: "We will, if it + please you, ask t<a name="Page_197" + id="Page_197"></a>hree questions of your learned men. One + question shall be asked by each of us, and if they are able + to answer these questions, we will embrace your faith, and + remain with you as you desire. And if not, we will depart in + peace, and prolong our journeys as heretofore."</p> + + <p>Then the Padisha replied: "So be it." And he assembled the + learned men and counsellors of his kingdom, and the Sages put + questions to them, which they could not answer.</p> + + <p>Then the Sultan Ala-ed-Deen was full of wrath, and he said, + "Is this my kingdom, and am I the ruler of it; and is there not + indeed one man of my subjects wise enough to answer the + questions of these unbelieving Sages?"</p> + + <p>And his servants replied: "There is indeed no one who could + answer these questions, except it be Khoja Nasr-ed-Deen + Effendi."</p> + + <p>Then the Sultan commanded, and they despatched a Tatar in + all haste to summon Nasr-ed-Deen Effendi to the presence of the + Padisha.</p> + + <p>When the messenger arrived, he told his errand to the Khoja, + who at once rose up, saddled his donkey, took a stick in his + hand, and mounted, saying to the Tatar, "Go before me!"</p> + + <p>Thus they came to the palace, and the Khoja entered the + presence of the Sultan, and gave the salaam and received it in + ret<a name="Page_198" + id="Page_198"></a>urn. Then he was shown where to sit, and + being seated, and having made a prayer for the Padisha, "O + most noble Sultan," said he, "wherefore have you brought me + hither, and what is your will with me?"</p> + + <p>Then the Sultan explained the circumstances of the case, and + the Khoja cried, "What are the questions? Let me hear + them."</p> + + <p>Then the first wise man came forward and said: "<i>My</i> + question, most worshipful Effendi, is this: Where is the middle + of the world?"</p> + + <p>The Khoja, without an instant's hesitation, pointed with his + stick to a fore-hoof of his donkey.</p> + + <p>"There," said he, "exactly where my donkey's foot is + placed—there is the centre of the earth."</p> + + <p>"How do you know that?" asked the Sage.</p> + + <p>"If you do not believe me," replied the Khoja, "measure for + yourself. If you find it wrong one way or the other, I will + acknowledge my error."</p> + + <p>The second Sage now came forward and said: "O Khoja Effendi, + how many stars are there on the face of this sky?"</p> + + <p>"The same number," replied the Khoja, "as there are hairs on + my donkey."</p> + + <p>"How do you know that?" asked the wise man.</p> + + <p>"If you do not believe me," replied the Khoja, "count for + yourself. If there is a hair too few or too many, I will + acknowledge my error."</p> + + <p><a name="Page_199" + id="Page_199"></a></p> + + <p>"O most learned Khoja!" said the wise man, "have you indeed + counted the hairs on your donkey?"</p> + + <p>"O most venerable Sage!" replied the Khoja, "have you indeed + numbered the stars of the sky?"</p> + + <p>But as the Khoja spoke the third wise man came forward and + said: "Most worshipful Effendi! Be pleased now to hear my + question, and if you can answer it, we will conform to the + wishes of the Sultan. How many hairs are there in my + beard?"</p> + + <p>"As many," replied the Khoja, "as there are hairs in my + donkey's tail."</p> + + <p>"How do you know that?" asked the wise man.</p> + + <p>"If you do not believe me, count for yourself," said the + Khoja.</p> + + <p>But the wise man replied: "It is for you to count, and to + prove to me the truth of what you say."</p> + + <p>"With all my heart," replied the Khoja. "And I will do it in + a way that cannot possibly fail. I shall first pull out a hair + from your beard, and then one from my donkey's tail, and then + another from your beard, and so on. Thus at the end it will be + seen whether the number of the hairs of each kind exactly + correspond."</p> + + <p>But the wise man did not wait for this method of proof to be + enforced by the Sultan. He hastily announced himself as a + conv<a name="Page_200" + id="Page_200"></a>ert to the Padisha's wishes. The other two + Sages followed his example, and their wisdom was for many + years the light of the court of the Sultan Ala-ed-Deen.</p> + + <p>Moreover, they became disciples of the Khoja.</p> + <br /> + <p><i>Tale</i> 5.—<span class="smcap">The Khoja's + Donkey.</span></p> + + <p>One day there came a man to the house of the Khoja to ask + him for the loan of his donkey.</p> + + <p>"The donkey is not at home," replied the Khoja, who was + unwilling to lend his beast.</p> + + <p>At this moment the donkey brayed loudly from within.</p> + + <p>"O Khoja Effendi!" cried the man, "what you say cannot be + true, for I can hear your donkey quite distinctly as I stand + here."</p> + + <p>"What a strange man you must be," said the Effendi. "Is it + possible that you believe a donkey rather than me, who am + grey-haired and a Khoja?"</p> + <br /> + <p><i>Tale</i> 6.—<span class="smcap">The Khoja's + Gown.</span></p> + + <p>One day the Khoja's wife, having washed her husband's gown, + hung it out in the garden to dry.</p> + + <p>Now in the dusk of the evening the Khoja repaired to his + garden, where he saw, as he believed, a thief standing with + outstretched arms.</p> + + <p>"O you rascal!" he cried, "is it you who steal my fruit? But + you shall do so no more."</p> + + <p><a name="Page_201" + id="Page_201"></a></p> + + <p>And having called to his wife for his bow and arrows, the + Khoja took aim and pierced his gown through the middle. Then + without waiting to see the result he hastened into his house, + secured the door with much care, and retired to rest.</p> + + <p>When morning dawned, the Khoja went out into the garden, + where perceiving that what he had hit was his own gown, he + seated himself and returned thanks to the All-merciful Disposer + of Events.</p> + + <p>"Truly," said he, "I have had a narrow escape. If I had been + inside it, I should have been dead long before this!"</p> + <br /> + <p><i>Tale</i> 7.—<span class="smcap">The Khoja and the + Fast of Ramadan.</span></p> + + <p>In a certain year, when the holy month of the fast of + Ramadan was approaching, Khoja Nasr-ed-Deen took counsel with + himself and resolved not to observe it.</p> + + <p>"Truly," said he, "there is no necessity that I should fast + like the common people. I will rather provide myself with a + vase into which I will drop a stone every day. When there are + thirty pebbles in the vase, I shall know that Ramadan is over, + and I shall then be able to keep the feast of Bairam at the + proper season."</p> + + <p><a name="Page_202" + id="Page_202"></a></p> + + <p>Accordingly, on the first day of the month the Khoja dropped + a stone into the vase, and so he continued to do day by + day.</p> + + <p>Now the Khoja had a little daughter, and it came to pass + that one day the child, having observed the pebbles in the + vase, went out and gathered a handful and added them to the + rest. But her father was not aware of it.</p> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/202.gif" alt="(THE KHOJA COUNTS)"/> + </div> + + <p>On the twenty-fifth day of Ramadan the Khoja met at the + Bazaar with certain of his neighbours, who said to him, "Be + good enough, most learned Khoja, to tell us what day of the + month it is."</p> + + <p>"Wait a bit, and I will see," replied the Khoja. Saying + this, he ran to his house, emptied the vase, and began to count + the stones. To his amazement he found that there were a hundred + and twenty!</p> + + <p><a name="Page_203" + id="Page_203"></a></p> + + <p>"If I say as much as this," thought the Khoja, "they will + call me a fool. Even half would be more than could be + believed."</p> + + <p>So he went back to the Bazaar and said, "It is the full + forty-fifth of the month, quite that."</p> + + <p>"O Khoja!" the neighbours replied, "there are only thirty + days in a complete month, and do you tell us to-day is the + forty-fifth?"</p> + + <p>"O neighbours!" answered the Khoja, "believe me, I speak + with moderation. If you look into the vase, you will find that + according to its account to-day is the one hundred and + twentieth."</p> + <br /> + <p><i>Tale</i> 8.—<span class="smcap">The Khoja and the + Thief.</span></p> + + <p>One day a thief got into the Khoja's house, and the Khoja + watched him.</p> + + <p>The thief poked here, there, and everywhere, and after + collecting all that he could carry, he put the load on his back + and went off.</p> + + <p>The Khoja then came out, and hastily gathering up the few + things which were left of his property, he put them on his own + back, and hurried after the thief.</p> + + <p>At last he arrived before the door of the thief's house, at + which he knocked.</p> + + <p>"What do you want?" said the thief.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_204" + id="Page_204"></a></p> + + <p>"Why, we are moving into this house, aren't we?" said the + Khoja. "I've brought the rest of the things."</p> + <br /> + <p><i>Tale</i> 9.—<span class="smcap">The Bird of Prey + and the Piece of Soap.</span></p> + + <p>One day the Khoja went with his wife to wash clothes at the + head of a spring.</p> + + <p>They had placed the soap beside them on the ground, and were + just about to begin, when a black bird of prey swooped suddenly + down, and snatching up the soap, flew away with it, believing + it to be some kind of food.</p> + + <p>"Run, Khoja, run!" cried the distracted wife. "Make haste, I + beseech you, and catch that thief of a bird. He has carried off + my soap."</p> + + <p>"O wife!" replied the Khoja, "let him alone. He wants it + more than we do, poor fellow! Our clothes are not half so black + as what he has got on."</p> + <br /> + <p><i>Tale</i> 10.—<span class="smcap">The Khoja and the + Wolves.</span></p> + + <p>"Wife!" said the Khoja one day, "how do you know when a man + is dead?"</p> + + <p>"When his hands and feet have become cold, Khoja," replied + the good woman, "I know that it is all over then. The man is + dead."</p> + + <p>Some time afterward<a name="Page_205" + id="Page_205"></a>s the Khoja went to the mountain to cut + wood. It was in the winter, and after he had worked for an + hour or two his hands and feet became very cold.</p> + + <p>"It is really a melancholy thing," said he; "but I fear that + there can be no doubt that I am dead. If this is the case, + however, I have no business to be on my feet, much less to be + chopping firewood which I have not lived to require." So he + went and lay down under a tree.</p> + + <p>By and by came the wolves, and they fell upon the Khoja's + donkey, and devoured it.</p> + + <p>The Khoja watched them from the place where he was + lying.</p> + + <p>"Ah, you brutes!" said he, "it is lucky for you that you + have found a donkey whose master is dead, and cannot + interfere."</p> + <br /> + <p><i>Tale</i> 11.—<span class="smcap">A Penny a + Head.</span></p> + + <p>The Turks shave their heads and allow their beards to grow. + Thus the Khoja went every week to the barber to have his head + shaved, and when it was done, the barber held out the mirror to + him, that, having looked at himself, he might place a penny fee + on the mirror as the custom is.</p> + + <p>Now as he grew old the Khoja became very bald.</p> + + <p>One day when he was ab<a name="Page_206" + id="Page_206"></a>out to be shaved, passing his hand over + his head, he perceived that the crown was completely bald. + But he said nothing, and having paid his penny, took his + departure as usual.</p> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/206.gif" alt="(THE KHOJA IS SHAVED)"/> + </div> + + <p>Next week Khoja Effendi went again to the barber's.</p> + + <p>When his head had been shaved he looked in the mirror as + before; but he put nothing on it.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_207" + id="Page_207"></a></p> + + <p>As he rose to depart, the barber stopped him, saying, "Most + worshipful Effendi, you have forgotten to pay."</p> + + <p>"My head is now half bald," said the Khoja; "will not one + penny do for two shavings?"</p> + <br /> + <p><i>Tale</i> 12.—<span class="smcap">The Khoja a + Cadi.</span></p> + + <p>The late Khoja Effendi when he filled the office of Cadi had + some puzzling cases to decide.</p> + + <p>One day two men came before him, and one of them said, "This + fellow has bitten my ear, O Cadi!"</p> + + <p>"No, no, most learned Cadi!" said the other; "that is not + true. He bit his own ear, and now tries to lay the blame upon + me."</p> + + <p>"One cannot bite his own ear," said the first man; + "wherefore the lies of this scoundrel are obvious."</p> + + <p>"Begone, both of you," said the Khoja; "but come back + to-morrow, when I will give judgment."</p> + + <p>When the men had gone, the Khoja withdrew to a quiet place, + where he would be undisturbed, that he might try if he could + bite his own ear. Taking the ear in his fingers, he made many + efforts to seize it with his teeth, crying, "Can I bite + it?"</p> + + <p>But in the vehemence of his efforts the Khoja lost his + balance and fell backwards, wounding his head.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_208" + id="Page_208"></a></p> + + <p>The following day he took his seat with his head bound up in + a linen cloth, and the men coming before him related their + dispute as before, and cried, "Now, is it possible, O + Cadi?"</p> + + <p>"O, you fellows!" said the Khoja, "biting is easy enough, + and you can fall and break your own head into the bargain."</p> + <br /> + <p><i>Tale</i> 13.—<span class="smcap">The Khoja's + Quilt.</span></p> + + <p>One night after Khoja Nasr-ed-Deen had retired to rest he + was disturbed by a man making a great noise before his door in + the street outside.</p> + + <p>"O wife!" said he, "get up, I pray you, and light a candle, + that I may discover what this noise in the street is + about."</p> + + <p>"Lie still, man," said his wife. "What have we to do with + street brawlers? Keep quiet and go to sleep."</p> + + <p>But the Khoja would not listen to her advice, and taking the + bed-quilt, he threw it round his shoulders, and went out to see + what was the matter.</p> + + <p>Then the rascal who was making the disturbance, seeing a + fine quilt floating from the Khoja's shoulders, came behind him + and snatched it away, and ran off with it.</p> + + <p>After a while the Khoja felt thoroughly chilled, and he went + back to bed.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_209" + id="Page_209"></a></p> + + <p>"Well, Effendi," said his wife: "what have you + discovered?"</p> + + <p>"We were more concerned in the noise than you thought," said + the Khoja.</p> + + <p>"What was it about, O Khoja?" asked his wife.</p> + + <p>"It must have been about our quilt," he replied; "for when + the man got that he went off quietly enough."</p> + + <br /><p><i>Tale</i> 14.—<span class="smcap">The Khoja and the + Beggar.</span></p> + + <p>One day whilst Nasr-ed-Deen Effendi was in his house, a man + knocked at the door.</p> + + <p>The Khoja looked out from an upper window.</p> + + <p>"What dost thou want?" said he. But the man was a beggar by + trade, and fearing that the Khoja might refuse to give alms + when he was so well beyond reach of the mendicant's + importunities, he would not state his business, but continued + to cry, "Come down, come down!" as if he had something of + importance to relate.</p> + + <p>So the Khoja went down, and on his again saying "What dost + thou want?" the beggar began to beg, crying, "The Inciter of + Compassion move thee to enable me to purchase food for my + supper! I am the guest of the Prophet!" with other exclamations + of a like nature.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_210" + id="Page_210"></a></p> + + <p>"Come up-stairs," replied the Khoja, turning back into his + house.</p> + + <p>Well pleased, the beggar followed him, but when they reached + the upper room the Khoja turned round and dismissed him, + saying, "Heaven supply your necessities. I have nothing for + you."</p> + + <p>"O Effendi!" said the beggar, "why did you not tell me this + whilst I was below?"</p> + + <p>"O Beggar!" replied the Khoja, "why did you call me down + when I was up-stairs?"</p> + + <br /><p><i>Tale</i> 15.—<span class="smcap">The Khoja Turned + Nightingale.</span></p> + + <p>One day the Khoja went into a garden which did not belong to + him, and seeing an apricot-tree laden with delicious fruit, he + climbed up among the branches and began to help himself.</p> + + <p>Whilst he was eating the apricots the owner of the garden + came in and discovered him.</p> + + <p>"What are you doing up there, Khoja?" said he.</p> + + <p>"O my soul!" said the Khoja, "I am not the person you + imagine me to be. Do you not see that I am a nightingale? I am + singing in the apricot-tree."</p> + + <p>"Let me hear you sing," said the gardener.</p> + + <p>The Khoja began to trill like a bird; but the noise he made + was so uncouth that the man burst out laughing.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_211" + id="Page_211"></a></p> + + <p>"What kind of a song is this?" said he. "I never heard a + nightingale's note like that before."</p> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/211.gif" alt="(THE KHOJA SINGS)"/> + </div> + + <p>"It is not the voice of a native songster," said the Khoja + demurely, "but the foreign nightingale sings so."</p> + + <br /><p><i>Tale</i> 16.—<span class="smcap">The Khoja's Donkey + and The Woollen Pelisse.</span></p> + + <p>One day the Khoja mounted his donkey to ride to the garden, + but on the way there he had business which obliged him to + dismount and leave the donkey for a short time.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_212" + id="Page_212"></a></p> + + <p>When he got down he took off his woollen pelisse, and + throwing it over the saddle, went about his affairs. But he had + hardly turned his back when a thief came by who stole the + woollen pelisse, and made off with it.</p> + + <p>When the Khoja returned and found that the pelisse was gone, + he became greatly enraged, and beat the donkey with his stick. + Then, dragging the saddle from the poor beast's back, he put it + on his own shoulders, crying, "Find my pelisse, you careless + rascal, and then you shall have your saddle again!"</p> + + <br /><p><i>Tale</i> 17.—<span class="smcap">A Ladder To + Sell.</span></p> + + <p>There was a certain garden into which the Khoja was desirous + to enter, but the gate was fastened, and he could not.</p> + + <p>One day, therefore, he took a ladder upon his shoulder, and + repaired to the place, where he put the ladder against the + garden-wall, and having climbed to the top, drew the ladder + over, and by this means descended into the garden.</p> + + <p>As he was prying about in came the gardener.</p> + + <p>"Who are you?" said he to the Khoja. "And what do you + want?"</p> + + <p>"I sell ladders," replied the Khoja, running hastily back to + the wall, and throwing the ladder once more upon his + shoulders.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_213" + id="Page_213"></a></p> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/213.gif" alt="(THE KHOJA TRESPASSES)"/> + </div> + + <p>"Come, come!" said the gardener, "that answer will not do. + This is not a place for selling ladders."</p> + + <p>"You must be very ignorant," replied the Khoja gravely, "if + you do not know that ladders are salable anywhere."</p> + + <p><a name="Page_214" + id="Page_214"></a></p> + + <br /><p><i>Tale</i> 18.—<span class="smcap">The Cat and the + Khoja's Supper.</span></p> + + <p>The Khoja, like many another man, was fond of something nice + for his supper.</p> + + <p>But no matter how often he bought a piece of liver to make a + tasty dish, his wife always gave it away to a certain friend of + hers, and when the Khoja came home in the evening he got + nothing to eat but cakes.</p> + + <p>"Wife," said he at last, "I bring home some liver every day + that we may have a good supper, and you put nothing but pastry + before me. What becomes of the meat?"</p> + + <p>"The cat steals it, O Khoja!" replied his wife.</p> + + <p>On this the Khoja rose from his seat, and taking the axe + proceeded to lock it up in a box.</p> + + <p>"What are you doing with the axe, Khoja?" said his wife.</p> + + <p>"I am hiding it from the cat," replied the Khoja. "The sort + of cat who steals two pennyworth of liver is not likely to + spare an axe worth forty pence."</p> + + <br /><p><i>Tale</i> 19.—<span class="smcap">The Cadi's + Ferejeh.</span></p> + + <p>One day a certain Cadi of Su<a name="Page_215" + id="Page_215"></a>r-Hissar, being very drunk, lay down in a + garden and fell asleep. The Khoja, having gone out for a + walk, passed by the spot and saw the Cadi lying dead drunk + and senseless, with his ferejeh—or overcoat—half + off his back.</p> + + <p>It was a very valuable ferejeh, of rich material, and the + Khoja took it and went home remarkably well dressed.</p> + + <p>When the Cadi recovered his senses he found that his ferejeh + was gone. Thereupon he called his officers and commanded them, + saying: "On whomsoever ye shall see my ferejeh, bring the + fellow before me."</p> + + <p>Meanwhile the Khoja wore it openly, and at last the officers + took him and brought him before the Cadi.</p> + + <p>"O Khoja!" said the Cadi, "how came you by what belongs to + me? Where did you find that ferejeh?"</p> + + <p>"Most exemplary Cadi," replied the Khoja, "I went out + yesterday for a short time before sunset, and as I walked I + perceived a disreputable-looking fellow lying shamefully drunk, + and exposed to the derision of passers-by in the public + gardens. His ferejeh was half off his back, and I said within + myself, 'This valuable ferejeh will certainly be stolen, whilst + he to whom it belongs is sleeping the sleep of drunkenness. I + will therefore take it and wea<a name="Page_216" + id="Page_216"></a>r it, and when the owner has his senses + restored to him, he will be able to see and reclaim it.' So + I took the ferejeh, and if it be thine, O Cadi, take + it!"</p> + + <p>"It cannot be my ferejeh, of course," said the Cadi hastily; + "though there is a similarity which at first deceived me."</p> + + <p>"Then I will keep it till the man claims it," said the + Khoja.</p> + + <p>And he did so.</p> + + <br /><p><i>Tale</i> 20.—<span class="smcap">The Two + Pans.</span></p> + + <p>One day the Khoja borrowed a big pan of his next-door + neighbour.</p> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/216.gif" alt="(THE KHOJA IS ARTFUL)"/> + </div> + + <p><a name="Page_217" + id="Page_217"></a></p> + + <p>When he had done with it he put a smaller pan inside it, and + carried it back.</p> + + <p>"What is this?" said the neighbour.</p> + + <p>"It is a young pan," replied the Khoja. "It is the child of + your big pan, and therefore belongs to you."</p> + + <p>The neighbour laughed in his sleeve.</p> + + <p>"If this Khoja is mad," said he, "a sensible man like myself + need not refuse to profit by his whims."</p> + + <p>So he replied, "It is well, O Khoja! The pan is a very good + pan. May its posterity be increased!"</p> + + <p>And he took the Khoja's pan as well as his own, and the + Khoja departed.</p> + + <p>After a few days the Khoja came again to borrow the big pan, + which his neighbour lent him willingly, saying to himself, + "Doubtless something else will come back in it." But after he + had waited two—three—four—and five days, and + the Khoja did not return it, the neighbour betook himself to + the Khoja's house and asked for his pan.</p> + + <p>The Khoja came to the door with a sad countenance.</p> + + <p>"Allah preserve you, neighbour!" said he. "May your health + be better than that of our departed friend, who will return to + you no more. The big pan is dead."</p> + + <p><a name="Page_218" + id="Page_218"></a></p> + + <p>"Nonsense, Khoja Effendi!" said the neighbour, "You know + well enough that a pan cannot die."</p> + + <p>"You were quite willing to believe that it had had a child," + said the Khoja; "it seems odd you cannot believe that it is + dead."</p> + + <br /><p><i>Tale</i> 21.—<span class="smcap">The Day of the + Month.</span></p> + + <p>One day Khoja Effendi walked into the bazaar. As he went + about among the buyers and sellers, a man came up to him and + said, "Is it the third or fourth day of the month to-day?"</p> + + <p>"How should I know?" replied the Khoja. "I don't deal in the + moon."</p> + + <br /><p><i>Tale</i> 22.—<span class="smcap">The Khoja's + Dream.</span></p> + + <p>One night when he was asleep the Khoja dreamed that he found + nine pieces of money.</p> + + <p>"Bountiful heaven!" said he, "let me have been mistaken. I + will count them afresh. Let there be ten!" And when he counted + them there were ten. Then he said, "Let there be nineteen!" And + vehemently contending for nineteen he awoke. But when he was + awake and found that there was nothing in his hands, he shut + his eyes again, and stretching his hands out said, "Make it + nine pieces, I'll not say another word."</p> + + <p><a name="Page_219" + id="Page_219"></a></p> + + <br /><p><i>Tale</i> 23.—<span class="smcap">The Old + Moon.</span></p> + + <p>One day some of the neighbours said, "Let us ask this Khoja + something that will puzzle him, and see what he will say." So + they came to the Khoja and said, "The moon is on the wane, + Khoja Effendi, and we shall soon have a new one; what will be + done with the old moon?"</p> + + <p>"They will break it up and make stars of it," said the + Khoja.</p> + + <br /><p><i>Tale</i> 24.—<span class="smcap">The Short Piece of + Muslin.</span></p> + + <p>One day Nasr-ed-Deen Effendi was tying a new piece of muslin + for his turban, when to his annoyance he discovered that it was + too short. He tried a second time, but still it was not long + enough, and he spoiled his turban, and lost his temper. Much + vexed with the muslin, the Khoja took it to the bazaar, and + gave it in to be sold by auction.</p> + + <p>By and by the sale began, and after a time the muslin was + put up, and a man came forward and began to bid. Another man + bid against him, and the first man continued to raise his + price.</p> + + <p>The Khoja was standing near, and at last he could bear it no + longer. "That rascal of <a name="Page_220" + id="Page_220"></a>a muslin has cheated me and put me to + infinite inconvenience," said he; "it played me false; and + am I bound to conceal its deficiencies?"</p> + + <p>Then he came softly up to the highest bidder, and whispered, + "Take care what you are about, brother, in buying that muslin. + It's a short length."</p> + + <br /><p><i>Tale</i> 25.—<span class="smcap">The Khoja Peeps + Into Futurity.</span></p> + + <p>Having need of a stout piece of wood, the Khoja one day + decided to cut off a certain branch from a tree that belonged + to him, as he perceived that it would serve his purpose.</p> + + <p>Taking, therefore, his axe in his hand, and tucking his + skirts into his girdle, he climbed the tree, and the branch he + desired being firm and convenient, he seated himself upon it, + and then began to hack and hew.</p> + + <p>As he sat and chopped a man passed by below him, who called + out and said, "O stupid man! What are you doing? When the + branch is cut through you will certainly fall to the + ground."</p> + + <p>"Are the decrees of the future less veiled from this man + than from me, who am a Khoja?" said Nasr-ed-Deen Effendi to + himself, and he made the man no reply, but chopped on.</p> + + <p>In a few moments the branch gave way, and the Khoja fell to + the ground.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_221" + id="Page_221"></a></p> + + <p>When he recovered himself he jumped up, and ran after the + man who had warned him.</p> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/221.gif" alt="(THE KHOJA FALLS)"/> + </div> + + <p>"O you fellow!" cried he. "It has happened to me even as you + foretold. At the moment when the branch was cut through I fell + to the ground. Now, therefore, since the future is open to + thee, I beseech thee to tell me the day of my death."</p> + + <p><a name="Page_222" + id="Page_222"></a></p> + + <p>"This madness is greater than the other," replied the man. + "The day of death is among the hidden counsels of the Most + High."</p> + + <p>But the Khoja held him by the gown and continued to urge + him, saying, "You told me when I should fall from the tree, and + it came to pass to the moment. Tell me now how long I have to + live." And as he would not release him, but kept crying, "How + much time have I left?" the man lost patience, and said, "O + fool! there is no more time left to thee. The days of the years + of thy life are numbered."</p> + + <p>"Then I am dead, lo I am dead!" said the Khoja, and he lay + down, and stiffened himself, and did not move.</p> + + <p>By and by his neighbours came and stood at his head, and + having observed him, they brought a bier and laid him on it, + saying, "Let us take him to his own house."</p> + + <p>Now in the way thither there was in the road a boggy place, + which it was difficult to pass, and the bearers of the bier + stood still and consulted, saying, "Which way shall we go?"</p> + + <p>And they hesitated so long that the Khoja, becoming + impatient, raised his head from the bier, and said, + "<i>That's</i> the way I used to go myself, when I was + alive."</p> + + <p><a name="Page_223" + id="Page_223"></a></p> + + <br /><p><i>Tale</i> 26.—<span class="smcap">The Two + Moons.</span></p> + + <p>On a certain day when the Khoja went to Sur-Hissar he saw a + group of persons looking at the new moon.</p> + + <p>"What extraordinary people the men of this place must be!" + said he, "In our country the moon may be seen as large as a + plate, and no one troubles his head about it, and here people + stare at it when it is only a quarter the size."</p> + + <br /><p><i>Tale</i> 27.—<span class="smcap">The Khoja + Preaching.</span></p> + + <p>One of the Khoja's duties—as a religious + teacher—was to preach to the people. But once upon a time + he became very lazy about this, and was always seeking an + excuse to shorten or omit his sermons.</p> + + <p>On a certain day about this time he mounted into the pulpit, + and looking down on the congregation assembled to listen to + him, he stretched forth his hands and cried, "Ah, Believers! + what shall I say to you?"</p> + + <p>And the men beat upon their breasts, and replied with one + voice, "We do not know, most holy Khoja! we do not know."</p> + + <p>"Oh, if you don't know—" said the Khoja indignantly, + and gathering his robe about him, he quitted the pulpit without + another word.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_224" + id="Page_224"></a></p> + + <p>The men looked at each other in dismay, for the Khoja was a + very popular preacher.</p> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/224.gif" alt="(THE KHOJA PREACHES)"/> + </div> + + <p>"We have done wrong," said they, "though we know not how; + without doubt our ign<a name="Page_225" + id="Page_225"></a>orance is an offence to his learning. + Wherefore, if he comes again, whatever he says to us we will + seem as if we knew all about it."</p> + + <p>The following week the Khoja got again into the pulpit, from + which he could see a larger assembly than before.</p> + + <p>"O ye Muslims!" he began, "what am I to say—"</p> + + <p>But before the words were fairly out of his mouth the + congregation cried out with one voice, "<i>We</i> know, good + Khoja! We know!"</p> + + <p>"Oh, if you <i>know</i>—" said the Khoja + sarcastically, and shrugging his shoulders, and lifting his + eyebrows, he left the place as one who feels that he can be of + no further use.</p> + + <p>"This is worse than before," said the Muslims in despair. + But after a while they took counsel, and said, "Let him come + once more, and we will not lose our sermon this time. If he + asks the same question we will reply that some of us know, but + that some of us do not know."</p> + + <p>So when the Khoja next appeared before the congregation, and + after he had cried as before, "O Brethren! do ye know what I am + about to say?" they answered, "Some of us know, but some of us + do not know."</p> + + <p>"How nice!" said the<a name="Page_226" + id="Page_226"></a> Khoja, smiling benevolently upon the + crowd beneath him, as he prepared to take his departure. + "Then those of you who know can explain it all to those who + do not know."</p> + + <br /><p><i>Tale</i> 28.—<span class="smcap">The Khoja and the + Horsemen.</span></p> + + <p>One day when Khoja Effendi was crossing a certain desert + plain a troop of horsemen suddenly appeared riding towards + him.</p> + + <p>"No doubt these are Bedawee robbers," thought the Khoja, + "who will kill me without remorse for the sake of the Cadi's + ferejeh which I wear." And in much alarm he hastened towards a + cemetery which he had perceived to be near. Here he quickly + stripped off his clothes, and, having hidden them, crept naked + into an empty tomb and lay down.</p> + + <p>But the horsemen pursued after him, and by and by they came + into the cemetery, and one of them peeped into the tomb and saw + the Khoja.</p> + + <p>"Here is the man we saw!" cried the horseman; and he said to + the Khoja, "What are you lying there for, and where are your + clothes?"</p> + + <p>"The dead have no possessions, O Bedawee!" replied the + Khoja. "I am buried here. If you saw me on the plain as I used + to appear in life, without doubt you are one of those who can + see ghosts and apparitions."</p> + + <p><a name="Page_227" + id="Page_227"></a></p> + + <br /><p><i>Tale</i> 29.—<span class="smcap">The Ox + Trespassing.</span></p> + + <p>One day Khoja Effendi, repairing to a piece of ground which + belonged to him, found that a strange ox had got into the + enclosure. The Khoja took a thick stick to beat it with, but + the beast, seeing him coming, ran away and escaped.</p> + + <p>Next week the Khoja met a Turk driving the ox, which was + harnessed to a waggon.</p> + + <p>Thereupon the Khoja took a stick in his hand, and, running + after the ox, belaboured it soundly. "O man!" cried the Turk, + "what are you beating my beast for?"</p> + + <p>"Hold your tongue, you fool," said the Khoja, "and don't + meddle with what doesn't concern you. <i>The ox knows well + enough</i>."</p> + + <br /><p><i>Tale</i> 30.—<span class="smcap">The Khoja's + Camel.</span></p> + + <p>The next time Khoja Effendi was obliged to take a journey he + resolved to accompany a caravan for protection.</p> + + <p>Now the Khoja had lately become possessed of a valuable + camel, and he said to himself, "I will ride my camel instead of + going on foot; the journey will then be a pleasure, and I shall + not be fatigued." So he mounted the camel and set forth.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_228" + id="Page_228"></a></p> + + <p>But as he was riding with the caravan the camel stumbled, + and the Khoja was thrown off and severely hurt. The people of + the caravan coming to his assistance found that he was stunned, + but after a while they succeeded in restoring him.</p> + + <p>When the Khoja came to his senses he tore his clothes, and + cried in great rage and indignation, "O Muslims! you do not + know what care I have taken of this camel, and this is how I am + rewarded! Will no one kill it for me? It has done its best to + kill me."</p> + + <p>But his friends said, "Be appeased, most worthy Effendi, we + could not kill your valuable camel."</p> + + <p>"O benefactors!" replied the Khoja, "since you desire the + brute's life it must be spared. But it shall have no home with + me. I am about to drive it into the desert, where it may + stumble to its heart's content."</p> + + <p>So the Khoja drove the camel away; but before he did so he + tore the furniture and trappings furiously from its back, + crying, "I won't leave you a rag, you ungrateful beast!"</p> + + <p>And he pursued his journey on foot, carrying the camel's + furniture as best as he might.</p> + + <br /><p><i>Tale</i> 31.—<span class="smcap">An Open + Question.</span></p> + + <p>The Khoja wanted vegetables for cooking, so he took a sack + and slipped into <a name="Page_229" + id="Page_229"></a>a neighbouring garden, which was + abundantly supplied. He picked some herbs, and pulled up + some turnips, and got a little of everything he could find + to fill his bag. Both hands were full, when the gardener + suddenly appeared and seized him.</p> + + <p>"What are you doing here?" said the gardener.</p> + + <p>The Khoja was confounded, and not being able to find a good + excuse, he said, "A very strong wind blew during the night. + Having driven me a long way, it blew me here."</p> + + <p>"Oh," said the gardener; "but who plucked these herbs which + I see in your hands?"</p> + + <p>"The wind was so very strong," answered the Khoja, "that + when it blew me into this place I clutched with both hands at + the first things I could lay hold of, lest it should drive me + further. And so they remain in my grasp."</p> + + <p>"Oh," said the gardener; "but who put these into the sack, I + wonder?"</p> + + <p>"That is just what puzzles me," the Khoja replied; "I was + thinking about it when you came in."</p> + + <br /><p><i>Tale</i> 32.—<span class="smcap">The Spurting + Fountain.</span></p> + + <p>One summer's day the Khoja had come a long way, and was very + hot and thirsty. By and by he perceived a fountain, of which + the pipe was stopped up with a piece of wood.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_230" + id="Page_230"></a></p> + + <p>"Now I shall quench my thirst," said the Khoja, and he + pulled out the stopper, on which the water rushed out with + vehement force over the Khoja's head, and drenched him in a + moment.</p> + + <p>"Ah!" cried the Khoja angrily, "it's because of your running + so madly that they have stuck that stick into you, I + suppose."</p> + + <br /><p><i>Tale</i> 33.—<span class="smcap">Well-meant + Soup.</span></p> + + <p>One day as the Khoja was returning home he met a party of + students walking together.</p> + + <p>"Good-evening, Effendis!" said he. "Pray come home with me, + and we will have some soup."</p> + + <p>The students did not think twice about accepting the + invitation, and they followed the Khoja home to his house.</p> + + <p>"Pray be seated," said the Khoja, and when they had seated + themselves he went to the upper room. "Wife," said he, "I have + brought home some guests. Let us give them a good bowl of + soup."</p> + + <p>"O Effendi!" cried the wife, "is there any butter in the + house? Is there any rice? Have you brought anything home for me + to make it of, that you ask for soup?"</p> + + <p>"Give me the soup-bowl," said the Khoja. Then taking the + empty bowl in his hand he returned to the students.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_231" + id="Page_231"></a></p> + + <p>"O Effendis!" said he, "be good enough, I beseech you, to + take the will for the deed. You are indeed most welcome, and if + there had been butter or rice, or anything else in our house, + you would have had excellent soup out of this very bowl."</p> + + <br /><p><i>Tale</i> 34.—<span class="smcap">The Khoja and the + Ten Blind Men.</span></p> + + <p>Once upon a time Khoja Nasr-ed-Deen, wandering by the banks + of a river, came to a certain ford near which he seated himself + to rest.</p> + + <p>By and by came ten blind men, who were desirous of crossing + the river, and they agreed with the Khoja that he should help + them across for the payment of one penny each.</p> + + <p>The Khoja accordingly exerted himself to the utmost of his + power, and he got nine of the blind men safely across; but as + he was helping the tenth, the man lost his footing, and in + spite of the Khoja's efforts the river overpowered him, and + bore him away.</p> + + <p>Thereupon the nine blind men on the opposite shore set up a + lamentable wail, crying, "What has happened, O Khoja?"</p> + + <p>"One penny less to pay than you expected," said the + Khoja.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_232" + id="Page_232"></a></p> + + <br /><p><i>Tale</i> 35.—<span class="smcap">The End of the + World.</span></p> + + <p>Now Khoja Nasr-ed-Deen Effendi had a lamb which he brought + up and fattened with much care.</p> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/232.gif" alt="THE KHOJA RECOMPENSES HIS FRIENDS"/> + </div> + + <p>Some of his friends were very d<a name="Page_233" + id="Page_233"></a>esirous to get hold of this lamb and make + a feast of it. So they came to the Khoja and begged him + earnestly to give up the lamb for a feast, but the Khoja + would not consent.</p> + + <p>At last one day came one of them and said, "O Khoja! + to-morrow is the end of the world. What will you do with this + lamb on the last day? We may as well eat it this evening."</p> + + <p>"If it be so, let us do as you say," replied the Khoja, for + he thought that the man was in earnest. So they lighted the + fire and roasted the lamb, and had an excellent feast. But the + Khoja perceived that they had played a trick upon him.</p> + + <p>By and by his friends went to some little distance to play + games together, but the Khoja would not accompany them, so they + left their upper garments in his charge and departed to their + amusements.</p> + + <p>When they were gone the Khoja took the clothes and put them + on to the fire where the lamb had been roasted, and burnt them + all.</p> + + <p>After a while the friends returned and found their robes + burnt to ashes.</p> + + <p>"O Khoja!" they cried, "who has burnt our clothes? Alas, + alas! what shall we do?"</p> + + <p>"Never mind," said the Khoja, "to-morrow the world comes to + an end, you know. You would not have wanted them for long."</p> + + <p><a name="Page_234" + id="Page_234"></a></p> + + <br /><p><i>Tale</i> 36.—<span class="smcap">The Dog on the + Tomb.</span></p> + + <p>One day the Khoja was wandering among the tombs. As he + strolled along he perceived a dog lying upon a grave-stone.</p> + + <p>Indignant at this profanation of a tomb, the Khoja took a + stout stick and made up his mind to chastise the intruder. But + the dog, who saw what was coming, got up and prepared to fly at + him.</p> + + <p>The Khoja never ran any unnecessary risk. When he perceived + that the dog was about to attack him, and that he would have + the worst of it, he lowered his stick.</p> + + <p>"Pray don't disturb yourself," said he; "I give in."</p> + + <br /><p><i>Tale</i> 37.—<span class="smcap">The Khoja and the + Mullas.</span></p> + + <p>Once upon a time the Khoja, riding on his donkey, was + proceeding to a certain place to give public instruction, when + he was followed by several law-students, who walked behind + him.</p> + + <p>Perceiving this, the Khoja dismounted, and got up again with + his face to the donkey's tail.</p> + + <p>"O Khoja!" cried the Mullas, "why do you ride + backwards?"</p> + + <p>"It is the only way in which we<a name="Page_235" + id="Page_235"></a> can show each other proper civility," + replied the Khoja; "for when I ride in the usual fashion, if + you walk behind me I turn my back on you, and if you walk + before me you turn your backs on me."</p> + + <br /><p><i>Tale</i> 38.—<span class="smcap">The Students and + the Khoja's Wife.</span></p> + + <p>Khoja Nasr-ed-Deen Effendi met a party of students who were + walking together.</p> + + <p>"Allow me to join you, worthy Effendis," said he, "and if it + is agreeable to you we will proceed to my house."</p> + + <p>"With the greatest possible pleasure," replied all the + students, and the Khoja, beguiling the way with smart sayings + and agreeable compliments, led them to the door of his + dwelling.</p> + + <p>"Be good enough to wait an instant," said the Khoja, and the + students waited whilst the Khoja entered his house, + where—being in a mischievous mood—he said to his + wife, "O wife, go down and send those men away who are hanging + about the door. If they want me, say that I have not come + home."</p> + + <p>So the woman went down and said, "The Khoja has not come + home, gentlemen."</p> + + <p>"What are you talking about?" cried the students; "he came + home with us."</p> + + <p>"He's not at home, I tell you," said the Khoja's wife.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_236" + id="Page_236"></a></p> + + <p>"We know that he is," said the students.</p> + + <p>"He's not," repeated the woman.</p> + + <p>"He is," reiterated the students.</p> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/236.gif" alt="(THE KHOJA IS NOT AT HOME)"/> + </div> + + <p>And so they contradicted each <a name="Page_237" + id="Page_237"></a>other and bandied words, till the Khoja, + who was listening from above, put his head out of the window + and cried, "Neither you nor my wife have any sense in your + heads. Don't you see there are two doors to the place? If he + did come in by one he may have gone out again through the + other."</p> + + <br /><p><i>Tale</i> 39.—<span class="smcap">The Khoja and His + Guest.</span></p> + + <p>One day a man came to the Khoja and became his guest for the + night.</p> + + <p>When they had had supper they lay down to sleep.</p> + + <p>After a while the light went out; but the Khoja was lazy, + and pretended not to observe it, for he did not want to get + up.</p> + + <p>"Khoja! Khoja!" cried the guest.</p> + + <p>"What's the matter?" said the Khoja.</p> + + <p>"Don't you see that the light's gone out?" said the + guest.</p> + + <p>"I see nothing," said the Khoja.</p> + + <p>"It's pitch dark," complained the guest: "do get up and see + if you have a candle in the house."</p> + + <p>"You must be mad," replied the Khoja; "am I a cat? If it is + really as dark as you say how can I possibly see whether I have + got any or not?"</p> + + <p><a name="Page_238" + id="Page_238"></a></p> + + <br /><p><i>Tale</i> 40.—<span class="smcap">The Wise + Donkey.</span></p> + + <p>Once upon a time the Khoja was smoking in his garden, when a + certain man came to borrow his donkey.</p> + + <p>Now this man was cruel to animals, therefore the Khoja did + not like to lend him his beast; but as he was also a man of + some consideration, the Khoja hesitated to refuse point + blank.</p> + + <p>"O Effendi!" said he, "I will gladly lend you my donkey, but + he is a very wise animal, and knows what is about to befall + him. If he foresees good luck for this journey all will be + well, and you could not have a better beast. But if he foresees + evil he will be of no use, and I should be ashamed to offer him + to you."</p> + + <p>"Be good enough to inquire of him," said the borrower.</p> + + <p>Thereupon the Khoja departed on pretence of taking counsel + with his donkey. But he only smoked another pipe in his garden, + and then returned to the man, who was anxiously awaiting him, + and whom he saluted with all possible politeness, + saying—</p> + + <p>"May it be far from you, most worthy Effendi, ever to + experience such misfortune as my wise donkey foresees on this + occasion!"</p> + + <p>"What does he foresee?" inquired the borrower.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_239" + id="Page_239"></a></p> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/239.gif" alt="(THE KHOJA AND HIS DONKEY)"/> + </div> + + <p><a name="Page_240" + id="Page_240"></a></p> + + <p>"Broken knees, sore ribs, aching bones, long marches, and + short meals," said the Khoja.</p> + + <p>Then the man looked foolish, and sneaked away without + reply.</p> + + <p>But the Khoja went back to his pipe.</p> + + <br /><p><i>Tale</i> 41.—<span class="smcap">The Khoja's + Horse.</span></p> + + <p>Once upon a time the Khoja was travelling in company with a + caravan, when they halted for the night at a certain place, and + all the horses were tied up together.</p> + + <p>Next morning the Khoja could not for the life of him + remember which was his own horse, and he was much afraid of + being cheated if he confessed this to the rest.</p> + + <p>So, as they were all coming out, he seized his bow and + arrow, and aimed among the horses at random.</p> + + <p>"Don't shoot!" cried the men; "what is the matter?"</p> + + <p>"I am desperate," replied the Khoja; "I am determined to + kill somebody's horse, so let every one look to his own."</p> + + <p>Laughing at the Khoja's folly, each man untied his own horse + as quickly as possible, and took it away.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_241" + id="Page_241"></a></p> + + <p>Then the Khoja knew that the one left was his own.</p> + + <p>He at once proceeded to mount, but putting his right foot + into the stirrup, he came round with his face to the tail.</p> + + <p>"What makes you get up backwards, Khoja?" said his + friends.</p> + + <p>"It is not I who am in the wrong," said the Khoja, "but the + horse that is left-handed."</p> + + <br /><p><i>Tale</i> 42.—<span class="smcap">The Khoja on the + Bey's Horse.</span></p> + + <p>On a certain occasion Khoja Nasr-ed-Deen went to see the + Bey, and the Bey invited him to go out hunting.</p> + + <p>The Khoja agreed, but when they were about to start he found + that he had been mounted on a horse which would not move out of + a snail's pace. He said nothing, however, for it is not well to + be too quick in seeing affronts.</p> + + <p>By and by it began to rain heavily. The Bey and the rest of + the party galloped off with all speed towards shelter, and the + Khoja was left in the lurch.</p> + + <p>When they were all out of sight the Khoja got down and took + off all his cloth<a name="Page_242" + id="Page_242"></a>es and folded them neatly together, and + put them on the saddle. Then he got up again and sat on his + clothes, to keep them dry.</p> + + <p>By and by the rain ceased, and the Khoja dressed himself and + went leisurely home. When he reached the Bey's palace all the + guests were assembled, and presently the Bey perceived him and + cried out, "Why, here is the worthy Khoja! And—how + extraordinary!—his clothes are not as wet as ours."</p> + + <p>"Why do you not praise the horse on which you mounted me?" + answered the Khoja; "it carried me through the storm without a + single thread of my clothes being wet."</p> + + <p>"They must have made a mistake about the horses," thought + the Bey to himself, and he invited the Khoja to go hunting on + the following day.</p> + + <p>The Khoja accepted, and when the time came he was mounted on + the horse which the Bey had ridden the day before, and the Bey + seated himself on that which had carried the Khoja with dry + clothes through the shower.</p> + + <p>By and by it began to rain; every one rode off as usual, and + this time the Khoja among them.</p> + + <p>The Bey, however, could not induce his horse to stir out of + a foot's pace, and when he arrived at his palace he was + drenched to the skin.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_243" + id="Page_243"></a></p> + + <p>"Wretched man!" he cried to the Khoja, "is it not through + you that I was induced to ride this useless horse?"</p> + + <p>"Most eminent Bey," replied the Khoja, "the beast has + treated you no worse than he served me. But perhaps your + Eminence did not think of taking off your clothes and sitting + on them?"</p> + + <br /><p><i>Tale</i> 43.—<span class="smcap">The Khoja's Donkey + brays to Good Purpose.</span></p> + + <p>One day the Khoja dismounted at the door of a shop, and + threw his woollen pelisse on the donkey's back till he should + return. He then went in to buy sweetmeats.</p> + + <p>In a few minutes there passed a man, who snatched the + woollen pelisse from the donkey's back, and went off with it. + At this moment the donkey began to bray.</p> + + <p>"O bawl away!" cried the Khoja, who had come out just in + time to see his pelisse disappear; "much good that will + do."</p> + + <p>But as it happened, when the man heard the noise he was + afraid of being caught, and, throwing the pelisse back on to + the donkey, he ran away as hard as he could.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_244" + id="Page_244"></a></p> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/244.gif" alt="(THE KHOJA PRAYS)"/> + </div> + + <p><a name="Page_245" + id="Page_245"></a></p> + + <br /><p><i>Tale</i> 44.—<span class="smcap">The Khoja's Left + Leg.</span></p> + + <p>During one very hot season there was a scarcity of water in + the city.</p> + + <p>One day, the Khoja was performing his religious ablutions: + he washed himself all over with the exception of his left leg, + but before that could be washed the water was all used up.</p> + + <p>When the Khoja began to recite the customary prayers he + stood on one leg like a goose.</p> + + <p>"O Khoja Effendi!" cried the people, "why do you pray + standing on your right leg?"</p> + + <p>"I could not pray on my left leg," said the Khoja; "it has + not performed the appointed ablutions."</p> + + <br /><p><i>Tale</i> 45.—<span class="smcap">"Figs Would Be + More Acceptable."</span></p> + + <p>Nasr-ed-Deen Effendi had some plums, of which he resolved to + make a present to the Bey. He therefore took three of them, and + putting them on a fine tray, he carried them into the royal + presence, and duly offered them for the Bey's acceptance.</p> + + <p>Being in a good humour, the Bey took the present in good + part, and gave the Khoja several pence in return.</p> + + <p>After some days the Khoja thought he would take something + else to the Bey, and having some fine large beetroots, he set + off as before.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_246" + id="Page_246"></a></p> + + <p>On his way to the palace he met a man, who saluted him.</p> + + <p>"What are you doing with all those beetroots?" said he.</p> + + <p>"I am about to present them to the Bey," replied the + Khoja.</p> + + <p>"Figs would be more acceptable, I should think," said the + man.</p> + + <p>The Khoja pursued his journey, but as he went the man's + words troubled him—"Figs would be more acceptable."</p> + + <p>At last he perceived a fig-tree by the roadside, so, + throwing away all the beetroots, he put two or three figs in + their place, and having arrived at the palace, he presented + them to the Bey.</p> + + <p>But this time the Bey was not in a good humour.</p> + + <p>"What madman is this," he cried, "who mocks me by the gift + of a few worthless figs? Throw them at his head and drive him + away!"</p> + + <p>So they pelted the Khoja with his figs, and drove him out. + But as he ran, instead of cursing his ill luck, the Khoja gave + thanks for his good fortune.</p> + + <p>"This is indeed madness," cried the servants of the Bey; + "for what, O Khoja, do you return thanks, after this + ignominious treatment?"</p> + + <p>"O ignorant time-servers," repli<a name="Page_247" + id="Page_247"></a>ed the Khoja, "I have good reason to give + thanks. For I was bringing beetroots to the Bey—large + beetroots, and many of them—and I met a man who + persuaded me, saying, "Figs would be more acceptable," so I + brought figs; and you have cast them at my head. But there + were few of them, and they are soft, and I am none the + worse. If, however, I had not by good luck thrown away the + beetroots, which are hard, my skull would certainly have + been cracked."</p> + + <br /><p><i>Tale</i> 46.—<span class="smcap">Timur and the + One-legged Geese.</span></p> + + <p>One day the Khoja caused a goose to be cooked. He was about + to present it to the King.</p> + + <p>When it was nicely done he set off with it, but on the road + he became very hungry. If the smell of it were to be trusted it + was a most delicious bird! At last the Khoja could resist no + longer, and he tore off a leg and ate it with much relish.</p> + + <p>On arriving in the royal presence he placed the goose before + Timur the King, who, when he had examined the Khoja's gift, was + exceedingly annoyed.</p> + + <p>"This Khoja is deriding me!" said he. And then in a voice of + thunder he demanded, "<i>Where is the other leg?</i>"</p> + + <p>"The geese of our country are one-legged," replied + Nasr-ed-Deen, with much<a name="Page_248" + id="Page_248"></a> gravity. "If your Majesty does not + believe me, be good enough to let your eyes be informed of + the truth of what I say by looking at the geese at yonder + spring."</p> + + <p>As it happened there were a number of geese at the fountain, + and they were all standing on one leg.</p> + + <p>The King could not help laughing, but he called to his + drummers and said, "March towards yonder fountain, and lay your + drumsticks well about your drums."</p> + + <p>The drummers forthwith began to drum, and they rattled away + so heartily that all the geese put down their legs and ran off + in alarm.</p> + + <p>"O Khoja!" cried Timur, "how is this? All your geese have + become two-legged!"</p> + + <p>"It is the effect of your Majesty's wonderful drumsticks," + replied the Khoja. "If you were to eat one of them, you + yourself would undoubtedly become four-legged."</p> + + <br /><p><i>Tale</i> 47.—<span class="smcap">The Khoja Rewards + the Frogs.</span></p> + + <p>Khoja Nasr-ed-Deen Effendi had been riding his donkey for + some miles. It was very hot, and the Khoja dismounted to ease + his beast. At this moment they came within sight of a pond, and + the donkey smelling the water set off towards it as hard as he + could canter.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_249" + id="Page_249"></a></p> + + <p>The side of the pond was very steep, and in its haste the + donkey would probably have fallen in, but that the frogs set up + such a terrific croaking at its approach that the beast, in + alarm, turned sharply round, and was caught by its master.</p> + + <p>The Khoja was not wanting in grateful and liberal + feelings.</p> + + <p>"Well done, my little pond-birds!" said he, throwing a + handful of coins into the water. "Divide that among you to buy + sweetmeats with."</p> + + <br /><p><i>Tale</i> 48.—<span class="smcap">The Khoja + reproaches his Cock.</span></p> + + <p>Once upon a time the Khoja was carrying his fowls in a cage + to the city for sale.</p> + + <p>As he went along he began to feel sorry for them.</p> + + <p>"O my soul!" said he, "these poor fowls are sadly + imprisoned. I will let them go a little." So he opened the + cage, and the birds scrambled out. One ran one way, and another + another; but the Khoja contrived to keep up with the cock, + which he drove before him with his stick, the poor bird + waddling hither and thither, and fluttering from side to side + with distress and indecision pitiable to behold.</p> + + <p>On seeing this the Khoja began to reproach him. "You never + thought it would come to this, my fine bird, did you?" said he. + "And<a name="Page_250" + id="Page_250"></a> yet what a wiseacre you are! You know + when it's day better than the sun himself, and can crow loud + enough for all the world to hear your wisdom."</p> + + <p>The poor cock made no reply, but waddled on with hoarse + cries and flapping wings.</p> + + <p>"You're a poor prophet!" said the Khoja. "You know that it + is morning in the middle of the night: how is it you could not + foresee that you were to be driven to market? Thus—and + thus!" And turning him at every corner by which he would + escape, the Khoja drove the distracted cock into the city.</p> + + <br /><p><i>Tale</i> 49.—<span class="smcap">Hare-soup.</span></p> + + <p>One day there came a man from the village who made the Khoja + a present of a hare.</p> + + <p>The Khoja brought him in, treating him with all honour and + hospitality, and gave him some rich and excellent soup.</p> + + <p>In a week's time the man called again; but the Khoja had + forgotten him, and said, "Who are you?"</p> + + <p>"I am the man who brought the hare," he replied. The Khoja + entertained him as before, though the soup was not quite so + rich.</p> + + <p>After a few days came some men who desired to be guests to + the Khoja.</p> + + <p>"Who are you?" said he.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_251" + id="Page_251"></a></p> + + <p>"We are neighbours of the man who brought the hare," said + they.</p> + + <p>This time the soup was certainly thin, but that did not + hinder the arrival of some fresh guests in a very few days.</p> + + <p>"Who are you?" said the Khoja.</p> + + <p>"We are neighbours of the neighbours of the man who brought + the hare," was the reply.</p> + + <p>"You are welcome," said their host; and he set a bowl of + clear water before them.</p> + + <p>"What is this, O Khoja?" cried the men.</p> + + <p>"It is soup of soup of soup of the hare-soup," answered the + Khoja.</p> + + <br /><p><i>Tale</i> 50.—<span class="smcap">The Khoja out + Fishing.</span></p> + + <p>One day the Khoja accompanied some men who were going + a-fishing, and he became much excited in watching the + sport.</p> + + <p>Suddenly, as they cast the net into the sea, the Khoja threw + himself into it.</p> + + <p>"What can you be thinking of, Effendi?" cried the + fishermen.</p> + + <p>"I forgot," said the Khoja; "I was thinking I was a + fish."</p> + + <p><a name="Page_252" + id="Page_252"></a></p> + + <br /><p><i>Tale</i> 51.—<span class="smcap">A Desire + Satisfied.</span></p> + + <p>Nasr-ed-Deen Effendi had an old cow with horns so + exceedingly broad that one could certainly sit between them if + he had a mind to do so.</p> + + <p>"I should very much like to try," the Khoja kept thinking; + "I should exceedingly like to sit for once between those + horns."</p> + + <p>The notion haunted him, and he kept saying to himself, "I + certainly should like it, just for once."</p> + + <p>One day the cow came before the house, and after a while lay + down.</p> + + <p>"The opportunity has arrived," cried the Khoja, and running + out, he seated himself between the cow's horns. "It is just as + I thought," said he; but as he spoke the cow got up, and tossed + the Khoja violently to the ground.</p> + + <p>The Khoja was stunned, and when his wife hastened to the + spot she found him lying senseless. After some time he opened + his eyes, and perceived his wife weeping near him.</p> + + <p>"O wife!" said the Khoja, "weep not; I am not less fortunate + than other men. I have suffered for it, but I have had my + desire."</p> + + <p><a name="Page_253" + id="Page_253"></a></p> + + <br /><p><i>Tale</i> 52.—<span class="smcap">The Khoja and the + Incompetent Barber.</span></p> + + <p>On one occasion the Khoja was shaved by a most incompetent + barber. At every stroke the man cut his head with the razor, + and kept sticking on bits of cotton to stop the bleeding.</p> + + <p>At last the Khoja lost patience.</p> + + <p>"That will do," said he, jumping up: "you've sown cotton on + half my head, I'll keep the other half for flax;" and he ran + out of the shop with his head half shaved.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_254" + id="Page_254"></a></p> + + <p><a name="Page_255" + id="Page_255"></a></p> + + <div class="footnotes"> + <h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + + <div class="footnote"> + <p><a name="Footnote_3_3" + id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label"> + [3]</span></a> A <i>Khoja</i> is a religious teacher, + and sometimes a school-master also.</p> + </div> + </div> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <h2><a name="THE_SNARLING_PRINCESS" + id="THE_SNARLING_PRINCESS"></a>THE SNARLING PRINCESS.</h2> + + <p>(<i>Freely adapted from the German.</i>)</p> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/255.gif" alt="(THE SORROWFUL KING)"/> + </div> + + <p>Ever so long ago there lived a certain king, at whose court + great rejoicings were held for the birth of a child. But this + joy was soon turned to sorrow, when the young queen died, and + left her infant daughter motherless. As the body of the young + queen lay in state, wrapped in a shroud of gold all + embro<a name="Page_256" + id="Page_256"></a>idered with flowers, and with so sweet a + smile upon her face that she looked like one who dreams + happy dreams in sleep, the sorrowing king took the child in + his arms, and kneeling by the bier vowed never to marry + again, but to make his wife's only child the heir of his + crown and kingdom. This promise he faithfully fulfilled, and + remaining a widower, he devoted his life to the upbringing + of his daughter.</p> + + <p>It is true that the young princess had a fairy + godmother—a distant cousin of the deceased + queen—but the king could not endure that any one but + himself should have a voice in the management of his child, and + the fairy godmother, who was accustomed to the utmost deference + to her opinions, very soon quitted the court in a huff, and + left the king as supreme in the nursery as he was in the + council-chamber.</p> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/256.gif" alt="(THE PRINCESS'S BATH)"/> + </div> + + <p>When the precious baby was washed, this was done with no + common care. The bath itself was made of gold, and the two + chief physicians of the kingdom assisted the king by their + counsels. When hot water of crystal clearness had been poured + into the bath, the more celebrated of the two physicians dipped + the tip of his little finger in, and looking inquiringly at his + colleague, said "<i>Hum</i>." On which the physician of lesser + degree dipped in his little finger and said "<i>Hem</i>." And + after this the water always proved to be of the + <a name="Page_257" + id="Page_257"></a>right temperature, and did the young + princess no harm whatever. The king himself on these + occasions always dropped—with much state—a few + drops of exquisite scent into the bath, from a golden flask + studded with diamonds. The chief lady-in-waiting brought the + baby, wrapped in gorgeous robes, and put it into the bath. + The court doctors laid their fingers on their noses, and + looked very important, whilst the king—who was + short-sighted—put on his spe<a name="Page_258" + id="Page_258"></a>ctacles to enjoy the sight of the little + princess, who gambolled in the water like a fish. The rest + of her toilette was carried out with no less formality, and + as the same scrupulous care watched over every incident of + her daily life, the child grew every day more healthy and + beautiful.</p> + + <p>Time passed on without lessening the king's devotion to his + daughter. Her beauty was the standing theme of conversation in + every corner of the palace where the king was likely to + overhear it, and the courtiers rivalled each other in trying to + read the wishes of the little princess in her blue eyes, and in + endeavouring to forestall them.</p> + + <p>No wonder the little lady grew up exceedingly self-willed, + and with no thought of any one's pleasure but her own.</p> + + <p>The king hired governesses, it is true, but he strictly + forbade them ever to say a harsh word to his darling; and one + who had so far transgressed this order as to reprove the + princess for some fault, was dismissed in disgrace. Thus it + came about that the child grew daily more and more wilful and + capricious. Do what every one would, it was impossible to + please her, and as she was allowed to fly into a rage about the + most trifling matters, and as she sulked and scolded, and + growled and grumbled for the smallest annoyances, her voice + gradually acquired a peculiar snarling tone, which was as + painful to listen to as it was unbecoming in a young and pretty + princess.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_259" + id="Page_259"></a></p> + + <p>The whole court suffered from the depressing effects of the + young lady's ill-temper. Behind the king's back, the courtiers + complained pretty freely, but before his face no one dared show + his annoyance, and two old court ladies, whose nerves were not + so strong as they had been, and who feared to betray + themselves, were obliged to employ a celebrated professor of + cosmetics to paint smiles on their faces that could not be + disturbed by the snarling and grumbling of the princess; but + the Lord Chamberlain concealed his feelings by a free use of + his gold snuff-box, and snuffed away his annoyance pretty + successfully.</p> + + <p>As his daughter grew up, the king was not without his share + of suffering from her ill-temper. But he bore it all very + patiently,—"She will be a queen," said he to himself, + "and it is fit that she should have a will of her own." The + king himself was of an imperious temper, but such was his love + for his only child, that he bent it completely to her + caprices.</p> + + <p>In private, the courtiers were by no means so indulgent in + their views, and the future queen was known amongst them, + behind her back, as the Snarling Princess.</p> + + <p>In spite of her ill-temper and unpleasing voice, however, + she was so beautiful, that—being also heir to the throne + of a la<a name="Page_260" + id="Page_260"></a>rge kingdom—many princes sought her + hand in marriage. But the Snarling Princess was resolved to + reign alone, and she refused every suitor who appeared.</p> + + <p>The princess's rooms were, of course, the most beautiful in + the palace. One of these, which looked out on to the forest, + was her favourite chamber, but it was also the source of her + greatest vexation.</p> + + <p>Never did she look out of the window towards the wood + without snarling in her harshest tone, "Hateful! + Intolerable!"</p> + + <p>The source of her annoyance was this:</p> + + <p>On the edge of the forest, clearly to be seen from her + window, there stood a tiny cottage, in which lived an aged + woman who was known amongst the poor folks of the neighbourhood + as the "Three-legged Wood-wife." This was because of a wooden + staff on which she leaned to eke out the failing strength of + her own limbs. The wood-wife was both feared and hated by the + people, amongst whom she bore the character of a very malicious + witch. The king's daughter hated not only her, but her + tumble-down house, and had sent again and again, with large + offers of gold, to try and purchase the cottage. But the + wood-wife laughed spitefully at the messengers, and only + replied that the cottage suited her, and that for no money + would she quit it whilst she lived.</p> + + <p>The poor have their rights, ho<a name="Page_261" + id="Page_261"></a>wever, as well as the rich, and even the + Snarling Princess was obliged to submit to the + disappointment at which she could only grumble.</p> + + <p>At one time she resolved never to go into her favourite room + again. But she could not keep her resolution. Back she went, + and some irresistible power always seemed to draw her to the + window to irritate herself by the sight of the wretched hovel + which belonged to the Three-legged Witch.</p> + + <p>At last, however, by constantly snarling and complaining to + the king, she induced him to turn the old woman by force out of + her cottage. The king, who was just and upright, did so very + unwillingly, and he built her a new and much better cottage + elsewhere.</p> + + <p>The wood-wife could not resist, but she never put her foot + across the threshold of the new house. Meanwhile the old hovel + was swept away as fast as possible, and by the princess's wish + a pretty summer-house was built on the spot where it had stood, + and there she and her court ladies were wont to amuse + themselves on warm summer evenings to their hearts' + content.</p> + + <p>One evening the princess strolled out by herself into the + forest. She had been in several distinct rages; first with her + court ladies, secondly with her dressmaker, thirdly with the + sky, which, in spite of her wishes for fine weather, had become + overcast with clouds.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_262" + id="Page_262"></a></p> + + + + <p>In this ill-humour nothing in all the beautiful green forest + gave her any satisfaction. She snarled at the birds because + they s<a name="Page_263" + id="Page_263"></a>ang so merrily. The rustling of the green + fir-tops in the evening breeze annoyed her: "Why should + pine-trees have needles instead of leaves?" she asked + angrily; and then she grumbled because there were no roses + on the juniper bushes. Still snarling, she wandered on, till + she came to a spot where she stood still and silent in sheer + amazement.</p> + + <p>In an open space there was a circle of grotesque-looking + stones, strangely linked together by creeping plants and ferns + of curious growth. And as the Snarling Princess looked at them, + it seemed to her that the stones took dwarf-like shapes, and + glared about them with weird elfin faces. The princess seemed + rooted to the spot. An invisible power appeared to draw her + towards the group, and to attract her by a beautiful flower, + whose calyx opened at her approach. Unable to resist the + impulse, she stepped into the circle and plucked the + flower.</p> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/262.gif" alt="(THE PRINCESS BECOMES A TREE)"/> + </div> + + <p>No sooner had she done so than her feet took deep root in + the earth, her hair stiffened into fir-needles, and her arms + became branches. She was now firmly fixed in the centre of the + group of stones, a slender, swaying pine-tree, which creaked + and croaked, and snapped and snarled with every gust of wind, + as the princess had hardly ever done in her most ill-tempered + moments. And as her limbs stiffened under their + magic<a name="Page_264" + id="Page_264"></a>al transformation, the hideous figure of + the wood-wife might have been seen hovering round the + charmed circle, her arms half changed into bird's wings, and + her hands into claws. And as the king's daughter fairly + turned into a pine-tree, the wood-wife took the form of an + owl, and for a moment rested triumphantly on her branches. + Then with a shrill "Tu-whit! tu-whoo!" it vanished into the + forest.</p> + + <p>When the princess did not return to the palace, and all + search after her proved utterly vain, the poor old king fell + into a state of the deepest melancholy, and spent most of his + time in the summer-house, bewailing the mysterious loss of his + only child.</p> + + <p>One day, many months afterwards, he wandered into the + forest. A storm was raging, of which he took no heed. But + suddenly he stopped beneath a pine-tree, and looked + up—"How like my poor dear daughter's voice!" said he; + "especially when she was the least bit in the world—" He + did not like to finish the sentence, but sat down under the + tree and wept bitterly. And for every tear he shed, the + pine-tree dropped a shower of needles. For the Snarling + Princess recognized her father, and heartily lamented the pain + he suffered now, and had so often suffered before on her + account.</p> + + <p>"Tu-whit! tu-whoo!" said a voice, from a hole beneath the + pine-tree.</p> + + <p>"Who speaks?" said the king.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_265" + id="Page_265"></a></p> + + <p>"It is I, cousin," said the owl, hopping into the daylight, + and gradually assuming the form and features of the fairy + godmother. "You did not know me as the Three-legged Wood-wife, + whom you so unjustly sacrificed to your daughter's caprices. + But I have had a hand in her education after all! For twelve + months has she croaked and creaked, snapped and snarled, + beneath the summer heat, the winter snow, and the storms of + spring and autumn. Her punishment—and yours—is + over."</p> + + <p>As the fairy godmother spoke, the pine-tree became a + princess once more, and fell into her father's arms.</p> + + <p>But the wood-wife took again the shape of an owl, and the + enchanted stones became bats, and they all disappeared into the + shadows of the forest.</p> + + <p>And as the princess shortly afterwards married a very + charming prince, she no doubt changed her name.</p> + + <p>Certainly she was never more known as the Snarling + Princess.</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <p><a name="Page_266" + id="Page_266"></a></p> + + <p><a name="Page_267" + id="Page_267"></a></p> + + <h2><a name="THE_LITTLE_PARSNIP-MAN" + id="THE_LITTLE_PARSNIP-MAN"></a>THE LITTLE PARSNIP-MAN.</h2> + + <p>(<i>Freely adapted from the German.</i>)</p> + + <h4>WHAT PETER FOUND IN THE PAN—AN UGLY SMILE—THE + WIDOW'S RECKONINGS—REST BY RUSHLIGHT.</h4> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/267.gif" alt="(THE PARSNIP MAN)"/> + </div> + + <p>On a cold winter's evening it is very cosy to sit by a warm + hearth, where the fire crackles pleasantly, and the old + saucepan, which Mother has set on the fire, sings monotonously + to itself between-whiles.</p> + + <p>On such a night the wind howled in the street without, beat + upon the window-panes, and rustled through the trees, which + stood, tall and leafless, in the big garden over the way.</p> + + <p>Little Peter did not trouble his head on the subject. He sat + indoors on a little footstool, near the fire, and close also to + his mother, who was busy cutting up parsnips for next day's + dinner.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_268" + id="Page_268"></a></p> + + <p>Peter paid great attention as his mother took a well-boiled + parsnip out of the saucepan, scraped it, cut it, and laid the + pieces on a clean white dish.</p> + + <p>His mother's thoughts were elsewhere. She looked sad and + pensive. Only from time to time she nodded across the dish + towards her little Peter, and when he got up and came and laid + his head in her lap, she gently smoothed his fair hair from his + brow, and then she smiled too.</p> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/268.gif" alt="(PETER AND HIS MOTHER)"/> + </div> + + <p>Peter had no idea that his mother was sad. He had got + another parsnip out of the pan<a name="Page_269" + id="Page_269"></a>, and wanted to scrape it all by himself; + but he was not very skilful, and he worked so slowly that in + the end his mother had to finish it for him.</p> + + <p>The next thing he did was to upset the saucepan; the + parsnips fell out, and Peter began to count them.</p> + + <p>All at once he gave a cry that made his mother jump. He had + found a parsnip-root that looked exactly like a little man. It + had a regular head of its own, with a long nose, its body was + short, and it had two shrivelled stringy little legs; arms it + had none.</p> + + <p>"That's a little Parsnip-man," said his mother, when Peter + showed it to her.</p> + + <p>"A Parsnip-man?" muttered Peter below his breath, and he + gazed doubtfully at the odd-looking root in his hand.</p> + + <p>It seemed to him that the little man was smiling at him; but + with a very ugly kind of smile.</p> + + <p>Suddenly the stove gave such a loud crack, that Peter let + the parsnip fall out of his hands with a start.</p> + + <p>"What's the matter?" asked his mother, as Peter buried his + face in her arms; for he began to feel frightened.</p> + + <p>"The little Parsnip-man grinned so nastily at me, and such a + loud noise came out of the stove—and I let him fall!" His + mother laughed at him.</p> + + <p>"You've been dreaming," said she. "The little man could not + smile if he tri<a name="Page_270" + id="Page_270"></a>ed. The Parsnip-mannikins are only roots + in the day-time, you know. It is at midnight, when you have + long, long been asleep, and the church clock strikes twelve, + that they come to life. Then away they all go to the great + cave where the queen dwells in state, and here they hold + high festival. There they dance, sing, play, and eat out of + golden dishes. But as soon as the clock strikes one, all is + over, and the Parsnip-men are only roots once more.</p> + + <p>"But you've fallen asleep," she added. "Come, my child, and + I'll put you to bed. You are tired, are you not?"</p> + + <p>"Yes, I'll go to bed," said little Peter, rubbing his drowsy + eyes. So his mother took him into the bedroom and lighted the + rushlight. Then she undressed him and put him to bed. And Peter + had hardly touched the pillow before he was fast asleep.</p> + + <p>But the mother went back to the kitchen-table, and seated + herself once more by the light of the dimly-burning lamp. The + parsnips were all cut up long ago. She put the dish aside and + began to sew. Now and then she paused in her work to lean back + in her chair, and tears welled up in her eyes. Perhaps she + remembered that the rent was due, or she may have been + reflecting that Peter's jacket was past further patching. In + either case she began to count over in her mind a certain small + stock of <a name="Page_271" + id="Page_271"></a>savings which she had laid by in a + money-box, and to puzzle her poor head what she should turn + her hand to next to earn the wherewithal to buy the boy some + decent clothes. Nothing likely suggested itself, however, + and with a heavy sigh she bent once more over her work and + stitched away faster than ever. For the work she was doing + had to be taken home next morning; and there was a great + deal yet to do if she hoped to get it finished in time, and + to pay her rent with the price of it.</p> + + <p>After sitting like this for a while, she got up. Her eyes + ached, and it was getting late. The big kitchen clock was on + the stroke of twelve. She put her sewing away in her + work-basket, and carried the saucepan and the dish of parsnips + into the scullery. Then she swept up the spare roots into a + corner of the hearth, and put the little stool tidily away + under the table.</p> + + <p>But she could not see anything of the parsnip which Peter + had let fall. Possibly it had rolled behind the stove.</p> + + <p>"I shall be sure to find it in the morning, when I light the + fire," she thought.</p> + + <p>She put out the lamp, and stepped softly into the chamber + where the rushlight burned dimly. Then with one passing glance + at the sleeping boy, she undressed herself and prepared for + bed.</p> + + <p>In a few moments more all her cares and troubles had + vanished in slumber.</p> + <hr style="width: 45%;" /> + + <p><a name="Page_272" + id="Page_272"></a></p> + + <h4>THE LITTLE MAN IN THE YELLOW COAT—A MOUSE-RIDE AT + MIDNIGHT—THE HOLE IN THE WALL—AMONG THE + PARSNIP-MEN—QUEEN MARY—THE BLUE DRESS—A + CAKE-FEAST—ONE!</h4> + + <p>Little Peter had been asleep for a long time, when all at + once he found himself suddenly twitched by the arm. He rolled + over, rubbed his eyes, and then, to his amazement, saw the + little Parsnip-man sitting by him on the quilt.</p> + + <p>He did not look a bit like a parsnip now. He had on a long + yellow coat, and a little green hat on his head; and he nodded + in quite a friendly way to Peter.</p> + + <p>"Come along! Be quick!" he said. "We must be off. But wrap + up well, for it's cold outside."</p> + + <p>"Where are we going to?" asked little Peter. "Into the cave? + And is Mamma going too?"</p> + + <p>"No," said the little man. "She's stopping at home. But do + be quick, for the feast has begun."</p> + + <p>And with that he gave such a jump on to the floor that the + boards fairly creaked again, and little Peter, slipped out of + bed after him. The little Parsnip-man helped him on with his + shoes and stockings, and Peter put on the rest of his clothes + himself.</p> + + <p>Then the Mannikin pulled out a little whistle and blew on + it. Immediately there was a rustling under the bed, and then + two mice peeped out.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_273" + id="Page_273"></a></p> + + <p>In a moment the Parsnip-man caught one, and vaulted on to + its back.</p> + + <p>"You get on the other," he said to Peter.</p> + + <p>"But it isn't big enough to carry me," said Peter + doubtfully.</p> + + <p>"Get up, I tell you!" said the little man, laughing.</p> + + <p>Peter did as he was told. Doubtless he had been growing + smaller, for when he was fairly astride he sat the mouse as if + it had been made for him. As to the mouse, it kept perfectly + still for Peter to mount.</p> + + <p>"Now, sit fast!" cried the Mannikin; and Peter had hardly + seized the ears of the mouse (for want of reins), when his new + steed ran away with him under the bed.</p> + + <p>Then all of a sudden it became quite dark.</p> + + <p>"Where are we?" cried Peter, for the mouse galloped on, and + Peter was getting frightened.</p> + + <p>"We are in the cellar," the voice of the Parsnip-man replied + at his side. "Don't be frightened; it will be light again in a + minute or two."</p> + + <p>Accordingly, in a few moments, Peter could see all around + him. They had emerged from the cellar, and were now in the + street. The wind had fallen, and there was a dead calm. The + street-lamps were burning with a somewhat dim light, + however.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_274" + id="Page_274"></a></p> + + <p>Peter could now plainly see the form of the little + Parsnip-man riding beside him. The mice scampered on and + on.</p> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/274.gif" alt="(PETER RIDING THE MOUSE)"/> + </div> + + <p>A watchman was standing in the doorway of a house. His + halberd reposed against the wall beside him. Probably the + watchman himself was reposing, for he never moved when the mice + and their riders went by. They rode to the end of the street, + and there, before an old deserted house which Peter had often + shuddered to look at in the daytime, the mice stopped.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_275" + id="Page_275"></a></p> + + <p>"Here we are!" said the Parsnip-man, jumping down from his + mouse.</p> + + <p>Peter dismounted more leisurely, and the two mice ran + off.</p> + + <p>It was almost pitch dark by the old house. Only one distant + lamp gave a feeble glimmer. The Parsnip-man whistled as before. + By and by Peter heard a sound like "Bst! bst!"</p> + + <p>He looked all round, but could see nothing. At this moment + the Mannikin caught him by the arm and pointed upwards to a + hole in the wall of the old house. Peter then perceived that + something was moving higher up, and very shortly he heard a + rustling noise as if a ladder of ropes were being let down from + above.</p> + + <p>"Come quickly!" said a shrill, slender voice. "The chimes + have sounded once since the hour. The Queen is waiting."</p> + + <p>"Climb on to my shoulders, Peter," said the Parsnip-man, + stooping as he spoke. Peter did so, and held fast by the little + man's neck, who climbed nimbly up the rope-ladder to the + opening in the wall above; and there Peter got down.</p> + + <p>Here there stood another Parsnip-man with a little lantern + in his hand, which he turned on Peter's face, and then nodded + to him in a friendly way. After which he unhooked the + rope-ladder and drew it up.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_276" + id="Page_276"></a></p> + + <p>The two Parsnip-men now took Peter between them, each + holding a hand. They went through long dark passages, and then + they began to go down-stairs. Peter counted a hundred steps, + but still they went down, down, and he could count no more.</p> + + <p>All at once he heard music, which sounded as if it came from + a distance. They were now at the bottom of the steps, and + walking on level ground. The further they went the louder grew + the music, and at last the Parsnip-men came to a + standstill.</p> + + <p>The one who held the lantern threw its light upon the wall + till it disclosed a knob, on which he pressed. Then he put out + his lantern, and all was dark. But the music sounded louder + than before.</p> + + <p>Suddenly the wall parted and moved aside, and Peter could + hardly restrain his cries of astonishment, for what he now saw + was like nothing he had ever seen before. He was looking into a + great big hall. It was as light as day. Dazzling lustres of + crystal, with thousands and thousands of wax tapers, whose + flames were reflected from the mirrors suspended round the + room, hung from the roof. Strange music shook the walls, and to + the time of this music hundreds and hundreds of little + Parsnip-men twirled and danced. All of them were dressed in + yellow coats and green hats, and many of them wore long white + beards. And oh, how they chirped and smirked, and laughed and + jumped about, as if they were mad!</p> + + <p><a name="Page_277" + id="Page_277"></a></p> + + <p>For a long time Peter stood bewildered. At last the little + Parsnip-men who had brought him so far led him right into the + room, and the wall closed behind them.</p> + + <p>"Now for the Queen!" whispered one of them. "Come + along."</p> + + <p>They went down the side of the room, against the wall of + which were ranged chairs with grand purple coverings and gilded + arms. Once or twice Peter nearly slipped, so polished was the + floor. From time to time some little Parsnip-man in the company + nodded to him; otherwise no one paid much attention to him.</p> + + <p>In this way they reached the farther end of the hall, where + there was a throne, raised on a dais and covered by a canopy + hung with purple. It was something like the throne Peter once + saw when his aunt took him with her to the palace. A few steps + led up to the throne, with a wonderfully elaborate balustrade + made of gold.</p> + + <p>The little mannikins seized his hands and led him up the + steps between them. Then they drew back the purple curtains, + and displayed a grand throne on which was seated a little girl + in a snow-white dress. On her head she wore a little gold + crown, from which hung a long transparent veil. She was resting + her head on her hand, and did not look up till Peter and the + Parsnip-men were quite close to her. Then she gave a cry of + joy.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_278" + id="Page_278"></a></p> + + <p>"So you've come at last, Peter!" she cried, her eyes + brightening with delight; and as she took his hand, he saw that + she was no other than his favourite playfellow and neighbour, + little Mary.</p> + + <p>There was a second seat beside her, and to this she drew + Peter. Then she beckoned to the Parsnip-men, and said, "You + have got everything ready, have you not?" The Parsnip-men bowed + low, and hurried away.</p> + + <p>In a minute or two they returned, followed by about thirty + mannikins like themselves, who bore a magnificent dress which + they deposited before Peter. There was a coat of blue silk, + turned up with fur, and trimmed with precious stones. Besides + this there were knee-breeches of the same material, slashed + with white and fringed with gold, white silk stockings, and + smart shoes with gold buckles. To complete the whole, there lay + on the top a cap, with a heron's plume fastened by an aigrette + of gold.</p> + + <p>But Peter's attention all this time had been fixed upon + Mary. He fancied she looked bigger than usual and unfamiliar in + some way.</p> + + <p>"Take the clothes into that room," said she to the little + men; "and you, Peter," she added, "go with them and dress. Then + we will go to supper."</p> + + <p>"But—er—does your mamma <a name="Page_279" + id="Page_279"></a>know you're here?" asked Peter. He could + not get over his amazement at the style and tone in which + little Mary issued her orders in this strange place.</p> + + <p>"I should think not!" laughed the little girl. "But never + mind, Peter: we shall soon be at home again. What you've got to + do just now is to put on your things."</p> + + <p>As if in a dream, Peter went into the room into which the + clothes had been taken, and where the little men helped him to + take off his things and dress himself in his new-finery. Some + of them then brought a long mirror, in which Peter could see + himself from head to foot, and he fairly laughed with delight + at his fine appearance in his new clothes.</p> + + <p>Then the little men led him back to the Queen, who looked + him well over, and she also smiled complacently.</p> + + <p>"Did you bring your doll, Mary?" said Peter presently.</p> + + <p>"That's not very likely," replied she. "It would not do for + a queen to play at dolls."</p> + + <p>"Have you been a queen very long?" Peter inquired.</p> + + <p>"For several years," said Mary.</p> + + <p>"But you and I were playing together only yesterday," said + poor Peter, in puzzled tones.</p> + + <p>But Mary had turned her back to him, and was pulling a bell + at the back of her throne.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_280" + id="Page_280"></a></p> + + <p>Although the music was still going on, the clear tone of the + bell which the Queen had rung was heard above every other + sound.</p> + + <p>The music and the dancing stopped at once.</p> + + <p>"Come, Peter, give me your arm," said Mary. "We're going + into the supper-room."</p> + + <p>They stepped down into the hall, where all the Parsnip-men + had now ranged themselves in two long rows, down the centre of + which the Queen and her companion now passed, and then the + Parsnip-men closed in and formed a long procession behind + them.</p> + + <p>In this way they came to the other end of the hall. The + large folding-doors swung open, and Peter fancied he was + looking into a large garden. But it was only another hall in + which tall foreign-looking trees were planted, whilst + many-tinted flowers of gorgeous colours and strange shapes hung + from the walls, and hither and thither among them flitted + curious birds of many hues. As in the first hall, crystal + lustres with wax tapers descended from the roof, and in the + middle of the room, to which they now advanced, was a long + table covered with a white table-cloth, and laid out with gold + and silver plate of all sorts. There were golden vases with + handles, golden tankards, golden dessert-dishes filled with + splendid fruits; silver plates and goblets and drinking-cups, + and<a name="Page_281" + id="Page_281"></a> beside them stood crystal flasks. + Hundreds of chairs were placed round the table, and in every + place was a little silver knife and a plate.</p> + + <p>Peter could not gaze long enough. He wanted to stop every + moment, but Mary only laughed, and dragged him on.</p> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/281.gif" alt="(PETER AND MARY)"/> + </div> + + <p>About the middle of the long table t<a name="Page_282" + id="Page_282"></a>here was a dais raised above the level on + which the other chairs and table stood. It was covered by a + canopy of yellow silk, and under this was a table more + richly laid out than the big one, and two seats of pure + gold. To this Mary led Peter, and then said + emphatically—"These are <i>our</i> seats."</p> + + <p>Up they climbed, and then Mary dropped Peter's arm and sat + down on one of the seats, and he seated himself beside her on + the other.</p> + + <p>From his present elevation Peter was well able to observe + the Parsnip-men as they passed by in procession, and took their + places on the chairs.</p> + + <p>When all were seated the music recommenced. Then out of a + side door came about fifty mannikins carrying large cakes on + silver dishes, which they set down on the long table, and + having cut them up handed them round to the guests. Others + poured red or golden wine from the vases into the goblets. + Everybody ate and drank, and chatted and laughed + between-whiles.</p> + + <p>Among the golden dishes on the golden table where Peter and + Mary sat, was one which held a cake which had a particularly + inviting smell. Mary cut a piece off and put it on to Peter's + golden plate. Then, from a beautiful golden goblet, she poured + ruby-coloured wine into their crystal glasses.</p> + + <p>Peter ate and drank with great relish, and soon disposed of + the cake and wine.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_283" + id="Page_283"></a></p> + + <div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/283.gif" alt="(THE QUEENS FEAST)"/> + </div> + + <p><a name="Page_284" + id="Page_284"></a></p> + + <p>"I should like to have some of that beautiful fruit, too, if + I may," said he. And as he spoke Mary filled his plate with + grapes, apples, and pears.</p> + + <p>"Eat away, Peter!" said she, laughing till her white teeth + shone through her lips. "Don't be afraid of emptying the dish. + There is plenty more fruit if we want it."</p> + + <p>"I should like to take some home to Mamma," said Peter, + biting into an apple. "May I, Mary?"</p> + + <p>Mary nodded kindly, and handed him a golden dish full of + sweetmeats, saying, "Put as many of these into your pocket as + you like." And he filled his pockets accordingly.</p> + + <p>Peter felt as happy as a king. His head was quite turned. He + shouted aloud for joy, and swung his legs backwards and + forwards as he sat on his golden chair.</p> + + <p>"But I say, Mary," said he, laughing, "we shall go on + playing together the same as ever, sha'n't we? I shall bring my + leaden soldiers, and you'll bring your dolls again, won't + you?"</p> + + <p>But at this moment Mary seized his arm, and whispered in a + frightened voice—"Hush, Peter, hush! Don't you hear?"</p> + + <p>The music had suddenly ceased,<a name="Page_285" + id="Page_285"></a> and with it all the talking and laughing + at the long table, and in the silence the sound of the + church clock could be distinctly heard. <i>It struck + one.</i></p> + + <p>At one stroke—the lights went out, a blast of wind + blew through the banqueting-room, and then all was as still as + death.</p> + <hr style='width: 45%;' /> + + <h4>LEFT ALONE IN THE DARK—MOTHER—THE PARSNIP-MAN BY + DAYLIGHT—THREE POUNDS.</h4> + + <p>Peter sat in his chair, as if petrified with terror, Mary + still holding fast by his arm.</p> + + <p>"Quick, quick!" she cried, breathlessly. "We must get away + from here." Then she let his arm go, and hurried away from + him.</p> + + <p>"Wait, wait!" he cried, anxiously; "I don't know where I am. + Take me with you, Mary! I can't see my way. Mary! Mary! + Mary!"</p> + + <p>Nobody replied.</p> + + <p>Peter slid down from his chair and groped his way forward + till he knocked against the corner of the table. Terror fairly + overcame him, and he cried—"Mother! Mother! Mother!"</p> + + <p>"What's the matter, dear?" said his mother's gentle + voice.</p> + + <p>"I am here, Mother," cried Peter; "but I am so frightened! + Mary has run away and left me all alone in the dark hall."</p> + + <p><a name="Page_286" + id="Page_286"></a></p> + + <p>"Come, Peter, come; collect yourself," said his mother, who + was standing by the bed where poor Peter was sitting straight + up with an anxious face, down which big tears were running.</p> + + <p>"You're here, Peter, you know; in your own little bed," said + his mother, putting her arms round him.</p> + + <p>Peter began to take heart a little, and looked round him + with big wide-open eyes.</p> + + <p>"But how did I get here?" he asked, still stupefied with + sleep.</p> + + <p>"You've never been anywhere else, you know," said his + mother.</p> + + <p>"But I know the Parsnip-man took me away, and I rode on the + mouse, too," said little Peter.</p> + + <p>"Nonsense, nonsense; you're still dreaming. There, get up + and put on your clothes."</p> + + <p>"But I want the other clothes, the beautiful blue dress. + These things are so dreadfully patched and darned," said Peter, + in a lamentable tone. "And I have brought something nice for + you too, Mother dear. It's in the pockets of the blue + coat."</p> + + <p>"You haven't got a blue coat, child," said his mother. + "Come, come. Put on your clothes and come into the warm + kitchen." And she carried Peter out into the arm-chair by the + breakfast-table, and began to pour out some coffee + f<a name="Page_287" + id="Page_287"></a>or him. And she put the Parsnip-man (who + had been lying all night behind the stove) into his hand. + "See," she continued, "here's your Parsnip-man, about whom + you have been dreaming all this fine nonsense."</p> + + <p>Peter examined it with eager eyes. It looked exactly the + same as it had done the night before.</p> + + <p>"But Mary was there too," he said, still doubtfully. "She is + the Queen of the Parsnip-men, you know. And she gave me cake + and wine and fruit."</p> + + <p>"Well, we'll ask her about it next time she comes," said his + mother, laughing.</p> + + <p>Just then there was a knock at the door. The mother hastened + to open it, and found a messenger waiting with a letter in his + hand which had several seals on it. It was addressed to + herself, and beside the address was written, "<i>Three pounds + enclosed.</i>" Having given a small sum to the messenger for + his trouble, the widow broke the seals of the letter with + trembling fingers. The three pounds were duly enclosed, but no + letter accompanied the welcome money.</p> + + <p>Overcome with joy, the widow seized Peter, who had crept + curiously to her side, in her arms and exclaimed with delight, + "Ah! you shall have a nice blue dress, after all, my + child."</p> + + <p>But when the boy asked, "Wh<a name="Page_288" + id="Page_288"></a>o has sent us all this money, Mother?" all + she could say was, "I wish I knew, my dear. But you see + there is no letter with it."</p> + + <p>Then Peter smiled expressively, but said nothing, for he + thought—"Mother won't believe me, I know. But who can the + money have come from, except from the little Parsnip-man?"</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <p><a name="Page_289" + id="Page_289"></a></p> + + <h2><a name="A_CHILDS_WISHES" + id="A_CHILDS_WISHES"></a>A CHILD'S WISHES.</h2> + + <p>(<i>From the German of R. Reinick.</i>)</p> + + <p>A certain old knight had a little daughter called Gertrude; + and when his brother died, leaving an only son, he took the boy + into his castle, and treated him as his own son. The boy's name + was Walter. The two children lived together like brother and + sister; they only played where they could play together, and + were of one heart and of one soul. But one day, when Gertrude + had gone out alone to pick flowers beyond the castle gate, some + gipsies came along the high-road, who stole the child and took + her away. No one knew what had become of her; the poor old + father died of grief, and Walter wept long days and nights for + his Gertrude.</p> + + <p>At last there came a warm spring day, when the trees began + to bud, and Walter went out into the wood. There, in a + beautiful green spot, a brook bubbled under the trees, where he + had often <a name="Page_290" + id="Page_290"></a>sat with Gertrude, floating little boats + of nutshells on the stream. He sat down there now, cut + himself a hazel stick for a hobby-horse, and as he did so he + said to himself—</p> + + <p>"Ah! if I were but a grown-up knight, as tall and stately as + those who used to come to my uncle's castle, I would ride out + into the wide world and look for Gertrude!"</p> + + <p>Meanwhile, he heard something screaming near him, and when + he looked up he saw a raven, which was stuck so fast between + two branches of a tree that it could not move, whilst a snake + was gliding towards it to devour it. Walter hastily seized his + stick, beat the snake to death, and set the raven free.</p> + + <p>"A thousand thanks, my dear child!" said the raven, who had + flown up into a tree, from which he spoke—"a thousand + thanks! And now, since you have saved my life, wish for + whatever you like, and it shall be granted immediately. A year + hence we will speak of this again."</p> + + <p>When Walter heard this, he saw at once that the raven was an + enchanted bird, and exclaimed with joy—</p> + + <p>"I should like to be a noble knight with a helmet and a + shield, a charger and a sword!"</p> + + <p>All happened just as he wished. In an instant he was a tall, + stately knight; his shield stood near him, and his hobby-horse + became a<a name="Page_291" + id="Page_291"></a> proud charger, which, to show that it was + no ghost, but a real horse of flesh and blood, began then + and there to drink out of the stream.</p> + + <p>At first, Walter could not think what had happened to him, + but stood as if he were in a dream. Soon, however, a new life + seemed to wake within him; he swung himself on to his horse + with all the energy of youth, and rode far out into the land to + look for little Gertrude.</p> + + <p>Like other knights, he met with many adventures on his way. + There was always something to contend with, either wild beasts + or else knights, who, like himself, roved about the country + delighting to find any one with whom they could do battle. On + every occasion, however, Walter came off conqueror, for he was + far more valiant than any of his opponents.</p> + + <p>At last, one day he came within sight of a mountain, on + which stood a high castle belonging to a certain queen. As he + reached the summit, he saw from afar a little maiden, who sat + playing with her doll before the castle gate, and when he drew + nearer he found that it was his little Gertrude. Then he put + spurs to his horse and shouted joyfully—</p> + + <p>"Good-day, dear Gertrude!" But the child knew him not. As he + drew nearer, he called again: "It is I indeed!—it is + Cousin Walter!" but the child believed him not. + And<a name="Page_292" + id="Page_292"></a> when he sprang from his horse to kiss + her, and his armour, sword, and spurs rattled and clashed as + he did so, the child was afraid that this strange man would + hurt her, and she ran away back into the castle.</p> + + <p>Poor Walter was very much troubled. He went in, however, and + presented himself to the queen, who received him very + graciously. He told her all that had happened, and learnt from + her that she had bought Gertrude from the gipsies. But when he + begged that she would let him take his dear little cousin away + with him, she consented only on condition that the child + herself should be willing, for Gertrude had become very dear to + the old queen. So she called the little maid in, and + said—</p> + + <p>"Now look here, my child: this really is your Cousin Walter. + Do you no longer love him, and will you not go away with + him?"</p> + + <p>The child looked at the knight from head to foot, and then + said in a troubled voice—</p> + + <p>"Since you both declare that it is Walter, I suppose I must + believe it. Ah! if only he were still as little as he was a + year ago, I would go into the wide world with him, wherever he + wanted; but now, I never can. It would be no good, whilst he is + like that. If I wanted to play hide-and-seek, as we used to do, + his armour would shine, and his spurs rattle, and I should know + where he<a name="Page_293" + id="Page_293"></a> was directly. If I wanted to go to school + with him, he could not sit by me on the little benches at + the little tables. Then what could a poor child like me do + for such a stately knight? If I tried to work for him, I + should burn my little hands; if I tried to make his clothes, + I should prick my little fingers; and if I ran races with + him, I should hurt my little feet. If I were a grown-up + princess, indeed, it would be a different thing."</p> + + <p>Walter could not but feel that what Gertrude said was true. + So he took leave of them both, mounted his horse, and rode + away; but the queen and Gertrude watched him from the + battlements of the castle.</p> + + <p>He had not ridden many steps when a voice from a tree called + "Walter! Walter!" and when he looked up, there was the raven, + who said—</p> + + <p>"A year has passed since you wished to be a knight. If you + have another wish, speak, and it shall be granted; but observe, + what you wished before will then be at an end."</p> + + <p>To these last words Walter paid no attention. The raven had + no sooner said that he might have another wish than he + interrupted it, exclaiming: "Then I wish Gertrude to be a + grown-up princess!"</p> + + <p>But even as he spoke he himself became a child again, and + his horse a hobby-horse, just as they had been a year ago. But + when he looked up to the battlements, there stood by the queen + a wo<a name="Page_294" + id="Page_294"></a>nderfully beautiful princess, tall and + slim and stately; and this was—his Gertrude! Then the + boy, taking his hobby-horse, went back up to the castle + steps, and wept bitterly. But the queen was sorry for him, + took him in, and tried to comfort him.</p> + + <p>And now there was another trouble. Dearly as the Princess + Gertrude and the boy Walter loved each other, they were not so + happy as they should have been. If Walter said to her, "Come, + Gertrude, and we'll run races, and jump over the ditches," she + would answer, "Oh! that would never do for a princess; what + would people say?"</p> + + <p>If Walter said, "Come and play hide-and-seek," Gertrude + would answer again, "Oh! but that would never do for a + princess; I should leave my train hanging on the thorns, and my + coronet would be tumbling off my head."</p> + + <p>Then if Gertrude asked Walter to bring in some venison for + the table, the boy would bring her a mouse instead; and if a + bull or a mad dog came after them, Gertrude must snatch Walter + up in her arms, and run off with him, for she was so much + bigger than he, and could run a great deal quicker. Meanwhile + he remained in the castle, and the boy became very dear to the + old queen.</p> + + <p>Another year passed by, and one morning Gertrude sat under a + tree in<a name="Page_295" + id="Page_295"></a> the garden with her embroidery, whilst + Walter played at her feet. Then, as before, a voice called + out of the tree, "Walter! Walter!" And when the boy looked + up, the raven was sitting on a branch, who said: "Now once + more you may wish, and it shall be granted; but this is the + last time, therefore think it well over."</p> + + <p>But Walter did not think long before he answered: "Ah! let + us both be children all our lives long."</p> + + <p>And as he wished so it happened. They both became children + as before, played together more happily than ever, and were of + one heart and of one soul.</p> + + <p>But when another year had passed by, and the children sat + plucking flowers and singing together in the garden, an angel + flew down from heaven, who took them both in his arms and + carried them away—away to the celestial gardens of + Paradise, where they are yet together, gathering the flowers + that never fade, and singing songs so wondrously beautiful, + that even the blessed angels hear with joy.</p> + <hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + <p><a name="Page_296" + id="Page_296"></a></p> + + <p><a name="Page_297" + id="Page_297"></a></p> + + <h2><a name="WAR_AND_THE_DEAD" + id="WAR_AND_THE_DEAD"></a>WAR AND THE DEAD.</h2> + + <h3>A DRAMATIC DIALOGUE.</h3> + + <p>(<i>From the French of Jean Macé.</i>)</p> + + <p><span class="smcap">Dramatis Personæ.</span></p> + + <p><span class="smcap">Peace</span>.<br /> + <span class="smcap">War</span>.<br /> + <span class="smcap">A French Grenadier</span>.<br /> + <span class="smcap">A German Hussar</span>.<br /> + <span class="smcap">A Scotch Highlander</span>.<br /> + <span class="smcap">A Cossack</span>.<br /> + <span class="smcap">A Russian Peasant Woman</span>.<br /> + <span class="smcap">A French Peasant Woman</span>.<br /> + <span class="smcap">A German Peasant Woman</span>.<br /> + <span class="smcap">An English Peasant Woman.</span></p> + + <p><span class="smcap">Soldiers</span> <i>are lying on the + ground.</i> <span class="smcap">Peace</span> <i>is seated at + the back, leaning her elbow on one knee, her head resting on + her hand</i>.</p> + + <p><i>Enter</i> <span class="smcap">War</span>.</p> + + <p><span class="smcap">War</span>. To-day is the 18th of June, + the anniversary of the battle of Waterloo, the day of a wrath + which still mutters, and of a hatred yet unappeased. Let us + employ it in re-animating this torpid century, which succumbs + to the coward sweetness of an inglorious peace. After forty + years of forced repose brighter days seemed at last to have + returned to me. Twice did I unfurl the old colours in the + breez<a name="Page_298" + id="Page_298"></a>e; twice I made hearts beat as of old at + the magic din of battles; and twice that hateful Peace, + rising suddenly before me, snatched the yet rusty sword from + my hands.</p> + + <p>Up! up! O heroes of great battles! you whom twenty-five + years of warfare did not satiate: rise from your graves and + shame your degenerate successors. Up! up! Bid some remember + that they have a revenge to take, and tell others that they are + not yet enough avenged.</p> + + <p><span class="smcap">Peace</span> <i>rises</i>.</p> + + <p><span class="smcap">Peace</span>. What do you want here, + relentless War? Dispute the world of the living with me if you + will, but at least respect the peace of the grave.</p> + + <p><span class="smcap">War</span>. I have a right to summon the + Dead when it is in the name of their country.</p> + + <p><span class="smcap">Peace</span>. The Dead are with + <span class="smcap">God</span>; they have but one country among + them.</p> + + <p><span class="smcap">War</span>. You may dispense with set + speeches, most eloquent Peace, for I pay no attention to them. + I go forward, and leave talk to chatterers. The world belongs + to the brave.</p> + + <p><span class="smcap">Peace</span>. The world belongs to those + who are in the right. Since, however, you will not listen to + me, you shall hear the Dead themselves, and see if they agree + with you. (<i>Turns to the</i> + <span class="smcap">Dead</span>.) Arise, my children; come and + confound those who wish to fight with the bones of the + departed.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_299" + id="Page_299"></a></p> + + <p><i>The</i> <span class="smcap">Dead</span> <i>rise</i>.</p> + + <p><span class="smcap">Grenadier</span>. I have slept a long + time since Austerlitz. Who are you, comrades?</p> + + <p><span class="smcap">Hussar</span>. I come from the + battle-field of Leipsic, where the great German race broke the + yoke which your Emperor had laid upon it.</p> + + <p><span class="smcap">Grenadier</span>. You were left upon the + field?</p> + + <p><span class="smcap">Hussar</span>. I am proud to say so.</p> + + <p><span class="smcap">Grenadier</span>. And you are right, old + fellow; every man owes himself to his country. We others have + done just the same. If you had let us alone in '92 we should + not have come to you.</p> + + <p><span class="smcap">Cossack</span>. I was killed under the + walls of Paris, where great Russia went to return the insult + she had received at Moscow.</p> + + <p><span class="smcap">Highlander</span>. I fell at Waterloo, + avenging the great English people for the threats of the camp + at Boulogne. I drowned in my blood the last effort of your + Imperial Eagle.</p> + + <p><span class="smcap">Grenadier</span>. Well! we are well + matched. My blood reddened the plain of Austerlitz, where the + great French nation was avenged on Brunswick and Souwaroff. We + have all perished, buried in a triumph. We can shake hands upon + it.</p> + + <p><span class="smcap">Cossack</span>. Brave men are equals, in + whatever dress. Let us shake hands.</p> + + <p><span class="smcap">Hussar</span>. We have all died for our + country. Let us be brothers.</p> + + <p><a name="Page_300" + id="Page_300"></a></p> + + <p><span class="smcap">Highlander</span>. Let us be brothers. + The hatreds of earth do not extend beyond the grave.</p> + + <p>[<i>They join hands.</i></p> + + <p><span class="smcap">Grenadier</span>. And now Peace is + proclaimed, let us tell each other what we used to do before we + became warriors.</p> + + <p><span class="smcap">Cossack</span>. I cultivated a piece of + ground in the steppes and took care of my old mother.</p> + + <p><span class="smcap">Highlander</span>. I brought up my + daughter by farming a piece of ground which I had cleared on my + native heath.</p> + + <p><span class="smcap">Hussar</span>. I lived with my wife on + the piece of land which we cultivated.</p> + + <p><span class="smcap">Grenadier</span>. I tilled a piece of + ground also, and supported my sister. It seems that we were all + four of the same way of life. How did we come to kill one + another?</p> + + <p><span class="smcap">Cossack</span>. The Czar spoke, and I + marched.</p> + + <p><span class="smcap">Highlander</span>. Parliament voted for + war, and I marched.</p> + + <p><span class="smcap">Hussar</span>. Our princes cried, "To + arms!" and I marched.</p> + + <p><span class="smcap">Grenadier</span>. As for me, my comrades + cried, "To arms!" and I put on my best sabots. But after all, + what have we against each other? Where was the quarrel between + our respective ploughshares? (<i>To the</i> + <span class="smcap">Hussar</span>.) You, for instance, who + began, what did you come into my country for?</p> + + <p><a name="Page_301" + id="Page_301"></a></p> + + <p><span class="smcap">Hussar</span>. We came to destroy + brigands.</p> + + <p><span class="smcap">Grenadier</span>. Brigands! That is to + say, my unfortunate self, and other labourers like you and me. + After this, well might we be made to sing about</p> + + <p>"Vile blood soaking our furrows!"</p> + + <p>I see now this "vile blood" was yours, my friend, and that + of brave men like you. Cursed be those who forced us to fight + together!</p> + + <p><span class="smcap">Hussar</span>. Cursed be the contrivers + of War!</p> + + <p><span class="smcap">War</span> (<i>advancing</i>). Shame on + you, degraded warriors! Your very wives would disown you. + (<i>The</i> <span class="smcap">Dead</span> <i>gaze + fixedly.</i>) You are silent! What have you to answer?</p> + + <p><span class="smcap">Peace</span>. The Dead do not reply. + (<i>Points with her hand to the stage entrance.</i>) These + shall answer for them.</p> + + <p><i>Enter</i> Four Veiled + <span class="smcap">Women</span>.</p> + + <p>[<i>One of the</i> Veiled <span class="smcap">Women</span> + <i>slowly advances. When in front of the stage she lifts her + veil, and is seen by the audience. The others afterwards do the + same.</i></p> + + <p><span class="smcap">First Woman</span>. Oh, my brother! + where are you now? If you are ill, who nurses you? If you are + wounded, who watches over you? If you are a prisoner, who + comforts you? If you are dead—Alas! every night I go to + rest w<a name="Page_302" + id="Page_302"></a>eeping, because I have had no news of you; + and every morning I awake dreading to receive it. We were so + happy! We lived so comfortably together! and now I sit at + our little table, with your empty place before me, and + cannot eat for looking at it. Yet I made you promise to come + back when we said good-bye. Ah! unkind! Why are you so long + in fulfilling your promise?</p> + + <p>[<i>She closes her veil and crosses to one side of the + stage. The others afterwards do the same.</i></p> + + <p><span class="smcap">Grenadier</span>. It is my sister, + friends. She is repeating the words of our last adieu.</p> + + <p><span class="smcap">Second Woman</span>. Oh, my father! why + have you left your child? Alas! when you went away I + played—poor fool!—with your brilliant uniform. + (Dark livery of death, would that I had never seen thee!) I + said I should be proud of you when you came back to me, having + killed a great many of your enemies. Child that I was to speak + of killing, not knowing what it meant! And now, when will you + return? What have they done with you, dear Father? What has + become of that revered head, which my lips never approached but + with respect? Perhaps at this very moment it is dragged, all + stained and livid, through the dust or in the mud. Oh, + <span class="smcap">God</span>! if my prayers may still avail + for him, withdraw him speedily from those frightful conflicts, + where every blow falls upon a father, a son, a brother, or a + husband. Pity the many tears that flow for every drop of + blood!</p> + + <p><a name="Page_303" + id="Page_303"></a></p> + + <p><span class="smcap">Highlander</span>. It is my daughter! I + yet hear the last farewell her innocent mouth sent after + me.</p> + + <p><span class="smcap">Third Woman</span>. Oh, my beloved! + where can I go to look for you? Little did we think, when we + vowed before <span class="smcap">God</span> never in this life + to forsake each other, that War would come and carry you away + as a leaf is driven before the wind. Perhaps at this moment you + are stretched upon an armful of bloody straw, and other hands + than mine dress your glorious wounds. Ah, miserable me! of what + does my tender jealousy complain? Who knows if you are not by + this time safe from wounds for ever? Oh, my + <span class="smcap">God</span>! if Thou hast taken him, take me + also. I promised to follow him when I received his parting + kiss.</p> + + <p><span class="smcap">Hussar</span>. It is my wife beyond a + doubt! I recognize the words her sweet voice murmured that very + day in my ear.</p> + + <p><span class="smcap">Fourth Woman</span>. I said, "Go, and + bear yourself like a man." He went, and he has not returned. + Ah, merciless tigers! we rear our children with fear and + weeping. We pass whole nights bent over their little cradles, + and when we have made men of them you come and take them away + from us that you may send them to death. And we, miserable + women! must encourage them to die if we would not have them + dishonoured. Poor dear boy! so strong! so handsome! so good to + his mother! Ah! if th<a name="Page_304" + id="Page_304"></a>ere be a <span class="smcap">God</span> of + vengeance, surely the cries of desolate mothers will allow + no sleep to those who provoke such massacres. They will + haunt them to the grave, and rise behind them to the foot of + that throne where the great Judge of all awaits them.</p> + + <p>[<i>She buries her face in her hands.</i></p> + + <p><span class="smcap">Cossack</span>. It is my mother! I + recognize her last words. (<i>He springs towards her</i>.) It + is I, Mother, it is I! (<i>She raises her head</i>.) What do I + see? A stranger! and it is an Englishwoman!</p> + + <p><span class="smcap">Highlander</span> (<i>raising the + daughter's veil</i>). Good heavens! She is a German.</p> + + <p><span class="smcap">Hussar</span> (<i>raising the wife's + veil</i>). It is not she! It is a Frenchwoman.</p> + + <p><span class="smcap">Grenadier</span> (<i>raising the + sister's veil</i>). She is a Russian! It is not for us that + they are weeping; perhaps it is for some of those whom we have + killed. How could we be so deceived?</p> + + <p><span class="smcap">Peace</span> (<i>advancing</i>). There + are sisters, wives, daughters, and mothers everywhere, my + children, and Nature has but one language in all countries. + (<i>To <span class="smcap">WAR</span></i>.) As for you, go and + sound your trumpet in barracks and drinking-houses, but invoke + the Dead no more, and do not reckon upon women.</p> + + <p><span class="smcap">Note</span>.—The battle of + Austerlitz was fought December 2, 1805. The battle of Leipsic, + August 16-19, 1813. The Allies took Paris March 30, + 1814.</p><br /> + <br /> + + <p><i>Richard Clay & Sons, Limited, London & + Bungay.</i></p> + + <p><a name="Page_305" + id="Page_305"></a></p> + + <p><i>The present Series of Mrs. Ewing's Works is the only + authorised, complete, and uniform Edition published.</i></p> + + <p><i>It will consist of 18 volumes, Small Crown 8vo, at 2s. + 6d. per vol., issued, as far as possible, in chronological + order, and these will appear at the rate of two volumes every + two months, so that the Series will be completed within 18 + months. The device of the cover was specially designed by a + Friend of Mrs. Ewing.</i></p> + + <p><i>The following is a list of the books included in the + Series—</i></p> + + <p>1. MELCHIOR'S DREAM, AND OTHER TALES.<br /> + <br /> + 2. MRS. OVERTHEWAY'S REMEMBRANCES.<br /> + <br /> + 3. OLD-FASHIONED FAIRY TALES.<br /> + <br /> + 4. A FLAT IRON FOR A FARTHING.<br /> + <br /> + 5. THE BROWNIES, AND OTHER TALES.<br /> + <br /> + 6. SIX TO SIXTEEN.<br /> + <br /> + 7. LOB LIE-BY-THE-FIRE, AND OTHER TALES.<br /> + <br /> + 8. JAN OF THE WINDMILL.<br /> + <a name="Page_306" + id="Page_306"></a><br /> + 9. VERSES FOR CHILDREN, AND SONGS.<br /> + <br /> + 10. THE PEACE EGG—A CHRISTMAS MUMMING PLAY—HINTS + FOR PRIVATE THEATRICALS, &c.<br /> + <br /> + 11. A GREAT EMERGENCY, AND OTHER TALES.<br /> + <br /> + 12. BROTHERS OF PITY, AND OTHER TALES OF BEASTS AND MEN.<br /> + <br /> + 13. WE AND THE WORLD, Part I.<br /> + <br /> + 14. WE AND THE WORLD, Part II.<br /> + <br /> + 15. JACKANAPES—DADDY DARWIN'S DOVECOTE—THE STORY OF + A SHORT LIFE.<br /> + <br /> + 16. MARY'S MEADOW, AND OTHER TALES OF FIELDS AND FLOWERS.<br /> + <br /> + 17. MISCELLANEA, including The Mystery of the Bloody + Hand—Wonder Stories—Tales of the Khoja, and other + translations.<br /> + <br /> + 18. JULIANA HORATIA EWING AND HER BOOKS, with a selection + from Mrs. Ewing's Letters.</p> + + <p><br /><span class="smcap">S.P.C.K., Northumberland Avenue, London, + W.C.</span></p> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Miscellanea, by Juliana Horatia Ewing + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MISCELLANEA *** + +***** This file should be named 16347-h.htm or 16347-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/3/4/16347/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Paul Ereaut and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +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 + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + +*** END: FULL LICENSE *** + + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> + diff --git a/16347-h/images/114.gif b/16347-h/images/114.gif Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..86f05c4 --- /dev/null +++ b/16347-h/images/114.gif diff --git a/16347-h/images/177.gif b/16347-h/images/177.gif Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..11a96a6 --- /dev/null +++ b/16347-h/images/177.gif diff --git a/16347-h/images/195.gif b/16347-h/images/195.gif Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7f9c768 --- /dev/null +++ b/16347-h/images/195.gif diff --git a/16347-h/images/202.gif b/16347-h/images/202.gif Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4f49d9e --- /dev/null +++ b/16347-h/images/202.gif diff --git a/16347-h/images/206.gif b/16347-h/images/206.gif Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..731e037 --- /dev/null +++ b/16347-h/images/206.gif diff --git a/16347-h/images/211.gif b/16347-h/images/211.gif Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9f45c96 --- /dev/null +++ b/16347-h/images/211.gif diff --git a/16347-h/images/213.gif b/16347-h/images/213.gif Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6480fdd --- /dev/null +++ b/16347-h/images/213.gif diff --git a/16347-h/images/216.gif b/16347-h/images/216.gif Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9290fd9 --- /dev/null +++ b/16347-h/images/216.gif diff --git a/16347-h/images/221.gif b/16347-h/images/221.gif Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..22006a6 --- /dev/null +++ b/16347-h/images/221.gif diff --git a/16347-h/images/224.gif b/16347-h/images/224.gif Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8e5be3e --- /dev/null +++ b/16347-h/images/224.gif diff --git a/16347-h/images/232.gif b/16347-h/images/232.gif Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f731b80 --- /dev/null +++ b/16347-h/images/232.gif diff --git a/16347-h/images/236.gif b/16347-h/images/236.gif Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4eef3c4 --- /dev/null +++ b/16347-h/images/236.gif diff --git a/16347-h/images/239.gif b/16347-h/images/239.gif Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ffbd1e0 --- /dev/null +++ b/16347-h/images/239.gif diff --git a/16347-h/images/244.gif b/16347-h/images/244.gif Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b453ea8 --- /dev/null +++ b/16347-h/images/244.gif diff --git a/16347-h/images/255.gif b/16347-h/images/255.gif Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a1ab62a --- /dev/null +++ b/16347-h/images/255.gif diff --git a/16347-h/images/256.gif b/16347-h/images/256.gif Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..cb0c78c --- /dev/null +++ b/16347-h/images/256.gif diff --git a/16347-h/images/262.gif b/16347-h/images/262.gif Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0d443ab --- /dev/null +++ b/16347-h/images/262.gif diff --git a/16347-h/images/267.gif b/16347-h/images/267.gif Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f1c9eac --- /dev/null +++ b/16347-h/images/267.gif diff --git a/16347-h/images/268.gif b/16347-h/images/268.gif Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..88c133e --- /dev/null +++ b/16347-h/images/268.gif diff --git a/16347-h/images/274.gif b/16347-h/images/274.gif Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7881840 --- /dev/null +++ b/16347-h/images/274.gif diff --git a/16347-h/images/281.gif b/16347-h/images/281.gif Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..809bec9 --- /dev/null +++ b/16347-h/images/281.gif diff --git a/16347-h/images/283.gif b/16347-h/images/283.gif Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1cfd489 --- /dev/null +++ b/16347-h/images/283.gif diff --git a/16347.txt b/16347.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b76260c --- /dev/null +++ b/16347.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7479 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Miscellanea, by Juliana Horatia Ewing + +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: Miscellanea + +Author: Juliana Horatia Ewing + +Release Date: July 22, 2005 [EBook #16347] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MISCELLANEA *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Paul Ereaut and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + +MISCELLANEA. + + +BY + +JULIANA HORATIA EWING. + + +SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE, +London: Northumberland Avenue, W.C. +43, Queen Victoria Street, E.C. +Brighton: 129, North Street. +New York: E. & J.B. YOUNG & CO. + + +[Published under the direction of the General Literature +Committee.] + + + + +PREFACE. + + +The contents of this volume are republished in order to make the Edition +a complete collection of Mrs. Ewing's works, rather than because of +their intrinsic worth. The fact that she did not republish the papers +during her life shows that she did not estimate them very highly +herself; but as each one has a special interest connected with it, I +feel I am not violating her wishes in bringing the collection before the +public. + +One of Mrs. Ewing's strongest gifts was her power of mimicry; this made +her an actor above the average of amateurs, and also enabled her to +imitate any special style of writing that she wished. The first four +stories in this volume are instances of this power. _The Mystery of the +Bloody Hand_ was an attempt to vie with some of the early sensational +novels, such as _Lady Audley's Secret_ and _The Moonstone_;--tales in +which a glimpse of the supernatural is introduced amongst scenes of +every-day life. + +During my sister's girlhood we had a family MS. Magazine (as our Mother +had done in her young days), and two of the stories in Mrs. Gatty's +"Aunt Judy's Letters," _The Flatlands Fun Gazette_ and _The Black Bag_, +were founded on this custom, Mrs. Ewing being the typical "Aunt Judy" of +the book. Mrs. Gatty described how the children were called upon each to +contribute a tale for _The Black Bag_, and how No. 5 remonstrated by +saying--"I've been sitting over the fire this evening trying to think, +but what _could_ come, with only the coals and the fire-place before one +to look at? I dare say neither Hans Andersen nor Grimm nor any of those +fellows would have written anything, if they had not gone about into +caves and forests and those sort of places, or boated in the North +Seas!" Aunt Judy replied that she also had been looking into the fire, +and the longer she did so, the more she decided "that Hans Andersen was +not beholden to caves or forests or any curious things or people for his +story-telling inspirations"; but as it was difficult for the "little +ones" to write she enclosed three tales as "jokes, imitations, in fact, +of the Andersenian power of spinning gold threads out of old tow-ropes." +So far this was Mrs. Gatty's own writing, but the three tales were the +work of the real Aunt Judy, Mrs. Ewing herself. These three are (1) +_The Smut_, (2) _The Crick_, (3) _The Brothers_. The last sentence in +_The Brothers_ recalls the last entry in Mrs. Ewing's commonplace book, +which is quoted in her Life--"If we still love those we lose, can we +altogether lose those we love?" + +_Cousin Peregrine's Wonder Stories_ and _Traveller's Tales_ were written +after Mrs. Ewing's marriage, with the help of her husband; he supplied +the facts and descriptions from things which he had seen during his long +residence abroad. Colonel Ewing also helped my sister in translating the +_Tales of the Khoja_ from the Turkish. The illustrations now reproduced +were drawn by our brother, Alfred Scott-Gatty. + +In _Little Woods_ and _May-Day Customs_ Mrs. Ewing showed her ready +ability to take up any subject of interest that came under her +notice--botany, horticulture, archaeology, folk-lore, or whatever it +might be. The same readiness was shown in her adaptation of the various +versions of the _Mumming Play_, or _The Peace Egg_. + +_In Memoriam_ was written under considerable restraint soon after our +Mother's death. My sister knew that she did not wish her biography to be +written, but still it was impossible to let the originator and editor of +_Aunt Judy's Magazine_ pass away without some little record being given +to the many children who loved her writings. In Ecclesfield Church +there is a tablet erected to Mrs. Gatty's memory by one thousand +children, who each contributed sixpence. + +_The Snarling Princess_ and _The Little Parsnip Man_ are adaptations of +two fairy tales which appeared in a German magazine; and as both the +tales and their illustrations took Mrs. Ewing's fancy, she made a free +rendering of them for _Aunt Judy's Magazine_. + +_A Child's Wishes_ and _War and the Dead_ are more accurate +translations, but it may be said they have not suffered in their +transmission from one language to another. My sister's selection of the +last sketch for translation is noticeable, as giving a foretaste of her +keen sympathy with military interests. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +The Mystery of the Bloody Hand + +The Smut + +The Crick + +The Brothers + +Cousin Peregrine's Wonder Stories: + 1. The Chinese Jugglers, and the Englishman's Hands + + 2. Waves of the Great South Seas + +Cousin Peregrine's Traveller's Tales: + Jack of Pera + +The Princes of Vegetation + +Little Woods + +May-Day, Old Style and New Style + +In Memoriam, Margaret Gatty + +Tales of the Khoja (_from the Turkish_) + +The Snarling Princess (_adapted from the German_) + +The Little Parsnip-Man (_adapted from the German_) + +A Child's Wishes (_from the German of R. Reinick_) + +War and the Dead (_from the French of Jean Mace_) + + + + +THE MYSTERY OF THE BLOODY HAND. + + +CHAPTER I. + +A MEMORABLE NEW YEAR'S DAY. + + +_Dorothy to Eleanor_, + +Dearest Eleanor, + +You have so often reminded me how rapidly the most startling facts pass +from the memory of man, and I have so often thereupon promised to write +down a full account of that mysterious affair in which I was +providentially called upon to play so prominent a part, that it is with +shame I reflect that the warning has been unheeded and the promise +unfulfilled. Do not, dear friend, accuse my affection, but my engrossing +duties and occupations, for this neglect, and believe that I now take +advantage of my first quiet evening for many months to fulfil your wish. + +Betty has just brought me a cup of tea, and I have told the girl to be +within call; for once a heroine is not always a heroine, dear Nell. I am +full of childish terrors, and I assure you it is with no small mental +effort that I bring myself to recall the terrible events of the year +1813. + +Oddly enough, it was on the first day of this year that I made the +acquaintance of Mr. George Manners; and I think I can do no better than +begin by giving you an extract from the first page of my journal at that +time. + +"_Jan. 1, 1813_.--It is mid-day, and very fine, but it was no easy +matter to be at service this morning after all good Dr. Penn's +injunctions, as last night's dancing, and the long drive home, made me +sleepy, and Harriet is still in bed. + +"Though I am not so handsome as Harriet, and boast of no conquests, and +though the gentlemen do not say the wonderfully pretty things to me that +they seem to do to her, I have much enjoyed several balls since my +introduction into society. But for ever first and foremost on my list of +dances must be Lady Lucy Topham's party on New Year's Eve. Let me say +New Year's Day, for the latter part of the evening was the happy one to +me. During the first part I danced a little and watched the others much. +To sit still is mortifying, and yet I almost think the dancing was the +greater penance, since I never had much to say to men of whom I know +nothing: the dances seem interminable, and I am ever haunted by a vague +feeling that my partner is looking out over my head for some one +prettier and more lively, which is not inspiring. I must not forget a +little incident, as we came up the stairs into the ball-room. With my +customary awkwardness I dropped my fan, and was about to stoop for it, +when some one who had been following us darted forward and presented it +to me. I curtsied low, he bowed lower; our eyes met for a moment, and +then he fell behind. It was by his eyes that I recognized him afterwards +in the ball-room, for in the momentary glance on the stairs I had not +had time to observe his prominent height and fine features. How +strangely one's fancy is sometimes seized upon by a foolish wish! My +modest desire last night was to dance with this Mr. George Manners, the +handsomest man and best dancer of the room, to be whose partner even +Harriet was proud. Though I had not a word for my second-rate partners, +I fancied that I could talk to _him_. Oh, foolish heart! how I chid +myself for my folly in watching his tall figure thread the dances, in +fancying that I had met his eyes many times that evening, and, above +all, for the throb of jealous disappointment that came with every dance +when he did not do what I never soberly expected he would--ask me. A +little before twelve I was sitting out among the turbans, when I saw him +standing at some distance, and unmistakably looking at me. A sudden +horror seized me that something was wrong--my hair coming down, my dress +awry--and I was not comforted by Harriet passing at this moment with-- + +"'What! sitting out still? You should be more lively, child! Men don't +like dancing with dummies.' + +"When her dress had whisked past me I looked up and saw him again, but +at that moment he sharply turned his back on me and walked into the +card-room. I was sitting still when he came out again with Mr. Topham. +The music had just struck up, the couples were gathering; he was going +to dance then. I looked down at my bouquet with tears in my eyes, and +was trying hard to subdue my folly and to count the petals of a white +camellia, when Mr. Topham's voice close by me said-- + +"'Miss Dorothy Lascelles, may I introduce Mr. Manners to you?' and in +two seconds more my hand was in his arm, and he was saying in a voice as +commonplace as if the world had not turned upside down-- + +"'I think it is Sir Roger.' + +"It is a minor satisfaction to me to reflect that, for once in my life, +I was right. I did talk to Mr. George Manners. The first thing I said +was-- + +"'I am very much obliged to you for picking up my fan.' To which he +replied (if it can be called a reply)-- + +"'I wish I had known sooner that you were Miss Lascelles' sister.' + +"I said, 'Did you not see her with me on the stairs?' and he answered-- + +"'I saw no one but you.' + +"Which, as it is the nearest approach to a pretty speech that ever was +made to me, I confide solemnly to this my fine new diary, which is to be +my dearest friend and confidante this year. Why the music went so fast, +and the dance was so short on this particular occasion, I never could +fathom; both had just ceased, and we were still chatting, when midnight +struck, deep-toned or shrill, from all the clocks in the house; and, in +the involuntary impressive pause, we could hear through the open window +the muffled echo from the village church. Then Mr. Topham ran in with a +huge loving-cup, and, drinking all our good healths, it was passed +through the company. + +"When the servant brought it to me, Mr. Manners took it from him, and +held it for me himself by both handles, saying-- + +"'It is too heavy for your hands;' and I drank, he quoting in jest from +_Hamlet_-- + +"'Nymph, in thine orisons be all my sins remembered.' + +"Then he said, '_I_ shall wish in silence,' and paused a full minute +before putting it to his lips. When the servant had taken it away, he +heaved so profound a sigh that (we then being very friendly) I said-- + +"'What is the matter?' + +"'Do you believe in presentiments, Miss Lascelles?' he said. + +"'I don't think I ever had a presentiment,' I answered. + +"'Don't think me a fool,' he said, 'but I have had the most intense +dread of the coming of this year. I have a presentiment (for which there +is no reason) that it will bring me a huge, overwhelming misfortune: and +yet I have just wished for a blessing of which I am vastly unworthy, but +which, if it does come, will probably come this year, and which would +make it the brightest one that I have ever seen. Be a prophet, Miss +Lascelles, and tell me--which will it be?--the joy or the sorrow?' + +"He gazed so intently that I had some difficulty in answering with +composure-- + +"'Perhaps both. We are taught to believe that life is chequered.' + +"'See,' he went on. 'This is the beginning of the year. We are standing +here safe and happy. Miss Lascelles, where shall we be when the year +ends?' + +"The question seemed to me faithless in a Christian, and puerile in a +brave man: I did not say so; but my face may have expressed it, for he +changed the subject suddenly, and could not be induced to return to it. +I danced twice with him afterwards; and when we parted I said, +emphatically-- + +"'A happy new year to you, Mr. Manners.' + +"He forced a smile as he answered, 'Amen!' + +"Mrs. Dallas (who kindly chaperoned us) slept all the way home; and Miss +Dallas and Harriet chatted about their partners. Once only they appealed +to me. What first drew my attention was Mr. Manners' name. + +"'Poor Mr. Manners!' Harriet said; 'I am afraid I was very rude to him. +He had to console himself with you, eh, Dolly?--on the principle of love +me love my dog, I suppose?' + +"Am I so conceited that this had never struck me? And yet--but here +comes Harriet, and I must put you away, dear diary. I blush at my +voluminousness. If every evening is to take up so many pages, my book +will be full at Midsummer! But was not this a red-letter day?" + +Well may I blush, dear Nell, to re-read this girlish nonsense. And yet +it contains not the least strange part of this strange story--poor Mr. +Manners' presentiment of evil. After this he called constantly, and we +met him often in society; and, blinded by I know not what delusion, +Harriet believed him to be devoted to herself, up to the period, as I +fancy, when he asked me to be his wife. I was staying with the Tophams +at the time. I believe that they had asked me there on purpose, being +his friends. Ah, George! what a happy time that was! How, in the sweet +days of the sweetest of summers, I laughed at your "presentiment"! How +you told me that the joy had come, and, reminding me of my own sermon on +the chequered nature of life, asked if the sorrow would yet tread it +down. Too soon, my love! too soon! + +Nelly! forgive me this outburst. I must write more calmly. It is sad to +speak ill of a sister; but surely it was cruel, that she, who had so +many lovers, should grudge me my happiness; should pursue George with +such unreasonable malice; should rouse the senseless but immovable +obstinacy of our poor brother against him. Oh, Eleanor! think of my +position! Our father and mother dead; under the care of our only +brother, who, as you know, dear Nell, was at one time feared to be a +complete idiot, and had, poor boy! only so much sense as to make him +sane in the eyes of the law. You know the fatal obstinacy with which he +pursued an idea once instilled; the occasional fits of rage that were +not less than insanity. Knowing all this, my dear, imagine what I must +have suffered when angrily recalled home. I was forbidden to think of +Mr. Manners again. In vain I asked for reasons. They had none, and yet a +thousand to give me. When I think of the miserable stories that were +raked up against him,--the misconstruction of everything he did, or +said, or left undone,--my own impotent indignation, and my poor +brother's senseless rage, and the insulting way in which I was watched, +and taunted, and tortured,--oh, Nelly! it is agony to write. I did the +only thing left to me--I gave him up, and prayed for peace. I do not say +that I was right: I say that I did the best I could in a state of things +that threatened to deprive me of reason. + +My submission did not produce an amount of harmony in the house in any +way proportionate to the price I paid for it. Harriet was obliged to +keep the slanders of my lover constantly in view, to quiet the +self-reproach which I think she must sometimes have experienced. As to +Edmund, my obedience had somewhat satisfied him, and made way for +another subject of interest which was then engrossing his mind. + +A man on his estate, renting a farm close to us, who was a Quaker, and +very "strict" in his religious profession, had been for a long time +grossly cheating him, relying, no doubt, on my poor brother's deficient +intellect. But minds that are intellectually and in reason deficient, +are often endowed with a large share of cunning and caution, especially +in monetary affairs. Edmund guessed, watched, and discovered; but when +the proof was in his hands, his proceedings were characteristically +peculiar. He did not discharge the man, and have done with it; he +retained him in his place, but seemed to take a--let me say--insane +delight in exposing him to the religious circle in which he had been a +star, and from which he was ignominiously expelled; and in heaping every +possible annoyance and disgrace upon him that the circumstances +admitted. My dear, I think I should have preferred his wrath upon +myself, to being the witness of my brother's miserable exultation over +the wretched man, Parker. His chief gratification lay in the thought +that, exquisite as were the vexations he heaped upon him, the man was +obliged to express gratitude for his master's forbearance as regarded +the law. + +"He said he should never forget my consideration for him till death! Ha! +ha!" + +"My only puzzle," I said, "is, what can induce him to stay with you." + +And then the storm turned upon me, Eleanor. + +You will ask me, my dear, how, meanwhile, had Mr. Manners taken my +letter of dismissal. I know now, Nell, and so will not revive the +mystery that then added weight to my distress. He wrote me many +letters,--but I never saw one! + + * * * * * + +And now, dear friend, let me pause and gather courage to relate the +terrible events of that sultry, horrible--that accursed June. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE TERRIBLE JUNE. + + +It was about the middle of the month. Harriet was spending some hours +with a friend, Edmund was out, and I had been left alone all day for the +first time since I came home. I remember everything that happened with +the utmost distinctness. I spent the day chiefly in the garden, +gathering roses for pot-pourri, being disinclined for any more +reasonable occupation, partly by the thundery oppressiveness of the air, +partly by a vague, dull feeling of dread that made me restless, and +which was yet one of those phases of feeling in which, if life depended +on an energetic movement, one must trifle. In this mood, when the +foreclouded mind instinctively shrinks from its own great troubles, +little things assume an extraordinary distinctness. I trode carefully in +the patterns of the terrace pavement, counted the roses on the white +bush by the dial (there were twenty-six), and seeing a beetle on the +path, moved it to a bank at some distance. There it crept into a hole, +and such a wild, weary desire seized on me to creep after it and hide +from what was coming, that--I thought it wise to go in. + +As I sat in the drawing-room there was a rose still whole in my lap. I +had begun to pluck off the petals, when the door-bell rang. Though I +heard the voice distinctly when the door was opened, I vow to you, dear +Nell, that my chief desire was to get the rose pulled to pieces before I +was disturbed. I had flung the last petal into my lap, when the door +opened and Mr. Manners came into the room. + +He did not speak; he opened his arms, and I ran straight into them, +roses and all. The petals rained over us and over the floor. He talked +very fast, and I did nothing but cling to him, and endure in silence the +weight which his presence could not remove from my mind, while he +pleaded passionately for our marriage. He said that it was the extreme +of all that was unreasonable, that our lives' happiness should be +sacrificed to the insane freak of a hardly responsible mind. He +complained bitterly (though I could but confess justly!) of the +insulting and intolerable treatment that he had received. He had come, +he said, in the first place, to assure himself of my constancy--in the +second, for a powerful and final remonstrance with my brother--and, if +that failed, to remind me that I should be of age next month; and to +convey the entreaty of the Tophams that, as a last resource, I would +come to them and be married from their house. I made up my mind, and +promised: then I implored him to be careful in his interview with my +brother, for my sake--to calm his own natural anger, and to remember +Edmund's infirmity. He promised, but I saw that he was slightly piqued +by my dwelling so much on Edmund's feelings rather than on his. Ah! +Nelly, he had never seen one of the poor boy's rages. + +It may have been half-past six when Mr. Manners arrived; it had just +struck a quarter to nine when Edmund came in and found us together. He +paused for a minute, clicking his tongue in his mouth, in a way he had +when excited; and then he turned upon me, and heaped abuse on insult, +loading me with accusations and reproaches. George, white with +suppressed rage, called incessantly upon me to go; and at last I dared +disobey no longer; but as I went I touched his arm and whispered, +"Remember! for my sake." His intense "I promise, my darling," comforted +me then--and afterwards, Nelly. I went into a little room that opened +into the hall and waited. + +In about twenty minutes the drawing-room door opened, and they came out. +I heard George's voice saying this or something equivalent (afterwards +I could not accurately recall the words)-- + +"Good-night, Mr. Lascelles; I trust our next meeting may be a different +one." + +The next sentences on both sides I lost. Edmund seems to have refused to +shake hands with Mr. Manners. The last words I heard were George's +half-laughing-- + +"Next time, Lascelles, I shall not ask for your hand--I shall take it." + +Then the door shut, and Edmund went into his study. An hour later he +also went out, and I was left alone once more. I went back into the +drawing-room; the rose-leaves were fading on the floor; and on the table +lay George Manners' penknife. It was a new one, that he had been showing +to me, and had left behind him. I kissed it and put it in my pocket: +then I knelt down by the chair, Nell, and wept till I prayed; and then +prayed till I wept again; and then I got up and tidied the room, and got +some sewing; and, like other women, sat down with my trouble, waiting +for the storm to break. + +It broke at eleven o'clock that night, when two men carried the dead +body of my brother into his own kitchen--foully murdered. + +But when I knelt by the poor body, lying awfully still upon the table; +when I kissed the face, which in death had curiously regained the +appearance of reason as well as beauty; when I saw and knew that life +had certainly gone till the Resurrection:--that was not all. The storm +had not fully broken till I turned and saw, standing by the fire, George +Manners, with his hands and coat dabbled with blood. I did not speak or +scream; but a black horror seemed to settle down like mist upon me. +Through it came Mr. Manners' voice (I had not looked again at him)-- + +"Miss Dorothy Lascelles, why do you not ask who did it?" + +I gave a sharp cry, and one of the labourers who had helped to bring +Edmund in said gravely-- + +"Eh, Master! the less you say the better. God forgive you this +night's work!" + +George's hoarse voice spoke again. + +"Do you hear him?" and then it faltered a little--"Dorolice, do you +think this?" + +It was his pet name for me (he was an Italian scholar), and touched me +inexpressibly, and a conviction seized upon me that if he had done it, +he would not have dared to appeal to my affection. I tried to clear my +mind that I might see the truth, and then I looked up at him. Our eyes +met, and we looked at each other for a full minute, and I was content. +Oh! there are times when the instinctive trust of one's heart is, so far +more powerful than any proofs or reasons, that faith seems a higher +knowledge. I would have pledged ten thousand lives, if I had had them, +on the honesty of those eyes, that had led me like a will-o'-the-wisp in +the ball-room half a year ago! The new-year's dance came back on me as I +stood there--my ball-dress was in the drawer up-stairs--and now! oh +dear! was I going mad? + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE TIME OF TRIAL. + + +Meanwhile he was waiting for my answer. I stepped forward, intending to +take his hand, but the stains drove me back again. Where so much depends +upon a right--or a mis-understanding, the only way is to speak the fair +truth. I did so; by a sort of forced calm holding back the seething of +my brain. + +"George, I should like to touch you, but--I cannot! I beg you to forgive +the selfishness of my grief--my mind is confused--I shall be better +soon. God has sent us a great sorrow, in which I know you are +as innocent as I am. I am very sorry--I think that is all." And I put my +hand to my head, where a sharp pain was beginning to throb. Mr. Manners +spoke, emphatically-- + +"God bless you, Dorolice! You know I promised. Thank you, for +ever!" + +"If you fancy you have any reason to thank me," I said, "do me this +favour. Whatever happens, believe that I believe!" + +I could bear no more, so I went out of the kitchen. As I went I heard a +murmur of pity run through the room, and I knew that they were +pitying--not the dead man, but me; and me--not for my dead brother, but +for his murderer. When I got into the passage, the mist that had still +been dark before my eyes suddenly became darker, and I remember no more. + +When my senses returned, Harriet had come home. From the first she would +never hear George's name except to accuse him with frantic bitterness of +poor Edmund's death; and as nothing would induce me to credit his guilt, +the subject was as much as possible avoided. I cannot dwell on those +terrible days. I was very ill for some time, and after I had come +down-stairs, one day I found a newspaper containing the following +paragraph, which I copy here, as it is the shortest and least painful +way of telling you the facts of poor Edmund's death. + +"THE MURDER AT CROSSDALE HALL. + +"Universal horror has been excited in the neighbourhood by the murder of +Edmund Lascelles, Esq., of Crossdale Hall. Mr. Lascelles was last seen +alive a little after ten o'clock on Friday night, at which time he left +the house alone, and was not seen again living. At the inquest on +Saturday, James Crosby, a farm labourer, gave the following evidence:-- + +"'I had been sent into the village for some medicine for a sick beast, +and was returning to the farm by the park a little before eleven, when +near the low gate I saw a man standing with his back to me. The moon was +shining, and I recognized him at once for Mr. George Manners, of +Beckfield. When Mr. Manners saw me he seemed much excited, and called +out, "Quick! help! Mr. Lascelles has been murdered." I said, "Good +God! who did it?" He said, "I don't know; I found him in the +ditch; help me to carry him in." By this time I had come up and saw Mr. +Lascelles on the ground, lying on his side. I said, "How do you know +he's dead?" He said, "I fear there's very little hope; he has bled so +profusely. I am covered with blood." I was examining the body, and as I +turned it over I found that the right hand was gone. It had been cut off +at the wrist. I said, "Look here! Did you know this?" He spoke very low, +and only said, "How horrible!" I said, "Let us look for the hand; it may +be in the ditch." He said, "No, no! we are wasting time. Bring him in, +and let us send for the doctor." I ran to the ditch, however, but could +see nothing but a pool of blood. Coming back, I found on the ground a +thick hedge-stake covered with blood. The grass by the ditch was very +much stamped and trodden. I said, "There has been a desperate struggle." +He said, "Mr. Lascelles was a very strong man." I said, "Yes; as strong +as you, Mr. Manners." He said, "Not quite; very nearly though." He said +nothing more till we got to the hall; then he said, "Who can break it to +his sister?" I said, "They will have to know. It's them that killed him +has brought this misery upon them." The low gate is a quarter of a mile, +or more, from the hall.' + +"Death seems to have been inflicted by two instruments--a wounding and a +cutting one. As yet, no other weapon but the stake has been discovered, +and a strict search for the missing hand has also proved fruitless. No +motive for this wanton outrage suggests itself, except that the unhappy +gentleman was in the habit of wearing on his right hand a sapphire ring +of great value." (An heirloom; it is on my finger as I write, dear Nell. +Oh! my poor boy.) "All curiosity is astir to discover the perpetrator of +this horrible deed; and it is with the deepest regret that we are +obliged to state that every fresh link in the chain of evidence points +with fatal accuracy to one whose position, character, and universal +popularity would seem to place him above suspicion. We would not +willingly intrude upon the privacy of domestic interests, but the +following facts will too soon be matters of public notoriety. + +"A younger sister of the deceased appears to have formed a matrimonial +engagement with George Manners, Esq., of Beckfield. It was strongly +opposed by Mr. Lascelles, and the objection (which at the time appeared +unreasonable) may have been founded on a more intimate knowledge of the +suitor's character than was then possessed by others. The match was +broken off, and all intercourse was suspended till the night of the +murder, when Mr. Manners gained admittance to the hall in the absence of +Mr. Lascelles, and was for some hours alone in the young lady's company. +They were found together a little before nine o'clock by Mr. Lascelles, +and a violent scene ensued, in the course of which the young lady left +the apartment. (Miss Lascelles has been ill ever since the unhappy +event, and is so still. Her deposition was taken in writing at the +hall.) From the young lady's evidence it appears, first, that the +passions of both were strongly excited, and she admits having felt +sufficient apprehension to induce her to twice warn Mr. Manners to +self-control. Secondly, that Mr. Manners avowed himself prepared to defy +Mr. Lascelles' authority in the matter of the marriage; and thirdly, the +two sentences of their final conversation that she overheard (both Mr. +Manners') were what can hardly be interpreted otherwise than as a +threat, that 'their next meeting should be a different one,' and that +then '_he would not ask for Mr. Lascelles' hand, but take it_.' The +diabolical character of determined and premeditated vindictiveness thus +given to an otherwise unaccountable outrage upon his victim, goes far to +take away the feeling of pity which we should otherwise have felt for +the murderer, regarding him as under the maddening influences of +disappointed love and temporary passion. Perhaps, however, the most +fatally conclusive evidence against Mr. Manners lies in the time that +elapsed between his leaving the hall and being found in the park by the +murdered body. He left the house at a quarter past nine--he was found by +the body of the deceased a little before eleven; so that either it must +have taken him more than an hour and a half to walk a quarter of a +mile--which is obviously absurd--or he must have been waiting for nearly +two hours in the grounds. Why did he not return at once to the house of +Mr. Topham? (where it appears that he was staying). For what--or for +whom--was he waiting? If he were in the park at the time of the murder, +how came it that he heard no cries, gave the unhappy gentleman no +assistance, and offers no suggestion or clue to the mystery beyond the +obstinate denial of his own guilt, though he confesses to having been in +the grounds during the whole time of the deadly struggle, and though he +was found alone with scratched hands and blood-stained clothes beside +the corpse of his avowed enemy? We leave these questions to the +consideration of our readers, as they will be for that of a +conscientious and impartial jury, not, we trust, blinded by the wealth +and position of the criminal to the hideous nature of the crime. + +"The funeral is to take place to-morrow; George Manners is fully +committed to take his trial for wilful murder at the ensuing assizes." + +The above condemning extract only too well represented the state of +public feeling. All Middlesex--nay, all England--was roused to +indignation, and poor Edmund's youth and infirmities made the crime +appear the more cowardly and detestable. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +DRIFTING TO THE END. + + +My misery between the time of the murder and the trial was terrible from +many causes: my brother's death; George's position; the knowledge of his +sufferings, and my inability to see or soothe them--and, worst of all, +the firm conviction of his guilt in every one's mind, and Harriet's +ceaseless reproaches. I do not think that I should have lived through +it, but for Dr. Penn. That excellent and revered man's kindness will, I +trust, ever be remembered by me with due gratitude. He went up to town +constantly, at his own expense, and visited my dear George in Newgate, +administering all the consolations of his high office and long +experience, and being the bearer of our messages to each other. From him +also I gleaned all the news of which otherwise I should have been kept +in ignorance; how George's many friends were making every possible +exertion on his behalf, and how an excellent counsel was retained for +him. But far beyond all his great kindness, was to me the simple fact +that he shared my belief in George's innocence; for there were times +when the universal persuasion of his guilt almost shook, not my faith, +but my reason. + +There were early prayers in our little church in the morning; too early, +Harriet said, for her to attend much, especially of late, when Dr. +Penn's championship of George Manners had led her to discover more +formalism in his piety, and northern broadness in his accent, than +before. But these quiet services were my daily comfort in those +troublous days; and in the sweet fresh walk home across the park, my +more than father and I hatched endless conspiracies on George's behalf +between the church porch and the rectory gate. Our chief difficulty, I +confess, lay in the question that the world had by this time so terribly +answered--who did it? If George were innocent, who was guilty? My poor +brother had not been popular, and I do not say that one's mind could not +have fixed on a man more likely to commit the crime than George, under +not less provocation. But it was an awful deed, Nelly, to lay to any +man's charge, even in thought; and no particle of evidence arose to fix +the guilt on any one else, or even to suggest an accomplice. As the time +wore on, suspense became sickening. + +"Sir," I said to him one day, "I am breaking down. I have brought some +plants to set in your garden. I wish you would give me something to do +for you. Your shirts to make, your stockings to darn. If I were a poor +woman I should work down my trouble. As it is--" + +"Hush!" said the doctor; you are what God has made you. My dear +madam, Janet tells me, what my poor eyes have hardly observed, that my +ruffles are more worn than beseems a doctor in divinity. Now for +myself--" + +"Hush!" said I, mimicking him. "My dear sir, you have taught me to plot +and conspire, and this very afternoon I shall hold a secret interview +with Mistress Janet. But say something about my trouble. What will +happen?--How will it end?--What shall we do?" + +"My love," he said, "keep heart. I fully believe in his innocence. There +is heavy evidence against him, but there are also some strong points in +his favour; and you must believe that the jury have no object to do +anything but justice, or believe anything but the truth, and that they +will find accordingly. And God defend the right!" + +Eleanor!--they found him Guilty. + + * * * * * + +I have asked Dr. Penn to permit me to make an extract from his journal +in this place. It is less harrowing to copy than to recall. I omit the +pious observations and reflections which grace the original. Comforting +as they are to me, it seems a profanity to make them public; besides, it +is his wish that I should withhold them, which is sufficient. + +_From the Diary of the Rev. Arthur Penn, D.D., +Rector of Crossdale, Middlesex._ + +"When he came into the dock he looked (so it seemed to me) altered since +I had last seen him; more anxious and worn, that is, but yet composed +and dignified. Doubtless I am but a prejudiced witness; but his face to +me lacks both the confusion and the effrontery of guilt. He looks like +one pressed by a heavy affliction, but enduring it with fortitude. I +think his appearance affected and astonished many in the court. Those +who were prepared to see a hardened ruffian, or, at best, a cowering +criminal, must have been startled by the intellectual and noble style of +his beauty, the grace and dignity of his carriage, and the modest +simplicity of his behaviour. I am but a doting old man; for I think on +no evidence could I convict him in the face of those good eyes of his, +to which sorrow has given a wistful look that at times is terrible; as +if now and then the agony within showed its face at the windows of the +soul. Once only every trace of composure vanished--it was when sweet +Mistress Dorothy was called; then he looked simply mad. I wonder--but +no! no!--he did not commit this great crime,--not even in a fit of +insanity. + +"Mr. A---- is a very able advocate, and, in his cross-examination of the +man Crosby and of Mistress Dorothy, did his best to atone for the cruel +law which keeps the prisoner's counsel at such disadvantage. The counsel +for the prosecution had pressed hard on my dear lady, especially in +reference to those farewell words overheard by her, which seem to give +the only (though that, I say, an incredible) clue to what remains the +standing mystery of the event--the missing hand. Then Mr. A---- rose to +cross-examine. He said-- + +"'During that part of the quarrel when you were present, did the +prisoner use any threats or suggestions of personal violence?' + +"'No.' + +"'In the fragment of conversation that you overheard at the last, did +you at the time understand the prisoner to be conveying taunts or +threats?' + +"'No.' + +"'How did you interpret the unaccountable anxiety on the prisoner's part +to shake hands with a man by whom he believed himself to be injured, and +with whom he was quarrelling!' + +"'Mr. Manners' tone was such as one uses to a spoilt child. I believed +that he was determined to avoid a quarrel at any price, in deference to +my brother's infirmity and his own promise to me. He was very angry +before Edmund came in; but I believe that afterwards he was shocked and +sobered at the obviously irresponsible condition of my poor brother when +enraged. He had never seen him so before.' + +"'Is it true that Mr. Manners' pocket-knife was in your possession at +the time of the murder?' + +"'It is.' + +"'Does your window look upon the "Honeysuckle Walk," where the prisoner +says that he spent the time between leaving your house and the finding +of the body?' + +"'Yes.' + +"'Was the prisoner likely to have any attractive associations connected +with it, in reference to yourself?' + +"'We had often been there together before we were engaged. It was a +favourite walk of mine.' + +"'Do you suppose that any one in this walk could hear cries proceeding +from the low gate?' + +"'Certainly not.' + +"The cross-examination of Crosby was as follows:-- + +"Mr. A.---- 'Were the prisoner's clothes much disordered, as if +he had been struggling?' + +"'No; he looked much as usual; but he was covered with blood.' + +"'So we have heard you say. Do you think that a man, in perfectly clean +clothes, could have lifted the body out of the ditch without being +covered with blood?' + +"'No: perhaps not.' + +"'Was there any means by which so much blood could have been accumulated +in the ditch, unless the body had been thrown there?' + +"'I think not. The pool were too big.' + +"'I have two more questions to ask, and I beg the special attention of +the jury to the answers. Is the ditch, or is it not, very thickly +overgrown with brambles and brushwood?' + +"'Yes; there be a many brambles.' + +"'Do you think that any single man could drag a heavy body from the +bottom of the ditch on to the bank, without severely scratching his +hands?' + +"'No; I don't suppose he could.' + +"'That is all I wish to ask.' + +"Not being permitted to address the jury, it was all that he could do. +Then the Recorder summed up. God forgive him the fatal accuracy +with which he placed every link in a chain of evidence so condemning +that I confess poor George seemed almost to have been taken _in +flagrante delicto_. The jury withdrew; and my sweet Mistress Dorothy, +who had remained in court against my wish, suddenly dropped like an +apple-blossom, and I carried her out in my arms. When I had placed her +in safety, I came back, and pressed through the crowd to hear the +verdict. + +"As I got in, the Recorder's voice fell on my ear, every word like a +funeral knell,--'_May the Lord have mercy on your soul!_' + +"I think for a few minutes I lost my senses. I have a confused +remembrance of swaying hither and thither in a crowd; of execration, and +pity, and gaping curiosity; and then I got out, and some one passed me, +whose arm I grasped. It was Mr. A----. + +"'Tell me,' I said, 'is there no hope? No recommendation to mercy? +Nothing?' + +"He dragged me into a room, and, seizing me by the button, exclaimed-- + +"'We don't want mercy; we want justice! I say, sir, curse the present +condition of the law! It _must_ be altered, and I shall live to see it. +If I might have addressed the jury--there were a dozen points--we should +have carried him through. Besides,' he added, in a tone that seemed to +apologize for such a secondary consideration, 'I may say to you that I +fully believe that he is innocent, and am as sorry on his account as on +my own that we have lost the case.' + +"And so the day is ended. _Fiat voluntas Domini!_" + + * * * * * + +Yes, Eleanor! Dr. Penn was right. The day did end--and the next--and +the next; and drop by drop the cup of sorrow was drained. And when the +draught is done, should we be the better, Nelly, if it had been nectar? + +I had neither died nor gone mad when the day came--the last complete day +that George was to see on earth. It was Sunday; and, after a sleepless +night, I saw the red sun break through the grey morning. I always sleep +with my window open; and, as I lay and watched the sunrise, I thought-- + +"He will see this sunrise, and to-morrow's sunrise; but no other! No, +no!--never more!" + +But then a stronger thought seemed to rise involuntarily against that +one-- + +"Peace, fool! If this be the sorrow, it is one that must come to all +men." + +And then, Nelly (it is strange, but it was so), there broke out in the +stone pine by my window a chorus of little birds whom the sunbeams had +awakened; and they sang so sweet and so loud (like the white bird that +sang to the monk Felix), that earthly cares seemed to fade away, and I +fell asleep, and slept the first sound, dreamless sleep that had blessed +me since our great trouble came. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +BETWEEN TWO WORLDS. + + +Dr. Penn was with George this day, and was to be with him to the last. +His duty was taken by a curate. + +I will not attempt to describe my feelings at this terrible time, but +merely narrate circumstantially the wonderful events (or illusions, call +them which you will) of the evening. + +We sat up-stairs in the blue room, and Harriet fell asleep on the sofa. + +It was about half-past ten o'clock when she awoke with a scream, and in +such terror that I had much difficulty in soothing her. She seemed very +unwilling to tell me the cause of her distress; but at last confessed +that on the two preceding nights she had had a vivid and alarming dream, +on each night the same. Poor Edmund's hand (she recognized it by the +sapphire ring) seemed to float in the air before her; and even after she +awoke, she still seemed to see it floating towards the door, and then +coming back again, till it vanished altogether. She had seen it again +now in her sleep. I sat silent, struggling with a feeling of +indignation. Why had she not spoken of it before? I do not know how long +it might have been before I should have broken the silence, but that my +eyes turned to the partially-open window and the dark night that lay +beyond. Then I shrieked, louder than she had done-- + +"Harriet! _There it is!_" + +There it was--to my eyes--the detached hand, round which played a pale +light--the splendid sapphire gleaming unearthlily, like the flame of a +candle that is burning blue. But Harriet could see nothing. She said +that I frightened her, and shook her nerves, and took pleasure in doing +so; that I was the author of all our trouble, and she wished I would +drop the dreadful subject. She would have said much more, but that I +startled her by the vehemence of my interruption. I said that the day +was past when I would sacrifice my peace or my duty to her whims; and +she ventured no remonstrance when I announced that I intended to follow +the hand so long as it moved, and discover the meaning of the +apparition. I then flew downstairs and out into the garden, where it +still gleamed, and commenced a slow movement towards the gate. But my +flight had been observed, Nelly, by Robert, our old butler. I had +always been his favourite in the family, and since my grief, his humble +sympathy had only been second to that of Dr. Penn. I had noticed the +anxious watch he had kept over me since the trial, with a sort of sad +amusement. I afterwards learnt that all his fears had culminated to a +point when he saw me rush wildly from the house that night. He had +thought I was going to drown myself. He concealed his fears at the time, +however, and only said-- + +"What be the matter, Miss Dorothy?" + +"Is that you, Robert?" I said. "Come here. Look! Do you see?" + +"See what?" he said. + +"Don't you see anything?" I said. "No light? Nothing?" + +"Nothin' whatever," said Robert, decidedly; "it be as dark as pitch." + +I stood silent, gazing at the apparition, which, having reached the +gate, was slowly re-advancing. If it were fancy, why did it not vanish? +I rubbed my eyes, but it was there still. Robert interrupted me, +solemnly-- + +"Miss Dorothy, do _you_ see anything?" + +"Robert," I said, "you are a faithful friend. Listen! I see before me +the lost hand of your dead master. I know it by the sapphire ring. It is +surrounded by a pale light, and moves slowly. My sister has seen it +three times in her sleep; and I see it now with my waking eyes. You may +laugh, Robert; but it is too true." + +I was not prepared for the indignant reply: + +"Laugh, Miss Dorothy! The Lord forbid! If so be you do see anything, and +it should be the Lord's will to reveal anything about poor dear Master +Edmund to you as loved him, and is his sister, who am I that I should +laugh? My mother had a cousin (many a time has she told me the story) as +married a sailor (he was mate on board a vessel bound for the West +Indies), and one night, about three weeks after her husband had--" + +"Robert!" I said, "you shall tell me that story another day with +pleasure; but no time is to be lost now. I mean to follow the hand: will +you come with me and take care of me?" + +"Go in, ma'am," he said; "wrap up warm, and put on thick shoes, and come +quietly down to this door. I'll just slip in and quiet the servants, and +meet you." + +"And bring a lantern," I said; "this light does not light you." + +In five minutes we were there again; and the hand was vivid as ever. + +"Do you see it now?" whispered the butler, anxiously. + +"Yes," I said; "it is moving." + +"Go on," he said; "I will keep close behind you." + +It was pitch dark, and, except for the gleaming hand, and the erratic +circles of light cast by the lantern, we could see nothing. The hand +gradually moved faster, increasing to a good walking pace, passing over +the garden-gate and leading us on till I completely lost knowledge of +our position; but still we went steadily forward. At last we got into a +road, and went along by a wall; and, after a few steps, the hand, which +was before me, moved sharply aside. + +"Robert," I said, "it has gone over a gate--we must go too! Where are +we?" + +He answered, in a tone of the deepest horror-- + +"Miss Dorothy! for the Lord's sake, think what you are doing, and let us +turn back while we can! You've had sore affliction; but it's an awful +thing to bring an innocent man to trouble." + +"The innocent man _is_ in trouble!" I said, passionately. "Is it nothing +that he should die, if truth could save him? You may go back if you +like; but I shall go on. Tell me, whose place is this?" + +"Never mind, my dear young lady," he said, soothingly. "Go on, and the +Lord be with you! But be careful. You're sure you see it now?" + +"Certain," I said. "It is moving. Come on." + +We went forward, and I heard a click behind me. + +"What is that?" I said. + +"Hush!" he whispered; "make no noise! It was my pistol. Go gently, my +dear young lady. It is a farmyard, and you may stumble." + +"It has stopped over a building!" I whispered. + +"Not the house!" he returned, hoarsely. + +"I am going on," I said. "Here we are. What is it? Whose is it?" + +He came close to me, and whispered solemnly-- + +"Miss Dorothy! be brave, and make no noise! We are in Farmer Parker's +yard; and this is a barn." + +Then the terror came over me. + +"Let us turn back," I said. "You are right. One may bear one's own +troubles, but not drag in other people. Take me home!" + +But Robert would not take me home; and my courage came back, and I held +the lantern whilst he unfastened the door. Then the ghastly hand passed +into the barn, and we followed it. + +"It has stopped in the far corner," I said. "There seems to be wood or +something." + +"It's bundles of wood," he whispered. "I know the place. Sit down, and +tell me if it moves." + +I sat down, and waited long and wearily, while he moved heavy bundles of +firewood, pausing now and then to ask, "Is it here still?" At last he +asked no more; and in a quarter of an hour he only spoke once: then it +was to say-- + +"This plank has been moved." + +After a while he came away to look for a spade. He found one, and went +back again. At last a smothered sound made me spring up and rush to him; +but he met me, driving me back. + +"I beg of you, dear Miss Dorothy, keep away. Have you a handkerchief +with you?" + +I had one, and gave it to him. His hands were covered with earth. He had +only just gone back again when I gave a cry-- + +"Robert! _It has gone!_" + +He came up to me, keeping one hand behind him. + +"Miss Dorothy, if ever you were good and brave, hold out now!" + +I beat my hands together--"It has gone! It has gone!" + +"It has not gone!" he said. "Master Edmund's hand is in this +handkerchief. It has been buried under a plank of the flooring!" + +I gasped, "Let me see it!" + +But he would not. "No, no! my dear lady, you must not--cannot. I only +knew it by the ring!" + +Then he made me sit down again, whilst he replaced the firewood; and +then, with the utmost quietness, we set out to return, I holding the +lantern in one hand, and with the other clinging to his arm (for the +apparition that had been my guide before was gone), and he carrying the +awful relic in his other hand. Once, as we were leaving the yard, he +whispered-- + +"Look!" + +"I see nothing," said I. + +"Hold up your lantern," he whispered. + +"There is nothing but the dog-kennel," I said. + +"Miss Dorothy," he said, "_the dog has not barked tonight!_" + +By the time we reached home, my mind had fully realized the importance +of our discovery, and the terribly short time left us in which to profit +by it, supposing, as I fully believed, that it was the first step to the +vindication of George's innocence. As we turned into the gate, Robert, +who had been silent for some time broke out-- + +"Miss Dorothy! Mr. George Manners is as innocent as I am; and +God forgive us all for doubting him! What shall we do?" + +"I am going up to town," I said, "and you are going with me. We will go +to Dr. Penn. He has a lodging close by the prison: I have the address. +At eight o'clock to-morrow the king himself could not undo this +injustice. We have, let me see, how many hours?" + +Robert pulled out his old silver watch and brought it to the lantern. + +"It is twenty minutes to twelve." + +"Rather more than eight hours. Heaven help us! You will get something to +eat, Robert, and put the horses at once into the chariot. I will be +ready." + +I went straight up-stairs, and met Harriet at the door. I pushed her back +into the room and took her hands. + +"Harriet! Robert has found poor Edmund's hand, _with the ring_, buried +under some wood in Thomas Parker's barn. I am going up to town with him +at once, to put the matter into Dr. Penn's hands, and save George +Manners' life, if it be not too late." + +She wrenched her hands away, and flung herself at my feet. I never saw +such a change come over any face. She had had time in the (what must +have been) anxious interval of our absence, for some painful enough +reflection, and my announcement had broken through the blindness of a +selfish mind, and found its way where she seldom let anything come--to +her feelings. + +"Oh, Dolly! Dolly! will you ever forgive me? Why did I not tell you +before? But I thought it was only a dream. And indeed, indeed I thought +Mr. Manners had done it. But that man Parker! If it had not been for +Mr. Manners being found there, I should have sworn that Parker had done +it. Dolly! I saw him that night. He came in and helped. And once I saw +him look at Mr. Manners with such a strange expression, and he seemed so +anxious to make him say that it was a quarrel, and that he had done it +in self-defence. But you know I thought it must be Mr. Manners--and I +did so love poor Edmund!" + +And she lay sobbing in agony on the ground. I said-- + +"My love, I pray that it is not too late: but we must not waste time. +Help me _now_, Harriet!" + +She sprang up at once. + +"Yes! you must have food. You shall go. I shall not go with you. I am +not worthy, but I will pray till you come back again." + +I said, "There is one most important thing for you to do. Let no soul go +out or come into the house till I return, or some gossip will bring it +to Parker's ears that we have gone to London." + +Harriet promised, and rushed off to get me food and wine. With her own +hands she filled a hot-water bottle for my feet in the chariot, supplied +my purse with gold, and sewed some notes up in my stays; and (as if +anxious to crowd into this one occasion all the long-withheld offices +of sisterly kindness) came in with her arms full of a beautiful set of +sables that belonged to her--cloak, cuffs, muff, etc.--and in these she +dressed me. And then we fell into each others arms, and I wept upon her +neck the first tears I had shed that day. As I stood on the doorstep, +she held up the candle and looked at me. + +"My dear!" she said, "how pretty your sweet face does look out of those +great furs! You shall keep them always." + +Dear Harriet! Her one idea--beauty. I suppose the "ruling passion," +whatever it may be, is strong with all of us, even in the face of death. +Moreover, hers was one of those shallow minds that seem instinctively to +escape by any avenue from a painful subject; and by the time that I was +in the chariot, she had got over the first shock, and there was an +almost infectious cheerfulness in her farewell. + +"It _must_ be all right, Dolly!" + +Then I fell back, and we started. The warm light of the open door became +a speck, and then nothing; and in the long dark drive, when every +footfall of the horses seemed to consume an age, the sickening agony of +suspense was almost intolerable. Oh, my dear! never, never shall I +forget that night. The black trees and hedges whirling past us in the +darkness, always the same, like an enchanted drive; then the endless +suburbs, and at last the streets where people lounged in corners and +stopped the way, as if every second of time were not worth a king's +ransom; and sedan-chairs trotted lightly home from gay parties as if +life were not one long tragedy. Once the way was stopped, once we lost +it. That mistake nearly killed me. At last a watchman helped us to the +little by-street where Dr. Penn was lodging, near which a loud sound of +carpenters' work and hurrying groups of people puzzled me exceedingly. +After much knocking, an upper window was opened and a head put out, and +my dear friend's dear voice called to us. I sprang out on to the +pavement and cried-- + +"Dr. Penn, this is Dorothy." + +He came down and took us in, and then (my voice failing) Robert +explained to him the nature of our errand, and showed him the ghastly +proof. Dr. Penn came back to me. + +"My love," he said, "you must come up-stairs and rest." + +"Rest!" I shrieked, "never! Get your hat, doctor, and come quickly. Let +us go to the king. Let us do something. We have very little time, and he +must be saved." + +I believe I was very unreasonable; I fear that I delayed them some +minutes before good Dr. Penn could persuade me that I should only be a +hindrance, that he would do everything that was possible, and could do +so much better with no one but Robert. + +"My love," he said, "trust me. To obey is better than sacrifice!" + +I went up-stairs into the dingy little sitting-room, and he went to call +his landlady--"a good woman," he said: "I have known her long." Then he +went away, and Robert with him, to the house of the Home Secretary. + +It was three o'clock. Five hours still! + +I sat staring at the sprawling paper on the walls, and at the long snuff +of the candle that Dr. Penn had lighted, and at a framed piece of +embroidery, representing Abraham sacrificing Isaac, that hung upon the +wall. Were there no succouring angels now? + +The door opened, and I looked wearily round. A motherly woman, with +black eyes, fat cheeks, and a fat wedding-ring, stood curtseying at the +door. I said, "I think you are Dr. Penn's landlady? He says you are very +good. Pray come in." + +Then I dropped my head on my hand again, and stared vacantly as before. +Exhaustion had almost become stupor, and it was in a sort of dream that +I watched the stout figure moving softly to and fro, lighting the fire, +and bringing an air of comfort over the dreary little parlour. Then she +was gone for a little bit, and I felt a little more lonely and weary; +and then I heard that cheerful clatter, commonly so grateful to +feminine exhaustion, and the good woman entered with a toasted glow upon +her face, bearing a tray with tea, and such hospitable accompaniments as +she could command. She set them down and came up to me with an air of +determination. + +"My dear, you must be a good young lady and take some tea. We all have +our troubles, but a good heart goes a long way." + +Her pitying face broke me down. How sadly without feminine sympathy I +had been through all my troubles I had never felt as I felt it now that +it had come. I fairly dropped my head upon her shoulder and sobbed out +the apparently irrelevant remark-- + +"Dear madam, I have no mother!" + +She understood me, and flinging her arms round me sobbed louder than I. +It would have been wicked to offer further resistance. She brought down +pillows, covered them with a red shawl, and propped me up till the +horsehair sofa became an easy couch, and with mixed tears and smiles I +contrived to swallow a few mouthfuls, a feat which she exalted to an act +of sublime virtue. + +"And now, my dear," she said, "you will have some warm water and wash +your hands and face and smooth your hair, and go to sleep for a bit." + +"I cannot sleep," I said. + +But Mrs. Smith was not to be baffled. + +"I shall give you something to make you," said she. + +And so, when the warm water had done its work, I had to swallow a +sleeping-draught and be laid easily upon the sofa. Her last words as she +"tucked me up" were, oddly enough-- + +"The tea's brought back a bit of colour to your cheeks, miss, and I will +say you do look pretty in them beautiful sables!" + +A very different thought was working in my head as the sleeping-draught +tingled through my veins. + +"Will the birds sing at sunrise?" + +Nelly, I slept twelve long hours without a dream. It was four o'clock in +the afternoon of Monday when I awoke, and only then, I believe, from the +mesmeric influence of being gazed at. Eleanor! there is only one such +pair of eyes in all the world! George Manners was kneeling by my side. + +Abraham was still sacrificing his son upon the wall, but my Isaac was +restored to me. I sat up and flung myself into his arms. It was long, +long before either of us could speak, and, oddly enough, one of the +first things he said was (twitching my cloak with the quaint curiosity +of a man very ignorant about feminine belongings), "My darling, you seem +sadly ill, but yet, Doralice, your sweet face does look so pretty in +these great furs." + + * * * * * + +My story is ended, Nelly, and my promise fulfilled. The rest you know. +How the detective, who left London before four o'clock that morning, +found the rusty knife that had been buried with the hand, and +apprehended Parker, who confessed his guilt. The wretched man said, that +being out on the fatal night about some sick cattle, he had met poor +Edmund by the low gate; that Edmund had begun, as usual, to taunt him; +that the opportunity of revenge was too strong, and he had murdered him. +His first idea had been flight, and being unable to drag the ring from +Edmund's hand, which was swollen, he had cut it off, and thrown the body +into the ditch. On hearing of the finding of the body, and of poor +George's position, he determined to brave it out, with what almost fatal +success we have seen. He dared not then sell the ring, and so buried it +in his barn. Two things respecting his end were singular: First, at the +last he sent for Dr. Penn, imploring him to stay with him till he died. +That good man, as ever, obeyed the call of duty and kindness, but he was +not fated to see the execution of my brother's murderer. The night +before, Thomas Parker died in prison; not by his own hand, Nelly. A fit +of apoplexy, the result of intense mental excitement, forestalled the +vengeance of the law. + +Need I tell you, dear friend, who know it so well, that I am happy? + +Not, my love, that such tragedies can be forgotten--these deep wounds +leave a scar. This one brought my husband's first white hairs, and took +away my girlhood for ever. But if the first blush of careless gaiety has +gone from life, if we are a little "old before our time," it may be that +this state of things has its advantages. Perhaps, having known together +such real affliction, we cannot now afford to be disturbed by the petty +vexations and worthless misunderstandings that form the troubles of +smoother lives. Perhaps, having been all but so awfully parted, we can +never afford, in this short life, to be otherwise than of one heart and +one soul. Perhaps, my dear, in short, the love that kept faith through +shame, and was cemented by fellow-suffering, can hardly do otherwise +than flourish to our heart's best content in the sunshine of prosperity +with which God has now blessed us. + + + + +THE SMUT. + + +The councillor's chimney smoked. It always did smoke when the wind was +in the north. A Smut came down and settled on a brass knob of the +fender, which the councillor's housekeeper had polished that very +morning. The shining surface reflected the Smut, and he seemed to +himself to be two. + +"How large I am!" said he, with complacency. "I am quite a double Smut. +I am bigger than any other. If I were a little harder, I should be a +cinder, not to say a coal. Decidedly my present position is too low for +so important an individual. Will no one recognize my merit and elevate +me?" + +But no one did. So the Smut determined to raise himself, and taking +advantage of a draught under the door, he rose upwards and alighted on +the nose of the councillor, who was reading the newspaper. + +"This is a throne, a crimson one," said the Smut, "made on purpose for +me. But somehow I do not seem so large as I was." + +The truth is that the councillor (though a great man) was, in respect +of his nose, but mortal. It was not made of brass; it would not (as the +cabinet-makers say) take a polish. It did not reflect the object seated +on it. + +"It is unfortunate," said the Smut. "But it is not fit that an +individual of my position (almost, as I may say, a coal) should have a +throne that does not shine. I must certainly go higher." + +But unhappily for the Smut, at this moment the councillor became aware +of something on his nose. He put up his hand and rubbed the place. In an +instant the poor Smut was destroyed. But it died on the throne, which +was some consolation. + + +Moral. + +More chimneys smoke than the councillor's chimney, and there are many +Smuts in the world. Let those who have found a brass knob be satisfied. + + + + +THE CRICK. + + +It was a Crick in the wall, a very small Crick too. But it is not always +the biggest people who have the strongest affections. + +When the wind was in the east, it blew the Dust into the Crick, and when +it set the other way, the Dust was blown out of it. The Crick was of a +warm and passionate temperament, and was devotedly attached to the Dust. + +"I love you," he whispered. "I am your husband. I protect, surround, +defend, cherish you, and house you, you poor fragile Dust. You are my +wife. You fill all the vacant space of my heart. I adore you. I am all +heart!" + +And if vacant space is heart, this last assertion was quite true. + +"Remain with me always," said the Crick. + +"Ever with thee," said the Dust, who spoke like a valentine. + +But the most loving couples cannot control destiny. The wind went round +to the west, and the Crick was emptied in a moment. In the first thrill +of agony he stretched himself and became much wider. + +"I am empty," he cried; "I shall never be filled again. This is the +greatest misfortune that could possibly have happened." + +The Crick was wrong. He was not to remain empty; and a still greater +misfortune was in store. The owner of the wall was a careful man, and +came round his premises with a trowel of mortar. + +"What a crack!" said he; "it must be the frost. A stitch in time saves +nine, however." And so saying he slapped a lump of mortar into the Crick +with the dexterity of a mason. + +In due time the wind went back to the east, and with it came the Dust. + +"Cruel Crick!" she wept. "You have taken another wife to your heart!" + +And the Crick could not answer, for he had ceased to exist. + +This is a tragedy of real life, and cannot fail to excite sympathy. + + + + +THE BROTHERS. + + +They were brothers--twin brothers, and the most intense fraternal +affection subsisted between them. They were Peas--Sweet-peas, born +together in the largest end of the same Pod. When they were little, +flat, skinny, green things, they regarded the Pod in which they were +born with the same awful dread which the greatest of men have at one +time felt for nursery authority. They believed that the Pod ruled the +world. + +It was impossible to conceive a limit to the power of a thing that could +hold so tight. But in due time the Peas became large and round and +black, and the Pod got yellow and shrunken, and was thoroughly despised. + +"It is time we left the nursery," said the brothers. "Where shall we go +to, when we enter the world?" they inquired of the mother plant. + +"You will fall on the ground," said she, "in the south border, where we +now are. The soil is good, and the situation favourable. You will then +lie quiet for the winter, and in the spring you will come up and flower, +and bear pods as I have done. That will be your fate. Not eventful +perhaps, but prosperous; and it comforts me to think that you are so +well provided for." + +But the best of parents cannot foresee everything in the future career +of their children, and the mother plant was wrong. + +The Peas burst from the Pod, it is true; but they fell, not into the +south border, but into the hand of the seedsman to whom the garden +belonged. + +"This is an adventure," said the brothers. + +They were put with a lot of other Sweet-peas, and a brown paper bag was +ready to receive them. + +"Any way we are together," said they. + +But at that moment one of the brothers rolled from the bag on the floor. +The seedsman picked him up, and he found himself tossed into a bag of +peas. + +"It is all right," said he; "I shall find my brother in time." + +But though he rolled about as much as he could, he could not find him; +for the truth is, that he had been put by mistake into a paper of eating +peas; but he did not know this. + +"Patience!" cried he; "we shall be sown shortly, and when we come up we +shall find each other, if not before." + +The other Pea thought that his brother was in the bag with him, and when +he could not find him he consoled himself in the same manner. + +"When we come up we shall find each other, if not before." + +They were both sold in company with others, and they were both sown. No. +1 was sown in a cosy little garden near a cosy little cottage in the +country. No. 2 was sown in a field, being intended for the market. + +They both came up and made leaves, and budded and blossomed, and the +first thing each did when he opened his petals was to look round for his +brother. + +No. 1 found himself among other Sweet-peas, but his brother was not +there; and soon a beautiful girl, who came into a garden to gather a +nosegay, plucked him from his stalk. + +No. 2 found himself also among Peas--a field full--but they were all +white ones, and had no scent whatever. He had been sown near the wall, +and he leant against it and wept. + +Just then a young sailor came whistling down the road. He was sunburnt +but handsome, and he was picking flowers from the roadside. When he saw +the Sweet-pea he shouted. + +"That's the best of the bunch," said he, and put it with the others. +Then he went whistling down the road into the village, past the old grey +church, and up to a cosy little cottage in a cosy little garden. He +opened the door and went into a room where a beautiful girl was +arranging some flowers that lay on the table. When she saw him they gave +a cry and embraced each other. After a while he said, "I have brought +you some wild flowers; but this is the best," and he held up the +Sweet-pea. + +"This is not a wild flower," said she; "it is a garden flower, and must +have been sown by accident. It shall be put with the other garden +flowers." + +And she laid the Sweet-pea among the rest on the table, and so the +brothers met at last. + +The young couple sat hand in hand in the sunshine, and talked of the +past. + +"Time seemed to go slowly while we were parted," said the young man; +"and now, to look back upon, all our misery seems but a dream." + +"That is just what _we_ feel," said the Sweet-peas. + +"I was very sad," said the young girl softly, "very sad indeed; for, I +thought you might be dead, or have married some one else, and that we +might never meet again. But in spite of everything I couldn't quite +despair. It seemed impossible that those who really loved each other +should be separated for ever." + +Meanwhile the Sweet-peas lay on the table. They were very happy, but +just a little anxious, for the lovers had forgotten to put them in +water, and they were fading fast. + +"We are very happy," they murmured, "very happy. This moment alone is +worth all that we have endured. It is true we are fading before we have +ever fully bloomed, and after this we do not know what will happen to +us. But the young girl is right. One cannot quite despair. It seems +impossible that those who really love each other should be separated for +ever." + + + + +COUSIN PEREGRINE'S WONDER STORIES. + + +THE CHINESE JUGGLERS, AND THE ENGLISHMAN'S HANDS. + +(_Founded on Fact_.) + + +Cousin Peregrine had never been away quite so long before. He had been +in the East, and the latter part of his absence from home had been spent +not only in a foreign country, but in parts of it where Englishmen had +seldom been before, and amid the miserable scenes of war. + +However, he was at home at last, very much to the satisfaction of his +young cousins, and also to his own. They had been assured by him, in a +highly illustrated letter, that his arms were safe and sound in his +coat-sleeves, that he had no wooden legs, and that they might feel him +all over for wounds as hard as they liked. Only Maggie, the eldest, +could even fancy she remembered Cousin Peregrine, but they all seemed +to know him by his letters, even before he arrived. At last he came. + +Cousin Peregrine was dressed like other people, much to the +disappointment of his young relatives, who when they burst (with more or +less attention to etiquette) into the dining-room with the dessert, were +in full expectation of seeing him in his uniform, or at least with his +latest medal pinned to his dress-coat. + +Perhaps it was because Cousin Peregrine was so very seldom troubled by +chubby English children with a claim on his good nature that he was +particularly indulgent to his young cousins. However this may be, they +soon stood in no awe of him, and a chorus cried around him-- + +"Where's your new medal, Cousin? What's it about? What's on it?" + +"Taku Forts," said Cousin Peregrine, smiling grimly. + +"What's Tar--Koo?" inquired the young people. + +"Taku is the name of a place in China, and you know I've just come from +China," said Cousin Peregrine. + +On which six voices cried-- + +"Did you drink nothing but tea?" + +"Did you buy lots of old China dragons?" + +"Did you see any ladies with half their feet cut off?" + +"Did you live in a house with bells hanging from the roof?" + +"Are the Chinese like the people on Mamma's fan?" + +"Did you wear a pigtail?" + +Cousin Peregrine's hair was so very short that the last question raised +a roar of laughter, after which the chorus spoke with one voice-- + +"Do tell us all about China!" + +At which he put on a serio-comic countenance, and answered with much +gravity-- + +"Oh, certainly, with all my heart. It will be rather a long story, but +never mind. By the way, I am afraid I can hardly begin much before the +birth of Confucius, but as that happened in or about the year 550 +B.C., you will still have to hear about two thousand four +hundred years of its history or so, which will keep us going for a few +months". + +"Confucius--whose real name was Kwang-Foo-Tsz (and if you can pronounce +that last word properly you can do more than many eminent Chinese +scholars can)--was born in the province of Kan Tang ----. + +"Oh, not about Confuse-us!" pleaded a little maid on Cousin Peregrine's +knee. "Tell us what you did." + +"But tell us _wonderful_ things," stipulated a young gentleman, fresh +from _The Boy Hunters_ and kindred works. + +If young bachelors have a weak point when they are kind to children, it +is that they are apt to puzzle them with paradoxes. Even Cousin +Peregrine did "sometimes tease," so his cousins said. + +On this occasion he began a long rambling speech, in which he pretended +not to know what things are and what are not _wonderful_. The _Boy +Hunters_ young gentleman fell headlong into the quagmire of definitions, +but the oldest sister, who had her own ideas about things, said firmly-- + +"Wonderful things are things which surprise you very much, and which you +never saw before, and which you don't understand. Like as if you saw a +lot of giants coming out of a hole in the road. At least that's what +_we_ mean by wonderful." + +"Upon my word, Maggie," said Cousin Peregrine, "your definition is most +admirable. I cannot say that I have met with giants in China, even in +the north, where the men are taller than in the south. But I can tell +you of something I saw in China which surprised me very much, which I +had never seen before, and which, I give you my word, I don't understand +to this hour, but which I have no doubt was not in the least wonderful +to the poor half-naked Chinaman who did it in my courtyard. And then, if +you like, I will tell you something else which surprised some Chinese +country-folk very much, which they never saw before, and which they +certainly did not understand when they did see it. Will that do?" + +"Oh yes, yes! Thank you, yes!" cried the chorus, and Maggie said-- + +"First all about the thing _you_ thought wonderful, you know." + +"Well, the thing I thought wonderful was a conjuring trick done by a +Chinese juggler." + +"Did he only do one trick?" said the little maid on Cousin Peregrine's +knee. + +"Oh, he did lots of tricks," said Cousin Peregrine, "many of them common +Eastern ones, which are now familiar in England, but which he certainly +performed in a wonderful way: because, you see, he had not the advantage +of doing his tricks on a stage fitted up by himself, he did them in the +street, or in my courtyard, with very little apparatus, and naked to the +waist. For instance, the common trick of bringing a glass bowl full of +water and fish out of a seemingly empty shawl is not so marvellous if +the conjurer has a well-draped table near him from behind which he can +get such things, or even good wide sleeves to hide them in. But my poor +conjurer was almost naked, and the bit of carpet, about the size of this +hearthrug, which he carried with him, did not seem capable of holding +glass bowls of water, most certainly. Besides which he shook it, and +spread it on the ground close by me, after which he threw himself down +and rolled on it. And yet from underneath this he drew out a glass bowl +of water with gold-fish swimming in it. But that trick and many others +one can see very well done in London now, though not so utterly without +apparatus. The trick which he did so particularly well, and which +puzzled me so much, I have never seen in Europe. This is the one I am +going to describe to you." + +"Describe the conjurer a bit more first, Cousin Peregrine." + +"There is nothing more to describe. He was not at all a grand conjurer, +he was only a poor common juggler, exhibiting his tricks in the public +streets many times in the day for the few small coins which the +bystanders chose to give him. He was a very merry fellow, and all the +time he was about his performance he kept making fun and jokes; and +these amused the audience so much that you may believe that I was sorry +my ignorance of his language hindered me from understanding them. + +"All sorts of people used to stop and look at the juggler: brawny +porters, with loads of merchandise, or boxes of tea, or bars of silver, +which they carried in boxes or baskets slung on bamboo poles over their +shoulders." + +"Like the pictures on the tea-boxes," whispered little Bessy. + +"There's a figure of it in the grocer's window," said her brother, who +had seen more of the world than Bessy; "not a picture, a figure dressed +in silk; and they're square boxes, not baskets, that he's got--wooden +panniers I call them." + +"Who else used to stop, Cousin Peregrine?" asked Maggie. + +"Street confectioners, Maggie, with small movable sweetmeat stalls, +which they carry on their backs. Men with portable stoves too, who +always have a cup of tea ready for you for a small coin worth about the +twentieth part of a penny. Tiny-footed women toddling awkwardly along, +with children--also cramp-footed--toddling awkwardly after them, dressed +in all the colours of the rainbow, and with their poor little arms stuck +out at right angles with their bodies, to help them to keep their +balance. Even the blind beggars, who go along striking on a bell to let +people know that they are blind, as otherwise they might be knocked +over, even they used to stop and listen to my juggler's jokes, though +they could not see his tricks. + +"All this was in the street; but sometimes I got him to come into my own +courtyard to do his tricks there, that I might watch him more carefully. +But watch as I might, I could never see how he did this particular +feat. He used to do it with no clothes on except a pair of short +trousers, for in the hot season, you must know, the lower classes of +Chinese go about naked to the waist. Indeed, hot as it is, they don't +wear hats. The juggler possessed both a hat and a jacket, as it +happened, but he took them off when he did his trick." + +"And what _was_ the trick?" asked several impatient voices. "What did he +do?" + +"He used to swallow ten or twelve needles one after the other, and 'wash +them down' with a ball of thread, which he swallowed next, and by and by +he used to draw the thread slowly out of his mouth, yard after yard, and +it had all the needles threaded on it." + +"Oh, Cousin Peregrine!" + +"He used to come quite close to me, Maggie, as close as I am to you now, +and take each needle--one after the other--between the finger and thumb +of his right hand--keeping all the other fingers away from it, stick the +point of it for a moment into his other palm, to show that it was sharp, +and then to all appearance swallow it bodily before your eyes. In this +way he seemed to swallow successively all the twelve needles. Then he +opened his mouth, that you might ascertain that they were not there, and +you certainly could not see them. He next swallowed a little ball of +thread, not much bigger than a pea. This being done, he seemed to be +very uneasy (as well he might be!), and he made fearful faces and +violent gestures, and stamped on the ground, and muttered incantations, +and threw up his hands and eyes to the sky; and presently the end of a +thread was to be seen coming out between his teeth, upon which he took +hold of this end, and carefully drew out the thread with all the needles +threaded on it. Then there was always much applause, and the small coins +used to be put pretty liberally into the hat which he handed round to +receive them." + +"Was that all?" asked the young gentleman of the adventure books. + +"All what, Fred?" + +"All that you thought wonderful." + +"Yes," said Cousin Peregrine. "Don't you think it curious?" + +"Oh, very, Cousin, and I like it very much indeed, only if that's all +_you_ thought wonderful, now I want you to tell us what _you_ did that +_the Chinese_ thought wonderful." + +"It's not very easy to surprise a town-bred Chinaman," said Cousin +Peregrine. "What I am going to tell you about now happened in the +country. It was up in the north, and in a part where Europeans had very +rarely been seen." + +"How came you to be there, Cousin Peregrine?" + +"I was not on duty. I had got leave for a few days to go up and see +Pekin. Therefore I was not in uniform, remember, but in plain clothes. + +"On this particular occasion I was on the river Peiho, in one of the +clumsy Chinese river-boats. If the wind were favourable, we sailed; if +we went with the stream--well and good. If neither stream nor wind were +in our favour, the boat was towed." + +"Like a barge--with a horse--Cousin Peregrine?" + +"Like a barge, Maggie, but not with a horse. One or two of the Chinamen +put the rope round them and pulled us along. It was not a quick way of +travelling, as you may believe, and when the Peiho was slow and winding, +I got out and walked by the paths among the fields." + +"Paths and fields--like ours?" + +"Yes. Very like some bits of the agricultural parts of England. But no +pretty meadows. Every scrap of land seemed to be cultivated for crops. +You know the population of China is enormous, and the Chinese are very +economical in using their land to produce food, and as they are not +great meat-eaters--as we are--their fields are mostly ploughed and sown, +so I walked along among rice-fields and cotton-fields, and with little +villages here and there, where the cottages are built of mud or stone +with tile roofs." + +"Did you see any of the villagers?" + +"Most certainly I did. You must know that the inhospitable way in which +the Chinese and Japanese have for many long years received strangers has +come from misunderstandings, and ignorance, and suspicion, and perhaps +from some other reasons; but the Chinese and Japanese villagers who see +strangers for the first time, and have lived quiet country lives out of +the way of politics, are often very hospitable and friendly. I am bound, +however, to except the women; not because they wished us ill, but they +are afraid of strangers, and they kept well out of our way." + +"Do the village Chinese women have those funny smashed-up feet, Cousin +Peregrine?" + +"In the north of China they have. In the south only ladies deform +themselves in this fashion; and the Tartar women always leave their own +beautiful little feet uninjured. Well, the men came out of their +cottages and fields, and pressed eagerly but good-naturedly round me." + +"Do the village men wear pigtails?" + +"Every Chinaman wears a pigtail. A Chinaman without a pigtail would be +as great a rarity as a Manx cat, or rather, I ought to say, he would be +like the tailless fox in the fable; only you would never catch a +Chinaman trying to persuade his friends that it was creditable to have +no tail! For I must tell you that pigtails are sometimes cut off--as a +degradation--when a man has committed some crime. But as soon as he can, +he gets the barber to put him on a false pigtail, as a closely-cropped +convict might wear a wig. They roll them up when they are at work if +they are in the way, but if a servant came into your room with his tail +tucked up you would be very angry with him, It would be like a +housemaid coming in with her sleeves and skirt tucked up for +house-cleaning--_most_ disrespectful!" + +"Were these the men you showed something to that _they_ thought +wonderful?" + +"Yes, Fred. And now I'll tell you what it was. You must know that I +could speak no Chinese, and my new friends could speak no English, so +they chattered like magpies to each other, and laughed like children or +Chinamen--for the Chinese are very fond of a joke. When they laughed I +laughed, and we bowed and shook hands, and they turned me round and felt +me all over, and _felt my hands_." + +"What about your hands, Cousin?" + +"I had on dog-skin gloves, yellow ones. Now when all the male population +of the hamlet had stroked these very carefully, I perceived that they +had never seen gloves before, and that they believed themselves to be +testing the feel of a barbarian's skin." + +"Barbarian?" + +"Certainly, Bessie. They give us the same polite name that we feel +ourselves more justified in applying to them. Well, when they had +laughed, and I had laughed, and we had shaken hands afresh, laughing +heartily as we did so, and I began to feel it was time to go on and +catch up my boat, which was floating sluggishly down the winding stream +of the Peiho, I resolved on one final effect, like the last scene of a +dramatic performance. Making vigorous signs and noises, to intimate that +something was coming, and they must look out sharp, and feeling very +much like a conjurer who has requested his audience to keep their eyes +on him and 'see how it's done'--I slyly unbuttoned my gloves, and then +with much parade began to draw one off by the finger-tips. + +"'Eyah! Eyah!' cried the Chinamen on all the notes of the gamut, as they +fell back over each other. _They thought I was skinning my hands_. I +'smiled superior,' as I took the gloves off, and made an effect almost +as great by putting them on again." + +"Oh, Cousin Peregrine, weren't they astonished?" + +"They were, Maggie, And unless they are more familiar with Europeans +now, the mystery is probably to this day as unsolved to them as the +trick of the ball of thread and the twelve needles still is to me. By +this time, however, my boat was + +'Far off, a blot upon the stream,' + +and I had to hasten away as fast as I could to catch it up. I parted on +the most friendly terms from my narrow-eyed acquaintance, but when I had +nearly regained my boat I could still see them in their blue-cotton +dresses and long pigtails, gazing open-mouthed at my vanishing figure +across the rice-fields." + + * * * * * + +After a few seconds' silence, during which Maggie had sat with her eyes +thoughtfully fixed on the fire, she said, "Cousin Peregrine, you said in +your letters that it was very cold in the north of China. If Chinamen +know nothing about gloves, how can they keep their hands warm?" Maggie +had a little the air of regarding this question as a poser, but Cousin +Peregrine was not disconcerted. + +"My dear Maggie, your question reminds me of another occasion, when I +astonished a most respectable old China gentleman by my gloves. I will +tell you about it, as it will show you how the Chinese keep their hands +warm. + +"It was on this very same expedition. We were at Tung-Chow, about eight +miles from Pekin. At this place we had to leave the river, and take to +our Tartar ponies, which our Chinese horse-boys had ridden up to this +point to meet us. We had hired a little cart to convey our baggage, and +I was sitting on my pony watching the lading up of the cart, when a dear +old Chinaman, dressed in blue wadded silk, handsomely lined with fur, +came up to me, and with that air of gentlemanly courtesy which is by no +means confined to Europe, began to explain and expound in his own +language for my benefit." + +"What was he talking about? Could you tell?" + +"I soon guessed. The fact is I am not very apt to wear gloves when I can +help it, especially if I am working at anything. At the moment the old +Chinese gentleman came up I was holding the reins of my pony with bare +hands (my gloves being in my pocket), and as the morning was cold, my +fingers looked rather blue. Having ascertained by feeling that my +coat-sleeves would not turn down any lower than my wrists, he touched my +hands softly, and made courteous signs, indicating that he was about to +do me a good turn. Having signalled a polite disapprobation of the +imperfect nature of my sleeves, he drew my attention to his own deep +wide ones. Turning them back so as to expose the hands, the fine fur +lining lay like a rich trimming above his wrists. Then with a glance of +infinite triumph he bespoke my close attention as, shivering, to express +cold, he turned the long sleeves, each a quarter of a yard, over his +hands, and stuffing each hand into the opposite sleeve they were warm +and comfortable, as it were in a muff, which was a part of his coat. +More sensible than our muffs too, the fur was inside instead of out. + +"He was the very pink of politeness, but at this point his pride of +superior intelligence could not be restrained, and he broke into fits of +delighted laughter, in which the horse-boys, the spectators, my friends, +and (as is customary in China) everybody within sight and hearing +joined. + +"I took good care to laugh heartily too. After which I made signs the +counterpart of his. He looked anxious. I put my hand in my pocket, and +drew out my gloves. He stared. _I put them on_, and nodded, to show that +that was the way we barbarians did it. + +"'Eyah!' cried the silk-robed old gentleman. + +"'Eyah!' echoed the horse-boys and the crowd. + +"Then I laughed, and the horse-boys laughed loudly, and the crowd louder +still, and finally the old gentleman doubled himself up in his blue silk +fur-lined robe in fits of laughter. + +"An Asiatic only relishes one thing better than being outwitted--that is +to outwit. + +"'Eyah! Eyah! Ha! ha! ha!' they cried as we rode away. + +"'Ha! ha! ha!' replied I, waving a well-gloved hand, on my road to +Pekin." + + + + +WAVES OF THE GREAT SOUTH SEAS. + +(_Founded on Fact_.) + + +"Very likely the man who drew it had been nearly drowned by one +himself." + +"Very likely nothing of the sort!" + +"How could he draw it if he hadn't seen it?" + +"Why, they always do. Look at Uncle Alfred, he drew a splendid picture +of a shipwreck. Don't you remember his doing it at the dining-room +table, and James coming in to lay the cloth, and he would have a bit of +the table left clear for him, because he was in the middle of putting in +the drowning men, and wanted to get them in before luncheon? And Uncle +Herbert wrote a beautiful poem to it, and they were both put into a real +magazine. And Uncle Alfred and Uncle Herbert never were in shipwrecks. +So there!" + +"Well, Uncle Alfred drew it very well, and he made very big waves. So +there!" + +"Ah, but he didn't make waves like a great wall. He did it very +naturally, and he draws a great deal better than those rubbishy old +pictures in Father's _Robinson Crusoe_." + +"Well, I don't care. The Bible says that when the Children of Israel +went through the Red Sea the waters were a wall to them on their right +hand and on their left. And I believe they were great waves like the +wave in _Robinson Crusoe_, only they weren't allowed to fall down till +Pharaoh and his host came, and then they washed them all away." + +"But that's a miracle. I don't believe there are waves like that now." + +"I believe there are in other countries. Uncle Alfred's shipwreck was +only an English shipwreck, with waves like the waves at the seaside." + +"Let's ask Cousin Peregrine. He's been in foreign countries, and he's +been at sea." + +The point in dispute between Maggie and her brother was this:--The +nursery copy of _Robinson Crusoe_ was an old one which had belonged to +their father, with very rough old wood-cuts, one of which represented +Robinson Crusoe cowering under a huge wave, which towered far above his +head, and threatened to overwhelm him. This wave Maggie had declared to +be unnatural and impossible, whilst the adventure-book young gentleman +clung to and defended an illustration which had helped him so vividly to +realize the sea-perils of his hero. + +It was the day following that of Cousin Peregrine's arrival, and when +evening arrived the two children carried the book down with them to +dessert, and attacked Cousin Peregrine simultaneously. + +"Cousin Peregrine, you've been at sea: isn't that an impossible wave?" + +"Cousin Peregrine, you've been at sea: aren't there sometimes waves like +that in foreign places?" + +"It's not very cleverly drawn," said Cousin Peregrine, examining the +wood-cut; "but making allowance for that, I have seen waves not at all +unlike this one." + +"There!" cried the young gentleman triumphantly. "Maggie laughed at it, +and said it was like a wall." + +"Some waves are very like walls, but those are surf-waves, as they are +called, that is, waves which break upon a shore. The waves I am thinking +of just now are more like mountains--translucent blackish-blue +mountains--mountains that look as if they were made of bottle-green +glass, like the glass mountain in the fairy tale, or shining mountains +of phosphorescent light--meeting you as if, they would overwhelm you, +passing under you, and tossing you like the old woman in the blanket, +and then running away behind you as you go to meet another. Every wave +with a little running white crest on its ridge; though not quite such a +curling frill as this one has which is engulfing poor Robinson Crusoe. +But his is a surf-wave, of course. Those I am speaking of are waves in +mid-ocean." + +"Not as tall as a man, Cousin Peregrine?" + +"As tall as many men piled one upon another, Maggie." + +"It certainly is very funny that the children should choose this subject +to tease you about tonight, Peregrine," said Mamma. + +We are all apt to speak inaccurately. Mamma did not mean that the +subject was a comical one, but that it was remarkable that the children +should have started it at dessert, when the grown-up people had been +discussing it at dinner. + +They had not been talking about Robinson Crusoe's wave, but about the +loss of an Australian vessel, in sad circumstances which were in every +one's mouth. A few people only had been saved. They had spent many days +in an open boat in great suffering, and the particular question +discussed at dinner was, whether the captain of a certain vessel which +had passed without rescuing them had been so inhuman as to see and yet +to leave them. + +"How could he help seeing them?" Mamma had indignantly asked. "It was +daylight, and of course somebody was on the deck, even if the captain +was still in bed. Don't talk to me, Peregrine! You would say black is +white for the sake of argument, especially if it was to defend somebody. +But little as I know about the sea, I know that it's flat." + +"And that's flat!" interposed Papa. + +"It's all very well making fun of me," Mamma had continued with +good-humoured vehemence, "but there were no Welsh hills and valleys to +block the view of castaway fellow-creatures not a mile off, and it was +daylight, and he _must_ have seen them." + +"I'm not quite sure about the hills and valleys," Cousin Peregrine had +replied; "and hills of water are quite as troublesome to see through as +hills of earth." + +At this moment the dining-room door had opened to admit the children, +Maggie coming first, and making her courtesy in the doorway, with the +old fat, brown-calf-bound _Robinson Crusoe_ under her arm. It opened +without the slightest difficulty at the picture of the big wave, and the +children appealed to Cousin Peregrine as has been related. + +Maggie was a little taken aback by a decision which was in favour of her +brother's judgment. She was apt to think rather highly of her own, and +even now she pondered, and then put another question-- + +"But if the waves were so very, very big, Cousin, they would swallow up +the ships!" + +"No, Maggie, not if the sailors manage their ship properly, and turn her +about so that she meets the wave in the right way. Then she rides over +it instead of being buried under it." + +"It would be dreadful if they didn't!" said Maggie. + +"I remember being in a ship that didn't meet one of these waves in the +right way," said Cousin Peregrine. + +"Tell us all about it," said Fred, settling himself with two or three +severe fidgets into the seat of his chair. + +"I _was_ going to have protested against the children asking you for +another story so soon, Peregrine," said Mamma, "but now I feel selfish, +for your wave-story will be quite as much for me as for the little +ones." + +"Where was it, Cousin Peregrine?" + +"Where was the wave, do you mean? It was in the great South Seas. As to +where I was, I was in a sailing-vessel bound for South Australia. To +begin at the beginning, I must explain to you that this vessel was one +of those whose captains accepted the instruments offered by the Board of +Trade to any ship that would keep a meteorological log. I was fond of +such matters, and I took the trouble off the captain's hands, by keeping +his meteorological log for him." + +"What is a meteorological log, Cousin?" + +"A kind of diary, in which you put down the temperature of the sea and +air, how cold or hot they are--the way the wind blows, how the barometer +is, and anything special and interesting about the weather overhead or +the currents in the sea. Now I must tell you that there had been a good +deal of talk about currents of warm water in the Southern Ocean, like +the Gulf Stream of the Atlantic, which keeps the west coasts of Great +Britain so warm. But these South Sea currents had not been very +accurately observed, and information on the subject was desired. Well, +one day we got right into a warm current." + +"How did you know, Cousin?" + +"By drawing up a bucket of water out of the sea, and putting the +thermometer into it. But I ought to tell you what a thermometer is--" + +"We know quite well," said Maggie. "Nurse always put it into Baby's bath +when he had fits, to see if the water was the right warmth." + +"Very good, Maggie. Then let me tell you that the water of the sea got +nearly thirty degrees warmer on that day between noon and midnight." + +"How did you know about midnight?" Maggie inquired doubtfully; "weren't +you in bed?" + +"No, I was not, I was very busy all day 'taking observations' every hour +or two, and it was at twelve o'clock this very night that the 'comber' +broke on deck." + +"What _is_ a 'comber'?" + +"A 'comber' is the name for a large wave with a comb or crest of foam, a +sort of wave over which our ship ought to have ridden; but I must tell +you that it was no easy matter to meet them on this occasion, because +(owing to the cross currents) the waves did not all go one way, but came +at us from various points. The sea was very heavy, and the night was +very dark. I tried the heat of the water for the last time that evening, +and having bade good-night to the officer whose watch was just over, I +stayed for a few minutes to talk to the officer whose watch was just +beginning, before going below to go to bed. We were standing aft, and, +fortunately for us, near one of the masts, when through the darkness we +saw the sloping sides of a great South Sea wave coming at the fore part +of the ship, but sideways. 'The rigging!' shouted the officer of the +watch, and as we both clung to the ropes the wave broke on our bows, +smashed the jib-boom, and swept the decks from stem to stern." + +"And if you hadn't held on by the rigging you would have been washed +away?" + +"I am afraid we should, Fred, for every loose thing on deck was swept +off in less than a minute. The bull kept his feet, by the bye; but then +he had four, and I have only two." + +"The bull! what bull?" + +"We were taking some cattle out to Australia. There was a bull who lived +in a stable that had been made for him on deck. When this comber broke +over us it tore up the bull's house, and carried it overboard, but I met +the bull himself taking a walk at large as I went below to change my +clothes and get some sleep." + +"Were you wet?" + +"Drenched, my dear Maggie; but when I got to my cabin I found that there +was no hope of rest for some hours. The wave had flooded the cabins, +broken in doors, and washed everything and everybody about. So we all +had to set to work to bale out water, and mop up our bed-rooms; and as +the wave had also put out what lights there were, we had to work in the +dark, and very uncomfortable work it was! What the women and children +did, and the poor people who were sea-sick, I hardly know. Of course we +who could keep our feet did the work." + +"Weren't you ever sea-sick?" + +"Never, I am thankful to say." + +"Not when it's very, very rough?" + +"Not in a gale. I have once or twice on that voyage been the captain's +only companion at dinner, tied to the mast to keep myself steady, and +with the sherry in one pocket and my wine-glass in another to keep +_them_ steady, and quite ashamed of my appetite, for if the sea doesn't +make you feel very ill it makes you feel very well." + +"I had no idea there were such very big waves really," said Maggie, +thoughtfully. + +"I see that they are quite big enough to shelter the captain's +character, Peregrine," said Mamma, smiling, "and I am much obliged to +you for correcting my ignorance. I don't _wish_ to believe that any +English sailor would pass a boat in distress without giving help, if he +saw it." + +"I am quite sure no English sailor would, and very few real sailors of +any nation, I think. A real seaman knows too well what sea-perils are, +and that what is another man's case one day may be his the next; and +cowardice and cold-heartedness are the last sins that can be laid at +Jack Tar's door as a rule. But I will finish my story by telling the +children what happened next morning, as it goes to illustrate both my +statements, that it is not easy to see an open boat in a heavy sea, and +that sailors are very ready to risk their lives for each other." + +"You're like Captain Marryat, Cousin Peregrine," said Fred. + +"He's not a sailor captain, he's a soldier captain," said Maggie. "Go +on, Cousin." + +"As I told you, we had two or three hours of very disagreeable work +before our cabins were even tolerably comfortable; but it made us more +tired than ever, and when I did turn in I slept like a top, and the +rolling of the ship only rocked me to sounder slumbers. I was awakened +at seven o'clock next morning by a fellow-passenger, who popped in to +cry, 'There's a man overboard!' 'Who?' shouted I as I jumped up. +'Giovanni,' he replied as he vanished, leaving me to follow him on deck +as quickly as possible. Now, Fred, picture to yourself a grey morning, +the damp deck of our vessel being rapidly crowded with everybody on +board, and all eyes strained towards a heavy sea, with big blue-black +mountains of water running at us, and under us, and away from us all +along; every wave had a white crest: but there were some other patches +of snowy white hovering over the dark sea, on which all the experienced +eyes were soon fixed!" + +"What were they?" whispered Fred. + +"Albatross," said Cousin Peregrine. "They had been following us for +days, hovering, swooping, and whirling those great white wings of +theirs, which sometimes measure nine feet from tip to tip." + +"What did they follow you for?" + +"They came to pick up anything that may be thrown overboard, and they +came now, as we knew, after poor Giovanni, whose curly black head kept +ducking out of their way as he swam with desperate courage in our wake." + +"Oh, Cousin Peregrine! Didn't the captain stop the ship?" + +"Certainly, Maggie, though, quickly as it was done, it left the poor +fellow far away behind. And heavy as the sea was, they were lowering a +boat when I got on deck, and the captain had called for volunteers among +the sailors to man it." + +"Oh, I hope he got them!" + +"I hope you won't insult a noble and gallant profession by having any +doubt about it, Maggie. He might have had the ship's crew bodily if he +had wanted them, and if the waves had run twice as high." + +"Spare me!" said Mamma. + +"As it was the few men needed were soon ready. The boat was launched +without being upset, and the men got in without mishap. Then they laid +themselves to their oars, we gave them a parting cheer, and they +vanished from our sight." + +"_Drowned_, Cousin Peregrine?" + +"No, no. Though I can tell you we were as anxious for them as for +Giovanni now. But when they had crossed the first water-mountains, and +gone down into the water-valleys beyond, they were quite out of sight of +the crowd on the deck of the ship, daylight though it was." + +"I retract everything I ever said," cried Mamma impetuously. + +"And not only could we not see them, but they could not see the man they +were risking their lives to save. Those crested mountains which hid them +from us hid him from them." + +"What _did_ you do?" + +"Men were sent up the masts to look out from such a height that they +could look over the waves. _They_ could see both Giovanni and the boat, +and as they were so high up the men in the boat could see them. So the +men on the masts kept their eyes on Giovanni, and the men in the boat +kept their eyes on the men on the masts, and steered their course +according to the signals from the look-out." + +"And they saved him?" + +"Yes, they brought him back; and if we cheered when they went away, you +may believe we cheered when they got safe to the ship's side again." + +"And who was Giovanni? and did he get all right?" + +"Giovanni was one of the sailors, an Italian. He was a fine young +fellow, and appeared to think nothing whatever of his adventure. I +remember he resolutely refused to go below and change his clothes till +he had helped to haul up the boat. With his white teeth shining through +a broad grin, he told us in his broken English that he had been +overboard every voyage he had taken. He said he didn't mind anything +except the swooping and pecking of the albatross. They obliged him to +dive so constantly, to keep his eyes from their beaks." + +"Was it a comber washed him overboard?" + +"No. He was mending the jib-boom, and lost his hold and fell into the +sea. He really had a very narrow escape. A less active swimmer might +easily have been drowned. I always think, too, that he had an advantage +in the fact that the water was warm." + +"I am so glad the nasty albatross were disappointed." + +"The nasty albatross were probably disappointed when they found that +Giovanni was not a piece of spoilt pork. However, they set their +beautiful wings, and went their way, and we set our sails, and went our +way, which was to Adelaide, South Australia." + + + + +COUSIN PEREGRINE'S TRAVELLER'S TALES. + +JACK OF PERA. + +(_Founded on Fact_.) + + +"Cousin Peregrine, oughtn't we to love our neighbour, whether he's a +nice neighbour or a nasty neighbour?" + +"Certainly, Maggie." + +"But need we when he's a nasty _next-door_ neighbour?" asked Fred, in +such rueful tones that Cousin Peregrine burst out laughing and said, +"Who is your nasty next-door neighbour, Fred, and what has he done?" + +"Well, his name is Mackinnon, Cousin; and everybody says he's always +quarrelling; and he complained of our screaming and the cockatoo +playing--no, of the cockatoo's screaming and our playing prisoners' +base, and he kept our ball once, and now he has complained of poor dear +Ponto's going into his garden, and the dear darling old thing has to be +tied up, except when we take him out for stiff walks." + +"I didn't notice anything stiff about his walk yesterday, Fred, He took +the fence into your nasty neighbour's garden at one bound, and came back +with another." + +"I don't know what can make him go there!" cried Fred; "I wish he +understood about keeping to his own grounds." + +"Ponto never lived in Constantinople, that is evident," said Cousin +Peregrine. + +"Did you ever live in Constantinople, Cousin?" asked Maggie. + +"Yes, Maggie, I am happy to say I have." + +"Why are you glad, Cousin?" + +"Because in some respects it is the loveliest city on earth, and I am +glad to have seen it." + +"Tell us what it is like." + +"And tell us why you say Ponto never lived there." + +"I was a good deal younger than I am now," said Cousin Peregrine, "when +I saw Constantinople for the first time, and had seen much less of the +world than I have seen since; but even now I remember nothing in my +travels with greater delight than my first sight of that lovely city. It +was from the sea. Do you know anything about the Sea of Marmora, Fred?" + +"I don't think I know much," said Fred doubtfully. + +"But we've got an atlas," said Maggie, "so you can show it us, you +know." + +"Well, give me the map. Here is the Sea of Marmora, with +Turkey-in-Europe on one side of it, and Turkey-in-Asia on the other side +of it. This narrower part that you come into it by is called the +Dardanelles, that narrower part that you go out of it by is called the +Bosphorus. The Bosphorus is about two miles broad; it is salt water, you +know, and leads from the Sea of Marmora to the Black Sea, which is +farther north. This narrow piece of water going westward out of the +Bosphorous is called the Golden Horn. Constantinople--which is built, +like Rome, on hills--rises above the shores of the Bosphorus and on both +sides of the Golden Horn. The part of it which is south of the Golden +Horn is called Stamboul, and is the especially Turkish Quarter. Across +the Golden Horn from Stamboul lies the Quarter called Galata--the +commercial port--and beyond that Pera--beautiful Pera!--the Quarter +where English people live when they live at Constantinople. North of +these are more suburbs, and then detached Turkish villages and gay +gardens dotting the banks of the Bosphorus." + +"But you lived at Pera?" + +"Yes, I lived at Pera; in a house looking into the Turkish cemetery." + +"Was it nice, Cousin, like our churchyard? or do the Turks do horrid +things with their dead people, like those Chinese you told us about, who +put them in boxes high up in the air?" + +"The Turks bury their dead as we do, my dear Maggie, and they plant +their graveyards with cypresses, which, standing tall and dark among the +headstones of the graves, have a very picturesque effect. The cemetery +in all Turkish towns is a favourite place of public resort, but I cannot +say that it is kept in very nice order, as a rule. For the sake of a +water-colour sketch I made in one, I was very glad that the upright +headstones were tumbling about in all directions, it took away the look +of stiffness and monotony; but I am bound to say that the graves looked +neglected as well as picturesque. The cemetery at Pera had too much +refuse, and too many cocks, hens, and dogs in it. It looked very pretty, +however, from my windows, sloping down towards the Golden Horn, beyond +which I could catch a glimpse of Stamboul on the heights across the +water. But I have not yet told you what Constantinople looked like when +I first saw it." + +"You began about the Sea of Marmora, Cousin, and here it is. I've had +my middle finger on it ever since we found it, to keep the place." + +"Very good, Maggie. We were coming up the Sea of Marmora one evening, +and drew near to Constantinople about sunrise. I knew we were near, but +I could not see anything, because a thick white mist hung in front of us +like a veil resting on the sea. We were near the mouth of the Bosphorus +when the sun broke out, the white mist rose slowly, like the curtain of +a theatre, and--more beautiful than any scene that human hands can ever +paint--I saw the Queen of Cities glittering in the sunshine." + +"What made it glitter? Are the houses built of shiny stuff?" + +"The houses are built of wood, but they are painted in many colours. The +rounded domes of the mosques are white, and the minarets, tall, slender, +and fretted, are white, with golden tops, or white and blue. I can give +you no idea how beautifully the shapes of the mosques and minarets break +the uniformity of the mass of houses, nor how the gay colours, the white +and the gold, shone like gems against a cloudless blue sky when the mist +rose. No princess in an Eastern fairy-tale ever dazzled and delighted +the beholder by lifting her veil and displaying her beauty and her +jewels more than my eyes were charmed when the veil was lifted from +Constantinople, and I saw her lovely and sparkling in the sun." + +"Are the streets very beautiful when you get into them?" + +"Ah, Fred, I am sorry to say--no. They are very dirty, and very narrow. +But they are picturesque, and made doubly so by the fact that in them +you meet people of all nations, in every kind of dress, gay with all +colours of the rainbow." + +"Are there shops in the streets?" + +"Most of the shops are all together in certain streets by themselves, +forming what is called a Bazaar. But in the other streets there are a +few, such as sweetmeat shops and coffee shops, where the old Turks go to +drink thick black coffee, and smoke, and hear the news; and (if they +wish it) to be shaved." + +"I thought Turks wore long beards?" + +"The lower-class Turks, and the country ones, and those who like to +follow the old fashions, wear beards, but they have their heads shaved, +and wear the turban. Most modern Turks, Government officials, and so +forth, shave off their beards and whiskers, and wear short hair and a +moustache, with the fez, or cloth cap. The old-fashioned dress is much +the handsomest, I think, and I am sorry it is dying out." + +"The poor women-Turks aren't allowed to go out, are they, Cousin +Peregrine?" + +"Oh yes, they are, but they have to be veiled, and so bundled up that +you can not only not tell one woman from another, but they hardly look +like women at all--more like unsteady balloons, or inflated sacks of +different colours. They wear yellow leather boots, and no stockings. +Over the boots they wear large slippers, in which they shuffle along +with a gait very little less awkward than the toddle of a cramp-footed +lady in China. If they are ungraceful on foot, matters are not much +better when they ride. Sitting astride a donkey (for they do not use +side-saddles), a Turkish lady is about as comical an object as you could +wish to behold, though I have no doubt she is quite unconscious of +looking anything but dignified, as she presses on to her shopping in the +Bazaar, screaming to the half-naked Arab donkey-boy to urge on her steed +with his stick. As the great cloak dress, in which women envelop +themselves from head to foot when they go out, is all of one colour, +they have this advantage over Englishwomen out shopping, that they do +not look ugly from being bedizened with ill-assorted hues and frippery +trimmings. In fact a mass of Turkish women, each clothed in one shade of +colour, looks very like a flower-bed--a flower-bed of sole-coloured +tulips without stalks!" + +"The Bazaars are bigger than Charity Bazaars, I suppose," said Maggie +thoughtfully; "are they as big as the Baker Street Bazaar?" + +"The Bazaar of Stamboul, the Turkish Quarter of Constantinople, is +almost a Quarter by itself. It takes up many, many streets, Maggie. I am +sure I wish with all my heart I could take you children through it. You +would think yourselves in fairy-land, or rather in some of those +underground caves full of dazzling treasures such as Aladdin found +himself in." + +"But why, Cousin Peregrine? Do the Turks have very wonderful things in +their shops?" + +"I fancy, Maggie, that in no place in the world can one see such a +collection of valuable merchandise gathered from all quarters of the +globe. But it is not only the gold, the jewels, the ivories, the +gorgeous silks and brocades, morocco leathers, and priceless furs, which +make these great Eastern markets unlike ours. The common wares for +everyday use are often of a much more picturesque kind than with us. +There is no great beauty in an English boot-shop, but the shoe-bazaar in +Stamboul is gay with slippers of all colours, embroidered with gold and +silver thread, to say nothing of the ladies' yellow leather boots. A +tobacconist's shop with us is interesting to none but smokers, but +Turkish pipes have stems several feet long, made of various kinds of +wood, and these and the amber mouth-pieces, which are often of very +great value, and enriched with jewels, make the pipe-seller's wares +ornamental as well as useful. Nor can our gunsmiths' shops compete for +picturesqueness with the Bazaar devoted to arms, of all sorts and kinds, +elaborately mounted, decorated, sheathed, and jewelled. Turkey and +Persian carpets and rugs are common enough in England now, and you know +how handsome they are. Turbans, and even fezes, you will allow to look +prettier than English hats. Then some of the shops display things that +one does not see at all at home, such as the glass lamps for hanging in +the mosques and Greek churches. Nor is it the things for sale alone +which make the Bazaar so wonderful a sight. The buyers and sellers are +at least as picturesque as what they sell and buy. The floor of each +shop is raised two or three feet from the ground, and on a gay rug the +turbaned Turk who keeps it sits cross-legged and smokes his pipe and +makes his bargains, whilst down the narrow street (which in many +instances is arched overhead with stone) there struggle, and swarm, and +scream, and fight, black slaves, obstinate camels, primitive-looking +chariots full of Turkish ladies, people of all colours in all costumes, +and from every part of the world." + +"It must be a wonderful place," sighed Maggie; "streets full of +beautiful shoes, and streets full of beautiful carpets." + +"Just so, Maggie." + +"Not at all like a London Bazaar, then. I thought perhaps it was a place +that shut up to itself, with a beadle sitting at the door?" + +"I never was in Stamboul at night, but my belief is that the Bazaar is +secured at night by the locking up of gates. You know the people who own +the shops do not live in them, and as most valuable merchandise remains +in the Bazaar, it must be protected in some way. I suppose the watchmen +look after it." + +"Have the Turks watchmen like the old London watchmen, Cousin? With +nightcaps, and rattles, and lanterns, and big coats?" + +"The Turkish watchmen wear turbans--not nightcaps; but they have +lanterns and big coats, and in one respect they are remarkably like the +old 'Charlies,' as the London watchmen used to be called. Their object +is not (like policemen) to find robbers and misdoers, but to frighten +them away. Just as the old Charlies used to spring their wooden rattles +that the thieves might get out of their way, so the Turkish watchman +strikes the ground with an iron-shod staff, that makes a great noise, +for the same purpose. In one respect, however, the Turkish watchmen are +most useful--they give warning of fires." + +"Are there often fires in Constantinople?" + +"Very often, Fred. And when a big straggling city is built of wood in a +hot climate which keeps the wood so dry that a spark will set it ablaze, +when the water-supply is small, and the water-carriers, who feed the +fire-engines from their leathern water-pots, are chiefly bent upon +securing their pay for the help they give; and when, to crown all, the +sufferers themselves are generally of the belief that what is to happen +will happen, and that there is very little use in trying to avert +calamity--you may believe that a fire, once started, spreads not by +houses, but by streets, leaving acres of black ruins dotted with the +still standing chimneys. However, I fancy that of late years wider +streets and stone buildings are becoming commoner. There were stone +houses, built by Europeans, in Constantinople even when I was there." + +"Did you see a fire whilst you were there?" + +"Yes, indeed. One came so near the house where I lived that I had +everything packed up ready for a start, but fortunately my house +escaped. I must tell you that the Turks have one very sensible custom in +connection with these fires. They have what are called fire-towers, on +which men are stationed to give warning when a fire breaks out in any +part of the town. They have a system of signals, by which they show in +what quarter of the city the fire is. At night the signalling is done by +lamps. There is an old Genoese tower between Pera and Galata which has +been made into a fire-tower. The one at Stamboul I think is modern. +These buildings are tall--like light-houses--so that the signals can be +seen from all parts of Constantinople, and so that the men stationed on +them have the whole city in view. Besides these signals, it is part of +the watchman's duty, as I told you, to give warning of a fire, and the +quarter in which it has broken out. I assure you one listens with some +anxiety when the ring of his iron-tipped staff on the rough pavement +is followed by the cry, '_Yan ghun vah! Stamboul-dah_' ('There is a +fire! In Stamboul'); or '_Yan ghun vah! Pera-dah_' ('There is a fire! +In Pera')." + +"But there are fire-engines?" + +"There may be very good ones now. In my time nothing could be more +futile than the trumpery one which was carried on men's shoulders. +Indeed, until the streets are much less rough, narrow, and steep, I do +not see how one could be _driven_ at any speed." + +"Did the men who carried the engine run?" + +"Yes, and at a good swinging pace too, their half-naked bodies streaming +with perspiration, and (I should have thought) their labours quite +doubled by yelling as they ran. Their cries are echoed by the +formidable-looking band which follows, waving long poles armed with +hooks, &c., for pulling down houses to stop the progress of the flames. +On the heels of these figures follow mounted officials, whose dignity is +in a fixed proportion to the extent of the calamity. If the fire is a +very very extensive one, the Sultan himself has to be upon the spot." + +"It must be very exciting," said Fred, in a tone of relish. + +"You've told us lots about Constantinople now, Cousin Peregrine," said +Maggie, who had the air of having heard quite enough on the subject; +"now tell us about why you said Ponto never was in Constantinople. Don't +the Turks keep dogs?" + +"Not as we do, for pets and friends; and yet the dog population of +Constantinople is more numerous and powerful, and infinitely more noisy, +than I can easily describe to you." + +"Whom do they belong to then?" + +"They have no special masters or mistresses. They are more like troops +of wolves than a collection of Pontos." + +"But who gives them their dinners?" + +"They live on offal and the offscourings of the city, and though the +Turks freely throw all their refuse into their streets, there are so +many dogs that they are all half-starved. They are very fierce, and have +as a rule a great dislike to strangers. At night they roam about the +streets, and are said to fall upon any one who does not carry a +lantern." + +"But does anybody carry a lantern--except the watchmen?" + +"Everybody does. Coloured paper lanterns, like the Chinese ones, with a +bit of candle inside. With one of these in one hand and a heavy stone or +stick in the other, you may get safely through a night-walk among the +howling dogs of Stamboul." + +"What horrible beasts!" + +"I think you would pity them if you were there. They are half starved, +and have no friends." + +"There isn't a home for lost and starving dogs in Constantinople then?" + +"The whole city may be considered as the headquarters of starving dogs, +but not of lost ones. That reminds me why I said Ponto had not lived +there. If he had he would know his own grounds, and keep to them." + +"But, Cousin Peregrine, I thought you said the Turkish dogs had no +particular homes?" + +"Every dog in Constantinople belongs to a particular Quarter of the +town, which he knows, and to which he confines himself with marvellous +sagacity. In the Quarter in which he was born, there he must live, and +there (if he wishes to die peaceably) he must die. If he strays on any +pretext into another Quarter, the dogs of the Quarter he has invaded +will tear him to pieces, and dine upon his bones." + +"How does he know where his own part of the town begins and ends?" + +"I cannot tell you, Maggie. But I can tell you of my own knowledge that +he does. Jack did, though we tried to deceive him over and over again." + +"Who was Jack?" + +"The handsomest dog I ever saw in Constantinople. The Turkish dogs are +by no means beautiful as a rule, they are too much like jackals, and as +they are apt to be maimed and covered with scars from fights with each +other, they do not make much of what good looks they have. However, Jack +was rather less wild and wolfish-looking than most of his friends. He +was of a fine tawny yellow, and had an intelligent face, poor fellow. He +belonged to our Quarter--in fact the cemetery was his home till he took +to lying at our door." + +"Then he was a Pera dog?" + +[Illustration] + +"Yes, and I and the brother-officers who were living with me made friends +with him. We gave him food and spoke kindly to him, and he laid aside his +prejudices against foreigners, and laid his tawny limbs on our threshold. +We became really attached to each other. He received the very British +name of Jack, and seemed quite contented with it. He took walks with us. +It was then that again and again we tried to deceive him about the limits +of his Quarter, and get him into another one unawares. He never was +misled. But later on, as he grew tame, less fearful of things in general, +and more unwilling to quit us when we were out together, he sometimes +strayed beyond his bounds, not because he was deceived as to his limits, +but he ventured on the risk for our sakes. Even then, however, he would +not walk in the public thoroughfares, he 'dodged' through gardens, empty +courtyards and quiet by-places where he was not likely to meet the +outraged dogs of the Quarter he was invading. The moment we were safe back +'in bounds' he came freely and happily to our side once more. I have often +wondered, since I left Constantinople, how long Jack lived, and how he +died." + +"Oh, didn't you take him away?" + +"I couldn't, my dear. And you must not think, Maggie, that if Turks do +not pet dogs they are cruel to them. It is not the case. A Turk would +never dream of petting a dog, but if he saw one looking hot and thirsty +in the street he would be more likely to take trouble to get it a dish +of water than many English people who feed their own particular pets on +mutton-chops. Jack was not likely to be ill-treated after our departure, +but I sometimes have a heart-sore suspicion that we may have raised +dreams in his doggish heart never again to be realized. If he were at +all like other dogs (and the more we knew of him the more companionable +he became), he must have waited many a long hour in patient faithfulness +at our deserted threshold. He must have felt his own importance as a dog +with a name, in that wild and nameless tribe to which he belonged. He +must have dreamed of his foreign friends on many a blazing summer's +afternoon. Perhaps he stole cautiously into other Quarters to look for +us. I hope he did not venture too far--Maggie--my dear Maggie! You are +not fretting about poor Jack? I assure you that really the most probable +thing is that our successors made friends with him." + +"Do you really and truly think so, Cousin Peregrine?" + +"On my word of honour I do, Maggie. You must remember that Jack was not +a Stamboul dog. He belonged to Pera, where Europeans live, so there is a +strong probability that his unusual tameness and beauty won other +friends for him when we had gone." + +"I hope somebody very nice lived in your house when you went away." + +"I hope so, Maggie." + +"Cousin Peregrine, do you think we could teach Ponto to know his own +quarter?" + +"I think you could, Fred. I once lived next door to a man who was very +fond of his garden. It was a mere strip in front of his hut--for we were +quartered in camp at this time--and not even a paling separated it from +a similar strip in front of my quarters. My bit, I regret to say, was +not like his in any respect but shape. I had a rather ragged bit of +turf, and he had a glowing mass of flowers. The monotony of my +grass-plat was only broken by the marrow-bones and beef-ribs which my +dog first picked and then played with under my windows. I was as fond of +him as my brother-officer was of his flowers. I am sorry to say that +Dash had a fancy for the gayer garden, and for some time my +good-tempered neighbour bore patiently with his inroads, and with a sigh +buried the beef-bone that Dash had picked among the mignonette at the +roots of a magnificent rose which he often alluded to as 'John Hopper,' +and seemed to treat as a friend. Mr. Hopper certainly throve on Dash's +bones, but unfortunately Dash took to applying them himself to the roots +of plants for which I believe that bone manure is not recommended. When +he made a hole two foot deep in the Nemophila bed, and laid a sheep's +head by in it against a rainy day, I felt that something must be done. +After the humblest apologies to my neighbour, I begged for a few days' +grace. He could not have spoken more feelingly of the form, scent, and +colour of his friend John Hopper than I ventured to do in favour of the +intelligence of my friend Dash. In short I begged for a week's patience +on his part, that I might teach Dash to know his own garden. If I failed +to do so, I promised to put him on the chain, much as I dislike tying up +dogs." + +"How did you manage, Cousin?" + +"Whenever Dash strayed into the next garden, I began to scold him in the +plainest English, and covered him with reproaches, till he slunk +gradually back to his own untidy grass-plat. When he touched his own +grounds, I changed my tone at once, to approbation. At first this change +simply brought him flying to my feet again, if I was standing with my +friend in his garden. But after a plentiful application of, 'How dare +you, Sir? Go back' (pointing), 'go back to your garden. If this +gentleman catches you here again, he'll grind your bones to make John +Hopper's bread. That's a good dog. No! Down! Stay where you are!'--Dash +began to understand. It took many a wistful gaze of his brown eyes +before he fully comprehended what I meant, but he learned it at last. He +never put paw into Major E----'s garden without looking thoroughly +ashamed of himself. He would lie on his own ragged lawn and wistfully +watch me sitting and smoking among the roses; but when I returned to our +own quarters he welcomed me with an extravagant delight which seemed to +congratulate me on my escape from the enemy's country." + +"Oh, Cousin Peregrine! We must try and teach Ponto to know his own +garden." + +"I strongly advise you to do so. Ponto is a gentleman of honour and +intelligence, I feel convinced. I think he will learn his neighbourly +duties, and if he does do so as well as Dash did--whatever you may think +of Mr. Mackinnon--I think Mr. Mackinnon will soon cease to regard Ponto +as--a nasty next-door neighbour." + + + + +THE PRINCES OF VEGETATION. + + +This fanciful and high-sounding title was given by the great Swedish +botanist, Linnaeus, to a race of plants which are in reality by no means +distantly allied to a very humble family--the family of Rushes. + +The great race of Palms puzzled the learned Swede. He did not know where +to put them in his system; so he gave them an appendix all to +themselves, and called them the Princes of Vegetation. + +The appendix cannot have been a small one, for the Order of Palms is +very large. About five hundred different species are known and named, +but there are probably many more. + +They are a very beautiful order of plants; indeed, the striking elegance +of their forms has secured them a prominence in pictures, poetry, and +proverbs, which makes them little less familiar to those who live in +countries too cold for them to grow in, than to those whose home, like +theirs, is in the tropics. The name Palm (Latin, _Palma_) is supposed to +have been applied to them from a likeness in the growth of their +branches to the outspread palm of the hand; and the fronds of some of +the fan-palms are certainly not unlike the human hand, as commonly drawn +by street-boys upon doors and walls. + +So beautiful a tree, when it flourished in the symbol-loving East, was +sure to be invested with poetical and emblematical significance. +Conquerors were crowned with wreaths of palm, which is said to have been +chosen as a symbol of victory, because of the elasticity with which it +rises after the pressure of the heaviest weight--an explanation, +perhaps, more appropriate to it as the emblem of spiritual triumphs--the +Palm of Martyrdom and the Palms of the Blessed. + +But as a religious symbol it is not confined to the Church triumphant. +Not only is the "great multitude which no man can number" represented to +us as "clothed in white robes, and palms in their hands"--the word +"palmer" records the fact that he who returned from a pilgrimage to the +Holy Land was known, not only by the cockle-shell on his gown, but by +the staff of palm on which he leant. St. Gregory also alludes to the +palm-tree as an accepted emblem of the life of the righteous, and adds +that it may well be so, since it is rough and bare below, and expands +above into greenness and beauty. + +The palm here alluded to is evidently the date palm (_Phoenix +dactylifera_). This is pre-eminently the palm-tree of the Bible, and was +in ancient times abundant in the Holy Land, though, curiously enough, it +is now comparatively rare. Jericho was known as "the city of palm-trees" +in the time of Moses (Deut. xxxiv. 3). It is alluded to again in the +times of the Judges (Judges i. 11; iii. 13), and it bore the same title +in the days of Ahaz (2 Chron. xxviii. 15). Josephus speaks of it as +still famous for its palm-groves in his day, but it is said that a few +years ago only one tree remained, which is now gone. + +It was under a palm that Deborah the prophetess sat when all Israel came +up to her for judgment; and to an audience under the shadow of this +tree, which bore her name, that she summoned Barak out of +Kedesh-naphtali. Bethany means "the House of Dates," and the branches of +palm which the crowd cut down to strew before our Lord as He rode into +Jerusalem were no doubt of this particular species. + +Women--as well as places--were often named after the Princes of +Vegetation, whose graceful and stately forms approved them to lovers and +poets as fit types of feminine beauty. + +Usefulness, however, even more than ornament, is the marked +characteristic of the tribe. "From this order (_Palmae_)," says one +writer, "are obtained wine, oil, wax, flour, sugar, salt, thread, +utensils, weapons, habitations, and food"--a goodly list of the +necessaries of life, to which one may add many smaller uses, such as +that of "vegetable ivory" for a variety of purposes, and the materials +for walking-sticks, canework, marine soap, &c., &c. + +The Princes of Vegetation are to be found in all parts of the world +where the climate is adapted to the tropical tastes of their Royal +Highnesses. + +They have come into our art, our literature, and our familiar knowledge +from the East; but they abound in the tropics of the West, and some +species are now common in South America whose original home was in +India. + +The cocoa-nut palm (_Cocos nucifera_) is an Indian and South Sea Islands +Prince; but his sway extends now over all tropical countries. The +cocoa-nut palm begins to bear fruit in from seven to eight years after +planting, and it bears on for no less than seventy to eighty years. + +Length of days, you see, as well as beauty and beneficence, mark this +royal race which Linnaeus placed alone! + +Cocoa-nuts are useful in many ways. The milk is pleasant, and in hot +and thirsty countries is no doubt often a great boon. The white flesh--a +familiar school-boy dainty--is eaten raw and cooked. It produces oil, +and is used in the manufacture of stearine candles. It is also used to +make _marine soap_, which will lather in salt water. The wood of the +palm is used for ornamental joinery, the leaves for thatch and +basket-work, the fibre for cordage and cocoa-nut matting, and the husk +for fuel and brushes. + +Cocoa and chocolate come from another palm (_Theobroma cacao_), which is +cultivated largely in South America and the West Indies. + +Sago and tapioca are made from the starch yielded by several species of +palm. The little round balls of sago are formed from a white powder +(sago flour, as it is called), just as homoeopathic pillules are +formed from sugar. It is possible to see chemists make pills from +boluses to globules, but the Malay Indians are said jealously to keep +the process of "pearling" sago a trade secret. Tapioca is only another +form of sago starch. Sago flour is now imported into England in +considerable quantities. It is used for "dressing" calicoes. + +Among those products of the palm which we import most liberally is +"vegetable ivory." + +Vegetable ivory is the kernel of the fruit of one of the most beautiful +of palms (_Phytelephas macrocarpa_). + +This Prince of Vegetation is a native of South America. "It is +short-stemmed and procumbent, but has a magnificent crown of light green +ostrich-feather-like leaves, which rise from thirty to forty feet high." +The fruit is as big as a man's head. Two or three millions of the nuts +are imported by us every year, and applied to all the purposes of use +and ornament for which real ivory is available. + +The Coquilla-nut palm (_Attalea funifera_), whose fruit is about the +size of an ostrich-egg, also supplies a kind of vegetable ivory. + +Our ideas of palm-trees are so much derived from the date palm of Judaea, +that an erect and stately growth is probably inseparably connected in +our minds with the Princes of Vegetation. But some of the most beautiful +are short-stemmed and creeping; whilst others fling giant arms from tree +to tree of the tropical forests, now drooping to the ground, and then +climbing up again in very luxuriance of growth. Many of the rattan palms +(_Calamus_) are of this character. They wind in and out, hanging in +festoons from the branches, on which they lean in princely +condescension, with stems upwards of a thousand feet in length. + +There is something comical in having to add that these clinging rattan +stems, which cannot support their own weight, have a proverbial fame, +and are in great request for the manufacture of walking-sticks. They +are also largely imported into Great Britain for canework. + +Another very striking genus (_Astrocaryum_) is remarkable for being +clothed in every part--stem, leaves, and spathe--with sharp spines, +which are sometimes twelve inches long. _Astrocaryum murumura_ is +edible. The pulp of the fruit is said to be like that of a melon, and it +has a musky odour. It is a native of tropical America, and abundant on +the Amazon. Cattle wander about the forests in search of it, and pigs +fatten on the nut, which they crunch with their teeth, though it is +exceedingly hard. + +The date palm yields a wine called toddy, or palm wine, and from the +Princes of Vegetation is also distilled a strong spirit called arrack. + +And speaking again of the Judaean palms, I must here say a word of those +which we associate with Palm Sunday--the willow palms--for which we used +to hunt when we were children. + +It is hardly necessary to state that these willow branches, with their +soft silvery catkins, the crown of the earliest spring nosegays which +the hedges afford, are not even distantly related to the Princes of +Vegetation, though we call them palms. They are called palms simply from +having taken the place of real palm-branches in the ceremonies of the +Sunday of our Lord's Entry into Jerusalem, where these do not grow. + +A very old writer, speaking of the Jews strewing palm-branches before +Christ, says: "And thus we take palm and flowers in procession as they +did ... in the worship and mind of Him that was done on the cross, +worshipping and welcoming Him with song into the Church, as the people +did our Lord into the city of Jerusalem. It is called Palm Sunday for +because the palm betokeneth victory; wherefore all Christian people +should bear palm in procession, in token that He hath foughten with the +fiend our enemy, and hath the victory of hym." + +A curious old Scotch custom is recorded in Lanark, as "kept by the boys +of the Grammar-school, beyond all memory in regard to date, on the +Saturday before Palm Sunday. They then parade the streets with a palm, +or its substitute, a large tree of the willow kind (_Salix caprea_), in +blossom, ornamented with daffodils, mezereon, and box-tree. This day is +called Palm Saturday, and the custom is certainly a popish relic of very +ancient standing." + +But to return to palms proper. Before taking leave of them, there is one +more word to be said in their praise which may endear this noble race to +eyes which will never be permitted to see the wonders of tropical +forests. + +As pot-plants they are not less remarkable for the picturesqueness of +their forms, than for the patience with which they endure those +vicissitudes of stuffiness and chill, dryness, dust, and gas, which +prove fatal to so many inmates of the flower-stand or the window-sill. +Pot-palms may be bought of any good nurseryman at prices varying from +two or three shillings to two or three pounds. _Latania borbonica_ and +_Phoenix reclinata_ are good and cheap. Sandy-peaty soil, with a +little leaf-mould, is what they like, and this should be renewed (with a +larger pot) every second year. Thus, with the most moderate care, and an +occasional sponging, or a stand-out in a soft shower, the exiled Princes +of Vegetation, whose shoots in their native forests would have been of +giant luxuriance, will live for years, patiently adapting themselves by +slow growth to the rooms which they adorn, easier of management than the +next fern you dig up on your rambles, and, in the incomparable beauty of +their forms, the perpetual delight of an artistic eye. + + + + +LITTLE WOODS. + + +By little woods are here meant--not woods of small extent, but--woods in +which the trees never grow big, woods that are to grown-up woods as +children to grown-up people, woods that seem made on purpose for +children, and dwarfs, and dolls, and fairies. + +These little woods have many names, varying with the trees of which they +are composed, or the districts in which they are found. One of the +best-known names is that of copse or coppice, and it brings with it +remembrances of the fresh beauty of spring days, on which--sheltered by +the light copse-wood from winds that are still keen--we have revelled in +sunshine warm enough to persuade us that summer was come "for good," as +we picked violets and primroses to the tolling of the cuckoo. + +Things "in miniature" have a natural charm for little people, and most +of my young readers have probably been familiar with favourite copses, +or miniature pine-forests. Perhaps some of them would like to know why +these little woods never grow into big ones, and something also of the +history and uses of those trees of which little woods are composed. + +They are not made of dwarf trees. There are little woods, as well as big +woods, of oak, elm, ash, pine, willow, birch, beech, and larch. In some +cases the little woods are composed of the growth which shoots up when +the principal trunk of the tree has been cut down, but they are +generally little merely because they are young, and are cut down for use +before they have time to grow into forest-trees. The object of this +little paper is to give some account of their growth and uses. It will +be convenient to take them alphabetically, by their English names. + +The Ash (_Fraxinus excelsior_ and other varieties) is a particularly +graceful and fine tree at its full growth. It is a native of Great +Britain, and of many other parts of the world. It is long lived. The +most profitable age for felling it as a forest-tree is from eighty to a +hundred years. The flower comes out before the leaves, which are late, +like those of the oak. The bunches of seed-vessels, or "ash-keys," as +they are fancifully called, were pickled in salt and water and eaten in +old times. The Greeks and Romans made their spears of ash-wood. The wood +is not so durable as that of some other trees, but it is tough, and is +thus employed for work subject to sudden strains. It is good for +kitchen-tables, as it scours well and does not easily splinter. + +In little woods, or ash-holts, or ash-coppices, the ash is very +valuable. They are either cut over entirely at certain intervals, or +divided into portions which are cut yearly in succession. At four or +five years old the ash makes good walking-sticks, crates to pack glass +and china in, hoops, basket handles, fences, and hurdles. +Croquet-mallets are also made of ash. At twelve or fourteen it is strong +enough for hop-poles. There are many old superstitions in connection +with the ash, and there is a midland counties saying that if there are +no keys on the ash, within a twelvemonth there will be no king. + +There are several fine American varieties, and both in the States and in +Canada the wood is used for purposes similar to ours. + +The Alder (_Alnus glutinosa_, &c.) is never a very large tree. It is +supposed to be in maturity when it is sixty years old. It will grow in +wetter places than any other tree in Europe--even than the willow. +Though the wood is soft, it is very durable in water. Virgil speaks of +it as being used for boats. It is highly valued in Holland for piles, +and it is said that the famous bridge of the Rialto at Venice is built +on piles of alder-wood. Though invaluable for water-pipes, pump-barrels, +foundations for bridges, &c., alder-wood is of little use on dry land +unless it can be kept _perfectly_ dry. Wooden vessels and sabots, +however, are made of it. + +Alders are chiefly grown in little woods. Planted by the side of rivers, +too, their tough and creeping roots bind and support the banks. +Alder-coppices are very valuable to the makers of--gunpowder! Every five +or six years the little alders are cut down and burned to charcoal, and +the charcoal of alder-wood is reckoned particularly good by gunpowder +manufacturers. + +The Aspen, or Trembling Poplar (_Populus tremula_), like the alder, is +fond of damp situations. It has also a white soft wood, used by the +turner and engraver, and for such small articles as clogs, butchers' +trays, &c, &c. + +The quivering of its leaves is a favourite topic with poets, and there +is a curious old Highland superstition that the Cross of Christ was made +of aspen-wood, and that thenceforward the tree could never rest. + +In "little woods" it may be cut every seven or eight years for faggots, +and at fifteen or twenty years old for poles. + +The Beech (_Fagus sylvatica_). With this beautiful tree all our young +readers must be familiar. There may be those whose minds are not quite +clear about wych-elms and sycamores, but the appearance of the +beech-tree is too strongly marked to allow of any confusion on the +subject. + +The beech is spoken of by Greek and Roman writers, and old writers on +British agriculture count it among the four timber trees indigenous to +England: the beech, the oak, the ash, and the elm. + +It is said, however, not to be a native of Scotland or Ireland. It +attains its full growth in from sixty to eighty years, but is believed +to live to be as old as two hundred. The timber is not so valuable as +that of the other three British trees, but it is used for a great +variety of purposes. Like the alder, it will bear the action of water +well, and has thus been used for piles, flood-gates, mill-wheels, &c. It +is largely used by cabinet-makers for house furniture. It is employed +also by carriage-makers and turners, and for various small articles, +from rolling-pins to croquet-balls. The dried leaves are used in +Switzerland to fill beds with, and very nice such beds must be! Long ago +they were used for this purpose in England. Evelyn says that they remain +sweet and elastic for seven or eight years, by which time a straw +mattress would have become hard and musty. They have a pleasant +restorative scent, something like that of green tea. When we think how +many poor people lie on musty mattresses, or have none at all, whilst +the beech-leaves lie in the woods and go very slowly to decay, we see +one more of the many instances of people remaining uncomfortable when +they need not be so, because of their ignorance. The fact that +beech-leaves are very slow to rot makes them useful in the garden for +mulching and protecting plants from frost. + +In Scotland the beech-chips and branches are burned to smoke herrings, +and pyroligneous acid (a form of which is probably known to any of our +young readers who suffer from toothache as _creosote_!) is distilled +from them. Mr. Loudon tells us that the word "book" comes from the +German word _buch_, which, in the first instance, means a beech, and was +applied to books because the old German bookbinders used beech-wood +instead of paste-board for the sides of thick volumes. Beech-wood is +especially good for fuel. Only the sycamore, the Scotch pine, and the +ash give out more heat and light when they burn. Beech-nuts--or +beech-mast, as it is called--are eaten by many animals. Pigs, deer, +poultry, &c., are turned into beech-woods to fatten on the mast. +Squirrels and dormice delight in it. In France it is used to make +beech-oil. This oil is used both for cooking and burning, and for the +latter purpose has the valuable property of having no nasty smell. + +Of the beauty of the beech as a forest-tree--let artists rave! Its +smooth and shapely bole does not tempt the sketcher's eye alone. To the +lover and the school-boy (and, alas! to that inartistic animal the +British holiday-maker) it offers an irresistible surface for cutting +names and dates. Upon its branches and beneath its shadow grow many +_fungi_, several of which are eatable. Truffles are found there; those +underground dainties which dogs (and sometimes pigs!) are trained to +grub up for our benefit. They discover the whereabouts of the truffle by +scent, for there is no sign of it above ground. Nothing else will grow +under beech-trees, except holly. + +Scarcely less charming than the beech-forests are beech-hedges. They cut +and thrive with cutting like yew-hedges. + +"Little woods" of beech are common in Buckinghamshire. They are chiefly +grown for the charcoal, which is valuable for gunpowder. + +"Copper-Beeches"--red-leaved beech-trees, very beautiful for ornamental +purposes--all come from one red-leaved beech, a sort of freak of nature, +which was found about a century ago in a wood in Germany. + +The Birch (_Betula alba_, &c.) is also a tree of very distinctive +appearance. The silver-white bark, which peels so delightfully under +childish fingers, is not less charming to the sketcher's eye, whether as +a near study or as gleaming points of high light against the grey +greens and misty purples of a Highland hillside. It is emphatically the +tree of the Highlands of the North. It bends and breaks not under the +wildest winds, it thrives on poor soil, and defies mist and cold. So +varied are its uses that it has been said that the Scotch Highlander +makes everything of birch, from houses to candles, and beds to ropes! +The North American Indians and the Laplanders apply it almost as +universally as the Chinese use paper. The wigwams or huts of the North +American Indians are made of birch-bark laid over a framework of +birch-poles or trunks, and their canoes or boats are cased in it. The +Laplander makes his great-coat of it,--a circular _poncho_ with a hole +for his head,--as well as his houses and his boots and shoes. It will be +easily believed that birch-bark was used in ancient times for writing on +before the invention of paper. + +Birch-wood makes good fuel. It is also used by cabinet-makers. Its uses +in "little woods" are many. The charcoal is good for gunpowder, and it +is that of which _crayons_ are made. Birch-coppices are cut for brooms, +hoops, &c., at five to six years old, and at ten to twelve for +faggot-wood, poles, fencing, and bark for the tanners. Birch-spray (that +is, the twigs and leaves) is used for smoking hams and herrings, and for +brooms to sweep grass. It is also used to make birch-rods; but as we +think very ill of the discipline of any household in which the children +and the pets cannot be kept in order without being beaten, we hope our +own young readers are only familiar with birch-rods in picture-books. + +The (Sweet or Spanish) Chestnut (_Castanca vesca_) is grown in "little +woods" for hop-poles, fence-wood, and hoops. The wood of the full-grown +tree is also valuable. + +Evelyn says, "A decoction of the rind of the tree tinctures hair of a +golden colour, esteemed a beauty in some countries." It would be +entertaining to know if this is the foundation of the "auricomous +fluids" advertised by hair-dressers! + +Amongst "little woods" the dearest of all to the school-boy must surely +be the hazel-copse! The Hazel (_Corylus avellana_) is never a large +tree. It is, however, long lived, and of luxuriant growth. When cut it +"stoles" or throws up shoots very freely, and when treated so will live +a hundred years. With a single stem, Mr. Loudon assures us, it would +live much longer. Filbert-hazels are a variety with longer nuts. Hazels +are cultivated not only for the nuts, but for corf-rods,[1] hoops, +fencing, &c., and hazel-charcoal, like beech-charcoal, is used for +crayons. Like many other plants, the hazel has two kinds of flowers, +which come out before the leaves. The long pale catkins appear first, +and a little later tiny crimson flowers come where the nuts are +afterwards to be. + +Many old superstitions are connected with the hazel. Hazel-rods were +used to "divine" for water and minerals by professors of an art which +received the crack-jaw title of Rhabdomancy. Having tried our own hand +at Rhabdomancy, we are able to say that the freaks of the divining-rod +in sensitive fingers are sometimes as curious as those of a table among +table-turners; and are probably susceptible of similar explanations. + +The Larch (_Larix Europaea_, &c.). Though traceable in England for two +hundred years, it is within this century that the larch has been +extensively cultivated for profit. The exact date of its introduction +from the mountain ranges of some other part of Europe is not known, but +there is a popular tradition that it was first brought to Scotland with +some orange-trees from Italy, and having begun to wither under hot-house +treatment, was thrown outside, where it took root and throve thereafter. +The wood of full-grown larch-trees is very valuable. To John, Duke of +Athol, Scotland is indebted for the introduction of larch plantations on +an enormous scale. He is said to have planted 6500 acres of +mountain-ground with these valuable trees, which not only bring in heavy +returns as timber, but so enrich the ground on which they grow, by the +decayed _spicula_ or spines which fall from them, as to increase its +value in the course of some years eight or tenfold. The Duke was buried +in a coffin made of larch-wood! This sounds as if the merits of the +larch-tree had been indeed a hobby with him, but when one comes to +enumerate them one does not wonder that a man should feel his life very +usefully devoted to establishing so valuable a tree in his native +country, and that the pains and pride it brought him should have +awakened sentiment enough to make him desire to make his last cradle +from his favourite tree. + +Larch-wood is light, strong, and durable. It is used for beams and for +ship-building, for railroad-sleepers and mill-axles, for water-pipes, +and for panels for pictures. Evelyn says that Raphael, the great +painter, painted many of his pictures on larch-wood. It will stand in +heat and wet, under water and above ground. It yields good turpentine, +but trees that have been tapped to procure this are of no use afterwards +for building purposes. The larch is said not to make good masts for +ships, but its durability in all varieties of temperature and changes of +weather make it valuable for vine-props. When made of larch-poles these +are never taken up as hop-poles are. Year after year the vines climb +them and fade at their feet, and they are said to have outlasted at +least one generation of vine-growers. + +In "little woods" the larches are planted very close, so that they may +"spindle up" and become tall before they grow thick. They are then used +for hop-poles and props of various kinds. + +The Oak (_Quercus robur_, &c.) is pre-eminently a British tree. Of its +beauty, size, the venerable age it will attain, and its historical +associations, we have no space to speak here, and our young readers are +probably not ignorant on the subject. + +The durability of its wood is proverbial. The bark is also of great +value, and though the slow growth of the oak in its earlier years +postpones profit to the planter, it does so little harm to other wood +grown with it (being in this respect very different from the beech), +that profitable coppice-wood and other trees may be grown in the same +plantation. + +The age at which the oak should be felled for ship-timber, &c., depends +on many circumstances, and is fixed by different authorities at from +eighty to a hundred and fifty years. + +Oaks are said to be more liable than other trees to be struck by +lightning. + +Oak-coppices or "little woods" are cut over at from twelve to thirty +years old. The bark is valuable as well as the wood. + +The Pine (_Pinus sylvestris_, &c.), like the larch, will flourish on +poor soils. It is valuable as a protection for other trees. The +varieties and variations of this tree are very numerous. + +It is a very valuable timber-tree, the wood being loosely known as +"deal"; but "deals" are, properly speaking, planks of pine-wood of a +certain thickness, "boards" being the technical name for a thicker kind. +Pine trunks are used for the masts of ships. "In the north of Russia and +in Lapland the outer bark is used, like that of the birch, for covering +huts, for lining them inside, and as a substitute for cork for floating +the nets of fishermen; and the inner bark is woven into mats like those +made from the lime-tree. Ropes are also made from the bark, which are +said to be very strong and elastic, and are generally used by the +fishermen." + +In the north of Europe great quantities of tar are procured from the +Scotch pine. Torches are made from the roots and trunk. + +Varieties of the pine are grown in "little woods" for hop-poles. + +_Pinus sylvestris_ (the "Scotch Pine"), though a native of Scotland, has +only been planted and cultivated in Great Britain for about a century. + +On the subject of "thinning and pruning" in plantations planters--like +doctors--differ. An amusing story was sent to Mr. Loudon by the Duke of +Bedford, in reference to his grandfather, who was an advocate for +vigorous thinning in the pine plantations. + +"The Duke perceived that the plantation required thinning, in order to +admit a free circulation of air, and give health and vigour to the young +trees. He accordingly gave instructions to his gardener, and directed +him as to the mode and extent of the thinning required. The gardener +paused and hesitated, and at length said: 'Your Grace must pardon me if +I humbly remonstrate against your orders, but I cannot possibly do what +you desire; it would at once destroy the young plantation; and, +moreover, it would be seriously injurious to my reputation as a +planter.' My grandfather, who was of an impetuous and decided character, +but always just, instantly replied, 'Do as I desire you, and I will take +care of your reputation.' The plantation was accordingly thinned +according to the instructions of the Duke, who caused a board to be +fixed in the plantation, facing the wood, on which was inscribed, '_This +plantation has been thinned by John, Duke of Bedford, contrary to the +advice and opinion of his gardener._'" + +The Willow (_Salix caprea_, &c.). The species of willow are so numerous +that we shall not attempt to give a list of them. + +Willow-wood wears well in water, and has been used in shipbuilding and +carpentery, and especially for small ware, cricket-bats and toys. +Full-grown willows of all kinds are picturesque and very graceful trees. +The growth of the tree kinds when young is very rapid. + +Willows are largely cultivated in "little woods" for basket-making, +hoops, &c. Shoots of the _Salix caprea_ of only a year's growth are +large enough to be valuable for wicker-work. It appears to be held by +cultivators that the poorer the soil in which they are grown the oftener +these willows should be cut over. "In a good soil a coppice of this +species will produce the greatest return in poles, hoops, and rods every +five, six, seven, or eight years; and in middling soil, where it is +grown chiefly for faggot-wood, it will produce the greatest return every +three, four, or five years." + +Horses and cattle are fed on the leaves of the willow in some parts of +France. + +Willows are often "pollarded." That is, their tops are cut off, which +makes a large crop of young shoots spring out, giving a shock-headed +effect which in gnarled old pollards by river-banks is picturesque +enough. + +The "little woods" of willow on the river Thames and the Cam are well +known. They are small islands planted entirely with willows, and are +called osier-holts. + +Osier-beds of all kinds are very attractive "little woods." One always +fancies one ought to be able to make something of the long pliable +"sally-withys"--as the Wiltshire folk call willow switches. Indeed, as a +matter of fact, the making of rough garden-baskets is a very simple art, +especially on the Scotch and German system. Let any ingenious little +prowler in an osier-bed get two thickish willow-rods and fasten them at +the ends with a bit of wire, so as to make two hoops. These hoops are +then to intersect each other half-way up, one being perpendicular, to +form the handle and the bottom of the basket, the other being placed +horizontally, to form the rim. More wire will be needed to fix them in +their positions. Much finer willow-wands are used to wattle, or weave, +the basket-work; ribs of split osiers are added, and the wattling goes +in and out among them, and at once secures them and rests upon them. + +This account is not likely to be enough to teach the most intelligent of +our readers! But one fancies that a rough sort of basket-making might +almost be devised out of one's own head, especially if he had been +taught (as we were, by a favourite nursemaid) to plait rushes. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 1: A corf is a large basket used for carrying coals or other +minerals in a mine.] + + + + +MAY-DAY, + +OLD STYLE AND NEW STYLE. + + "Now the bright morning star, day's harbinger, + Comes dancing from the East, and leads with her + The flow'ry May, who from her green lap throws + The yellow cowslip and the pale primrose."--Milton. + + +On the whole, perhaps, May is the most beautiful of the English months, +especially the latter half of it; and yet I suppose very few May-days +come round on which we are not disposed to wonder why our ancestors did +not choose a warmer, and indeed a more flowery season for Maypoles and +garlands and out-door festivities. + +Children who live in the north of England especially must have a +painfully large proportion of disappointments out of the few May-days of +childhood. + +Books and pictures, old stories told by Papa or Mamma of clattering +chimney-sweeps and dancing May Queens, such as they saw in their young +days, or heard of from their elders, have perhaps roused in us two of +the strongest passions of childhood--the love of imitation and the love +of flowers. We are determined to have a May-bush round the +nursery-window, duly gathered before sunrise. "Pretty Bessy," our +nursemaid, can do anything with flowers, from a cowslip ball to a +growing forget-me-not garland. The girls are apt pupils, and pride +themselves on their birthday wreaths. The boys are admirably adapted for +May sweeps. Clatter is melodious in their ears. They would rather be +black than white. Burnt cork will disguise them effectually; but they +would prefer soot. A pole is forthcoming; ribbons are not wanting; the +poodle will dance with the best of us. We have a whole holiday on +Saints' Days, and the 1st of May is SS. Philip and James'. + +What then hinders our enjoyment, and makes it impossible to keep May-day +according to our hopes? + +Too often this. It is "too cold to dawdle about." Flowers are by no +means plentiful; they are pinched by the east wind. The May Queen would +have to dance in her winter clothes, and would probably catch cold even +then. It is not improbable that it will rain, and it is possible that it +may snow. Worse than all, the hawthorn-trees are behind time, and are as +obstinate as the head-nurse in not thinking the weather fit for coming +out. The May is not in blossom on May-day. + +And yet May-day used to be kept in the north of England as well as in +warmer nooks and corners. The truth is that one reason why we find the +weather less pleasant, and the flowers fewer than our forefathers did, +is that we keep May-day eleven days earlier in the year than they used +to do. + +To explain how this is, I must try and explain what Old Style and New +Style--in reckoning the days of the year--mean. + +First let me ask you how you can count the days. Supposing you wish to +remain just one day and night in a certain place, how will you know when +you have stayed the proper time? In one of two ways. Either you will +count twenty-four hours on the clock, or you will stay through all the +light of one day, and all the darkness of one night. That is, you will +count time either by the Clock or by the Sun. + +Now we say that there are 365 days in the year. But there are really a +few odd hours and minutes and seconds into the bargain. The reason of +this is that the Sun does not go by the Clock in making the days and +nights. Sometimes he spends rather more than twenty-four hours by the +Clock over a day and night; sometimes he takes less. On the whole, +during the year, he uses up more time than the Clock does. + +The Clock makes exactly 365 days of 24 hours each. The Sun makes 365 +days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, 49 seconds, and a tiny bit besides. + +Now in time these odd hours added together would come to days, and the +days to years. About fifteen hundred years of this little difference +between the Sun and the Clock would bring it up to a year. So that if +you went by the Clock you would say, "It is fifteen hundred years since +such a thing happened." And if you went by the Sun you would say, "It is +fifteen hundred and one years since it happened." + +Men who could think and calculate saw how inconvenient this would be, +and what mistakes it would lead to. If the difference did not come to +much in their lifetime, they could see that it would come to a serious +error for other people some day. So Julius Caesar thought he would pull +the Clock and the Sun together by adding one day every four years to the +Clock's year to make up for the odd hours the Sun had been spinning out +during the three years before. The odd day was added to the month of +February, and that year (in which there are three hundred and sixty-six +days) is called Leap Year. + +You remember the old saw-- + + "Thirty days hath September, + April, June, and November; + February hath twenty-eight alone, + All the rest have thirty-one; + _Except in Leap Year, at which time + February's days are twenty-nine_." + +This is called the Old Style of reckoning. + +Now I dare say you think the matter was quite settled; but it was not, +unfortunately--the odd day every four years was just a tiny little bit +too much, and now the Clock was spending more time over her years than +the Sun. After more than sixteen hundred years the small mistake was +becoming serious, and Pope Gregory XIII decided that we must not have so +many leap years. For the future, in every four hundred years, three of +the Clock's extra days must be given up, and ten days were to be left +out of count at once to make up for the mistakes of years past. + +This change is what is called the New Style of Reckoning. Pope Gregory +began it in the year 1582, but we did not adopt it in England till 1752, +and as we had then nearly two hundred years more of the little mistake +to correct, _we_ had to leave _eleven_ days out of count. In Russia, +where our new Princess comes from, they have not got it yet. The New +Style was begun in England on September the 2nd. The next day, instead +of being called September the 3rd, was called September the 14th. Since +then we have gone on quite steadily, and played no more tricks with +either the Sun's year or the Clock's year. + +I wonder what happened in the year 1752 to all the children whose +birthdays came between September the 2nd and September the 14th! I hope +their birthday presents did not drop through because his Majesty George +the Second had let eleven birthdays slip out of that year's calendar, to +get the Clock and the Sun to work comfortably together. + +Now I think you will be able to see that in the next year after this +change, May-day was kept eleven days earlier in the Sun's year than the +year before; and it has been at an earlier season ever since, and +therefore in colder weather. May-day in the Old Style would have come +this year about the middle of the month; and as years rolled on it would +have been kept later and later in the summer, and thus in warmer and +warmer weather, because of that little mistake of Julius Caesar. At last, +instead of complaining that the May is not out by May-day, people would +have had to complain that it was over. + +Now in the New Style we keep May-day almost in Spring, and, thanks to +Pope Gregory's clever arrangement, we shall always keep it at the same +season. + +It is not always cold on a May-day even in the north of England. I have +a vivid remembrance of at least one which was most balmy; and, when they +are warm enough for out-door enjoyment, the early days of the year seem, +like the early hours of the day, to have an exquisite freshness +peculiarly their own. Then the month of May, as a whole, is certainly +the month of flowers in the woods and fields. Autumn is the gayest +season of the garden, but Spring and early Summer give us the prettiest +of the wild-flowers. + + "Among the changing months May stands confest + The sweetest, and in fairest colours drest." + +That fine weather is not quite to be relied upon for May-day, even in +the Old Style, some of the old May-day customs seem to suggest. In the +Isle of Man it was the custom not only to have a "Queen of May," but +also a "Queen of Winter." The May Queen was, as elsewhere, some pretty +and popular damsel, gaily dressed, and with a retinue of maids of +honour. The Winter Queen was a man or boy dressed in woman's clothes of +the warmest kind--"woollen hood, fur tippet," &c. Fiddles and flutes +were played before the May Queen and her followers, whilst the Queen of +Winter and her troop marched to the sound of the tongs and cleaver. The +rival companies met on a common and had a mock battle, symbolizing the +struggle of Winter and Summer for supremacy. If the Queen of Winter's +forces contrived to capture the Queen of May, her floral majesty had to +be ransomed by payment of the expenses of the day's festivity. + +Whether the Queen of Winter conquered in bad weather, and her fairer +rival when the season was warm and the flowers abundant, we are not +told. + +This ceremony was probably learnt from the Danes and Norwegians, who +were long masters of the Isle of Man. _Olaus Magnus_, speaking of the +May-day customs of the Goths and Southern Swedes, says, "The captain of +one band hath the name and appearance of Winter, is clothed in skins of +beasts, and he and his band armed with fire-forks. They fling about +ashes, by way of prolonging the reign of Winter; while another band, +whose captain is called Florro, represents Spring, with green boughs +such as the season affords. These parties skirmish in sport, and the +mimic contest concludes with a general feast." + +A few years ago in the Isle of Man the hillsides blazed with bonfires +and resounded to horns on the 11th of May (May-eve, Old Style). "May +flowers" were put at the doors of houses and cattle-sheds, and these +were not hawthorn blossoms, but the flowers of the kingcup, or marsh +marigold. Crosses made of sprays of mountain ash were worn the same +night, and they, the bonfires and May flowers, were reckoned charms +against "wizards, witches, enchanters, and mountain hags." + +At Helston, in Cornwall, May-day seems to have been known by the name of +Furry Day. Perhaps a corruption of "Flora's Day." People wore hawthorn +in their hats, and danced hand-in-hand through the town to the sound of +a fiddle. This particular performance was known as a "faddy." + +It is probable that some of our May-day customs came from the Romans, +who kept the festival of Flora, the goddess of flowers, at this season. +Others, perhaps, have a different, if not an older source. One custom +was certainly common to both nations. When the feast of Flora was +celebrated, the young Romans went into the woods and brought back green +boughs with which they decked the houses. + +To "go a-Maying" is in fact the principal ceremony of the day wherever +kept, and for whatever reason. In the north of England children and +young folk "were wont to rise a little after midnight on the morning of +May-day, and walk to some neighbouring wood accompanied with music and +the blowing of horns, where they broke down branches from the trees, and +adorned them with nosegays and crowns of flowers. This done, they +returned homewards with their booty about the time of sunrise, and made +their doors and windows triumph in the flowery spoil." Stubbs, in the +_Anatomie of Abuses_ (A.D. 1585), speaks of this custom as +common to "every parish, town, and village." The churches, as well as +the houses, seem in some places to have been dressed with flowers and +greenery. + +In an old MS. of the sixteenth century it is said that on the feast of +SS. Philip and James, the Eton boys were allowed to go out at four +o'clock in the morning to gather May to dress their rooms, and sweet +herbs to perfume them, "if they can do it without wetting their feet!" + +Thirty or forty years ago May-day decorations, in some country places, +consisted of strewing the cottage doorsteps with daisies, or other +flowers. + +In Hertfordshire a curious custom obtained of decking the neighbours' +doors with May if they were popular, and with nettles if they were the +reverse. + +In Lancashire rustic wags put boughs of various trees at the doors of +the girls of the neighbourhood. Each tree had a meaning (well known in +the district), sometimes complimentary, and sometimes the reverse. + +In France it was customary for lovers to deck over-night the houses of +the ladies they wished to please, and school-boys paid a like compliment +to their masters. They do not seem, however, to have been satisfied with +nosegays or even with green branches; they transplanted young trees from +the woods to the side of the door they wished to honour, and then decked +them with ribbons, &c. There is a curious record that "Henry II., +wishing to recompense the clerks of Bazoche for their good services in +quelling an insurrection in Guienne, offered them money; but they would +only accept the permission granted them by the king, of cutting in the +royal woods such trees as they might choose for the planting of the +May--a privilege which existed at the commencement of the French +Revolution." In Cornwall, too, it seems to have been the custom to plant +"stumps of trees" before the houses, as well as to decorate them with +boughs and blossoms. And Mr. Aubrey (1686) says, "At Woodstock in Oxon +they every May-eve goe into the parke, and fetch away a number of +haw-thorne-trees, which they set before their dores; 'tis a pity that +they make such a destruction of so fine a tree." + +One certainly agrees with Mr. Aubrey. Thorns are slow to grow, hard to +transplant, and very lovely when they are old. It is not to be regretted +that such ruthless destruction of them has gone out of fashion. + +In Ireland "tall slender trees" seem to have been set up before the +doors, as well as "a green bush, strewed over with yellow flowers, which +the meadows yield plentifully." A writer, speaking of this in 1682, +adds, "A stranger would go nigh to imagine that they were all signs of +ale-sellers, and that all houses were ale-houses," referring to the old +custom of a bunch of green as the sign of an inn, which is illustrated +by the proverb, "Good wine needs no bush." I have an old etching of a +river-side inn, in which the sign is a garland hanging on a pole. + +I fancy the yellow flowers must have been cowslips, which the green +fields of Erin do indeed "yield plentifully." + +Besides these private May-trees, every village had its common Maypole, +gaily adorned with wreaths and flags and ribbons, and sometimes painted +in spiral lines of colour. The Welsh Maypoles seem to have been made +from birch-trees, elms were used in Cornwall, and young oaks in other +parts of England. Round these Maypoles the young villagers danced, and +green booths were often set up on the grass near them. + +In many villages the Maypole was as much a fixture as the parish stocks, +but when a new one was required, it was brought home on May-eve in grand +procession with songs and instrumental music. I am afraid there is a +good deal of evidence to show that the Maypoles were not always honestly +come by! However, the Puritan writers (from whose bitter and detailed +complaints we learn most of what we know about the early English May-day +customs) are certainly prejudiced, and perhaps not quite trustworthy +witnesses. One good man groans lamentably: "What adoe make our young men +at the time of May? Do they not use night watchings to rob and steale +young trees out of other men's grounde, and bring them into their +parishe, with minstrels playing before?" + +But as the theft must have been committed with all the publicity that a +fixed day, a large crowd, and a full band could ensure, and as we seem +to have no record of interference at the time, or prosecutions +afterwards, I hope we may infer that the owners of the woods did not +grudge one tree for the village Maypole. A quainter vengeance seems to +have sometimes followed the trespass. Honesty was at a discount. What +had been once stolen was liable to be re-stolen. There seems to have +been great rivalry among the villages as to which had the best Maypole. +The happy parish which could boast the finest was not left at ease in +its supremacy, for the lads of the other villages were always on the +watch to steal it. A record of this custom amongst the Welsh reminds one +that Wales was at once the land of bards and the home of Taffy the +Thief. "If successful," says Owen, speaking of these Maypole robbers, +they "had their feats recorded in songs." + +In old times oxen were commonly used for farmwork, and it seems that +they had their share in the May fun. Another Puritan writer says, "They +have twentie or fortie yoke of oxen, every oxe having a sweete nosegaie +of flowers tyed on the tippe of his hornes, and these oxen draw home +this Maie poole." + +How well one can imagine their slow swinging pace, unmoved by the +shouts and music which would stir a horse's more delicate nerves! Their +broad moist noses; their large, liquid eyes, and, doubtless, a certain +sense of pride in their "sweet nosegaies," like the pride of the Beast +of a Regiment in his badge. + +Horses, too, came in for their share of May decorations. It was an old +custom to give the waggoner a ribbon for his team at every inn he passed +on May-day. + +In the last century there was a fixed Maypole near Horncastle, in +Lincolnshire, to which the boys made a pilgrimage in procession every +May-day with May-gads in their hands. May-gads are white willow wands, +peeled, and dressed with cowslips. + +There was a fixed Maypole in the Strand for many years--or rather a +succession of Maypoles. One, when only four years old, was given to Sir +Isaac Newton to make a stand for his telescope, and another seems to +have had a narrow escape from being handed over to a less celebrated +astronomer, some years later. + +The wandering Maypole, with its Queen of the May and her chimney-sweeps, +is a modern compound of the village Maypole and May Queen with the May +games in which (as in the Christmas festivities) morris-dancers played a +part. The May-day morris-dancers, like the Christmas mummers, performed +sword-dances and sang appropriate doggerels in costume. The characters +represented at one time or another were Maid Marian or the May Queen, +Robin Hood or Lord of the May, Friar Tuck, Will Scarlet, Little John +Stokesley, Tom the Piper, Mad Moll and her Husband, Mutch, the Fool and +the Hobby Horse. Archery was amongst the May-day sports, especially in +the company of Robin Hood. The Summer King and Queen were perhaps the +oldest characters. They seem to be identical with the Lord and Lady, and +sometimes to have been merged in Robin Hood and Maid Marian. + + "Maid Marian fair as ivory bone, + Scarlet, and Mutch, and Little John." + +The King and Queen of May are spoken of in the thirteenth century, but +morris-dancing at May-time does not seem to date earlier than Henry +VII., and is not so old a custom as the immemorial one of going a-Maying + + "To bring the summer home + The summer and the May-O!" + +This was not confined to young people or to country-folk. Chaucer says +that on May-day early "fourth goth al the court, both most and lest, to +fetche the flowres fresh, and braunch, and blome," and Henry VIII. kept +May-day very orthodoxly in the early years of his reign. + +Milkmaids have been connected with May-day customs from an early period. +Perhaps because syllabub and cream were the recognized dainties of the +festival. In Northumberland a ring used to be dropped into the syllabub +and fished for with a ladle. Whoever got it was to be the first married +of the party. An odd old custom in Suffolk suggests that the hawthorn +was not always ready even for the Old Style May-day. Any farm-servant +who could find a branch in full blossom might claim a dish of cream for +breakfast. The milkmaids who supplied London and other places used to +dress themselves gaily on May-day and go round from house to house +performing a dance, and receiving gratuities from their customers. On +their heads--instead of a milk-pail--they carried a curious trophy, +called the "Milkmaids' Garland," made of silver or pewter jugs, cups, +and other pieces of plate, which they borrowed for the occasion, and +which shone out of a mass of greenery and flowers. Possibly these were +at first the pewter measures with which they served out the milk. The +music to which the milkmaids' dance was performed, was the jangling of +bells of different tones depending from a round plate of brass mounted +upon a Maydecked pole; but a bag-pipe or fiddle was sometimes +substituted. + +Cream, syllabub, and dainties compounded with milk, belong in England to +the May festival. In Germany there is a "May drink" (said to be very +nice) made by putting woodruff into white Rhine wine, in the proportion +of a handful to a quart. Black currant, balm, or peppermint leaves are +sometimes added, and water and sugar. + +The milkmaids' place has been completely usurped by the sweeps, who +clatter a shovel and broom instead of the old plate and bells, and who +seem to have added the popular Jack-in-the-green to the entertainment. +Jack-in-the-green's costume is very simple. A wicker-work frame of an +extinguisher shape, thickly covered with green, is supported by the man +who carries it, and who peeps through a hole left for the purpose. +May-day has become the Sweeps' Carnival. Mrs. Montague (whose son is +said to have been stolen for a sweep in his childhood, and afterwards +found) used to give the sweeps of London a good dinner every May-day, on +the lawn before her house in Portman Square. + +Another May-day custom is that of the choristers assembling at five +o'clock in the morning on the top of the beautiful tower of Magdalen +College, Oxford, and ushering in the day with singing. At the same time +boys of the city armed with tin trumpets, called "May-horns," assemble +beneath the tower, and contribute more sound than harmony to the +celebration. Let us hope that it is not strictly a part of the old +ceremony, but rather a minor manifestation of "Town and Gown" feeling, +that the town boys jeer the choristers, and in return are pelted with +rotten eggs. The origin of this special Oxford custom is said to be a +requiem which was sung on the tower for the soul of Henry VII., founder +of the College. In the villages girls used to carry round May-garlands. +The party consisted of four children. Two girls in white dresses and gay +ribbons carried the garland, and were followed by a boy and girl called +"Lord and Lady," linked together by a white handkerchief, of which each +held an end. The Lady carried the purse, and when she received a +donation the Lord doffed his cap and kissed her. They sang a doggerel +rhyme, and the form in which money was asked was, "Please to handsel the +Lord and Lady's purse." + +One cannot help thinking that some of our flowers, such as Milkmaids, +Lords and Ladies, and Jack-in-the-green Primrose, bear traces of having +got their common names at the great flower festival of the year. + +In Cornwall boys carried the May-garland, which was adorned with painted +birds' eggs. Old custom gave these young rogues the privilege of +drenching with water from a bucket any one whom they caught abroad on +May-morning without a sprig of May. + +Mr. Aubrey says (1686): "At Oxford, the boyes do blow cows' horns all +night; and on May-day the young maids of every parish carry about their +parish garlands of flowers, which afterwards they hang up in their +churches." + +A generation or more ago the little boys of Oxford used to blow horns +early on May-day--as they said--"to call up the old maids." There was +once a custom in Lynn for the workhouse children to be allowed to go out +with horns and garlands every May-day, after which a certain worthy +gentleman gave them a good dinner. + +In Cambridgeshire, within the present century, the children had a doll +dressed as the "May Lady," before which they set a table with wine and +food on it; they also begged money and garlands for "the poor May Lady." + +There are some quaint superstitions connected with May-day and +May-blossom. To bathe the face in the dew of a May morning was reckoned +an infallible recipe for a good complexion. A bath of May dew was also +supposed to strengthen weakly children. Girls divined for dreams of +their future husbands with a sprig of hawthorn gathered before dusk on +May-eve, and carried home in the mouth without speaking. Hawthorn rods +were used at all seasons of the year to divine for water and minerals. +Bunches of May fastened against houses were supposed to keep away +witches and venomous reptiles, and to bring prosperity in various +shapes. + +The Irish of the neighbourhood of Killarney have a pretty superstition +that on May-day the O'Donoghue, a popular prince of by-gone days, +returns from the land of Immortal Youth beneath the water to bless the +country over which he once ruled. + +Some curious customs among the Scotch Highlanders (who call May 1st +_Beltan_ Day) have nothing in common with our Green Festival except as +celebrating the Spring. They seem to be the remains of very ancient +heathen sacrifices to Baal. They were performed by the herdsmen of the +district, and included an open-air feast of cakes and custard, to which +every one contributed, and which was cooked upon a fire on a turf left +in the centre of a square trench which had been dug for the purpose. +Some custard was poured out by way of libation. Every one then took a +cake of oatmeal, on which nine knobs had been pinched up before baking, +and turning his face to the fire threw the knobs over his shoulder, some +as offerings to the supposed guardians of the flock, and the rest in +propitiation of beasts and birds of prey, with the form "This to thee, +O Fox! spare my lambs! This to thee, O hooded Crow!" &c. In some places +the boys of the hamlet met on the moors for a similar feast, but the +turf table was round, and the oatcake divided into bits, one of which +was blackened with charcoal. These being drawn from a bonnet, the holder +of the black bit was held _devoted_ to Baal, and had to leap three times +over the bonfire. + +I do not know of any children's games that were peculiar to May-day. In +France they had a May-day game called _Sans-vert_. Those who played had +to wear leaves of the hornbeam-tree, and these were to be kept fresh, +under penalty of a fine. The chief object of the players was to surprise +each other without the proper leaves, or with faded specimens. + +A stupid old English custom of making fools of your friends on the 1st +of May as well as on the 1st of April hardly deserves the title of a +game. The victims were called "May goslings." + +One certainly would not expect to meet with anything like "Aunt Sally" +among May-day games, especially with the "May Lady" for butt! But not +the least curious part of a very curious account of May-day in +Huntingdonshire, which was sent to _Notes and Queries_ some years ago, +is the pelting of the May Lady as a final ceremony of the festival. The +May-garlands carried round in Huntingdonshire villages appear to have +been more like the "milkmaids' garland" than genuine wreaths. They were +four to five feet high, extinguisher-shaped, with every kind of spring +flower in the apex, and with ribbons and gay kerchiefs hanging down from +the base, by the round rim of which the garland was carried; the +flower-peak towering above, and the gay streamers depending below. +Against this erection (not unlike the "mistletoe boughs" of the North of +England) was fastened a gaily-dressed doll. The bearers were two little +girls, who acted as maids of honour to the May Queen. Mr. Cuthbert Bede +describes her Majesty as he saw her twenty years ago. She wore a white +frock, and a bonnet with a white veil. A wreath of real flowers lay on +the bonnet. She carried a pocket-handkerchief bag and a parasol (the +latter being regarded as a special mark of dignity). An "Odd Fellows'" +ribbon and badge completed her costume. The maids of honour bore the +garland after her, whose peak was crowned with "tulips, anemones, +cowslips, kingcups, meadow-orchis, wall-flower, primrose, +crown-imperial, lilac, laburnum," and "other bright flowers." Votive +offerings were dropped into the pocket-handkerchief bag, and with these +a feast was provided for the children. If the gifts had been liberal, +"goodies" were proportionately plentiful. Finally, the May-garland was +suspended from a rope hung across the village street, and the children +pelted the May-doll with balls provided for the occasion. Their chief +aim was to hit her nose. + +Another correspondent of _Notes and Queries_ speaks of ropes with dolls +suspended from them as being stretched across every village street in +Huntingdonshire on May-day, and adds, that not only ribbons and flowers +were attached to these swinging May Ladies, but articles of every +description, including "candlesticks, snuffers, spoons, and forks." + +There are no May carols rivalling those of Christmas, and the verses +which children sing with their garlands are very bald as a rule. + +A Maypole song of the Gloucestershire children would do very well to +dance to-- + + "Round the Maypole, trit-trit-trot! + See what a Maypole we have got; + Fine and gay, + Trip away, + Happy is our New May-day." + +I have read of a pretty old Italian custom for the friends of prisoners +to assemble outside the prison walls on May-day and join with them in +songs. They are also said to have permission to have a May-day feast +with them. + +Under all its various shapes, and however adapted to the service of +particular heathen deities, or to very rude social festivity, the root +of the May-day festival lies in the expression of feelings both natural +and right. Thankfulness for the return of Spring, anxiety for the coming +harvests of the fruits of the earth, and that sense of exhilaration and +hopefulness which the most exquisite of seasons naturally brings--brings +more strongly perhaps in the youth of a nation, in those earlier stages +of civilization when men are very dependent upon the weather, and upon +the produce of their own particular neighbourhood--brings most strongly +of all to one's own youth, to the light heart, the industrious fancy, +the uncorrupted taste of childhood. + +May-day seems to me so essentially a children's festival, that I think +it is a great pity that English children should allow it to fall into +disuse. One certainly does not love flowers less as one grows up, but +they are more like persons, and their ways are more mysterious to one in +childhood. The cares of grown-up life, too, are not of the kind from +which we can easily get a whole holiday. We should do well to try +oftener than we do. Wreaths do not become us, and we have allowed our +joints to grow too stiff for Maypole dancing. But we who used to sigh +for whole holidays can give them! We can prepare the cakes and cream, +and provide ribbons for the Maypole, and show how garlands were made in +our young days. We are very grateful for wild-flowers for the +drawing-room. To say the truth, they last longer with us than with the +children, and perhaps we combine the delicate hues of spring, and +lighten our nosegays by grass and sword-flags and rushes with more +cunning fingers than those of the little ones who gathered them. + +For these is reserved the real bloom of May-day! And the orthodox +customs are so various, that families of any size or age may pick and +choose. One brother and sister can be Lord and Lady of the May. One +sister among many brothers must be May Queen without opposition. Those +of the party most apt to catch cold in the treacherous sunshine and damp +winds of spring should certainly represent the Winter Queen and her +attendants, in the warmest possible clothing and the thickest of boots. +The morning air will then probably only do them a great deal of good. It +is not desirable to dig up the hawthorn-trees, or to try to do so, even +with wooden spades. The votive offering of flowers for her drawing-room +should undoubtedly await Mamma when she comes down to breakfast, and I +heartily wish her as abundant a variety as Mr. Cuthbert Bede saw on the +Huntingdonshire garland. That Nurse should have a bunch of May is only +her due; and of course the nursery must be decorated. Long strips of +coloured calico form good ribbons for the Maypole. Bows and arrows are +easily made. It is also easy to cut one's fingers in notching the +arrows. When you are tired of dancing, you can be Robin Hood's merry +men, and shoot. When all the arrows are lost, and you have begun to +quarrel about the target, it will be well to hang up an old doll and +throw balls at her nose. Dressing-up is, at any time, a delightful +amusement, and there is a large choice among May-day characters. No +wardrobe can fail to provide the perfectly optional costumes of Mad Moll +and her husband. There are generally some children who never will learn +their parts, and who go astray from every pre-arranged plan. By any two +such the last-named characters should be represented. In these, as in +all children's games, "the more the merrier"; and as there is no limit +to the number of sweeps, the largest of families may revel in burnt +cork, even if dust-pans in proportion fail. If a bonfire is more +appropriate to the weather than a Maypole, we have the comfort of +feeling that it is equally correct. + +It is hardly needful to impress upon the boys what vigour the blowing of +horns and penny trumpets will impart to the ceremonies; but they may +require to be reminded that Eton men in old days were only allowed to go +a-Maying on condition that they did not wet their feet! + +Above all, out-door May Fun is no fun unless the weather is fine; and I +hope this little paper will show that if the 1st of May is chilly, and +the flowers are backward, nothing can be more proper than to keep our +feast on the 12th of May--_May-day, Old Style_. If the Clerk of the +Weather Office is unkind on both these days, give up out-door fun at +once, and prepare for a fancy-ball in the nursery; all the guests to be +dressed as May-day characters. Garland-making and country expeditions +can then be deferred till Midsummer-day. It is not _very_ long to wait, +and penny trumpets do not spoil with keeping. + +But do not be defrauded of at least one early ramble in the woods and +fields. It is well, in the impressionable season of life, to realize, if +only occasionally, how much of the sweetest air, the brightest and best +hours of the day, people spend in bed. Any one who goes out every day +before breakfast knows how very seldom he is kept in by bad weather. For +one day when it rains very early there are three or four when it rains +later. But we wait till the world has got dirty, and the air full of the +smoke of thousands of breakfasts, and clouds are beginning to gather, +and then we say England has a horrible climate. I do not believe in many +quack medical prescriptions, but I have the firmest faith in May dew as +a wash for the complexion. Any morning dew is nearly as efficacious if +it is gathered in warm clothes, thick boots, and at a sufficient +distance from home. + +There are some households in which there are no children, and there are +some in which the good things of this life are very abundant. To these +it may not be very impertinent to suggest a remembrance of the old +alderman of Lynn's kindly benefaction. To beg leave for the children of +the workhouse to gather May-day nosegays for you, and to give them a May +feast afterwards, would be to give pleasure of a kind in which such +unhomely lives are most deficient. A country ramble "with an object," +and the grace-in-memory of a traditionary holiday and feast, shared in +common with many homes and with other children. + +To go a-Maying "to fetche the flowres fresh" is indeed the best part of +the whole affair. + +But, when the sunny bank under the hedge is pale with primroses, when +dog-violets spread a mauve carpet over clearings in the little wood, if +cowslips be plentiful though oxslips are few, and rare orchids bless the +bogs of our locality, pushing strange insect heads, through beds of +_Drosera_ bathed in perpetual dew--then, dear children, restrain the +natural impulse to grub everything up and take the whole flora of the +neighbourhood home in your pinafores. In the first place, you can't. In +the second place, it would be very hard on other people if you could. +Cull skilfully, tenderly, unselfishly, and remember what my mother used +to say to me and my brothers and sisters when we were "collecting" +anything, from fresh-water algae to violet roots for our very own +gardens, "_Leave some for the Naiads and Dryads_." + + + + +IN MEMORIUM, MARGARET GATTY + + In Memoriam. + + MARGARET, + + [Daughter of the Rev. Alexander John Scott, D.D.] + + (LORD NELSON'S CHAPLAIN, AND THE FRIEND IN WHOSE ARMS HE DIED AT + TRAFALGAR), + + was Born June 3rd, 1809. + + In 1839 she was Married to the Rev. Alfred Gatty, + + OF ECCLESFIELD, YORKSHIRE, + + where she Died on October the 4th, 1873, aged 64. + +My mother became editor of _Aunt Judy's Magazine_ in May 1866. It was +named after one of her most popular books--_Aunt Judy's Tales_; and Aunt +Judy became a name for herself with her numerous child-correspondents. + +The ordinary work of editorship was heavily increased by her kindness to +tyro authors, and to children in want of everything, from advice on a +life-vocation to old foreign postage stamps. No consideration of the +value of her own time could induce her to deal summarily with what one +may call her magazine children, and her correspondents were of all ages +and acquirements, from nursery aspirants barely beyond pothooks to such +writers as the author of _A Family Man for Six Days_, and other charming +Australian reminiscences, who still calls her his "literary godmother." + +The peculiar relation in which she stood to so many of the readers of +_Aunt Judy_ has been urged upon me as a reason for telling them +something more about her than that she is dead and gone, especially as +by her peremptory wish no larger record of her life will ever be made +public. I need hardly disclaim any thought of expressing an opinion on +her natural powers, or the value of those labours from which she rests; +but whatever of good there was in them she devoted with real +affectionate interest to the service of a much larger circle of children +than of those who now stand desolate before her empty chair. And those +whom she has so long taught have, perhaps, some claim upon the lessons +of her good example. + +Most well-loved pursuits, perhaps most good habits of our lives, owe +their origin to our being stirred at one time or another to the +imitation of some one better, or better gifted than ourselves. We can +remember dates at which we began to copy what our present friends may +fancy to be innate peculiarities of our own character. The conviction of +this truth, and of the strong influence which little details of lives +we admire have in forming our characters in childhood, persuade me to +the hard task of writing at all of my dear mother, and guide me in +choosing those of the things that we remember about her which may help +her magazine children on matters about which they have oftenest asked +her counsel. + +Many of her own innumerable hobbies had such origins, I know. The +influence of German literature on some of her writings is very obvious, +and this most favourite study sprang chiefly from a very early fit of +hero-worship for Elizabeth Smith, whose precocious and unusual +acquirements she was stirred to emulate, and whose enthusiasm for +Klopstock she caught. The fly-leaf of her copy of the Smith _Remains_ +bears (in her handwriting) the date 1820, with her name as Meta Scott; a +form of her own Christian name which she probably adopted in honour of +Margaretta--or Meta--Klopstock, and by which she was well known to +friends of her youth. + +She often told us, too, of the origin of another of her accomplishments. +She was an exquisite caligraphist. Not only did she write the most +beautiful and legible of handwritings, but, long before illuminating was +"fashionable," she illuminated on vellum; not by filling up printed +texts or copying ornamental letters from handbooks of the art, but in +valiant emulation of ancient MSS.; designing her own initial letters, +with all varieties of characters, with "strawberry" borders, and gold +raised and burnished as in the old models. I do not know when she first +saw specimens of the old illuminations, for which she had always the +deepest admiration, but it was in a Dante fever that she had resolved to +write beautifully, because fine penmanship had been among the +accomplishments of the great Italian poet. How well she succeeded her +friends and her printers knew to their comfort! To Dante she dedicated +some of her best efforts in this art. In 1826, when she was seventeen, +she began to translate the _Inferno_ into English verse. She made fair +copies of each canto in exquisite writing, and dedicated them to various +friends on covers which she illuminated. The most highly-finished was +that dedicated to an old friend, Lord Tyrconnel, and the only plain one +was the one dedicated to another friend, Sir Thomas Lawrence. The +dedication was written in fine long characters, but there was no +painting on the cover of the canto dedicated to the painter. + +I do not know at what date my mother began to etch on copper. It was a +very favourite pursuit through many years of her life, both before and +after her marriage. She never sketched much in colour, but her +pencil-drawings are amongst the most valuable legacies she has left us. +Trees were her favourite subjects. One of her most beautiful drawings in +my possession is of a tree, marked to fall, beneath which she wrote: + + "Das ist das Loos des Schoenen auf der Erde."[2] + +Of another talent nothing now remains to us but her old music-books and +memories of long evenings when she played Weber and Mozart. + +But to a large circle of friends, most of whom have gone before her, she +was best known as a naturalist in the special department of phycology. +She has left a fine collection of British and foreign sea-weeds and +zoophytes. Never permitted the privilege of foreign travel--for which +she so often longed--her sea-spoils have been gathered from all shores +by those who loved her; and there are sea-weeds yet in press sent by +_Aunt Judy_ friends from Tasmania, which gave pleasure to the last days +of her life. She did so keenly enjoy everything at which she worked that +it is difficult to say in which of her hobbies she found most happiness; +but I am disposed to give her natural history pursuits the palm. + +Natural history brought her some of her dearest friends. Dr. Johnston, +of Berwick-on-Tweed, to whom she dedicated the first volume of the +_Parables from Nature_, was one of these; and with Dr. Harvey (author of +the _Phycologia Britannica_, &c.) she corresponded for ten years before +they met. Like herself, he combined a playful and poetical fancy with +the scientific faculty, and they had sympathy together in the +distinctive character of their religious belief, and in the worship of +God in His works. But these, and many others, have "gone +before." + +One of her "collections" was an unusual one. Through nearly forty years +she collected the mottoes on old sun-dials, and made sketches of the +dials themselves. In this also she had many helpers, and the collection, +which had swelled to about four hundred, was published last year. +Amateur bookbinding and mowing were among the more eccentric of her +hobbies. With the latter she infected Mr. Tennyson, and sent him a light +Scotch scythe like her own. + +The secret of her success and of her happiness in her labours was her +thoroughness. It was a family joke that in the garden she was never +satisfied to dabble in her flower-beds like other people, but would +always clear out what she called "the Irish corners," and attack bits of +waste or neglected ground from which everybody else shrank. And amongst +our neighbours in the village, those with whom, day after day, time +after time, she would plead "the Lord's controversy," were those with +whom every one else had failed. Some old village would-be sceptic, half +shame-faced, half conceited, who had not prayed for half a lifetime, or +been inside a church except at funerals; careworn mothers fossilized in +the long neglect, of religious duties; sinners whom every one else +thought hopeless, and who most-of all counted themselves so--if +God indeed permits us hereafter to bless those who led us to +Him here, how many of these will rise up and call her blessed! + +Her strong powers of sympathy were not confined to human beings alone. A +more devoted lover of "beasts" can hardly exist. The household pets were +about her to the end; and she only laughed when the dogs stole the bread +and butter from her helpless hands. + +Her long illness, perhaps, did less to teach us to do without her, than +long illnesses commonly do; because her sick-room was so little like a +sick-room, and her interests never narrowed to the fretful circle of +mere invalid fears and fancies. The strong sense of humour, which never +left her, helped her through many a petty annoyance; and to the last she +kept one of her most striking qualities, so well described by Trench-- + + ---- "a child's pure delight in little things." + +Whatever interest this little record of some of my mother's tastes and +acquirements may have for her young readers, its value must be in her +example. + +Whatever genius she may have had, her industry was far more remarkable. +The pen of a ready writer is not grasped by all fingers, and gifts are +gifts, not earnings. But to cultivate the faculties God has +given us to His glory, to lose petty cares, ignoble pleasures, and small +grievances, in the joy of studying His great works, to be good to His +creatures, to be truthful beyond fear or flattery, to be pure of heart +and tongue far beyond the common, to keep up an honest, zealous war with +wickedness, and never to lose heart or hope for wicked men--these things +are within the power as well as the ambition of us all. + +I must point out to some of the young aspirants after her literary fame, +that though the date in Elizabeth Smith's _Remains_ shows my mother to +have been only eleven years old when she got it, and though she worked +and studied indefatigably all her girlhood, her first original work was +not published till she was forty-two years old. + +Of the lessons of her long years of suffering I cannot speak. A form of +paralysis which left her brain as vigorous as ever, stole the cunning +from her hand, and the use of her limbs and voice, through ten years of +pain and privation, in which she made a willing sacrifice of her powers +to the will of God. + +If some of her magazine children who enjoy "advantages" she never had, +who visit places and see sights for which she longed in vain, and who +are spared the cross she bore so patiently, are helped by this short +record of their old friend, it may somewhat repay the pain it has cost +in writing. + +Trench's fine sonnet was a great favourite of my mother's-- + + "To leave unseen so many a glorious sight, + To leave so many lands unvisited, + To leave so many books unread, + Unrealized so many visions bright;-- + Oh! wretched yet inevitable spite + Of our short span, and we must yield our breath, + And wrap us in the unfeeling coil of death, + So much remaining of unproved delight, + But hush, my soul, and vain regrets be still'd; + Find rest in Him Who is the complement + Of whatsoe'er transcends our mortal doom, + Of broken hope and frustrated intent; + In the clear vision and aspect of Whom + All wishes and all longings are fulfill'd." + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 2: "Such is the lost of the beautiful upon +earth."--_Wallenstein's Tod_.] + + + + +TALES OF THE KHOJA.[3] + +(_Adapted from the Turkish._) + +INTRODUCTION. + + +"O my children!" said the story-teller, "do you indeed desire amusement +by the words of my lips? Then shut your mouths, that the noise you make +may be abated, and I may hear myself speak; and open your ears, that you +may be entertained by the tales that I shall tell you. Shut your mouths +and open your ears, I say, and you will, without doubt, receive pleasure +from what I shall have to relate of Khoja Nasr-ed-Deen-Effendi. + +"This Khoja was not altogether a wise man, nor precisely a fool, nor +entirely a knave. + +"It is true, O children, that his wisdom was flecked with folly, but +what saith the proverb? 'No one so wise but he has some folly to spare.' +Moreover, in his foolishness there was often a hidden meaning, as a +letter is hid in a basket of dates--not for every eye. + +"As to his knaveries, they were few, and more humorous than injurious. +Though be it far from me, O children, as a man of years and probity, to +defend the conduct of the Khoja to the Jew money-lender. + +"What about the Jew money-lender, do you ask? + +"This is the tale." + + +_Tale_ 1.--The Khoja and the Nine Hundred and Ninety-nine Pieces of +Gold. + +This Khoja was very poor. + +One day, wishing for a piece of gold, he corrected himself, saying: "It +costs no more to wish for a thousand pieces than for one. I wish for a +thousand gold pieces." + +And he repeated aloud--"I wish for a thousand pieces of gold. _I would +not accept one less._" + +Now it so happened that he was overheard by a certain covetous Jew +money-lender. This man was of a malicious disposition; and the poverty +of the Khoja was a satisfaction to him. When he heard what the Khoja +said he chuckled to himself, saying, "Truly this Khoja is a funny +fellow, and it would be a droll thing to see him refuse nine hundred and +ninety-nine pieces of gold. For without doubt he would keep his word." + +And as he spoke, the Jew put nine hundred and ninety-nine gold pieces +into a purse, and dropped the purse down the Khoja's chimney, with the +intention of giving him annoyance. + +The Khoja picked up the purse and opened it. + +"Allah be praised!" he cried, "for the fulfilment of my desires. Here +are the thousand pieces." + +Meanwhile the Jew was listening at the chimney-top, and he heard the +Khoja begin to count the coins. When he got to the nine hundred and +ninety-ninth, and had satisfied himself that there was not another, he +paused, and the Jew merchant held his breath. + +At last the Khoja spoke. + +"O my soul!" said he, "is it decent to spit in the face of good fortune +for the sake of one gold piece in a thousand? Without doubt it is an +oversight, and he who sent these will send the missing one also." Saying +which, the Khoja put the money into his sash and sat down to smoke. + +The Jew now became fidgety, and he hastened down to the Khoja's door, at +which he knocked, and entering, said, "Good-day, Khoja Effendi. May I +ask you to be good enough to restore to me my nine hundred and +ninety-nine gold pieces?" + +"Are you mad, O Jew money-lender?" replied the Khoja. "Is it likely +that you would throw gold down my chimney? These pieces fell from heaven +in fulfilment of my lawful desires." + +"O my soul, Khoja!" cried the Jew, "I did it, indeed! It was a jest, O +Khoja! You said, 'I will not take one less than a thousand,' wherefore I +put nine hundred and ninety-nine pieces in the purse, and it was for a +joke." + +"I do not see the joke," said the Khoja, "but I have accepted the gold +pieces." And he went on smoking. + +The Jew money-lender now became desperate. + +"Let us go to the magistrate," he cried. "The Cadi Effendi shall decide +between us." + +"It is well said," replied the Khoja. "But it would not beseem a Khoja +like myself to go through the public streets to the court on foot; and I +am poor, and have no mule." + +"O my soul!" said the Jew, "let not that trouble you. I will send and +fetch one of my mules." + +But when the mule was at the door, the Khoja said: "Is it fitting, O +money-lender, that a Khoja like myself should appear in these rags +before a Cadi Effendi? But I am poor, and have no suitable dress." + +"Let not that be a hindrance, O Khoja!" said the Jew. "For I have a +pelisse made of the most beautiful fur, which I will send for without +delay." + +In due time this arrived, and, richly clothed, the Khoja rode through +the streets with a serene countenance, the Jew money-lender running +after him in the greatest anxiety. + +When they came before the Cadi, the Jew prostrated himself, and cried in +piteous tones, "Help, O most noble Dispenser of Justice! This Khoja has +stolen from me nine hundred and ninety-nine pieces of gold--and now he +denies it." + +Then the Cadi turned to the Khoja, who said: "O Cadi Effendi, I did +indeed earnestly desire a thousand pieces of gold, and this purse came +to me in fulfilment of my wishes. But when I counted the pieces I found +one short. Then I said, 'The bountiful giver of these will certainly +send the other also.' So I accepted what was given to me. But in this +Jew money-lender is the spirit of covetousness. For half a farthing, O +Cadi, he would, without doubt, lay claim to the beast I ride, or to the +coat on my back." + +"O my soul!" screamed the Jew. "It is indeed true that they are mine. +The mule and the fur pelisse belong to me, O Cadi!" + +"O you covetous rascal!" said the Cadi, "you will lay claim to my turban +next, or to the Sultan's horses." And he commanded the Jew to be driven +from his presence. + +But the Khoja rode home again, and--he accepted the mule and the fur +pelisse, as well as the nine hundred and ninety-nine pieces of gold. + + +_Tale_ 2.--The Khoja at the Marriage Feast. + +On the following day Khoja Effendi went to a marriage feast, dressed in +his old clothes. + +His appearance was indeed very shabby, and the attendants were almost +disposed to refuse him admission, but he slipped in whilst honours and +compliments were being paid on the arrival of some grander guests. Even +those who knew him well were so much ashamed of his dress as to be glad +to look another way to avoid saluting him. + +All this was quickly observed by the Khoja, and after a few moments +(during which no one asked him to be seated) he slipped out and ran +home, where he put on the splendid fur pelisse which he had accepted +from the Jew money-lender, and so returned to the door of the house of +feasting. + +Seeing a guest so richly apparelled draw near, the servants ran out to +meet him with all signs of respect, and the master of the feast came out +also to meet him with other guests, saluting him and saying, "Welcome, +O most learned Khoja!" And all who knew him saluted him in like manner, +and secretly blessed themselves that his acquaintance did them credit. + +But the Khoja looked neither to the right hand nor to the left, and he +made no reply. + +Then they led him to the upper end of the table, crying, "Please to be +seated, Khoja Effendi!" + +Whereupon the Khoja seated himself, but he did not speak, and the guests +stood round him, waiting to hear what should fall from his lips. + +And when the Khoja had been served with food, he took hold of the sleeve +of his pelisse and pulled it towards the dish, saying, in a tone of +respect, "O most worthy and honourable pelisse! be good enough to +partake of this dish. In the name of the Prophet I beseech you do not +refuse to taste what has been hospitably provided." + +"What is this, Khoja?" cried the people, "and what do you mean by +offering food to a fur pelisse that can neither hear nor eat?" + +"O most courteous entertainers!" replied the Khoja, "since the pelisse +has commanded such respect at your hands, is it not proper that it +should also partake of the food?" + + +_Tale_ 3.--The Khoja's Slippers. + +One day, when the idle boys of the neighbourhood were gathered together +and ready for mischief, they perceived the Khoja approaching. + +"Here comes this mad Khoja!" they said. "Let us now persuade him to +climb the largest of these mulberry-trees, and whilst he is climbing we +will steal his slippers." + +And when the Khoja drew near, they cried, "O Khoja, here is indeed a +tree which it is not possible to climb." + +The Khoja looked at the mulberry-tree and said, "You are in error, my +children, any one of you could climb that tree." + +But they said, "We cannot." + +Then said the Khoja, "I, who am an old man, could climb that +mulberry-tree." + +Then the boys cried, "O most illustrious Khoja! we beseech of you to +climb the tree before our eyes, that we may believe what you say, and +also be encouraged to try ourselves." + +"I will climb it," said the Khoja. Thereupon he kicked off his slippers +as the children had anticipated; and tucking his skirts into his girdle, +he prepared to climb. + +[Illustration: THE KHOJA'S SLIPPERS.] + +But whilst they were waiting to steal his slippers, the Khoja put them +into his pocket. + +"Effendi Khoja," said the children, "wherefore do you not leave your +slippers on the ground? What will you do with slippers up in the +mulberry-tree?" + +"O my children!" said the Khoja dryly, "it is good to be provided +against everything. I may come upon a road further up." + + +_Tale_ 4.--The Khoja and the Three Wise Men. + +In the days of Effendi Nasr-ed-Deen Khoja there appeared in the world +three Sages, who excelled in every science and in all wisdom. + +Now it came to pass that in their journeys these wise men passed through +the country of the Sultan Ala-ed-Deen, who desired to see them, and to +make them partake of his hospitality. + +And when the Sultan had seen and heard them, he said: "O Sages, there is +indeed nothing wanting to you but that you should embrace the faith and +become Turks, and remain in my kingdom. Wherefore I beseech of you to do +this without further delay." + +Then the wise men replied to the Padisha: "We will, if it please you, +ask three questions of your learned men. One question shall be asked by +each of us, and if they are able to answer these questions, we will +embrace your faith, and remain with you as you desire. And if not, we +will depart in peace, and prolong our journeys as heretofore." + +Then the Padisha replied: "So be it." And he assembled the learned men +and counsellors of his kingdom, and the Sages put questions to them, +which they could not answer. + +Then the Sultan Ala-ed-Deen was full of wrath, and he said, "Is this my +kingdom, and am I the ruler of it; and is there not indeed one man of my +subjects wise enough to answer the questions of these unbelieving +Sages?" + +And his servants replied: "There is indeed no one who could answer these +questions, except it be Khoja Nasr-ed-Deen Effendi." + +Then the Sultan commanded, and they despatched a Tatar in all haste to +summon Nasr-ed-Deen Effendi to the presence of the Padisha. + +When the messenger arrived, he told his errand to the Khoja, who at once +rose up, saddled his donkey, took a stick in his hand, and mounted, +saying to the Tatar, "Go before me!" + +Thus they came to the palace, and the Khoja entered the presence of the +Sultan, and gave the salaam and received it in return. Then he was shown +where to sit, and being seated, and having made a prayer for the +Padisha, "O most noble Sultan," said he, "wherefore have you brought me +hither, and what is your will with me?" + +Then the Sultan explained the circumstances of the case, and the Khoja +cried, "What are the questions? Let me hear them." + +Then the first wise man came forward and said: "_My_ question, most +worshipful Effendi, is this: Where is the middle of the world?" + +The Khoja, without an instant's hesitation, pointed with his stick to a +fore-hoof of his donkey. + +"There," said he, "exactly where my donkey's foot is placed--there is +the centre of the earth." + +"How do you know that?" asked the Sage. + +"If you do not believe me," replied the Khoja, "measure for yourself. If +you find it wrong one way or the other, I will acknowledge my error." + +The second Sage now came forward and said: "O Khoja Effendi, how many +stars are there on the face of this sky?" + +"The same number," replied the Khoja, "as there are hairs on my donkey." + +"How do you know that?" asked the wise man. + +"If you do not believe me," replied the Khoja, "count for yourself. If +there is a hair too few or too many, I will acknowledge my error." + +"O most learned Khoja!" said the wise man, "have you indeed counted the +hairs on your donkey?" + +"O most venerable Sage!" replied the Khoja, "have you indeed numbered +the stars of the sky?" + +But as the Khoja spoke the third wise man came forward and said: "Most +worshipful Effendi! Be pleased now to hear my question, and if you can +answer it, we will conform to the wishes of the Sultan. How many hairs +are there in my beard?" + +"As many," replied the Khoja, "as there are hairs in my donkey's tail." + +"How do you know that?" asked the wise man. + +"If you do not believe me, count for yourself," said the Khoja. + +But the wise man replied: "It is for you to count, and to prove to me +the truth of what you say." + +"With all my heart," replied the Khoja. "And I will do it in a way that +cannot possibly fail. I shall first pull out a hair from your beard, and +then one from my donkey's tail, and then another from your beard, and so +on. Thus at the end it will be seen whether the number of the hairs of +each kind exactly correspond." + +But the wise man did not wait for this method of proof to be enforced by +the Sultan. He hastily announced himself as a convert to the Padisha's +wishes. The other two Sages followed his example, and their wisdom was +for many years the light of the court of the Sultan Ala-ed-Deen. + +Moreover, they became disciples of the Khoja. + + +_Tale_ 5.--The Khoja's Donkey. + +One day there came a man to the house of the Khoja to ask him for the +loan of his donkey. + +"The donkey is not at home," replied the Khoja, who was unwilling to +lend his beast. + +At this moment the donkey brayed loudly from within. + +"O Khoja Effendi!" cried the man, "what you say cannot be true, for I +can hear your donkey quite distinctly as I stand here." + +"What a strange man you must be," said the Effendi. "Is it possible that +you believe a donkey rather than me, who am grey-haired and a Khoja?" + + +_Tale_ 6.--The Khoja's Gown. + +One day the Khoja's wife, having washed her husband's gown, hung it out +in the garden to dry. + +Now in the dusk of the evening the Khoja repaired to his garden, where +he saw, as he believed, a thief standing with outstretched arms. + +"O you rascal!" he cried, "is it you who steal my fruit? But you shall +do so no more." + +And having called to his wife for his bow and arrows, the Khoja took +aim and pierced his gown through the middle. Then without waiting to see +the result he hastened into his house, secured the door with much care, +and retired to rest. + +When morning dawned, the Khoja went out into the garden, where +perceiving that what he had hit was his own gown, he seated himself and +returned thanks to the All-merciful Disposer of Events. + +"Truly," said he, "I have had a narrow escape. If I had been inside it, +I should have been dead long before this!" + + +_Tale_ 7.--The Khoja and the Fast of Ramadan. + +In a certain year, when the holy month of the fast of Ramadan was +approaching, Khoja Nasr-ed-Deen took counsel with himself and resolved +not to observe it. + +"Truly," said he, "there is no necessity that I should fast like the +common people. I will rather provide myself with a vase into which I +will drop a stone every day. When there are thirty pebbles in the vase, +I shall know that Ramadan is over, and I shall then be able to keep the +feast of Bairam at the proper season." + +Accordingly, on the first day of the month the Khoja dropped a stone +into the vase, and so he continued to do day by day. + +Now the Khoja had a little daughter, and it came to pass that one day +the child, having observed the pebbles in the vase, went out and +gathered a handful and added them to the rest. But her father was not +aware of it. + +[Illustration: THE KHOJA COUNTS.] + +On the twenty-fifth day of Ramadan the Khoja met at the Bazaar with +certain of his neighbours, who said to him, "Be good enough, most +learned Khoja, to tell us what day of the month it is." + +"Wait a bit, and I will see," replied the Khoja. Saying this, he ran to +his house, emptied the vase, and began to count the stones. To his +amazement he found that there were a hundred and twenty! + +"If I say as much as this," thought the Khoja, "they will call me a +fool. Even half would be more than could be believed." + +So he went back to the Bazaar and said, "It is the full forty-fifth of +the month, quite that." + +"O Khoja!" the neighbours replied, "there are only thirty days in a +complete month, and do you tell us to-day is the forty-fifth?" + +"O neighbours!" answered the Khoja, "believe me, I speak with +moderation. If you look into the vase, you will find that according to +its account to-day is the one hundred and twentieth." + + +_Tale_ 8.--The Khoja and the Thief. + +One day a thief got into the Khoja's house, and the Khoja watched him. + +The thief poked here, there, and everywhere, and after collecting all +that he could carry, he put the load on his back and went off. + +The Khoja then came out, and hastily gathering up the few things which +were left of his property, he put them on his own back, and hurried +after the thief. + +At last he arrived before the door of the thief's house, at which he +knocked. + +"What do you want?" said the thief. + +"Why, we are moving into this house, aren't we?" said the Khoja. "I've +brought the rest of the things." + + +_Tale_ 9.--The Bird of Prey and the Piece of Soap. + +One day the Khoja went with his wife to wash clothes at the head of a +spring. + +They had placed the soap beside them on the ground, and were just about +to begin, when a black bird of prey swooped suddenly down, and snatching +up the soap, flew away with it, believing it to be some kind of food. + +"Run, Khoja, run!" cried the distracted wife. "Make haste, I beseech +you, and catch that thief of a bird. He has carried off my soap." + +"O wife!" replied the Khoja, "let him alone. He wants it more than we +do, poor fellow! Our clothes are not half so black as what he has got +on." + + +_Tale_ 10.--The Khoja and the Wolves. + +"Wife!" said the Khoja one day, "how do you know when a man is dead?" + +"When his hands and feet have become cold, Khoja," replied the good +woman, "I know that it is all over then. The man is dead." + +Some time afterwards the Khoja went to the mountain to cut wood. It was +in the winter, and after he had worked for an hour or two his hands and +feet became very cold. + +"It is really a melancholy thing," said he; "but I fear that there can +be no doubt that I am dead. If this is the case, however, I have no +business to be on my feet, much less to be chopping firewood which I +have not lived to require." So he went and lay down under a tree. + +By and by came the wolves, and they fell upon the Khoja's donkey, and +devoured it. + +The Khoja watched them from the place where he was lying. + +"Ah, you brutes!" said he, "it is lucky for you that you have found a +donkey whose master is dead, and cannot interfere." + + +_Tale_ 11.--A Penny a Head. + +The Turks shave their heads and allow their beards to grow. Thus the +Khoja went every week to the barber to have his head shaved, and when it +was done, the barber held out the mirror to him, that, having looked at +himself, he might place a penny fee on the mirror as the custom is. + +Now as he grew old the Khoja became very bald. + +One day when he was about to be shaved, passing his hand over his head, +he perceived that the crown was completely bald. But he said nothing, +and having paid his penny, took his departure as usual. + +[Illustration: THE KHOJA IS SHAVED.] + +Next week Khoja Effendi went again to the barber's. + +When his head had been shaved he looked in the mirror as before; but he +put nothing on it. + +As he rose to depart, the barber stopped him, saying, "Most worshipful +Effendi, you have forgotten to pay." + +"My head is now half bald," said the Khoja; "will not one penny do for +two shavings?" + + +_Tale_ 12.--The Khoja a Cadi. + +The late Khoja Effendi when he filled the office of Cadi had some +puzzling cases to decide. + +One day two men came before him, and one of them said, "This fellow has +bitten my ear, O Cadi!" + +"No, no, most learned Cadi!" said the other; "that is not true. He bit +his own ear, and now tries to lay the blame upon me." + +"One cannot bite his own ear," said the first man; "wherefore the lies +of this scoundrel are obvious." + +"Begone, both of you," said the Khoja; "but come back to-morrow, when I +will give judgment." + +When the men had gone, the Khoja withdrew to a quiet place, where he +would be undisturbed, that he might try if he could bite his own ear. +Taking the ear in his fingers, he made many efforts to seize it with his +teeth, crying, "Can I bite it?" + +But in the vehemence of his efforts the Khoja lost his balance and fell +backwards, wounding his head. + +The following day he took his seat with his head bound up in a linen +cloth, and the men coming before him related their dispute as before, +and cried, "Now, is it possible, O Cadi?" + +"O, you fellows!" said the Khoja, "biting is easy enough, and you can +fall and break your own head into the bargain." + + +_Tale_ 13.--The Khoja's Quilt. + +One night after Khoja Nasr-ed-Deen had retired to rest he was disturbed +by a man making a great noise before his door in the street outside. + +"O wife!" said he, "get up, I pray you, and light a candle, that I may +discover what this noise in the street is about." + +"Lie still, man," said his wife. "What have we to do with street +brawlers? Keep quiet and go to sleep." + +But the Khoja would not listen to her advice, and taking the bed-quilt, +he threw it round his shoulders, and went out to see what was the +matter. + +Then the rascal who was making the disturbance, seeing a fine quilt +floating from the Khoja's shoulders, came behind him and snatched it +away, and ran off with it. + +After a while the Khoja felt thoroughly chilled, and he went back to +bed. + +"Well, Effendi," said his wife: "what have you discovered?" + +"We were more concerned in the noise than you thought," said the Khoja. + +"What was it about, O Khoja?" asked his wife. + +"It must have been about our quilt," he replied; "for when the man got +that he went off quietly enough." + + +_Tale_ 14.--The Khoja and the Beggar. + +One day whilst Nasr-ed-Deen Effendi was in his house, a man knocked at +the door. + +The Khoja looked out from an upper window. + +"What dost thou want?" said he. But the man was a beggar by trade, and +fearing that the Khoja might refuse to give alms when he was so well +beyond reach of the mendicant's importunities, he would not state his +business, but continued to cry, "Come down, come down!" as if he had +something of importance to relate. + +So the Khoja went down, and on his again saying "What dost thou +want?" the beggar began to beg, crying, "The Inciter of Compassion move +thee to enable me to purchase food for my supper! I am the guest of the +Prophet!" with other exclamations of a like nature. + +"Come up-stairs," replied the Khoja, turning back into his house. + +Well pleased, the beggar followed him, but when they reached the upper +room the Khoja turned round and dismissed him, saying, "Heaven supply +your necessities. I have nothing for you." + +"O Effendi!" said the beggar, "why did you not tell me this whilst I was +below?" + +"O Beggar!" replied the Khoja, "why did you call me down when I was +up-stairs?" + + +_Tale_ 15.--The Khoja Turned Nightingale. + +One day the Khoja went into a garden which did not belong to him, and +seeing an apricot-tree laden with delicious fruit, he climbed up among +the branches and began to help himself. + +Whilst he was eating the apricots the owner of the garden came in and +discovered him. + +"What are you doing up there, Khoja?" said he. + +"O my soul!" said the Khoja, "I am not the person you imagine me to be. +Do you not see that I am a nightingale? I am singing in the +apricot-tree." + +"Let me hear you sing," said the gardener. + +The Khoja began to trill like a bird; but the noise he made was so +uncouth that the man burst out laughing. + +"What kind of a song is this?" said he. "I never heard a nightingale's +note like that before." + +[Illustration: THE KHOJA SINGS.] + +"It is not the voice of a native songster," said the Khoja demurely, +"but the foreign nightingale sings so." + + +_Tale_ 16.--The Khoja's Donkey and The Woollen Pelisse. + +One day the Khoja mounted his donkey to ride to the garden, but on the +way there he had business which obliged him to dismount and leave the +donkey for a short time. + +When he got down he took off his woollen pelisse, and throwing it over +the saddle, went about his affairs. But he had hardly turned his back +when a thief came by who stole the woollen pelisse, and made off with +it. + +When the Khoja returned and found that the pelisse was gone, he became +greatly enraged, and beat the donkey with his stick. Then, dragging the +saddle from the poor beast's back, he put it on his own shoulders, +crying, "Find my pelisse, you careless rascal, and then you shall have +your saddle again!" + + +_Tale_ 17.--A Ladder To Sell. + +There was a certain garden into which the Khoja was desirous to enter, +but the gate was fastened, and he could not. + +One day, therefore, he took a ladder upon his shoulder, and repaired to +the place, where he put the ladder against the garden-wall, and having +climbed to the top, drew the ladder over, and by this means descended +into the garden. + +As he was prying about in came the gardener. + +"Who are you?" said he to the Khoja. "And what do you want?" + +"I sell ladders," replied the Khoja, running hastily back to the wall, +and throwing the ladder once more upon his shoulders. + +[Illustration: THE KHOJA TRESPASSES.] + +"Come, come!" said the gardener, "that answer will not do. This is not a +place for selling ladders." + +"You must be very ignorant," replied the Khoja gravely, "if you do not +know that ladders are salable anywhere." + + +_Tale_ 18.--The Cat and the Khoja's Supper. + +The Khoja, like many another man, was fond of something nice for his +supper. + +But no matter how often he bought a piece of liver to make a tasty dish, +his wife always gave it away to a certain friend of hers, and when the +Khoja came home in the evening he got nothing to eat but cakes. + +"Wife," said he at last, "I bring home some liver every day that we may +have a good supper, and you put nothing but pastry before me. What +becomes of the meat?" + +"The cat steals it, O Khoja!" replied his wife. + +On this the Khoja rose from his seat, and taking the axe proceeded to +lock it up in a box. + +"What are you doing with the axe, Khoja?" said his wife. + +"I am hiding it from the cat," replied the Khoja. "The sort of cat who +steals two pennyworth of liver is not likely to spare an axe worth forty +pence." + + +_Tale_ 19.--The Cadi's Ferejeh. + +One day a certain Cadi of Sur-Hissar, being very drunk, lay down in a +garden and fell asleep. The Khoja, having gone out for a walk, passed +by the spot and saw the Cadi lying dead drunk and senseless, with his +ferejeh--or overcoat--half off his back. + +It was a very valuable ferejeh, of rich material, and the Khoja took it +and went home remarkably well dressed. + +When the Cadi recovered his senses he found that his ferejeh was gone. +Thereupon he called his officers and commanded them, saying: "On +whomsoever ye shall see my ferejeh, bring the fellow before me." + +Meanwhile the Khoja wore it openly, and at last the officers took him +and brought him before the Cadi. + +"O Khoja!" said the Cadi, "how came you by what belongs to me? Where did +you find that ferejeh?" + +"Most exemplary Cadi," replied the Khoja, "I went out yesterday for a +short time before sunset, and as I walked I perceived a +disreputable-looking fellow lying shamefully drunk, and exposed to the +derision of passers-by in the public gardens. His ferejeh was half off +his back, and I said within myself, 'This valuable ferejeh will +certainly be stolen, whilst he to whom it belongs is sleeping the sleep +of drunkenness. I will therefore take it and wear it, and when the owner +has his senses restored to him, he will be able to see and reclaim it.' +So I took the ferejeh, and if it be thine, O Cadi, take it!" + +"It cannot be my ferejeh, of course," said the Cadi hastily; "though +there is a similarity which at first deceived me." + +"Then I will keep it till the man claims it," said the Khoja. + +And he did so. + + +_Tale_ 20.--The Two Pans. + +One day the Khoja borrowed a big pan of his next-door neighbour. + +[Illustration: THE KHOJA IS ARTFUL.] + +When he had done with it he put a smaller pan inside it, and carried it +back. + +"What is this?" said the neighbour. + +"It is a young pan," replied the Khoja. "It is the child of your big +pan, and therefore belongs to you." + +The neighbour laughed in his sleeve. + +"If this Khoja is mad," said he, "a sensible man like myself need not +refuse to profit by his whims." + +So he replied, "It is well, O Khoja! The pan is a very good pan. May its +posterity be increased!" + +And he took the Khoja's pan as well as his own, and the Khoja departed. + +After a few days the Khoja came again to borrow the big pan, which his +neighbour lent him willingly, saying to himself, "Doubtless +something else will come back in it." But after he had waited +two--three--four--and five days, and the Khoja did not return it, the +neighbour betook himself to the Khoja's house and asked for his pan. + +The Khoja came to the door with a sad countenance. + +"Allah preserve you, neighbour!" said he. "May your health be better +than that of our departed friend, who will return to you no more. The +big pan is dead." + +"Nonsense, Khoja Effendi!" said the neighbour, "You know well enough +that a pan cannot die." + +"You were quite willing to believe that it had had a child," said the +Khoja; "it seems odd you cannot believe that it is dead." + + +_Tale_ 21.--The Day of the Month. + +One day Khoja Effendi walked into the bazaar. As he went about among the +buyers and sellers, a man came up to him and said, "Is it the third or +fourth day of the month to-day?" + +"How should I know?" replied the Khoja. "I don't deal in the moon." + + +_Tale_ 22.--The Khoja's Dream. + +One night when he was asleep the Khoja dreamed that he found nine pieces +of money. + +"Bountiful heaven!" said he, "let me have been mistaken. I will count +them afresh. Let there be ten!" And when he counted them there were ten. +Then he said, "Let there be nineteen!" And vehemently contending for +nineteen he awoke. But when he was awake and found that there was +nothing in his hands, he shut his eyes again, and stretching his hands +out said, "Make it nine pieces, I'll not say another word." + + +_Tale_ 23.--The Old Moon. + +One day some of the neighbours said, "Let us ask this Khoja something +that will puzzle him, and see what he will say." So they came to the +Khoja and said, "The moon is on the wane, Khoja Effendi, and we shall +soon have a new one; what will be done with the old moon?" + +"They will break it up and make stars of it," said the Khoja. + + +_Tale_ 24.--The Short Piece of Muslin. + +One day Nasr-ed-Deen Effendi was tying a new piece of muslin for his +turban, when to his annoyance he discovered that it was too short. He +tried a second time, but still it was not long enough, and he spoiled +his turban, and lost his temper. Much vexed with the muslin, the Khoja +took it to the bazaar, and gave it in to be sold by auction. + +By and by the sale began, and after a time the muslin was put up, and a +man came forward and began to bid. Another man bid against him, and the +first man continued to raise his price. + +The Khoja was standing near, and at last he could bear it no longer. +"That rascal of a muslin has cheated me and put me to infinite +inconvenience," said he; "it played me false; and am I bound to conceal +its deficiencies?" + +Then he came softly up to the highest bidder, and whispered, "Take care +what you are about, brother, in buying that muslin. It's a short +length." + + +_Tale_ 25.--The Khoja Peeps Into Futurity. + +Having need of a stout piece of wood, the Khoja one day decided to cut +off a certain branch from a tree that belonged to him, as he perceived +that it would serve his purpose. + +Taking, therefore, his axe in his hand, and tucking his skirts into his +girdle, he climbed the tree, and the branch he desired being firm and +convenient, he seated himself upon it, and then began to hack and hew. + +As he sat and chopped a man passed by below him, who called out and +said, "O stupid man! What are you doing? When the branch is cut through +you will certainly fall to the ground." + +"Are the decrees of the future less veiled from this man than from me, +who am a Khoja?" said Nasr-ed-Deen Effendi to himself, and he made the +man no reply, but chopped on. + +In a few moments the branch gave way, and the Khoja fell to the ground. + +When he recovered himself he jumped up, and ran after the man who had +warned him. + +[Illustration: THE KHOJA FALLS.] + +"O you fellow!" cried he. "It has happened to me even as you foretold. +At the moment when the branch was cut through I fell to the ground. Now, +therefore, since the future is open to thee, I beseech thee to tell me +the day of my death." + +"This madness is greater than the other," replied the man. "The day of +death is among the hidden counsels of the Most High." + +But the Khoja held him by the gown and continued to urge him, saying, +"You told me when I should fall from the tree, and it came to pass to +the moment. Tell me now how long I have to live." And as he would not +release him, but kept crying, "How much time have I left?" the man lost +patience, and said, "O fool! there is no more time left to thee. The +days of the years of thy life are numbered." + +"Then I am dead, lo I am dead!" said the Khoja, and he lay down, and +stiffened himself, and did not move. + +By and by his neighbours came and stood at his head, and having observed +him, they brought a bier and laid him on it, saying, "Let us take him to +his own house." + +Now in the way thither there was in the road a boggy place, which it was +difficult to pass, and the bearers of the bier stood still and +consulted, saying, "Which way shall we go?" + +And they hesitated so long that the Khoja, becoming impatient, raised +his head from the bier, and said, "_That's_ the way I used to go myself, +when I was alive." + + +_Tale_ 26.--The Two Moons. + +On a certain day when the Khoja went to Sur-Hissar he saw a group of +persons looking at the new moon. + +"What extraordinary people the men of this place must be!" said he, "In +our country the moon may be seen as large as a plate, and no one +troubles his head about it, and here people stare at it when it is only +a quarter the size." + + +_Tale_ 27.--The Khoja Preaching. + +One of the Khoja's duties--as a religious teacher--was to preach to the +people. But once upon a time he became very lazy about this, and was +always seeking an excuse to shorten or omit his sermons. + +On a certain day about this time he mounted into the pulpit, and looking +down on the congregation assembled to listen to him, he stretched forth +his hands and cried, "Ah, Believers! what shall I say to you?" + +And the men beat upon their breasts, and replied with one voice, "We do +not know, most holy Khoja! we do not know." + +"Oh, if you don't know--" said the Khoja indignantly, and gathering his +robe about him, he quitted the pulpit without another word. + +The men looked at each other in dismay, for the Khoja was a very +popular preacher. + +[Illustration: THE KHOJA PREACHES.] + +"We have done wrong," said they, "though we know not how; without doubt +our ignorance is an offence to his learning. Wherefore, if he comes +again, whatever he says to us we will seem as if we knew all about it." + +The following week the Khoja got again into the pulpit, from which he +could see a larger assembly than before. + +"O ye Muslims!" he began, "what am I to say--" + +But before the words were fairly out of his mouth the congregation cried +out with one voice, "_We_ know, good Khoja! We know!" + +"Oh, if you _know_--" said the Khoja sarcastically, and shrugging his +shoulders, and lifting his eyebrows, he left the place as one who feels +that he can be of no further use. + +"This is worse than before," said the Muslims in despair. But after a +while they took counsel, and said, "Let him come once more, and we will +not lose our sermon this time. If he asks the same question we will +reply that some of us know, but that some of us do not know." + +So when the Khoja next appeared before the congregation, and after he +had cried as before, "O Brethren! do ye know what I am about to say?" +they answered, "Some of us know, but some of us do not know." + +"How nice!" said the Khoja, smiling benevolently upon the crowd beneath +him, as he prepared to take his departure. "Then those of you who know +can explain it all to those who do not know." + + +_Tale_ 28.--The Khoja and the Horsemen. + +One day when Khoja Effendi was crossing a certain desert plain a troop +of horsemen suddenly appeared riding towards him. + +"No doubt these are Bedawee robbers," thought the Khoja, "who will kill +me without remorse for the sake of the Cadi's ferejeh which I wear." And +in much alarm he hastened towards a cemetery which he had perceived to +be near. Here he quickly stripped off his clothes, and, having hidden +them, crept naked into an empty tomb and lay down. + +But the horsemen pursued after him, and by and by they came into the +cemetery, and one of them peeped into the tomb and saw the Khoja. + +"Here is the man we saw!" cried the horseman; and he said to the Khoja, +"What are you lying there for, and where are your clothes?" + +"The dead have no possessions, O Bedawee!" replied the Khoja. "I am +buried here. If you saw me on the plain as I used to appear in life, +without doubt you are one of those who can see ghosts and apparitions." + + +_Tale_ 29.--The Ox Trespassing. + +One day Khoja Effendi, repairing to a piece of ground which belonged to +him, found that a strange ox had got into the enclosure. The Khoja took +a thick stick to beat it with, but the beast, seeing him coming, ran +away and escaped. + +Next week the Khoja met a Turk driving the ox, which was harnessed to a +waggon. + +Thereupon the Khoja took a stick in his hand, and, running after the ox, +belaboured it soundly. "O man!" cried the Turk, "what are you beating my +beast for?" + +"Hold your tongue, you fool," said the Khoja, "and don't meddle with +what doesn't concern you. _The ox knows well enough._" + + +_Tale_ 30.--The Khoja's Camel. + +The next time Khoja Effendi was obliged to take a journey he resolved to +accompany a caravan for protection. + +Now the Khoja had lately become possessed of a valuable camel, and he +said to himself, "I will ride my camel instead of going on foot; the +journey will then be a pleasure, and I shall not be fatigued." So he +mounted the camel and set forth. + +But as he was riding with the caravan the camel stumbled, and the Khoja +was thrown off and severely hurt. The people of the caravan coming to +his assistance found that he was stunned, but after a while they +succeeded in restoring him. + +When the Khoja came to his senses he tore his clothes, and cried in +great rage and indignation, "O Muslims! you do not know what care I have +taken of this camel, and this is how I am rewarded! Will no one kill it +for me? It has done its best to kill me." + +But his friends said, "Be appeased, most worthy Effendi, we could not +kill your valuable camel." + +"O benefactors!" replied the Khoja, "since you desire the brute's life +it must be spared. But it shall have no home with me. I am about to +drive it into the desert, where it may stumble to its heart's content." + +So the Khoja drove the camel away; but before he did so he tore the +furniture and trappings furiously from its back, crying, "I won't leave +you a rag, you ungrateful beast!" + +And he pursued his journey on foot, carrying the camel's furniture as +best as he might. + + +_Tale_ 31.--An Open Question. + +The Khoja wanted vegetables for cooking, so he took a sack and slipped +into a neighbouring garden, which was abundantly supplied. He picked +some herbs, and pulled up some turnips, and got a little of everything +he could find to fill his bag. Both hands were full, when the gardener +suddenly appeared and seized him. + +"What are you doing here?" said the gardener. + +The Khoja was confounded, and not being able to find a good excuse, he +said, "A very strong wind blew during the night. Having driven me a long +way, it blew me here." + +"Oh," said the gardener; "but who plucked these herbs which I see in +your hands?" + +"The wind was so very strong," answered the Khoja, "that when it blew me +into this place I clutched with both hands at the first things I could +lay hold of, lest it should drive me further. And so they remain in my +grasp." + +"Oh," said the gardener; "but who put these into the sack, I wonder?" + +"That is just what puzzles me," the Khoja replied; "I was thinking about +it when you came in." + + +_Tale_ 32.--The Spurting Fountain. + +One summer's day the Khoja had come a long way, and was very hot and +thirsty. By and by he perceived a fountain, of which the pipe was +stopped up with a piece of wood. + +"Now I shall quench my thirst," said the Khoja, and he pulled out the +stopper, on which the water rushed out with vehement force over the +Khoja's head, and drenched him in a moment. + +"Ah!" cried the Khoja angrily, "it's because of your running so madly +that they have stuck that stick into you, I suppose." + + +_Tale_ 33.--Well-meant Soup. + +One day as the Khoja was returning home he met a party of students +walking together. + +"Good-evening, Effendis!" said he. "Pray come home with me, and we will +have some soup." + +The students did not think twice about accepting the invitation, and +they followed the Khoja home to his house. + +"Pray be seated," said the Khoja, and when they had seated themselves he +went to the upper room. "Wife," said he, "I have brought home some +guests. Let us give them a good bowl of soup." + +"O Effendi!" cried the wife, "is there any butter in the house? Is there +any rice? Have you brought anything home for me to make it of, that you +ask for soup?" + +"Give me the soup-bowl," said the Khoja. Then taking the empty bowl in +his hand he returned to the students. + +"O Effendis!" said he, "be good enough, I beseech you, to take the will +for the deed. You are indeed most welcome, and if there had been butter +or rice, or anything else in our house, you would have had excellent +soup out of this very bowl." + + +_Tale_ 34.--The Khoja and the Ten Blind Men. + +Once upon a time Khoja Nasr-ed-Deen, wandering by the banks of a river, +came to a certain ford near which he seated himself to rest. + +By and by came ten blind men, who were desirous of crossing the river, +and they agreed with the Khoja that he should help them across for the +payment of one penny each. + +The Khoja accordingly exerted himself to the utmost of his power, and he +got nine of the blind men safely across; but as he was helping the +tenth, the man lost his footing, and in spite of the Khoja's efforts the +river overpowered him, and bore him away. + +Thereupon the nine blind men on the opposite shore set up a lamentable +wail, crying, "What has happened, O Khoja?" + +"One penny less to pay than you expected," said the Khoja. + + +_Tale_ 35.--The End of the World. + +Now Khoja Nasr-ed-Deen Effendi had a lamb which he brought up and +fattened with much care. + +[Illustration: THE KHOJA RECOMPENSES HIS FRIENDS.] + +Some of his friends were very desirous to get hold of this lamb and make +a feast of it. So they came to the Khoja and begged him earnestly to +give up the lamb for a feast, but the Khoja would not consent. + +At last one day came one of them and said, "O Khoja! to-morrow is the +end of the world. What will you do with this lamb on the last day? We +may as well eat it this evening." + +"If it be so, let us do as you say," replied the Khoja, for he thought +that the man was in earnest. So they lighted the fire and roasted the +lamb, and had an excellent feast. But the Khoja perceived that they had +played a trick upon him. + +By and by his friends went to some little distance to play games +together, but the Khoja would not accompany them, so they left their +upper garments in his charge and departed to their amusements. + +When they were gone the Khoja took the clothes and put them on to the +fire where the lamb had been roasted, and burnt them all. + +After a while the friends returned and found their robes burnt to ashes. + +"O Khoja!" they cried, "who has burnt our clothes? Alas, alas! what +shall we do?" + +"Never mind," said the Khoja, "to-morrow the world comes to an end, you +know. You would not have wanted them for long." + + +_Tale_ 36.--The Dog on the Tomb. + +One day the Khoja was wandering among the tombs. As he strolled along he +perceived a dog lying upon a grave-stone. + +Indignant at this profanation of a tomb, the Khoja took a stout stick +and made up his mind to chastise the intruder. But the dog, who saw what +was coming, got up and prepared to fly at him. + +The Khoja never ran any unnecessary risk. When he perceived that the dog +was about to attack him, and that he would have the worst of it, he +lowered his stick. + +"Pray don't disturb yourself," said he; "I give in." + + +_Tale_ 37.--The Khoja and the Mullas. + +Once upon a time the Khoja, riding on his donkey, was proceeding to a +certain place to give public instruction, when he was followed by +several law-students, who walked behind him. + +Perceiving this, the Khoja dismounted, and got up again with his face to +the donkey's tail. + +"O Khoja!" cried the Mullas, "why do you ride backwards?" + +"It is the only way in which we can show each other proper civility," +replied the Khoja; "for when I ride in the usual fashion, if you walk +behind me I turn my back on you, and if you walk before me you turn your +backs on me." + + +_Tale_ 38.--The Students and the Khoja's Wife. + +Khoja Nasr-ed-Deen Effendi met a party of students who were walking +together. + +"Allow me to join you, worthy Effendis," said he, "and if it is +agreeable to you we will proceed to my house." + +"With the greatest possible pleasure," replied all the students, and the +Khoja, beguiling the way with smart sayings and agreeable compliments, +led them to the door of his dwelling. + +"Be good enough to wait an instant," said the Khoja, and the students +waited whilst the Khoja entered his house, where--being in a mischievous +mood--he said to his wife, "O wife, go down and send those men away who +are hanging about the door. If they want me, say that I have not come +home." + +So the woman went down and said, "The Khoja has not come home, +gentlemen." + +"What are you talking about?" cried the students; "he came home with +us." + +"He's not at home, I tell you," said the Khoja's wife. + +"We know that he is," said the students. + +"He's not," repeated the woman. + +"He is," reiterated the students. + +[Illustration: THE KHOJA IS NOT AT HOME.] + +And so they contradicted each other and bandied words, till the Khoja, +who was listening from above, put his head out of the window and cried, +"Neither you nor my wife have any sense in your heads. Don't you see +there are two doors to the place? If he did come in by one he may have +gone out again through the other." + + +_Tale_ 39.--The Khoja and His Guest. + +One day a man came to the Khoja and became his guest for the night. + +When they had had supper they lay down to sleep. + +After a while the light went out; but the Khoja was lazy, and pretended +not to observe it, for he did not want to get up. + +"Khoja! Khoja!" cried the guest. + +"What's the matter?" said the Khoja. + +"Don't you see that the light's gone out?" said the guest. + +"I see nothing," said the Khoja. + +"It's pitch dark," complained the guest: "do get up and see if you have +a candle in the house." + +"You must be mad," replied the Khoja; "am I a cat? If it is really as +dark as you say how can I possibly see whether I have got any or not?" + + +_Tale_ 40.--The Wise Donkey. + +Once upon a time the Khoja was smoking in his garden, when a certain man +came to borrow his donkey. + +Now this man was cruel to animals, therefore the Khoja did not like to +lend him his beast; but as he was also a man of some consideration, the +Khoja hesitated to refuse point blank. + +"O Effendi!" said he, "I will gladly lend you my donkey, but he is a +very wise animal, and knows what is about to befall him. If he foresees +good luck for this journey all will be well, and you could not have a +better beast. But if he foresees evil he will be of no use, and I should +be ashamed to offer him to you." + +"Be good enough to inquire of him," said the borrower. + +Thereupon the Khoja departed on pretence of taking counsel with his +donkey. But he only smoked another pipe in his garden, and then returned +to the man, who was anxiously awaiting him, and whom he saluted with all +possible politeness, saying-- + +"May it be far from you, most worthy Effendi, ever to experience such +misfortune as my wise donkey foresees on this occasion!" + +"What does he foresee?" inquired the borrower. + +[Illustration: THE KHOJA AND HIS DONKEY.] + +"Broken knees, sore ribs, aching bones, long marches, and short meals," +said the Khoja. + +Then the man looked foolish, and sneaked away without reply. + +But the Khoja went back to his pipe. + + +_Tale_ 41.--The Khoja's Horse. + +Once upon a time the Khoja was travelling in company with a caravan, +when they halted for the night at a certain place, and all the horses +were tied up together. + +Next morning the Khoja could not for the life of him remember which was +his own horse, and he was much afraid of being cheated if he confessed +this to the rest. + +So, as they were all coming out, he seized his bow and arrow, and aimed +among the horses at random. + +"Don't shoot!" cried the men; "what is the matter?" + +"I am desperate," replied the Khoja; "I am determined to kill somebody's +horse, so let every one look to his own." + +Laughing at the Khoja's folly, each man untied his own horse as quickly +as possible, and took it away. + +Then the Khoja knew that the one left was his own. + +He at once proceeded to mount, but putting his right foot into the +stirrup, he came round with his face to the tail. + +"What makes you get up backwards, Khoja?" said his friends. + +"It is not I who am in the wrong," said the Khoja, "but the horse that +is left-handed." + + +_Tale_ 42.--The Khoja on the Bey's Horse. + +On a certain occasion Khoja Nasr-ed-Deen went to see the Bey, and the +Bey invited him to go out hunting. + +The Khoja agreed, but when they were about to start he found that he had +been mounted on a horse which would not move out of a snail's pace. He +said nothing, however, for it is not well to be too quick in seeing +affronts. + +By and by it began to rain heavily. The Bey and the rest of the party +galloped off with all speed towards shelter, and the Khoja was left in +the lurch. + +When they were all out of sight the Khoja got down and took off all his +clothes and folded them neatly together, and put them on the saddle. +Then he got up again and sat on his clothes, to keep them dry. + +By and by the rain ceased, and the Khoja dressed himself and went +leisurely home. When he reached the Bey's palace all the guests were +assembled, and presently the Bey perceived him and cried out, "Why, here +is the worthy Khoja! And--how extraordinary!--his clothes are not as wet +as ours." + +"Why do you not praise the horse on which you mounted me?" answered the +Khoja; "it carried me through the storm without a single thread of my +clothes being wet." + +"They must have made a mistake about the horses," thought the Bey to +himself, and he invited the Khoja to go hunting on the following day. + +The Khoja accepted, and when the time came he was mounted on the horse +which the Bey had ridden the day before, and the Bey seated himself on +that which had carried the Khoja with dry clothes through the shower. + +By and by it began to rain; every one rode off as usual, and this time +the Khoja among them. + +The Bey, however, could not induce his horse to stir out of a foot's +pace, and when he arrived at his palace he was drenched to the skin. + +"Wretched man!" he cried to the Khoja, "is it not through you that I +was induced to ride this useless horse?" + +"Most eminent Bey," replied the Khoja, "the beast has treated you no +worse than he served me. But perhaps your Eminence did not think of +taking off your clothes and sitting on them?" + + +_Tale_ 43.--The Khoja's Donkey brays to Good Purpose. + +One day the Khoja dismounted at the door of a shop, and threw his +woollen pelisse on the donkey's back till he should return. He then went +in to buy sweetmeats. + +In a few minutes there passed a man, who snatched the woollen pelisse +from the donkey's back, and went off with it. At this moment the donkey +began to bray. + +"O bawl away!" cried the Khoja, who had come out just in time to see his +pelisse disappear; "much good that will do." + +But as it happened, when the man heard the noise he was afraid of being +caught, and, throwing the pelisse back on to the donkey, he ran away as +hard as he could. + +[Illustration: THE KHOJA PRAYS.] + + +_Tale_ 44.--The Khoja's Left Leg. + +During one very hot season there was a scarcity of water in the city. + +One day, the Khoja was performing his religious ablutions: he washed +himself all over with the exception of his left leg, but before that +could be washed the water was all used up. + +When the Khoja began to recite the customary prayers he stood on one leg +like a goose. + +"O Khoja Effendi!" cried the people, "why do you pray standing on your +right leg?" + +"I could not pray on my left leg," said the Khoja; "it has not performed +the appointed ablutions." + + +_Tale_ 45.--"Figs Would Be More Acceptable." + +Nasr-ed-Deen Effendi had some plums, of which he resolved to make a +present to the Bey. He therefore took three of them, and putting them on +a fine tray, he carried them into the royal presence, and duly offered +them for the Bey's acceptance. + +Being in a good humour, the Bey took the present in good part, and gave +the Khoja several pence in return. + +After some days the Khoja thought he would take something else to the +Bey, and having some fine large beetroots, he set off as before. + +On his way to the palace he met a man, who saluted him. + +"What are you doing with all those beetroots?" said he. + +"I am about to present them to the Bey," replied the Khoja. + +"Figs would be more acceptable, I should think," said the man. + +The Khoja pursued his journey, but as he went the man's words troubled +him--"Figs would be more acceptable." + +At last he perceived a fig-tree by the roadside, so, throwing away all +the beetroots, he put two or three figs in their place, and having +arrived at the palace, he presented them to the Bey. + +But this time the Bey was not in a good humour. + +"What madman is this," he cried, "who mocks me by the gift of a few +worthless figs? Throw them at his head and drive him away!" + +So they pelted the Khoja with his figs, and drove him out. But as he +ran, instead of cursing his ill luck, the Khoja gave thanks for his good +fortune. + +"This is indeed madness," cried the servants of the Bey; "for what, O +Khoja, do you return thanks, after this ignominious treatment?" + +"O ignorant time-servers," replied the Khoja, "I have good reason to +give thanks. For I was bringing beetroots to the Bey--large beetroots, +and many of them--and I met a man who persuaded me, saying, "Figs would +be more acceptable," so I brought figs; and you have cast them at my +head. But there were few of them, and they are soft, and I am none the +worse. If, however, I had not by good luck thrown away the beetroots, +which are hard, my skull would certainly have been cracked." + + +_Tale_ 46.--Timur and the One-legged Geese. + +One day the Khoja caused a goose to be cooked. He was about to present +it to the King. + +When it was nicely done he set off with it, but on the road he became +very hungry. If the smell of it were to be trusted it was a most +delicious bird! At last the Khoja could resist no longer, and he tore +off a leg and ate it with much relish. + +On arriving in the royal presence he placed the goose before Timur the +King, who, when he had examined the Khoja's gift, was exceedingly +annoyed. + +"This Khoja is deriding me!" said he. And then in a voice of thunder he +demanded, "_Where is the other leg?_" + +"The geese of our country are one-legged," replied Nasr-ed-Deen, with +much gravity. "If your Majesty does not believe me, be good enough to +let your eyes be informed of the truth of what I say by looking at the +geese at yonder spring." + +As it happened there were a number of geese at the fountain, and they +were all standing on one leg. + +The King could not help laughing, but he called to his drummers and +said, "March towards yonder fountain, and lay your drumsticks well about +your drums." + +The drummers forthwith began to drum, and they rattled away so heartily +that all the geese put down their legs and ran off in alarm. + +"O Khoja!" cried Timur, "how is this? All your geese have become +two-legged!" + +"It is the effect of your Majesty's wonderful drumsticks," replied the +Khoja. "If you were to eat one of them, you yourself would undoubtedly +become four-legged." + + +_Tale_ 47.--The Khoja Rewards the Frogs. + +Khoja Nasr-ed-Deen Effendi had been riding his donkey for some miles. It +was very hot, and the Khoja dismounted to ease his beast. At this moment +they came within sight of a pond, and the donkey smelling the water set +off towards it as hard as he could canter. + +The side of the pond was very steep, and in its haste the donkey would +probably have fallen in, but that the frogs set up such a terrific +croaking at its approach that the beast, in alarm, turned sharply round, +and was caught by its master. + +The Khoja was not wanting in grateful and liberal feelings. + +"Well done, my little pond-birds!" said he, throwing a handful of coins +into the water. "Divide that among you to buy sweetmeats with." + + +_Tale_ 48.--The Khoja reproaches his Cock. + +Once upon a time the Khoja was carrying his fowls in a cage to the city +for sale. + +As he went along he began to feel sorry for them. + +"O my soul!" said he, "these poor fowls are sadly imprisoned. I will let +them go a little." So he opened the cage, and the birds scrambled out. +One ran one way, and another another; but the Khoja contrived to keep up +with the cock, which he drove before him with his stick, the poor bird +waddling hither and thither, and fluttering from side to side with +distress and indecision pitiable to behold. + +On seeing this the Khoja began to reproach him. "You never thought it +would come to this, my fine bird, did you?" said he. "And yet what a +wiseacre you are! You know when it's day better than the sun himself, +and can crow loud enough for all the world to hear your wisdom." + +The poor cock made no reply, but waddled on with hoarse cries and +flapping wings. + +"You're a poor prophet!" said the Khoja. "You know that it is morning in +the middle of the night: how is it you could not foresee that you were +to be driven to market? Thus--and thus!" And turning him at every corner +by which he would escape, the Khoja drove the distracted cock into the +city. + + +_Tale_ 49.--Hare-soup. + +One day there came a man from the village who made the Khoja a present +of a hare. + +The Khoja brought him in, treating him with all honour and hospitality, +and gave him some rich and excellent soup. + +In a week's time the man called again; but the Khoja had forgotten him, +and said, "Who are you?" + +"I am the man who brought the hare," he replied. The Khoja entertained +him as before, though the soup was not quite so rich. + +After a few days came some men who desired to be guests to the Khoja. + +"Who are you?" said he. + +"We are neighbours of the man who brought the hare," said they. + +This time the soup was certainly thin, but that did not hinder the +arrival of some fresh guests in a very few days. + +"Who are you?" said the Khoja. + +"We are neighbours of the neighbours of the man who brought the hare," +was the reply. + +"You are welcome," said their host; and he set a bowl of clear water +before them. + +"What is this, O Khoja?" cried the men. + +"It is soup of soup of soup of the hare-soup," answered the Khoja. + + +_Tale_ 50.--The Khoja out Fishing. + +One day the Khoja accompanied some men who were going a-fishing, and he +became much excited in watching the sport. + +Suddenly, as they cast the net into the sea, the Khoja threw himself +into it. + +"What can you be thinking of, Effendi?" cried the fishermen. + +"I forgot," said the Khoja; "I was thinking I was a fish." + + +_Tale_ 51.--A Desire Satisfied. + +Nasr-ed-Deen Effendi had an old cow with horns so exceedingly broad that +one could certainly sit between them if he had a mind to do so. + +"I should very much like to try," the Khoja kept thinking; "I should +exceedingly like to sit for once between those horns." + +The notion haunted him, and he kept saying to himself, "I certainly +should like it, just for once." + +One day the cow came before the house, and after a while lay down. + +"The opportunity has arrived," cried the Khoja, and running out, he +seated himself between the cow's horns. "It is just as I thought," said +he; but as he spoke the cow got up, and tossed the Khoja violently to +the ground. + +The Khoja was stunned, and when his wife hastened to the spot she found +him lying senseless. After some time he opened his eyes, and perceived +his wife weeping near him. + +"O wife!" said the Khoja, "weep not; I am not less fortunate than other +men. I have suffered for it, but I have had my desire." + + +_Tale_ 52.--The Khoja and the Incompetent Barber. + +On one occasion the Khoja was shaved by a most incompetent barber. At +every stroke the man cut his head with the razor, and kept sticking on +bits of cotton to stop the bleeding. + +At last the Khoja lost patience. + +"That will do," said he, jumping up: "you've sown cotton on half my +head, I'll keep the other half for flax;" and he ran out of the shop +with his head half shaved. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 3: A _Khoja_ is a religious teacher, and sometimes a +school-master also.] + + + + +THE SNARLING PRINCESS. + +(_Freely adapted from the German._) + +[Illustration] + + +Ever so long ago there lived a certain king, at whose court great +rejoicings were held for the birth of a child. But this joy was soon +turned to sorrow, when the young queen died, and left her infant +daughter motherless. As the body of the young queen lay in state, +wrapped in a shroud of gold all embroidered with flowers, and with so +sweet a smile upon her face that she looked like one who dreams happy +dreams in sleep, the sorrowing king took the child in his arms, and +kneeling by the bier vowed never to marry again, but to make his wife's +only child the heir of his crown and kingdom. This promise he faithfully +fulfilled, and remaining a widower, he devoted his life to the +upbringing of his daughter. + +It is true that the young princess had a fairy godmother--a distant +cousin of the deceased queen--but the king could not endure that any one +but himself should have a voice in the management of his child, and the +fairy godmother, who was accustomed to the utmost deference to her +opinions, very soon quitted the court in a huff, and left the king as +supreme in the nursery as he was in the council-chamber. + +[Illustration] + +When the precious baby was washed, this was done with no common care. +The bath itself was made of gold, and the two chief physicians of the +kingdom assisted the king by their counsels. When hot water of crystal +clearness had been poured into the bath, the more celebrated of the two +physicians dipped the tip of his little finger in, and looking +inquiringly at his colleague, said "_Hum_." On which the physician of +lesser degree dipped in his little finger and said "_Hem_." And after +this the water always proved to be of the right temperature, and did the +young princess no harm whatever. The king himself on these occasions +always dropped--with much state--a few drops of exquisite scent into the +bath, from a golden flask studded with diamonds. The chief +lady-in-waiting brought the baby, wrapped in gorgeous robes, and put it +into the bath. The court doctors laid their fingers on their noses, and +looked very important, whilst the king--who was short-sighted--put on +his spectacles to enjoy the sight of the little princess, who gambolled +in the water like a fish. The rest of her toilette was carried out with +no less formality, and as the same scrupulous care watched over every +incident of her daily life, the child grew every day more healthy and +beautiful. + +Time passed on without lessening the king's devotion to his daughter. +Her beauty was the standing theme of conversation in every corner of the +palace where the king was likely to overhear it, and the courtiers +rivalled each other in trying to read the wishes of the little princess +in her blue eyes, and in endeavouring to forestall them. + +No wonder the little lady grew up exceedingly self-willed, and with no +thought of any one's pleasure but her own. + +The king hired governesses, it is true, but he strictly forbade them +ever to say a harsh word to his darling; and one who had so far +transgressed this order as to reprove the princess for some fault, was +dismissed in disgrace. Thus it came about that the child grew daily more +and more wilful and capricious. Do what every one would, it was +impossible to please her, and as she was allowed to fly into a rage +about the most trifling matters, and as she sulked and scolded, and +growled and grumbled for the smallest annoyances, her voice gradually +acquired a peculiar snarling tone, which was as painful to listen to as +it was unbecoming in a young and pretty princess. + +The whole court suffered from the depressing effects of the young +lady's ill-temper. Behind the king's back, the courtiers complained +pretty freely, but before his face no one dared show his annoyance, and +two old court ladies, whose nerves were not so strong as they had been, +and who feared to betray themselves, were obliged to employ a celebrated +professor of cosmetics to paint smiles on their faces that could not be +disturbed by the snarling and grumbling of the princess; but the Lord +Chamberlain concealed his feelings by a free use of his gold snuff-box, +and snuffed away his annoyance pretty successfully. + +As his daughter grew up, the king was not without his share of suffering +from her ill-temper. But he bore it all very patiently,--"She will be a +queen," said he to himself, "and it is fit that she should have a will +of her own." The king himself was of an imperious temper, but such was +his love for his only child, that he bent it completely to her caprices. + +In private, the courtiers were by no means so indulgent in their views, +and the future queen was known amongst them, behind her back, as the +Snarling Princess. + +In spite of her ill-temper and unpleasing voice, however, she was so +beautiful, that--being also heir to the throne of a large kingdom--many +princes sought her hand in marriage. But the Snarling Princess was +resolved to reign alone, and she refused every suitor who appeared. + +The princess's rooms were, of course, the most beautiful in the palace. +One of these, which looked out on to the forest, was her favourite +chamber, but it was also the source of her greatest vexation. + +Never did she look out of the window towards the wood without snarling +in her harshest tone, "Hateful! Intolerable!" + +The source of her annoyance was this: + +On the edge of the forest, clearly to be seen from her window, there +stood a tiny cottage, in which lived an aged woman who was known amongst +the poor folks of the neighbourhood as the "Three-legged Wood-wife." +This was because of a wooden staff on which she leaned to eke out the +failing strength of her own limbs. The wood-wife was both feared and +hated by the people, amongst whom she bore the character of a very +malicious witch. The king's daughter hated not only her, but her +tumble-down house, and had sent again and again, with large offers of +gold, to try and purchase the cottage. But the wood-wife laughed +spitefully at the messengers, and only replied that the cottage suited +her, and that for no money would she quit it whilst she lived. + +The poor have their rights, however, as well as the rich, and even the +Snarling Princess was obliged to submit to the disappointment at which +she could only grumble. + +At one time she resolved never to go into her favourite room again. But +she could not keep her resolution. Back she went, and some irresistible +power always seemed to draw her to the window to irritate herself by the +sight of the wretched hovel which belonged to the Three-legged Witch. + +At last, however, by constantly snarling and complaining to the king, +she induced him to turn the old woman by force out of her cottage. The +king, who was just and upright, did so very unwillingly, and he built +her a new and much better cottage elsewhere. + +The wood-wife could not resist, but she never put her foot across the +threshold of the new house. Meanwhile the old hovel was swept away as +fast as possible, and by the princess's wish a pretty summer-house was +built on the spot where it had stood, and there she and her court ladies +were wont to amuse themselves on warm summer evenings to their hearts' +content. + +One evening the princess strolled out by herself into the forest. She +had been in several distinct rages; first with her court ladies, +secondly with her dressmaker, thirdly with the sky, which, in spite of +her wishes for fine weather, had become overcast with clouds. + +[Illustration] + +In this ill-humour nothing in all the beautiful green forest gave her +any satisfaction. She snarled at the birds because they sang so merrily. +The rustling of the green fir-tops in the evening breeze annoyed her: +"Why should pine-trees have needles instead of leaves?" she asked +angrily; and then she grumbled because there were no roses on the +juniper bushes. Still snarling, she wandered on, till she came to a spot +where she stood still and silent in sheer amazement. + +In an open space there was a circle of grotesque-looking stones, +strangely linked together by creeping plants and ferns of curious +growth. And as the Snarling Princess looked at them, it seemed to her +that the stones took dwarf-like shapes, and glared about them with weird +elfin faces. The princess seemed rooted to the spot. An invisible power +appeared to draw her towards the group, and to attract her by a +beautiful flower, whose calyx opened at her approach. Unable to resist +the impulse, she stepped into the circle and plucked the flower. + +No sooner had she done so than her feet took deep root in the earth, her +hair stiffened into fir-needles, and her arms became branches. She was +now firmly fixed in the centre of the group of stones, a slender, +swaying pine-tree, which creaked and croaked, and snapped and snarled +with every gust of wind, as the princess had hardly ever done in her +most ill-tempered moments. And as her limbs stiffened under their +magical transformation, the hideous figure of the wood-wife might have +been seen hovering round the charmed circle, her arms half changed into +bird's wings, and her hands into claws. And as the king's daughter +fairly turned into a pine-tree, the wood-wife took the form of an owl, +and for a moment rested triumphantly on her branches. Then with a shrill +"Tu-whit! tu-whoo!" it vanished into the forest. + +When the princess did not return to the palace, and all search after her +proved utterly vain, the poor old king fell into a state of the deepest +melancholy, and spent most of his time in the summer-house, bewailing +the mysterious loss of his only child. + +One day, many months afterwards, he wandered into the forest. A storm +was raging, of which he took no heed. But suddenly he stopped beneath a +pine-tree, and looked up--"How like my poor dear daughter's voice!" said +he; "especially when she was the least bit in the world--" He did not +like to finish the sentence, but sat down under the tree and wept +bitterly. And for every tear he shed, the pine-tree dropped a shower of +needles. For the Snarling Princess recognized her father, and heartily +lamented the pain he suffered now, and had so often suffered before on +her account. + +"Tu-whit! tu-whoo!" said a voice, from a hole beneath the pine-tree. + +"Who speaks?" said the king. + +"It is I, cousin," said the owl, hopping into the daylight, and +gradually assuming the form and features of the fairy godmother. "You +did not know me as the Three-legged Wood-wife, whom you so unjustly +sacrificed to your daughter's caprices. But I have had a hand in her +education after all! For twelve months has she croaked and creaked, +snapped and snarled, beneath the summer heat, the winter snow, and the +storms of spring and autumn. Her punishment--and yours--is over." + +As the fairy godmother spoke, the pine-tree became a princess once more, +and fell into her father's arms. + +But the wood-wife took again the shape of an owl, and the enchanted +stones became bats, and they all disappeared into the shadows of the +forest. + +And as the princess shortly afterwards married a very charming prince, +she no doubt changed her name. + +Certainly she was never more known as the Snarling Princess. + + + + +THE LITTLE PARSNIP-MAN. + +(_Freely adapted from the German._) + +WHAT PETER FOUND IN THE PAN--AN UGLY SMILE--THE WIDOW'S RECKONINGS--REST +BY RUSHLIGHT. + +[Illustration] + + +On a cold winter's evening it is very cosy to sit by a warm hearth, +where the fire crackles pleasantly, and the old saucepan, which Mother +has set on the fire, sings monotonously to itself between-whiles. + +On such a night the wind howled in the street without, beat upon the +window-panes, and rustled through the trees, which stood, tall and +leafless, in the big garden over the way. + +Little Peter did not trouble his head on the subject. He sat indoors on +a little footstool, near the fire, and close also to his mother, who was +busy cutting up parsnips for next day's dinner. + +Peter paid great attention as his mother took a well-boiled parsnip out +of the saucepan, scraped it, cut it, and laid the pieces on a clean +white dish. + +His mother's thoughts were elsewhere. She looked sad and pensive. Only +from time to time she nodded across the dish towards her little Peter, +and when he got up and came and laid his head in her lap, she gently +smoothed his fair hair from his brow, and then she smiled too. + +[Illustration] + +Peter had no idea that his mother was sad. He had got another parsnip +out of the pan, and wanted to scrape it all by himself; but he was not +very skilful, and he worked so slowly that in the end his mother had to +finish it for him. + +The next thing he did was to upset the saucepan; the parsnips fell out, +and Peter began to count them. + +All at once he gave a cry that made his mother jump. He had found a +parsnip-root that looked exactly like a little man. It had a regular +head of its own, with a long nose, its body was short, and it had two +shrivelled stringy little legs; arms it had none. + +"That's a little Parsnip-man," said his mother, when Peter showed it to +her. + +"A Parsnip-man?" muttered Peter below his breath, and he gazed +doubtfully at the odd-looking root in his hand. + +It seemed to him that the little man was smiling at him; but with a very +ugly kind of smile. + +Suddenly the stove gave such a loud crack, that Peter let the parsnip +fall out of his hands with a start. + +"What's the matter?" asked his mother, as Peter buried his face in her +arms; for he began to feel frightened. + +"The little Parsnip-man grinned so nastily at me, and such a loud noise +came out of the stove--and I let him fall!" His mother laughed at him. + +"You've been dreaming," said she. "The little man could not smile if he +tried. The Parsnip-mannikins are only roots in the day-time, you know. +It is at midnight, when you have long, long been asleep, and the church +clock strikes twelve, that they come to life. Then away they all go to +the great cave where the queen dwells in state, and here they hold high +festival. There they dance, sing, play, and eat out of golden dishes. +But as soon as the clock strikes one, all is over, and the Parsnip-men +are only roots once more. + +"But you've fallen asleep," she added. "Come, my child, and I'll put you +to bed. You are tired, are you not?" + +"Yes, I'll go to bed," said little Peter, rubbing his drowsy eyes. So +his mother took him into the bedroom and lighted the rushlight. Then she +undressed him and put him to bed. And Peter had hardly touched the +pillow before he was fast asleep. + +But the mother went back to the kitchen-table, and seated herself once +more by the light of the dimly-burning lamp. The parsnips were all cut +up long ago. She put the dish aside and began to sew. Now and then she +paused in her work to lean back in her chair, and tears welled up in her +eyes. Perhaps she remembered that the rent was due, or she may have been +reflecting that Peter's jacket was past further patching. In either case +she began to count over in her mind a certain small stock of savings +which she had laid by in a money-box, and to puzzle her poor head what +she should turn her hand to next to earn the wherewithal to buy the boy +some decent clothes. Nothing likely suggested itself, however, and with +a heavy sigh she bent once more over her work and stitched away faster +than ever. For the work she was doing had to be taken home next morning; +and there was a great deal yet to do if she hoped to get it finished in +time, and to pay her rent with the price of it. + +After sitting like this for a while, she got up. Her eyes ached, and it +was getting late. The big kitchen clock was on the stroke of twelve. She +put her sewing away in her work-basket, and carried the saucepan and the +dish of parsnips into the scullery. Then she swept up the spare roots +into a corner of the hearth, and put the little stool tidily away under +the table. + +But she could not see anything of the parsnip which Peter had let fall. +Possibly it had rolled behind the stove. + +"I shall be sure to find it in the morning, when I light the fire," she +thought. + +She put out the lamp, and stepped softly into the chamber where the +rushlight burned dimly. Then with one passing glance at the sleeping +boy, she undressed herself and prepared for bed. + +In a few moments more all her cares and troubles had vanished in +slumber. + + + + +THE LITTLE MAN IN THE YELLOW COAT--A MOUSE-RIDE AT MIDNIGHT--THE HOLE +IN THE WALL--AMONG THE PARSNIP-MEN--QUEEN MARY--THE BLUE DRESS--A +CAKE-FEAST--ONE! + +Little Peter had been asleep for a long time, when all at once he found +himself suddenly twitched by the arm. He rolled over, rubbed his eyes, +and then, to his amazement, saw the little Parsnip-man sitting by him on +the quilt. + +He did not look a bit like a parsnip now. He had on a long yellow coat, +and a little green hat on his head; and he nodded in quite a friendly +way to Peter. + +"Come along! Be quick!" he said. "We must be off. But wrap up well, for +it's cold outside." + +"Where are we going to?" asked little Peter. "Into the cave? And is +Mamma going too?" + +"No," said the little man. "She's stopping at home. But do be quick, for +the feast has begun." + +And with that he gave such a jump on to the floor that the boards fairly +creaked again, and little Peter, slipped out of bed after him. The +little Parsnip-man helped him on with his shoes and stockings, and Peter +put on the rest of his clothes himself. + +Then the Mannikin pulled out a little whistle and blew on it. +Immediately there was a rustling under the bed, and then two mice peeped +out. + +In a moment the Parsnip-man caught one, and vaulted on to its back. + +"You get on the other," he said to Peter. + +"But it isn't big enough to carry me," said Peter doubtfully. + +"Get up, I tell you!" said the little man, laughing. + +Peter did as he was told. Doubtless he had been growing smaller, for +when he was fairly astride he sat the mouse as if it had been made for +him. As to the mouse, it kept perfectly still for Peter to mount. + +"Now, sit fast!" cried the Mannikin; and Peter had hardly seized the +ears of the mouse (for want of reins), when his new steed ran away with +him under the bed. + +Then all of a sudden it became quite dark. + +"Where are we?" cried Peter, for the mouse galloped on, and Peter was +getting frightened. + +"We are in the cellar," the voice of the Parsnip-man replied at his +side. "Don't be frightened; it will be light again in a minute or two." + +Accordingly, in a few moments, Peter could see all around him. They had +emerged from the cellar, and were now in the street. The wind had +fallen, and there was a dead calm. The street-lamps were burning with a +somewhat dim light, however. + +Peter could now plainly see the form of the little Parsnip-man riding +beside him. The mice scampered on and on. + +[Illustration] + +A watchman was standing in the doorway of a house. His halberd reposed +against the wall beside him. Probably the watchman himself was reposing, +for he never moved when the mice and their riders went by. They rode to +the end of the street, and there, before an old deserted house which +Peter had often shuddered to look at in the daytime, the mice stopped. + +"Here we are!" said the Parsnip-man, jumping down from his mouse. + +Peter dismounted more leisurely, and the two mice ran off. + +It was almost pitch dark by the old house. Only one distant lamp gave a +feeble glimmer. The Parsnip-man whistled as before. By and by Peter +heard a sound like "Bst! bst!" + +He looked all round, but could see nothing. At this moment the Mannikin +caught him by the arm and pointed upwards to a hole in the wall of the +old house. Peter then perceived that something was moving higher up, and +very shortly he heard a rustling noise as if a ladder of ropes were +being let down from above. + +"Come quickly!" said a shrill, slender voice. "The chimes have sounded +once since the hour. The Queen is waiting." + +"Climb on to my shoulders, Peter," said the Parsnip-man, stooping as he +spoke. Peter did so, and held fast by the little man's neck, who climbed +nimbly up the rope-ladder to the opening in the wall above; and there +Peter got down. + +Here there stood another Parsnip-man with a little lantern in his hand, +which he turned on Peter's face, and then nodded to him in a friendly +way. After which he unhooked the rope-ladder and drew it up. + +The two Parsnip-men now took Peter between them, each holding a hand. +They went through long dark passages, and then they began to go +down-stairs. Peter counted a hundred steps, but still they went down, +down, and he could count no more. + +All at once he heard music, which sounded as if it came from a distance. +They were now at the bottom of the steps, and walking on level ground. +The further they went the louder grew the music, and at last the +Parsnip-men came to a standstill. + +The one who held the lantern threw its light upon the wall till it +disclosed a knob, on which he pressed. Then he put out his lantern, and +all was dark. But the music sounded louder than before. + +Suddenly the wall parted and moved aside, and Peter could hardly +restrain his cries of astonishment, for what he now saw was like nothing +he had ever seen before. He was looking into a great big hall. It was as +light as day. Dazzling lustres of crystal, with thousands and thousands +of wax tapers, whose flames were reflected from the mirrors suspended +round the room, hung from the roof. Strange music shook the walls, and +to the time of this music hundreds and hundreds of little Parsnip-men +twirled and danced. All of them were dressed in yellow coats and green +hats, and many of them wore long white beards. And oh, how they chirped +and smirked, and laughed and jumped about, as if they were mad! + +For a long time Peter stood bewildered. At last the little Parsnip-men +who had brought him so far led him right into the room, and the wall +closed behind them. + +"Now for the Queen!" whispered one of them. "Come along." + +They went down the side of the room, against the wall of which were +ranged chairs with grand purple coverings and gilded arms. Once or twice +Peter nearly slipped, so polished was the floor. From time to time some +little Parsnip-man in the company nodded to him; otherwise no one paid +much attention to him. + +In this way they reached the farther end of the hall, where there was a +throne, raised on a dais and covered by a canopy hung with purple. It +was something like the throne Peter once saw when his aunt took him with +her to the palace. A few steps led up to the throne, with a wonderfully +elaborate balustrade made of gold. + +The little mannikins seized his hands and led him up the steps between +them. Then they drew back the purple curtains, and displayed a grand +throne on which was seated a little girl in a snow-white dress. On her +head she wore a little gold crown, from which hung a long transparent +veil. She was resting her head on her hand, and did not look up till +Peter and the Parsnip-men were quite close to her. Then she gave a cry +of joy. + +"So you've come at last, Peter!" she cried, her eyes brightening with +delight; and as she took his hand, he saw that she was no other than his +favourite playfellow and neighbour, little Mary. + +There was a second seat beside her, and to this she drew Peter. Then she +beckoned to the Parsnip-men, and said, "You have got everything ready, +have you not?" The Parsnip-men bowed low, and hurried away. + +In a minute or two they returned, followed by about thirty mannikins +like themselves, who bore a magnificent dress which they deposited +before Peter. There was a coat of blue silk, turned up with fur, and +trimmed with precious stones. Besides this there were knee-breeches of +the same material, slashed with white and fringed with gold, white silk +stockings, and smart shoes with gold buckles. To complete the whole, +there lay on the top a cap, with a heron's plume fastened by an aigrette +of gold. + +But Peter's attention all this time had been fixed upon Mary. He fancied +she looked bigger than usual and unfamiliar in some way. + +"Take the clothes into that room," said she to the little men; "and you, +Peter," she added, "go with them and dress. Then we will go to supper." + +"But--er--does your mamma know you're here?" asked Peter. He could not +get over his amazement at the style and tone in which little Mary +issued her orders in this strange place. + +"I should think not!" laughed the little girl. "But never mind, Peter: +we shall soon be at home again. What you've got to do just now is to put +on your things." + +As if in a dream, Peter went into the room into which the clothes had +been taken, and where the little men helped him to take off his things +and dress himself in his new-finery. Some of them then brought a long +mirror, in which Peter could see himself from head to foot, and he +fairly laughed with delight at his fine appearance in his new clothes. + +Then the little men led him back to the Queen, who looked him well over, +and she also smiled complacently. + +"Did you bring your doll, Mary?" said Peter presently. + +"That's not very likely," replied she. "It would not do for a queen to +play at dolls." + +"Have you been a queen very long?" Peter inquired. + +"For several years," said Mary. + +"But you and I were playing together only yesterday," said poor Peter, +in puzzled tones. + +But Mary had turned her back to him, and was pulling a bell at the back +of her throne. + +Although the music was still going on, the clear tone of the bell which +the Queen had rung was heard above every other sound. + +The music and the dancing stopped at once. + +"Come, Peter, give me your arm," said Mary. "We're going into the +supper-room." + +They stepped down into the hall, where all the Parsnip-men had now +ranged themselves in two long rows, down the centre of which the Queen +and her companion now passed, and then the Parsnip-men closed in and +formed a long procession behind them. + +In this way they came to the other end of the hall. The large +folding-doors swung open, and Peter fancied he was looking into a large +garden. But it was only another hall in which tall foreign-looking trees +were planted, whilst many-tinted flowers of gorgeous colours and strange +shapes hung from the walls, and hither and thither among them flitted +curious birds of many hues. As in the first hall, crystal lustres with +wax tapers descended from the roof, and in the middle of the room, to +which they now advanced, was a long table covered with a white +table-cloth, and laid out with gold and silver plate of all sorts. There +were golden vases with handles, golden tankards, golden dessert-dishes +filled with splendid fruits; silver plates and goblets and +drinking-cups, and beside them stood crystal flasks. Hundreds of chairs +were placed round the table, and in every place was a little silver +knife and a plate. + +Peter could not gaze long enough. He wanted to stop every moment, but +Mary only laughed, and dragged him on. + +[Illustration] + +About the middle of the long table there was a dais raised above the +level on which the other chairs and table stood. It was covered by a +canopy of yellow silk, and under this was a table more richly laid out +than the big one, and two seats of pure gold. To this Mary led Peter, +and then said emphatically--"These are _our_ seats." + +Up they climbed, and then Mary dropped Peter's arm and sat down on one +of the seats, and he seated himself beside her on the other. + +From his present elevation Peter was well able to observe the +Parsnip-men as they passed by in procession, and took their places on +the chairs. + +When all were seated the music recommenced. Then out of a side door came +about fifty mannikins carrying large cakes on silver dishes, which they +set down on the long table, and having cut them up handed them round to +the guests. Others poured red or golden wine from the vases into the +goblets. Everybody ate and drank, and chatted and laughed +between-whiles. + +Among the golden dishes on the golden table where Peter and Mary sat, +was one which held a cake which had a particularly inviting smell. Mary +cut a piece off and put it on to Peter's golden plate. Then, from a +beautiful golden goblet, she poured ruby-coloured wine into their +crystal glasses. + +Peter ate and drank with great relish, and soon disposed of the cake and +wine. + +[Illustration] + +"I should like to have some of that beautiful fruit, too, if I may," +said he. And as he spoke Mary filled his plate with grapes, apples, and +pears. + +"Eat away, Peter!" said she, laughing till her white teeth shone through +her lips. "Don't be afraid of emptying the dish. There is plenty more +fruit if we want it." + +"I should like to take some home to Mamma," said Peter, biting into an +apple. "May I, Mary?" + +Mary nodded kindly, and handed him a golden dish full of sweetmeats, +saying, "Put as many of these into your pocket as you like." And he +filled his pockets accordingly. + +Peter felt as happy as a king. His head was quite turned. He shouted +aloud for joy, and swung his legs backwards and forwards as he sat on +his golden chair. + +"But I say, Mary," said he, laughing, "we shall go on playing together +the same as ever, sha'n't we? I shall bring my leaden soldiers, and +you'll bring your dolls again, won't you?" + +But at this moment Mary seized his arm, and whispered in a frightened +voice--"Hush, Peter, hush! Don't you hear?" + +The music had suddenly ceased, and with it all the talking and laughing +at the long table, and in the silence the sound of the church clock +could be distinctly heard. _It struck one._ + +At one stroke--the lights went out, a blast of wind blew through the +banqueting-room, and then all was as still as death. + + * * * * * + + +LEFT ALONE IN THE DARK--MOTHER--THE PARSNIP-MAN BY DAYLIGHT--THREE +POUNDS. + +Peter sat in his chair, as if petrified with terror, Mary still holding +fast by his arm. + +"Quick, quick!" she cried, breathlessly. "We must get away from here." +Then she let his arm go, and hurried away from him. + +"Wait, wait!" he cried, anxiously; "I don't know where I am. Take me +with you, Mary! I can't see my way. Mary! Mary! Mary!" + +Nobody replied. + +Peter slid down from his chair and groped his way forward till he +knocked against the corner of the table. Terror fairly overcame him, and +he cried--"Mother! Mother! Mother!" + +"What's the matter, dear?" said his mother's gentle voice. + +"I am here, Mother," cried Peter; "but I am so frightened! Mary has run +away and left me all alone in the dark hall." + +"Come, Peter, come; collect yourself," said his mother, who was +standing by the bed where poor Peter was sitting straight up with an +anxious face, down which big tears were running. + +"You're here, Peter, you know; in your own little bed," said his mother, +putting her arms round him. + +Peter began to take heart a little, and looked round him with big +wide-open eyes. + +"But how did I get here?" he asked, still stupefied with sleep. + +"You've never been anywhere else, you know," said his mother. + +"But I know the Parsnip-man took me away, and I rode on the mouse, too," +said little Peter. + +"Nonsense, nonsense; you're still dreaming. There, get up and put on +your clothes." + +"But I want the other clothes, the beautiful blue dress. These things +are so dreadfully patched and darned," said Peter, in a lamentable tone. +"And I have brought something nice for you too, Mother dear. It's in the +pockets of the blue coat." + +"You haven't got a blue coat, child," said his mother. "Come, come. Put +on your clothes and come into the warm kitchen." And she carried Peter +out into the arm-chair by the breakfast-table, and began to pour out +some coffee for him. And she put the Parsnip-man (who had been lying all +night behind the stove) into his hand. "See," she continued, "here's +your Parsnip-man, about whom you have been dreaming all this fine +nonsense." + +Peter examined it with eager eyes. It looked exactly the same as it had +done the night before. + +"But Mary was there too," he said, still doubtfully. "She is the Queen +of the Parsnip-men, you know. And she gave me cake and wine and fruit." + +"Well, we'll ask her about it next time she comes," said his mother, +laughing. + +Just then there was a knock at the door. The mother hastened to open it, +and found a messenger waiting with a letter in his hand which had +several seals on it. It was addressed to herself, and beside the address +was written, "_Three pounds enclosed._" Having given a small sum to the +messenger for his trouble, the widow broke the seals of the letter with +trembling fingers. The three pounds were duly enclosed, but no letter +accompanied the welcome money. + +Overcome with joy, the widow seized Peter, who had crept curiously to +her side, in her arms and exclaimed with delight, "Ah! you shall have a +nice blue dress, after all, my child." + +But when the boy asked, "Who has sent us all this money, Mother?" all +she could say was, "I wish I knew, my dear. But you see there is no +letter with it." + +Then Peter smiled expressively, but said nothing, for he +thought--"Mother won't believe me, I know. But who can the money have +come from, except from the little Parsnip-man?" + + + + +A CHILD'S WISHES. + +(_From the German of R. Reinick._) + + +A certain old knight had a little daughter called Gertrude; and when his +brother died, leaving an only son, he took the boy into his castle, and +treated him as his own son. The boy's name was Walter. The two children +lived together like brother and sister; they only played where they +could play together, and were of one heart and of one soul. But one day, +when Gertrude had gone out alone to pick flowers beyond the castle gate, +some gipsies came along the high-road, who stole the child and took her +away. No one knew what had become of her; the poor old father died of +grief, and Walter wept long days and nights for his Gertrude. + +At last there came a warm spring day, when the trees began to bud, and +Walter went out into the wood. There, in a beautiful green spot, a brook +bubbled under the trees, where he had often sat with Gertrude, floating +little boats of nutshells on the stream. He sat down there now, cut +himself a hazel stick for a hobby-horse, and as he did so he said to +himself-- + +"Ah! if I were but a grown-up knight, as tall and stately as those who +used to come to my uncle's castle, I would ride out into the wide world +and look for Gertrude!" + +Meanwhile, he heard something screaming near him, and when he looked up +he saw a raven, which was stuck so fast between two branches of a tree +that it could not move, whilst a snake was gliding towards it to devour +it. Walter hastily seized his stick, beat the snake to death, and set +the raven free. + +"A thousand thanks, my dear child!" said the raven, who had flown up +into a tree, from which he spoke--"a thousand thanks! And now, since you +have saved my life, wish for whatever you like, and it shall be granted +immediately. A year hence we will speak of this again." + +When Walter heard this, he saw at once that the raven was an enchanted +bird, and exclaimed with joy-- + +"I should like to be a noble knight with a helmet and a shield, a +charger and a sword!" + +All happened just as he wished. In an instant he was a tall, stately +knight; his shield stood near him, and his hobby-horse became a proud +charger, which, to show that it was no ghost, but a real horse of flesh +and blood, began then and there to drink out of the stream. + +At first, Walter could not think what had happened to him, but stood as +if he were in a dream. Soon, however, a new life seemed to wake within +him; he swung himself on to his horse with all the energy of youth, and +rode far out into the land to look for little Gertrude. + +Like other knights, he met with many adventures on his way. There was +always something to contend with, either wild beasts or else knights, +who, like himself, roved about the country delighting to find any one +with whom they could do battle. On every occasion, however, Walter came +off conqueror, for he was far more valiant than any of his opponents. + +At last, one day he came within sight of a mountain, on which stood a +high castle belonging to a certain queen. As he reached the summit, he +saw from afar a little maiden, who sat playing with her doll before the +castle gate, and when he drew nearer he found that it was his little +Gertrude. Then he put spurs to his horse and shouted joyfully-- + +"Good-day, dear Gertrude!" But the child knew him not. As he drew +nearer, he called again: "It is I indeed!--it is Cousin Walter!" but the +child believed him not. And when he sprang from his horse to kiss her, +and his armour, sword, and spurs rattled and clashed as he did so, the +child was afraid that this strange man would hurt her, and she ran away +back into the castle. + +Poor Walter was very much troubled. He went in, however, and presented +himself to the queen, who received him very graciously. He told her all +that had happened, and learnt from her that she had bought Gertrude from +the gipsies. But when he begged that she would let him take his dear +little cousin away with him, she consented only on condition that the +child herself should be willing, for Gertrude had become very dear to +the old queen. So she called the little maid in, and said-- + +"Now look here, my child: this really is your Cousin Walter. Do you no +longer love him, and will you not go away with him?" + +The child looked at the knight from head to foot, and then said in a +troubled voice-- + +"Since you both declare that it is Walter, I suppose I must believe it. +Ah! if only he were still as little as he was a year ago, I would go +into the wide world with him, wherever he wanted; but now, I never can. +It would be no good, whilst he is like that. If I wanted to play +hide-and-seek, as we used to do, his armour would shine, and his spurs +rattle, and I should know where he was directly. If I wanted to go to +school with him, he could not sit by me on the little benches at the +little tables. Then what could a poor child like me do for such a +stately knight? If I tried to work for him, I should burn my little +hands; if I tried to make his clothes, I should prick my little fingers; +and if I ran races with him, I should hurt my little feet. If I were a +grown-up princess, indeed, it would be a different thing." + +Walter could not but feel that what Gertrude said was true. So he took +leave of them both, mounted his horse, and rode away; but the queen and +Gertrude watched him from the battlements of the castle. + +He had not ridden many steps when a voice from a tree called "Walter! +Walter!" and when he looked up, there was the raven, who said-- + +"A year has passed since you wished to be a knight. If you have another +wish, speak, and it shall be granted; but observe, what you wished +before will then be at an end." + +To these last words Walter paid no attention. The raven had no sooner +said that he might have another wish than he interrupted it, exclaiming: +"Then I wish Gertrude to be a grown-up princess!" + +But even as he spoke he himself became a child again, and his horse a +hobby-horse, just as they had been a year ago. But when he looked up to +the battlements, there stood by the queen a wonderfully beautiful +princess, tall and slim and stately; and this was--his Gertrude! Then +the boy, taking his hobby-horse, went back up to the castle steps, and +wept bitterly. But the queen was sorry for him, took him in, and tried +to comfort him. + +And now there was another trouble. Dearly as the Princess Gertrude and +the boy Walter loved each other, they were not so happy as they should +have been. If Walter said to her, "Come, Gertrude, and we'll run races, +and jump over the ditches," she would answer, "Oh! that would never do +for a princess; what would people say?" + +If Walter said, "Come and play hide-and-seek," Gertrude would answer +again, "Oh! but that would never do for a princess; I should leave my +train hanging on the thorns, and my coronet would be tumbling off my +head." + +Then if Gertrude asked Walter to bring in some venison for the table, +the boy would bring her a mouse instead; and if a bull or a mad dog came +after them, Gertrude must snatch Walter up in her arms, and run off with +him, for she was so much bigger than he, and could run a great deal +quicker. Meanwhile he remained in the castle, and the boy became very +dear to the old queen. + +Another year passed by, and one morning Gertrude sat under a tree in the +garden with her embroidery, whilst Walter played at her feet. Then, as +before, a voice called out of the tree, "Walter! Walter!" And when the +boy looked up, the raven was sitting on a branch, who said: "Now once +more you may wish, and it shall be granted; but this is the last time, +therefore think it well over." + +But Walter did not think long before he answered: "Ah! let us both be +children all our lives long." + +And as he wished so it happened. They both became children as before, +played together more happily than ever, and were of one heart and of one +soul. + +But when another year had passed by, and the children sat plucking +flowers and singing together in the garden, an angel flew down from +heaven, who took them both in his arms and carried them away--away to +the celestial gardens of Paradise, where they are yet together, +gathering the flowers that never fade, and singing songs so wondrously +beautiful, that even the blessed angels hear with joy. + + + + +WAR AND THE DEAD. + +A DRAMATIC DIALOGUE. + +(_From the French of Jean Mace._) + + +Dramatis Personae. + +Peace. +War. +A French Grenadier. +A German Hussar. +A Scotch Highlander. +A Cossack. +A Russian Peasant Woman. +A French Peasant Woman. +A German Peasant Woman. +An English Peasant Woman. + + +Soldiers _are lying on the ground._ Peace _is seated +at the back, leaning her elbow on one knee, her head resting on her +hand_. + +_Enter_ War. + + +War. To-day is the 18th of June, the anniversary of the battle +of Waterloo, the day of a wrath which still mutters, and of a hatred yet +unappeased. Let us employ it in re-animating this torpid century, which +succumbs to the coward sweetness of an inglorious peace. After forty +years of forced repose brighter days seemed at last to have returned to +me. Twice did I unfurl the old colours in the breeze; twice I made +hearts beat as of old at the magic din of battles; and twice that +hateful Peace, rising suddenly before me, snatched the yet rusty sword +from my hands. + +Up! up! O heroes of great battles! you whom twenty-five years of warfare +did not satiate: rise from your graves and shame your degenerate +successors. Up! up! Bid some remember that they have a revenge to take, +and tell others that they are not yet enough avenged. + +Peace _rises_. + +Peace. What do you want here, relentless War? Dispute the world +of the living with me if you will, but at least respect the peace of the +grave. + +War. I have a right to summon the Dead when it is in the name +of their country. + +Peace. The Dead are with God; they have but one +country among them. + +War. You may dispense with set speeches, most eloquent Peace, +for I pay no attention to them. I go forward, and leave talk to +chatterers. The world belongs to the brave. + +Peace. The world belongs to those who are in the right. Since, +however, you will not listen to me, you shall hear the Dead themselves, +and see if they agree with you. (_Turns to the_ Dead.) Arise, +my children; come and confound those who wish to fight with the bones of +the departed. + +_The_ Dead _rise_. + +Grenadier. I have slept a long time since Austerlitz. Who are +you, comrades? + +Hussar. I come from the battle-field of Leipsic, where the +great German race broke the yoke which your Emperor had laid upon it. + +Grenadier. You were left upon the field? + +Hussar. I am proud to say so. + +Grenadier. And you are right, old fellow; every man owes +himself to his country. We others have done just the same. If you had +let us alone in '92 we should not have come to you. + +Cossack. I was killed under the walls of Paris, where great +Russia went to return the insult she had received at Moscow. + +Highlander. I fell at Waterloo, avenging the great English +people for the threats of the camp at Boulogne. I drowned in my blood +the last effort of your Imperial Eagle. + +Grenadier. Well! we are well matched. My blood reddened the +plain of Austerlitz, where the great French nation was avenged on +Brunswick and Souwaroff. We have all perished, buried in a triumph. We +can shake hands upon it. + +Cossack. Brave men are equals, in whatever dress. Let us shake +hands. + +Hussar. We have all died for our country. Let us be brothers. + +Highlander. Let us be brothers. The hatreds of earth do not +extend beyond the grave. + +[_They join hands._ + +Grenadier. And now Peace is proclaimed, let us tell each other +what we used to do before we became warriors. + +Cossack. I cultivated a piece of ground in the steppes and took +care of my old mother. + +Highlander. I brought up my daughter by farming a piece of +ground which I had cleared on my native heath. + +Hussar. I lived with my wife on the piece of land which we +cultivated. + +Grenadier. I tilled a piece of ground also, and supported my +sister. It seems that we were all four of the same way of life. How did +we come to kill one another? + +Cossack. The Czar spoke, and I marched. + +Highlander. Parliament voted for war, and I marched. + +Hussar. Our princes cried, "To arms!" and I marched. + +Grenadier. As for me, my comrades cried, "To arms!" and I put +on my best sabots. But after all, what have we against each other? Where +was the quarrel between our respective ploughshares? (_To the_ +Hussar.) You, for instance, who began, what did you come into +my country for? + +Hussar. We came to destroy brigands. + +Grenadier. Brigands! That is to say, my unfortunate self, and +other labourers like you and me. After this, well might we be made to +sing about + +"Vile blood soaking our furrows!" + +I see now this "vile blood" was yours, my friend, and that of brave men +like you. Cursed be those who forced us to fight together! + +Hussar. Cursed be the contrivers of War! + +War (_advancing_). Shame on you, degraded warriors! Your very +wives would disown you. (_The_ Dead _gaze fixedly._) You are +silent! What have you to answer? + +Peace. The Dead do not reply. (_Points with her hand to the +stage entrance._) These shall answer for them. + +_Enter_ Four Veiled Women. + +[_One of the_ Veiled Women _slowly advances. When in front of +the stage she lifts her veil, and is seen by the audience. The others +afterwards do the same._ + +First Woman. Oh, my brother! where are you now? If you are ill, +who nurses you? If you are wounded, who watches over you? If you are a +prisoner, who comforts you? If you are dead--Alas! every night I go to +rest weeping, because I have had no news of you; and every morning I +awake dreading to receive it. We were so happy! We lived so comfortably +together! and now I sit at our little table, with your empty place +before me, and cannot eat for looking at it. Yet I made you promise to +come back when we said good-bye. Ah! unkind! Why are you so long in +fulfilling your promise? + +[_She closes her veil and crosses to one side of the stage. The others +afterwards do the same._ + +Grenadier. It is my sister, friends. She is repeating the words +of our last adieu. + +Second Woman. Oh, my father! why have you left your child? +Alas! when you went away I played--poor fool!--with your brilliant +uniform. (Dark livery of death, would that I had never seen thee!) I +said I should be proud of you when you came back to me, having killed a +great many of your enemies. Child that I was to speak of killing, not +knowing what it meant! And now, when will you return? What have they +done with you, dear Father? What has become of that revered head, which +my lips never approached but with respect? Perhaps at this very moment +it is dragged, all stained and livid, through the dust or in the mud. +Oh, God! if my prayers may still avail for him, withdraw him +speedily from those frightful conflicts, where every blow falls upon a +father, a son, a brother, or a husband. Pity the many tears that flow +for every drop of blood! + +Highlander. It is my daughter! I yet hear the last farewell +her innocent mouth sent after me. + +Third Woman. Oh, my beloved! where can I go to look for you? +Little did we think, when we vowed before God never in this +life to forsake each other, that War would come and carry you away as a +leaf is driven before the wind. Perhaps at this moment you are stretched +upon an armful of bloody straw, and other hands than mine dress your +glorious wounds. Ah, miserable me! of what does my tender jealousy +complain? Who knows if you are not by this time safe from wounds for +ever? Oh, my God! if Thou hast taken him, take me also. I +promised to follow him when I received his parting kiss. + +Hussar. It is my wife beyond a doubt! I recognize the words her +sweet voice murmured that very day in my ear. + +Fourth Woman. I said, "Go, and bear yourself like a man." He +went, and he has not returned. Ah, merciless tigers! we rear our +children with fear and weeping. We pass whole nights bent over their +little cradles, and when we have made men of them you come and take them +away from us that you may send them to death. And we, miserable women! +must encourage them to die if we would not have them dishonoured. Poor +dear boy! so strong! so handsome! so good to his mother! Ah! if there be +a God of vengeance, surely the cries of desolate mothers will +allow no sleep to those who provoke such massacres. They will haunt them +to the grave, and rise behind them to the foot of that throne where the +great Judge of all awaits them. + +[_She buries her face in her hands._ + +Cossack. It is my mother! I recognize her last words. (_He +springs towards her_.) It is I, Mother, it is I! (_She raises her +head_.) What do I see? A stranger! and it is an Englishwoman! + +Highlander (_raising the daughter's veil_). Good heavens! She +is a German. + +Hussar (_raising the wife's veil_). It is not she! It is a +Frenchwoman. + +Grenadier (_raising the sister's veil_). She is a Russian! It +is not for us that they are weeping; perhaps it is for some of those +whom we have killed. How could we be so deceived? + +Peace (_advancing_). There are sisters, wives, daughters, and +mothers everywhere, my children, and Nature has but one language in all +countries. (_To WAR_.) As for you, go and sound your trumpet in +barracks and drinking-houses, but invoke the Dead no more, and do not +reckon upon women. + + +Note.--The battle of Austerlitz was fought December 2, 1805. +The battle of Leipsic, August 16-19, 1813. The Allies took Paris March +30, 1814. + + + + +_Richard Clay & Sons, Limited, London & Bungay._ + +_The present Series of Mrs. Ewing's Works is the only authorised, +complete, and uniform Edition published._ + +_It will consist of 18 volumes, Small Crown 8vo, at 2s. 6d. per vol., +issued, as far as possible, in chronological order, and these will +appear at the rate of two volumes every two months, so that the Series +will be completed within 18 months. The device of the cover was +specially designed by a Friend of Mrs. Ewing._ + +_The following is a list of the books included in the Series--_ + +1. MELCHIOR'S DREAM, AND OTHER TALES. + +2. MRS. OVERTHEWAY'S REMEMBRANCES. + +3. OLD-FASHIONED FAIRY TALES. + +4. A FLAT IRON FOR A FARTHING. + +5. THE BROWNIES, AND OTHER TALES. + +6. SIX TO SIXTEEN. + +7. LOB LIE-BY-THE-FIRE, AND OTHER TALES. + +8. JAN OF THE WINDMILL. + +9. VERSES FOR CHILDREN, AND SONGS. + +10. THE PEACE EGG--A CHRISTMAS MUMMING PLAY--HINTS FOR PRIVATE +THEATRICALS, &c. + +11. A GREAT EMERGENCY, AND OTHER TALES. + +12. BROTHERS OF PITY, AND OTHER TALES OF BEASTS AND MEN. + +13. WE AND THE WORLD, Part I. + +14. WE AND THE WORLD, Part II. + +15. JACKANAPES--DADDY DARWIN'S DOVECOTE--THE STORY OF A SHORT LIFE. + +16. MARY'S MEADOW, AND OTHER TALES OF FIELDS AND FLOWERS. + +17. MISCELLANEA, including The Mystery of the Bloody Hand--Wonder +Stories--Tales of the Khoja, and other translations. + +18. JULIANA HORATIA EWING AND HER BOOKS, with a selection from +Mrs. Ewing's Letters. + +S.P.C.K., Northumberland Avenue, London, W.C. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Miscellanea, by Juliana Horatia Ewing + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MISCELLANEA *** + +***** This file should be named 16347.txt or 16347.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/3/4/16347/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Paul Ereaut and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +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 + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + +*** END: FULL LICENSE *** + diff --git a/16347.zip b/16347.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e6080dd --- /dev/null +++ b/16347.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..661c6aa --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #16347 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/16347) |
