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diff --git a/17034-8.txt b/17034-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..47a11e9 --- /dev/null +++ b/17034-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9909 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, English Fairy Tales, by Flora Annie Steel, +Illustrated by Arthur Rackham + + +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: English Fairy Tales + + +Author: Flora Annie Steel + + + +Release Date: November 9, 2005 [eBook #17034] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ENGLISH FAIRY TALES*** + + +E-text prepared by Suzanne Shell, Janet Blenkinship, and the Project +Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net/) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 17034-h.htm or 17034-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/7/0/3/17034/17034-h/17034-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/7/0/3/17034/17034-h.zip) + + + + + +ENGLISH FAIRY-TALES + +Retold by + +FLORA ANNIE STEEL + +Illustrated by Arthur Rackham + +First published by Macmillan & Co. 1918 + + + + + + + +[Illustration: Mr. and Mrs. Vinegar at home (page 190).] + + + + + +CONTENTS + + + ST. GEORGE OF MERRIE ENGLAND + + THE STORY OF THE THREE BEARS + + TOM-TIT-TOT + + THE GOLDEN SNUFF-BOX + + TATTERCOATS + + THE THREE FEATHERS + + LAZY JACK + + JACK THE GIANT-KILLER + + THE THREE SILLIES + + THE GOLDEN BALL + + THE TWO SISTERS + + THE LAIDLY WORM + + TITTY MOUSE AND TATTY MOUSE + + JACK AND THE BEANSTALK + + THE BLACK BULL OF NORROWAY + + CATSKIN + + THE THREE LITTLE PIGS + + NIX NAUGHT NOTHING + + MR. AND MRS. VINEGAR + + THE TRUE HISTORY OF SIR THOMAS THUMB + + HENNY-PENNY + + THE THREE HEADS OF THE WELL + + MR. FOX + + DICK WHITTINGTON AND HIS CAT + + THE OLD WOMAN AND HER PIG + + THE WEE BANNOCK + + HOW JACK WENT OUT TO SEEK HIS FORTUNE + + THE BOGEY-BEAST + + LITTLE RED RIDING-HOOD + + CHILDE ROWLAND + + THE WISE MEN OF GOTHAM + + CAPORUSHES + + THE BABES IN THE WOOD + + THE RED ETTIN + + THE FISH AND THE RING + + LAWKAMERCYME + + MASTER OF ALL MASTERS + + MOLLY WHUPPIE AND THE DOUBLE-FACED GIANT + + THE ASS, THE TABLE, AND THE STICK + + THE WELL OF THE WORLD'S END + + THE ROSE TREE + + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + + IN COLOUR + + + Mr. and Mrs. Vinegar at home + + "Somebody has been at my porridge, and has eaten it all up!" + + Tattercoats dancing while the gooseherd pipes + + The giant Cormoran was the terror of all the country-side + + Taking the keys of the castle, Jack unlocked all the doors + + The giant Galligantua and the wicked old magician transform the + duke's daughter into a white hind + + "Tree of mine! O Tree of mine! Have you seen my naughty little + maid?" + + "Fee-fi-fo-fum, I smell the blood of an Englishman" + + She went along, and went along, and went along + + And that is the story of Mr. and Mrs. Vinegar + + They thanked her and said good-bye, and she went on her journey + + Many's the beating he had from the broomstick or the ladle + + When Puss saw the rats and mice she didn't wait to be told + + "Well!" she chuckled, "I am in luck!" + + She sat down and plaited herself an overall of rushes and a cap + to match + + The fisherman and his wife had no children, and they were just + longing for a baby + + + IN TEXT + + + Headpiece--St. George of Merrie England + + When she came to St. George she started and laid her hand on + her heart + + "Somebody has been lying in my bed,--and here she is!" + + "What is that you are singing, my good woman?" + + A small, little, black Thing with a long tail + + Away That flew into the dark, and she never saw it no more + + They brought the Castle of the golden pillars + + Jack found it hard to hoist the donkey on his shoulders + + "Odds splutter hur nails!" cried the giant, not to be outdone. + "Hur can do that hurself!" + + "Ah! Cousin Jack! Kind cousin Jack! This is heavy news indeed" + + Seated on a huge block of timber near the entrance to a dark + cave + + On his way ... to be revenged + + The country folk flying before him like chaff before the wind + + Headpiece--The Three Sillies + + Headpiece--The Golden Ball + + He heard the bogles striving under the bed + + Headpiece--The Laidly Worm + + Tatty sat down and wept + + As he spoke he drew out of his pocket five beans + + Jack seized the axe and gave a great chop at the beanstalk + + So he huffed and he puffed and he blew the house in + + So he huffed and he puffed and he blew the house in + + Well! he huffed and he puffed ... but he could _not_ + blow the house down + + At last he flew into a violent rage and flung his stick at the + bird + + A spider one day attacked him + + "I will go first and you come after, Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, + Ducky-daddles, Goosey-poosey, and Turkey-lurkey" + + So she escaped + + The thorns closed in around her so that she was all scratched + and torn + + Dick finds that the streets of London are not paved with gold + + Dick Whittington hears Bow Bells + + The old woman and her pig + + Headpiece--How Jack went out to seek his Fortune + + They both met together upon Nottingham bridge + + "A vengeance on her!" said they. "We did not make our hedge + high enough" + + He took out the cheeses and rolled them down the hill + + And they left the eel to drown + + The hare ran on along the country way + + A courtier came riding by, and he did ask what they were + seeking + + Headpiece--Lawkamercyme + + A funny-looking old gentleman engaged her and took her home + + White-faced simminy has got a spark of hot cockalorum on its + tail + + + + +[Illustration: Headpiece--St. George of Merrie England] + + + + +ST. GEORGE OF MERRIE ENGLAND + + +In the darksome depths of a thick forest lived Kalyb the fell +enchantress. Terrible were her deeds, and few there were who had the +hardihood to sound the brazen trumpet which hung over the iron gate that +barred the way to the Abode of Witchcraft. Terrible were the deeds of +Kalyb; but above all things she delighted in carrying off innocent +new-born babes, and putting them to death. + +And this, doubtless, she meant to be the fate of the infant son of the +Earl of Coventry, who long long years ago was Lord High Steward of +England. Certain it is that the babe's father being absent, and his +mother dying at his birth, the wicked Kalyb, with spells and charms, +managed to steal the child from his careless nurses. + +But the babe was marked from the first for doughty deeds; for on his +breast was pictured the living image of a dragon, on his right hand was +a blood-red cross, and on his left leg showed the golden garter. + +And these signs so affected Kalyb, the fell enchantress, that she stayed +her hand; and the child growing daily in beauty and stature, he became +to her as the apple of her eye. Now, when twice seven years had passed +the boy began to thirst for honourable adventures, though the wicked +enchantress wished to keep him as her own. + +But he, seeking glory, utterly disdained so wicked a creature; thus she +sought to bribe him. And one day, taking him by the hand, she led him to +a brazen castle and showed him six brave knights, prisoners therein. +Then said she: + +"Lo! These be the six champions of Christendom. Thou shalt be the +seventh and thy name shall be St. George of Merrie England if thou wilt +stay with me." + +But he would not. + +Then she led him into a magnificent stable where stood seven of the most +beautiful steeds ever seen. "Six of these," said she, "belong to the six +Champions. The seventh and the best, the swiftest and the most powerful +in the world, whose name is Bayard, will I bestow on thee, if thou wilt +stay with me." + +But he would not. + +Then she took him to the armoury, and with her own hand buckled on a +corselet of purest steel, and laced on a helmet inlaid with gold. Then, +taking a mighty falchion, she gave it into his hand, and said: "This +armour which none can pierce, this sword called Ascalon, which will hew +in sunder all it touches, are thine; surely now thou wilt stop with me?" + +But he would not. + +Then she bribed him with her own magic wand, thus giving him power over +all things in that enchanted land, saying: + +"Surely now wilt thou remain here?" + +But he, taking the wand, struck with it a mighty rock that stood by; and +lo! it opened, and laid in view a wide cave garnished by the bodies of a +vast number of innocent new-born infants whom the wicked enchantress had +murdered. + +Thus, using her power, he bade the sorceress lead the way into the place +of horror, and when she had entered, he raised the magic wand yet again, +and smote the rock; and lo! it closed for ever, and the sorceress was +left to bellow forth her lamentable complaints to senseless stones. + +Thus was St. George freed from the enchanted land, and taking with him +the six other champions of Christendom on their steeds, he mounted +Bayard and rode to the city of Coventry. + +Here for nine months they abode, exercising themselves in all feats of +arms. So when spring returned they set forth, as knights errant, to seek +for foreign adventure. + +And for thirty days and thirty nights they rode on, until, at the +beginning of a new month, they came to a great wide plain. Now in the +centre of this plain, where seven several ways met, there stood a great +brazen pillar, and here, with high heart and courage, they bade each +other farewell, and each took a separate road. + +Hence, St. George, on his charger Bayard, rode till he reached the +seashore where lay a good ship bound for the land of Egypt. Taking +passage in her, after long journeying he arrived in that land when the +silent wings of night were outspread, and darkness brooded on all +things. Here, coming to a poor hermitage, he begged a night's lodging, +on which the hermit replied: + +"Sir Knight of Merrie England--for I see her arms graven on thy +breastplate--thou hast come hither in an ill time, when those alive are +scarcely able to bury the dead by reason of the cruel destruction waged +by a terrible dragon, who ranges up and down the country by day and by +night. If he have not an innocent maiden to devour each day, he sends a +mortal plague amongst the people. And this has not ceased for twenty and +four years, so that there is left throughout the land but one maiden, +the beautiful Sābia, daughter to the King. And to-morrow must she die, +unless some brave knight will slay the monster. To such will the King +give his daughter in marriage, and the crown of Egypt in due time." + +"For crowns I care not," said St. George boldly, "but the beauteous +maiden shall not die. I will slay the monster." + +So, rising at dawn of day, he buckled on his armour, laced his helmet, +and with the falchion Ascalon in his hand, bestrode Bayard, and rode +into the Valley of the Dragon. Now on the way he met a procession of old +women weeping and wailing, and in their midst the most beauteous damsel +he had ever seen. Moved by compassion he dismounted, and bowing low +before the lady entreated her to return to her father's palace, since he +was about to kill the dreaded dragon. Whereupon the beautiful Sābia, +thanking him with smiles and tears, did as he requested, and he, +re-mounting, rode on his emprise. + +Now, no sooner did the dragon catch sight of the brave Knight than its +leathern throat sent out a sound more terrible than thunder, and +weltering from its hideous den, it spread its burning wings and prepared +to assail its foe. + +Its size and appearance might well have made the stoutest heart tremble. +From shoulder to tail ran full forty feet, its body was covered with +silver scales, its belly was as gold, and through its flaming wings the +blood ran thick and red. + +So fierce was its onset, that at the very first encounter the Knight was +nigh felled to the ground; but recovering himself he gave the dragon +such a thrust with his spear that the latter shivered to a thousand +pieces; whereupon the furious monster smote him so violently with its +tail that both horse and rider were overthrown. + +Now, by great good chance, St. George was flung under the shade of a +flowering orange tree, whose fragrance hath this virtue in it, that no +poisonous beast dare come within the compass of its branches. So there +the valiant knight had time to recover his senses, until with eager +courage he rose, and rushing to the combat, smote the burning dragon on +his burnished belly with his trusty sword Ascalon; and thereinafter +spouted out such black venom, as, falling on the armour of the Knight, +burst it in twain. And ill might it have fared with St. George of Merrie +England but for the orange tree, which once again gave him shelter under +its branches, where, seeing the issue of the fight was in the Hands of +the Most High, he knelt and prayed that such strength of body should be +given him as would enable him to prevail. Then with a bold and +courageous heart, he advanced again, and smote the fiery dragon under +one of his flaming wings, so that the weapon pierced the heart, and all +the grass around turned crimson with the blood that flowed from the +dying monster. So St. George of England cut off the dreadful head, and +hanging it on a truncheon made of the spear which at the beginning of +the combat had shivered against the beast's scaly back, he mounted his +steed Bayard, and proceeded to the palace of the King. + +Now the King's name was Ptolemy, and when he saw that the dreaded dragon +was indeed slain, he gave orders for the city to be decorated. And he +sent a golden chariot with wheels of ebony and cushions of silk to bring +St. George to the palace, and commanded a hundred nobles dressed in +crimson velvet, and mounted on milk-white steeds richly caparisoned, to +escort him thither with all honour, while musicians walked before and +after, filling the air with sweetest sounds. + +Now the beautiful Sābia herself washed and dressed the weary Knight's +wounds, and gave him in sign of betrothal a diamond ring of purest +water. Then, after he had been invested by the King with the golden +spurs of knighthood and had been magnificently feasted, he retired to +rest his weariness, while the beautiful Sābia from her balcony lulled +him to sleep with her golden lute. + +So all seemed happiness; but alas! dark misfortune was at hand. + +Almidor, the black King of Morocco, who had long wooed the Princess +Sābia in vain, without having the courage to defend her, seeing that the +maiden had given her whole heart to her champion, resolved to compass +his destruction. + +So, going to King Ptolemy, he told him--what was perchance true--namely, +that the beauteous Sābia had promised St. George to become Christian, +and follow him to England. Now the thought of this so enraged the King +that, forgetting his debt of honour, he determined on an act of basest +treachery. + +Telling St. George that his love and loyalty needed further trial, he +entrusted him with a message to the King of Persia, and forbade him +either to take with him his horse Bayard or his sword Ascalon; nor would +he even allow him to say farewell to his beloved Sābia. + +St. George then set forth sorrowfully, and surmounting many dangers, +reached the Court of the King of Persia in safety; but what was his +anger to find that the secret missive he bore contained nothing but an +earnest request to put the bearer of it to death. But he was helpless, +and when sentence had been passed upon him, he was thrown into a loathly +dungeon, clothed in base and servile weeds, and his arms strongly +fettered up to iron bolts, while the roars of the two hungry lions who +were to devour him ere long, deafened his ears. Now his rage and fury at +this black treachery was such that it gave him strength, and with mighty +effort he drew the staples that held his fetters; so being part free he +tore his long locks of amber-coloured hair from his head and wound them +round his arms instead of gauntlets. So prepared he rushed on the lions +when they were let loose upon him, and thrusting his arms down their +throats choked them, and thereinafter tearing out their very hearts, +held them up in triumph to the gaolers who stood by trembling with fear. + +After this the King of Persia gave up the hopes of putting St. George to +death, and, doubling the bars of the dungeon, left him to languish +therein. And there the unhappy Knight remained for seven long years, his +thoughts full of his lost Princess; his only companions rats and mice +and creeping worms, his only food and drink bread made of the coarsest +bran and dirty water. + +At last one day, in a dark corner of his dungeon, he found one of the +iron staples he had drawn in his rage and fury. It was half consumed +with rust, yet it was sufficient in his hands to open a passage through +the walls of his cell into the King's garden. It was the time of night +when all things are silent; but St. George, listening, heard the voices +of grooms in the stables; which, entering, he found two grooms +furnishing forth a horse against some business. Whereupon, taking the +staple with which he had redeemed himself from prison, he slew the +grooms, and mounting the palfrey rode boldly to the city gates, where he +told the watchman at the Bronze Tower that St. George having escaped +from the dungeon, he was in hot pursuit of him. Whereupon the gates were +thrown open, and St. George, clapping spurs to his horse, found himself +safe from pursuit before the first red beams of the sun shot up into the +sky. + +Now, ere long, being most famished with hunger, he saw a tower set on a +high cliff, and riding thitherward determined to ask for food. But as he +neared the castle he saw a beauteous damsel in a blue and gold robe +seated disconsolate at a window. Whereupon, dismounting, he called aloud +to her: + +"Lady! If thou hast sorrow of thine own, succour one also in distress, +and give me, a Christian Knight, now almost famished, one meal's meat." +To which she replied quickly: + +"Sir Knight! Fly quickly as thou canst, for my lord is a mighty giant, a +follower of Mahomed, who hath sworn to destroy all Christians." + +Hearing this St. George laughed loud and long. "Go tell him then, fair +dame," he cried, "that a Christian Knight waits at his door, and will +either satisfy his wants within his castle or slay the owner thereof." + +Now the giant no sooner heard this valiant challenge than he rushed +forth to the combat, armed with a hugeous crowbar of iron. He was a +monstrous giant, deformed, with a huge head, bristled like any boar's, +with hot, glaring eyes and a mouth equalling a tiger's. At first sight +of him St. George gave himself up for lost, not so much for fear, but +for hunger and faintness of body. Still, commending himself to the Most +High, he also rushed to the combat with such poor arms as he had, and +with many a regret for the loss of his magic sword Ascalon. So they +fought till noon, when, just as the champion's strength was nigh +finished, the giant stumbled on the root of a tree, and St. George, +taking his chance, ran him through the mid-rib, so that he gasped and +died. + +After which St. George entered the tower; whereat the beautiful lady, +freed from her terrible lord, set before him all manner of delicacies +and pure wine with which he sufficed his hunger, rested his weary body, +and refreshed his horse. + +So, leaving the tower in the hands of the grateful lady, he went on his +way, coming ere long to the Enchanted Garden of the necromancer +Ormadine, where, embedded in the living rock, he saw a magic sword, the +like of which for beauty he had never seen, the belt being beset with +jaspers and sapphire stones, while the pommel was a globe of the purest +silver chased in gold with these verses: + + My magic will remain most firmly bound + Till that a knight from the far north be found + To pull this sword from out its bed of stone. + Lo! when he comes wise Ormadine must fall. + Farewell, my magic power, my spell, my all. + +Seeing this St. George put his hand to the hilt, thinking to essay +pulling it out by strength; but lo! he drew it out with as much ease as +though it had hung by a thread of untwisted silk. And immediately every +door in the enchanted garden flew open, and the magician Ormadine +appeared, his hair standing on end; and he, after kissing the hand of +the champion, led him to a cave where a young man wrapped in a sheet of +gold lay sleeping, lulled by the songs of four beautiful maidens. + +"The Knight whom thou seest here!" said the necromancer in a hollow +voice, "is none other than thy brother-in-arms, the Christian Champion +St. David of Wales. He also attempted to draw my sword but failed. Him +hast thou delivered from my enchantments since they come to an end." + +Now, as he spoke, came such a rattling of the skies, such a lumbering of +the earth as never was, and in the twinkling of an eye the Enchanted +Garden and all in it vanished from view, leaving the Champion of Wales, +roused from his seven years' sleep, giving thanks to St. George, who +greeted his ancient comrade heartily. + +After this St. George of Merrie England travelled far and travelled +fast, with many adventures by the way, to Egypt where he had left his +beloved Princess Sābia. But, learning to his great grief and horror from +the same hermit he had met on first landing, that, despite her denials, +her father, King Ptolemy, had consented to Almidor the black King of +Morocco carrying her off as one of his many wives, he turned his steps +towards Tripoli, the capital of Morocco; for he was determined at all +costs to gain a sight of the dear Princess from whom he had been so +cruelly rent. + +To this end he borrowed an old cloak of the hermit, and, disguised as a +beggar, gained admittance to the gate of the Women's Palace, where were +gathered together on their knees many others, poor, frail, infirm. + +And when he asked them wherefore they knelt, they answered: + +"Because good Queen Sābia succours us that we may pray for the safety of +St. George of England, to whom she gave her heart." + +Now when St. George heard this his own heart was like to break for very +joy, and he could scarce keep on his knees when, lovely as ever, but +with her face pale and sad and wan from long distress, the Princess +Sābia appeared clothed in deep mourning. + +In silence she handed an alms to each beggar in turn; but when she came +to St. George she started and laid her hand on her heart. Then she said +softly: + +"Rise up, Sir Beggar! Thou art too like one who rescued me from death, +for it to be meet for thee to kneel before me!" + +Then St. George rising, and bowing low, said quietly: "Peerless lady! +Lo! I am that very knight to whom thou did'st condescend to give this." + +And with this he slipped the diamond ring she had given him on her +finger. But she looked not at it, but at him, with love in her eyes. + +Then he told her of her father's base treachery and Almidor's part in +it, so that her anger grew hot and she cried: + +"Waste no more time in talk. I remain no longer in this detested place. +Ere Almidor returns from hunting we shall have escaped." + +[Illustration: When she came to St. George she started and laid her +hand on her heart] + +So she led St. George to the armoury, where he found his trusty sword +Ascalon, and to the stable, where his swift steed Bayard stood ready +caparisoned. + +Then, when her brave Knight had mounted, and she, putting her foot on +his, had leapt like a bird behind him, St. George touched the proud +beast lightly with his spurs, and, like an arrow from a bow, Bayard +carried them together over city and plain, through woods and forests, +across rivers, and mountains, and valleys, until they reached the Land +of Greece. + +And here they found the whole country in festivity over the marriage of +the King. Now amongst other entertainments was a grand tournament, the +news of which had spread through the world. And to it had come all the +other Six Champions of Christendom; so St. George arriving made the +Seventh. And many of the champions had with them the fair lady they had +rescued. St. Denys of France brought beautiful Eglantine, St. James of +Spain sweet Celestine, while noble Rosalind accompanied St. Anthony of +Italy. St. David of Wales, after his seven years' sleep, came full of +eager desire for adventure. St. Patrick of Ireland, ever courteous, +brought all the six Swan-princesses who, in gratitude, had been seeking +their deliverer St. Andrew of Scotland; since he, leaving all worldly +things, had chosen to fight for the faith. + +So all these brave knights and fair ladies joined in the joyful +jousting, and each of the Seven Champions was in turn Chief Challenger +for a day. + +Now in the midst of all the merriment appeared a hundred heralds from a +hundred different parts of the Paynim world, declaring war to the death +against all Christians. + +Whereupon the Seven Champions agreed that each should return to his +native land to place his dearest lady in safety, and gather together an +army, and that six months later they should meet, and, joining as one +legion, go forth to fight for Christendom. + +And this was done. So, having chosen St. George as Chief General, they +marched on Tripoli with the cry: + + "For Christendom we fight, + For Christendom we die." + +Here the wicked Almidor fell in single combat with St. George, to the +great delight of his subjects, who begged the Champion to be King in his +stead. To this he consented, and, after he was crowned, the Christian +host went on towards Egypt where King Ptolemy, in despair of vanquishing +such stalwart knights, threw himself down from the battlements of the +palace and was killed. Whereupon, in recognition of the chivalry and +courtesy of the Christian Champions, the nobles offered the Crown to one +of their number, and they with acclaim chose St. George of Merrie +England. + +Thence the Christian host journeyed to Persia, where a fearsome battle +raged for seven days, during which two hundred thousand pagans were +slain, beside many who were drowned in attempting to escape. Thus they +were compelled to yield, the Emperor himself happening into the hands of +St. George, and six other viceroys into the hands of the six other +Champions. + +And these were most mercifully and honourably entreated after they had +promised to govern Persia after Christian rules. Now the Emperor, having +a heart fraught with despite and tyranny, conspired against them, and +engaged a wicked wizard named Osmond to so beguile six of the Champions +that they gave up fighting, and lived an easy slothful life. But St. +George would not be beguiled; neither would he consent to the +enchantment of his brothers; and he so roused them that they never +sheathed their swords nor unlocked their armour till the wicked Emperor +and his viceroys were thrown into that very dungeon in which St. George +had languished for seven long years. + +Whereupon St. George took upon himself the government of Persia, and +gave the six other Champions the six viceroyalties. + +So, attired in a beautiful green robe, richly embroidered, over which +was flung a scarlet mantle bordered with white fur and decorated with +ornaments of pure gold, he took his seat on the throne which was +supported by elephants of translucent alabaster. And the Heralds at +arms, amid the shouting of the people, cried: + +"Long live St. George of Merrie England, Emperor of Morocco, King of +Egypt, and Sultan of Persia!" + +Now, after that he had established good and just laws to such effect +that innumerable companies of pagans flocked to become Christians, St. +George, leaving the Government in the hands of his trusted counsellors, +took truce with the world and returned to England, where, at Coventry, +he lived for many years with the Egyptian Princess Sābia, who bore him +three stalwart sons. So here endeth the tale of St. George of Merrie +England, first and greatest of the Seven Champions. + + + + +THE STORY OF THE THREE BEARS + + +Once upon a time there were three Bears, who lived together in a house +of their own, in a wood. One of them was a Little Wee Bear, and one was +a Middle-sized Bear, and the other was a Great Big Bear. They had each a +bowl for their porridge; a little bowl for the Little Wee Bear; and a +middle-sized bowl for the Middle-sized Bear; and a great bowl for the +Great Big Bear. And they had each a chair to sit in; a little chair for +the Little Wee Bear; and a middle-sized chair for the Middle-sized Bear; +and a great chair for the Great Big Bear. And they had each a bed to +sleep in; a little bed for the Little Wee Bear; and a middle-sized bed +for the Middle-sized Bear; and a great bed for the Great Big Bear. + +One day, after they had made the porridge for their breakfast, and +poured it into their porridge-bowls, they walked out into the wood while +the porridge was cooling, that they might not burn their mouths by +beginning too soon, for they were polite, well-brought-up Bears. And +while they were away a little girl called Goldilocks, who lived at the +other side of the wood and had been sent on an errand by her mother, +passed by the house, and looked in at the window. And then she peeped in +at the keyhole, for she was not at all a well-brought-up little girl. +Then seeing nobody in the house she lifted the latch. The door was not +fastened, because the Bears were good Bears, who did nobody any harm, +and never suspected that anybody would harm them. So Goldilocks opened +the door and went in; and well pleased was she when she saw the porridge +on the table. If she had been a well-brought-up little girl she would +have waited till the Bears came home, and then, perhaps, they would have +asked her to breakfast; for they were good Bears--a little rough or so, +as the manner of Bears is, but for all that very good-natured and +hospitable. But she was an impudent, rude little girl, and so she set +about helping herself. + +First she tasted the porridge of the Great Big Bear, and that was too +hot for her. Next she tasted the porridge of the Middle-sized Bear, but +that was too cold for her. And then she went to the porridge of the +Little Wee Bear, and tasted it, and that was neither too hot nor too +cold, but just right, and she liked it so well that she ate it all up, +every bit! + +Then Goldilocks, who was tired, for she had been catching butterflies +instead of running on her errand, sate down in the chair of the Great +Big Bear, but that was too hard for her. And then she sate down in the +chair of the Middle-sized Bear, and that was too soft for her. But when +she sat down in the chair of the Little Wee Bear, that was neither too +hard nor too soft, but just right. So she seated herself in it, and +there she sate till the bottom of the chair came out, and down she came, +plump upon the ground; and that made her very cross, for she was a +bad-tempered little girl. + +Now, being determined to rest, Goldilocks went upstairs into the +bedchamber in which the Three Bears slept. And first she lay down upon +the bed of the Great Big Bear, but that was too high at the head for +her. And next she lay down upon the bed of the Middle-sized Bear, and +that was too high at the foot for her. And then she lay down upon the +bed of the Little Wee Bear, and that was neither too high at the head +nor at the foot, but just right. So she covered herself up comfortably, +and lay there till she fell fast asleep. + +By this time the Three Bears thought their porridge would be cool enough +for them to eat it properly; so they came home to breakfast. Now +careless Goldilocks had left the spoon of the Great Big Bear standing in +his porridge. + + "SOMEBODY HAS BEEN AT MY PORRIDGE!" + +said the Great Big Bear in his great, rough, gruff voice. + +Then the Middle-sized Bear looked at his porridge and saw the spoon was +standing in it too. + + "SOMEBODY HAS BEEN AT MY PORRIDGE!" + +said the Middle-sized Bear in his middle-sized voice. + +Then the Little Wee Bear looked at his, and there was the spoon in the +porridge-bowl, but the porridge was all gone! + + "SOMEBODY HAS BEEN AT MY PORRIDGE, AND HAS EATEN IT ALL UP!" + +said the Little Wee Bear in his little wee voice. + +Upon this the Three Bears, seeing that some one had entered their house, +and eaten up the Little Wee Bear's breakfast, began to look about them. +Now the careless Goldilocks had not put the hard cushion straight when +she rose from the chair of the Great Big Bear. + + "SOMEBODY HAS BEEN SITTING IN MY CHAIR!" + +said the Great Big Bear in his great, rough, gruff voice. + +And the careless Goldilocks had squatted down the soft cushion of the +Middle-sized Bear. + + "SOMEBODY HAS BEEN SITTING IN MY CHAIR!" + +said the Middle-sized Bear in his middle-sized voice. + + "SOMEBODY HAS BEEN SITTING IN MY CHAIR, AND HAS SATE THE BOTTOM + THROUGH!" + +said the Little Wee Bear in his little wee voice. + +Then the Three Bears thought they had better make further search in case +it was a burglar, so they went upstairs into their bedchamber. Now +Goldilocks had pulled the pillow of the Great Big Bear out of its place. + + "SOMEBODY HAS BEEN LYING IN MY BED!" + +said the Great Big Bear in his great, rough, gruff voice. + +And Goldilocks had pulled the bolster of the Middle-sized Bear out of +its place. + + "SOMEBODY HAS BEEN LYING IN MY BED!" + +said the Middle-sized Bear in his middle-sized voice. + +But when the Little Wee Bear came to look at his bed, there was the +bolster in its place! + +And the pillow was in its place upon the bolster! + +And upon the pillow----? + +There was Goldilocks's yellow head--which was not in its place, for she +had no business there. + + "SOMEBODY HAS BEEN LYING IN MY BED,--AND HERE SHE IS STILL!" + +said the Little Wee Bear in his little wee voice. + +[Illustration: "Somebody has been lying in my bed,--and here she is!"] + +Now Goldilocks had heard in her sleep the great, rough, gruff voice of +the Great Big Bear; but she was so fast asleep that it was no more to +her than the roaring of wind, or the rumbling of thunder. And she had +heard the middle-sized voice of the Middle-sized Bear, but it was only +as if she had heard some one speaking in a dream. But when she heard the +little wee voice of the Little Wee Bear, it was so sharp, and so shrill, +that it awakened her at once. Up she started, and when she saw the Three +Bears on one side of the bed, she tumbled herself out at the other, and +ran to the window. Now the window was open, because the Bears, like +good, tidy Bears, as they were, always opened their bedchamber window +when they got up in the morning. So naughty, frightened little +Goldilocks jumped; and whether she broke her neck in the fall, or ran +into the wood and was lost there, or found her way out of the wood and +got whipped for being a bad girl and playing truant, no one can say. But +the Three Bears never saw anything more of her. + +[Illustration: "Somebody has been at my porridge, and has eaten it all +up!"] + + + + +TOM-TIT-TOT + + +Once upon a time there was a woman and she baked five pies. But when +they came out of the oven they were over-baked, and the crust was far +too hard to eat. So she said to her daughter: + +"Daughter," says she, "put them pies on to the shelf and leave 'em there +awhile. Surely they'll come again in time." + +By that, you know, she meant that they would become softer; but her +daughter said to herself, "If Mother says the pies will come again, why +shouldn't I eat these now?" So, having good, young teeth, she set to +work and ate the lot, first and last. + +Now when supper-time came the woman said to her daughter, "Go you and +get one of the pies. They are sure to have come again by now." + +Then the girl went and looked, but of course there was nothing but the +empty dishes. + +So back she came and said, "No, Mother, they ain't come again." + +"Not one o' them?" asked the mother, taken aback like. + +"Not one o' them," says the daughter, quite confident. + +"Well," says the mother, "come again, or not come again, I will have one +of them pies for my supper." + +"But you can't," says the daughter. "How can you if they ain't come? And +they ain't, as sure's sure." + +"But I can," says the mother, getting angry. "Go you at once, child, and +bring me the best on them. My teeth must just tackle it." + +"Best or worst is all one," answered the daughter, quite sulky, "for +I've ate the lot, so you can't have one till it comes again--so there!" + +Well, the mother she bounced up to see; but half an eye told her there +was nothing save the empty dishes; so she was dished up herself and done +for. + +So, having no supper, she sate her down on the doorstep, and, bringing +out her distaff, began to spin. And as she span she sang: + + "My daughter ha' ate five pies to-day, + My daughter ha' ate five pies to-day, + My daughter ha' ate five pies to-day," + +for, see you, she was quite flabbergasted and fair astonished. + +Now the King of that country happened to be coming down the street, and +he heard the song going on and on, but could not quite make out the +words. So he stopped his horse, and asked: + +"What is that you are singing, my good woman?" + +[Illustration: "What is that you are singing, my good woman?"] + +Now the mother, though horrified at her daughter's appetite, did not +want other folk, leastwise the King, to know about it, so she sang +instead: + + "My daughter ha' spun five skeins to-day, + My daughter ha' spun five skeins to-day, + My daughter ha' spun five skeins to-day." + +"Five skeins!" cried the King. "By my garter and my crown, I never heard +tell of any one who could do that! Look you here, I have been searching +for a maiden to wife, and your daughter who can spin five skeins a day +is the very one for me. Only, mind you, though for eleven months of the +year she shall be Queen indeed, and have all she likes to eat, all the +gowns she likes to get, all the company she likes to keep, and +everything her heart desires, in the twelfth month she must set to work +and spin five skeins a day, and if she does not she must die. Come! is +it a bargain?" + +So the mother agreed. She thought what a grand marriage it was for her +daughter. And as for the five skeins? Time enough to bother about them +when the year came round. There was many a slip between cup and lip, +and, likely as not, the King would have forgotten all about it by then. + +Anyhow, her daughter would be Queen for eleven months. So they were +married, and for eleven months the bride was happy as happy could be. +She had everything she liked to eat, and all the gowns she liked to get, +all the company she cared to keep, and everything her heart desired. And +her husband the King was kind as kind could be. But in the tenth month +she began to think of those five skeins and wonder if the King +remembered. And in the eleventh month she began to dream about them as +well. But ne'er a word did the King, her husband, say about them; so she +hoped he had forgotten. + +But on the very last day of the eleventh month, the King, her husband, +led her into a room she had never set eyes on before. It had one window, +and there was nothing in it but a stool and a spinning-wheel. + +"Now, my dear," he said quite kind like, "you will be shut in here +to-morrow morning with some victuals and some flax, and if by evening +you have not spun five skeins, your head will come off." + +Well she was fair frightened, for she had always been such a gatless +thoughtless girl that she had never learnt to spin at all. So what she +was to do on the morrow she could not tell; for, see you, she had no one +to help her; for, of course, now she was Queen, her mother didn't live +nigh her. So she just locked the door of her room, sat down on a stool, +and cried and cried and cried until her pretty eyes were all red. + +Now as she sate sobbing and crying she heard a queer little noise at the +bottom of the door. At first she thought it was a mouse. Then she +thought it must be something knocking. + +So she upped and opened the door and what did she see? Why! a small, +little, black Thing with a long tail that whisked round and round ever +so fast. + +"What are you crying for?" said that Thing, making a bow, and twirling +its tail so fast that she could scarcely see it. + +"What's that to you?" said she, shrinking a bit, for that Thing was very +queer like. + +"Don't look at my tail if you're frightened," says That, smirking. "Look +at my toes. Ain't they beautiful?" + +And sure enough That had on buckled shoes with high heels and big bows, +ever so smart. + +[Illustration: A small, little, black Thing with a long tail] + +So she kind of forgot about the tail, and wasn't so frightened, and +when That asked her again why she was crying, she upped and said, "It +won't do no good if I do." + +"You don't know that," says That, twirling its tail faster and faster, +and sticking out its toes. "Come, tell me, there's a good girl." + +"Well," says she, "it can't do any harm if it doesn't do good." So she +dried her pretty eyes and told That all about the pies, and the skeins, +and everything from first to last. + +And then that little, black Thing nearly burst with laughing. "If that +is all, it's easy mended!" it says. "I'll come to your window every +morning, take the flax, and bring it back spun into five skeins at +night. Come! shall it be a bargain?" + +Now she, for all she was so gatless and thoughtless, said, cautious +like: + +"But what is your pay?" + +Then That twirled its tail so fast you couldn't see it, and stuck out +its beautiful toes, and smirked and looked out of the corners of its +eyes. "I will give you three guesses every night to guess my name, and +if you haven't guessed it before the month is up, why"--and That twirled +its tail faster and stuck out its toes further, and smirked and +sniggered more than ever--"you shall be mine, my beauty." + +Three guesses every night for a whole month! She felt sure she would be +able for so much; and there was no other way out of the business, so she +just said, "Yes! I agree!" + +And lor! how That twirled its tail, and bowed, and smirked, and stuck +out its beautiful toes. + +Well, the very next day her husband led her to the strange room again, +and there was the day's food, and a spinning-wheel and a great bundle of +flax. + +"There you are, my dear," says he as polite as polite. "And remember! if +there are not five whole skeins to-night, I fear your head will come +off!" + +At that she began to tremble, and after he had gone away and locked the +door, she was just thinking of a good cry, when she heard a queer +knocking at the window. She upped at once and opened it, and sure enough +there was the small, little, black Thing sitting on the window-ledge, +dangling its beautiful toes and twirling its tail so that you could +scarcely see it. + +"Good-morning, my beauty," says That. "Come! hand over the flax, sharp, +there's a good girl." + +So she gave That the flax and shut the window and, you may be sure, ate +her victuals, for, as you know, she had a good appetite, and the King, +her husband, had promised to give her everything she liked to eat. So +she ate to her heart's content, and when evening came and she heard that +queer knocking at the window again, she upped and opened it, and there +was the small, little, black Thing with five spun skeins on his arm! + +And it twirled its tail faster than ever, and stuck out its beautiful +toes, and bowed and smirked and gave her the five skeins. + +Then That said, "And now, my beauty, what is That's name?" + +And she answered quite easy like: + +"That is Bill." + +"No, it ain't," says That, and twirled its tail. + +"Then That is Ned," says she. + +"No, it ain't," says That, and twirled its tail faster. + +"Well," says she a bit more thoughtful, "That is Mark." + +"No, it ain't," says That, and laughs and laughs and laughs, and twirls +its tail so as you couldn't see it, as away it flew. + +Well, when the King, her husband, came in, he was fine and pleased to +see the five skeins all ready for him, for he was fond of his pretty +wife. + +"I shall not have to order your head off, my dear," says he. "And I hope +all the other days will pass as happily." Then he said good-night and +locked the door and left her. + +But next morning they brought her fresh flax and even more delicious +foods. And the small, little, black Thing came knocking at the window +and stuck out its beautiful toes and twirled its tail faster and faster, +and took away the bundle of flax and brought it back all spun into five +skeins by evening. + +Then That made her guess three times what That's name was; but she could +not guess right, and That laughed and laughed and laughed as it flew +away. + +Now every morning and evening the same thing happened, and every evening +she had her three guesses; but she never guessed right. And every day +the small, little, black Thing laughed louder and louder and smirked +more and more, and looked at her quite maliceful out of the corners of +its eyes until she began to get frightened, and instead of eating all +the fine foods left for her, spent the day in trying to think of names +to say. But she never hit upon the right one. + +So it came to the last day of the month but one, and when the small, +little, black Thing arrived in the evening with the five skeins of flax +all ready spun, it could hardly say for smirking: + +"Ain't you got That's name yet?" + +So says she--for she had been reading her Bible: + +"Is That Nicodemus?" + +"No, it ain't," says That, and twirled its tail faster than you could +see. + +"Is That Samuel?" says she all of a flutter. + +"No, it ain't, my beauty," chuckles That, looking maliceful. + +"Well--is That Methuselah?" says she, inclined to cry. + +Then That just fixes her with eyes like a coal a-fire, and says, "No, it +ain't that neither, so there is only to-morrow night and then you'll be +mine, my beauty." + +And away the small, little, black Thing flew, its tail twirling and +whisking so fast that you couldn't see it. + +Well, she felt so bad she couldn't even cry; but she heard the King, her +husband, coming to the door, so she made bold to be cheerful, and tried +to smile when he said, "Well done, wife! Five skeins again! I shall not +have to order your head off after all, my dear, of that I'm quite sure, +so let us enjoy ourselves." Then he bade the servants bring supper, and +a stool for him to sit beside his Queen, and down they sat, lover-like, +side by side. + +But the poor Queen could eat nothing; she could not forget the small, +little, black Thing. And the King hadn't eaten but a mouthful or two +when he began to laugh, and he laughed so long and so loud that at last +the poor Queen, all lackadaisical as she was, said: + +"Why do you laugh so?" + +"At something I saw to-day, my love," says the King. "I was out +a-hunting, and by chance I came to a place I'd never been in before. It +was in a wood, and there was an old chalk-pit there, and out of the +chalk-pit there came a queer kind of a sort of a humming, humming noise. +So I got off my hobby to see what made it, and went quite quiet to the +edge of the pit and looked down. And what do you think I saw? The +funniest, queerest, smallest, little, black Thing you ever set eyes +upon. And it had a little spinning-wheel and it was spinning away for +dear life, but the wheel didn't go so fast as its tail, and that span +round and round--_ho-ho-ha-ha!_--you never saw the like. And its little +feet had buckled shoes and bows on them, and they went up and down in a +desperate hurry. And all the time that small, little, black Thing kept +bumming and booming away at these words: + + "Name me, name me not, + Who'll guess it's Tom-Tit-Tot." + +Well, when she heard these words the Queen nearly jumped out of her +skin for joy; but she managed to say nothing, but ate her supper quite +comfortably. + +And she said no word when next morning the small, little, black Thing +came for the flax, though it looked so gleeful and maliceful that she +could hardly help laughing, knowing she had got the better of it. And +when night came and she heard that knocking against the window-panes, +she put on a wry face, and opened the window slowly as if she was +afraid. But that Thing was as bold as brass and came right inside, +grinning from ear to ear. And oh, my goodness! how That's tail was +twirling and whisking! + +"Well, my beauty," says That, giving her the five skeins all ready spun, +"what's my name?" + +Then she put down her lip, and says, tearful like, +"Is--is--That--Solomon?" + +"No, it ain't," laughs That, smirking out of the corner of That's eye. +And the small, little, black Thing came further into the room. + +So she tried again--and this time she seemed hardly able to speak for +fright. + +"Well--is That--Zebedee?" she says. + +"No, it ain't," cried the impet, full of glee. And it came quite close +and stretched out its little black hands to her, and O-oh, ITS +TAIL...!!! + +"Take time, my beauty," says That, sort of jeering like, and its small, +little, black eyes seemed to eat her up. "Take time! Remember! next +guess and you're mine!" Well, she backed just a wee bit from it, for it +was just horrible to look at; but then she laughed out and pointed her +finger at it and said, says she: + + "Name me, name me not, + _Your_ name is + _Tom_ + TIT + _TOT_." + +And you never heard such a shriek as that small, little, black Thing +gave out. Its tail dropped down straight, its feet all crumpled up, and +away That flew into the dark, and she never saw it no more. + +And she lived happy ever after with her husband, the King. + +[Illustration: Away That flew into the dark, and she never saw it no +more] + + + + +THE GOLDEN SNUFF-BOX + + +Once upon a time, and a very good time too, though it was not in my +time, nor your time, nor for the matter of that in any one's time, there +lived a man and a woman who had one son called Jack, and he was just +terribly fond of reading books. He read, and he read, and then, because +his parents lived in a lonely house in a lonely forest and he never saw +any other folk but his father and his mother, he became quite crazy to +go out into the world and see charming princesses and the like. + +So one day he told his mother he must be off, and she called him an +air-brained addle-pate, but added that, as he was no use at home, he had +better go seek his fortune. Then she asked him if he would rather take a +small cake with her blessing to eat on his journey, or a large cake with +her curse? Now Jack was a very hungry lad, so he just up and said: + +"A big cake, if you please, 'm." + +So his mother made a great big cake, and when he started she just off to +the top of the house and cast malisons on him, till he got out of +sight. You see she had to do it, but after that she sate down and cried. + +Well, Jack hadn't gone far till he came to a field where his father was +ploughing. Now the goodman was dreadfully put out when he found his son +was going away, and still more so when he heard he had chosen his +mother's malison. So he cast about what to do to put things straight, +and at last he drew out of his pocket a little golden snuff-box, and +gave it to the lad, saying: + +"If ever you are in danger of sudden death you may open the box; but not +till then. It has been in our family for years and years; but, as we +have lived, father and son, quietly in the forest, none of us have ever +been in need of help--perhaps you may." + +So Jack pocketed the golden snuff-box and went on his way. + +Now, after a time, he grew very tired, and very hungry, for he had eaten +his big cake first thing, and night closed in on him so that he could +scarce see his way. + +But at last he came to a large house and begged board and lodging at the +back door. Now Jack was a good-looking young fellow, so the maid-servant +at once called him in to the fireside and gave him plenty good meat and +bread and beer. And it so happened that while he was eating his supper +the master's gay young daughter came into the kitchen and saw him. So +she went to her father and said that there was the prettiest young +fellow she had ever seen in the back kitchen, and that if her father +loved her he would give the young man some employment. Now the +gentleman of the house was exceedingly fond of his gay young daughter, +and did not want to vex her; so he went into the back kitchen and +questioned Jack as to what he could do. + +"Anything," said Jack gaily, meaning, of course, that he could do any +foolish bit of work about a house. + +But the gentleman saw a way of pleasing his gay young daughter and +getting rid of the trouble of employing Jack; so he laughs and says, "If +you can do anything, my good lad," says he, "you had better do this. By +eight o'clock to-morrow morning you must have dug a lake four miles +round in front of my mansion, and on it there must be floating a whole +fleet of vessels. And they must range up in front of my mansion and fire +a salute of guns. And the very last shot must break the leg of the +four-post bed on which my daughter sleeps, for she is always late of a +morning!" + +Well! Jack was terribly flabbergasted, but he faltered out: + +"And if I don't do it?" + +"Then," said the master of the house quite calmly, "your life will be +the forfeit." + +So he bade the servants take Jack to a turret-room and lock the door on +him. + +Well! Jack sate on the side of his bed and tried to think things out, +but he felt as if he didn't know _b_ from a battledore, so he decided to +think no more, and after saying his prayers he lay down and went to +sleep. And he did sleep! When he woke it was close on eight o'clock, +and he had only time to fly to the window and look out, when the great +clock on the tower began to whirr before it struck the hour. And there +was the lawn in front of the house all set with beds of roses and stocks +and marigolds! Well! all of a sudden he remembered the little golden +snuff-box. + +"I'm near enough to death," quoth he to himself, as he drew it out and +opened it. + +And no sooner had he opened it than out hopped three funny little red +men in red night-caps, rubbing their eyes and yawning; for, see you, +they had been locked up in the box for years, and years, and years. + +"What do you want, Master?" they said between their yawns. But Jack +heard that clock a-whirring and knew he hadn't a moment to lose, so he +just gabbled off his orders. Then the clock began to strike, and the +little men flew out of the window, and suddenly + + Bang! bang! bang! bang! bang! bang! + +went the guns, and the last one must have broken the leg of the +four-post bed, for there at the window was the gay young daughter in her +nightcap, gazing with astonishment at the lake four miles round, with +the fleet of vessels floating on it! + +And so did Jack! He had never seen such a sight in his life, and he was +quite sorry when the three little red men disturbed him by flying in at +the window and scrambling into the golden snuff-box. + +"Give us a little more time when you want us next, Master," they said +sulkily. Then they shut down the lid, and Jack could hear them yawning +inside as they settled down to sleep. + +As you may imagine, the master of the house was fair astonished, while +as for the gay young daughter, she declared at once that she would never +marry any one else but the young man who could do such wonderful things; +the truth being that she and Jack had fallen in love with each other at +first sight. + +But her father was cautious. "It is true, my dear," says he, "that the +young fellow seems a bully boy; but for aught we know it may be chance, +not skill, and he may have a broken feather in his wing. So we must try +him again." + +Then he said to Jack, "My daughter must have a fine house to live in. +Therefore by to-morrow morning at eight o'clock there must be a +magnificent castle standing on twelve golden pillars in the middle of +the lake, and there must be a church beside it. And all things must be +ready for the bride, and at eight o'clock precisely a peal of bells from +the church must ring out for the wedding. If not you will have to +forfeit your life." + +This time Jack intended to give the three little red men more time for +their task; but what with having enjoyed himself so much all day, and +having eaten so much good food, he overslept himself, so that the big +clock on the tower was whirring before it struck eight when he woke, +leapt out of bed, and rushed to the golden snuff-box. But he had +forgotten where he had put it, and so the clock had _really_ begun to +strike before he found it under his pillow, opened it, and gabbled out +his orders. And then you never saw how the three little red men tumbled +over each other and yawned and stretched and made haste all at one time, +so that Jack thought his life would surely be forfeit. But just as the +clock struck its last chime, out rang a peal of merry bells, and there +was the Castle standing on twelve golden pillars and a church beside it +in the middle of the lake. And the Castle was all decorated for the +wedding, and there were crowds and crowds of servants and retainers, all +dressed in their Sunday best. + +Never had Jack seen such a sight before; neither had the gay young +daughter who, of course, was looking out of the next window in her +nightcap. And she looked so pretty and so gay that Jack felt quite cross +when he had to step back to let the three little red men fly to their +golden snuff-box. But they were far crosser than he was, and mumbled and +grumbled at the hustle, so that Jack was quite glad when they shut the +box down and began to snore. + +Well, of course, Jack and the gay young daughter were married, and were +as happy as the day is long; and Jack had fine clothes to wear, fine +food to eat, fine servants to wait on him, and as many fine friends as +he liked. + +So he was in luck; but he had yet to learn that a mother's malison is +sure to bring misfortune some time or another. + +Thus it happened that one day when he was going a-hunting with all the +ladies and gentlemen, Jack forgot to change the golden snuff-box (which +he always carried about with him for fear of accidents) from his +waistcoat pocket to that of his scarlet hunting-coat; so he left it +behind him. And what should happen but that the servant let it fall on +the ground when he was folding up the clothes, and the snuff-box flew +open and out popped the three little red men yawning and stretching. + +Well! when they found out that they hadn't really been summoned, and +that there was no fear of death, they were in a towering temper and said +they had a great mind to fly away with the Castle, golden pillars and +all. + +On hearing this the servant pricked up his ears. + +"Could you do that?" he asked. + +"Could we?" they said, and they laughed loud. "Why, we can do anything." + +Then the servant said ever so sharp, "Then move me this Castle and all +it contains right away over the sea where the master can't disturb us." + +Now the little red men need not really have obeyed the order, but they +were so cross with Jack that hardly had the servant said the words +before the task was done; so when the hunting-party came back, lo and +behold! the Castle, and the church, and the golden pillars had all +disappeared! + +At first all the rest set upon Jack for being a knave and a cheat; and, +in particular, his wife's father threatened to have at him for deceiving +the gay young daughter; but at last he agreed to let Jack have twelve +months and a day to find the Castle and bring it back. + +So off Jack starts on a good horse with some money in his pocket. + +And he travelled far and he travelled fast, and he travelled east and +west, north and south, over hills, and dales, and valleys, and +mountains, and woods, and sheepwalks, but never a sign of the missing +castle did he see. Now at last he came to the palace of the King of all +the Mice in the Wide World. And there was a little mousie in a fine +hauberk and a steel cap doing sentry at the front gate, and he was not +for letting Jack in until he had told his errand. And when Jack had told +it, he passed him on to the next mouse sentry at the inner gate; so by +degrees he reached the King's chamber, where he sate surrounded by mice +courtiers. + +Now the King of the Mice received Jack very graciously, and said that he +himself knew nothing of the missing Castle, but, as he was King of all +the Mice in the whole world, it was possible that some of his subjects +might know more than he. So he ordered his chamberlain to command a +Grand Assembly for the next morning, and in the meantime he entertained +Jack right royally. + +But the next morning, though there were brown mice, and black mice, and +grey mice, and white mice, and piebald mice, from all parts of the +world, they all answered with one breath: + +"If it please your Majesty, we have not seen the missing Castle." + +Then the King said, "You must go and ask my elder brother the King of +all the Frogs. He may be able to tell you. Leave your horse here and +take one of mine. It knows the way and will carry you safe." + +So Jack set off on the King's horse, and as he passed the outer gate he +saw the little mouse sentry coming away, for its guard was up. Now Jack +was a kind-hearted lad, and he had saved some crumbs from his dinner in +order to recompense the little sentry for his kindness. So he put his +hand in his pocket and pulled out the crumbs. + +"Here you are, mousekin," he said. "That's for your trouble!" + +Then the mouse thanked him kindly and asked if he would take him along +to the King of the Frogs. + +"Not I," says Jack. "I should get into trouble with your King." + +But the mousekin insisted. "I may be of some use to you," it said. So it +ran up the horse's hind leg and up by its tail and hid in Jack's pocket. +And the horse set off at a hard gallop, for it didn't half like the +mouse running over it. + +So at last Jack came to the palace of the King of all the Frogs, and +there at the front gate was a frog doing sentry in a fine coat of mail +and a brass helmet. And the frog sentry was for not letting Jack in; but +the mouse called out that they came from the King of all the Mice and +must be let in without delay. So they were taken to the King's chamber, +where he sate surrounded by frog courtiers in fine clothes; but alas! +he had heard nothing of the Castle on golden pillars, and though he +summoned all the frogs of all the world to a Grand Assembly next +morning, they all answered his question with: + + "_Kro kro, Kro kro_" + +which every one knows stands for "No" in frog language. + +So the King said to Jack, "There remains but one thing. You must go and +ask my eldest brother, the King of all the Birds. His subjects are +always on the wing, so mayhap they have seen something. Leave the horse +you are riding here, and take one of mine. It knows the way, and will +carry you safe." + +So Jack set off, and being a kind-hearted lad he gave the frog sentry, +whom he met coming away from his guard, some crumbs he had saved from +his dinner. And the frog asked leave to go with him, and when Jack +refused to take him he just gave one hop on to the stirrup, and a second +hop on to the crupper, and the next hop he was in Jack's other pocket. + +Then the horse galloped away like lightning, for it didn't like the +slimy frog coming down "plop" on its back. + +Well, after a time, Jack came to the palace of the King of all the +Birds, and there at the front gate were a sparrow and a crow marching up +and down with matchlocks on their shoulders. Now at this Jack laughed +fit to split, and the mouse and the frog from his pockets called out: + +"We come from the King! Sirrahs! Let us pass." + +So that the sentries were right mazed, and let them pass in without more +ado. + +But when they came to the King's chamber, where he sate surrounded by +all manner of birds, tomtits, wrens, cormorants, turtle-doves, and the +like, the King said he was sorry, but he had no news of the missing +Castle. And though he summoned all the birds of all the world to a Grand +Assembly next morning, not one of them had seen or heard tell of it. + +So Jack was quite disconsolate till the King said, "But where is the +eagle? I don't see my eagle." + +Then the Chamberlain--he was a tomtit--stepped forward with a bow and +said: + +"May it please your Majesty he is late." + +"Late?" says the King in a fume. "Summon him at once." + +So two larks flew up into the sky till they couldn't be seen and sang +ever so loud, till at last the eagle appeared all in a perspiration from +having flown so fast. + +Then the King said, "Sirrah! Have you seen a missing Castle that stands +upon twelve pillars of gold?" + +And the eagle blinked its eyes and said, "May it please your Majesty +that is where I've been." + +Then everybody rejoiced exceedingly, and when the eagle had eaten a +whole calf so as to be strong enough for the journey, he spread his wide +wings, on which Jack stood, with the mouse in one pocket and the frog in +the other, and started to obey the King's order to take the owner back +to his missing Castle as quickly as possible. + +And they flew over land and they flew over sea, until at last in the far +distance they saw the Castle standing on its twelve golden pillars. But +all the doors and windows were fast shut and barred, for, see you, the +servant-master who had run away with it had gone out for the day +a-hunting, and he always bolted doors and windows while he was absent +lest some one else should run away with it. + +Then Jack was puzzled to think how he should get hold of the golden +snuff-box, until the little mouse said: + +"Let me fetch it. There is always a mouse-hole in every castle, so I am +sure I shall be able to get in." + +So it went off, and Jack waited on the eagle's wings in a fume; till at +last mousekin appeared. + +"Have you got it?" shouted Jack, and the little mousie cried: + + "Yes!" + +So every one rejoiced exceedingly, and they set off back to the palace +of the King of all the Birds, where Jack had left his horse; for now +that he had the golden snuff-box safe he knew he could get the Castle +back whenever he chose to send the three little red men to fetch it. But +on the way over the sea, while Jack, who was dead tired with standing so +long, lay down between the eagle's wings and fell asleep, the mouse and +the eagle fell to quarrelling as to which of them had helped Jack the +most, and they quarrelled so much that at last they laid the case before +the frog. Then the frog, who made a very wise judge, said he must see +the whole affair from the very beginning; so the mouse brought out the +golden snuff-box from Jack's pocket, and began to relate where it had +been found and all about it. Now, at that very moment Jack awoke, kicked +out his leg, and plump went the golden snuff-box down to the very bottom +of the sea! + +"I thought my turn would come," said the frog, and went plump in after +it. + +Well, they waited, and waited, and waited for three whole days and three +whole nights; but froggie never came up again, and they had just given +him up in despair when his nose showed above the water. + +"Have you got it?" they shouted. + +"No!" says he, with a great gasp. + +"Then what do you want?" they cried in a rage. + +"My breath," says froggie, and with that he sinks down again. + +Well, they waited two days and two nights more, and at last up comes the +little frog with the golden snuff-box in its mouth. + +Then they all rejoiced exceedingly, and the eagle flew ever so fast to +the palace of the King of the Birds. + +But alas and alack-a-day! Jack's troubles were not ended; his mother's +malison was still bringing him ill-luck, for the King of the Birds flew +into a fearsome rage because Jack had not brought the Castle of the +golden pillars back with him. And he said that unless he saw it by eight +o'clock next morning Jack's head should come off as a cheat and a liar. + +Then Jack being close to death opened the golden snuff-box, and out +tumbled the three little red men in their three little red caps. They +had recovered their tempers and were quite glad to be back with a master +who knew that they would only, as a rule, work under fear of death; for, +see you, the servant-master had been for ever disturbing their sleep +with opening the box to no purpose. + +So before the clock struck eight next morning, there was the Castle on +its twelve golden pillars, and the King of the Birds was fine and +pleased, and let Jack take his horse and ride to the palace of the King +of the Frogs. But there exactly the same thing happened, and poor Jack +had to open the snuff-box again and order the Castle to come to the +palace of the King of the Frogs. At this the little red men were a wee +bit cross; but they said they supposed it could not be helped; so, +though they yawned, they brought the Castle all right, and Jack was +allowed to take his horse and go to the palace of the King of all the +Mice in the World. But here the same thing happened, and the little red +men tumbled out of the golden snuff-box in a real rage, and said fellows +might as well have no sleep at all! However, they did as they were +bidden; they brought the Castle of the golden pillars from the palace of +the King of the Frogs to the palace of the King of the Birds, and Jack +was allowed to take his own horse and ride home. + +[Illustration: They brought the Castle of the golden pillars] + +But the year and a day which he had been allowed was almost gone, and +even his gay young wife, after almost weeping her eyes out after her +handsome young husband, had given up Jack for lost; so every one was +astounded to see him, and not over-pleased either to see him come +without his Castle. Indeed his father-in-law swore with many oaths that +if it were not in its proper place by eight o'clock next morning Jack's +life should be forfeit. + +Now this, of course, was exactly what Jack had wanted and intended from +the beginning; because when death was nigh he could open the golden +snuff-box and order about the little red men. But he had opened it so +often of late and they had become so cross that he was in a stew what to +do; whether to give them time to show their temper, or to hustle them +out of it. At last he decided to do half and half. So just as the hands +of the clock were at five minutes to eight he opened the box, and +stopped his ears! + +Well! you never heard such a yawning, and scolding, and threatening, and +blustering. What did he mean by it? Why should he take four bites at one +cherry? If he was always in fear of death why didn't he die and have +done with it? + +In the midst of all this the tower clock began to whirr-- + +"Gentlemen!" says Jack--he was really quaking with fear--"do as you are +told." + +"For the last time," they shrieked. "We won't stay and serve a master +who thinks he is going to die every day." + +And with that they flew out of the window. + + _AND THEY NEVER CAME BACK._ + +The golden snuff-box remained empty for evermore. + +But when Jack looked out of window there was the Castle in the middle of +the lake on its twelve golden pillars, and there was his young wife ever +so pretty and gay in her nightcap looking out of the window too. + +So they lived happily ever after. + + + + +TATTERCOATS + + +In a great Palace by the sea there once dwelt a very rich old lord, who +had neither wife nor children living, only one little granddaughter, +whose face he had never seen in all her life. He hated her bitterly, +because at her birth his favourite daughter died; and when the old nurse +brought him the baby he swore that it might live or die as it liked, but +he would never look on its face as long as it lived. + +So he turned his back, and sat by his window looking out over the sea, +and weeping great tears for his lost daughter, till his white hair and +beard grew down over his shoulders and twined round his chair and crept +into the chinks of the floor, and his tears, dropping on to the +window-ledge, wore a channel through the stone, and ran away in a little +river to the great sea. Meanwhile, his granddaughter grew up with no one +to care for her, or clothe her; only the old nurse, when no one was by, +would sometimes give her a dish of scraps from the kitchen, or a torn +petticoat from the rag-bag; while the other servants of the palace would +drive her from the house with blows and mocking words, calling her +"Tattercoats," and pointing to her bare feet and shoulders, till she ran +away, crying, to hide among the bushes. + +So she grew up, with little to eat or to wear, spending her days out of +doors, her only companion a crippled gooseherd, who fed his flock of +geese on the common. And this gooseherd was a queer, merry little chap, +and when she was hungry, or cold, or tired, he would play to her so +gaily on his little pipe, that she forgot all her troubles, and would +fall to dancing with his flock of noisy geese for partners. + +Now one day people told each other that the King was travelling through +the land, and was to give a great ball to all the lords and ladies of +the country in the town near by, and that the Prince, his only son, was +to choose a wife from amongst the maidens in the company. In due time +one of the royal invitations to the ball was brought to the Palace by +the sea, and the servants carried it up to the old lord, who still sat +by his window, wrapped in his long white hair and weeping into the +little river that was fed by his tears. + +But when he heard the King's command, he dried his eyes and bade them +bring shears to cut him loose, for his hair had bound him a fast +prisoner, and he could not move. And then he sent them for rich clothes, +and jewels, which he put on; and he ordered them to saddle the white +horse, with gold and silk, that he might ride to meet the King; but he +quite forgot he had a granddaughter to take to the ball. + +Meanwhile Tattercoats sat by the kitchen-door weeping, because she could +not go to see the grand doings. And when the old nurse heard her crying +she went to the Lord of the Palace, and begged him to take his +granddaughter with him to the King's ball. + +But he only frowned and told her to be silent; while the servants +laughed and said, "Tattercoats is happy in her rags, playing with the +gooseherd! Let her be--it is all she is fit for." + +A second, and then a third time, the old nurse begged him to let the +girl go with him, but she was answered only by black looks and fierce +words, till she was driven from the room by the jeering servants, with +blows and mocking words. + +Weeping over her ill-success, the old nurse went to look for +Tattercoats; but the girl had been turned from the door by the cook, and +had run away to tell her friend the gooseherd how unhappy she was +because she could not go to the King's ball. + +Now when the gooseherd had listened to her story, he bade her cheer up, +and proposed that they should go together into the town to see the King, +and all the fine things; and when she looked sorrowfully down at her +rags and bare feet he played a note or two upon his pipe, so gay and +merry, that she forgot all about her tears and her troubles, and before +she well knew, the gooseherd had taken her by the hand, and she and he, +and the geese before them, were dancing down the road towards the town. + +"Even cripples can dance when they choose," said the gooseherd. + +Before they had gone very far a handsome young man, splendidly dressed, +riding up, stopped to ask the way to the castle where the King was +staying, and when he found that they too were going thither, he got off +his horse and walked beside them along the road. + +"You seem merry folk," he said, "and will be good company." + +"Good company, indeed," said the gooseherd, and played a new tune that +was not a dance. + +It was a curious tune, and it made the strange young man stare and stare +and stare at Tattercoats till he couldn't see her rags--till he +couldn't, to tell the truth, see anything but her beautiful face. + +Then he said, "You are the most beautiful maiden in the world. Will you +marry me?" + +Then the gooseherd smiled to himself, and played sweeter than ever. + +But Tattercoats laughed. "Not I," said she; "you would be finely put to +shame, and so would I be, if you took a goose-girl for your wife! Go and +ask one of the great ladies you will see to-night at the King's ball, +and do not flout poor Tattercoats." + +But the more she refused him the sweeter the pipe played, and the deeper +the young man fell in love; till at last he begged her to come that +night at twelve to the King's ball, just as she was, with the gooseherd +and his geese, in her torn petticoat and bare feet, and see if he +wouldn't dance with her before the King and the lords and ladies, and +present her to them all, as his dear and honoured bride. + +[Illustration: Tattercoats dancing while the gooseherd pipes] + +Now at first Tattercoats said she would not; but the gooseherd said, +"Take fortune when it comes, little one." + +So when night came, and the hall in the castle was full of light and +music, and the lords and ladies were dancing before the King, just as +the clock struck twelve, Tattercoats and the gooseherd, followed by his +flock of noisy geese, hissing and swaying their heads, entered at the +great doors, and walked straight up the ball-room, while on either side +the ladies whispered, the lords laughed, and the King seated at the far +end stared in amazement. + +But as they came in front of the throne Tattercoats' lover rose from +beside the King, and came to meet her. Taking her by the hand, he kissed +her thrice before them all, and turned to the King. + +"Father!" he said--for it was the Prince himself--"I have made my +choice, and here is my bride, the loveliest girl in all the land, and +the sweetest as well!" + +Before he had finished speaking, the gooseherd had put his pipe to his +lips and played a few notes that sounded like a bird singing far off in +the woods; and as he played Tattercoats' rags were changed to shining +robes sewn with glittering jewels, a golden crown lay upon her golden +hair, and the flock of geese behind her became a crowd of dainty pages, +bearing her long train. + +And as the King rose to greet her as his daughter the trumpets sounded +loudly in honour of the new Princess, and the people outside in the +street said to each other: + +"Ah! now the Prince has chosen for his wife the loveliest girl in all +the land!" + +But the gooseherd was never seen again, and no one knew what became of +him; while the old lord went home once more to his Palace by the sea, +for he could not stay at Court, when he had sworn never to look on his +granddaughter's face. + +So there he still sits by his window,--if you could only see him, as you +may some day--weeping more bitterly than ever. And his white hair has +bound him to the stones, and the river of his tears runs away to the +great sea. + + + + +THE THREE FEATHERS + + +Once upon a time there lived a girl who was wooed and married by a man +she never saw; for he came a-courting her after nightfall, and when they +were married he never came home till it was dark, and always left before +dawn. + +Still he was good and kind to her, giving her everything her heart could +desire, so she was well content for a while. But, after a bit, some of +her friends, doubtless full of envy for her good luck, began to whisper +that the unseen husband must have something dreadful the matter with him +which made him averse to being seen. + +Now from the very beginning the girl had wondered why her lover did not +come a-courting her as other girls' lovers came, openly and by day, and +though, at first, she paid no heed to her neighbours' nods and winks, +she began at last to think there might be something in what they said. +So she determined to see for herself, and one night when she heard her +husband come into her room, she lit her candle suddenly and saw him. + +And, lo and behold! he was handsome as handsome; beautiful enough to +make every woman in the world fall in love with him on the spot. But +even as she got her glimpse of him, he changed into a big brown bird +which looked at her with eyes full of anger and blame. + +"Because you have done this faithless thing," it said, "you will see me +no more, unless for seven long years and a day you serve for me +faithfully." + +And she cried with tears and sobs, "I will serve seven times seven years +and a day if you will only come back. Tell me what I am to do." + +Then the bird-husband said, "I will place you in service, and there you +must remain and do good work for seven years and a day, and you must +listen to no man who may seek to beguile you to leave that service. If +you do I will never return." + +To this the girl agreed, and the bird, spreading its broad brown wings, +carried her to a big mansion. + +"Here they need a laundry-maid," said the bird-husband. "Go in, ask to +see the mistress, and say you will do the work; but remember you must do +it for seven years and a day." + +"But I cannot do it for seven days," answered the girl. "I cannot wash +or iron." + +"That matters nothing," replied the bird. "All you have to do is to +pluck three feathers from under my wing close to my heart, and these +feathers will do your bidding whatever it may be. You will only have to +put them on your hand, and say, 'By virtue of these three feathers from +over my true love's heart may this be done,' and it will be done." + +So the girl plucked three feathers from under the bird's wing, and after +that the bird flew away. + +Then the girl did as she was bidden, and the lady of the house engaged +her for the place. And never was such a quick laundress; for, see you, +she had only to go into the wash-house, bolt the door and close the +shutters, so that no one should see what she was at; then she would out +with the three feathers and say, "By virtue of these three feathers from +over my true love's heart may the copper be lit, the clothes sorted, +washed, boiled, dried, folded, mangled, ironed," and lo! there they came +tumbling on to the table, clean and white, quite ready to be put away. +So her mistress set great store by her and said there never was such a +good laundry-maid. Thus four years passed and there was no talk of her +leaving. But the other servants grew jealous of her, all the more so, +because, being a very pretty girl, all the men-servants fell in love +with her and wanted to marry her. + +But she would have none of them, because she was always waiting and +longing for the day when her bird-husband would come back to her in +man's form. + +Now one of the men who wanted her was the stout butler, and one day as +he was coming back from the cider-house he chanced to stop by the +laundry, and he heard a voice say, "By virtue of these three feathers +from over my true love's heart may the copper be lit, the clothes +sorted, boiled, dried, folded, mangled, and ironed." + +He thought this very queer, so he peeped through the keyhole. And there +was the girl sitting at her ease in a chair, while all the clothes came +flying to the table ready and fit to put away. + +Well, that night he went to the girl and said that if she turned up her +nose at him and his proposal any longer, he would up and tell the +mistress that her fine laundress was nothing but a witch; and then, even +if she were not burnt alive, she would lose her place. + +Now the girl was in great distress what to do, since if she were not +faithful to her bird-husband, or if she failed to serve her seven years +and a day in one service, he would alike fail to return; so she made an +excuse by saying she could think of no one who did not give her enough +money to satisfy her. + +At this the stout butler laughed. "Money?" said he. "I have seventy +pounds laid by with master. Won't that satisfy thee?" + +"Happen it would," she replied. + +So the very next night the butler came to her with the seventy pounds in +golden sovereigns, and she held out her apron and took them, saying she +was content; for she had thought of a plan. Now as they were going +upstairs together she stopped and said: + +"Mr. Butler, excuse me for a minute. I have left the shutters of the +wash-house open, and I must shut them, or they will be banging all night +and disturb master and missus!" + +Now though the butler was stout and beginning to grow old, he was +anxious to seem young and gallant; so he said at once: + +"Excuse me, my beauty, you shall not go. I will go and shut them. I +shan't be a moment!" + +So off he set, and no sooner had he gone than she out with her three +feathers, and putting them on her hand, said in a hurry: + +"By virtue of the three feathers from over my true love's heart may the +shutters never cease banging till morning, and may Mr. Butler's hands be +busy trying to shut them." + +And so it happened. + +Mr. Butler shut the shutters, but--bru-u-u! there they were hanging open +again. Then he shut them once more, and this time they hit him on the +face as they flew open. Yet he couldn't stop; he had to go on. So there +he was the whole livelong night. Such a cursing, and banging, and +swearing, and shutting, never was, until dawn came, and, too tired to be +really angry, he crept back to his bed, resolving that come what might +he would not tell what had happened to him and thus get the laugh on +him. So he kept his own counsel, and the girl kept the seventy pounds, +and laughed in her sleeve at her would-be lover. + +Now after a time the coachman, a spruce middle-aged man, who had long +wanted to marry the clever, pretty laundry-maid, going to the pump to +get water for his horses overheard her giving orders to the three +feathers, and peeping through the keyhole as the butler had done, saw +her sitting at her ease in a chair while the clothes, all washed and +ironed and mangled, came flying to the table. + +So, just as the butler had done, he went to the girl and said, "I have +you now, my pretty. Don't dare to turn up your nose at me, for if you do +I'll tell mistress you are a witch." + +Then the girl said quite calmly, "I look on none who has no money." + +"If that is all," replied the coachman, "I have forty pounds laid by +with master. That I'll bring and ask for payment to-morrow night." + +So when the night came the girl held out her apron for the money, and as +she was going up the stairs she stopped suddenly and said, "Goody me! +I've left my clothes on the line. Stop a bit till I fetch them in." + +Now the coachman was really a very polite fellow, so he said at once: + +"Let me go. It is a cold, windy night and you'll be catching your +death." + +So off he went, and the girl out with her feathers and said: + +"By virtue of the three feathers from over my true love's heart may the +clothes slash and blow about till dawn, and may Mr. Coachman not be able +to gather them up or take his hand from the job." + +And when she had said this she went quietly to bed, for she knew what +would happen. And sure enough it did. Never was such a night as Mr. +Coachman spent with the wet clothes flittering and fluttering about his +ears, and the sheets wrapping him into a bundle, and tripping him up, +while the towels slashed at his legs. But though he smarted all over he +had to go on till dawn came, and then a very weary, woebegone coachman +couldn't even creep away to his bed, for he had to feed and water his +horses! And he, also, kept his own counsel for fear of the laugh going +against him; so the clever laundry-maid put the forty pounds with the +seventy in her box, and went on with her work gaily. But after a time +the footman, who was quite an honest lad and truly in love, going by the +laundry peeped through the keyhole to get a glimpse of his dearest dear, +and what should he see but her sitting at her ease in a chair, and the +clothes coming all ready folded and ironed on to the table. + +Now when he saw this he was greatly troubled. So he went to his master +and drew out all his savings; and then he went to the girl and told her +that he would have to tell the mistress what he had seen, unless she +consented to marry him. + +"You see," he said, "I have been with master this while back, and have +saved up this bit, and you have been here this long while back and must +have saved as well. So let us put the two together and make a home, or +else stay on at service as pleases you." + +Well, she tried to put him off; but he insisted so much that at last she +said: + +"James! there's a dear, run down to the cellar and fetch me a drop of +brandy. You've made me feel so queer!" And when he had gone she out +with her three feathers, and said, "By virtue of the three feathers from +over my true love's heart may James not be able to pour the brandy +straight, except down his throat." + +Well! so it happened. Try as he would, James could not get the brandy +into the glass. It splashed a few drops into it, then it trickled over +his hand, and fell on the floor. And so it went on and on till he grew +so tired that he thought he needed a dram himself. So he tossed off the +few drops and began again; but he fared no better. So he took another +little drain, and went on, and on, and on, till he got quite fuddled. +And who should come down into the cellar but his master to know what the +smell of brandy meant! + +Now James the footman was truthful as well as honest, so he told the +master how he had come down to get the sick laundry-maid a drop of +brandy, but that his hand had shaken so that he could not pour it out, +and it had fallen on the ground, and that the smell of it had got to his +head. + +"A likely tale," said the master, and beat James soundly. + +Then the master went to the mistress, his wife, and said: "Send away +that laundry-maid of yours. Something has come over my men. They have +all drawn out their savings as if they were going to be married, yet +they don't leave, and I believe that girl is at the bottom of it." + +But his wife would not hear of the laundry-maid being blamed; she was +the best servant in the house, and worth all the rest of them put +together; it was his men who were at fault. So they quarrelled over it; +but in the end the master gave in, and after this there was peace, since +the mistress bade the girl keep herself to herself, and none of the men +would say ought of what had happened for fear of the laughter of the +other servants. + +So it went on until one day when the master was going a-driving, the +coach was at the door, and the footman was standing to hold the coach +open, and the butler on the steps all ready, when who should pass +through the yard, so saucy and bright with a great basket of clean +clothes, but the laundry-maid. And the sight of her was too much for +James, the footman, who began to blub. + +"She is a wicked girl," he said. "She got all my savings, and got me a +good thrashing besides." + +Then the coachman grew bold. "Did she?" he said. "That was nothing to +what she served me." So he up and told all about the wet clothes and the +awful job he had had the livelong night. Now the butler on the steps +swelled with rage until he nearly burst, and at last he out with his +night of banging shutters. + +"And one," he said, "hit me on the nose." + +This settled the three men, and they agreed to tell their master the +moment he came out, and get the girl sent about her business. Now the +laundry-maid had sharp ears and had paused behind a door to listen; so +when she heard this she knew she must do something to stop it. So she +out with her three feathers and said, "By virtue of the three feathers +from over my true love's heart may there be striving as to who suffered +most between the men so that they get into the pond for a ducking." + +Well! no sooner had she said the words than the three men began +disputing as to which of them had been served the worst; then James up +and hit the stout butler, giving him a black eye, and the fat butler +fell upon James and pommelled him hard, while the coachman scrambled +from his box and belaboured them both, and the laundry-maid stood by +laughing. + +So out comes the master, but none of them would listen, and each wanted +to be heard, and fought, and shoved, and pommelled away until they +shoved each other into the pond, and all got a fine ducking. + +Then the master asked the girl what it was all about, and she said: + +"They all wanted to tell a story against me because I won't marry them, +and one said his was the best, and the next said his was the best, so +they fell a-quarrelling as to which was the likeliest story to get me +into trouble. But they are well punished, so there is no need to do +more." + +Then the master went to his wife and said, "You are right. That +laundry-maid of yours is a very wise girl." + +So the butler and the coachman and James had nothing to do but look +sheepish and hold their tongues, and the laundry-maid went on with her +duties without further trouble. + +Then when the seven years and a day were over, who should drive up to +the door in a fine gilded coach but the bird-husband restored to his +shape as a handsome young man. And he carried the laundry-maid off to be +his wife again, and her master and mistress were so pleased at her good +fortune that they ordered all the other servants to stand on the steps +and give her good luck. So as she passed the butler she put a bag with +seventy pounds in it into his hand and said sweetly, "That is to +recompense you for shutting the shutters." + +And when she passed the coachman she put a bag with forty pounds into +his hand and said, "That is your reward for bringing in the clothes." +But when she passed the footman she gave him a bag with a hundred pounds +in it, and laughed, saying, "That is for the drop of brandy you never +brought me!" + +So she drove off with her handsome husband, and lived happy ever after. + + + + +LAZY JACK + + +Once upon a time there was a boy whose name was Jack, and he lived with +his mother on a common. They were very poor, and the old woman got her +living by spinning, but Jack was so lazy that he would do nothing but +bask in the sun in the hot weather, and sit by the corner of the hearth +in the winter-time. So they called him Lazy Jack. His mother could not +get him to do anything for her, and at last told him, one Monday, that +if he did not begin to work for his porridge she would turn him out to +get his living as he could. + +This roused Jack, and he went out and hired himself for the next day to +a neighbouring farmer for a penny; but as he was coming home, never +having had any money before, he lost it in passing over a brook. + +"You stupid boy," said his mother, "you should have put it in your +pocket." + +"I'll do so another time," replied Jack. + +Well, the next day, Jack went out again and hired himself to a +cowkeeper, who gave him a jar of milk for his day's work. Jack took the +jar and put it into the large pocket of his jacket, spilling it all, +long before he got home. + +"Dear me!" said the old woman; "you should have carried it on your +head." + +"I'll do so another time," said Jack. + +So the following day, Jack hired himself again to a farmer, who agreed +to give him a cream cheese for his services. In the evening Jack took +the cheese, and went home with it on his head. By the time he got home +the cheese was all spoilt, part of it being lost, and part matted with +his hair. + +"You stupid lout," said his mother, "you should have carried it very +carefully in your hands." + +"I'll do so another time," replied Jack. + +Now the next day, Lazy Jack again went out, and hired himself to a +baker, who would give him nothing for his work but a large tom-cat. Jack +took the cat, and began carrying it very carefully in his hands, but in +a short time pussy scratched him so much that he was compelled to let it +go. + +When he got home, his mother said to him, "You silly fellow, you should +have tied it with a string, and dragged it along after you." + +"I'll do so another time," said Jack. + +So on the following day, Jack hired himself to a butcher, who rewarded +him by the handsome present of a shoulder of mutton. Jack took the +mutton, tied it with a string, and trailed it along after him in the +dirt, so that by the time he had got home the meat was completely +spoilt. His mother was this time quite out of patience with him, for the +next day was Sunday, and she was obliged to do with cabbage for her +dinner. + +[Illustration: Jack found it hard to hoist the donkey on his shoulders] + +"You ninney-hammer," said she to her son, "you should have carried it on +your shoulder." + +"I'll do so another time," replied Jack. + +Well, on the Monday, Lazy Jack went once more and hired himself to a +cattle-keeper, who gave him a donkey for his trouble. Now though Jack +was strong he found it hard to hoist the donkey on his shoulders, but at +last he did it, and began walking home slowly with his prize. Now it so +happened that in the course of his journey he passed a house where a +rich man lived with his only daughter, a beautiful girl, who was deaf +and dumb. And she had never laughed in her life, and the doctors said +she would never speak till somebody made her laugh. So the father had +given out that any man who made her laugh would receive her hand in +marriage. Now this young lady happened to be looking out of the window +when Jack was passing by with the donkey on his shoulders; and the poor +beast with its legs sticking up in the air was kicking violently and +heehawing with all its might. Well, the sight was so comical that she +burst out into a great fit of laughter, and immediately recovered her +speech and hearing. Her father was overjoyed, and fulfilled his promise +by marrying her to Lazy Jack, who was thus made a rich gentleman. They +lived in a large house, and Jack's mother lived with them in great +happiness until she died. + + + + +[Illustration: The giant Cormoran was the terror of all the country-side] + +JACK THE GIANT-KILLER + + +I + +When good King Arthur reigned with Guinevere his Queen, there lived, +near the Land's End in Cornwall, a farmer who had one only son called +Jack. Now Jack was brisk and ready; of such a lively wit that none nor +nothing could worst him. + +In those days, the Mount of St. Michael in Cornwall was the fastness of +a hugeous giant whose name was Cormoran. + +He was full eighteen feet in height, some three yards about his middle, +of a grim fierce face, and he was the terror of all the country-side. He +lived in a cave amidst the rocky Mount, and when he desired victuals he +would wade across the tides to the mainland and furnish himself forth +with all that came in his way. The poor folk and the rich folk alike ran +out of their houses and hid themselves when they heard the swish-swash +of his big feet in the water; for if he saw them, he would think nothing +of broiling half-a-dozen or so of them for breakfast. As it was, he +seized their cattle by the score, carrying off half-a-dozen fat oxen on +his back at a time, and hanging sheep and pigs to his waistbelt like +bunches of dip-candles. Now this had gone on for long years, and the +poor folk of Cornwall were in despair, for none could put an end to the +giant Cormoran. + +It so happened that one market day Jack, then quite a young lad, found +the town upside down over some new exploit of the giant's. Women were +weeping, men were cursing, and the magistrates were sitting in Council +over what was to be done. But none could suggest a plan. Then Jack, +blithe and gay, went up to the magistrates, and with a fine +courtesy--for he was ever polite--asked them what reward would be given +to him who killed the giant Cormoran. + +"The treasures of the Giant's Cave," quoth they. + +"Every whit of it?" quoth Jack, who was never to be done. + +"To the last farthing," quoth they. + +"Then will I undertake the task," said Jack, and forthwith set about the +business. + +It was winter-time, and having got himself a horn, a pickaxe, and a +shovel, he went over to the Mount in the dark evening, set to work, and +before dawn he had dug a pit, no less than twenty-two feet deep and nigh +as big across. This he covered with long thin sticks and straw, +sprinkling a little loose mould over all to make it look like solid +ground. So, just as dawn was breaking, he planted himself fair and +square on the side of the pit that was farthest from the giant's cave, +raised the horn to his lips, and with full blast sounded: + + "Tantivy! Tantivy! Tantivy!" + +just as he would have done had he been hunting a fox. + +Of course this woke the giant, who rushed in a rage out of his cave, and +seeing little Jack, fair and square blowing away at his horn, as calm +and cool as may be, he became still more angry, and made for the +disturber of his rest, bawling out, "I'll teach you to wake a giant, you +little whipper-snapper. You shall pay dearly for your tantivys, I'll +take you and broil you whole for break--" + +He had only got as far as this when crash--he fell into the pit! So +there was a break indeed; such an one that it caused the very +foundations of the Mount to shake. + +But Jack shook with laughter. "Ho, ho!" he cried, "how about breakfast +now, Sir Giant? Will you have me broiled or baked? And will no diet +serve you but poor little Jack? Faith! I've got you in Lob's pound now! +You're in the stocks for bad behaviour, and I'll plague you as I like. +Would I had rotten eggs; but this will do as well." And with that he up +with his pickaxe and dealt the giant Cormoran such a most weighty knock +on the very crown of his head, that he killed him on the spot. + +Whereupon Jack calmly filled up the pit with earth again and went to +search the cave, where he found much treasure. + +Now when the magistrates heard of Jack's great exploit, they proclaimed +that henceforth he should be known as-- + +JACK THE GIANT-KILLER. + +And they presented him with a sword and belt, on which these words were +embroidered in gold: + + Here's the valiant Cornishman + Who slew the giant Cormoran. + + +II + +Of course the news of Jack's victory soon spread over all England, so +that another giant named Blunderbore who lived to the north, hearing of +it, vowed if ever he came across Jack he would be revenged upon him. Now +this giant Blunderbore was lord of an enchanted castle that stood in the +middle of a lonesome forest. + +It so happened that Jack, about four months after he had killed +Cormoran, had occasion to journey into Wales, and on the road he passed +this forest. Weary with walking, and finding a pleasant fountain by the +wayside, he lay down to rest and was soon fast asleep. + +Now the giant Blunderbore, coming to the well for water, found Jack +sleeping, and knew by the lines embroidered on his belt that here was +the far-famed giant-killer. Rejoiced at his luck, the giant, without +more ado, lifted Jack to his shoulder and began to carry him through the +wood to the enchanted castle. + +But the rustling of the boughs awakened Jack, who, finding himself +already in the clutches of the giant, was terrified; nor was his alarm +decreased by seeing the courtyard of the castle all strewn with men's +bones. + +"Yours will be with them ere long," said Blunderbore as he locked poor +Jack into an immense chamber above the castle gateway. It had a +high-pitched, beamed roof, and one window that looked down the road. +Here poor Jack was to stay while Blunderbore went to fetch his +brother-giant, who lived in the same wood, that he might share in the +feast. + +Now, after a time, Jack, watching through the window, saw the two giants +tramping hastily down the road, eager for their dinner. + +"Now," quoth Jack to himself, "my death or my deliverance is at hand." +For he had thought out a plan. In one corner of the room he had seen two +strong cords. These he took, and making a cunning noose at the end of +each, he hung them out of the window, and, as the giants were unlocking +the iron door of the gate, managed to slip them over their heads without +their noticing it. Then, quick as thought, he tied the other ends to a +beam, so that as the giants moved on the nooses tightened and throttled +them until they grew black in the face. Seeing this, Jack slid down the +ropes, and drawing his sword, slew them both. + +So, taking the keys of the castle, he unlocked all the doors and set +free three beauteous ladies who, tied by the hair of their heads, he +found almost starved to death. "Sweet ladies," quoth Jack, kneeling on +one knee--for he was ever polite--"here are the keys of this enchanted +castle. I have destroyed the giant Blunderbore and his brutish brother, +and thus have restored to you your liberty. These keys should bring you +all else you require." + +So saying he proceeded on his journey to Wales. + + +III + +He travelled as fast as he could; perhaps too fast, for, losing his way, +he found himself benighted and far from any habitation. He wandered on +always in hopes, until on entering a narrow valley he came on a very +large, dreary-looking house standing alone. Being anxious for shelter he +went up to the door and knocked. You may imagine his surprise and alarm +when the summons was answered by a giant with two heads. But though this +monster's look was exceedingly fierce, his manners were quite polite; +the truth being that he was a Welsh giant, and as such double-faced and +smooth, given to gaining his malicious ends by a show of false +friendship. + +So he welcomed Jack heartily in a strong Welsh accent, and prepared a +bedroom for him, where he was left with kind wishes for a good rest. +Jack, however, was too tired to sleep well, and as he lay awake, he +overheard his host muttering to himself in the next room. Having very +keen ears he was able to make out these words, or something like them: + + "Though here you lodge with me this night, + You shall not see the morning light. + My club shall dash your brains outright." + +"Say'st thou so!" quoth Jack to himself, starting up at once, "So that +is your Welsh trick, is it? But I will be even with you." Then, leaving +his bed, he laid a big billet of wood among the blankets, and taking one +of these to keep himself warm, made himself snug in a corner of the +room, pretending to snore, so as to make Mr. Giant think he was asleep. + +And sure enough, after a little time, in came the monster on tiptoe as +if treading on eggs, and carrying a big club. Then-- + + WHACK! WHACK! WHACK! + +Jack could hear the bed being belaboured until the Giant, thinking every +bone of his guest's skin must be broken, stole out of the room again; +whereupon Jack went calmly to bed once more and slept soundly! Next +morning the giant couldn't believe his eyes when he saw Jack coming down +the stairs fresh and hearty. + +"Odds splutter hur nails!" he cried, astonished. "Did she sleep well? +Was there not nothing felt in the night?" + +"Oh," replied Jack, laughing in his sleeve, "I think a rat did come and +give me two or three flaps of his tail." + +[Illustration: Taking the keys of the castle, Jack unlocked all the doors] + +[Illustration: "Odds splutter hur nails!" cried the giant, not to be +outdone. "Hur can do that hurself!"] + +On this the giant was dumbfoundered, and led Jack to breakfast, bringing +him a bowl which held at least four gallons of hasty-pudding, and +bidding him, as a man of such mettle, eat the lot. Now Jack when +travelling wore under his cloak a leathern bag to carry his things +withal; so, quick as thought, he hitched this round in front with the +opening just under his chin; thus, as he ate, he could slip the best +part of the pudding into it without the giant's being any the wiser. So +they sate down to breakfast, the giant gobbling down his own measure of +hasty-pudding, while Jack made away with his. + +"See," says crafty Jack when he had finished. "I'll show you a trick +worth two of yours," and with that he up with a carving-knife and, +ripping up the leathern bag, out fell all the hasty-pudding on the +floor! + +"Odds splutter hur nails!" cried the giant, not to be outdone. "Hur can +do that hurself!" Whereupon he seized the carving-knife, and ripping +open his own belly fell down dead. + +Thus was Jack quit of the Welsh giant. + + +IV + +Now it so happened that in those days, when gallant knights were always +seeking adventures, King Arthur's only son, a very valiant Prince, +begged of his father a large sum of money to enable him to journey to +Wales, and there strive to set free a certain beautiful lady who was +possessed by seven evil spirits. In vain the King denied him; so at last +he gave way and the Prince set out with two horses, one of which he +rode, the other laden with gold pieces. Now after some days' journey the +Prince came to a market-town in Wales where there was a great commotion. +On asking the reason for it he was told that, according to law, the +corpse of a very generous man had been arrested on its way to the grave, +because, in life, it had owed large sums to the money-lenders. + +"That is a cruel law," said the young Prince. "Go, bury the dead in +peace, and let the creditors come to my lodgings; I will pay the debts +of the dead." + +So the creditors came, but they were so numerous that by evening the +Prince had but twopence left for himself, and could not go further on +his journey. + +Now it so happened that Jack the Giant-Killer on his way to Wales passed +through the town, and, hearing of the Prince's plight, was so taken with +his kindness and generosity that he determined to be the Prince's +servant. So this was agreed upon, and next morning, after Jack had paid +the reckoning with his last farthing, the two set out together. But as +they were leaving the town, an old woman ran after the Prince and called +out, "Justice! Justice! The dead man owed me twopence these seven years. +Pay me as well as the others." + +And the Prince, kind and generous, put his hand to his pocket and gave +the old woman the twopence that was left to him. So now they had not a +penny between them, and when the sun grew low the Prince said: + +"Jack! Since we have no money, how are we to get a night's lodging?" + +Then Jack replied, "We shall do well enough, Master; for within two or +three miles of this place there lives a huge and monstrous giant with +three heads, who can fight four hundred men in armour and make them fly +from him like chaff before the wind." + +"And what good will that be to us?" quoth the Prince. "He will for sure +chop us up in a mouthful." + +"Nay," said Jack, laughing. "Let me go and prepare the way for you. By +all accounts this giant is a dolt. Mayhap I may manage better than +that." + +So the Prince remained where he was, and Jack pricked his steed at full +speed till he came to the giant's castle, at the gate of which he +knocked so loud that he made the neighbouring hills resound. + +On this the giant roared from within in a voice like thunder: + +"Who's there?" + +Then said Jack as bold as brass, "None but your poor cousin Jack." + +"Cousin Jack!" quoth the giant, astounded. "And what news with my poor +cousin Jack?" For, see you, he was quite taken aback; so Jack made haste +to reassure him. + +"Dear coz, heavy news, God wot!" + +"Heavy news," echoed the giant, half afraid. "God wot, no heavy news can +come to me. Have I not three heads? Can I not fight five hundred men in +armour? Can I not make them fly like chaff before the wind?" + +"True," replied crafty Jack, "but I came to warn you because the great +King Arthur's son with a thousand men in armour is on his way to kill +you." + +At this the giant began to shiver and to shake. "Ah! Cousin Jack! Kind +cousin Jack! This is heavy news indeed," quoth he. "Tell me, what am I +to do?" + +[Illustration: "Ah! Cousin Jack! Kind cousin Jack! This is heavy news +indeed"] + +"Hide yourself in the vault," says crafty Jack, "and I will lock and +bolt and bar you in; and keep the key till the Prince has gone. So you +will be safe." + +Then the giant made haste and ran down into the vault, and Jack locked, +and bolted, and barred him in. Then being thus secure, he went and +fetched his master, and the two made themselves heartily merry over what +the giant was to have had for supper, while the miserable monster +shivered and shook with fright in the underground vault. + +Well, after a good night's rest Jack woke his master in early morn, and +having furnished him well with gold and silver from the giant's +treasure, bade him ride three miles forward on his journey. So when Jack +judged that the Prince was pretty well out of the smell of the giant, +he took the key and let his prisoner out. He was half dead with cold and +damp, but very grateful; and he begged Jack to let him know what he +would be given as a reward for saving the giant's life and castle from +destruction, and he should have it. + +"You're very welcome," said Jack, who always had his eyes about him. +"All I want is the old coat and cap, together with the rusty old sword +and slippers which are at your bed-head." + +When the giant heard this he sighed and shook his head. "You don't know +what you are asking," quoth he. "They are the most precious things I +possess, but as I have promised, you must have them. The coat will make +you invisible, the cap will tell you all you want to know, the sword +will cut asunder whatever you strike, and the slippers will take you +wherever you want to go in the twinkling of an eye!" + +So Jack, overjoyed, rode away with the coat and cap, the sword and the +slippers, and soon overtook his master; and they rode on together until +they reached the castle where the beautiful lady lived whom the Prince +sought. + +Now she was very beautiful, for all she was possessed of seven devils, +and when she heard the Prince sought her as a suitor, she smiled and +ordered a splendid banquet to be prepared for his reception. And she +sate on his right hand, and plied him with food and drink. + +And when the repast was over she took out her own handkerchief and +wiped his lips gently, and said, with a smile: + +"I have a task for you, my lord! You must show me that kerchief +to-morrow morning or lose your head." + +And with that she put the handkerchief in her bosom and said, +"Good-night!" + +The Prince was in despair, but Jack said nothing till his master was in +bed. Then he put on the old cap he had got from the giant, and lo! in a +minute he knew all that he wanted to know. So, in the dead of the night, +when the beautiful lady called on one of her familiar spirits to carry +her to Lucifer himself, Jack was beforehand with her, and putting on his +coat of darkness and his slippers of swiftness, was there as soon as she +was. And when she gave the handkerchief to the Devil, bidding him keep +it safe, and he put it away on a high shelf, Jack just up and nipped it +away in a trice! + +So the next morning, when the beauteous enchanted lady looked to see the +Prince crestfallen, he just made a fine bow and presented her with the +handkerchief. + +At first she was terribly disappointed, but, as the day drew on, she +ordered another and still more splendid repast to be got ready. And this +time, when the repast was over, she kissed the Prince full on the lips +and said: + +"I have a task for you, my lover. Show me to-morrow morning the last +lips I kiss to-night or you lose your head." + +Then the Prince, who by this time was head over ears in love, said +tenderly, "If you will kiss none but mine, I will." Now the beauteous +lady, for all she was possessed by seven devils, could not but see that +the Prince was a very handsome young man; so she blushed a little, and +said: + +"That is neither here nor there: you must show me them, or death is your +portion." + +So the Prince went to his bed, sorrowful as before; but Jack put on the +cap of knowledge and knew in a moment all he wanted to know. + +Thus when, in the dead of the night, the beauteous lady called on her +familiar spirit to take her to Lucifer himself, Jack in his coat of +darkness and his shoes of swiftness was there before her. + +"Thou hast betrayed me once," said the beauteous lady to Lucifer, +frowning, "by letting go my handkerchief. Now will I give thee something +none can steal, and so best the Prince, King's son though he be." + +With that she kissed the loathly demon full on the lips, and left him. +Whereupon Jack with one blow of the rusty sword of strength cut off +Lucifer's head, and, hiding it under his coat of darkness, brought it +back to his master. + +Thus next morning when the beauteous lady, with malice in her beautiful +eyes, asked the Prince to show her the lips she had last kissed, he +pulled out the demon's head by the horns. On that the seven devils, +which possessed the poor lady, gave seven dreadful shrieks and left her. +Thus the enchantment being broken, she appeared in all her perfect +beauty and goodness. + +So she and the Prince were married the very next morning. After which +they journeyed back to the court of King Arthur, where Jack the +Giant-Killer, for his many exploits, was made one of the Knights of the +Round Table. + + +V + +This, however, did not satisfy our hero, who was soon on the road again +searching for giants. Now he had not gone far when he came upon one, +seated on a huge block of timber near the entrance to a dark cave. He +was a most terrific giant. His goggle eyes were as coals of fire, his +countenance was grim and gruesome; his cheeks, like huge flitches of +bacon, were covered with a stubbly beard, the bristles of which +resembled rods of iron wire, while the locks of hair that fell on his +brawny shoulders showed like curled snakes or hissing adders. He held a +knotted iron club, and breathed so heavily you could hear him a mile +away. Nothing daunted by this fearsome sight, Jack alighted from his +horse and, putting on his coat of darkness, went close up to the giant +and said softly: "Hullo! is that you? It will not be long before I have +you fast by your beard." + +[Illustration: Seated on a huge block of timber near the entrance to a +dark cave] + +So saying he made a cut with the sword of strength at the giant's head, +but, somehow, missing his aim, cut off the nose instead, clean as a +whistle! My goodness! How the giant roared! It was like claps of +thunder, and he began to lay about him with the knotted iron club, like +one possessed. But Jack in his coat of darkness easily dodged the +blows, and running in behind, drove the sword up to the hilt into the +giant's back, so that he fell stone dead. + +Jack then cut off the head and sent it to King Arthur by a waggoner whom +he hired for the purpose. After which he began to search the giant's +cave to find his treasure. He passed through many windings and turnings +until he came to a huge hall paved and roofed with freestone. At the +upper end of this was an immense fireplace where hung an iron cauldron, +the like of which, for size, Jack had never seen before. It was boiling +and gave out a savoury steam; while beside it, on the right hand, stood +a big massive table set out with huge platters and mugs. Here it was +that the giants used to dine. Going a little further he came upon a +sort of window barred with iron, and looking within beheld a vast number +of miserable captives. + +"Alas! Alack!" they cried on seeing him. "Art come, young man, to join +us in this dreadful prison?" + +"That depends," quoth Jack: "but first tell me wherefore you are thus +held imprisoned?" + +"Through no fault," they cried at once. "We are captives of the cruel +giants and are kept here and well nourished until such time as the +monsters desire a feast. Then they choose the fattest and sup off them." + +On hearing this Jack straightway unlocked the door of the prison and set +the poor fellows free. Then, searching the giants' coffers, he divided +the gold and silver equally amongst the captives as some redress for +their sufferings, and taking them to a neighbouring castle gave them a +right good feast. + + +VI + +Now as they were all making merry over their deliverance, and praising +Jack's prowess, a messenger arrived to say that one Thunderdell, a huge +giant with two heads, having heard of the death of his kinsman, was on +his way from the northern dales to be revenged, and was already within a +mile or two of the castle, the country folk with their flocks and herds +flying before him like chaff before the wind. + +[Illustration: On his way ... to be revenged] + +Now the castle with its gardens stood on a small island that was +surrounded by a moat twenty feet wide and thirty feet deep, having very +steep sides. And this moat was spanned by a drawbridge. This, without a +moment's delay, Jack ordered should be sawn on both sides at the middle, +so as to only leave one plank uncut over which he in his invisible coat +of darkness passed swiftly to meet his enemy, bearing in his hand the +wonderful sword of strength. + +Now though the giant could not, of course, see Jack, he could smell him, +for giants have keen noses. Therefore Thunderdell cried out in a voice +like his name: + + "Fee, fi, fo, fum! + I smell the blood of an Englishman. + Be he alive, or be he dead, + I'll grind his bones to make my bread!" + +[Illustration: The country folk flying before him like chaff before the +wind] + +"Is that so?" quoth Jack, cheerful as ever. "Then art thou a monstrous +miller for sure!" + +On this the giant, peering round everywhere for a glimpse of his foe, +shouted out: + +"Art thou, indeed, the villain who hath killed so many of my kinsmen? +Then, indeed, will I tear thee to pieces with my teeth, suck thy blood, +and grind thy bones to powder." + +"Thou'lt have to catch me first," quoth Jack, laughing, and throwing off +his coat of darkness and putting on his slippers of swiftness, he began +nimbly to lead the giant a pretty dance, he leaping and doubling light +as a feather, the monster following heavily like a walking tower, so +that the very foundations of the earth seemed to shake at every step. +At this game the onlookers nearly split their sides with laughter, until +Jack, judging there had been enough of it, made for the drawbridge, ran +neatly over the single plank, and reaching the other side waited in +teasing fashion for his adversary. + +On came the giant at full speed, foaming at the mouth with rage, and +flourishing his club. But when he came to the middle of the bridge his +great weight, of course, broke the plank, and there he was fallen +headlong into the moat, rolling and wallowing like a whale, plunging +from place to place, yet unable to get out and be revenged. + +The spectators greeted his efforts with roars of laughter, and Jack +himself was at first too overcome with merriment to do more than scoff. +At last, however, he went for a rope, cast it over the giant's two +heads, so, with the help of a team of horses, drew them shorewards, +where two blows from the sword of strength settled the matter. + + +VII + +After some time spent in mirth and pastimes, Jack began once more to +grow restless, and taking leave of his companions set out for fresh +adventures. + +He travelled far and fast, through woods, and vales, and hills, till at +last he came, late at night, on a lonesome house set at the foot of a +high mountain. Knocking at the door, it was opened by an old man whose +head was white as snow. + +"Father," said Jack, ever courteous, "can you lodge a benighted +traveller?" + +"Ay, that will I, and welcome to my poor cottage," replied the old man. + +Whereupon Jack came in, and after supper they sate together chatting in +friendly fashion. Then it was that the old man, seeing by Jack's belt +that he was the famous Giant-Killer, spoke in this wise: + +"My son! You are the great conqueror of evil monsters. Now close by +there lives one well worthy of your prowess. On the top of yonder high +hill is an enchanted castle kept by a giant named Galligantua, who, by +the help of a wicked old magician, inveigles many beautiful ladies and +valiant knights into the castle, where they are transformed into all +sorts of birds and beasts, yea, even into fishes and insects. There they +live pitiably in confinement; but most of all do I grieve for a duke's +daughter whom they kidnapped in her father's garden, bringing her hither +in a burning chariot drawn by fiery dragons. Her form is that of a white +hind; and though many valiant knights have tried their utmost to break +the spell and work her deliverance, none have succeeded; for, see you, +at the entrance to the castle are two dreadful griffins who destroy +every one who attempts to pass them by." + +Now Jack bethought him of the coat of darkness which had served him so +well before, and he put on the cap of knowledge, and in an instant he +knew what had to be done. Then the very next morning, at dawn-time, Jack +arose and put on his invisible coat and his slippers of swiftness. And +in the twinkling of an eye there he was on the top of the mountain! And +there were the two griffins guarding the castle gates--horrible +creatures with forked tails and tongues. But they could not see him +because of the coat of darkness, so he passed them by unharmed. + +And hung to the doors of the gateway he found a golden trumpet on a +silver chain, and beneath it was engraved in red lettering: + + Whoever shall this trumpet blow + Will cause the giant's overthrow. + The black enchantment he will break, + And gladness out of sadness make. + +No sooner had Jack read these words than he put the horn to his lips and +blew a loud + + "Tantivy! Tantivy! Tantivy!" + +Now at the very first note the castle trembled to its vast foundations, +and before he had finished the measure, both the giant and the magician +were biting their thumbs and tearing their hair, knowing that their +wickedness must now come to an end. But the giant showed fight and took +up his club to defend himself; whereupon Jack, with one clean cut of the +sword of strength, severed his head from his body, and would doubtless +have done the same to the magician, but that the latter was a coward, +and, calling up a whirlwind, was swept away by it into the air, nor +has he ever been seen or heard of since. The enchantments being thus +broken, all the valiant knights and beautiful ladies, who had been +transformed into birds and beasts and fishes and reptiles and insects, +returned to their proper shapes, including the duke's daughter, who, +from being a white hind, showed as the most beauteous maiden upon whom +the sun ever shone. Now, no sooner had this occurred than the whole +castle vanished away in a cloud of smoke, and from that moment giants +vanished also from the land. + +[Illustration: The giant Galligantua and the wicked old magician +transform the duke's daughter into a white hind] + +So Jack, when he had presented the head of Galligantua to King Arthur, +together with all the lords and ladies he had delivered from +enchantment, found he had nothing more to do. As a reward for past +services, however, King Arthur bestowed the hand of the duke's daughter +upon honest Jack the Giant-Killer. So married they were, and the whole +kingdom was filled with joy at their wedding. Furthermore, the King +bestowed on Jack a noble castle with a magnificent estate belonging +thereto, whereon he, his lady, and their children lived in great joy and +content for the rest of their days. + + + + +[Illustration: Headpiece--The Three Sillies] + +THE THREE SILLIES + + +Once upon a time, when folk were not so wise as they are nowadays, there +lived a farmer and his wife who had one daughter. And she, being a +pretty lass, was courted by the young squire when he came home from his +travels. + +Now every evening he would stroll over from the Hall to see her and stop +to supper in the farm-house, and every evening the daughter would go +down into the cellar to draw the cider for supper. + +So one evening when she had gone down to draw the cider and had turned +the tap as usual, she happened to look up at the ceiling, and there she +saw a big wooden mallet stuck in one of the beams. + +It must have been there for ages and ages, for it was all covered with +cobwebs; but somehow or another she had never noticed it before, and at +once she began thinking how dangerous it was to have the mallet just +there. + +"For," thought she, "supposing him and me was married, and supposing we +was to have a son, and supposing he were to grow up to be a man, and +supposing he were to come down to draw cider like as I'm doing, and +supposing the mallet were to fall on his head and kill him, how dreadful +it would be!" + +And with that she put down the candle she was carrying and, seating +herself on a cask, began to cry. And she cried and cried and cried. + +Now, upstairs, they began to wonder why she was so long drawing the +cider; so after a time her mother went down to the cellar to see what +had come to her, and found her, seated on the cask, crying ever so hard, +and the cider running all over the floor. + +"Lawks a mercy me!" cried her mother, "whatever is the matter?" + +"O mother!" says she between her sobs, "it's that horrid mallet. +Supposing him and me was married, and supposing we was to have a son, +and supposing he was to grow up to be a man, and supposing he was to +come down to draw cider like as I'm doing, and supposing the mallet were +to fall on his head and kill him, how dreadful it would be!" + +"Dear heart!" said the mother, seating herself beside her daughter and +beginning to cry: "How dreadful it would be!" + +So they both sat a-crying. + +Now after a time, when they did not come back, the farmer began to +wonder what had happened, and going down to the cellar found them +seated side by side on the cask, crying hard, and the cider running all +over the floor. + +"Zounds!" says he, "whatever is the matter?" + +"Just look at that horrid mallet up there, father," moaned the mother. +"Supposing our daughter was to marry her sweetheart, and supposing they +was to have a son, and supposing he was to grow to man's estate, and +supposing he was to come down to draw cider like as we're doing, and +supposing that there mallet was to fall on his head and kill him, how +dreadful it would be!" + +"Dreadful indeed!" said the father and, seating himself beside his wife +and daughter, started a-crying too. + +Now upstairs the young squire wanted his supper; so at last he lost +patience and went down into the cellar to see for himself what they were +all after. And there he found them seated side by side on the cask +a-crying, with their feet all a-wash in cider, for the floor was fair +flooded. So the first thing he did was to run straight and turn off the +tap. Then he said: + +"What are you three after, sitting there crying like babies, and letting +good cider run over the floor?" + +Then they all three began with one voice, "Look at that horrid mallet! +Supposing you and me/she was married, and supposing we/you had a +son, and supposing he was to grow to man's estate, and supposing he was +to come down here to draw cider like as we be, and supposing that there +mallet was to fall down on his head and kill him, how dreadful it would +be!" + +Then the young squire burst out a-laughing, and laughed till he was +tired. But at last he reached up to the old mallet and pulled it out, +and put it safe on the floor. And he shook his head and said, "I've +travelled far and I've travelled fast, but never have I met with three +such sillies as you three. Now I can't marry one of the three biggest +sillies in the world. So I shall start again on my travels, and if I can +find three bigger sillies than you three, then I'll come back and be +married--not otherwise." + +So he wished them good-bye and started again on his travels, leaving +them all crying; this time because the marriage was off! + +Well, the young man travelled far and he travelled fast, but never did +he find a bigger silly, until one day he came upon an old woman's +cottage that had some grass growing on the thatched roof. + +And the old woman was trying her best to cudgel her cow into going up a +ladder to eat the grass. But the poor thing was afraid and durst not go. +Then the old woman tried coaxing, but it wouldn't go. You never saw such +a sight! The cow getting more and more flustered and obstinate, the old +woman getting hotter and hotter. + +At last the young squire said, "It would be easier if _you_ went up the +ladder, cut the grass, and threw it down for the cow to eat." + +"A likely story that," says the old woman. "A cow can cut grass for +herself. And the foolish thing will be quite safe up there, for I'll tie +a rope round her neck, pass the rope down the chimney, and fasten +t'other end to my wrist, so as when I'm doing my bit o' washing, she +can't fall off the roof without my knowing it. So mind your own +business, young sir." + +Well, after a while the old woman coaxed and codgered and bullied and +badgered the cow up the ladder, and when she got it on to the roof she +tied a rope round its neck, passed the rope down the chimney, and +fastened t'other end to her wrist. Then she went about her bit of +washing, and young squire he went on his way. + +But he hadn't gone but a bit when he heard the awfullest hullabaloo. He +galloped back, and found that the cow had fallen off the roof and got +strangled by the rope round its neck, while the weight of the cow had +pulled the old woman by her wrist up the chimney, where she had got +stuck half-way and been smothered by the soot! + +"That is one bigger silly," quoth the young squire as he journeyed on. +"So now for two more!" + +He did not find any, however, till late one night he arrived at a little +inn. And the inn was so full that he had to share a room with another +traveller. Now his room-fellow proved quite a pleasant fellow, and they +forgathered, and each slept well in his bed. + +But next morning, when they were dressing, what does the stranger do but +carefully hang his breeches on the knobs of the tallboy! + +"What are you doing?" asks young squire. + +"I'm putting on my breeches," says the stranger; and with that he goes +to the other end of the room, takes a little run, and tried to jump into +the breeches. + +But he didn't succeed, so he took another run and another try, and +another and another and another, until he got quite hot and flustered, +as the old woman had got over her cow that wouldn't go up the ladder. +And all the time young squire was laughing fit to split, for never in +his life did he see anything so comical. + +Then the stranger stopped a while and mopped his face with his +handkerchief, for he was all in a sweat. "It's very well laughing," says +he, "but breeches are the most awkwardest things to get into that ever +were. It takes me the best part of an hour every morning before I get +them on. How do you manage yours?" + +Then young squire showed him, as well as he could for laughing, how to +put on his breeches, and the stranger was ever so grateful and said he +never should have thought of that way. + +"So that," quoth young squire to himself, "is a second bigger silly." +But he travelled far and he travelled fast without finding the third, +until one bright night when the moon was shining right overhead he came +upon a village. And outside the village was a pond, and round about the +pond was a great crowd of villagers. And some had got rakes, and some +had got pitchforks, and some had got brooms. And they were as busy as +busy, shouting out, and raking, and forking, and sweeping away at the +pond. + +"What is the matter?" cried young squire, jumping off his horse to help. +"Has any one fallen in?" + +"Aye! Matter enough," says they. "Can't 'ee see moon's fallen into the +pond, an' we can't get her out nohow." + +And with that they set to again raking, and forking, and sweeping away. +Then the young squire burst out laughing, told them they were fools for +their pains, and bade them look up over their heads where the moon was +riding broad and full. But they wouldn't, and they wouldn't believe that +what they saw in the water was only a reflection. And when he insisted +they began to abuse him roundly and threaten to duck him in the pond. So +he got on his horse again as quickly as he could, leaving them raking, +and forking, and sweeping away; and for all we know they may be at it +yet! + +But the young squire said to himself, "There are many more sillies in +this world than I thought for; so I'll just go back and marry the +farmer's daughter. She is no sillier than the rest." + +So they were married, and if they didn't live happy ever after, that has +nothing to do with the story of the three sillies. + + + + +[Illustration: Headpiece--The Golden Ball] + +THE GOLDEN BALL + + +Once upon a time there lived two lasses, who were sisters, and as they +came from the fair they saw a right handsome young man standing at a +house door before them. They had never seen such a handsome young man +before. He had gold on his cap, gold on his finger, gold on his neck, +gold at his waist! And he had a golden ball in each hand. He gave a ball +to each lass, saying she was to keep it; but if she lost it, she was to +be hanged. + +Now the youngest of the lasses lost her ball, and this is how. She was +by a park paling, and she was tossing her ball, and it went up, and up, +and up, till it went fair over the paling; and when she climbed to look +for it, the ball ran along the green grass, and it ran right forward to +the door of a house that stood there, and the ball went into the house +and she saw it no more. + +So she was taken away to be hanged by the neck till she was dead, +because she had lost her ball. + +But the lass had a sweetheart, and he said he would go and get the ball. +So he went to the park gate, but 'twas shut; then he climbed the +railing, and when he got to the top of it an old woman rose up out of +the ditch before him and said that if he wanted to get the ball he must +sleep three nights in the house: so he said he would. + +Well! when it was evening, he went into the house, and looked everywhere +for the ball, but he could not find it, nor any one in the house at all; +but when night came on he thought he heard bogles moving about in the +courtyard; so he looked out o' window, and, sure enough, the yard was +full of them! + +Presently he heard steps coming upstairs, so he hid behind the door, and +was as still as a mouse. Then in came a big giant five times as tall as +the lad, and looked around; but seeing nothing he went to the window and +bowed himself to look out; and as he bowed on his elbows to see the +bogles in the yard, the lad stepped behind him, and with one blow of his +sword he cut him in twain, so that the top part of him fell in the yard, +and the bottom part remained standing looking out of the window. + +Well! there was a great cry from the bogles when they saw half the giant +come tumbling down to them, and they called out, "There comes half our +master; give us the other half." + +Then the lad said, "It's no use of thee, thou pair of legs, standing +alone at the window, as thou hast no eye to see with, so go join thy +brother"; and he cast the lower part of the giant after the top part. +Now when the bogles had gotten all the giant they were quiet. + +Next night the lad went to sleep in the house again, and this time a +second giant came in at the door, and as he came in the lad cut him in +twain; but the legs walked on to the fire and went straight up the +chimney. + +"Go, get thee after thy legs," said the lad to the head, and he cast the +other half of the giant up the chimney. + +Now the third night nothing happened, so the lad got into bed; but +before he went to sleep he heard the bogles striving under the bed, and +he wondered what they were at. So he peeped, and saw that they had the +ball there, and were playing with it, casting it to and fro. + +Now after a time one of them thrust his leg out from under the bed, and +quick as anything the lad brings his sword down, and cuts it off. Then +another bogle thrust his arm out at t'other side of the bed, and in a +twinkling the lad cuts that off too. So it went on, till at last he had +maimed them all, and they all went off, crying and wailing, and forgot +the ball! Then the lad got out of bed, found the ball, and went off at +once to seek his true love. + +[Illustration: He heard the bogles striving under the bed] + +Now the lass had been taken to York to be hanged; she was brought out on +the scaffold, and the hangman said, "Now, lass, thou must hang by the +neck till thou be'st dead." But she cried out: + + "Stop, stop, I think I see my mother coming! + O mother, hast thou brought my golden ball + And come to set me free?" + +And the mother answered: + + "I've neither brought thy golden ball + Nor come to set thee free, + But I have come to see thee hung + Upon this gallows-tree." + +Then the hangman said, "Now, lass, say thy prayers for thou must die." +But she said: + + "Stop, stop, I think I see my father coming! + O father, hast thou brought my golden ball + And come to set me free?" + +And the father answered: + + "I've neither brought thy golden ball + Nor come to set thee free, + But I have come to see thee hung + Upon this gallows-tree." + +Then the hangman said, "Hast thee done thy prayers? Now, lass, put thy +head into the noose." + +But she answered, "Stop, stop, I think I see my brother coming!" And +again she sang her little verse, and the brother sang back the same +words. And so with her sister, her uncle, her aunt, and her cousin. But +they all said the same: + + "I've neither brought thy golden ball + Nor come to set thee free, + But I have come to see thee hung + Upon this gallows-tree." + +Then the hangman said, "I will stop no longer, thou'rt making game of +me. Thou must be hung at once." + +But now, at long last, she saw her sweetheart coming through the crowd, +so she cried to him: + + "Stop, stop, I see my sweetheart coming! + Sweetheart, hast thou brought my golden ball + And come to set me free?" + +Then her sweetheart held up her golden ball and cried: + + "Aye, I have brought to thee thy golden ball + And come to set thee free; + I have not come to see thee hung + Upon this gallows-tree." + +So he took her home, then and there, and they lived happy ever after. + + + + +THE TWO SISTERS + + +Once upon a time there were two sisters who were as like each other as +two peas in a pod; but one was good, and the other was bad-tempered. Now +their father had no work, so the girls began to think of going to +service. + +"I will go first and see what I can make of it," said the younger +sister, ever so cheerfully, "then you, sis, can follow if I have good +luck." + +So she packed up a bundle, said good-bye, and started to find a place; +but no one in the town wanted a girl, and she went farther afield into +the country. And as she journeyed she came upon an oven in which a lot +of loaves were baking. Now as she passed, the loaves cried out with one +voice: + +"Little girl! Little girl! Take us out! Please take us out! We have been +baking for seven years, and no one has come to take us out. Do take us +out or we shall soon be burnt!" + +Then, being a kind, obliging little girl, she stopped, put down her +bundle, took out the bread, and went on her way saying: + +"You will be more comfortable now." + +After a time she came to a cow lowing beside an empty pail, and the cow +said to her: + +"Little girl! Little girl! Milk me! Please milk me! Seven years have I +been waiting, but no one has come to milk me!" + +So the kind girl stopped, put down her bundle, milked the cow into the +pail, and went on her way saying: + +"Now you will be more comfortable." + +By and by she came to an apple tree so laden with fruit that its +branches were nigh to break, and the apple tree called to her: + +"Little girl! Little girl! Please shake my branches. The fruit is so +heavy I can't stand straight!" + +Then the kind girl stopped, put down her bundle, and shook the branches +so that the apples fell off, and the tree could stand straight. Then she +went on her way saying: + +"You will be more comfortable now." + +So she journeyed on till she came to a house where an old witch-woman +lived. Now this witch-woman wanted a servant-maid, and promised good +wages. Therefore the girl agreed to stop with her and try how she liked +service. She had to sweep the floor, keep the house clean and tidy, the +fire bright and cheery. But there was one thing the witch-woman said she +must never do; and that was look up the chimney! + +[Illustration: "Tree of mine! O Tree of mine! Have you seen my naughty +little maid?"] + +"If you do," said the witch-woman, "something will fall down on you, and +you will come to a bad end." Well! the girl swept, and dusted, and +made up the fire; but ne'er a penny of wages did she see. Now the girl +wanted to go home as she did not like witch-service; for the witch used +to have boiled babies for supper, and bury the bones under some stones +in the garden. But she did not like to go home penniless; so she stayed +on, sweeping, and dusting, and doing her work, just as if she was +pleased. Then one day, as she was sweeping up the hearth, down tumbled +some soot, and, without remembering she was forbidden to look up the +chimney, she looked up to see where the soot came from. And, lo and +behold! a big bag of gold fell plump into her lap. + +Now the witch happened to be out on one of her witch errands; so the +girl thought it a fine opportunity to be off home. + +So she kilted up her petticoats and started to run home; but she had +only gone a little way when she heard the witch-woman coming after her +on her broomstick. Now the apple tree she had helped to stand straight +happened to be quite close; so she ran to it and cried: + + "Apple tree! Apple tree, hide me + So the old witch can't find me, + For if she does she'll pick my bones, + And bury me under the garden stones." + +Then the apple tree said, "Of course I will. You helped me to stand +straight, and one good turn deserves another." + +So the apple tree hid her finely in its green branches; and when the +witch flew past saying: + + "Tree of mine! O Tree of mine! + Have you seen my naughty little maid + With a willy willy wag and a great big bag, + She's stolen my money--all I had?" + +The apple tree answered: + + "No, mother dear, + Not for seven year!" + +So the witch flew on the wrong way, and the girl got down, thanked the +tree politely, and started again. But just as she got to where the cow +was standing beside the pail, she heard the witch coming again, so she +ran to the cow and cried: + + "Cow! Cow, please hide me + So the witch can't find me; + If she does she'll pick my bones, + And bury me under the garden stones!" + +"Certainly I will," answered the cow. "Didn't you milk me and make me +comfortable? Hide yourself behind me and you'll be quite safe." + +And when the witch flew by and called to the cow: + + "O Cow of mine! Cow of mine! + Have you seen my naughty little maid + With a willy willy wag and a great big bag, + Who stole my money--all that I had?" + +She just said politely: + + "No, mother dear, + Not for seven year!" + +Then the old witch went on in the wrong direction, and the girl started +afresh on her way home; but just as she got to where the oven stood, she +heard that horrid old witch coming behind her again; so she ran as fast +as she could to the oven and cried: + + "O Oven! Oven! hide me + So as the witch can't find me, + For if she does she'll pick my bones, + And bury them under the garden stones." + +Then the oven said, "I am afraid there is no room for you, as another +batch of bread is baking; but there is the baker--ask him." + +So she asked the baker, and he said, "Of course I will. You saved my +last batch from being burnt; so run into the bakehouse, you will be +quite safe there, and I will settle the witch for you." + +So she hid in the bakehouse, only just in time, for there was the old +witch calling angrily: + + "O Man of mine! Man of mine! + Have you seen my naughty little maid + With a willy willy wag and a great big bag, + Who's stole my money--all I had?" + +Then the baker replied, "Look in the oven. She may be there." + +And the witch alighted from her broomstick and peered into the oven: but +she could see no one. + +"Creep in and look in the farthest corner," said the baker slyly, and +the witch crept in, when---- + + Bang!---- + +he shut the door in her face, and there she was roasting. And when she +came out with the bread she was all crisp and brown, and had to go home +as best she could and put cold cream all over her! + +But the kind, obliging little girl got safe home with her bag of money. + +Now the ill-tempered elder sister was very jealous of this good luck, +and determined to get a bag of gold for herself. So she in her turn +packed up a bundle and started to seek service by the same road. But +when she came to the oven, and the loaves begged her to take them out +because they had been baking seven years and were nigh to burning, she +tossed her head and said: + +"A likely story indeed, that I should burn my fingers to save your +crusts. No, thank you!" + +And with that she went on till she came across the cow standing waiting +to be milked beside the pail. But when the cow said: + +"Little girl! Little girl! Milk me! Please milk me, I've waited seven +years to be milked----" + +She only laughed and replied, "You may wait another seven years for all +I care. I'm not your dairymaid!" + +And with that she went on till she came to the apple tree, all +overburdened by its fruit. But when it begged her to shake its branches, +she only giggled, and plucking one ripe apple, said: + +"One is enough for me: you can keep the rest yourself." And with that +she went on munching the apple, till she came to the witch-woman's +house. + +Now the witch-woman, though she had got over being crisp and brown from +the oven, was dreadfully angry with all little maid-servants, and made +up her mind this one should not trick her. So for a long time she never +went out of the house; thus the ill-tempered sister never had a chance +of looking up the chimney, as she had meant to do at once. And she had +to dust, and clean, and brush, and sweep ever so hard, until she was +quite tired out. + +But one day, when the witch-woman went into the garden to bury her +bones, she seized the moment, looked up the chimney, and, sure enough, a +bag of gold fell plump into her lap! + +Well! she was off with it in a moment, and ran and ran till she came to +the apple tree, when she heard the witch-woman behind her. So she cried +as her sister had done: + + "Apple tree! Apple tree, hide me + So the old witch can't find me, + For if she does she'll break my bones, + Or bury me under the garden stones." + +But the apple tree said: + +"No room here! I've too many apples." + +So she had to run on; and when the witch-woman on her broomstick came +flying by and called: + + "O Tree of mine! Tree of mine! + Have you seen a naughty little maid + With a willy willy wag and a great big bag, + Who's stolen my money--all I had?" + +The apple tree replied: + + "Yes, mother dear, + She's gone down there." + +Then the witch-woman went after her, caught her, gave her a thorough +good beating, took the bag of money away from her, and sent her home +without a penny payment for all her dusting, and sweeping, and brushing, +and cleaning. + + + + +[Illustration: Headpiece--The Laidly Worm] + +THE LAIDLY WORM + + +In Bamborough Castle there once lived a King who had two children, a son +named Childe Wynde, and a daughter who was called May Margret. Their +mother, a fair woman, was dead, and the King mourned her long and +faithfully. But, after his son Childe Wynde went to seek his fortune, +the King, hunting in the forest, came across a lady of such great beauty +that he fell in love with her at once and determined to marry her. + +Now Princess May Margret was not over-pleased to think that her mother's +place should be taken by a strange woman, nor was she pleased to think +that she would have to give up keeping house for her father the King. +For she had always taken a pride in her work. But she said nothing, +though she stood long on the castle walls looking out across the sea +wishing for her dear brother's return; for, see you, they had mothered +each other. + +Still no news came of Childe Wynde; so on the day when the old King was +to bring the new Queen home, May Margret counted over the keys of the +castle chambers, knotted them on a string, and after casting them over +her left shoulder for luck--more for her father's sake than for the new +Queen's regard--she stood at the castle gate ready to hand over the keys +to her stepmother. + +Now as the bridal procession approached with all the lords of the north +countrie, and some of the Scots lords in attendance, she looked so fair +and so sweet, that the lords whispered to one another of her beauty. And +when, after saying in a voice like a mavis-- + + "Oh welcome, welcome, father, + Unto your halls and towers! + And welcome too, my stepmother, + For all that's here is yours!" + +she turned upon the step and tripped into the yard, the Scots lords said +aloud: + + "Forsooth! May Margret's grace + Surpasses all that we have met, she has so fair a face!" + +Now the new Queen overheard this, and she stamped her foot and her face +flushed with anger as she turned her about and called: + + "You might have excepted me, + But I will bring May Margret to a Laidly Worm's degree; + I'll bring her low as a Laidly Worm + That warps about a stone, + And not till the Childe of Wynde come back + Will the witching be undone." + +Well! hearing this May Margret laughed, not knowing that her new +stepmother, for all her beauty, was a witch; and the laugh made the +wicked woman still more angry. So that same night she left her royal +bed, and, returning to the lonely cave where she had ever done her +magic, she cast Princess May Margret under a spell with charms three +times three, and passes nine times nine. And this was her spell: + + "I weird ye to a Laidly Worm, + And such sail ye ever be + Until Childe Wynde the King's dear son + Comes home across the sea. + Until the world comes to an end + Unspelled ye'll never be, + Unless Childe Wynde of his own free will + Sail give you kisses three!" + +So it came to pass that Princess May Margret went to her bed a beauteous +maiden, full of grace, and rose next morning a Laidly Worm; for when her +tire-women came to dress her they found coiled up in her bed an awesome +dragon, which uncoiled itself and came towards them. And when they ran +away terrified, the Laidly Worm crawled and crept, and crept and crawled +down to the sea till it reached the rock of the Spindlestone which is +called the Heugh. And there it curled itself round the stone, and lay +basking in the sun. + +Then for seven miles east and seven miles west and seven miles north and +south the whole country-side knew the hunger of the Laidly Worm of +Spindlestone Heugh, for it drove the awesome beast to leave its +resting-place at night and devour everything it came across. + +At last a wise warlock told the people that if they wished to be quit of +these horrors, they must take every drop of the milk of seven white +milch kine every morn and every eve to the trough of stone at the foot +of the Heugh, for the Laidly Worm to drink. And this they did, and after +that the Laidly Worm troubled the country-side no longer; but lay warped +about the Heugh, looking out to sea with its terrible snout in the air. + +But the word of its doings had gone east and had gone west; it had even +gone over the sea and had come to Childe Wynde's ears; and the news of +it angered him; for he thought perchance it had something to do with his +beloved sister May Margret's disappearance. So he called his men-at-arms +together and said: + +"We must sail to Bamborough and land by Spindlestone, so as to quell and +kill this Laidly Worm." + +Then they built a ship without delay, laying the keel with wood from the +rowan tree. And they made masts of rowan wood also, and oars likewise; +and, so furnished, set forth. + +Now the wicked Queen knew by her arts they were coming, so she sent out +her imps to still the winds so that the fluttering sails of silk hung +idle on the masts. But Childe Wynde was not to be bested; so he called +out the oarsmen. Thus it came to pass that one morn the wicked Queen, +looking from the Keep, saw the gallant ship in Bamborough Bay, and she +sent out all her witch-wives and her impets to raise a storm and sink +the ship; but they came back unable to hurt it, for, see you, it was +built of rowan wood, over which witches have no power. + +Then, as a last device, the Witch Queen laid spells upon the Laidly Worm +saying: + + "Oh! Laidly Worm! Go make their topmast heel, + Go! Worm the sand, and creep beneath the keel." + +Now the Laidly Worm had no choice but to obey. So: + + "The Worm leapt up, the Worm leapt down + And plaited round each plank, + And aye as the ship came close to shore + She heeled as if she sank." + +Three times three did Childe Wynde attempt to land, and three times +three the Laidly Worm kept the good ship from the shore. At last Childe +Wynde gave the word to put the ship about, and the Witch Queen, who was +watching from the Keep, thought he had given up: but he was not to be +bested: for he only rounded the next point to Budley sands. And there, +jumping into the shoal water, he got safely to land, and drawing his +sword of proof, rushed up to fight the awesome Worm. But as he raised +his sword to strike he heard a voice, soft as the western wind: + + "Oh quit thy sword, unbend thy bow, + And give me kisses three, + For though I seem a Laidly Worm + No harm I'll do to thee!" + +And the voice seemed to him like the voice of his dear sister May +Margret. So he stayed his hand. Then once again the Laidly Worm said: + + "Oh quit thy sword, unbend thy bow, + My laidly form forget. + Forgive the wrong and kiss me thrice + For love of May Margret." + +Then Childe Wynde, remembering how he had loved his sister, put his arms +round the Laidly Worm and kissed it once. And he kissed the loathly +thing twice. And he kissed it yet a third time as he stood with the wet +sand at his feet. + +Then with a hiss and a roar the Laidly Worm sank to the sand, and in his +arms was May Margret! + +He wrapped her in his mantle, for she trembled in the cold sea air, and +carried her to Bamborough Castle, where the wicked Queen, knowing her +hour was come, stood, all deserted by her imps and witch-wives, on the +stairs, twisting her hands. + +Then Childe Wynde looking at her cried: + + "Woe! Woe to thee, thou wicked Witch! + An ill fate shalt thine be! + The doom thou dreed on May Margret + The same doom shalt thou dree. + + Henceforth thou'lt be a Laidly Toad + That in the clay doth wend, + And unspelled thou wilt never be + Till this world hath an end." + +And as he spoke the wicked Queen began to shrivel, and she shrivelled +and shrivelled to a horrid wrinkled toad that hopped down the castle +steps and disappeared in a crevice. + +But to this day a loathsome toad is sometimes seen haunting Bamborough +Keep; and that Laidly Toad is the wicked Witch Queen! + +But Childe Wynde and Princess May Margret loved each other as much as +ever, and lived happily ever after. + + + + +[Illustration: Tatty sat down and wept] + +TITTY MOUSE AND TATTY MOUSE + + +Titty Mouse and Tatty Mouse both lived in a house. + +Titty Mouse went a-gleaning, and Tatty Mouse went a-gleaning. + +So they both went a-gleaning. + +Titty Mouse gleaned an ear of corn, and Tatty Mouse gleaned an ear of +corn. + +So they both gleaned an ear of corn. + +Titty Mouse made a pudding, and Tatty Mouse made a pudding. + +So they both made a pudding. + +And Tatty Mouse put her pudding into the pot to boil. + +But when Titty went to put hers in, the pot tumbled over, and scalded +her to death, and Tatty sat down and wept. + +Then the three-legged stool said, "Tatty, why do you weep?" + +"Titty's dead," said Tatty, "and so I weep." + +"Then," said the stool, "I'll hop," so the stool hopped. + +Then a broom in the corner of the room said, "Stool, why do you hop?" + +"Oh!" said the stool, "Titty's dead, and Tatty weeps, and so I hop." + +"Then," said the broom, "I'll sweep," so the broom began to sweep. + +Then said the door, "Broom, why do you sweep?" + +"Oh!" said the broom, "Titty's dead, and Tatty weeps, and the stool +hops, and so I sweep." + +"Then," said the door, "I'll jar," so the door jarred. + +Then the window said, "Door, why do you jar?" + +"Oh!" said the door, "Titty's dead, and Tatty weeps, and the stool hops, +and the broom sweeps, and so I jar." + +"Then," said the window, "I'll creak," so the window creaked. + +Now there was an old form outside the house, and when the window +creaked, the form said, "Window, why do you creak?" + +"Oh!" said the window, "Titty's dead, and Tatty weeps, and the stool +hops, and the broom sweeps, the door jars, and so I creak!" + +"Then," said the old form, "I'll gallop round the house." So the old +form galloped round the house. + +Now there was a fine large walnut tree growing by the cottage, and the +tree said to the form, "Form, why do you gallop round the house?" + +"Oh!" says the form, "Titty's dead, and Tatty weeps, and the stool +hops, and the broom sweeps, the door jars, and the window creaks, and so +I gallop round the house." + +"Then," said the walnut tree, "I'll shed my leaves." So the walnut tree +shed all its beautiful green leaves. + +Now there was a little bird perched on one of the boughs of the tree, +and when all the leaves fell, it said, "Walnut tree, why do you shed +your leaves?" + +"Oh!" said the tree, "Titty's dead, and Tatty weeps, the stool hops, and +the broom sweeps, the door jars, and the window creaks, the old form +gallops round the house, and so I shed my leaves." + +"Then," said the little bird, "I'll moult all my feathers," so he +moulted all his gay feathers. + +Now there was a little girl walking below, carrying a jug of milk for +her brothers' and sisters' supper, and when she saw the poor little bird +moult all its feathers, she said, "Little bird, why do you moult all +your feathers?" + +"Oh!" said the little bird, "Titty's dead, and Tatty weeps, the stool +hops, and the broom sweeps, the door jars, and the window creaks, the +old form gallops round the house, the walnut tree sheds its leaves, and +so I moult all my feathers." + +"Then," said the little girl, "I'll spill the milk." So she dropt the +pitcher and spilt the milk. + +Now there was an old man just by on the top of a ladder thatching a +rick, and when he saw the little girl spill the milk, he said, "Little +girl, what do you mean by spilling the milk? your little brothers and +sisters must go without their suppers." + +Then said the little girl, "Titty's dead, and Tatty weeps, the stool +hops, and the broom sweeps, the door jars, and the window creaks, the +old form gallops round the house, the walnut tree sheds all its leaves, +the little bird moults all its feathers, and so I spill the milk." + +"Oh!" said the old man, "then I'll tumble off the ladder and break my +neck." + +So he tumbled off the ladder and broke his neck; and when the old man +broke his neck, the great walnut tree fell down with a crash and upset +the old form and house, and the house falling knocked the window out, +and the window knocked the door down, and the door upset the broom, and +the broom upset the stool, and poor little Tatty Mouse was buried +beneath the ruins. + + + + +JACK AND THE BEANSTALK + + +A long long time ago, when most of the world was young and folk did what +they liked because all things were good, there lived a boy called Jack. + +His father was bed-ridden, and his mother, a good soul, was busy early +morns and late eves planning and placing how to support her sick husband +and her young son by selling the milk and butter which Milky-White, the +beautiful cow, gave them without stint. For it was summer-time. But +winter came on; the herbs of the fields took refuge from the frosts in +the warm earth, and though his mother sent Jack to gather what fodder he +could get in the hedgerows, he came back as often as not with a very +empty sack; for Jack's eyes were so often full of wonder at all the +things he saw that sometimes he forgot to work! + +So it came to pass that one morning Milky-White gave no milk at all--not +one drain! Then the good hard-working mother threw her apron over her +head and sobbed: + +"What shall we do? What shall we do?" + +Now Jack loved his mother; besides, he felt just a bit sneaky at being +such a big boy and doing so little to help, so he said, "Cheer up! Cheer +up! I'll go and get work somewhere." And he felt as he spoke as if he +would work his fingers to the bone; but the good woman shook her head +mournfully. + +"You've tried that before, Jack," she said, "and nobody would keep you. +You are quite a good lad but your wits go a-wool-gathering. No, we must +sell Milky-White and live on the money. It is no use crying over milk +that is not here to spill!" + +You see, she was a wise as well as a hard-working woman, and Jack's +spirits rose. + +"Just so," he cried. "We will sell Milky-White and be richer than ever. +It's an ill wind that blows no one good. So, as it is market-day, I'll +just take her there and we shall see what we shall see." + +"But--" began his mother. + +"But doesn't butter parsnips," laughed Jack. "Trust me to make a good +bargain." + +So, as it was washing-day, and her sick husband was more ailing than +usual, his mother let Jack set off to sell the cow. + +"Not less than ten pounds," she bawled after him as he turned the +corner. + +Ten pounds, indeed! Jack had made up his mind to twenty! Twenty solid +golden sovereigns! + +He was just settling what he should buy his mother as a fairing out of +the money, when he saw a queer little old man on the road who called +out, "Good-morning, Jack!" + +"Good-morning," replied Jack, with a polite bow, wondering how the queer +little old man happened to know his name; though, to be sure, Jacks were +as plentiful as blackberries. + +"And where may you be going?" asked the queer little old man. Jack +wondered again--he was always wondering, you know--what the queer little +old man had to do with it; but, being always polite, he replied: + +"I am going to market to sell Milky-White--and I mean to make a good +bargain." + +"So you will! So you will!" chuckled the queer little old man. "You +look the sort of chap for it. I bet you know how many beans make five?" + +"Two in each hand and one in my mouth," answered Jack readily. He really +was sharp as a needle. + +"Just so, just so!" chuckled the queer little old man; and as he spoke +he drew out of his pocket five beans. "Well, here they are, so give us +Milky-White." + +Jack was so flabbergasted that he stood with his mouth open as if he +expected the fifth bean to fly into it. + +"What!" he said at last. "My Milky-White for five common beans! Not if I +know it!" + +"But they aren't common beans," put in the queer little old man, and +there was a queer little smile on his queer little face. "If you plant +these beans over-night, by morning they will have grown up right into +the very sky." + +Jack was too flabbergasted this time even to open his mouth; his eyes +opened instead. + +[Illustration: As he spoke he drew out of his pocket five beans] + +"Did you say right into the very sky?" he asked at last; for, see you, +Jack had wondered more about the sky than about anything else. + +"_RIGHT UP INTO THE VERY SKY_" repeated the queer old man, with a nod +between each word. "It's a good bargain, Jack; and, as fair play's a +jewel, if they don't--why! meet me here to-morrow morning and you shall +have Milky-White back again. Will that please you?" + +"Right as a trivet," cried Jack, without stopping to think, and the next +moment he found himself standing on an empty road. + +"Two in each hand and one in my mouth," repeated Jack. "That is what I +said, and what I'll do. Everything in order, and if what the queer +little old man said isn't true, I shall get Milky-White back to-morrow +morning." + +So whistling and munching the bean he trudged home cheerfully, wondering +what the sky would be like if he ever got there. + +"What a long time you've been!" exclaimed his mother, who was watching +anxiously for him at the gate. "It is past sun-setting; but I see you +have sold Milky-White. Tell me quick how much you got for her." + +"You'll never guess," began Jack. + +"Laws-a-mercy! You don't say so," interrupted the good woman. "And I +worriting all day lest they should take you in. What was it? Ten +pounds--fifteen--sure it _can't_ be twenty!" + +Jack held out the beans triumphantly. + +"There," he said. "That's what I got for her, and a jolly good bargain +too!" + +It was his mother's turn to be flabbergasted; but all she said was: + +"What! Them beans!" + +"Yes," replied Jack, beginning to doubt his own wisdom; "but they're +_magic_ beans. If you plant them over-night, by morning +they--grow--right up--into--the--sky--Oh! Please don't hit so hard!" + +For Jack's mother for once had lost her temper, and was belabouring the +boy for all she was worth. And when she had finished scolding and +beating, she flung the miserable beans out of window and sent him, +supperless, to bed. + +If this was the magical effect of the beans, thought Jack ruefully, he +didn't want any more magic, if you please. + +However, being healthy and, as a rule, happy, he soon fell asleep and +slept like a top. + +When he woke he thought at first it was moonlight, for everything in the +room showed greenish. Then he stared at the little window. It was +covered as if with a curtain by leaves. He was out of bed in a trice, +and the next moment, without waiting to dress, was climbing up the +biggest beanstalk you ever saw. For what the queer little old man had +said was true! One of the beans which his mother had chucked into the +garden had found soil, taken root, and grown in the night.... + +Where?... + +Up to the very sky? Jack meant to see at any rate. + +So he climbed, and he climbed, and he climbed. It was easy work, for the +big beanstalk with the leaves growing out of each side was like a +ladder; for all that he soon was out of breath. Then he got his second +wind, and was just beginning to wonder if he had a third when he saw in +front of him a wide, shining white road stretching away, and away, and +away. + +So he took to walking, and he walked, and walked, and walked, till he +came to a tall, shining white house with a wide white doorstep. + +And on the doorstep stood a great big woman with a black porridge-pot +in her hand. Now Jack, having had no supper, was hungry as a hunter, and +when he saw the porridge-pot he said quite politely: + +"Good-morning, 'm. I wonder if you _could_ give me some breakfast?" + +"Breakfast!" echoed the woman, who, in truth, was an ogre's wife. "If it +is breakfast you're wanting, it's breakfast you'll likely be; for I +expect my man home every instant, and there is nothing he likes better +for breakfast than a boy--a fat boy grilled on toast." + +Now Jack was not a bit of a coward, and when he wanted a thing he +generally got it, so he said cheerful-like: + +"I'd be fatter if I'd had my breakfast!" Whereat the ogre's wife laughed +and bade Jack come in; for she was not, really, half as bad as she +looked. But he had hardly finished the great bowl of porridge and milk +she gave him when the whole house began to tremble and quake. It was the +ogre coming home! + + Thump! THUMP!! THUMP!!! + +"Into the oven with you, sharp!" cried the ogre's wife; and the iron +oven door was just closed when the ogre strode in. Jack could see him +through the little peep-hole slide at the top where the steam came out. + +He was a big one for sure. He had three sheep strung to his belt, and +these he threw down on the table. "Here, wife," he cried, "roast me +these snippets for breakfast; they are all I've been able to get this +morning, worse luck! I hope the oven's hot?" And he went to touch the +handle, while Jack burst out all of a sweat, wondering what would happen +next. + +"Roast!" echoed the ogre's wife. "Pooh! the little things would dry to +cinders. Better boil them." + +So she set to work to boil them; but the ogre began sniffing about the +room. "They don't smell--mutton meat," he growled. Then he frowned +horribly and began the real ogre's rhyme: + + "_Fee-fi-fo-fum, + I smell the blood of an Englishman. + Be he alive, or be he dead, + I'll grind his bones to make my bread._" + +"Don't be silly!" said his wife. "It's the bones of the little boy you +had for supper that I'm boiling down for soup! Come, eat your breakfast, +there's a good ogre!" + +So the ogre ate his three sheep, and when he had done he went to a big +oaken chest and took out three big bags of golden pieces. These he put +on the table, and began to count their contents while his wife cleared +away the breakfast things. And by and by his head began to nod, and at +last he began to snore, and snored so loud that the whole house shook. + +Then Jack nipped out of the oven and, seizing one of the bags of gold, +crept away, and ran along the straight, wide, shining white road as fast +as his legs would carry him till he came to the beanstalk. He couldn't +climb down it with the bag of gold, it was so heavy, so he just flung +his burden down first, and, helter-skelter, climbed after it. + +And when he came to the bottom, there was his mother picking up gold +pieces out of the garden as fast as she could; for, of course, the bag +had burst. + +"Laws-a-mercy me!" she says. "Wherever have you been? See! It's been +rainin' gold!" + +"No, it hasn't," began Jack. "I climbed up--" + +Then he turned to look for the beanstalk; but, lo and behold! it wasn't +there at all! So he knew, then, it was all real magic. + +After that they lived happily on the gold pieces for a long time, and +the bed-ridden father got all sorts of nice things to eat; but, at last, +a day came when Jack's mother showed a doleful face as she put a big +yellow sovereign into Jack's hand and bade him be careful marketing, +because there was not one more in the coffer. After that they must +starve. + +That night Jack went supperless to bed of his own accord. If he couldn't +make money, he thought, at any rate he could eat less money. It was a +shame for a big boy to stuff himself and bring no grist to the mill. + +He slept like a top, as boys do when they don't overeat themselves, and +when he woke.... + +Hey, presto! the whole room showed greenish, and there was a curtain of +leaves over the window! Another bean had grown in the night, and Jack +was up it like a lamp-lighter before you could say knife. + +This time he didn't take nearly so long climbing until he reached the +straight, wide, white road, and in a trice he found himself before the +tall white house, where on the wide white steps the ogre's wife was +standing with the black porridge-pot in her hand. + +And this time Jack was as bold as brass. "Good-morning, 'm," he said. +"I've come to ask you for breakfast, for I had no supper, and I'm as +hungry as a hunter." + +"Go away, bad boy!" replied the ogre's wife. "Last time I gave a boy +breakfast my man missed a whole bag of gold. I believe you are the same +boy." + +"Maybe I am, maybe I'm not," said Jack, with a laugh. "I'll tell you +true when I've had my breakfast; but not till then." + +So the ogre's wife, who was dreadfully curious, gave him a big bowl full +of porridge; but before he had half finished it he heard the ogre +coming-- + + Thump! THUMP! THUMP! + +"In with you to the oven," shrieked the ogre's wife. "You shall tell me +when he has gone to sleep." + +This time Jack saw through the steam peep-hole that the ogre had three +fat calves strung to his belt. + +"Better luck to-day, wife!" he cried, and his voice shook the house. +"Quick! Roast these trifles for my breakfast! I hope the oven's hot?" + +And he went to feel the handle of the door, but his wife cried out +sharply: + +"Roast! Why, you'd have to wait hours before they were done! I'll broil +them--see how bright the fire is!" + +"Umph!" growled the ogre. And then he began sniffing and calling out: + + "_Fee-fi-fo-fum, + I smell the blood of an Englishman. + Be he alive, or be he dead, + I'll grind his bones to make my bread._" + +"Twaddle!" said the ogre's wife. "It's only the bones of the boy you had +last week that I've put into the pig-bucket!" + +"Umph!" said the ogre harshly; but he ate the broiled calves, and then +he said to his wife, "Bring me my hen that lays the magic eggs. I want +to see gold." + +So the ogre's wife brought him a great big black hen with a shiny red +comb. She plumped it down on the table and took away the breakfast +things. + +Then the ogre said to the hen, "Lay!" and it promptly laid--what do you +think?--a beautiful, shiny, yellow, golden egg! + +"None so dusty, henny-penny," laughed the ogre. "I shan't have to beg as +long as I've got you." Then he said, "Lay!" once more; and, lo and +behold! there was another beautiful, shiny, yellow, golden egg! + +Jack could hardly believe his eyes, and made up his mind that he would +have that hen, come what might. So, when the ogre began to doze, he just +out like a flash from the oven, seized the hen, and ran for his life! +But, you see, he reckoned without his prize; for hens, you know, always +cackle when they leave their nests after laying an egg, and this one set +up such a scrawing that it woke the ogre. + +"Where's my hen?" he shouted, and his wife came rushing in, and they +both rushed to the door; but Jack had got the better of them by a good +start, and all they could see was a little figure right away down the +wide white road, holding a big, scrawing, cackling, fluttering black hen +by the legs! + +How Jack got down the beanstalk he never knew. It was all wings, and +leaves, and feathers, and cacklings; but get down he did, and there was +his mother wondering if the sky was going to fall! + +But the very moment Jack touched ground he called out, "Lay!" and the +black hen ceased cackling and laid a great, big, shiny, yellow, golden +egg. + +So every one was satisfied; and from that moment everybody had +everything that money could buy. For, whenever they wanted anything, +they just said, "Lay!" and the black hen provided them with gold. + +But Jack began to wonder if he couldn't find something else besides +money in the sky. So one fine moonlight midsummer night he refused his +supper, and before he went to bed stole out to the garden with a big +watering-can and watered the ground under his window; for, thought he, +"there must be two more beans somewhere, and perhaps it is too dry for +them to grow." Then he slept like a top. + +And, lo and behold! when he woke, there was the green light shimmering +through his room, and there he was in an instant on the beanstalk, +climbing, climbing, climbing for all he was worth. + +But this time he knew better than to ask for his breakfast; for the +ogre's wife would be sure to recognise him. So he just hid in some +bushes beside the great white house, till he saw her in the scullery, +and then he slipped out and hid himself in the copper; for he knew she +would be sure to look in the oven first thing. + +And by and by he heard-- + + Thump! THUMP! THUMP! + +And peeping through a crack in the copper-lid, he could see the ogre +stalk in with three huge oxen strung at his belt. But this time, no +sooner had the ogre got into the house than he began shouting: + + "_Fee-fi-fo-fum, + I smell the blood of an Englishman. + Be he alive, or be he dead, + I'll grind his bones to make my bread._" + +For, see you, the copper-lid didn't fit tight like the oven door, and +ogres have noses like a dog's for scent. + +"Well, I declare, so do I!" exclaimed the ogre's wife. "It will be that +horrid boy who stole the bag of gold and the hen. If so, he's hid in the +oven!" + +But when she opened the door, lo and behold! Jack wasn't there! Only +some joints of meat roasting and sizzling away. Then she laughed and +said, "You and me be fools for sure. Why, it's the boy you caught last +night as I was getting ready for your breakfast. Yes, we be fools to +take dead meat for live flesh! So eat your breakfast, there's a good +ogre!" + +But the ogre, though he enjoyed roast boy very much, wasn't satisfied, +and every now and then he would burst out with "_Fee-fi-fo-fum_," and +get up and search the cupboards, keeping Jack in a fever of fear lest he +should think of the copper. + +But he didn't. And when he had finished his breakfast he called out to +his wife, "Bring me my magic harp! I want to be amused." + +So she brought out a little harp and put it on the table. And the ogre +leant back in his chair and said lazily: + + "Sing!" + +And, lo and behold! the harp began to sing. If you want to know what it +sang about? Why! It sang about everything! And it sang so beautifully +that Jack forgot to be frightened, and the ogre forgot to think of +"_Fee-fi-fo-fum_," and fell asleep and + + did + NOT + SNORE. + +Then Jack stole out of the copper like a mouse and crept hands and knees +to the table, raised himself up ever so softly and laid hold of the +magic harp; for he was determined to have it. + +But, no sooner had he touched it, than it cried out quite loud, "Master! +Master!" So the ogre woke, saw Jack making off, and rushed after him. + +My goodness, it was a race! Jack was nimble, but the ogre's stride was +twice as long. So, though Jack turned, and twisted, and doubled like a +hare, yet at last, when he got to the beanstalk, the ogre was not a +dozen yards behind him. There wasn't time to think, so Jack just flung +himself on to the stalk and began to go down as fast as he could, while +the harp kept calling, "Master! Master!" at the very top of its voice. +He had only got down about a quarter of the way when there was the most +awful lurch you can think of, and Jack nearly fell off the beanstalk. It +was the ogre beginning to climb down, and his weight made the stalk sway +like a tree in a storm. Then Jack knew it was life or death, and he +climbed down faster and faster, and as he climbed he shouted, "Mother! +Mother! Bring an axe! Bring an axe!" + +Now his mother, as luck would have it, was in the backyard chopping +wood, and she ran out thinking that this time the sky must have fallen. +Just at that moment Jack touched ground, and he flung down the +harp--which immediately began to sing of all sorts of beautiful +things--and he seized the axe and gave a great chop at the beanstalk, +which shook and swayed and bent like barley before a breeze. + +"Have a care!" shouted the ogre, clinging on as hard as he could. But +Jack _did_ have a care, and he dealt that beanstalk such a shrewd blow +that the whole of it, ogre and all, came toppling down, and, of course, +the ogre broke his crown, so that he died on the spot. + +[Illustration: "Fee-fi-fo-fum, I smell the blood of an Englishman."] + +[Illustration: Jack seized the axe and gave a great chop at the +beanstalk] + +After that every one was quite happy. For they had gold and to spare, +and if the bed-ridden father was dull, Jack just brought out the harp +and said, "Sing!" And, lo and behold! It sang about everything under the +sun. + +So Jack ceased wondering so much and became quite a useful person. + +And the last bean still hasn't grown yet. It is still in the garden. + +I wonder if it will ever grow? + +And what little child will climb its beanstalk into the sky? + +And what will that child find? + +Goody me! + + + + +THE BLACK BULL OF NORROWAY + + +Long ago in Norroway there lived a lady who had three daughters. Now +they were all pretty, and one night they fell a-talking of whom they +meant to marry. + +And the eldest said, "I will have no one lower than an Earl." + +And the second said, "I will have none lower than a Lord." + +But the third, the prettiest and the merriest, tossed her head and said, +with a twinkle in her eye, "Why so proud? As for me I would be content +with the Black Bull of Norroway." + +At that the other sisters bade her be silent and not talk lightly of +such a monster. For, see you, is it not written: + + To wilder measures now they turn, + The black black Bull of Norroway; + Sudden the tapers cease to burn, + The minstrels cease to play. + +So, no doubt, the Black Bull of Norroway was held to be a horrid +monster. + +But the youngest daughter would have her laugh, so she said three times +that she would be content with the Black Bull of Norroway. + +Well! It so happened that the very next morning a coach-and-six came +swinging along the road, and in it sate an Earl who had come to ask the +hand of the eldest daughter in marriage. So there were great rejoicings +over the wedding, and the bride and bridegroom drove away in the +coach-and-six. + +Then the next thing that happened was that a coach-and-four with a Lord +in it came swinging along the road; and he wanted to marry the second +daughter. So they were wed, and there were great rejoicings, and the +bride and bridegroom drove away in the coach-and-four. + +Now after this there was only the youngest, the prettiest and the +merriest, of the sisters left, and she became the apple of her mother's +eye. So you may imagine how the mother felt when one morning a terrible +bellowing was heard at the door, and there was a great big Black Bull +waiting for his bride. + +She wept and she wailed, and at first the girl ran away and hid herself +in the cellar for fear, but there the Bull stood waiting, and at last +the girl came up and said: + +"I promised I would be content with the Black Bull of Norroway, and I +must keep my word. Farewell, mother, you will not see me again." + +Then she mounted on the Black Bull's back, and it walked away with her +quite quietly. And ever it chose the smoothest paths and the easiest +roads, so that at last the girl grew less afraid. But she became very +hungry and was nigh to faint when the Black Bull said to her, in quite a +soft voice that wasn't a bellow at all: + + "Eat out of my left ear, + Drink out of my right, + And set by what you leave + To serve the morrow's night." + +So she did as she was bid, and, lo and behold! the left ear was full of +delicious things to eat, and the right was full of the most delicious +drinks, and there was plenty left over for several days. + +Thus they journeyed on, and they journeyed on, through many dreadful +forests and many lonely wastes, and the Black Bull never paused for bite +or sup, but ever the girl he carried ate out of his left ear and drank +out of his right, and set by what she left to serve the morrow's night. +And she slept soft and warm on his broad back. + +Now at last they reached a noble castle where a large company of lords +and ladies were assembled, and greatly the company wondered at the sight +of these strange companions. And they invited the girl to supper, but +the Black Bull they turned into the field, and left to spend the night +after his kind. + +But when the next morning came, there he was ready for his burden again. +Now, though the girl was loth to leave her pleasant companions, she +remembered her promise, and mounted on his back, so they journeyed on, +and journeyed on, and journeyed on, through many tangled woods and over +many high mountains. And ever the Black Bull chose the smoothest paths +for her and set aside the briars and brambles, while she ate out of his +left ear and drank out of his right. + +So at last they came to a magnificent mansion where Dukes and Duchesses +and Earls and Countesses were enjoying themselves. Now the company, +though much surprised at the strange companions, asked the girl in to +supper; and the Black Bull they would have turned into the park for the +night, but that the girl, remembering how well he had cared for her, +asked them to put him into the stable and give him a good feed. + +So this was done, and the next morning he was waiting before the +hall-door for his burden; and she, though somewhat loth at leaving the +fine company, mounted him cheerfully enough, and they rode away, and +they rode away, and they rode away, through thick briar brakes and up +fearsome cliffs. But ever the Black Bull trod the brambles underfoot and +chose the easiest paths, while she ate out of his left ear and drank out +of his right, and wanted for nothing, though he had neither bite nor +sup. So it came to pass that he grew tired and was limping with one foot +when, just as the sun was setting, they came to a beautiful palace where +Princes and Princesses were disporting themselves with ball on the green +grass. Now, though the company greatly wondered at the strange +companions, they asked the girl to join them, and ordered the grooms to +lead away the Black Bull to a field. + +But she, remembering all he had done for her, said, "Not so! He will +stay with me!" Then seeing a large thorn in the foot with which he had +been limping, she stooped down and pulled it out. + +And, lo and behold! in an instant, to every one's surprise, there +appeared, not a frightful monstrous bull, but one of the most beautiful +Princes ever beheld, who fell at his deliverer's feet, thanking her for +having broken his cruel enchantment. + +A wicked witch-woman who wanted to marry him had, he said, spelled him +until a beautiful maiden of her own free will should do him a favour. + +"But," he said, "the danger is not all over. You have broken the +enchantment by night; that by day has yet to be overcome." + +So the next morning the Prince had to resume the form of a bull, and +they set out together; and they rode, and they rode, and they rode, till +they came to a dark and ugsome glen. And here he bade her dismount and +sit on a great rock. + +"Here you must stay," he said, "while I go yonder and fight the Old One. +And mind! move neither hand nor foot whilst I am away, else I shall +never find you again. If everything around you turns blue, I shall have +beaten the Old One; but if everything turns red, he will have conquered +me." + +And with that, and a tremendous roaring bellow, he set off to find his +foe. + +Well, she sate as still as a mouse, moving neither hand nor foot, nor +even her eyes, and waited, and waited, and waited. Then at last +everything turned blue. But she was so overcome with joy to think that +her lover was victorious that she forgot to keep still, and lifting one +of her feet, crossed it over the other! + +So she waited, and waited, and waited. Long she sate, and aye she +wearied; and all the time he was seeking for her, but he never found +her. + +At last she rose and went she knew not whither, determined to seek for +her lover through the whole wide world. So she journeyed on, and she +journeyed on, and she journeyed on, until one day in a dark wood she +came to a little hut where lived an old, old woman who gave her food and +shelter, and bid her God-speed on her errand, giving her three nuts, a +walnut, a filbert, and a hazel nut, with these words: + + "When your heart is like to break, + And once again is like to break, + Crack a nut and in its shell + That will be that suits you well." + +After this she felt heartened up, and wandered on till her road was +blocked by a great hill of glass; and though she tried all she could to +climb it, she could not; for aye she slipped back, and slipped back, and +slipped back; for it was like ice. + +Then she sought a passage elsewhere, and round and about the foot of the +hill she went sobbing and wailing, but ne'er a foothold could she find. +At last she came to a smithy; and the smith promised if she would serve +him faithfully for seven years and seven days, that he would make her +iron shoon wherewith to climb the hill of glass. So for seven long years +and seven short days she toiled, and span, and swept, and washed in the +smith's house. And for wage he gave her a pair of iron shoon, and with +them she clomb the glassy hill and went on her way. + +Now she had not gone far before a company of fine lords and ladies rode +past her talking of all the grand doings that were to be done at the +young Duke of Norroway's wedding. Then she passed a number of people +carrying all sorts of good things which they told her were for the +Duke's wedding. And at last she came to a palace castle where the +courtyards were full of cooks and bakers, some running this way, some +running that, and all so busy that they did not know what to do first. + +Then she heard the horns of hunters and cries of "Room! Room for the +Duke of Norroway and his bride!" + +And who should ride past but the beautiful Prince she had but half +unspelled, and by his side was the witch-woman who was determined to +marry him that very day. + +Well! at the sight she felt that her heart was indeed like to break, and +over again was like to break, so that the time had come for her to crack +one of the nuts. So she broke the walnut, as it was the biggest, and out +of it came a wonderful wee woman carding wool as fast as ever she could +card. + +Now when the witch-woman saw this wonderful thing she offered the girl +her choice of anything in the castle for it. + +"If you will put off your wedding with the Duke for a day, and let me +watch in his room to-night," said the girl, "you shall have it." + +Now, like all witch-women, the bride wanted everything her own way, and +she was so sure she had her groom safe, that she consented; but before +the Duke went to rest she gave him, with her own hands, a posset so made +that any one who drank it would sleep till morning. + +Thus, though the girl was allowed alone into the Duke's chamber, and +though she spent the livelong night sighing and singing: + + "Far have I sought for thee, + Long have I wrought for thee, + Near am I brought to thee, + Dear Duke o' Norroway; + Wilt thou say naught to me?" + +the Duke never wakened, but slept on. So when day came the girl had to +leave him without his ever knowing she had been there. + +Then once again her heart was like to break, and over and over again +like to break, and she cracked the filbert nut, because it was the next +biggest. And out of it came a wonderful wee, wee woman spinning away as +fast as ever she could spin. Now when the witch-bride saw this wonderful +thing she once again put off her wedding so that she might possess it. +And once again the girl spent the livelong night in the Duke's chamber +sighing and singing: + + "Far have I sought for thee, + Long have I wrought for thee, + Near am I brought to thee, + Dear Duke o' Norroway; + Wilt thou say naught to me?" + +But the Duke, who had drunk the sleeping-draught from the hands of his +witch-bride, never stirred, and when dawn came the girl had to leave him +without his ever knowing she had been there. + +Then, indeed, the girl's heart was like to break, and over and over and +over again like to break, so she cracked the last nut--the hazel +nut--and out of it came the most wonderful wee, wee, wee-est woman +reeling away at yarn as fast as she could reel. + +And this marvel so delighted the witch-bride that once again she +consented to put off her wedding for a day, and allow the girl to watch +in the Duke's chamber the night through, in order to possess it. + +Now it so happened that when the Duke was dressing that morning he heard +his pages talking amongst themselves of the strange sighing and singing +they had heard in the night; and he said to his faithful old valet, +"What do the pages mean?" + +And the old valet, who hated the witch-bride, said: + +"If the master will take no sleeping-draught to-night, mayhap he may +also hear what for two nights has kept me awake." + +At this the Duke marvelled greatly, and when the witch-bride brought +him his evening posset, he made excuse it was not sweet enough, and +while she went away to get honey to sweeten it withal, he poured away +the posset and made believe he had swallowed it. + +So that night when dark had come, and the girl stole in to his chamber +with a heavy heart thinking it would be the very last time she would +ever see him, the Duke was really broad awake. And when she sate down by +his bedside and began to sing: + + "Far have I sought for thee," + +he knew her voice at once, and clasped her in his arms. + +Then he told her how he had been in the power of the witch-woman and had +forgotten everything, but that now he remembered all and that the spell +was broken for ever and aye. + +So the wedding feast served for their marriage, since the witch-bride, +seeing her power was gone, quickly fled the country and was never heard +of again. + + + + +CATSKIN + + +Once upon a time there lived a gentleman who owned fine lands and +houses, and he very much wanted to have a son to be heir to them. So +when his wife brought him a daughter, though she was bonny as bonny +could be, he cared nought for her, and said: + +"Let me never see her face." + +So she grew up to be a beautiful maiden, though her father never set +eyes on her till she was fifteen years old and was ready to be married. + +Then her father said roughly, "She shall marry the first that comes for +her." Now when this became known, who should come along and be first but +a nasty, horrid old man! So she didn't know what to do, and went to the +hen-wife and asked her advice. And the hen-wife said, "Say you will not +take him unless they give you a coat of silver cloth." Well, they gave +her a coat of silver cloth, but she wouldn't take him for all that, but +went again to the hen-wife, who said, "Say you will not take him unless +they give you a coat of beaten gold." Well, they gave her a coat of +beaten gold, but still she would not take the old man, but went again +to the hen-wife, who said, "Say you will not take him unless they give +you a coat made of the feathers of all the birds of the air." So they +sent out a man with a great heap of peas; and the man cried to all the +birds of the air, "Each bird take a pea and put down a feather." So each +bird took a pea and put down one of its feathers: and they took all the +feathers and made a coat of them and gave it to her; but still she would +not take the nasty, horrid old man, but asked the hen-wife once again +what she was to do, and the hen-wife said, "Say they must first make you +a coat of catskin." Then they made her a coat of catskin; and she put it +on, and tied up her other coats into a bundle, and when it was +night-time ran away with it into the woods. + +Now she went along, and went along, and went along, till at the end of +the wood she saw a fine castle. Then she hid her fine dresses by a +crystal waterfall and went up to the castle gates and asked for work. +The lady of the castle saw her, and told her, "I'm sorry I have no +better place, but if you like you may be our scullion." So down she went +into the kitchen, and they called her Catskin, because of her dress. But +the cook was very cruel to her, and led her a sad life. + +Well, soon after that it happened that the young lord of the castle came +home, and there was to be a grand ball in honour of the occasion. And +when they were speaking about it among the servants, "Dear me, Mrs. +Cook," said Catskin, "how much I should like to go!" + +"What! You dirty, impudent slut," said the cook, "you go among all the +fine lords and ladies with your filthy catskin? A fine figure you'd +cut!" and with that she took a basin of water and dashed it into +Catskin's face. But Catskin only shook her ears and said nothing. + +Now when the day of the ball arrived, Catskin slipped out of the house +and went to the edge of the forest where she had hidden her dresses. +Then she bathed herself in a crystal waterfall, and put on her coat of +silver cloth, and hastened away to the ball. As soon as she entered all +were overcome by her beauty and grace, while the young lord at once lost +his heart to her. He asked her to be his partner for the first dance; +and he would dance with none other the livelong night. + +When it came to parting time, the young lord said, "Pray tell me, fair +maid, where you live?" + +But Catskin curtsied and said: + + "Kind sir, if the truth I must tell, + At the sign of the 'Basin of Water' I dwell." + +Then she flew from the castle and donned her catskin robe again, and +slipped into the scullery, unbeknown to the cook. + +The young lord went the very next day and searched for the sign of the +"Basin of Water"; but he could not find it. So he went to his mother, +the lady of the castle, and declared he would wed none other but the +lady of the silver dress, and would never rest till he had found her. +So another ball was soon arranged in hopes that the beautiful maid would +appear again. + +So Catskin said to the cook, "Oh, how I should like to go!" Whereupon +the cook screamed out in a rage, "What, you, you dirty, impudent slut! +You would cut a fine figure among all the fine lords and ladies." And +with that she up with a ladle and broke it across Catskin's back. But +Catskin only shook her ears, and ran off to the forest, where, first of +all, she bathed, and then she put on her coat of beaten gold, and off +she went to the ball-room. + +As soon as she entered all eyes were upon her; and the young lord at +once recognised her as the lady of the "Basin of Water," claimed her +hand for the first dance, and did not leave her till the last. When that +came, he again asked her where she lived. But all that she would say +was: + + "Kind sir, if the truth I must tell, + At the sign of the 'Broken Ladle' I dwell"; + +and with that she curtsied and flew from the ball, off with her golden +robe, on with her catskin, and into the scullery without the cook's +knowing. + +Next day, when the young lord could not find where the sign of the +"Basin of Water" was, he begged his mother to have another grand ball, +so that he might meet the beautiful maid once more. + +Then Catskin said to the cook, "Oh, how I wish I could go to the ball!" +Whereupon the cook called out: "A fine figure you'd cut!" and broke the +skimmer across her head. But Catskin only shook her ears, and went off +to the forest, where she first bathed in the crystal spring, and then +donned her coat of feathers, and so off to the ball-room. + +When she entered every one was surprised at so beautiful a face and form +dressed in so rich and rare a dress; but the young lord at once +recognised his beautiful sweetheart, and would dance with none but her +the whole evening. When the ball came to an end he pressed her to tell +him where she lived, but all she would answer was: + + "Kind sir, if the truth I must tell, + At the sign of the 'Broken Skimmer' I dwell"; + +and with that she curtsied, and was off to the forest. But this time the +young lord followed her, and watched her change her fine dress of +feathers for her catskin dress, and then he knew her for his own +scullery-maid. + +Next day he went to his mother, and told her that he wished to marry the +scullery-maid, Catskin. + +"Never," said the lady of the castle--"never so long as I live." + +[Illustration: She went along, and went along, and went along] + +Well, the young lord was so grieved that he took to his bed and was very +ill indeed. The doctor tried to cure him, but he would not take any +medicine unless from the hands of Catskin. At last the doctor went to +the mother, and said that her son would die if she did not consent to +his marriage with Catskin; so she had to give way. Then she summoned +Catskin to her, and Catskin put on her coat of beaten gold before she +went to see the lady; and she, of course, was overcome at once, and was +only too glad to wed her son to so beautiful a maid. + +So they were married, and after a time a little son was born to them, +and grew up a fine little lad. Now one day, when he was about four years +old, a beggar woman came to the door, and Lady Catskin gave some money +to the little lord and told him to go and give it to the beggar woman. +So he went and gave it, putting it into the hand of the woman's baby +child; and the child leant forward and kissed the little lord. + +Now the wicked old cook (who had never been sent away, because Catskin +was too kind-hearted) was looking on, and she said, "See how beggars' +brats take to one another!" + +This insult hurt Catskin dreadfully: and she went to her husband, the +young lord, and told him all about her father, and begged he would go +and find out what had become of her parents. So they set out in the +lord's grand coach, and travelled through the forest till they came to +the house of Catskin's father. Then they put up at an inn near, and +Catskin stopped there, while her husband went to see if her father would +own she was his daughter. + +Now her father had never had any other child, and his wife had died; so +he was all alone in the world, and sate moping and miserable. When the +young lord came in he hardly looked up, he was so miserable. Then +Catskin's husband drew a chair close up to him, and asked him, "Pray, +sir, had you not once a young daughter whom you would never see or +own?" + +And the miserable man said with tears, "It is true; I am a hardened +sinner. But I would give all my worldly goods if I could but see her +once before I die." + +Then the young lord told him what had happened to Catskin, and took him +to the inn, and afterwards brought his father-in-law to his own castle, +where they lived happy ever afterwards. + + + + +THE THREE LITTLE PIGS + + +Once upon a time there was an old sow who had three little pigs, and as +she had not enough for them to eat, she said they had better go out into +the world and seek their fortunes. + +Now the eldest pig went first, and as he trotted along the road he met a +man carrying a bundle of straw. So he said very politely: + +"If you please, sir, could you give me that straw to build me a house?" + +And the man, seeing what good manners the little pig had, gave him the +straw, and the little pig set to work and built a beautiful house with +it. + +Now, when it was finished, a wolf happened to pass that way; and he saw +the house, and _he smelt the pig inside_. + +So he knocked at the door and said: + +"_Little pig! Little pig! Let me in! Let me in!_" + +But the little pig saw the wolf's big paws through the keyhole, so he +answered back: + +"_No! No! No! by the hair of my chinny chin chin!_" Then the wolf +showed his teeth and said: + +"_Then I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house in._" + +[Illustration: So he huffed and he puffed and he blew the house in] + +So he huffed and he puffed and he blew the house in. Then he ate up +little piggy and went on his way. + +Now, the next piggy, when he started, met a man carrying a bundle of +furze, and, being very polite, he said to him: + +"If you please, sir, could you give me that furze to build me a house?" + +And the man, seeing what good manners the little pig had, gave him the +furze, and the little pig set to work and built himself a beautiful +house. + +Now it so happened that when the house was finished the wolf passed that +way; and he saw the house, and _he smelt the pig inside_. + +So he knocked at the door and said: + +"_Little pig! Little pig! Let me in! Let me in!_" + +But the little pig peeped through the keyhole and saw the wolf's great +ears, so he answered back: + +"_No! No! No! by the hair of my chinny chin chin!_" + +Then the wolf showed his teeth and said: + +"_Then I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house in!_" + +[Illustration: So he huffed and he puffed and he blew the house in] + +So he huffed and he puffed and he blew the house in. Then he ate up +little piggy and went on his way. + +Now the third little piggy, when he started, met a man carrying a load +of bricks, and, being very polite, he said: + +"If you please sir, could you give me those bricks to build me a house?" + +And the man, seeing that he had been well brought up, gave him the +bricks, and the little pig set to work and built himself a beautiful +house. + +And once again it happened that when it was finished the wolf chanced to +come that way; and he saw the house, and he _smelt the pig inside_. + +So he knocked at the door and said: + +"_Little pig! Little pig! Let me in! Let me in!_" + +But the little pig peeped through the keyhole and saw the wolf's great +eyes, so he answered: + +"_No! No! No! by the hair of my chinny chin chin!_" + +"_Then I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house in!_" says the +wolf, showing his teeth. + +[Illustration: Well! he huffed and he puffed ... but he could _not_ +blow the house down] + +Well! he huffed and he puffed. He puffed and he huffed. And he huffed, +huffed, and he puffed, puffed; but he could _not_ blow the house down. +At last he was so out of breath that he couldn't huff and he couldn't +puff any more. So he thought a bit. Then he said: + +"Little pig! I know where there is ever such a nice field of turnips." + +"Do you," says little piggy, "and where may that be?" + +"I'll show you," says the wolf; "if you will be ready at six o'clock +to-morrow morning, I will call round for you, and we can go together to +Farmer Smith's field and get turnips for dinner." + +"Thank you kindly," says the little piggy. "I will be ready at six +o'clock sharp." + +But, you see, the little pig was not one to be taken in with chaff, so +he got up at five, trotted off to Farmer Smith's field, rooted up the +turnips, and was home eating them for breakfast when the wolf clattered +at the door and cried: + +"Little pig! Little pig! Aren't you ready?" + +"Ready?" says the little piggy. "Why! what a sluggard you are! I've been +to the field and come back again, and I'm having a nice potful of +turnips for breakfast." + +Then the wolf grew red with rage; but he was determined to eat little +piggy, so he said, as if he didn't care: + +"I'm glad you like them; but I know of something better than turnips." + +"Indeed," says little piggy, "and what may that be?" + +"A nice apple tree down in Merry gardens with the juiciest, sweetest +apples on it! So if you will be ready at five o'clock to-morrow morning +I will come round for you and we can get the apples together." + +"Thank you kindly," says little piggy. "I will sure and be ready at five +o'clock sharp." + +Now the next morning he bustled up ever so early, and it wasn't four +o'clock when he started to get the apples; but, you see, the wolf had +been taken in once and wasn't going to be taken in again, so he also +started at four o'clock, and the little pig had but just got his basket +half full of apples when he saw the wolf coming down the road licking +his lips. + +"Hullo!" says the wolf, "here already! You _are_ an early bird! Are the +apples nice?" + +"Very nice," says little piggy; "I'll throw you down one to try." + +And he threw it so far away, that when the wolf had gone to pick it up, +the little pig was able to jump down with his basket and run home. + +Well, the wolf was fair angry; but he went next day to the little +piggy's house and called through the door, as mild as milk: + +"Little pig! Little pig! You are so clever, I should like to give you a +fairing; so if you will come with me to the fair this afternoon you +shall have one." + +"Thank you kindly," says little piggy. "What time shall we start?" + +"At three o'clock sharp," says the wolf, "so be sure to be ready." + +"I'll be ready before three," sniggered the little piggy. And he was! He +started early in the morning and went to the fair, and rode in a swing, +and enjoyed himself ever so much, and bought himself a butter-churn as a +fairing, and trotted away towards home long before three o'clock. But +just as he got to the top of the hill, what should he see but the wolf +coming up it, all panting and red with rage! + +Well, there was no place to hide in but the butter-churn; so he crept +into it, and was just pulling down the cover when the churn started to +roll down the hill-- + +_Bumpety, bumpety, bump!_ + +Of course piggy, inside, began to squeal, and when the wolf heard the +noise, and saw the butter-churn rolling down on top of him-- + +_Bumpety, bumpety, bump!_ + +--he was so frightened that he turned tail and ran away. + +But he was still determined to get the little pig for his dinner; so he +went next day to the house and told the little pig how sorry he was not +to have been able to keep his promise of going to the fair, because of +an awful, dreadful, terrible Thing that had rushed at him, making a +fearsome noise. + +"Dear me!" says the little piggy, "that must have been me! I hid inside +the butter-churn when I saw you coming, and it started to roll! I am +sorry I frightened you!" + +But this was too much. The wolf danced about with rage and swore he +would come down the chimney and eat up the little pig for his supper. +But while he was climbing on to the roof the little pig made up a +blazing fire and put on a big pot full of water to boil. Then, just as +the wolf was coming down the chimney, the little piggy off with the lid, +and plump! in fell the wolf into the scalding water. + +So the little piggy put on the cover again, boiled the wolf up, and ate +_him_ for supper. + + + + +NIX NAUGHT NOTHING + + +Once upon a time there lived a King and a Queen who didn't differ much +from all the other kings and queens who have lived since Time began. But +they had no children, and this made them very sad indeed. Now it so +happened that the King had to go and fight battles in a far country, and +he was away for many long months. And, lo and behold! while he was away +the Queen at long last bore him a little son. As you may imagine, she +was fair delighted, and thought how pleased the King would be when he +came home and found that his dearest wish had been fulfilled. And all +the courtiers were fine and pleased too, and set about at once to +arrange a grand festival for the naming of the little Prince. But the +Queen said, "No! The child shall have no name till his father gives it +to him. Till then we will call him 'Nix! Naught! Nothing!' because his +father knows nothing about him!" + +So little Prince Nix Naught Nothing grew into a strong, hearty little +lad; for his father did not come back for a long time, and did not even +know that he had a son. + +But at long last he turned his face homewards. Now, on the way, he came +to a big rushing river which neither he nor his army could cross, for it +was flood-time and the water was full of dangerous whirlpools, where +nixies and water-wraiths lived, always ready to drown men. + +So they were stopped, until a huge giant appeared, who could take the +river, whirlpool and all, in his stride; and he said kindly, "I'll carry +you all over, if you like." Now, though the giant smiled and was very +polite, the King knew enough of the ways of giants to think it wiser to +have a hard and fast bargain. So he said, quite curt, "What's your pay?" + +"Pay?" echoed the giant, with a grin, "what do you take me for? Give me +Nix Naught Nothing, and I'll do the job with a glad heart." + +Now the King felt just a trifle ashamed at the giant's generosity; so he +said, "Certainly, certainly. I'll give you nix naught nothing and my +thanks into the bargain." + +So the giant carried them safely over the stream and past the +whirlpools, and the King hastened homewards. If he was glad to see his +dear wife, the Queen, you may imagine how he felt when she showed him +his young son, tall and strong for his age. + +"And what's your name, young sir?" he asked of the child fast clasped in +his arms. + +"Nix Naught Nothing," answered the boy; "that's what they call me till +my father gives me a name." + +Well! the King nearly dropped the child, he was so horrified. "What +have I done?" he cried. "I promised to give nix naught nothing to the +giant who carried us over the whirlpools where the nixies and +water-wraiths live." + +At this the Queen wept and wailed; but being a clever woman she thought +out a plan whereby to save her son. So she said to her husband the King, +"If the giant comes to claim his promise, we will give him the +hen-wife's youngest boy. She has so many she will not mind if we give +her a crown piece, and the giant will never know the difference." + +Now sure enough the very next morning the giant appeared to claim Nix +Naught Nothing, and they dressed up the hen-wife's boy in the Prince's +clothes and wept and wailed when the giant, fine and satisfied, carried +his prize off on his back. But after a while he came to a big stone and +sat down to ease his shoulders. And he fell a-dozing. Now, when he woke, +he started up in a fluster, and called out: + + "Hodge, Hodge, on my shoulders! Say + What d'ye make the time o' day?" + +And the hen-wife's little boy replied: + + "Time that my mother the hen-wife takes + The eggs for the wise Queen's breakfast cakes!" + +Then the giant saw at once the trick that had been played on him, and he +threw the hen-wife's boy on the ground, so that his head hit on the +stone and he was killed. + +Then the giant strode back to the palace in a tower of a temper, and +demanded "Nix Naught Nothing." So this time they dressed up the +gardener's boy, and wept and wailed when the giant, fine and satisfied, +carried his prize off on his back. Then the same thing happened. The +giant grew weary of his burden, and sate down on the big stone to rest. +So he fell a-dozing, woke with a start, and called out: + + "Hodge, Hodge, on my shoulders! Say + What d'ye make the time o' day?" + +And the gardener's boy replied: + + "Time that my father the gardener took + Greens for the wise Queen's dinner to cook!" + +So the giant saw at once that a second trick had been played on him and +became quite mad with rage. He flung the boy from him so that he was +killed, and then strode back to the palace, where he cried with fury: +"Give me what you promised to give, Nix Naught Nothing, or I will +destroy you all, root and branch." + +So then they saw they must give up the dear little Prince, and this time +they really wept and wailed as the giant carried off the boy on his +back. And this time, after the giant had had his rest at the big stone, +and had woke up and called: + + "Hodge, Hodge, on my shoulders! Say + What d'ye make the time o' day?" + +the little Prince replied: + + "Time for the King my father to call, + 'Let supper be served in the banqueting hall.'" + +Then the giant laughed with glee and rubbed his hands saying, "I've got +the right one at last." So he took Nix Naught Nothing to his own house +under the whirlpools; for the giant was really a great Magician who +could take any form he chose. And the reason he wanted a little prince +so badly was that he had lost his wife, and had only one little daughter +who needed a playmate sorely. So Nix Naught Nothing and the Magician's +daughter grew up together, and every year made them fonder and fonder of +each other, until she promised to marry him. + +Now the Magician had no notion that his daughter should marry just an +ordinary human prince, the like of whom he had eaten a thousand times, +so he sought some way in which he could quietly get rid of Nix Naught +Nothing. So he said one day, "I have work for you, Nix Naught Nothing! +There is a stable hard by which is seven miles long, and seven miles +broad, and it has not been cleaned for seven years. By to-morrow evening +you must have cleaned it, or I will have you for my supper." + +Well, before dawn, Nix Naught Nothing set to work at his task; but, as +fast as he cleared the muck, it just fell back again. So by +breakfast-time he was in a terrible sweat; yet not one whit nearer the +end of his job was he. Now the Magician's daughter, coming to bring him +his breakfast, found him so distraught and distracted that he could +scarce speak to her. + +"We'll soon set that to rights," she said. So she just clapped her hands +and called: + + "Beasts and birds o' each degree, + Clean me this stable for love o' me." + +And, lo and behold! in a minute the beasts of the fields came trooping, +and the sky was just dark with the wings of birds, and they carried away +the muck, and the stable was clean as a new pin before the evening. + +Now when the Magician saw this, he grew hot and angry, and he guessed it +was his daughter's magic that had wrought the miracle. So he said: +"Shame on the wit that helped you; but I have a harder job for you +to-morrow. Yonder is a lake seven miles long, seven miles broad, and +seven miles deep. Drain it by nightfall, so that not one drop remains, +or, of a certainty, I eat you for supper." + +So once again Nix Naught Nothing rose before dawn, and began his task; +but though he baled out the water without ceasing, it ever ran back, so +that though he sweated and laboured, by breakfast-time he was no nearer +the end of his job. + +But when the Magician's daughter came with his breakfast she only +laughed and said, "I'll soon mend that!" Then she clapped her hands and +called: + + "Oh! all ye fish of river and sea, + Drink me this water for love of me!" + +And, lo and behold! the lake was thick with fishes. And they drank and +drank, till not one drop remained. + +Now when the Magician returned in the morning and saw this he was as +angry as angry. And he knew it was his daughter's magic, so he said: +"Double shame on the wit that helped you! Yet it betters you not, for I +will give you a yet harder task than the last. If you do that, you may +have my daughter. See you, yonder is a tree, seven miles high, and no +branch to it till the top, and there on the fork is a nest with some +eggs in it. Bring those eggs down without breaking one or, sure as fate, +I'll eat you for my supper." + +Then the Magician's daughter was very sad; for with all her magic she +could think of no way of helping her lover to fetch the eggs and bring +them down unbroken. So she sate with Nix Naught Nothing underneath the +tree, and thought, and thought, and thought; until an idea came to her, +and she clapped her hands and cried: + + "Fingers of mine, for love of me, + Help my true lover to climb the tree." + +Then her fingers dropped off her hands one by one and ranged themselves +like the steps of a ladder up the tree; but they were not quite enough +of them to reach the top, so she cried again: + + "Oh! toes of mine, for love o' me, + Help my true lover to climb the tree." + +Then her toes began to drop off one by one and range themselves like the +rungs of a ladder; but when the toes of one foot had gone to their +places the ladder was tall enough. So Nix Naught Nothing climbed up it, +reached the nest, and got the seven eggs. Now, as he was coming down +with the last, he was so overjoyed at having finished his task, that he +turned to see if the Magician's daughter was overjoyed too: and lo! the +seventh egg slipped from his hand and fell + + Crash! + +"Quick! Quick!" cried the Magician's daughter, who, as you will observe, +always had her wits about her. "There is nothing for it now but to fly +at once. But first I must have my magic flask, or I shall be unable to +help. It is in my room and the door is locked. Put your fingers, since I +have none, in my pocket, take the key, unlock the door, get the flask, +and follow me fast. I shall go slower than you, for I have no toes on +one foot!" + +So Nix Naught Nothing did as he was bid, and soon caught up the +Magician's daughter. But alas! they could not run very fast, so ere long +the Magician, who had once again taken a giant's form in order to have a +long stride, could be seen behind them. Nearer and nearer he came until +he was just going to seize Nix Naught Nothing, when the Magician's +daughter cried: "Put your fingers, since I have none, into my hair, take +my comb and throw it down." So Nix Naught Nothing did as he was bid, +and, lo and behold! out of every one of the comb-prongs there sprang up +a prickly briar, which grew so fast that the Magician found himself in +the middle of a thorn hedge! You may guess how angry and scratched he +was before he tore his way out. So Nix Naught Nothing and his sweetheart +had time for a good start; but the Magician's daughter could not run +fast because she had lost her toes on one foot! Therefore the Magician +in giant form soon caught them up, and he was just about to grip Nix +Naught Nothing when the Magician's daughter cried: "Put your fingers, +since I have none, to my breast. Take out my veil-dagger and throw it +down." + +So he did as he was bid, and in a moment the dagger had grown to +thousands and thousands of sharp razors, criss-cross on the ground, and +the Magician giant was howling with pain as he trod among them. You may +guess how he danced and stumbled and how long it took for him to pick +his way through as if he were walking on eggs! + +So Nix Naught Nothing and his sweetheart were nearly out of sight ere +the giant could start again; yet it wasn't long before he was like to +catch them up; for the Magician's daughter, you see, could not run fast +because she had lost her toes on one foot! She did what she could, but +it was no use. So just as the giant was reaching out a hand to lay hold +of Nix Naught Nothing she cried breathlessly: + +"There's nothing left but the magic flask. Take it out and sprinkle some +of what it holds on the ground." + +And Nix Naught Nothing did as he was bid; but in his hurry he nearly +emptied the flask altogether; and so the big, big wave of water which +instantly welled up, swept him off his feet, and would have carried him +away, had not the Magician's daughter's loosened veil caught him and +held him fast. But the wave grew, and grew, and grew behind them, until +it reached the giant's waist; then it grew and grew until it reached +his shoulders; and it grew and grew until it swept over his head: a +great big sea-wave full of little fishes and crabs and sea-snails and +all sorts of strange creatures. + +So that was the last of the Magician giant. But the poor little +Magician's daughter was so weary that, after a time she couldn't move a +step further, and she said to her lover, "Yonder are lights burning. Go +and see if you can find a night's lodging: I will climb this tree by the +pool where I shall be safe, and by the time you return I shall be +rested." + +Now, by chance, it happened that the lights they saw were the lights of +the castle where Nix Naught Nothing's father and mother, the King and +Queen, lived (though of course, he did not know this); so, as he walked +towards the castle, he came upon the hen-wife's cottage and asked for a +night's lodging. + +"Who are you?" asked the hen-wife suspiciously. + +"I am Nix Naught Nothing," replied the young man. + +Now the hen-wife still grieved over her boy who had been killed, so she +instantly resolved to be revenged. + +"I cannot give you a night's lodging," she said, "but you shall have a +drink of milk, for you look weary. Then you can go on to the castle and +beg for a bed there." + +So she gave him a cup of milk; but, being a witch-woman, she put a +potion to it so that the very moment he saw his father and mother he +should fall fast asleep, and none should be able to waken him so he +would be no use to anybody, and would not recognize his father and +mother. + +Now the King and Queen had never ceased grieving for their lost son. +They were always very kind to wandering young men, and when they heard +that one was begging a night's lodging, they went down to the hall to +see him. And lo, the moment Nix Naught Nothing caught sight of his +father and mother, there he was on the floor fast asleep, and none could +waken him! He did not recognize his father and mother nor they did not +recognize him. + +But Prince Nix Naught Nothing had grown into a very handsome young man, +so they pitied him very much, and when none, do what they would, could +waken him, the King said, "A maiden will likely take more trouble to +waken him than others, seeing how handsome he is. Send forth a +proclamation that if any maiden in my realm can waken this young man, +she shall have him in marriage, and a handsome dowry to boot." + +So the proclamation was sent forth, and all the pretty maidens of the +realm came to try their luck, but they had no success. + +Now the gardener whose boy had been killed by the giant had a daughter +who was very ugly indeed--so ugly that she thought it no use to try her +luck, and went about her work as usual. So she took her pitcher to the +pool to fill it. Now the Magician's daughter was still hiding in the +tree waiting for her lover to return. Thus it came to pass that the +gardener's ugly daughter, bending down to fill her pitcher in the pool, +saw a beautiful shadow in the water, and thought it was her own! + +"If I am as pretty as that," she cried, "I'll draw water no longer!" + +So she threw down her pitcher, and went straight to the castle to see if +she hadn't a chance of the handsome stranger and the handsome dowry. But +of course she hadn't; though at the sight of Nix Naught Nothing she fell +so much in love with him, that, knowing the hen-wife to be a witch, she +went straight to her, and offered all her savings for a charm by which +she could awaken the sleeper. + +Now when the hen-wife witch heard her tale, she thought it would be a +rare revenge to marry the King and Queen's long-lost son to a gardener's +ugly daughter; so she straightway took the girl's savings and gave her a +charm by which she could unspell the Prince or spell him again at her +pleasure. + +So away went the gardener's daughter to the castle, and sure enough, no +sooner had she sung her charm, than Nix Naught Nothing awoke. + +"I am going to marry you, my charmer," she said coaxingly; but Nix +Naught Nothing said he would prefer sleep. So she thought it wiser to +put him to sleep again till the marriage feast was ready and she had got +her fine clothes. So she spelled him asleep again. + +Now the gardener had, of course, to draw the water himself, since his +daughter would not work. And he took the pitcher to the pool; and he +also saw the Magician's daughter's shadow in the water; but he did not +think the face was his own, for, see you, he had a beard! + +Then he looked up and saw the lady in the tree. + +She, poor thing, was half dead with sorrow, and hunger, and fatigue, +so, being a kind man, he took her to his house and gave her food. And he +told her that that _very day_ his daughter was to marry a handsome young +stranger at the castle, and to get a handsome dowry to boot from the +King and Queen, in memory of their son, Nix Naught Nothing, who had been +carried off by a giant when he was a little boy. + +Then the Magician's daughter felt sure that something had happened to +her lover; so she went to the castle, and there she found him fast +asleep in a chair. + +But she could not waken him, for, see you, her magic had gone from her +with the magic flask which Nix Naught Nothing had emptied. + +So, though she put her fingerless hands on his and wept and sang: + + "I cleaned the stable for love o' thee, + I laved the lake and I clomb the tree, + Wilt thou not waken for love o' me?" + +he never stirred nor woke. + +Now one of the old servants there, seeing how she wept, took pity on her +and said, "She that is to marry the young man will be back ere long, and +unspell him for the wedding. Hide yourself and listen to her charm." + +So the Magician's daughter hid herself, and, by and by, in comes the +gardener's daughter in her fine wedding-dress, and begins to sing her +charm. But the Magician's daughter didn't wait for her to finish it; for +the moment Nix Naught Nothing opened his eyes, she rushed out of her +hiding-place, and put her fingerless hands in his. + +Then Nix Naught Nothing remembered everything. He remembered the castle, +he remembered his father and mother, he remembered the Magician's +daughter and all that she had done for him. + +Then he drew out the magic flask and said, "Surely, surely there must be +enough magic in it to mend your hands." And there was. There were just +fourteen drops left, ten for the fingers and four for the toes; but +there was not one for the little toe, so it could not be brought back. +Of course, after that there was great rejoicing, and Prince Nix Naught +Nothing and the Magician's daughter were married and lived happy ever +after, even though she only had four toes on one foot. As for the +hen-wife witch, she was burnt, and so the gardener's daughter got back +her earnings; but she was not happy, because her shadow in the water was +ugly again. + + + + +MR. AND MRS. VINEGAR + + +Mr. and Mrs. Vinegar, a worthy couple, lived in a glass pickle-jar. The +house, though small, was snug, and so light that each speck of dust on +the furniture showed like a mole-hill; so while Mr. Vinegar tilled his +garden with a pickle-fork and grew vegetables for pickling, Mrs. +Vinegar, who was a sharp, bustling, tidy woman, swept, brushed, and +dusted, brushed and dusted and swept to keep the house clean as a new +pin. Now one day she lost her temper with a cobweb and swept so hard +after it that bang! bang! the broom-handle went right through the glass, +and crash! crash! clitter! clatter! there was the pickle-jar house about +her ears all in splinters and bits. + +She picked her way over these as best she might, and rushed into the +garden. + +"Oh, Vinegar, Vinegar!" she cried. "We are clean ruined and done for! +Quit these vegetables! they won't be wanted! What is the use of pickles +if you haven't a pickle-jar to put them in, and--I've broken ours--into +little bits!" And with that she fell to crying bitterly. + +But Mr. Vinegar was of different mettle; though a small man, he was a +cheerful one, always looking at the best side of things, so he said, +"Accidents will happen, lovey! But there are as good pickle-bottles in +the shop as ever came out of it. All we need is money to buy another. So +let us go out into the world and seek our fortunes." + +"But what about the furniture?" sobbed Mrs. Vinegar. + +"I will take the door of the house with me, lovey," quoth Mr. Vinegar +stoutly. "Then no one will be able to open it, will they?" + +Mrs. Vinegar did not quite see how this fact would mend matters, but, +being a good wife, she held her peace. So off they trudged into the +world to seek fortune, Mr. Vinegar bearing the door on his back like a +snail carries its house. + +Well, they walked all day long, but not a brass farthing did they make, +and when night fell they found themselves in a dark, thick forest. Now +Mrs. Vinegar, for all she was a smart, strong woman, was tired to death, +and filled with fear of wild beasts, so she began once more to cry +bitterly; but Mr. Vinegar was cheerful as ever. + +"Don't alarm yourself, lovey," he said. "I will climb into a tree, fix +the door firmly in a fork, and you can sleep there as safe and +comfortable as in your own bed." + +So he climbed the tree, fixed the door, and Mrs. Vinegar lay down on it, +and being dead tired was soon fast asleep. But her weight tilted the +door sideways, so, after a time, Mr. Vinegar, being afraid she might +slip off, sate down on the other side to balance her and keep watch. + +Now in the very middle of the night, just as he was beginning to nod, +what should happen but that a band of robbers should meet beneath that +very tree in order to divide their spoils. Mr. Vinegar could hear every +word said quite distinctly, and began to tremble like an aspen as he +listened to the terrible deeds the thieves had done to gain their ends. + +"Don't shake so!" murmured Mrs. Vinegar, half asleep. "You'll have me +off the bed." + +"I'm not shaking, lovey," whispered back Mr. Vinegar in a quaking voice. +"It is only the wind in the trees." + +But for all his cheerfulness he was not really _very_ brave _inside_, so +he went on trembling and shaking, and shaking and trembling, till, just +as the robbers were beginning to parcel out the money, he actually shook +the door right out of the tree-fork, and down it came--with Mrs. Vinegar +still asleep upon it--right on top of the robbers' heads! + +As you may imagine, they thought the sky had fallen, and made off as +fast as their legs would carry them, leaving their booty behind them. +But Mr. Vinegar, who had saved himself from the fall by clinging to a +branch, was far too frightened to go down in the dark to see what had +happened. So up in the tree he sate like a big bird until dawn came. + +Then Mrs. Vinegar woke, rubbed her eyes, yawned, and said, "Where am I?" + +"On the ground, lovey," answered Mr. Vinegar, scrambling down. + +And when they lifted up the door, what do you think they found? + +One robber squashed flat as a pancake, and forty golden guineas all +scattered about! + +My goodness! How Mr. and Mrs. Vinegar jumped for joy! + +"Now, Vinegar!" said his wife when they had gathered up all the gold +pieces, "I will tell you what we must do. You must go to the next +market-town and buy a cow; for, see you, money makes the mare to go, +truly; but it also goes itself. Now a cow won't run away, but will give +us milk and butter, which we can sell. So we shall live in comfort for +the rest of our days." + +"What a head you have, lovey!" said Mr. Vinegar admiringly, and started +off on his errand. + +"Mind you make a good bargain," bawled his wife after him. + +"I always do," bawled back Mr. Vinegar. "I made a good bargain when I +married such a clever wife, and I made a better one when I shook her +down from the tree. I am the happiest man alive!" + +So he trudged on, laughing and jingling the forty gold pieces in his +pocket. + +Now the first thing he saw in the market was an old red cow. + +"I am in luck to-day," he thought; "that is the very beast for me. I +shall be the happiest of men if I get that cow." So he went up to the +owner, jingling the gold in his pocket. + +"What will you take for your cow?" he asked. + +And the owner of the cow, seeing he was a simpleton, said, "What you've +got in your pocket." + +"Done!" said Mr. Vinegar, handed over the forty guineas, and led off the +cow, marching her up and down the market, much against her will, to show +off his bargain. + +Now, as he drove it about, proud as Punch, he noticed a man who was +playing the bagpipes. He was followed about by a crowd of children who +danced to the music, and a perfect shower of pennies fell into his cap +every time he held it out. + +"Ho, ho!" thought Mr. Vinegar. "That is an easier way of earning a +livelihood than by driving about a beast of a cow! Then the feeding, and +the milking, and the churning! Ah, I should be the happiest man alive if +I had those bagpipes!" + +So he went up to the musician and said, "What will you take for your +bagpipes?" + +"Well," replied the musician, seeing he was a simpleton, "it is a +beautiful instrument, and I make so much money by it, that I cannot take +anything less than that red cow." + +"Done!" cried Mr. Vinegar in a hurry, lest the man should repent of his +offer. + +So the musician walked off with the red cow, and Mr. Vinegar tried to +play the bagpipes. But, alas and alack! though he blew till he almost +burst, not a sound could he make at first, and when he did at last, it +was such a terrific squeal and screech that all the children ran away +frightened, and the people stopped their ears. + +But he went on and on, trying to play a tune, and never earning +anything, save hootings and peltings, until his fingers were almost +frozen with the cold, when of course the noise he made on the bagpipes +was worse than ever. + +Then he noticed a man who had on a pair of warm gloves, and he said to +himself, "Music is impossible when one's fingers are frozen. I believe I +should be the happiest man alive if I had those gloves." + +So he went up to the owner and said, "You seem, sir, to have a very good +pair of gloves." And the man replied, "Truly, sir, my hands are as warm +as toast this bitter November day." + +That quite decided Mr. Vinegar, and he asked at once what the owner +would take for them; and the owner, seeing he was a simpleton, said, "As +your hands seem frozen, sir, I will, as a favour, let you have them for +your bagpipes." + +"Done!" cried Mr. Vinegar, delighted, and made the exchange. + +Then he set off to find his wife, quite pleased with himself. "Warm +hands, warm heart!" he thought. "I'm the happiest man alive!" + +But as he trudged he grew very, very tired, and at last began to limp. +Then he saw a man coming along the road with a stout stick. + +"I should be the happiest man alive if I had that stick," he thought. +"What is the use of warm hands if your feet ache!" So he said to the man +with the stick, "What will you take for your stick?" and the man, +seeing he was a simpleton, replied: + +"Well, I don't want to part with my stick, but as you are so pressing +I'll oblige you, as a friend, for those warm gloves you are wearing." + +"Done for you!" cried Mr. Vinegar delightedly; and trudged off with the +stick, chuckling to himself over his good bargain. + +But as he went along a magpie fluttered out of the hedge and sate on a +branch in front of him, and chuckled and laughed as magpies do. "What +are you laughing at?" asked Mr. Vinegar. + +"At you, forsooth!" chuckled the magpie, fluttering just a little +further. "At you, Mr. Vinegar, you foolish man--you simpleton--you +blockhead! You bought a cow for forty guineas when she wasn't worth ten, +you exchanged her for bagpipes you couldn't play--you changed the +bagpipes for a pair of gloves, and the pair of gloves for a miserable +stick. Ho, ho! Ha, ha! So you've nothing to show for your forty guineas +save a stick you might have cut in any hedge. Ah, you fool! you +simpleton! you blockhead!" + +And the magpie chuckled, and chuckled, and chuckled in such guffaws, +fluttering from branch to branch as Mr. Vinegar trudged along, that at +last he flew into a violent rage and flung his stick at the bird. And +the stick stuck in a tree out of his reach; so he had to go back to his +wife without anything at all. + +[Illustration: At last he flew into a violent rage and flung his stick +at the bird] + +But he was glad the stick had stuck in a tree, for Mrs. Vinegar's hands +were quite hard enough. + +When it was all over Mr. Vinegar said cheerfully, "You are too violent, +lovey. You broke the pickle-jar, and now you've nearly broken every bone +in my body. I think we had better turn over a new leaf and begin +afresh. I shall take service as a gardener, and you can go as a +housemaid, until we have enough money to buy a new pickle-jar. There are +as good ones in the shop as ever came out of it." + +And that is the story of Mr. and Mrs. Vinegar. + +[Illustration: And that is the story of Mr. and Mrs. Vinegar] + + + + +THE TRUE HISTORY OF SIR THOMAS THUMB + + +At the court of great King Arthur, who lived, as all know, when knights +were bold, and ladies were fair indeed, one of the most renowned of men +was the wizard Merlin. Never before or since was there such another. All +that was to be known of wizardry he knew, and his advice was ever good +and kindly. + +Now once when he was travelling in the guise of a beggar, he chanced +upon an honest ploughman and his wife who, giving him a hearty welcome, +supplied him, cheerfully, with a big wooden bowl of fresh milk and some +coarse brown bread on a wooden platter. Still, though both they and the +little cottage where they dwelt were neat and tidy, Merlin noticed that +neither the husband nor the wife seemed happy; and when he asked the +cause they said it was because they had no children. + +"Had I but a son, no matter if he were no bigger than my goodman's +thumb," said the poor woman, "we should be quite content." + +Now this idea of a boy no bigger than a man's thumb so tickled Wizard +Merlin's fancy that he promised straight away that such a son should +come in due time to bring the good couple content. This done, he went +off at once to pay a visit to the Queen of the Fairies, since he felt +that the little people would best be able to carry out his promise. And, +sure enough, the droll fancy of a mannikin no bigger than his father's +thumb tickled the Fairy Queen also, and she set about the task at once. + +So behold the ploughman and his wife as happy as King and Queen over the +tiniest of tiny babies; and all the happier because the Fairy Queen, +anxious to see the little fellow, flew in at the window, bringing with +her clothes fit for the wee mannikin to wear. + + An oak-leaf hat he had for his crown; + His jacket was woven of thistle-down. + His shirt was a web by spiders spun; + His breeches of softest feathers were done. + His stockings of red-apple rind were tyne + With an eyelash plucked from his mother's eyne. + His shoes were made of a mouse's skin, + Tanned with the soft furry hair within. + +Dressed in this guise he looked the prettiest little fellow ever seen, +and the Fairy Queen kissed him over and over again, and gave him the +name of Tom Thumb. + +Now as he grew older--though, mind you, he never grew bigger--he was so +full of antics and tricks that he was for ever getting into trouble. +Once his mother was making a batter pudding, and Tom, wanting to see how +it was made, climbed up to the edge of the bowl. His mother was so busy +beating the batter that she didn't notice him; and when his foot +slipped, and he plumped head and ears into the bowl, she just went on +beating until the batter was light enough. Then she put it into the +pudding-cloth and set it on the fire to boil. + +Now the batter had so filled poor Tom's mouth that he couldn't cry; but +no sooner did he feel the hot water than he began to struggle and kick +so much that the pudding bobbed up and down, and jumped about in such +strange fashion that the ploughman's wife thought it was bewitched, and +in a great fright flung it to the door. + +Here a poor tinker passing by picked it up and put it in his wallet. But +by this time Tom had got his mouth clear of the batter, and he began +holloaing, and making such a to-do, that the tinker, even more +frightened than Tom's mother had been, threw the pudding in the road, +and ran away as fast as he could run. Luckily for Tom, this second fall +broke the pudding string and he was able to creep out, all covered with +half-cooked batter, and make his way home, where his mother, distressed +to see her little dear in such a woeful state, put him into a teacup of +water to clean him, and then tucked him up in bed. + +Another time Tom's mother went to milk her red cow in the meadow and +took Tom with her, for she was ever afraid lest he should fall into +mischief when left alone. Now the wind was high, and fearful lest he +should be blown away, she tied him to a thistle-head with one of her own +long hairs, and then began to milk. But the red cow, nosing about for +something to do while she was being milked, as all cows will, spied +Tom's oak-leaf hat, and thinking it looked good, curled its tongue round +the thistle-stalk and-- + +There was Tom dodging the cow's teeth, and roaring as loud as he could: + +"Mother! Mother! Help! Help!" + +"Lawks-a-mercy-me," cried his mother, "where's the child got to now? +Where are you, you bad boy?" + +"Here!" roared Tom, "in the red cow's mouth!" + +With that his mother began to weep and wail, not knowing what else to +do; and Tom, hearing her, roared louder than ever. Whereat the red cow, +alarmed--and no wonder!--at the dreadful noise in her throat, opened +her mouth, and Tom dropped out, luckily into his mother's apron; +otherwise he would have been badly hurt falling so far. + +Adventures like these were not Tom's fault. He could not help being so +small, but he got into dreadful trouble once for which he was entirely +to blame. This is what happened. He loved playing cherry-stones with the +big boys, and when he had lost all his own he would creep unbeknownst +into the other players' pockets or bags, and make off with cherry-stones +enough and galore to carry on the game! + +Now one day it so happened that one of the boys saw Master Tom on the +point of coming out of a bag with a whole fistful of cherry-stones. So +he just drew the string of the bag tight. + +"Ha! ha! Mr. Thomas Thumb," says he jeeringly, "so you were going to +pinch my cherry-stones, were you? Well! you shall have more of them than +you like." And with that he gave the cherry-stone bag such a hearty +shake that all Tom's body and legs were sadly bruised black and blue; +nor was he let out till he had promised never to steal cherry-stones +again. + +So the years passed, and when Tom was a lad, still no bigger than a +thumb, his father thought he might begin to make himself useful. So he +made him a whip out of a barley straw, and set him to drive the cattle +home. But Tom, in trying to climb a furrow's ridge--which to him, of +course, was a steep hill--slipped down and lay half stunned, so that a +raven, happening to fly over, thought he was a frog, and picked him up +intending to eat him. Not relishing the morsel, however, the bird +dropped him above the battlements of a big castle that stood close to +the sea. Now the castle belonged to one Grumbo, an ill-tempered giant +who happened to be taking the air on the roof of his tower. And when Tom +dropped on his bald pate the giant put up his great hand to catch what +he thought was an impudent fly, and finding something that smelt man's +meat, he just swallowed the little fellow as he would have swallowed a +pill! + +He began, however, to repent very soon, for Tom kicked and struggled in +the giant's inside as he had done in the red cow's throat until the +giant felt quite squeamish, and finally got rid of Tom by being sick +over the battlements into the sea. + +And here, doubtless, would have been Tom Thumb's end by drowning, had +not a big fish, thinking that he was a shrimp, rushed at him and gulped +him down! + +Now by good chance some fishermen were standing by with their nets, and +when they drew them in, the fish that had swallowed Tom was one of the +haul. Being a very fine fish it was sent to the Court kitchen, where, +when the fish was opened, out popped Tom on the dresser, as spry as +spry, to the astonishment of the cook and the scullions! Never had such +a mite of a man been seen, while his quips and pranks kept the whole +buttery in roars of laughter. What is more, he soon became the favourite +of the whole Court, and when the King went out a-riding Tom sat in the +Royal waistcoat pocket ready to amuse Royalty and the Knights of the +Round Table. + +After a while, however, Tom wearied to see his parents again; so the +King gave him leave to go home and take with him as much money as he +could carry. Tom therefore chose a threepenny bit, and putting it into a +purse made of a water bubble, lifted it with difficulty on to his back, +and trudged away to his father's house, which was some half a mile +distant. + +It took him two days and two nights to cover the ground, and he was fair +outwearied by his heavy burden ere he reached home. However, his mother +put him to rest in a walnut shell by the fire and gave him a whole hazel +nut to eat; which, sad to say, disagreed with him dreadfully. However, +he recovered in some measure, but had grown so thin and light that to +save him the trouble of walking back to the Court, his mother tied him +to a dandelion-clock, and as there was a high wind, away he went as if +on wings. Unfortunately, however, just as he was flying low in order to +alight, the Court cook, an ill-natured fellow, was coming across the +palace yard with a bowl of hot furmenty for the King's supper. Now Tom +was unskilled in the handling of dandelion horses, so what should happen +but that he rode straight into the furmenty, spilt the half of it, and +splashed the other half, scalding hot, into the cook's face. + +He was in a fine rage, and going straight to King Arthur said that Tom, +at his old antics, had done it on purpose. + +Now the King's favourite dish was hot furmenty; so he also fell into a +fine rage and ordered Tom to be tried for high treason. He was therefore +imprisoned in a mouse-trap, where he remained for several days tormented +by a cat, who, thinking him some new kind of mouse, spent its time in +sparring at him through the bars. At the end of a week, however, King +Arthur, having recovered the loss of the furmenty, sent for Tom and once +more received him into favour. After this Tom's life was happy and +successful. He became so renowned for his dexterity and wonderful +activity, that he was knighted, by the King under the name of Sir Thomas +Thumb, and as his clothes, what with the batter and the furmenty, to say +nothing of the insides of giants and fishes, had become somewhat shabby, +His Majesty ordered him a new suit of clothes fit for a mounted knight +to wear. He also gave him a beautiful prancing grey mouse as a charger. + +It was certainly very diverting to see Tom dressed up to the nines, and +as proud as Punch. + + Of butterflies' wings his shirt was made, + His boots of chicken hide, + And by a nimble fairy blade, + All learned in the tailoring trade, + His coat was well supplied. + A needle dangled at his side, + And thus attired in stately pride + A dapper mouse he used to ride. + +In truth the King and all the Knights of the Round Table were ready to +expire with laughter at Tom on his fine curveting steed. + +But one day, as the hunt was passing a farm-house, a big cat, lurking +about, made one spring and carried both Tom and the mouse up a tree. +Nothing daunted, Tom boldly drew his needle sword and attacked the enemy +with such fierceness that she let her prey fall. Luckily one of the +nobles caught the little fellow in his cap, otherwise he must have been +killed by the fall. As it was he became very ill, and the doctor almost +despaired of his life. However, his friend and guardian, the Queen of +the Fairies, arrived in a chariot drawn by flying mice, and then and +there carried Tom back with her to Fairyland, where, amongst folk of his +own size, he, after a time, recovered. But time runs swiftly in +Fairyland, and when Tom Thumb returned to Court he was surprised to find +that his father and mother and nearly all his old friends were dead, and +that King Thunstone reigned in King Arthur's place. So every one was +astonished at his size, and carried him as a curiosity to the Audience +Hall. + +"Who art thou, mannikin?" asked King Thunstone. "Whence dost come? And +where dost live?" + +To which Tom replied with a bow: + + "My name is well known. + From the Fairies I come. + When King Arthur shone, + This Court was my home. + By him I was knighted, + In me he delighted + --Your servant--Sir Thomas Thumb." + +This address so pleased His Majesty that he ordered a little golden +chair to be made, so that Tom might sit beside him at table. Also a +little palace of gold, but a span high, with doors a bare inch wide, in +which the little fellow might take his ease. + +Now King Thunstone's Queen was a very jealous woman, and could not bear +to see such honours showered on the little fellow; so she up and told +the King all sorts of bad tales about his favourite; amongst others, +that he had been saucy and rude to her. + +Whereupon the King sent for Tom; but forewarned is forearmed, and +knowing by bitter experience the danger of royal displeasure, Tom hid +himself in an empty snail-shell, where he lay till he was nigh starved. +Then seeing a fine large butterfly on a dandelion close by, he climbed +up and managed to get astride it. No sooner had he gained his seat than +the butterfly was off, hovering from tree to tree, from flower to +flower. + +At last the royal gardener saw it and gave chase, then the nobles joined +in the hunt, even the King himself, and finally the Queen, who forgot +her anger in the merriment. Hither and thither they ran, trying in vain +to catch the pair, and almost expiring with laughter, until poor Tom, +dizzy with so much fluttering, and doubling, and flittering, fell from +his seat into a watering-pot, where he was nearly drowned. + +So they all agreed he must be forgiven, because he had afforded them so +much amusement. + +[Illustration: A spider one day attacked him] + +Thus Tom was once more in favour; but he did not live long to enjoy his +good luck, for a spider one day attacked him, and though he fought well, +the creature's poisonous breath proved too much for him; he fell dead on +the ground where he stood, and the spider soon sucked every drop of his +blood. + +Thus ended Sir Thomas Thumb; but the King and the Court were so sorry at +the loss of their little favourite that they went into mourning for him. +And they put a fine white marble monument over his grave whereon was +carven the following epitaph: + + Here lyes Tom Thumb, King Arthur's Knight, + Who died by a spider's fell despite. + He was well known in Arthur's Court, + Where he afforded gallant sport. + He rode at tilt and tournament, + And on a mouse a-hunting went. + Alive he filled the Court with mirth, + His death to sadness must give birth. + So wipe your eyes and shake your head, + And say, "Alas, Tom Thumb is dead!" + + + + +HENNY-PENNY + + +One day Henny-penny was picking up corn in the rickyard when--whack!--an +acorn hit her upon the head. "Goodness gracious me!" said Henny-penny, +"the sky's a-going to fall; I must go and tell the King." + +So she went along, and she went along, and she went along, till she met +Cocky-locky. "Where are you going, Henny-penny?" says Cocky-locky. "Oh! +I'm going to tell the King the sky's a-falling," says Henny-penny. "May +I come with you?" says Cocky-locky. "Certainly," says Henny-penny. So +Henny-penny and Cocky-locky went to tell the King the sky was falling. + +They went along, and they went along, and they went along, till they met +Ducky-daddles. "Where are you going to, Henny-penny and Cocky-locky?" +says Ducky-daddles. "Oh! we're going to tell the King the sky's +a-falling," said Henny-penny and Cocky-locky. "May I come with you?" +says Ducky-daddles. "Certainly," said Henny-penny and Cocky-locky. So +Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, and Ducky-daddles went to tell the King the +sky was a-falling. + +So they went along, and they went along, and they went along, till they +met Goosey-poosey. "Where are you going to, Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, +and Ducky-daddles?" said Goosey-poosey. "Oh! we're going to tell the +King the sky's a-falling," said Henny-penny and Cocky-locky and +Ducky-daddles. "May I come with you?" said Goosey-poosey. "Certainly," +said Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, and Ducky-daddles. So Henny-penny, +Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, and Goosey-poosey went to tell the King the +sky was a-falling. + +So they went along, and they went along, and they went along, till they +met Turkey-lurkey. "Where are you going, Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, +Ducky-daddles, and Goosey-poosey?" says Turkey-lurkey. "Oh! we're going +to tell the King the sky's a-falling," said Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, +Ducky-daddles, and Goosey-poosey. "May I come with you, Henny-penny, +Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, and Goosey-poosey?" said Turkey-lurkey. "Oh, +certainly, Turkey-lurkey," said Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, +and Goosey-poosey. So Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, +Goosey-poosey, and Turkey-lurkey all went to tell the King the sky was +a-falling. + +So they went along, and they went along, and they went along, till they +met Foxy-woxy, and Foxy-woxy said to Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, +Ducky-daddles, Goosey-poosey, and Turkey-lurkey, "Where are you going, +Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, Goosey-poosey, and +Turkey-lurkey?" And Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, +Goosey-poosey, and Turkey-lurkey said to Foxy-woxy, "We're going to tell +the King the sky's a-falling." "Oh! but this is not the way to the King, +Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, Goosey-poosey, and +Turkey-lurkey," says Foxy-woxy; "I know the proper way; shall I show it +you?" "Oh, certainly, Foxy-woxy," said Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, +Ducky-daddles, Goosey-poosey, and Turkey-lurkey. So Henny-penny, +Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, Goosey-poosey, Turkey-lurkey, and Foxy-woxy +all went to tell the King the sky was a-falling. So they went along, and +they went along, and they went along, till they came to a narrow and +dark hole. Now this was the door of Foxy-woxy's burrow. But Foxy-woxy +said to Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, Goosey-poosey, and +Turkey-lurkey, "This is the short cut to the King's palace: you'll +soon get there if you follow me. I will go first and you come after, +Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, Goosey-poosey, and +Turkey-lurkey." "Why, of course, certainly, without doubt, why not?" +said Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, Goosey-poosey, and +Turkey-lurkey. + +[Illustration: "I will go first and you come after, Henny-penny, +Cocky-locky Ducky-daddles, Goosey-poosey, and Turkey-lurkey"] + +So Foxy-woxy went into his burrow, and he didn't go very far but turned +round to wait for Henny-penny, Cocky-locky, Ducky-daddles, +Goosey-poosey, and Turkey-lurkey. Now Turkey-lurkey was the first to go +through the dark hole into the burrow. He hadn't got far when-- + +"Hrumph!" + +Foxy-woxy snapped off Turkey-lurkey's head and threw his body over his +left shoulder. Then Goosey-poosey went in, and-- + +"Hrumph!" + +[Illustration: So she escaped] + +Off went her head and Goosey-poosey was thrown beside Turkey-lurkey. +Then Ducky-daddles waddled down, and-- + +"Hrumph!" + +Foxy-woxy had snapped off Ducky-daddles' head and Ducky-daddles was +thrown alongside Turkey-lurkey and Goosey-poosey. Then Cocky-locky +strutted down into the burrow, and he hadn't gone far when-- + +"Hrumph!" + +But Cocky-locky _will_ always crow whether you want him to do so or not, +and so he had just time for one "Cock-a-doo-dle d--" before he went to +join Turkey-lurkey, Goosey-poosey, and Ducky-daddles over Foxy-woxy's +shoulders. + +Now when Henny-penny, who had just got into the dark burrow, heard +Cocky-locky crow, she said to herself: + +"My goodness! it must be dawn. Time for me to lay my egg." + +So she turned round and bustled off to her nest; so she escaped, but she +never told the King the sky was falling! + +[Illustration: So she escaped] + + +[Illustration: They thanked her and said good-bye, and she went on her +journey.] + + + + +THE THREE HEADS OF THE WELL + + +Once upon a time there reigned a King in Colchester, valiant, strong, +wise, famous as a good ruler. + +But in the midst of his glory his dear Queen died, leaving him with a +daughter just touching woman's estate; and this maiden was renowned, far +and wide, for beauty, kindness, grace. Now strange things happen, and +the King of Colchester, hearing of a lady who had immense riches, had a +mind to marry her, though she was old, ugly, hook-nosed, and +ill-tempered; and though she was, furthermore, possessed of a daughter +as ugly as herself. None could give the reason why, but only a few weeks +after the death of his dear Queen, the King brought this loathly bride +to Court, and married her with great pomp and festivities. Now the very +first thing she did was to poison the King's mind against his own +beautiful, kind, gracious daughter, of whom, naturally, the ugly Queen +and her ugly daughter were dreadfully jealous. + +Now when the young Princess found that even her father had turned +against her, she grew weary of Court life, and longed to get away from +it; so, one day, happening to meet the King alone in the garden, she +went down on her knees, and begged and prayed him to give her some help, +and let her go out into the world to seek her fortune. To this the King +agreed, and told his consort to fit the girl out for her enterprise in +proper fashion. But the jealous woman only gave her a canvas bag of +brown bread and hard cheese, with a bottle of small-beer. + +Though this was but a pitiful dowry for a King's daughter, the Princess +was too proud to complain; so she took it, returned her thanks, and set +off on her journey through woods and forests, by rivers and lakes, over +mountain and valley. + +At last she came to a cave at the mouth of which, on a stone, sate an +old, old man with a white beard. + +"Good morrow, fair damsel," he said; "whither away so fast?" + +"Reverend father," replies she, "I go to seek my fortune." + +"And what hast thou for dowry, fair damsel," said he, "in thy bag and +bottle?" + +"Bread and cheese and small-beer, father," says she, smiling. "Will it +please you to partake of either?" + +"With all my heart," says he, and when she pulled out her provisions he +ate them nearly all. But once again she made no complaint, but bade him +eat what he needed, and welcome. + +Now when he had finished he gave her many thanks, and said: + +"For your beauty, and your kindness, and your grace, take this wand. +There is a thick thorny hedge before you which seems impassable. But +strike it thrice with this wand, saying each time, 'Please, hedge, let +me through,' and it will open a pathway for you. Then, when you come to +a well, sit down on the brink of it; do not be surprised at anything you +may see, but, whatever you are asked to do, that do!" + +So saying the old man went into the cave, and she went on her way. After +a while she came to a high, thick thorny hedge; but when she struck it +three times with the wand, saying, "Please, hedge, let me through," it +opened a wide pathway for her. So she came to the well, on the brink of +which she sate down, and no sooner had she done so, than a golden head +without any body came up through the water, singing as it came: + + "Wash me, and comb me, lay me on a bank to dry + Softly and prettily to watch the passers-by." + +"Certainly," she said, pulling out her silver comb. Then, placing the +head on her lap, she began to comb the golden hair. When she had combed +it, she lifted the golden head softly, and laid it on a primrose bank to +dry. No sooner had she done this than another golden head appeared, +singing as it came: + + "Wash me, and comb me, lay me on a bank to dry + Softly and prettily to watch the passers-by." + +"Certainly," says she, and after combing the golden hair, placed the +golden head softly on the primrose bank, beside the first one. + +Then came a third head out of the well, and it said the same thing: + + "Wash me, and comb me, lay me on a bank to dry + Softly and prettily to watch the passers-by." + +"With all my heart," says she graciously, and after taking the head on +her lap, and combing its golden hair with her silver comb, there were +the three golden heads in a row on the primrose bank. And she sate down +to rest herself and looked at them, they were so quaint and pretty; and +as she rested she cheerfully ate and drank the meagre portion of the +brown bread, hard cheese, and small-beer which the old man had left to +her; for, though she was a king's daughter, she was too proud to +complain. + +Then the first head spoke. "Brothers, what shall we weird for this +damsel who has been so gracious unto us? I weird her to be so beautiful +that she shall charm every one she meets." + +"And I," said the second head, "weird her a voice that shall exceed the +nightingale's in sweetness." + +"And I," said the third head, "weird her to be so fortunate that she +shall marry the greatest King that reigns." + +"Thank you with all my heart," says she; "but don't you think I had +better put you back in the well before I go on? Remember you are golden, +and the passers-by might steal you." + +To this they agreed; so she put them back. And when they had thanked +her for her kind thought and said good-bye, she went on her journey. + +Now she had not travelled far before she came to a forest where the King +of the country was hunting with his nobles, and as the gay cavalcade +passed down the glade she stood back to avoid them; but the King caught +sight of her, and drew up his horse, fairly amazed at her beauty. + +"Fair maid," he said, "who art thou, and whither goest thou through the +forest thus alone?" + +"I am the King of Colchester's daughter, and I go to seek my fortune," +says she, and her voice was sweeter than the nightingale's. + +Then the King jumped from his horse, being so struck by her that he felt +it would be impossible to live without her, and falling on his knee +begged and prayed her to marry him without delay. + +And he begged and prayed so well that at last she consented. So, with +all courtesy, he mounted her on his horse behind him, and commanding the +hunt to follow, he returned to his palace, where the wedding festivities +took place with all possible pomp and merriment. Then, ordering out the +royal chariot, the happy pair started to pay the King of Colchester a +bridal visit: and you may imagine the surprise and delight with which, +after so short an absence, the people of Colchester saw their beloved, +beautiful, kind, and gracious princess return in a chariot all gemmed +with gold, as the bride of the most powerful King in the world. The +bells rang out, flags flew, drums beat, the people huzzaed, and all was +gladness, save for the ugly Queen and her ugly daughter, who were ready +to burst with envy and malice; for, see you, the despised maiden was now +above them both, and went before them at every Court ceremonial. + +So, after the visit was ended, and the young King and his bride had gone +back to their own country, there to live happily ever after, the ugly +ill-natured princess said to her mother, the ugly Queen: + +"I also will go into the world and seek my fortune. If that drab of a +girl with her mincing ways got so much, what may I not get?" + +So her mother agreed, and furnished her forth with silken dresses and +furs, and gave her as provisions sugar, almonds, and sweetmeats of every +variety, besides a large flagon of Malaga sack. Altogether a right royal +dowry. + +Armed with these she set forth, following the same road as her +step-sister. Thus she soon came upon the old man with a white beard, who +was seated on a stone by the mouth of a cave. + +"Good morrow," says he. "Whither away so fast?" + +"What's that to you, old man?" she replied rudely. + +"And what hast thou for dowry in bag and bottle?" he asked quietly. + +"Good things with which you shall not be troubled," she answered pertly. + +"Wilt thou not spare an old man something?" he said. + +[Illustration: The thorns closed in around her so that she was all +scratched and torn] + +Then she laughed. "Not a bite, not a sup, lest they should choke you: +though that would be small matter to me," she replied, with a toss of +her head. + +"Then ill luck go with thee," remarked the old man as he rose and went +into the cave. + +So she went on her way, and after a time came to the thick thorny hedge, +and seeing what she thought was a gap in it, she tried to pass through; +but no sooner had she got well into the middle of the hedge than the +thorns closed in around her so that she was all scratched and torn +before she won her way. Thus, streaming with blood, she went on to the +well, and seeing water, sate on the brink intending to cleanse herself. +But just as she dipped her hands, up came a golden head singing as it +came: + + "Wash me, and comb me, lay me on the bank to dry + Softly and prettily to watch the passers-by." + +"A likely story," says she. "I'm going to wash myself." And with that +she gave the head such a bang with her bottle that it bobbed below the +water. But it came up again, and so did a second head, singing as it +came: + + "Wash me, and comb me, lay me on the bank to dry + Softly and prettily to watch the passers-by." + +"Not I," scoffs she. "I'm going to wash my hands and face and have my +dinner." So she fetches the second head a cruel bang with the bottle, +and both heads ducked down in the water. + +But when they came up again all draggled and dripping, the third head +came also, singing as it came: + + "Wash me, and comb me, lay me on the bank to dry + Softly and prettily to watch the passers-by." + +By this time the ugly princess had cleansed herself, and, seated on the +primrose bank, had her mouth full of sugar and almonds. + +"Not I," says she as well as she could. "I'm not a washerwoman nor a +barber. So take that for your washing and combing." + +And with that, having finished the Malaga sack, she flung the empty +bottle at the three heads. + +But this time they didn't duck. They looked at each other and said, "How +shall we weird this rude girl for her bad manners?" Then the first head +said: + +"I weird that to her ugliness shall be added blotches on her face." + +And the second head said: + +"I weird that she shall ever be hoarse as a crow and speak as if she had +her mouth full." + +Then the third head said: + +"And I weird that she shall be glad to marry a cobbler." + +Then the three heads sank into the well and were no more seen, and the +ugly princess went on her way. But, lo and behold! when she came to a +town, the children ran from her ugly blotched face screaming with +fright, and when she tried to tell them she was the King of Colchester's +daughter, her voice squeaked like a corn-crake's, was hoarse as a +crow's, and folk could not understand a word she said, because she spoke +as if her mouth was full! + +Now in the town there happened to be a cobbler who not long before had +mended the shoes of a poor old hermit; and the latter, having no money, +had paid for the job by the gift of a wonderful ointment which would +cure blotches on the face, and a bottle of medicine that would banish +any hoarseness. + +So, seeing the miserable, ugly princess in great distress, he went up to +her and gave her a few drops out of his bottle; and then understanding +from her rich attire and clearer speech that she was indeed a King's +daughter, he craftily said that if she would take him for a husband he +would undertake to cure her. + +"Anything! Anything!" sobbed the miserable princess. + +So they were married, and the cobbler straightway set off with his bride +to visit the King of Colchester. But the bells did not ring, the drums +did not beat, and the people, instead of huzzaing, burst into loud +guffaws at the cobbler in leather, and his wife in silks and satins. + +As for the ugly Queen, she was so enraged and disappointed that she went +mad, and hanged herself in wrath. Whereupon the King, really pleased at +getting rid of her so soon, gave the cobbler a hundred pounds and bade +him go about his business with his ugly bride. + +Which he did quite contentedly, for a hundred pounds means much to a +poor cobbler. So they went to a remote part of the kingdom and lived +unhappily for many years, he cobbling shoes, and she spinning the thread +for him. + + + + +MR. FOX + + +Lady Mary was young and Lady Mary was fair, and she had more lovers than +she could count on the fingers of both hands. + +She lived with her two brothers, who were very proud and very fond of +their beautiful sister, and very anxious that she should choose well +amongst her many suitors. + +Now amongst them there was a certain Mr. Fox, handsome and young and +rich; and though nobody quite knew who he was, he was so gallant and so +gay that every one liked him. And he wooed Lady Mary so well that at +last she promised to marry him. But though he talked much of the +beautiful home to which he would take her, and described the castle and +all the wonderful things that furnished it, he never offered to show it +to her, neither did he invite Lady Mary's brothers to see it. + +Now this seemed to her very strange indeed; and, being a lass of spirit, +she made up her mind to see the castle if she could. + +So one day, just before the wedding, when she knew Mr. Fox would be +away seeing the lawyers with her brothers, she just kilted up her skirts +and set out unbeknownst--for, see you, the whole household was busy +preparing for the marriage feastings--to see for herself what Mr. Fox's +beautiful castle was like. + +After many searchings, and much travelling, she found it at last; and a +fine strong building it was, with high walls and a deep moat to it. A +bit frowning and gloomy, but when she came up to the wide gateway she +saw these words carven over the arch: + + _BE BOLD--BE BOLD._ + +So she plucked up courage, and the gate being open, went through it and +found herself in a wide, empty, open courtyard. At the end of this was a +smaller door, and over this was carven: + + _BE BOLD, BE BOLD; BUT NOT TOO BOLD._ + +So she went through it to a wide, empty hall, and up the wide, empty +staircase. Now at the top of the staircase there was a wide, empty +gallery at one end of which were wide windows with the sunlight +streaming through them from a beautiful garden, and at the other end a +narrow door, over the archway of which was carven: + + _BE BOLD, BE BOLD; BUT NOT TOO BOLD, + LEST THAT YOUR HEART'S BLOOD SHOULD RUN COLD._ + +Now Lady Mary was a lass of spirit, and so, of course, she turned her +back on the sunshine, and opened the narrow, dark door. And there she +was in a narrow, dark passage. But at the end there was a chink of +light. So she went forward and put her eye to the chink--and what do you +think she saw? + +Why! a wide saloon lit with many candles, and all round it, some hanging +by their necks, some seated on chairs, some lying on the floor, were the +skeletons and bodies of numbers of beautiful young maidens in their +wedding-dresses that were all stained with blood. + +Now Lady Mary, for all she was a lass of spirit, and brave as brave, +could not look for long on such a horrid sight, so she turned and fled. +Down the dark narrow passage, through the dark narrow door (which she +did not forget to close behind her), and along the wide gallery she fled +like a hare, and was just going down the wide stairs into the wide hall +when, what did she see, through the window, but Mr. Fox dragging a +beautiful young lady across the wide courtyard! There was nothing for +it, Lady Mary decided, but to hide herself as quickly and as best she +might; so she fled faster down the wide stairs, and hid herself behind a +big wine-butt that stood in a corner of the wide hall. She was only just +in time, for there at the wide door was Mr. Fox dragging the poor young +maiden along by the hair; and he dragged her across the wide hall and up +the wide stairs. And when she clutched at the bannisters to stop +herself, Mr. Fox cursed and swore dreadfully; and at last he drew his +sword and brought it down so hard on the poor young lady's wrist that +the hand, cut off, jumped up into the air so that the diamond ring on +the finger flashed in the sunlight as it fell, of all places in the +world, into Lady Mary's very lap as she crouched behind the wine-butt! + +Then she was fair frightened, thinking Mr. Fox would be sure to find +her; but after looking about a little while in vain (for, of course, he +coveted the diamond ring), he continued his dreadful task of dragging +the poor, beautiful young maiden upstairs to the horrid chamber, +intending, doubtless, to return when he had finished his loathly work, +and seek for the hand. + +But by that time Lady Mary had fled; for no sooner did she hear the +awful, dragging noise pass into the gallery, than she upped and ran for +dear life--through the wide door with + + _BE BOLD, BE BOLD; BUT NOT TOO BOLD_ + +engraven over the arch, across the wide courtyard past the wide gate +with + + _BE BOLD--BE BOLD_ + +engraven over it, never stopping, never thinking till she reached her +own chamber. And all the while the hand with the diamond ring lay in her +kilted lap. + +Now the very next day, when Mr. Fox and Lady Mary's brothers returned +from the lawyers, the marriage-contract had to be signed. And all the +neighbourhood was asked to witness it and partake of a splendid +breakfast. And there was Lady Mary in bridal array, and there was Mr. +Fox, looking so gay and so gallant. He was seated at the table just +opposite Lady Mary, and he looked at her and said: + +"How pale you are this morning, dear heart." + +Then Lady Mary looked at him quietly and said, "Yes, dear sir! I had a +bad night's rest, for I had horrible dreams." + +Then Mr. Fox smiled and said, "Dreams go by contraries, dear heart; but +tell me your dream, and your sweet voice will speed the time till I can +call you mine." + +"I dreamed," said Lady Mary, with a quiet smile, and her eyes were +clear, "that I went yesterday to seek the castle that is to be my home, +and I found it in the woods with high walls and a deep dark moat. And +over the gateway were carven these words: + + _BE BOLD--BE BOLD._" + +Then Mr. Fox spoke in a hurry. "But it is not so--nor it was not so." + +"Then I crossed the wide courtyard and went through a wide door over +which was carven: + + _BE BOLD, BE BOLD; BUT NOT TOO BOLD,_" + +went on Lady Mary, still smiling, and her voice was cold; "but, of +course, it is not so, and it was not so." + +And Mr. Fox said nothing; he sate like a stone. + +"Then I dreamed," continued Lady Mary, still smiling, though her eyes +were stern, "that I passed through a wide hall and up a wide stair and +along a wide gallery until I came to a dark narrow door, and over it was +carven: + + _BE BOLD, BE BOLD; BUT NOT TOO BOLD, + LEST THAT YOUR HEART'S BLOOD SHOULD RUN COLD._ + +"But it is not so, of course, and it was not so." + +And Mr. Fox said nothing; he sate frozen. + +"Then I dreamed that I opened the door and went down a dark narrow +passage," said Lady Mary, still smiling, though her voice was ice. "And +at the end of the passage there was a door, and the door had a chink in +it. And through the chink I saw a wide saloon lit with many candles, and +all round it were the bones and bodies of poor dead maidens, their +clothes all stained with blood; but of course it is not so, and it was +not so." + +By this time all the neighbours were looking Mr. Fox-ways with all their +eyes, while he sate silent. + +But Lady Mary went on, and her smiling lips were set: + +"Then I dreamed that I ran downstairs and had just time to hide myself +when you, Mr. Fox, came in dragging a young lady by the hair. And the +sunlight glittered on her diamond ring as she clutched the stair-rail, +and you out with your sword and cut off the poor lady's hand." + +Then Mr. Fox rose in his seat stonily and glared about him as if to +escape, and his eye-teeth showed like a fox beset by the dogs, and he +grew pale. + +And he said, trying to smile, though his whispering voice could scarcely +be heard: + +"But it is not so, dear heart, and it was not so, and God forbid it +should be so!" + +Then Lady Mary rose in her seat also, and the smile left her face, and +her voice rang as she cried: + + "But it is so, and it was so; + Here's hand and ring I have to show." + +[Illustration: Many's the beating he had from the broomstick or the +ladle] + +And with that she pulled out the poor dead hand with the glittering +ring from her bosom and pointed it straight at Mr. Fox. + +At this all the company rose, and drawing their swords cut Mr. Fox to +pieces. + +And served him very well right. + + + + +DICK WHITTINGTON AND HIS CAT + + +More than five hundred years ago there was a little boy named Dick +Whittington, and this is true. His father and mother died when he was +too young to work, and so poor little Dick was very badly off. He was +quite glad to get the parings of the potatoes to eat and a dry crust of +bread now and then, and more than that he did not often get, for the +village where he lived was a very poor one and the neighbours were not +able to spare him much. + +Now the country folk in those days thought that the people of London +were all fine ladies and gentlemen, and that there was singing and +dancing all the day long, and so rich were they there that even the +streets, they said, were paved with gold. Dick used to sit by and listen +while all these strange tales of the wealth of London were told, and it +made him long to go and live there and have plenty to eat and fine +clothes to wear, instead of the rags and hard fare that fell to his lot +in the country. + +So one day when a great waggon with eight horses stopped on its way +through the village, Dick made friends with the waggoner and begged to +be taken with him to London. The man felt sorry for poor little Dick +when he heard that he had no father or mother to take care of him, and +saw how ragged and how badly in need of help he was. So he agreed to +take him, and off they set. + +How far it was and how many days they took over the journey I do not +know, but in due time Dick found himself in the wonderful city which he +had heard so much of and pictured to himself so grandly. But oh! how +disappointed he was when he got there. How dirty it was! And the people, +how unlike the gay company, with music and singing, that he had dreamt +of! He wandered up and down the streets, one after another, until he was +tired out, but not one did he find that was paved with gold. Dirt in +plenty he could see, but none of the gold that he thought to have put in +his pockets as fast as he chose to pick it up. + +[Illustration: Dick finds that the streets of London are not paved with +gold] + +Little Dick ran about till he was tired and it was growing dark. And at +last he sat himself down in a corner and fell asleep. When morning came +he was very cold and hungry, and though he asked every one he met to +help him, only one or two gave him a halfpenny to buy some bread. For +two or three days he lived in the streets in this way, only just able to +keep himself alive, when he managed to get some work to do in a +hayfield, and that kept him for a short time longer, till the haymaking +was over. + +After this he was as badly off as ever, and did not know where to turn. +One day in his wanderings he lay down to rest in the doorway of the +house of a rich merchant whose name was Fitzwarren. But here he was soon +seen by the cook-maid, who was an unkind, bad-tempered woman, and she +cried out to him to be off. "Lazy rogue," she called him; and she said +she'd precious quick throw some dirty dishwater over him, boiling hot, +if he didn't go. However, just then Mr. Fitzwarren himself came home to +dinner, and when he saw what was happening, he asked Dick why he was +lying there. "You're old enough to be at work, my boy," he said. "I'm +afraid you have a mind to be lazy." + +"Indeed, sir," said Dick to him, "indeed that is not so"; and he told +him how hard he had tried to get work to do, and how ill he was for want +of food. Dick, poor fellow, was now so weak that though he tried to +stand he had to lie down again, for it was more than three days since he +had had anything to eat at all. The kind merchant gave orders for him to +be taken into the house and gave him a good dinner, and then he said +that he was to be kept, to do what work he could to help the cook. + +And now Dick would have been happy enough in this good family if it had +not been for the ill-natured cook, who did her best to make life a +burden to him. Night and morning she was for ever scolding him. Nothing +he did was good enough. It was "Look sharp here" and "Hurry up there," +and there was no pleasing her. And many's the beating he had from the +broomstick or the ladle, or whatever else she had in her hand. + +At last it came to the ears of Miss Alice, Mr. Fitzwarren's daughter, +how badly the cook was treating poor Dick. And she told the cook that +she would quickly lose her place if she didn't treat him more kindly, +for Dick had become quite a favourite with the family. + +After that the cook's behaviour was a little better, but Dick still had +another hardship that he bore with difficulty. For he slept in a garret +where were so many holes in the walls and the floor that every night as +he lay in bed the room was overrun with rats and mice, and sometimes he +could hardly sleep a wink. One day when he had earned a penny for +cleaning a gentleman's shoes, he met a little girl with a cat in her +arms, and asked whether she would not sell it to him. "Yes, she would," +she said, though the cat was such a good mouser that she was sorry to +part with her. This just suited Dick, who kept pussy up in his garret, +feeding her on scraps of his own dinner that he saved for her every day. +In a little while he had no more bother with the rats and mice. Puss +soon saw to that, and he slept sound every night. + +Soon after this Mr. Fitzwarren had a ship ready to sail; and as it was +his custom that all his servants should be given a chance of good +fortune as well as himself, he called them all into the counting-house +and asked them what they would send out. + +They all had something that they were willing to venture except poor +Dick, who had neither money nor goods, and so could send nothing. For +this reason he did not come into the room with the rest. But Miss Alice +guessed what was the matter, and ordered him to be called in. She then +said, "I will lay down some money for him out of my own purse"; but her +father told her that would not do, for it must be something of his own. + +When Dick heard this he said, "I have nothing whatever but a cat, which +I bought for a penny some time ago." + +"Go, my boy, fetch your cat then," said his master, "and let her go." + +Dick went upstairs and fetched poor puss, but there were tears in his +eyes when he gave her to the captain. "For," he said, "I shall now be +kept awake all night by the rats and mice." All the company laughed at +Dick's odd venture, and Miss Alice, who felt sorry for him, gave him +some money to buy another cat. + +Now this, and other marks of kindness shown him by Miss Alice, made the +ill-tempered cook jealous of poor Dick, and she began to use him more +cruelly than ever, and was always making game of him for sending his cat +to sea. "What do you think your cat will sell for?" she'd ask. "As much +money as would buy a stick to beat you with?" + +At last poor Dick could not bear this usage any longer, and he thought +he would run away. So he made a bundle of his things--he hadn't +many--and started very early in the morning, on All-hallows Day, the +first of November. He walked as far as Holloway, and there he sat down +to rest on a stone, which to this day, they say, is called +"Whittington's Stone," and began to wonder to himself which road he +should take. + +[Illustration: Dick Whittington hears Bow Bells] + +While he was thinking what he should do the Bells of Bow Church in +Cheapside began to chime, and as they rang he fancied that they were +singing over and over again: + + "Turn again, Whittington, + Lord Mayor of London." + +"Lord Mayor of London!" said he to himself. "Why, to be sure, wouldn't I +put up with almost anything now to be Lord Mayor of London, and ride in +a fine coach, when I grow to be a man! Well, I'll go back, and think +nothing of the cuffing and scolding of the cross old cook if I am to be +Lord Mayor of London at last." + +So back he went, and he was lucky enough to get into the house and set +about his work before the cook came down. + +But now you must hear what befell Mrs. Puss all this while. The ship +_Unicorn_ that she was on was a long time at sea, and the cat made +herself useful, as she would, among the unwelcome rats that lived on +board too. At last the ship put into harbour on the coast of Barbary, +where the only people are the Moors. They had never before seen a ship +from England, and flocked in numbers to see the sailors, whose different +colour and foreign dress were a great wonder to them. They were soon +eager to buy the goods with which the ship was laden, and patterns were +sent ashore for the King to see. He was so much pleased with them that +he sent for the captain to come to the palace, and honoured him with an +invitation to dinner. But no sooner were they seated, as is the custom +there, on the fine rugs and carpets that covered the floor, than great +numbers of rats and mice came scampering in, swarming over all the +dishes, and helping themselves from all the good things there were to +eat. The captain was amazed, and wondered whether they didn't find such +a pest most unpleasant. + +[Illustration: When Puss saw the rats and mice she didn't wait to be +told] + +"Oh yes," said they, "it was so, and the King would give half his +treasure to be freed of them, for they not only spoil his dinner, but +they even attack him in his bed at night, so that a watch has to be kept +while he is sleeping, for fear of them." + +The captain was overjoyed; he thought at once of poor Dick Whittington +and his cat, and said he had a creature on board ship that would soon do +for all these vermin if she were there. Of course, when the King heard +this he was eager to possess this wonderful animal. + +"Bring it to me at once," he said; "for the vermin are dreadful, and if +only it will do what you say, I will load your ship with gold and jewels +in exchange for it." + +The captain, who knew his business, took care not to underrate the value +of Dick's cat. He told His Majesty how inconvenient it would be to part +with her, as when she was gone the rats might destroy the goods in the +ship; however, to oblige the King, he would fetch her. + +"Oh, make haste, do!" cried the Queen; "I, too, am all impatience to see +this dear creature." + +Off went the captain, while another dinner was got ready. He took Puss +under his arm and got back to the palace just in time to see the carpet +covered with rats and mice once again. When Puss saw them, she didn't +wait to be told, but jumped out of the captain's arms, and in no time +almost all the rats and mice were dead at her feet, while the rest of +them had scuttled off to their holes in fright. + +The King was delighted to get rid so easily of such an intolerable +plague, and the Queen desired that the animal who had done them such a +service might be brought to her. Upon which the captain called out, +"Puss, puss, puss," and she came running to him. Then he presented her +to the Queen, who was rather afraid at first to touch a creature who had +made such a havoc with her claws. However, when the captain called her, +"Pussy, pussy," and began to stroke her, the Queen also ventured to +touch her and cried, "Putty, putty," in imitation of the captain, for +she hadn't learned to speak English. He then put her on to the Queen's +lap, where she purred and played with Her Majesty's hand and was soon +asleep. + +The King having seen what Mrs. Puss could do, and learning that her +kittens would soon stock the whole country, and keep it free from rats, +after bargaining with the captain for the whole ship's cargo, then gave +him ten times as much for the cat as all the rest amounted to. + +The captain then said farewell to the court of Barbary, and after a fair +voyage reached London again with his precious load of gold and jewels +safe and sound. + +One morning early Mr. Fitzwarren had just come to his counting-house and +settled himself at the desk to count the cash, when there came a knock +at the door. "Who's there?" said he. "A friend," replied a voice. "I +come with good news of your ship the _Unicorn_." The merchant in haste +opened the door, and who were there but the ship's captain and the mate, +bearing a chest of jewels and a bill of lading. When he had looked this +over he lifted his eyes and thanked heaven for sending him such a +prosperous voyage. + +The honest captain next told him all about the cat, and showed him the +rich present the King had sent for her to poor Dick. Rejoicing on behalf +of Dick as much as he had done over his own good fortune, he called out +to his servants to come and to bring up Dick: + + "Go fetch him, and we'll tell him of his fame; + Pray call him Mr. Whittington by name." + +The servants, some of them, hesitated at this, and said so great a +treasure was too much for a lad like Dick; but Mr. Fitzwarren now showed +himself the good man that he was and refused to deprive him of the value +of a single penny. "God forbid!" he cried. "It's all his own, and he +shall have it, to a farthing." + +He then sent for Dick, who at the moment was scouring pots for the cook +and was black with dirt. He tried to excuse himself from coming into the +room in such a plight, but the merchant made him come, and had a chair +set for him. And he then began to think they must be making game of him, +so he begged them not to play tricks on a poor simple boy, but to let +him go downstairs again back to his work in the scullery. + +"Indeed, Mr. Whittington," said the merchant, "we are all quite in +earnest with you, and I most heartily rejoice at the news that these +gentlemen have brought. For the captain has sold your cat to the King of +Barbary, and brings you in return for her more riches than I possess in +the whole world; and may you long enjoy them!" + +Mr. Fitzwarren then told the men to open the great treasure they had +brought with them, saying, "There is nothing more now for Mr. +Whittington to do but to put it in some place of safety." + +Poor Dick hardly knew how to behave himself for joy. He begged his +master to take what part of it he pleased, since he owed it all to his +kindness. "No, no," answered Mr. Fitzwarren, "this all belongs to you; +and I have no doubt that you will use it well." + +Dick next begged his mistress, and then Miss Alice, to accept a part of +his good fortune, but they would not, and at the same time told him what +great joy they felt at his great success. But he was far too +kind-hearted to keep it all to himself; so he made a present to the +captain, the mate, and the rest of Mr. Fitzwarren's servants; and even +to his old enemy, the cross cook. + +After this Mr. Fitzwarren advised him to send for a tailor and get +himself dressed like a gentleman, and told him he was welcome to live in +his house till he could provide himself with a better. + +When Whittington's face was washed, his hair curled, and he was dressed +in a smart suit of clothes, he was just as handsome and fine a young man +as any who visited at Mr. Fitzwarren's, and so thought fair Alice +Fitzwarren, who had once been so kind to him and looked upon him with +pity. And now she felt he was quite fit to be her sweetheart, and none +the less, no doubt, because Whittington was always thinking what he +could do to please her, and making her the prettiest presents that could +be. + +Mr. Fitzwarren soon saw which way the wind blew, and ere long proposed +to join them in marriage, and to this they both readily agreed. A day +for the wedding was soon fixed; and they were attended to church by the +Lord Mayor, the court of aldermen, the sheriffs, and a great number of +the richest merchants in London, whom they afterwards treated with a +magnificent feast. + +History tells us that Mr. Whittington and his lady lived in great +splendour, and were very happy. They had several children. He was +Sheriff, and thrice Lord Mayor of London, and received the honour of +knighthood from Henry V. + +After the King's conquest of France, Sir Richard Whittington entertained +him and the Queen at dinner at the Mansion House in so sumptuous a +manner that the King said, "Never had Prince such a subject!" To which +Sir Richard replied, "Never had subject such a Prince." + + + + +THE OLD WOMAN AND HER PIG + + +An old woman was sweeping her house, and she found a little crooked +sixpence. "What," said she, "shall I do with this little sixpence? I +will go to market, and buy a little pig." + +So she bought a little pig; but as she was coming home, she came to a +stile, and the piggy would not go over the stile. + +[Illustration: The old woman and her pig] + +She went a little further, and she met a dog. So she said to him, "Dog! +dog! bite pig; piggy won't go over the stile; and I shan't get home till +midnight." But the dog wouldn't. + +She went a little further, and she met a stick. So she said, "Stick! +stick! beat dog; dog won't bite pig; piggy won't get over the stile; and +I shan't get home till midnight." But the stick wouldn't. + +She went a little further, and she met a fire. So she said, "Fire! fire! +burn stick; stick won't beat dog; dog won't bite pig; pig won't get over +the stile; and I shan't get home till midnight." But the fire wouldn't. + +She went a little further, and she met some water. So she said, "Water! +water! quench fire; fire won't burn stick; stick won't beat dog; dog +won't bite pig; pig won't get over the stile; and I shan't get home till +midnight." But the water wouldn't. + +She went a little further, and she met an ox. So she said, "Ox! ox! +drink water; water won't quench fire; fire won't burn stick; stick won't +beat dog; dog won't bite pig; pig won't get over the stile; and I shan't +get home till midnight." But the ox wouldn't. + +She went a little further, and she met a butcher. So she said, "Butcher! +butcher! kill ox; ox won't drink water; water won't quench fire; fire +won't burn stick; stick won't beat dog; dog won't bite pig; pig won't +get over the stile; and I shan't get home till midnight." But the +butcher wouldn't. + +She went a little further, and she met a rope. So she said, "Rope! rope! +hang butcher; butcher won't kill ox; ox won't drink water; water won't +quench fire; fire won't burn stick; stick won't beat dog; dog won't bite +pig; pig won't get over the stile; and I shan't get home till +midnight." But the rope wouldn't. + +She went a little further, and she met a rat. So she said, "Rat! rat! +gnaw rope; rope won't hang butcher; butcher won't kill ox; ox won't +drink water; water won't quench fire; fire won't burn stick; stick won't +beat dog; dog won't bite pig; pig won't get over the stile; and I shan't +get home till midnight." But the rat wouldn't. + +She went a little further, and she met a cat. So she said, "Cat! cat! +kill rat; rat won't gnaw rope; rope won't hang butcher; butcher won't +kill ox; ox won't drink water; water won't quench fire; fire won't burn +stick; stick won't beat dog; dog won't bite pig; pig won't get over the +stile; and I shan't get home till midnight." But the cat said to her, +"If you will go to yonder cow, and fetch me a saucer of milk, I will +kill the rat." So away went the old woman to the cow. + +But the cow said to her, "If you will go to yonder haystack, and fetch +me a handful of hay, I'll give you the milk." So away went the old woman +to the haystack; and she brought the hay to the cow. + +As soon as the cow had eaten the hay, she gave the old woman the milk; +and away she went with it in a saucer to the cat. + +As soon as the cat had lapped up the milk, the cat began to kill the +rat; the rat began to gnaw the rope; the rope began to hang the butcher; +the butcher began to kill the ox; the ox began to drink the water; the +water began to quench the fire; the fire began to burn the stick; the +stick began to beat the dog; the dog began to bite the pig; the little +pig squealed and jumped over the stile; and so the old woman got home +before midnight. + + + + +THE WEE BANNOCK + + +Once upon a time there was an old man and his old wife who lived in a +wee cottage beside a wee burnie. They had two cows, five hens, and a +cock, a cat and two kittens. Now the old man looked after the cows, the +cock looked after the hens, the cat looked after a mouse in the +cupboard, and the two kittens looked after the old wife's spindle as it +twirled and tussled about on the hearthstone. But though the old wife +should have looked after the kittens, the more she said, "Sho! Sho! Go +away, kitty!" the more they looked after the spindle! + +So, one day, when she was quite tired out with saying, "Sho! Sho!" the +old wife felt hungry and thought she could take a wee bite of something. +So she up and baked two wee oatmeal bannocks and set them to toast +before the fire. Now just as they were toasting away, smelling so fresh +and tasty, in came the old man, and seeing them look so crisp and nice, +takes up one of them and snaps a piece out of it. On this the other +bannock thought it high time to be off, so up it jumps and away it +trundles as fast as ever it could. And away ran the old wife after it +as fast as she could run, with her spindle in one hand and her distaff +in the other. But the wee bannock trundled faster than she could run, so +it was soon out of sight, and the old wife was obliged to go back and +tussle with the kittens again. + +The wee bannock meanwhile trundled gaily down the hill till it came to a +big thatched house, and it ran boldly in at the door and sate itself +down by the fireside quite comfortably. Now there were three tailors in +the room working away on a big bench, and being tailors they were, of +course, dreadfully afraid, and jumped up to hide behind the goodwife who +was carding wool by the fire. + +"Hout-tout!" she cried. "What are ye a-feared of? 'Tis naught but a wee +bit bannock. Just grip hold o' it, and I'll give ye a sup o' milk to +drink with it." + +So up she gets with the carders in her hands, and the tailor had his +iron goose, and the apprentices, one with the big scissors and the other +with the ironing-board, and they all made for the wee bannock; but it +was too clever for them, and dodged about the fireside until the +apprentice, thinking to snap it with the big scissors, fell into the hot +ashes and got badly burnt. Then the tailor cast the goose at it, and the +other apprentice the ironing-board; but it wouldn't do. The wee bannock +got out at the doorway, where the goodwife flung the carders at it; but +it dodged them and trundled away gaily till it came to a small house by +the road-side. So in it ran bold as bold and sate itself down by the +hearth where the wife was winding a clue of yarn for her husband, the +weaver, who was click-clacking away at his loom. + +"Tibby!" quoth the weaver. "Whatever's that?" + +"Naught but a wee bannock," quoth she. + +"Well, come and welcome," says he, "for the porridge was thin the morn; +so grip it, woman! grip it!" + +"Aye," says she, and reaches out her hand to it. But the wee bannock +just dodged. + +"Man!" says she, "yon's a clever wee bannockie! Catch it, man! Catch it +if you can." + +But the wee bannock just dodged. "Cast the clue at it, woman!" shouted +the weaver. + +But the wee bannock was out at the door, trundling away over the hill +like a new tarred sheep or a mad cow! + +And it trundled away till it came to a cowherd's house where the +goodwife was churning her butter. + +"Come in by," cried the goodwife when she saw the wee bannock all crisp +and fresh and tasty; "I've plenty cream to eat with you." + +But at this the wee bannock began dodging about, and it dodged so +craftily that the goodwife overset the churn in trying to grip it, and +before she set it straight again the wee bannock was off, trundling away +down the hill till it came to a mill-house where the miller was sifting +meal. So in it ran and sate down by the trough. + +"Ho, ho!" says the miller. "It's a sign o' plenty when the likes of you +run about the country-side with none to look after you. But come in by. +I like bannock and cheese for supper, so I'll give ye a night's +quarters." And with that he tapped his fat stomach. + +At this the wee bannock turned and ran; it wasn't going to trust itself +with the miller and his cheese; and the miller, having nothing but the +meal to fling after it, just stood and stared; so the wee bannock +trundled quietly along the level till it came to the smithy where the +smith was welding horse-nails. + +"Hullo!" says he, "you're a well-toasted bannock. You'll do fine with a +glass of ale! So come in by and I'll give you a lodging inside." And +with that he laughed, and tapped his fat stomach. + +But the wee bannock thought the ale was as bad as the cheese, so it up +and away, with the smith after it. And when he couldn't come up with it, +he just cast his hammer at it. But the hammer missed and the wee bannock +was out of sight in a crack, and trundled and trundled till it came to a +farm-house where the goodman and his wife were beating out flax and +combing it. So it ran in to the fireside and began to toast itself +again. + +"Janet," says the goodman, "yon is a well-toasted wee bannock. I'll have +the half of it." + +"And I'll take t'other half," says the goodwife, and reached out a hand +to grip it. But the wee bannock played dodgings again. + +"My certy," says the wife, "but you're spirity!" And with that she cast +the flax comb at it. But it was too clever for her, so out it trundled +through the door and away was it down the road, till it came to another +house where the goodwife was stirring the scalding soup and the goodman +was plaiting a thorn collar for the calf. So it trundled in, and sate +down by the fire. + +"Ho, Jock!" quoth the goodwife, "you're always crying on a well-toasted +bannock. Here's one! Come and eat it!" + +Then the wee bannock tried dodgings again, and the goodwife cried on the +goodman to help her grip it. + +"Aye, mother!" says he, "but where's it gone?" + +"Over there!" cries she. "Quick! run to t'other side o' yon chair." And +the chair upset, and down came the goodman among the thorns. And the +goodwife she flung the soup spoon at it, and the scalding soup fell on +the goodman and scalded him, so the wee bannock ran out in a crack and +was away to the next house, where the folk were just sitting down to +their supper and the goodwife was scraping the pot. + +"Look!" cries she, "here's a wee well-toasted bannock for him as catches +it!" + +"Let's shut the door first," says the cautious goodman, "afore we try to +get a grip on it." + +Now when the wee bannock heard this it judged it was time to be off; so +away it trundled and they after it helter-skelter. But though they threw +their spoons at it, and the goodman cast his best hat, the wee bannock +was too clever for them, and was out of sight in a crack. + +Then away it trundled till it came to a house where the folk were just +away to their beds. The goodwife she was raking out the fire, and the +goodman had taken off his breeches. + +"What's yon?" says he, for it was nigh dark. + +"It will just be a wee bannock," says she. + +"I could eat the half of it," says he. + +"And I could eat t'other," quoth she. + +Then they tried to grip it; but the wee bannock tried dodging. And the +goodman and the goodwife tumbled against each other in the dark and grew +angry. + +"Cast your breeches at it, man!" cries the goodwife at last. "What's the +use of standing staring like a stuck pig?" + +So the goodman cast his breeches at it and thought he had smothered it +sure enough; but somehow it wriggled out, and away it was, the goodman +after it without his breeches. You never saw such a race--a real clean +chase over the park, and through the whins, and round by the bramble +patch. But there the goodman lost sight of it and had to go back all +scratched and tired and shivering. + +The wee bannock, however, trundled on till it was too dark even for a +wee bannock to see. + +Then it came to a fox's hole in the side of a big whinbush and trundled +in to spend the night there; but the fox had had no meat for three whole +days, so he just said, "You're welcome, friend! I wish there were two of +you!" + +And there were two! For he snapped the wee bannock into halves with one +bite. So that was an end of _it_! + +[Illustration: Headpiece--How Jack went out to seek his Fortune] + + + + +HOW JACK WENT OUT TO SEEK HIS FORTUNE + + +Once on a time there was a boy named Jack, and one morning he started to +go and seek his fortune. + +He hadn't gone very far before he met a cat. + +"Where are you going, Jack?" said the cat. + +"I am going to seek my fortune." + +"May I go with you?" + +"Yes," said Jack, "the more the merrier." + +So on they went, Jack and the cat. Jiggelty-jolt, jiggelty-jolt, +jiggelty-jolt! + +They went a little farther and they met a dog. + +"Where are you going, Jack?" said the dog. + +"I am going to seek my fortune." + +"May I go with you?" + +"Yes," said Jack, "the more the merrier." + +So on they went, Jack, the cat, and the dog! Jiggelty-jolt, +jiggelty-jolt, jiggelty-jolt! + +They went a little farther and they met a goat. + +"Where are you going, Jack?" said the goat. + +"I am going to seek my fortune." + +"May I go with you?" + +"Yes," said Jack, "the more the merrier." + +So on they went, Jack, the cat, the dog, and the goat. Jiggelty-jolt, +jiggelty-jolt, jiggelty-jolt! + +They went a little farther and they met a bull. + +"Where are you going, Jack?" said the bull. + +"I am going to seek my fortune." + +"May I go with you?" + +"Yes," said Jack, "the more the merrier." + +So on they went, Jack, the cat, the dog, the goat, and the bull. +Jiggelty-jolt, jiggelty-jolt, jiggelty-jolt! + +They went a little farther and they met a rooster. + +"Where are you going, Jack?" said the rooster. + +"I am going to seek my fortune." + +"May I go with you?" + +"Yes," said Jack, "the more the merrier." + +So on they went, Jack, the cat, the dog, the goat, the bull, and the +rooster. Jiggelty-jolt, jiggelty-jolt, jiggelty-jolt! + +And they went on jiggelty-jolting till it was about dark, and it was +time to think of some place where they could spend the night. Now, after +a bit, they came in sight of a house, and Jack told his companions to +keep still while he went up and looked in through the window to see if +all was safe. And what did he see through the window but a band of +robbers seated at a table counting over great bags of gold! + +"That gold shall be mine," quoth Jack to himself. "I have found my +fortune already." + +Then he went back and told his companions to wait till he gave the word, +and then to make all the noise they possibly could in their own fashion. +So when they were all ready Jack gave the word, and the cat mewed, and +the dog barked, and the goat bleated, and the bull bellowed, and the +rooster crowed, and all together they made such a terrific hubbub that +the robbers jumped up in a fright and ran away, leaving their gold on +the table. So, after a good laugh, Jack and his companions went in and +took possession of the house and the gold. + +Now Jack was a wise boy, and he knew that the robbers would come back in +the dead of the night to get their gold, and so when it came time to go +to bed he put the cat in the rocking-chair, and he put the dog under the +table, and he put the goat upstairs, and he put the bull in the cellar, +and bade the rooster fly up on to the roof. + +Then he went to bed. + +Now sure enough, in the dead of the night, the robbers sent one man back +to the house to look after their money. But before long he came back in +a great fright and told them a fearsome tale! + +"I went back to the house," said he, "and went in and tried to sit down +in the rocking-chair, and there was an old woman knitting there, and +she--oh my!--stuck her knitting-needles into me." + +(_That was the cat, you know._) + +"Then I went to the table to look after the money, but there was a +shoemaker under the table, and my! how he stuck his awl into me." + +(_That was the dog, you know._) + +"So I started to go upstairs, but there was a man up there threshing, +and goody! how he knocked me down with his flail!" + +(_That was the goat, you know._) + +"Then I started to go down to the cellar, but--oh dear me!--there was a +man down there chopping wood, and he knocked me up and he knocked me +down just terrible with his axe." + +(_That was the bull, you know._) + +"But I shouldn't have minded all that if it hadn't been for an awful +little fellow on the top of the house by the kitchen chimney, who kept +a-hollering and hollering, 'Cook him in a stew! Cook him in a stew! Cook +him in a stew!'" + +(_And that, of course, was the cock-a-doodle-doo._) + +Then the robbers agreed that they would rather lose their gold than meet +with such a fate; so they made off, and Jack next morning went gaily +home with his booty. And each of the animals carried a portion of it. +The cat hung a bag on its tail (a cat when it walks always carries its +tail stiff), the dog on his collar, the goat and the bull on their +horns, but Jack made the rooster carry a golden guinea in its beak to +prevent it from calling all the time: + + "Cock-a-doodle-doo, + Cook him in a stew!" + + + + +THE BOGEY-BEAST + + +There was once a woman who was very, very cheerful, though she had +little to make her so; for she was old, and poor, and lonely. She lived +in a little bit of a cottage and earned a scant living by running +errands for her neighbours, getting a bite here, a sup there, as reward +for her services. So she made shift to get on, and always looked as spry +and cheery as if she had not a want in the world. + +Now one summer evening, as she was trotting, full of smiles as ever, +along the high road to her hovel, what should she see but a big black +pot lying in the ditch! + +"Goodness me!" she cried, "that would be just the very thing for me if I +only had something to put in it! But I haven't! Now who could have left +it in the ditch?" + +And she looked about her expecting the owner would not be far off; but +she could see nobody. + +"Maybe there is a hole in it," she went on, "and that's why it has been +cast away. But it would do fine to put a flower in for my window; so +I'll just take it home with me." + +And with that she lifted the lid and looked inside. "Mercy me!" she +cried, fair amazed. "If it isn't full of gold pieces. Here's luck!" + +And so it was, brimful of great gold coins. Well, at first she simply +stood stock-still, wondering if she was standing on her head or her +heels. Then she began saying: + +"Lawks! But I do feel rich. I feel awful rich!" + +After she had said this many times, she began to wonder how she was to +get her treasure home. It was too heavy for her to carry, and she could +see no better way than to tie the end of her shawl to it and drag it +behind her like a go-cart. + +"It will soon be dark," she said to herself as she trotted along. "So +much the better! The neighbours will not see what I'm bringing home, and +I shall have all the night to myself, and be able to think what I'll do! +Mayhap I'll buy a grand house and just sit by the fire with a cup o' tea +and do no work at all like a queen. Or maybe I'll bury it at the garden +foot and just keep a bit in the old china teapot on the chimney-piece. +Or maybe--Goody! Goody! I feel that grand I don't know myself." + +By this time she was a bit tired of dragging such a heavy weight, and, +stopping to rest a while, turned to look at her treasure. + +And lo! it wasn't a pot of gold at all! It was nothing but a lump of +silver. + +She stared at it, and rubbed her eyes, and stared at it again. + +"Well! I never!" she said at last. "And me thinking it was a pot of +gold! I must have been dreaming. But this is luck! Silver is far less +trouble--easier to mind, and not so easy stolen. Them gold pieces would +have been the death o' me, and with this great lump of silver--" + +So she went off again planning what she would do, and feeling as rich as +rich, until becoming a bit tired again she stopped to rest and gave a +look round to see if her treasure was safe; and she saw nothing but a +great lump of iron! + +"Well! I never!" says she again. "And I mistaking it for silver! I must +have been dreaming. But this is luck! It's real convenient. I can get +penny pieces for old iron, and penny pieces are a deal handier for me +than your gold and silver. Why! I should never have slept a wink for +fear of being robbed. But a penny piece comes in useful, and I shall +sell that iron for a lot and be real rich--rolling rich." + +So on she trotted full of plans as to how she would spend her penny +pieces, till once more she stopped to rest and looked round to see her +treasure was safe. And this time she saw nothing but a big stone. + +"Well! I never!" she cried, full of smiles. "And to think I mistook it +for iron. I must have been dreaming. But here's luck indeed, and me +wanting a stone terrible bad to stick open the gate. Eh my! but it's a +change for the better! It's a fine thing to have good luck." + +So, all in a hurry to see how the stone would keep the gate open, she +trotted off down the hill till she came to her own cottage. She +unlatched the gate and then turned to unfasten her shawl from the stone +which lay on the path behind her. Aye! It was a stone sure enough. There +was plenty light to see it lying there, douce and peaceable as a stone +should. + +So she bent over it to unfasten the shawl end, when--"Oh my!" All of a +sudden it gave a jump, a squeal, and in one moment was as big as a +haystack. Then it let down four great lanky legs and threw out two long +ears, nourished a great long tail and romped off, kicking and squealing +and whinnying and laughing like a naughty, mischievous boy! + +The old woman stared after it till it was fairly out of sight, then she +burst out laughing too. + +"Well!" she chuckled, "I am in luck! Quite the luckiest body hereabouts. +Fancy my seeing the Bogey-Beast all to myself; and making myself so free +with it too! My goodness! I do feel that uplifted--that _GRAND_!"-- + +So she went into her cottage and spent the evening chuckling over her +good luck. + +[Illustration: "Well!" she chuckled, "I am in luck!"] + + + + +LITTLE RED RIDING-HOOD + + +Once upon a time there was a little girl who was called little Red +Riding-Hood, because she was quite small and because she always wore a +red cloak with a big red hood to it, which her grandmother had made for +her. + +Now one day her mother, who had been churning and baking cakes, said to +her: + +"My dear, put on your red cloak with the hood to it, and take this cake +and this pot of butter to your Grannie, and ask how she is, for I hear +she is ailing." + +Now little Red Riding-Hood was very fond of her grandmother, who made +her so many nice things, so she put on her cloak joyfully and started on +her errand. But her grandmother lived some way off, and to reach the +cottage little Red Riding-Hood had to pass through a vast lonely forest. +However, some wood-cutters were at work in it, so little Red Riding-Hood +was not so very much alarmed when she saw a great big wolf coming +towards her, because she knew that wolves were cowardly things. + +And sure enough the wolf, though but for the wood-cutters he would +surely have eaten little Red Riding-Hood, only stopped and asked her +politely where she was going. + +"I am going to see Grannie, take her this cake and this pot of butter, +and ask how she is," says little Red Riding-Hood. + +"Does she live a very long way off?" asks the wolf craftily. + +"Not so very far if you go by the straight road," replied little Red +Riding-Hood. "You only have to pass the mill and the first cottage on +the right is Grannie's; but I am going by the wood path because there +are such a lot of nuts and flowers and butterflies." + +"I wish you good luck," says the wolf politely. "Give my respects to +your grandmother and tell her I hope she is quite well." + +And with that he trotted off. But instead of going his ways he turned +back, took the straight road to the old woman's cottage, and knocked at +the door. + +Rap! Rap! Rap! + +"Who's there?" asked the old woman, who was in bed. + +"Little Red Riding-Hood," sings out the wolf, making his voice as shrill +as he could. "I've come to bring dear Grannie a pot of butter and a cake +from mother, and to ask how you are." + +"Pull the bobbin, and the latch will go up," says the old woman, well +satisfied. + +So the wolf pulled the bobbin, the latch went up, and--oh my!--it +wasn't a minute before he had gobbled up old Grannie, for he had had +nothing to eat for a week. + +Then he shut the door, put on Grannie's nightcap, and, getting into bed, +rolled himself well up in the clothes. + +By and by along comes little Red Riding-Hood, who had been amusing +herself by gathering nuts, running after butterflies, and picking +flowers. + +So she knocked at the door. + +Rap! Rap! Rap! + +"Who's there?" says the wolf, making his voice as soft as he could. + +Now little Red Riding-Hood heard the voice was very gruff, but she +thought her grandmother had a cold; so she said: + +"Little Red Riding-Hood, with a pot of butter and a cake from mother, to +ask how you are." + +"Pull the bobbin, and the latch will go up." + +So little Red Riding-Hood pulled the bobbin, the latch went up, and +there, she thought, was her grandmother in the bed; for the cottage was +so dark one could not see well. Besides, the crafty wolf turned his face +to the wall at first. And he made his voice as soft, as soft as he +could, when he said: + +"Come and kiss me, my dear." + +Then little Red Riding-Hood took off her cloak and went to the bed. + +"Oh, Grandmamma, Grandmamma," says she, "what big arms you've got!" + +"All the better to hug you with," says he. + +"But, Grandmamma, Grandmamma, what big legs you have!" + +"All the better to run with, my dear." + +"Oh, Grandmamma, Grandmamma, what big ears you've got!" + +"All the better to hear with, my dear." + +"But, Grandmamma, Grandmamma, what big eyes you've got!" + +"All the better to see you with, my dear!" + +"Oh, Grandmamma, Grandmamma, what big teeth you've got!" + +"All the better to eat you with, my dear!" says that wicked, wicked +wolf, and with that he gobbled up little Red Riding-Hood. + + + + +CHILDE ROWLAND + + + Childe Rowland and his brothers twain + Were playing at the ball. + Their sister, Burd Helen, she played + In the midst among them all. + +For Burd Helen loved her brothers, and they loved her exceedingly. At +play she was ever their companion and they cared for her as brothers +should. And one day when they were at ball close to the churchyard-- + + Childe Rowland kicked it with his foot + And caught it on his knee. + At last as he plunged among them all, + O'er the church he made it flee. + +Now Childe Rowland was Burd Helen's youngest, dearest brother, and there +was ever a loving rivalry between them as to which should win. So with a +laugh-- + + Burd Helen round about the aisle + To seek the ball is gone. + +Now the ball had trundled to the right of the church; so, as Burd Helen +ran the nearest way to get it, she ran contrary to the sun's course, +and the light, shining full on her face, sent her shadow behind her. +Thus that happened which will happen at times when folk forget and run +widershins, that is against the light, so that their shadows are out of +sight and cannot be taken care of properly. + +Now what happened you will learn by and by; meanwhile, Burd Helen's +three brothers waited for her return. + + But long they waited, and longer still, + And she came not back again. + +Then they grew alarmed, and-- + + They sought her east, they sought her west, + They sought her up and down. + And woe were the hearts of her brethren, + Since she was not to be found. + +Not to be found anywhere--she had disappeared like dew on a May morning. + +So at last her eldest brother went to Great Merlin the Magician, who +could tell and foretell, see and foresee all things under the sun and +beyond it, and asked him where Burd Helen could have gone. + +"Fair Burd Helen," said the Magician, "must have been carried off with +her shadow by the fairies when she was running round the church +widershins; for fairies have power when folk go against the light. She +will now be in the Dark Tower of the King of Elfland, and none but the +boldest knight in Christendom will be able to bring her back." + +"If it be possible to bring her back," said the eldest brother, "I will +do it, or perish in the attempt." + +"Possible it is," quoth Merlin the Magician gravely. "But woe be to the +man or mother's son who attempts the task if he be not well taught +beforehand what he is to do." + +Now the eldest brother of fair Burd Helen was brave indeed, danger did +not dismay him, so he begged the Magician to tell him exactly what he +should do, and what he should not do, as he was determined to go and +seek his sister. And the Great Magician told him, and schooled him, and +after he had learnt his lesson right well he girt on his sword, said +good-bye to his brothers and his mother, and set out for the Dark Tower +of Elfland to bring Burd Helen back. + + But long they waited, and longer still, + With doubt and muckle pain. + But woe were the hearts of his brethren, + For he came not back again. + +So after a time Burd Helen's second brother went to Merlin the Magician +and said: + +"School me also, for I go to find my brother and sister in the Dark +Tower of the King of Elfland and bring them back." For he also was brave +indeed, danger did not dismay him. + +Then when he had been well schooled and had learnt his lesson, he said +good-bye to Childe Rowland, his brother, and to his mother the good +Queen, girt on his sword, and set out for the Dark Tower of Elfland to +bring back Burd Helen and her brother. + + But long they waited, and longer still, + With muckle doubt and pain. + And woe were his mother's and brother's hearts, + For he came not back again. + +Now when they had waited and waited a long, long time, and none had come +back from the Dark Tower of Elfland, Childe Rowland, the youngest, the +best beloved of Burd Helen's brothers, besought his mother to let him +also go on the quest; for he was the bravest of them all, and neither +death nor danger could dismay him. But at first his mother the Queen +said: + +"Not so! You are the last of my children; if you are lost, all is lost +indeed!" + +But he begged so hard that at length the good Queen his mother bade him +God-speed, and girt about his waist his father's sword, the brand that +never struck in vain, and as she girt it on she chanted the spell that +gives victory. + +So Childe Rowland bade her good-bye and went to the cave of the Great +Magician Merlin. + +"Yet once more, Master," said the youth, "and but once more, tell how +man or mother's son may find fair Burd Helen and her brothers twain in +the Dark Tower of Elfland." + +"My son," replied the wizard Merlin, "there be things twain; simple they +seem to say, but hard are they to perform. One thing is to do, and one +thing is not to do. Now the first thing you have to do is this: after +you have once entered the Land of Faery, _whoever speaks to you_, you +must out with your father's brand and cut off their head. In this you +must not fail. And the second thing you have not to do is this: after +you have entered the Land of Faery, bite no bit, sup no drop; for if in +Elfland you sup one drop or bite one bit, never again will you see +Middle Earth." + +Then Childe Rowland said these two lessons over and over until he knew +them by heart; so, well schooled, he thanked the Great Master and went +on his way to seek the Dark Tower of Elfland. + +And he journeyed far, and he journeyed fast, until at last on a wide +moorland he came upon a horse-herd feeding his horses; and the horses +were wild, and their eyes were like coals of fire. + +Then he knew they must be the horses of the King of Elfland, and that at +last he must be in the Land of Faery. + +So Childe Rowland said to the horse-herd, "Canst tell me where lies the +Dark Tower of the Elfland King?" + +And the horse-herd answered, "Nay, that is beyond my ken; but go a +little farther and thou wilt come to a cow-herd who mayhap can tell +thee." + +Then at once Childe Rowland drew his father's sword that never struck in +vain, and smote off the horse-herd's head, so that it rolled on the wide +moorland and frightened the King of Elfland's horses. And he journeyed +further till he came to a wide pasture where a cow-herd was herding +cows. And the cows looked at him with fiery eyes, so he knew that they +must be the King of Elfland's cows, and that he was still in the Land of +Faery. Then he said to the cow-herd: + +"Canst tell me where lies the Dark Tower of the Elfland King?" + +And the cow-herd answered, "Nay, that is beyond my ken; but go a little +farther and thou wilt come to a hen-wife who, mayhap, can tell thee." + +So at once Childe Rowland, remembering his lesson, out with his father's +good sword that never struck in vain, and off went the cow-herd's head +spinning amongst the grasses and frightening the King of Elfland's cows. + +Then he journeyed further till he came to an orchard where an old woman +in a grey cloak was feeding fowls. + +And the fowls' little eyes were like little coals of fire, so he knew +that they were the King of Elfland's fowls, and that he was still in the +Land of Faery. + +And he said to the hen-wife, "Canst tell me where lies the Dark Tower of +the King of Elfland?" + +Now the hen-wife looked at him and smiled. "Surely I can tell you," said +she. "Go on a little farther. There you will find a low green hill; +green and low against the sky. And the hill will have three +terrace-rings upon it from bottom to top. Go round the first terrace +saying: + + 'Open from within; + Let me in! Let me in!' + +"Then go round the second terrace and say: + + 'Open wide, open wide; + Let me inside.' + +"Then go round the third terrace and say: + + 'Open fast, open fast; + Let me in at last.' + +"Then a door will open and let you in to the Dark Tower of the King of +Elfland. Only remember to go round widershins. If you go round with the +sun the door will not open. So good luck to you!" + +Now the hen-wife spoke so fair, and smiled so frank, that Childe Rowland +forgot for a moment what he had to do. Therefore he thanked the old +woman for her courtesy and was just going on, when, all of a sudden, he +remembered his lesson. And he out with his father's sword that never yet +struck in vain, and smote off the hen-wife's head, so that it rolled +among the corn and frightened the fiery-eyed fowls of the King of +Elfland. + +After that he went on and on, till, against the blue sky, he saw a round +green hill set with three terraces from top to bottom. + +Then he did as the hen-wife had told him, not forgetting to go round +widershins, so that the sun was always on his face. + +Now when he had gone round the third terrace saying: + + "Open fast, open fast; + Let me in at last," + +what should happen but that he should see a door in the hill-side. And +it opened and let him in. Then it closed behind him with a click, and +Childe Rowland was left in the dark; for he had gotten at last to the +Dark Tower of the King of Elfland. + +It was very dark at first, perhaps because the sun had part blinded his +eyes; for after a while it became twilight, though where the light came +from none could tell, unless through the walls and the roof; for there +were neither windows nor candles. But in the gloaming light he could see +a long passage of rough arches made of rock that was transparent and all +encrusted with sheep-silver, rock-spar, and many bright stones. And the +air was warm as it ever is in Elfland. So he went on and on in the +twilight that came from nowhere, till he found himself before two wide +doors all barred with iron. But they flew open at his touch, and he saw +a wonderful, large, and spacious hall that seemed to him to be as long +and as broad as the green hill itself. The roof was supported by pillars +wide and lofty beyond the pillars of a cathedral; and they were of gold +and silver, fretted into foliage, and between and around them were woven +wreaths of flowers. And the flowers were of diamonds, and rubies, and +topaz, and the leaves of emerald. And the arches met in the middle of +the roof where hung, by a golden chain, an immense lamp made of a +hollowed pearl, white and translucent. And in the middle of this lamp +was a mighty carbuncle, blood-red, that kept spinning round and round, +shedding its light to the very ends of the huge hall, which thus seemed +to be filled with the shining of the setting sun. + +Now at one end of the hall was a marvelous, wondrous, glorious couch of +velvet, silk and gold, and on it sate fair Burd Helen combing her +beautiful golden hair with a golden comb. But her face was all set and +wan, as if it were made of stone. When she saw Childe Rowland she never +moved, and her voice came like the voice of the dead as she said: + + "God pity you, poor luckless fool! + What have you here to do?" + +Now at first Childe Rowland felt he must clasp this semblance of his +dear sister in his arms, but he remembered the lesson which the Great +Magician Merlin had taught him, and drawing his father's brand which had +never yet been drawn in vain, and turning his eyes from the horrid +sight, he struck with all his force at the enchanted form of fair Burd +Helen. + +And lo, when he turned to look in fear and trembling, there she was her +own self, her joy fighting with her fears. And she clasped him in her +arms and cried: + + "Oh, hear you this, my youngest brother, + Why didn't you bide at home? + Had you a hundred thousand lives, + Ye couldn't spare ne'er a one! + + "But sit you down, my dearest dear, + Oh! woe that ye were born, + For, come the King of Elfland in, + Your fortune is forlorn." + +So with tears and smiles she seated him beside her on the wondrous +couch, and they told each other what they each had suffered and done. He +told her how he had come to Elfland. She told him how she had been +carried off, shadow and all, because she ran round a church widershins, +and how her brothers had been enchanted, and lay intombed as if dead, as +she had been. Because they had not had the courage to obey the Great +Magician's lesson to the letter, and cut off her head. + +Now after a time Childe Rowland, who had travelled far and travelled +fast, became very hungry, and forgetting all about the second lesson of +the Magician Merlin, asked his sister for some food; and she, being +still under the spell of Elfland, could not warn him of his danger. She +could only look at him sadly as she rose up and brought him a golden +basin full of bread and milk. + +Now in those days it was manners before taking food from anyone to say +thank you with your eyes, and so just as Childe Rowland was about to put +the golden bowl to his lips, he raised his eyes to his sister's. + +And in an instant he remembered what the Great Magician had said: "Bite +no bit, sup no drop, for if in Elfland you sup one drop or bite one bit, +never again will you see Middle Earth." + +So he dashed the bowl to the ground, and standing square and fair, lithe +and young and strong, he cried like a challenge: + +"Not a sup will I swallow, not a bit will I bite, till fair Burd Helen +is set free." + +Then immediately there was a loud noise like thunder, and a voice was +heard saying: + + "Fee, fi, fo, fum, + I smell the blood of a Christian Man. + Be he alive or dead, my brand + Shall dash his brains from his brain-pan." + +Then the folding-doors of the vast hall burst open and the King of +Elfland entered like a storm of wind. What he was really like Childe +Rowland had not time to see, for with a bold cry: + +"Strike, Bogle! thy hardest if thou darest!" he rushed to meet the foe, +his good sword, that never yet did fail, in his hand. + +And Childe Rowland and the King of Elfland fought, and fought, and +fought, while Burd Helen, with her hands clasped, watched them in fear +and hope. + +So they fought, and fought, and fought, until at last Childe Rowland +beat the King of Elfland to his knees. Whereupon he cried, "I yield me. +Thou hast beaten me in fair fight." + +Then Childe Rowland said, "I grant thee mercy if thou wilt release my +sister and my brothers from all spells and enchantments, and let us go +back to Middle Earth." + +So that was agreed; and the Elfin King went to a golden chest whence he +took a phial that was filled with a blood-red liquor. And with this +liquor he anointed the ears and the eyelids, the nostrils, the lips, and +the finger-tips of the bodies of Burd Helen's two brothers that lay as +dead in two golden coffers. + +And immediately they sprang to life and declared that their souls only +had been away, but had now returned. + +After this the Elfin King said a charm which took away the very last bit +of enchantment, and adown the huge hall that showed as if it were lit by +the setting sun, and through the long passage of rough arches made of +rock that was transparent and all encrusted with sheep-silver, +rock-spar, and many bright stones, where twilight reigned, the three +brothers and their sister passed. Then the door opened in the green +hill, it clicked behind them, and they left the Dark Tower of the King +of Elfland never to return. + +For, no sooner were they in the light of day, than they found themselves +at home. + +But fair Burd Helen took care never to go widershins round a church +again. + +[Illustration: They both met together upon Nottingham bridge] + + + + +THE WISE MEN OF GOTHAM + + +OF BUYING OF SHEEP + +There were two men of Gotham, and one of them was going to market to +Nottingham to buy sheep, and the other came from the market, and they +both met together upon Nottingham bridge. + +"Where are you going?" said the one who came from Nottingham. + +"Marry," said he that was going to Nottingham, "I am going to buy +sheep." + +"Buy sheep?" said the other; "and which way will you bring them home?" + +"Marry," said the other, "I will bring them over this bridge." + +"By Robin Hood," said he that came from Nottingham, "but thou shalt +not." + +"By Maid Marion," said he that was going thither, "but I will." + +"You will not," said the one. + +"I will." + +Then they beat their staves against the ground, one against the other, +as if there had been a hundred sheep between them. + +"Hold in," said one; "beware lest my sheep leap over the bridge." + +"I care not," said the other; "they shall not come this way." + +"But they shall," said the other. + +Then the other said, "If that thou make much to do, I will put my +fingers in thy mouth." + +"Will you?" said the other. + +Now, as they were at their contention, another man of Gotham came from +the market with a sack of meal upon a horse, and seeing and hearing his +neighbours at strife about sheep, though there were none between them, +said: + +"Ah, fools! will you ever learn wisdom? Help me, and lay my sack upon my +shoulders." + +They did so, and he went to the side of the bridge, unloosened the mouth +of the sack, and shook all his meal out into the river. + +"Now, neighbours," he said, "how much meal is there in my sack?" + +"Marry," said they, "there is none at all." + +"Now, by my faith," said he, "even as much wit as is in your two heads +to stir up strife about a thing you have not." + +Which was the wisest of these three persons, judge yourself. + +[Illustration: "A vengeance on her!" said they. "We did not make our +hedge high enough"] + +OF HEDGING A CUCKOO + +Once upon a time the men of Gotham would have kept the Cuckoo so that +she might sing all the year, and in the midst of their town they made a +hedge round in compass and they got a Cuckoo, and put her into it, and +said, "Sing there all through the year, or thou shalt have neither meat +nor water." The Cuckoo, as soon as she perceived herself within the +hedge, flew away. "A vengeance on her!" said they. "We did not make our +hedge high enough." + +[Illustration: He took out the cheeses and rolled them down the hill] + +OF SENDING CHEESES + +There was a man of Gotham who went to the market at Nottingham to sell +cheese, and as he was going down the hill to Nottingham bridge, one of +his cheeses fell out of his wallet and rolled down the hill. "Ah, +gaffer," said the fellow, "can you run to market alone? I will send one +after another after you." Then he laid down his wallet and took out the +cheeses and rolled them down the hill. Some went into one bush, and some +went into another. + +"I charge you all to meet me near the market-place," cried he; and when +the fellow came to the market to meet his cheeses, he stayed there till +the market was nearly done. Then he went about to inquire of his friends +and neighbours, and other men, if they did see his cheeses come to the +market. + +"Who should bring them?" said one of the market men. + +"Marry, themselves," said the fellow; "they know the way well enough." + +He said, "A vengeance on them all. I did fear, to see them run so fast, +that they would run beyond the market. I am now fully persuaded that +they must be now almost at York." Whereupon he forthwith hired a horse +to ride to York, to seek his cheeses where they were not; but to this +day no man can tell him of his cheeses. + +[Illustration: And they left the eel to drown] + +OF DROWNING EELS + +When Good Friday came, the men of Gotham cast their heads together what +to do with their white herrings, their red herrings, their sprats, and +other salt fish. One consulted with the other, and agreed that such +fish should be cast into their pond (which was in the middle of the +town), that they might breed against the next year, and every man that +had salt fish left cast them into the pool. + +"I have many white herrings," said one. + +"I have many sprats," said another. + +"I have many red herrings," said the other. + +"I have much salt fish. Let all go into the pond or pool, and we shall +fare like lords next year." + +At the beginning of next year following the men drew near the pond to +have their fish, and there was nothing but a great eel. "Ah," said they +all, "a mischief on this eel, for he has eaten up all our fish." + +"What shall we do to him?" said one to the other. + +"Kill him," said one. + +"Chop him into pieces," said another. + +"Not so," said another; "let us drown him." + +"Be it so," said all. And they went to another pond, and cast the eel +into the pond. "Lie there and shift for yourself, for no help thou shalt +have from us"; and they left the eel to drown. + +[Illustration: The hare ran on along the country way] + +OF SENDING RENT + +Once on a time the men of Gotham had forgotten to pay their landlord. +One said to the other, "To-morrow is our pay-day, and what shall we find +to send our money to our landlord?" + +The one said, "This day I have caught a hare, and he shall carry it, for +he is light of foot." + +"Be it so," said all; "he shall have a letter and a purse to put our +money in, and we shall direct him the right way." So when the letters +were written and the money put in a purse, they tied it round the hare's +neck, saying, "First you go to Lancaster, then thou must go to +Loughborough, and Newarke is our landlord, and commend us to him, and +there is his dues." + +The hare, as soon as he was out of their hands, ran on along the country +way. Some cried, "Thou must go to Lancaster first." + +"Let the hare alone," said another; "he can tell a nearer way than the +best of us all. Let him go." + +Another said, "It is a subtle hare; let her alone; she will not keep the +highway for fear of dogs." + +[Illustration: A courtier came riding by, and he did ask what they were +seeking] + +OF COUNTING + +On a certain time there were twelve men of Gotham who went fishing, and +some went into the water and some on dry ground; and, as they were +coming back, one of them said, "We have ventured much this day wading; I +pray God that none of us that did come from home be drowned." + +"Marry," said one, "let us see about that. Twelve of us came out." And +every man did count eleven, and the twelfth man did never count himself. + +"Alas!" said one to another, "one of us is drowned." They went back to +the brook where they had been fishing, and looked up and down for him +that was drowned, and made great lamentation. A courtier came riding by, +and he did ask what they were seeking, and why they were so sorrowful. +"Oh," said they, "this day we came to fish in this brook, and there were +twelve of us, and one is drowned." + +"Why," said the courtier, "count me how many of you there be"; and one +counted eleven and did not count himself. "Well," said the courtier, +"what will you give me if I find the twelfth man?" + +"Sir," said they, "all the money we have." + +"Give me the money," said the courtier; and he began with the first, and +gave him a whack over the shoulders that he groaned, and said, "There is +one," and he served all of them that they groaned; but when he came to +the last he gave him a good blow, saying, "Here is the twelfth man." + +"God bless you on your heart," said all the company; "you have found our +neighbour." + + + + +CAPORUSHES + + +Once upon a time, a long, long while ago, when all the world was young +and all sorts of strange things happened, there lived a very rich +gentleman whose wife had died leaving him three lovely daughters. They +were as the apple of his eye, and he loved them exceedingly. + +Now one day he wanted to find out if they loved him in return, so he +said to the eldest, "How much do you love me, my dear?" + +And she answered as pat as may be, "As I love my life." + +"Very good, my dear," said he, and gave her a kiss. Then he said to the +second girl, "How much do you love me, my dear?" + +And she answered as swift as thought, "Better than all the world +beside." + +"Good!" he replied, and patted her on the cheek. Then he turned to the +youngest, who was also the prettiest. + +"And how much do _you_ love me, my dearest?" + +Now the youngest daughter was not only pretty, she was clever. So she +thought a moment, then she said slowly: + +"I love you as fresh meat loves salt!" + +Now when her father heard this he was very angry, because he really +loved her more than the others. + +"What!" he said. "If that is all you give me in return for all I've +given you, out of my house you go." So there and then he turned her out +of the home where she had been born and bred, and shut the door in her +face. + +Not knowing where to go, she wandered on, and she wandered on, till she +came to a big fen where the reeds grew ever so tall and the rushes +swayed in the wind like a field of corn. There she sate down and plaited +herself an overall of rushes and a cap to match, so as to hide her fine +clothes, and her beautiful golden hair that was all set with milk-white +pearls. For she was a wise girl, and thought that in such lonely +country, mayhap, some robber might fall in with her and kill her to get +her fine clothes and jewels. + +It took a long time to plait the dress and cap, and while she plaited +she sang a little song: + + "Hide my hair, O cap o' rushes, + Hide my heart, O robe o' rushes. + Sure! my answer had no fault, + I love him more than he loves salt." + +And the fen birds sate and listened and sang back to her: + + "Cap o' rushes, shed no tear, + Robe o' rushes, have no fear; + With these words if fault he'd find, + Sure your father must be blind." + +When her task was finished she put on her robe of rushes and it hid all +her fine clothes, and she put on the cap and it hid all her beautiful +hair, so that she looked quite a common country girl. But the fen birds +flew away, singing as they flew: + + "Cap-o-rushes! we can see, + Robe o' rushes! what you be, + Fair and clean, and fine and tidy, + So you'll be whate'er betide ye." + +By this time she was very, very hungry, so she wandered on, and she +wandered on; but ne'er a cottage or a hamlet did she see, till just at +sun-setting she came on a great house on the edge of the fen. It had a +fine front door to it; but mindful of her dress of rushes she went round +to the back. And there she saw a strapping fat scullion washing pots and +pans with a very sulky face. So, being a clever girl, she guessed what +the maid was wanting, and said: + +"If I may have a night's lodging, I will scrub the pots and pans for +you." + +"Why! Here's luck," replied the scullery-maid, ever so pleased. "I was +just wanting badly to go a-walking with my sweetheart. So if you will do +my work you shall share my bed and have a bite of my supper. Only mind +you scrub the pots clean or cook will be at me." + +Now next morning the pots were scraped so clean that they looked like +new, and the saucepans were polished like silver, and the cook said to +the scullion, "Who cleaned these pots? Not you, I'll swear." So the maid +had to up and out with the truth. Then the cook would have turned away +the old maid and put on the new, but the latter would not hear of it. + +"The maid was kind to me and gave me a night's lodging," she said. "So +now I will stay without wage and do the dirty work for her." + +So Caporushes--for so they called her since she would give no other +name--stayed on and cleaned the pots and scraped the saucepans. + +Now it so happened that her master's son came of age, and to celebrate +the occasion a ball was given to the neighbourhood, for the young man +was a grand dancer, and loved nothing so well as a country measure. It +was a very fine party, and after supper was served, the servants were +allowed to go and watch the quality from the gallery of the ball-room. + +But Caporushes refused to go, for she also was a grand dancer, and she +was afraid that when she heard the fiddles starting a merry jig, she +might start dancing. So she excused herself by saying she was too tired +with scraping pots and washing saucepans; and when the others went off, +she crept up to her bed. + +But alas! and alack-a-day! The door had been left open, and as she lay +in her bed she could hear the fiddlers fiddling away and the tramp of +dancing feet. + +Then she upped and off with her cap and robe of rushes, and there she +was ever so fine and tidy. She was in the ball-room in a trice joining +in the jig, and none was more beautiful or better dressed than she. +While as for her dancing...! + +Her master's son singled her out at once, and with the finest of bows +engaged her as his partner for the rest of the night. So she danced away +to her heart's content, while the whole room was agog, trying to find +out who the beautiful young stranger could be. But she kept her own +counsel and, making some excuse, slipped away before the ball finished; +so when her fellow-servants came to bed, there she was in hers in her +cap and robe of rushes, pretending to be fast asleep. + +Next morning, however, the maids could talk of nothing but the beautiful +stranger. + +"You should ha' seen her," they said. "She was the loveliest young lady +as ever you see, not a bit like the likes o' we. Her golden hair was all +silvered wi' pearls, and her dress--law! You wouldn't believe how she +was dressed. Young master never took his eyes off her." + +And Caporushes only smiled and said, with a twinkle in her eye, "I +should like to see her, but I don't think I ever shall." + +"Oh yes, you will," they replied, "for young master has ordered another +ball to-night in hopes she will come to dance again." + +But that evening Caporushes refused once more to go to the gallery, +saying she was too tired with cleaning pots and scraping saucepans. And +once more when she heard the fiddlers fiddling she said to herself, "I +must have one dance--just one with the young master: he dances so +beautifully." For she felt certain he would dance with her. + +And sure enough, when she had upped and offed with her cap and robe of +rushes, there he was at the door waiting for her to come; for he had +determined to dance with no one else. + +So he took her by the hand, and they danced down the ball-room. It was a +sight of all sights! Never were such dancers! So young, so handsome, so +fine, so gay! + +But once again Caporushes kept her own counsel and just slipped away on +some excuse in time, so that when her fellow-servants came to their beds +they found her in hers, pretending to be fast asleep; but her cheeks +were all flushed and her breath came fast. So they said, "She is +dreaming. We hope her dreams are happy." + +But next morning they were full of what she had missed. Never was such a +beautiful young gentleman as young master! Never was such a beautiful +young lady! Never was such beautiful dancing! Every one else had stopped +theirs to look on. + +And Caporushes, with a twinkle in her eyes, said, "I should like to see +her; but I'm _sure_ I never shall!" + +"Oh yes!" they replied. "If you come to-night you're sure to see her; +for young master has ordered another ball in hopes the beautiful +stranger will come again; for it's easy to see he is madly in love with +her." + +Then Caporushes told herself she would not dance again, since it was not +fit for a gay young master to be in love with his scullery-maid; but, +alas! the moment she heard the fiddlers fiddling, she just upped and +offed with her rushes, and there she was fine and tidy as ever! She +didn't even have to brush her beautiful golden hair! And once again she +was in the ball-room in a trice, dancing away with young master, who +never took his eyes off her, and implored her to tell him who she was. +But she kept her own counsel and only told him that she never, never, +never would come to dance any more, and that he must say good-bye. And +he held her hand so fast that she had a job to get away, and lo and +behold! his ring came off his finger, and as she ran up to her bed there +it was in her hand! She had just time to put on her cap and robe of +rushes, when her fellow-servants came trooping in and found her awake. + +"It was the noise you made coming upstairs," she made excuse; but they +said, "Not we! It is the whole place that is in an uproar searching for +the beautiful stranger. Young master he tried to detain her; but she +slipped from him like an eel. But he declares he will find her; for if +he doesn't he will die of love for her." + +Then Caporushes laughed. "Young men don't die of love," says she. "He +will find some one else." + +But he didn't. He spent his whole time looking for his beautiful dancer, +but go where he might, and ask whom he would, he never heard anything +about her. And day by day he grew thinner and thinner, and paler and +paler, until at last he took to his bed. + +And the housekeeper came to the cook and said, "Cook the nicest dinner +you can cook, for young master eats nothing." + +Then the cook prepared soups, and jellies, and creams, and roast +chicken, and bread sauce; but the young man would none of them. + +And Caporushes cleaned the pots and scraped the saucepans and said +nothing. + +Then the housekeeper came crying and said to the cook, "Prepare some +gruel for young master. Mayhap he'd take that. If not he will die for +love of the beautiful dancer. If she could see him now she would have +pity on him." + +So the cook began to make the gruel, and Caporushes left scraping +saucepans and watched her. + +"Let me stir it," she said, "while you fetch a cup from the +pantry-room." + +So Caporushes stirred the gruel, and what did she do but slips young +master's ring into it before the cook came back! + +Then the butler took the cup upstairs on a silver salver. But when the +young master saw it he waved it away, till the butler with tears begged +him just to taste it. + +So the young master took a silver spoon and stirred the gruel; and he +felt something hard at the bottom of the cup. And when he fished it up, +lo! it was his own ring! Then he sate up in bed and said quite loud, +"Send for the cook!" And when she came he asked her who made the gruel. + +"I did," she said, for she was half-pleased and half-frightened. + +Then he looked at her all over and said, "No, you didn't! You're too +stout! Tell me who made it and you shan't be harmed!" + +Then the cook began to cry. "If you please, sir, I _did_ make it; but +Caporushes stirred it." + +"And who is Caporushes?" asked the young man. + +"If you please, sir, Caporushes is the scullion," whimpered the cook. + +Then the young man sighed and fell back on his pillow. "Send Caporushes +here," he said in a faint voice; for he really was very near dying. + +And when Caporushes came he just looked at her cap and her robe of +rushes and turned his face to the wall; but he asked her in a weak +little voice, "From whom did you get that ring?" + +Now when Caporushes saw the poor young man so weak and worn with love +for her, her heart melted, and she replied softly: + +"From him that gave it me," quoth she, and offed with her cap and robe +of rushes, and there she was as fine and tidy as ever with her beautiful +golden hair all silvered over with pearls. + +And the young man caught sight of her with the tail of his eye, and sate +up in bed as strong as may be, and drew her to him and gave her a great +big kiss. + +So, of course, they were to be married in spite of her being only a +scullery-maid, for she told no one who she was. Now every one far and +near was asked to the wedding. Amongst the invited guests was +Caporushes' father, who, from grief at losing his favourite daughter, +had lost his sight, and was very dull and miserable. However, as a +friend of the family, he had to come to the young master's wedding. + +Now the marriage feast was to be the finest ever seen; but Caporushes +went to her friend the cook and said: + +"Dress every dish without one mite of salt." + +"That'll be rare and nasty," replied the cook; but because she prided +herself on having let Caporushes stir the gruel and so saved the young +master's life, she did as she was asked, and dressed every dish for the +wedding breakfast without one mite of salt. + +Now when the company sate down to table their faces were full of smiles +and content, for all the dishes looked so nice and tasty; but no sooner +had the guests begun to eat than their faces fell; for nothing can be +tasty without salt. + +Then Caporushes' blind father, whom his daughter had seated next to her, +burst out crying. + +"What is the matter?" she asked. + +Then the old man sobbed, "I had a daughter whom I loved dearly, dearly. +And I asked her how much she loved me, and she replied, 'As fresh meat +loves salt.' And I was angry with her and turned her out of house and +home, for I thought she didn't love me at all. But now I see she loved +me best of all." + +And as he said the words his eyes were opened, and there beside him was +his daughter lovelier than ever. + +And she gave him one hand, and her husband, the young master, the other, +and laughed saying, "I love you both as fresh meat loves salt." And +after that they were all happy for evermore. + +[Illustration: She sate down and plaited herself an overall of rushes +and a cap to match] + + + THE BABES IN THE WOOD + + + Now ponder well, you parents dear, + These words which I shall write; + A doleful story you shall hear, + In time brought forth to light. + A gentleman of good account + In Norfolk dwelt of late, + Who did in honour far surmount + Most men of his estate. + + Sore sick he was and like to die, + No help his life could save; + His wife by him as sick did lie, + And both possest one grave. + No love between these two was lost, + Each was to other kind; + In love they lived, in love they died, + And left two babes behind: + + The one a fine and pretty boy + Not passing three years old, + The other a girl more young than he, + And framed in beauty's mould. + The father left his little son, + As plainly did appear, + When he to perfect age should come, + Three hundred pounds a year; + + And to his little daughter Jane + Five hundred pounds in gold, + To be paid down on marriage-day, + Which might not be controlled. + But if the children chanced to die + Ere they to age should come, + Their uncle should possess their wealth; + For so the will did run. + + "Now, brother," said the dying man, + "Look to my children dear; + Be good unto my boy and girl, + No friends else have they here; + To God and you I recommend + My children dear this day; + But little while be sure we have + Within this world to stay. + + "You must be father and mother both, + And uncle, all in one; + God knows what will become of them + When I am dead and gone." + With that bespake their mother dear: + "O brother kind," quoth she, + "You are the man must bring our babes + To wealth or misery. + + "And if you keep them carefully, + Then God will you reward; + But if you otherwise should deal, + God will your deeds regard." + With lips as cold as any stone, + They kissed their children small: + "God bless you both, my children dear!" + With that the tears did fall. + + These speeches then their brother spake + To this sick couple there: + "The keeping of your little ones, + Sweet sister, do not fear; + God never prosper me nor mine, + Nor aught else that I have, + If I do wrong your children dear + When you are laid in grave!" + + The parents being dead and gone, + The children home he takes, + And brings them straight unto his house, + Where much of them he makes. + He had not kept these pretty babes + A twelvemonth and a day, + But, for their wealth, he did devise + To make them both away. + + He bargained with two ruffians strong, + Which were of furious mood, + That they should take these children young. + And slay them in a wood. + He told his wife an artful tale + He would the children send + To be brought up in London town + With one that was his friend. + + Away then went those pretty babes, + Rejoicing at that tide, + Rejoicing with a merry mind + They should on cock-horse ride. + They prate and prattle pleasantly, + As they ride on the way, + To those that should their butchers be + And work their lives' decay: + + So that the pretty speech they had + Made Murder's heart relent; + And they that undertook the deed + Full sore now did repent. + Yet one of them, more hard of heart, + Did vow to do his charge, + Because the wretch that hired him + Had paid him very large. + + The other won't agree thereto, + So there they fall to strife; + With one another they did fight + About the children's life; + And he that was of mildest mood + Did slay the other there, + Within an unfrequented wood; + The babes did quake for fear! + + He took the children by the hand, + Tears standing in their eye, + And bade them straightway follow him, + And look they did not cry; + And two long miles he led them on, + While they for food complain: + "Stay here," quoth he, "I'll bring you bread, + When I come back again." + + These pretty babes, with hand in hand, + Went wandering up and down; + But never more could see the man + Approaching from the town. + Their pretty lips with blackberries + Were all besmeared and dyed; + And when they saw the darksome night, + They sat them down and cried. + + Thus wandered these poor innocents, + Till death did end their grief; + In one another's arms they died, + As wanting due relief: + No burial this pretty pair + From any man receives, + Till Robin Redbreast piously + Did cover them with leaves. + + And now the heavy wrath of God + Upon their uncle fell; + Yea, fearful fiends did haunt his house, + His conscience felt an hell: + His barns were fired, his goods consumed, + His lands were barren made, + His cattle died within the field, + And nothing with him stayed. + + And in a voyage to Portugal + Two of his sons did die; + And to conclude, himself was brought + To want and misery: + He pawned and mortgaged all his land + Ere seven years came about. + And now at last this wicked act + Did by this means come out. + + The fellow that did take in hand + These children for to kill, + Was for a robbery judged to die, + Such was God's blessed will: + Who did confess the very truth, + As here hath been displayed: + The uncle having died in jail, + Where he for debt was laid. + + You that executors be made, + And overseers eke, + Of children that be fatherless, + And infants mild and meek, + Take you example by this thing, + And yield to each his right, + Lest God with suchlike misery + Your wicked minds requite. + + + + +THE RED ETTIN + + +There was once a widow that lived on a small bit of ground, which she +rented from a farmer. And she had two sons; and by and by it was time +for the wife to send them away to seek their fortune. So she told her +eldest son one day to take a can and bring her water from the well, that +she might bake a cake for him; and however much or however little water +he might bring, the cake would be great or small accordingly, and that +cake was to be all that she could give him when he went on his travels. + +The lad went away with the can to the well, and filled it with water, +and then came away home again; but the can being broken, the most part +of the water had run out before he got back. So his cake was very small; +yet small as it was, his mother asked him if he was willing to take the +half of it with her blessing, telling him that, if he chose rather to +take the whole, he would only get it with her curse. The young man, +thinking he might have to travel a far way, and not knowing when or how +he might get other provisions, said he would like to have the whole +cake, come of his mother's malison what might; so she gave him the +whole cake, and her malison along with it. Then he took his brother +aside, and gave him a knife to keep till he should come back, desiring +him to look at it every morning, and as long as it continued to be +clear, then he might be sure that the owner of it was well; but if it +grew dim and rusty, then for certain some ill had befallen him. + +So the young man went to seek his fortune. And he went all that day, and +all the next day; and on the third day, in the afternoon, he came up to +where a shepherd was sitting with a flock of sheep. And he went up to +the shepherd and asked him to whom the sheep belonged; and he answered: + + "To the Red Ettin of Ireland + Who lives in Ballygan, + He stole King Malcolm's daughter, + The king of fair Scotland. + He beats her, he binds her, + He lays her on a hand; + And every day he strikes her + With a bright silver wand. + 'Tis said there's one predestinate + To be his mortal foe; + But sure that man is yet unborn, + And long may it be so!" + +After this the shepherd told him to beware of the beasts he should next +meet, for they were of a very different kind from any he had yet seen. + +So the young man went on, and by and by he saw a multitude of very +dreadful, terrible, horrible beasts, with two heads, and on every head +four horns! And he was sore frightened, and ran away from them as fast +as he could; and glad was he when he came to a castle that stood on a +hillock, with the door standing wide open to the wall. And he went in to +the castle for shelter, and there he saw an old wife sitting beside the +kitchen fire. He asked the wife if he might stay for the night, as he +was tired with a long journey; and the wife said he might, but it was +not a good place for him to be in, as it belonged to the Red Ettin, who +was a very terrible monster with three heads, who spared no living man +it could get hold of. The young man would have gone away, but he was +afraid of the two-headed four-horned beasts outside; so he beseeched the +old woman to hide him as best she could, and not tell the Ettin he was +there. He thought, if he could put over the night, he might get away in +the morning, without meeting with the dreadful, terrible, horrible +beasts, and so escape. + +But he had not been long in his hiding-hole, before the awful Ettin came +in; and no sooner was he in, than he was heard crying: + + "Snouk but! and snouk ben! + I find the smell of an earthly man; + Be he living, or be he dead, + His heart this night shall kitchen my bread." + +Well, the monster began to search about, and he soon found the poor +young man, and pulled him from his hiding-place. And when he had got him +out, he told him that if he could answer him three questions his life +should be spared. + +So the first head asked: "A thing without an end; what's that?" + +But the young man knew not. + +Then the second head said: "The smaller the more dangerous; what's +that?" + +But the young man knew not. + +And then the third head asked: "The dead carrying the living? riddle me +that." + +But the young man knew not. + +So the lad not being able to answer one of these questions, the Red +Ettin took a mallet from behind the door, knocked him on the head, and +turned him into a pillar of stone. + +Now on the morning after this happened the younger brother took out the +knife to look at it, and he was grieved to find it all brown with rust. +So he told his mother that the time was now come for him to go away upon +his travels also. At first she refused to let him go; but at last she +requested him to take the can to the well for water, that she might make +a cake for him. So he went, but as he was bringing home the water, a +raven over his head cried to him to look, and he would see that the +water was running out. Now being a young man of sense, and seeing the +water running out, he took some clay and patched up the holes, so that +he brought home enough water to bake a large cake. And when his mother +put it to him to take the half cake with her blessing, he took it +instead of having the whole with her malison. + +So he went away on his journey with his mother's blessing. Now after he +had travelled a far way, he met with an old woman who asked him if he +would give her a bit of his cake. And he said, "I will gladly do that"; +so he gave her a piece of the cake. Then the old woman, who was a fairy, +gave him a magic wand, that might yet be of service to him, if he took +care to use it rightly; and she told him a great deal that would happen +to him, and what he ought to do in all circumstances; and after that, +she vanished in an instant, out of his sight. Then he went on his way +until he came up to the old man who was herding the sheep; and when he +asked him to whom the sheep belonged, the answer was: + + "To the Red Ettin of Ireland + Who lives in Ballygan, + He stole King Malcolm's daughter, + The king of fair Scotland. + He beats her, he binds her, + He lays her on a band; + And every day he strikes her + With a bright silver wand. + But now I fear his end is near, + And death is close at hand; + For you're to be, I plainly see, + The heir of all his land." + +So the younger brother went on his way; but when he came to the place +where the dreadful, terrible, horrible beasts were standing, he did not +stop nor run away, but went boldly through amongst them. One came up +roaring with open mouth to devour him, when he struck it with his wand, +and laid it in an instant dead at his feet. He soon came to the Ettin's +castle, where he found the door shut, but he knocked boldly, and was +admitted. Then the old woman who sat by the fire warned him of the +terrible Ettin, and what had been the fate of his brother; but he was +not to be daunted, and would not even hide. + +Then by and by the monster came in, crying as before: + + "Snouk but! and snouk ben! + I find the smell of an earthly man; + Be he living, or be he dead, + His heart this night shall kitchen my bread." + +Well, he quickly espied the young man, and bade him stand forth on the +floor, and told him that if he could answer three questions his life +would be spared. + +So the first head asked: "What's the thing without an end?" + +Now the younger brother had been told by the fairy to whom he had given +a piece of his cake what he ought to say; so he answered: + +"A bowl." + +Then the first head frowned, but the second head asked: + +"The smaller the more dangerous; what's that?" + +"A bridge," says the younger brother, quite fast. + +Then the first and the second heads frowned, but the third head asked: + +"When does the dead carry the living? riddle me that." + +At this the young man answered up at once and said: + +"When a ship sails on the sea with men inside her." + +When the Red Ettin found all his riddles answered, he knew that his +power was gone, so he tried to escape, but the young man took up an axe +and hewed off the monster's three heads. Then he asked the old woman to +show him where the king's daughter lay; and the old woman took him +upstairs, and opened a great many doors, and out of every door came a +beautiful lady who had been imprisoned there by the Red Ettin; and last +of all the ladies was the king's daughter. Then the old woman took him +down into a low room, and there stood a stone pillar; but he had only to +touch it with his wand, and his brother started into life. + +So the whole of the prisoners were overjoyed at their deliverance, for +which they thanked the younger brother again and again. Next day they +all set out for the king's court, and a gallant company they made. Then +the king married his daughter to the young man who had delivered her, +and gave a noble's daughter to his brother. + +So they all lived happily all the rest of their days. + + + + +THE FISH AND THE RING + + +Once upon a time there lived a Baron who was a great magician, and could +tell by his arts and charms everything that was going to happen at any +time. + +Now this great lord had a little son born to him as heir to all his +castles and lands. So, when the little lad was about four years old, +wishing to know what his fortune would be, the Baron looked in his Book +of Fate to see what it foretold. + +And, lo and behold! it was written that this much-loved, much-prized +heir to all the great lands and castles was to marry a low-born maiden. +So the Baron was dismayed, and set to work by more arts and charms to +discover if this maiden were already born, and if so, where she lived. + +And he found out that she had just been born in a very poor house, where +the poor parents were already burdened with five children. + +So he called for his horse and rode away, and away, until he came to the +poor man's house, and there he found the poor man sitting at his +doorstep very sad and doleful. + +"What is the matter, my friend?" asked he; and the poor man replied: + +"May it please your honour, a little lass has just been born to our +house; and we have five children already, and where the bread is to come +from to fill the sixth mouth, we know not." + +"If that be all your trouble," quoth the Baron readily, "mayhap I can +help you: so don't be down-hearted. I am just looking for such a little +lass to companion my son, so, if you will, I will give you ten crowns +for her." + +Well! the man he nigh jumped for joy, since he was to get good money, +and his daughter, so he thought, a good home. Therefore he brought out +the child then and there, and the Baron, wrapping the babe in his cloak, +rode away. But when he got to the river he flung the little thing into +the swollen stream, and said to himself as he galloped back to his +castle: + +"There goes Fate!" + +But, you see, he was just sore mistaken. For the little lass didn't +sink. The stream was very swift, and her long clothes kept her up till +she caught in a snag just opposite a fisherman, who was mending his +nets. + +Now the fisherman and his wife had no children, and they were just +longing for a baby; so when the goodman saw the little lass he was +overcome with joy, and took her home to his wife, who received her with +open arms. + +And there she grew up, the apple of their eyes, into the most beautiful +maiden that ever was seen. + +Now, when she was about fifteen years of age, it so happened that the +Baron and his friends went a-hunting along the banks of the river and +stopped to get a drink of water at the fisherman's hut. And who should +bring the water out but, as they thought, the fisherman's daughter. + +Now the young men of the party noticed her beauty, and one of them said +to the Baron, "She should marry well; read us her fate, since you are so +learned in the art." + +Then the Baron, scarce looking at her, said carelessly: "I could guess +her fate! Some wretched yokel or other. But, to please you, I will cast +her horoscope by the stars; so tell me, girl, what day you were born?" + +"That I cannot tell, sir," replied the girl, "for I was picked up in the +river about fifteen years ago." + +Then the Baron grew pale, for he guessed at once that she was the little +lass he had flung into the stream, and that Fate had been stronger than +he was. But he kept his own counsel and said nothing at the time. +Afterwards, however, he thought out a plan, so he rode back and gave the +girl a letter. + +"See you!" he said. "I will make your fortune. Take this letter to my +brother, who needs a good girl, and you will be settled for life." + +Now the fisherman and his wife were growing old and needed help; so the +girl said she would go, and took the letter. + +And the Baron rode back to his castle saying to himself once more: + +"There goes Fate!" + +For what he had written in the letter was this: + +"DEAR BROTHER, + +"Take the bearer and put her to death immediately." + +But once again he was sore mistaken; since on the way to the town where +his brother lived, the girl had to stop the night in a little inn. And +it so happened that that very night a gang of thieves broke into the +inn, and not content with carrying off all that the innkeeper possessed, +they searched the pockets of the guests, and found the letter which the +girl carried. And when they read it, they agreed that it was a mean +trick and a shame. So their captain sat down and, taking pen and paper, +wrote instead: + +"DEAR BROTHER, + +"Take the bearer and marry her to my son without delay." + +Then, after putting the note into an envelope and sealing it up, they +gave it to the girl and bade her go on her way. So when she arrived at +the brother's castle, though rather surprised, he gave orders for a +wedding feast to be prepared. And the Baron's son, who was staying with +his uncle, seeing the girl's great beauty, was nothing loth, so they +were fast wedded. + +Well! when the news was brought to the Baron, he was nigh beside +himself; but he was determined not to be done by Fate. So he rode +post-haste to his brother's and pretended to be quite pleased. And then +one day, when no one was nigh, he asked the young bride to come for a +walk with him, and when they were close to some cliffs, seized hold of +her, and was for throwing her over into the sea. But she begged hard for +her life. + +"It is not my fault," she said. "I have done nothing. It is Fate. But if +you will spare my life I promise that I will fight against Fate also. I +will never see you or your son again until you desire it. That will be +safer for you; since, see you, the sea may preserve me, as the river +did." + +Well! the Baron agreed to this. So he took off his gold ring from his +finger and flung it over the cliffs into the sea and said: + +"Never dare to show me your face again till you can show me that ring +likewise." + +And with that he let her go. + +Well! the girl wandered on, and she wandered on, until she came to a +nobleman's castle; and there, as they needed a kitchen girl, she engaged +as a scullion, since she had been used to such work in the fisherman's +hut. + +Now one day, as she was cleaning a big fish, she looked out of the +kitchen window, and who should she see driving up to dinner but the +Baron and his young son, her husband. At first she thought that, to keep +her promise, she must run away; but afterwards she remembered they would +not see her in the kitchen, so she went on with her cleaning of the big +fish. + +And, lo and behold! she saw something shine in its inside, and there, +sure enough, was the Baron's ring! She was glad enough to see it, I can +tell you; so she slipped it on to her thumb. But she went on with her +work, and dressed the fish as nicely as ever she could, and served it up +as pretty as may be, with parsley sauce and butter. + +Well! when it came to table the guests liked it so well that they asked +the host who cooked it. And he called to his servants, "Send up the cook +who cooked that fine fish, that she may get her reward." + +Well! when the girl heard she was wanted she made herself ready, and +with the gold ring on her thumb, went boldly into the dining-hall. And +all the guests when they saw her were struck dumb by her wonderful +beauty. And the young husband started up gladly; but the Baron, +recognising her, jumped up angrily and looked as if he would kill her. +So, without one word, the girl held up her hand before his face, and the +gold ring shone and glittered on it; and she went straight up to the +Baron, and laid her hand with the ring on it before him on the table. + +Then the Baron understood that Fate had been too strong for him; so he +took her by the hand, and, placing her beside him, turned to the guests +and said: + +"This is my son's wife. Let us drink a toast in her honour." + +And after dinner he took her and his son home to his castle, where they +all lived as happy as could be for ever afterwards. + + + + +[Illustration: Headpiece--Lawkamercyme] + + LAWKAMERCYME + + + There was an old woman, as I've heard tell, + She went to the market her eggs for to sell; + She went to the market, all on a market-day, + And she fell asleep on the king's highway. + + There came by a pedlar, whose name it was Stout, + He cut all her petticoats all round about; + He cut her petticoats up to the knees, + Which made the old woman to shiver and freeze. + + When this old woman first did awake, + She 'gan to shiver, she 'gan to shake; + She 'gan to wonder, she 'gan to cry-- + "Lawkamercyme! this is none of I! + + "But if it be I, as I do hope it be, + I've a little dog at home, and sure he'll know me; + If it be I, he'll wag his little tail, + And if it be not I, then he'll bark and wail." + + Home went the old woman, all in the dark; + Up got the little dog, and he began to bark, + He began to bark, and she began to cry-- + "Lawkamercyme! this is none of I!" + + + + +[Illustration: A funny-looking old gentleman engaged her and took her +home] + +MASTER OF ALL MASTERS + + +A Girl once went to the fair to hire herself for servant. At last a +funny-looking old gentleman engaged her and took her home to his house. +When she got there, he told her that he had something to teach her, for +that in his house he had his own names for things. + +He said to her, "What will you call me?" + +"Master or mister, or whatever you please, sir," says she. + +He said, "You must call me 'master of all masters.' And what would you +call this?" pointing to his bed. + +"Bed or couch, or whatever you please, sir." + +"No, that's my 'barnacle'. And what do you call these?" said he, +pointing to his pantaloons. + +"Breeches or trousers, or whatever you please, sir." + +"You must call them 'squibs and crackers.' And what would you call her?" +pointing to the cat. + +"Cat or kit, or whatever you please, sir.' + +"You must call her 'white-faced simminy' And this now," showing the +fire, "what would you call this?" + +"Fire or flame, or whatever you please, sir." + +"You must call it 'hot cockalorum'; and what this?" he went on, pointing +to the water. + +"Water or wet, or whatever you please, sir." + +"No, 'pondalorum' is its name. And what do you call all this?" asked he, +as he pointed to the house. + +"House or cottage, or whatever you please, sir." + +"You must call it 'high topper mountain.'" + +That very night the servant woke her master up in a fright and said, +"Master of all masters, get out of your barnacle and put on your squibs +and crackers. For white-faced simminy has got a spark of hot cockalorum +on its tail, and unless you get some pondalorum high topper mountain +will be all on hot cockalorum...." + +That's all!! + +[Illustration: White-faced simminy has got a spark of hot cockalorum on +its tail] + + + + +MOLLY WHUPPIE AND THE DOUBLE-FACED GIANT + + +Once upon a time there was a man and his wife who were not over rich. +And they had so many children that they couldn't find meat for them; so, +as the three youngest were girls, they just took them out to the forest +one day, and left them there to fend for themselves as best they might. + +Now the two eldest were just ordinary girls, so they cried a bit and +felt afraid; but the youngest, whose name was Molly Whuppie, was bold, +so she counselled her sisters not to despair, but to try and find some +house where they might get a night's lodging. So they set off through +the forest, and journeyed, and journeyed, and journeyed, but never a +house did they see. It began to grow dark, her sisters were faint with +hunger, and even Molly Whuppie began to think of supper. At last in the +distance they saw a great big light, and made for it. Now when they drew +near they saw that it came from a huge window in a huge house. + +"It will be a giant's house," said the two elder girls, trembling with +fright. + +"If there were two giants in it I mean to have my supper," quoth Molly +Whuppie, and knocked at a huge door, as bold as brass. It was opened by +the giant's wife, who shook her head when Molly Whuppie asked for +victuals and a night's lodging. + +"You wouldn't thank me for it," she said, "for my man is a giant, and +when he comes home he will kill you of a certainty." + +"But if you give us supper at once," says Molly craftily, "we shall have +finished it before the giant comes home; for we are very sharp-set." + +Now the giant's wife was not unkindly; besides, her three daughters, who +were just of an age with Molly and her sisters, tugged at her skirts +well pleased; so she took the girls in, set them by the fire, and gave +them each a bowl of bread and milk. But they had hardly begun to gobble +it up before the door burst open, and a fearful giant strode in saying: + + "_Fee-fi-fo-fum, + I smell the smell of some earthly one._" + +"Don't put yourself about, my dear," said the giant's wife, trying to +make the best of it. "See for yourself. They are only three poor little +girlies like our girlies. They were cold and hungry so I gave them some +supper; but they have promised to go away as soon as they have +finished. Now be a good giant and don't touch them. They've eaten of +our salt, so don't _you_ be at fault!" + +Now this giant was not at all a straightforward giant. He was a +double-faced giant. So he only said, + + "Umph!" + +and remarked that as they had come, they had better stay all night, +since they could easily sleep with his three daughters. And after he had +had his supper he made himself quite pleasant, and plaited chains of +straw for the little strangers to wear round their necks, to match the +gold chains his daughters wore. Then he wished them all pleasant dreams +and sent them to bed. + +Dear me! He _was_ a double-faced giant! + +But Molly Whuppie, the youngest of the three girls, was not only bold, +she was clever. So when she was in bed, instead of going to sleep like +the others, she lay awake and thought, and thought, and thought; until +at last she up ever so softly, took off her own and her sisters' straw +chains, put them round the neck of the ogre's daughters, and placed +their gold chains round her own and her sisters' necks. + +And even then she did not go to sleep, but lay still and waited to see +if she was wise; and she was! For in the very middle of the night, when +everybody else was dead asleep and it was pitch dark, in comes the +giant, all stealthy, feels for the straw chains, twists them tight round +the wearers' necks, half strangles his daughters, drags them on to the +floor, and beats them till they were quite dead; so, all stealthy and +satisfied, goes back to his own bed, thinking he had been very clever. + +But he was no match, you see, for Molly Whuppie; for she at once roused +her sisters, bade them be quiet, and follow her. Then she slipped out of +the giant's house and ran, and ran, and ran until the dawn broke and +they found themselves before another great house. It was surrounded by a +wide deep moat, which was spanned by a drawbridge. But the drawbridge +was up. However, beside it hung a Single-Hair rope over which any one +very light-footed could cross. + +Now Molly's sisters were feared to try it; besides, they said that for +aught they knew the house might be another giant's house, and they had +best keep away. + +"Taste and try," says Molly Whuppie, laughing, and was over the Bridge +of a Single Hair before you could say knife. And, after all, it was not +a giant's house but a King's castle. Now it so happened that the very +giant whom Molly had tricked was the terror of the whole country-side, +and it was to gain safety from him that the drawbridge was kept up, and +the Bridge of a Single Hair had been made. So when the sentry heard +Molly Whuppie's tale, he took her to the King and said: + +"My lord! Here is a girlie who has tricked the giant!" + +Then the King when he had heard the story said, "You are a clever girl, +Molly Whuppie, and you managed very well; but if you could manage still +better and steal the giant's sword, in which part of his strength lies, +I will give your eldest sister in marriage to my eldest son." + +Well! Molly Whuppie thought this would be a very good downsitting for +her sister, so she said she would try. + +So that evening, all alone, she ran across the Bridge of One Hair, and +ran and ran till she came to the giant's house. The sun was just +setting, and shone on it so beautifully that Molly Whuppie thought it +looked like a castle in Spain, and could hardly believe that such a +dreadful, double-faced giant lived within. However, she knew he did; so +she slipped into the house unbeknownst, stole up to the giant's room, +and crept in behind the bed. By and by the giant came home, ate a huge +supper, and came crashing up the stairs to his bed. But Molly kept very +still and held her breath. So after a time he fell asleep, and soon he +began to snore. Then Molly crept out from under the bed, ever so softly, +and crept up the bed-clothes, and crept past his great snoring face, and +laid hold of the sword that hung above it. But alas! as she jumped from +the bed in a hurry, the sword rattled in the scabbard. The noise woke +the giant, and up he jumped and ran after Molly, who ran as she had +never run before, carrying the sword over her shoulder. And he ran, and +she ran, and they both ran, until they came to the Bridge of One Hair. +Then she fled over it light-footed, balancing the sword, but he +couldn't. So he stopped, foaming at the mouth with rage, and called +after her: + +"Woe worth you, Molly Whuppie! Never you dare to come again!" + +And she, turning her head about as she sped over the One Hair Bridge, +laughed lightly: + +"Twice yet, gaffer, will I come to the Castle in Spain!" + +So Molly gave the sword to the King, and, as he had promised, his eldest +son wedded her eldest sister. + +But after the marriage festivities were over the King says again to +Molly Whuppie: + +"You're a main clever girl, Molly, and you have managed very well, but +if you could manage still better and steal the giant's purse, in which +part of his strength lies, I will marry my second son to your second +sister. But you need to be careful, for the giant sleeps with the purse +under his pillow!" + +Well! Molly Whuppie thought this would be a very good downsitting, +indeed, for her second sister, so she said she would try her luck. + +So that evening, just at sunsetting, she ran over the One Hair Bridge, +and ran, and ran, and ran until she came to the giant's house looking +for all the world like a castle in the air, all ruddy and golden and +glinting. She could scarce believe such a dreadful double-faced giant +lived within. However, she _knew_ he did; so she slipped into the house +unbeknownst, stole up to the giant's room, and crept in below the +giant's bed. By and by the giant came home, ate a hearty supper, and +then came crashing upstairs, and soon fell a-snoring. Then Molly Whuppie +slipped from under the bed, and slipped up the bed-clothes, and reaching +out her hand slipped it under the pillow, and got hold of the purse. +But the giant's head was so heavy on it she had to tug and tug away. At +last out it came, she fell backward over the bedside, the purse opened, +and some of the money fell out with a crash. The noise wakened the +giant, and she had only time to grab the money off the floor, when he +was after her. How they ran, and ran, and ran, and ran! At last she +reached the One Hair Bridge and, with the purse in one hand, the money +in the other, she sped across it while the giant shook his fist at her +and cried: + +"Woe worth you, Molly Whuppie! Never you dare to come again!" + +And she, turning her head, laughed lightly: + +"Yet once more, gaffer, will I come to the Castle in Spain." + +So she took the purse to the King, and he ordered a splendid marriage +feast for his second son and her second sister. + +But after the wedding was over the King says to her, says he: + +"Molly! You are the most main clever girl in the world; but if you would +do better yet, and steal me from his finger the giant's ring, in which +all his strength lies, I will give you my dearest, youngest, handsomest +son for yourself." + +Now Molly thought the King's son was the nicest young prince she had +ever seen, so she said she would try, and that evening, all alone, she +sped across the One Hair Bridge as light as a feather, and ran, and ran, +and ran until she came to the giant's house all lit up with the red +setting sun like any castle in the air. And she slipped inside, stole +upstairs, and crept under the bed in no time. And the giant came in, and +supped, and crashed up to bed, and snored. Oh! he snored louder than +ever! + +But you know he was a double-faced giant; so perhaps he snored louder +on purpose. For no sooner had Molly Whuppie began to tug at his ring +than ... My!... + +He had her fast between his finger and thumb. And he sate up in bed, and +shook his head at her and said, "Molly Whuppie, you are a main clever +girl! Now, if I had done as much ill to you as you have done to me, what +would you do to me?" + +Then Molly thought for a moment and she said, "I'd put you in a sack, +and I'd put the cat inside with you, and I'd put the dog inside with +you, and I'd put a needle and thread and a pair of shears inside with +you, and I'd hang you up on a nail, and I'd go to the wood and cut the +thickest stick I could get, and come home and take you down and bang +you, and bang, and bang, and bang you till you were dead!" + +"Right you are!" cried the giant gleefully, "and that's just what I'll +do to you!" + +So he got a sack and put Molly into it with the dog and the cat, and the +needle and thread and the shears, and hung her on a nail in the wall, +and went out to the wood to choose a stick. + +Then Molly Whuppie began to laugh like anything, and the dog joined in +with barks, and the cat with mews. + +Now the giant's wife was sitting in the next room, and when she heard +the commotion she went in to see what was up. + +"Whatever is the matter?" quoth she. + +"Nothing, 'm," quoth Molly Whuppie from inside the sack, laughing like +anything. "Ho, ho! Ha, ha! If you saw what we see you'd laugh too. Ho, +ho! Ha, ha!" + +And no matter how the giant's wife begged to know what she saw, there +never was any answer but, "Ho, ho! Ha, ha! Could ye but see what I +see!!!" + +At last the giant's wife begged Molly to let her see, so Molly took the +shears, cut a hole in the sack, jumped out, helped the giant's wife in, +and sewed up the hole! For of course she hadn't forgotten to take out +the needle and thread with her. + +Now, just at that very moment, the giant burst in, and Molly had barely +time to hide behind the door before he rushed at the sack, tore it down, +and began to batter it with a huge tree he had cut in the wood. + +"Stop! stop!" cried his wife. "It's me! It's me!" + +But he couldn't hear, for, see you, the dog and the cat had tumbled one +on the top of the other, and such a growling and spitting, and yelling +and caterwauling you never heard! It was fair deafening, and the giant +would have gone on battering till his wife was dead had he not caught +sight of Molly Whuppie escaping with the ring which he had left on the +table. + +Well, he threw down the tree and ran after her. Never was such a race. +They ran, and they ran, and they ran, and they ran, until they came to +the One Hair Bridge. And then, balancing herself with the ring like a +hoop, Molly Whuppie sped over the bridge light as a feather, but the +giant had to stand on the other side, and shake his fist at her, and cry +louder than ever: + +"Woe worth you, Molly Whuppie! Never you dare to come again!" + +And she, turning her head back as she sped, laughed gaily: + +"Never more, gaffer, will I come to the castle in the air!" + +So she took the ring to the King, and she and the handsome young prince +were married, and no one ever saw the double-faced giant again. + + + + +THE ASS, THE TABLE, AND THE STICK + + +A lad named Jack was once so unhappy at home through his father's +ill-treatment, that he made up his mind to run away and seek his fortune +in the wide world. + +He ran, and he ran, till he could run no longer, and then he ran right +up against a little old woman who was gathering sticks. He was too much +out of breath to beg pardon, but the woman was good-natured, and she +said he seemed to be a likely lad, so she would take him to be her +servant, and would pay him well. He agreed, for he was very hungry, and +she brought him to her house in the wood, where he served her for a +twelvemonths and a day. When the year had passed, she called him to her, +and said she had good wages for him. So she presented him with an ass +out of the stable, and he had but to pull Neddy's ears to make him begin +at once to hee-haw! And when he brayed there dropped from his mouth +silver sixpences, and half-crowns, and golden guineas. + +The lad was well pleased with the wage he had received, and away he rode +till he reached an inn. There he ordered the best of everything, and +when the innkeeper refused to serve him without being paid beforehand, +the boy went off to the stable, pulled the ass's ears, and obtained his +pocket full of money. The host had watched all this through a crack in +the door, and when night came on he put an ass of his own for the +precious Neddy belonging to the youth. So Jack, without knowing that any +change had been made, rode away next morning to his father's house. + +Now I must tell you that near his home dwelt a poor widow with an only +daughter. The lad and the maiden were fast friends and true-loves. So +when Jack returned he asked his father's leave to marry the girl. + +"Never till you have the money to keep her," was the reply. + +"I have that, father," said the lad, and going to the ass he pulled its +long ears; well, he pulled, and he pulled, till one of them came off in +his hands; but Neddy, though he hee-hawed and he hee-hawed, let fall no +half-crowns or guineas. Then the father picked up a hayfork and beat his +son out of the house. + +I promise you he ran; he ran and ran till he came bang against a door, +and burst it open, and there he was in a joiner's shop. "You're a likely +lad," said the joiner; "serve me for a twelvemonths and a day and I will +pay you well." So he agreed, and served the carpenter for a year and a +day. "Now," said the master, "I will give you your wage"; and he +presented him with a table, telling him he had but to say, "Table, be +covered," and at once it would be spread with lots to eat and drink. + +Jack hitched the table on his back, and away he went with it till he +came to the inn. "Well, host," shouted he, putting down the table, "my +dinner to-day, and that of the best." + +"Very sorry, sir," says the host, "but there is nothing in the house but +ham and eggs." + +"No ham and eggs for me!" exclaimed Jack. "I can do better than +that.--Come, my table, be covered!" + +So at once the table was spread with turkey and sausages, roast mutton, +potatoes, and greens. The innkeeper opened his eyes, but he said +nothing, not he! But that night he fetched down from his attic a table +very like the magic one, and exchanged the two, and Jack, none the +wiser, next morning hitched the worthless table on to his back and +carried it home. + +"Now, father, may I marry my lass?" he asked. + +"Not unless you can keep her," replied the father. + +"Look here!" exclaimed Jack. "Father, I have a table which does all my +bidding." + +"Let me see it," said the old man. + +The lad set it in the middle of the room, and bade it be covered; but +all in vain, the table remained bare. Then, in a rage, the father caught +the warming-pan down from the wall and warmed his son's back with it so +that the boy fled howling from the house, and ran and ran till he came +to a river and tumbled in. A man picked him out and bade him help in +making a bridge over the river by casting a tree across. Then Jack +climbed up to the top of the tree and threw his weight on it, so that +when the man had rooted the tree up, Jack and the tree-head dropped on +the farther bank. + +[Illustration: The fisherman and his wife had no children, and they were +just longing for a baby] + +"Thank you," said the man; "and now for what you have done I will pay +you"; so saying, he tore a branch from the tree, and fettled it up into +a club with his knife. "There," exclaimed he; "take this stick, and when +you say to it, 'Up, stick, and bang him,' it will knock any one down who +angers you." + +The lad was overjoyed to get this stick, for he had begun to see he had +been tricked by the innkeeper, so away he went with it to the inn, and +as soon as the man appeared he cried: + +"Up, stick, and bang him!" + +At the word the cudgel flew from his hand and battered the old fellow on +the back, rapped his head, bruised his arms, tickled his ribs, till he +fell groaning on the floor; and still the stick belaboured the prostrate +man, nor would Jack call it off till he had got back the stolen ass and +table. Then he galloped home on the ass, with the table on his +shoulders, and the stick in his hand. When he arrived there he found his +father was dead, so he brought his ass into the stable, and pulled its +ears till he had filled the manger with money. + +It was soon known through the town that Jack had returned rolling in +wealth, and accordingly all the girls in the place set their caps at +him. + +"Now," said Jack, "I shall marry the richest lass in the place; so +to-morrow do you all come in front of my house with your money in your +aprons." + +Next morning the street was full of girls with aprons held out, and +gold and silver in them; but Jack's own sweetheart was among them, and +she had neither gold nor silver; nought but two copper pennies, that was +all she had. + +"Stand aside, lass," said Jack to her, speaking roughly. "Thou hast no +silver nor gold--stand off from the rest." She obeyed, and the tears ran +down her cheeks, and filled her apron with diamonds. + +"Up, stick, and bang them!" exclaimed Jack; whereupon the cudgel leaped +up, and running along the line of girls, knocked them all on the heads +and left them senseless on the pavement. Jack took all their money and +poured it into his true-love's lap. "Now, lass," he exclaimed, "thou art +the richest, and I shall marry thee." + + + + +THE WELL OF THE WORLD'S END + + +Once upon a time, and a very good time it was, though it wasn't in my +time, nor in your time, nor any one else's time, there was a girl whose +mother had died, and her father had married again. And her stepmother +hated her because she was more beautiful than she was. And she was very +cruel to her; she used to make her do all the servant's work, and never +let her have any peace. At last, one day, the stepmother thought to get +rid of her altogether; so she handed her a sieve and said to her: + +"Go, fill it at the Well of the World's End and bring it home to me +full, or woe betide you." For she thought she would never be able to +find the Well of the World's End, and, if she did, how could she bring +home a sieve full of water? + +Well, the girl started off, and asked every one she met to tell her +where was the Well of the World's End. But nobody knew, and she didn't +know what to do, when a queer little old woman, all bent double, told +her where it was, and how she could get to it. So she did what the old +woman told her, and at last arrived at the Well of the World's End. But +when she dipped the sieve in the cold cold water, it all ran out again. +She tried and she tried again, but every time it was the same; and at +last she sate down and cried as if her heart would break. + +Suddenly she heard a croaking voice, and she looked up and saw a great +frog with goggle eyes looking at her and speaking to her. + +"What's the matter, dearie?" it said. + +"Oh dear! oh dear!" she said, "my stepmother has sent me all this long +way to fill this sieve with water from the Well of the World's End, and +I can't fill it no how at all." + +"Well," said the frog, "if you promise me to do whatever I bid you for a +whole night long, I'll tell you how to fill it." + +So the girl agreed, and then the frog said: + + "Stop it with moss and daub it with clay, + And then it will carry the water away"; + +and then it gave a hop, skip, and jump, and went flop into the Well of +the World's End. + +So the girl looked about for some moss, and lined the bottom of the +sieve with it, and over that she put some clay, and then she dipped it +once-again into the Well of the World's End; and this time the water +didn't run out, and she turned to go away. + +Just then the frog popped up its head out of the Well of the World's +End, and said, "Remember your promise." + +"All right," said the girl; for, thought she, "what harm can a frog do +me?" + +So she went back to her stepmother, and brought the sieve full of water +from the Well of the World's End. The stepmother was angry as angry, but +she said nothing at all. + +That very evening they heard something tap-tapping at the door low down, +and a voice cried out: + + "Open the door, my hinny, my heart, + Open the door, my own darling; + Remember the words that you and I spoke, + At the World's End Well but this morning." + +"Whatever can that be?" cried out the stepmother. + +Then the girl had to tell her all about it, and what she had promised +the frog. + +"Girls must keep their promises," said the stepmother, who was glad the +girl would have to obey a nasty frog. "Go and open the door this +instant." + +So the girl went and opened the door, and there was the frog from the +Well of the World's End. And it hopped, and it hopped, and it jumped, +till it reached the girl, and then it said: + + "Lift me up, my hinny, my heart, + Lift to your knee, my own darling; + Remember the words that you and I spoke, + At the World's End Well but this morning." + +But the girl would not do the frog's bidding, till her stepmother said, +"Lift it up this instant, you hussy! Girls _must_ keep their promises!" + +So she lifted the frog up on to her lap, and it lay there comfortably +for a time; till at last it said: + + "Give me some supper, my hinny, my heart, + Give me some supper, my darling; + Remember the words you and I spoke, + At the World's End Well but this morning." + +Well, that she did not mind doing, so she got it a bowl of milk and +bread, and fed it well. But when the frog had finished, it said: + + "Take me to bed, my hinny, my heart, + Take me to bed, my own darling; + Remember the promise you promised to me, + At the World's End Well but this morning." + +But that the girl refused to do, till her stepmother said harshly: + +"Do what you promised, girl; girls _must_ keep their promises. Do what +you're bid, or out you go, you and your froggie." + +So the girl took the frog with her to bed, and kept it as far away from +her as she could. Well, just as the day was beginning to break, what +should the frog say but: + + "Chop off my head, my hinny, my heart, + Chop off my head, my own darling; + Remember the promise you promised to me, + At the World's End Well but this morning." + +At first the girl wouldn't, for she thought of what the frog had done +for her at the Well of the World's End. But when the frog said the words +over and over again in a pleading voice, she went and took an axe and +chopped off its head, and, lo and behold! there stood before her a +handsome young prince, who told her that he had been enchanted by a +wicked magician, and he could never be unspelled till some girl would do +his bidding for a whole night, and chop off his head at the end of it. + +The stepmother was surprised indeed when she found the young prince +instead of the nasty frog, and she was not best pleased, you may be +sure, when the prince told her that he was going to marry her +stepdaughter because she had unspelled him. But married they were, and +went away to live in the castle of the king, his father; and all the +stepmother had to console her was, that it was all through _her_ that +her stepdaughter was married to a prince. + + + + +THE ROSE TREE + + +Once upon a time, long long years ago, in the days when one had to be +careful about witches, there lived a good man, whose young wife died, +leaving him a baby girl. + +Now this good man felt he could not look after the baby properly, so he +married a young woman whose husband had died leaving her with a baby +boy. + +Thus the two children grew up together, and loved each other dearly, +dearly. + +But the boy's mother was really a wicked witch-woman, and so jealous +that she wanted all the boy's love for herself, and when the girl-baby +grew white as milk, with cheeks like roses and lips like cherries, and +when her hair, shining like golden silk, hung down to her feet so that +her father and all the neighbours began to praise her looks, the +stepmother fairly hated her, and did all in her power to spoil her +looks. She would set the child hard tasks, and send her out in all +weathers to do difficult messages, and if they were not well performed +would beat her and scold her cruelly. + +Now one cold winter evening when the snow was drifting fast, and the +wild rose tree in the garden under which the children used to play in +summer was all brown and barren save for snowflake flowers, the +stepmother said to the little girl: + +"Child! go and buy me a bunch of candles at the grocer's. Here is some +money; go quickly, and don't loiter by the way." + +So the little girl took the money and set off quickly through the snow, +for already it was growing dark. Now there was such a wind blowing that +it nearly blew her off her feet, and as she ran her beautiful hair got +all tangled and almost tripped her up. However, she got the candles, +paid for them, and started home again. But this time the wind was behind +her and blew all her beautiful golden hair in front of her like a cloud, +so that she could not see her steps, and, coming to a stile, had to stop +and put down the bundle of candles in order to see how to get over it. +And when she was climbing it a big black dog came by and ran off with +the bunch of candles! Now she was so afraid of her stepmother that she +durst not go home, but turned back and bought another bunch of candles +at the grocer's, and when she arrived at the stile once more, the same +thing happened. A big black dog came down the road and ran away with the +bunch of candles. So yet once again she journeyed back to the grocer's +through wind and snow, and, with her last penny, bought yet another +bunch of candles. To no purpose, for alas, and alack-a-day! when she +laid them down in order to part her beautiful golden hair and to see how +to get over the stile, a big black dog ran away with them. + +So nothing was left save to go back to her stepmother in fear and +trembling. But, for a wonder, her stepmother did not seem very angry. +She only scolded her for being so late, for, see you, her father and her +little playmate had gone to their beds and were in the Land of Nod. + +Then she said to the child, "I must take the tangles out of your hair +before you go to sleep. Come, put your head on my lap." + +So the little girl put her head on her stepmother's lap, and, lo and +behold! her beautiful yellow-silk hair rolled right over the woman's +knees and lay upon the ground. + +Then the beauty of it made the stepmother more jealous than before, so +she said, "I cannot part your hair properly on my knee, fetch me a +billet of wood." + +So the little girl fetched one. Then said the stepmother, "Your hair is +so thick I cannot part it with a comb; fetch me an axe!" + +So the child fetched an axe. + +"Now," said that wicked, wicked woman, "lay your head down on the billet +while I part your hair." + +And the child did as she was bid without fear; and lo! the beautiful +little golden head was off in a second, by one blow of the axe. + +Now the wicked stepmother had thought it all out before, so she took the +poor little dead girl out to the garden, dug a hollow in the snow under +the rose tree, and said to herself, "When spring comes and the snow +melts if people find her bones, they will say she lost her way and fell +asleep in the snow." + +But first, because she was a wicked witch-woman, knowing spells and +charms, she took out the heart of the little girl and made it into two +savoury pasties, one for her husband's breakfast and one for the little +boy's, for thus would the love they bore to the little girl become hers. +Nevertheless, she was mistaken, for when morning came and the little +child could not be found, the father sent away his breakfast barely +tasted, and the little boy wept so that he could eat nothing. + +So they grieved and grieved. And when the snow melted and they found the +bones of the poor child, they said, "She must have lost her way that +dark night going to the grocer's to buy candles." So they buried the +bones under the children's rose tree, and every day the little boy sate +there and wept and wept for his lost playmate. + +Now when summer came the wild rose tree flowered. It was covered with +white roses, and amongst the flowers there sate a beautiful white bird. +And it sang and sang and sang like an angel out of heaven; but what it +sang the little boy could never make out, for he could hardly see for +weeping, hardly hear for sobbing. + +So at last the beautiful white bird unfolded its broad white wings and +flew to a cobbler's shop, where a myrtle bush hung over the man and his +last, on which he was making a dainty little pair of rose-red shoes. +Then it perched on a bough and sang ever so sweetly: + + "Stepmother slew me, + Father nigh ate me, + He whom I dearly love + Sits below, I sing above, + Stick! Stock! Stone dead!" + +"Sing that beautiful song again," said the cobbler. "It is better than a +nightingale's." + +"That will I gladly," sang the bird, "if you will give me the little +rose-red shoes you are making." + +And the cobbler gave them willingly, so the white bird sang its song +once more. Then with the rose-red shoes in one foot it flew to an ash +tree that grew close beside a goldsmith's bench, and sang: + + "Stepmother slew me, + Father nigh ate me, + He whom I dearly love + Sits below, I sing above, + Stick! Stock! Stone dead!" + +"Oh, what a beautiful song!" cried the goldsmith. + +"Sing again, dear bird, it is sweeter than a nightingale's." + +"That will I gladly," sang the bird, "if you will give me the gold chain +you're making." + +And the goldsmith gave the bauble willingly, and the bird sang its song +once more. Then with the rose-red shoes in one foot and the golden chain +in the other, the bird flew to an oak tree which overhung the mill +stream, beside which three millers were busy picking out a millstone, +and, perching on a bough, sang its song ever so sweetly: + + "My stepmother slew me, + My father nigh ate me, + He whom I dearly love + Sits below, I sing above, + Stick!--" + +Just then one of the millers put down his tool and listened. + +"Stock!" sang the bird. + +And the second miller put aside his tool and listened. + +"Stone," sang the bird. + +Then the third miller put aside his tool and listened. + +"Dead!" sang the bird so sweetly that with one accord the millers looked +up and cried with one voice: + +"Oh, what a beautiful song! Sing it again, dear bird, it is sweeter than +a nightingale's." + +"That will I gladly," answered the bird, "if you will hang the millstone +you are picking round my neck." + +So the millers hung it as they were asked; and when the song was +finished, the bird spread its wide white wings and, with the millstone +round its neck and the little rose-red shoes in one foot, the golden +chain in the other, it flew back to the rose tree. But the little +playmate was not there; he was inside the house eating his dinner. + +Then the bird flew to the house, and rattled the millstone about the +eaves until the stepmother cried, "Hearken! How it thunders!" + +So the little boy ran out to see, and down dropped the dainty rose-red +shoes at his feet. + +"See what fine things the thunder has brought!" he cried with glee as he +ran back. + +Then the white bird rattled the millstone about the eaves once more, and +once again the stepmother said, "Hearken! How it thunders!" + +So this time the father went out to see, and down dropped the golden +chain about his neck. + +"It is true," he said when he came back. "The thunder does bring fine +things!" + +Then once more the white bird rattled the millstone about the eaves, and +this time the stepmother said hurriedly, "Hark! there it is again! +Perhaps it has got something for me!" + +Then she ran out; but the moment she stepped outside the door, down fell +the millstone right on her head and killed her. + +So that was an end of her. And after that the little boy was ever so +much happier, and all the summer time he sate with his little +rose-coloured shoes under the wild rose tree and listened to the white +bird's song. But when winter came and the wild rose tree was all barren +and bare save for snowflake flowers, the white bird came no longer and +the little boy grew tired of waiting for it. So one day he gave up +altogether, and they buried him under the rose tree beside his little +playmate. + +Now when the spring came and the rose tree blossomed, the flowers were +no longer white. They were edged with rose colour like the little boy's +shoes, and in the centre of each blossom there was a beautiful tuft of +golden silk like the little girl's hair. + +And if you look in a wild rose you will find these things there still. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ENGLISH FAIRY TALES*** + + +******* This file should be named 17034-8.txt or 17034-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/7/0/3/17034 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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