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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Little Tom, by V. Tille
+
+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: Little Tom
+
+Author: V. Tille
+
+Illustrator: O. Stafi
+
+Release Date: January 31, 2011 [EBook #35126]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LITTLE TOM ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by David Edwards, monkeyclogs and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This
+file was produced from images generously made available
+by The Internet Archive)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration:
+
+  PROF. V. TILLE
+
+  LITTLE TOM
+
+  ILLUSTRATED BY
+
+  O. [vS]TÁFL
+
+  PUBLISHER--B. KO[vC]Í--PRAGUE·CZECHOSLOVAKIA]
+
+
+
+
+LITTLE TOM
+
+
+
+
+  LITTLE TOM
+
+  TOLD
+  BY V. TILLE
+  AND ILLUSTRATED
+  BY O. [vS]TÁFL.
+
+
+
+
+  PUBLISHED BY B. KO[vC]Í,
+  14, MASARYK QUAY, PRAGUE,
+  CZECHOSLOVAKIA.
+  1922.
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS.
+
+                                                         PAGE
+  Chapter one: THE CHRISTENING OF LITTLE TOM                5
+  Chapter two: HOW LITTLE TOM WAS FOUND BY HIS GODMOTHER   17
+  Chapter three: LITTLE TOM'S TRIP AROUND THE WORLD        29
+  Chapter four: LITTLE TOM IN THE ENCHANTED CASTLE         41
+  Chapter five: LITTLE TOM'S ADVENTURES IN THE GARDEN      49
+  Chapter six: LITTLE TOM'S EXCURSIONS                     63
+  Chapter seven: LITTLE TOM AND CHRYSOMELA                 75
+  Chapter eight: THE ANTS' TOWN                            87
+  Chapter nine: THE WAR OF THE ANTS                        99
+  Chapter ten: LITTLE TOM IN CAPTIVITY AND FREEDOM        109
+  Chapter eleven: CHRYSOMELA'S DEATH                      123
+
+
+Printed by Jos. B. Zápoto[vc]ný, Rokycany, Czechoslovakia.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+CHAPTER ONE.
+
+THE CHRISTENING OF LITTLE TOM.
+
+  THE WIDOW THAT GATHERED HERBS. CHRISTMAS EVE.
+  THE MESSENGER OF THE KING OF THE GOBLINS.
+  THE CHRISTENING OF LITTLE TOM.
+  WHAT LITTLE TOM'S GODMOTHER FOUND IN THE WELL
+  NEAR THE CHAPEL.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+[Illustration]
+
+In a little wooden hut within the shadow of the forest and close to a
+noisy brook, a poor widow dwelt alone. She passed her days gathering and
+drying plants and herbs, from which she was forever making strange
+simples which proved very helpful to the village people and their cattle
+when illness came upon them. But the villagers only came to visit her
+when they had need of her medicines, and these had such wonderful power
+to cure that it was whispered about the lonely old woman to be a witch.
+
+The villagers also told strange stories about her, for no one knew
+whence she came or when she had taken up her solitary abode apart from
+the village.
+
+Many said that she sprang from the race of knights, who, in an age long
+past, lived in their great castle deep in the woods and on the hill
+which rose above the little hut. But no knights lived there now, nor had
+they for many, many years, and the castle had been in ruins for a longer
+time than the oldest people could remember. In fact, all that now
+remained of the great place which the old folks liked to tell their
+grandchildren about, was a little chapel near the edge of the dark woods
+and, beside it, an old, old well, now entirely filled up and overgrown
+with weeds.
+
+But the widow was not lonely, nor did she wish anyone to help her care
+for her little house and the garden she loved so dearly, or even the
+field beyond where grazed her cow, »Speckle«. Whenever anyone came to
+her in trouble or in illness, she was glad to put aside on the instant
+whatever task she was about and to give her advice or administer the
+medicine which always brought relief and cure, for she understood all
+troubles and illnesses and knew the simples for each.
+
+Inside the little hut, everything was as clean and orderly as one would
+find in the castles of the nobility, where many servants toiled and
+swept. Over the thatched roof an old lime tree spread its friendly
+branches, and all day long there sounded about the fragrant buds and
+blossoms sounded the cheerful humming of swarms of grateful bees.
+
+The great beams along the walls of the hut were rubbed clean with red
+earth and on the whitewashed spaces, between the little windows and the
+door, were painted red and yellow flowers with leaves of green, while in
+its bed of earth a blue strip of real flowers ran all around the house.
+
+On the gable ledge blossomed red and pink carnations and from the little
+balcony under the peak of the roof, with its carved wooden posts and
+railing, peered dried poppy heads, ears of yellow corn, sage and all
+manner of herbs and spices with strange odors. All these had been
+gathered in the clear, white light of the full moon before the dew had
+begun to fall.
+
+Besides all these pleasant things, the garden was full of roses,
+mignonette and tall mallow. Close to the fence which ran all about it,
+grew gooseberries, currants and raspberries; and in the very middle of
+the garden was a bed of luscious red strawberries, flanked by rows of
+cabbages, lettuce and peas. Against the walls of the hut, between the
+windows, old, gnarled vines ran clear to the eaves, bearing bunches of
+delicious grapes.
+
+The hut had one large room, a small chamber and the black kitchen, with
+its great fireplace and broad chimney. From the outside, it looked not
+unlike the houses of the villagers; but, inside, stood furniture of an
+older day. In a corner stood a bed of polished wood, piled high with
+white, downy quilts and covers. In the middle of the room was a round
+table with smooth, polished chairs set against it. Next to the wall was
+a beautifully carved old chest for clothes; on the wall, a clock with
+brass weights and a cuckoo that called the hours; and between the
+windows through which blossomed fuchsias and other plants, stood a rare
+old linen press, ornamented with flowers, birds, and hammered silver
+work.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+But, most precious of all her possessions, was a little altar carved in
+ivory. In size, it was no larger than an apple; but it had two little
+doors, which, opening, showed a little stall, in which sat the Holy
+Virgin with the Child on her lap and, behind, a yellow ox and a grey
+donkey looking out across the manger and breathing upon the two. On the
+left, knelt the shepherds surrounded by their fleecy sheep; and, from
+the right, came the three kings with golden crowns on their heads and
+dressed in cloaks of violet, red and green. The black one was smiling
+and showing his white teeth, as they offered their gifts. All of the
+figures were just like life! The Virgin had a beautiful face with blue
+eyes and dark eyebrows, and the Babe was all pink and held in His hands
+a little golden apple.
+
+It was a rare and precious piece of work, which the herb woman had been
+told was a relic of olden times, having come from the castle in the wood
+above the hut, to which it had been brought by one of the knights from
+the Holy Land.
+
+All day long, the herb woman had much to do in caring for her house,
+fetching and drying her herbs and brewing her medicines. From one week's
+end to the other, she was never idle. But, on Sunday afternoons, when
+her work was done, she would take the little altar and place it on the
+press between the windows. Sitting down before it in a comfortable
+leather armchair, she would read to herself from a very old book,
+ornamented with hammered brass and with colored stones set in the
+covers. Her book told all about the patient Griselda, the siege of Troy,
+about Siegfried, Brunswick, Blanik, and many other brave heroes. Around
+the first letter of each story, were painted knights, princesses,
+men-at-arms, magic castles, and scenes from strange, oversea countries.
+
+Looking at the pictures in her book and at the little figures of the
+altar, the old woman would think of bygone days when she was a bright
+little child, playing with her friends in make-believe weddings and
+christenings before this same little altar; and when her grandmother,
+sitting in the same old chair, would read to them stories from the old
+book and tell them of the former fame of their knightly home; of how the
+knights fared forth to the Holy Land, while their wives sat at home in
+the great castle, embroidering silks and cambrics, and the little
+children played in the castle garden.
+
+Her thoughts travelled back to herself, growing into beautiful girlhood;
+then, as a bride and the happy wife of a good husband; later, as the
+mother of two beautiful babies; then, sad memories crowded her weary
+head. Her husband and the two little children had died and she was left
+alone, without any relatives and without money, and with only this
+little hut in the shadow of the wood where she might live and earn her
+food.
+
+Often she sat like this, until the shadows of night had gathered around
+her; and the older she grew, the more heavily these sad thoughts weighed
+upon her. Each year, she felt herself growing weaker and began to be
+fearful that she could not manage to work at home and to gather the
+herbs in the woods and fields. In the winter, when the garden was
+covered with snow and the great drifts kept her from the village, she
+became even more sad to think how alone she was, the last of her race,
+with no one to whom she could tell her troubles and who would be a
+companion to her.
+
+Now, one year, it was the day before Christmas. The snow had drifted
+against the little house clear to the eaves. As was her custom, she had
+brought from the forest a little Christmas tree and, having set it in a
+box, in earth carried from the wood, began to trim it. She hung from the
+branches gilded nuts and draped the tree with festoons of colored paper.
+Then, she fastened tiny, wax candles to the branches and then she peeled
+some apples and, finally, lighted the little candles, thinking of the
+used to dance and play olden days at home when they danced and played
+around the Christmas tree. The fire burned cheerily in the broad hearth
+with its green glass tiles. The room was warm and filled with the odor
+of mint and of lavender. As she sat thus, alone before the tree,
+presently, her head fell forward upon her hands which rested upon the
+linen press, and she slept.
+
+The old lady dreamed she was a girl again, in her Sunday dress and with
+her braided hair held by a red ribbon, kneeling before the little altar.
+Suddenly, she saw the Holy Virgin smiling at her and the little Baby
+stretching out its tiny hands and handing the golden apple to her; the
+sheep began to bleat, the shepherds were bowing, and the three kings
+swung their burning censers and walked toward her over the shining
+surface of the linen press. She even heard them call her by name and
+speak to her.
+
+The old lady woke with a start, but the voices seemed to call to her
+faintly, as if from a great distance. She looked about her, but saw no
+one. The same faint sound of voices was still to be heard, and, now,
+right under the tree, she perceived a tiny little man in a red coat,
+just as if one of the three kings had really come from the altar and
+wakened her. Not one whit surprised, she bent toward him. It seemed to
+her that she had always known him.
+
+The little man scrambled up to the edge of the old book which still lay
+upon the press, bowed, stroked his black beard, and spoke: »Honored
+lady, my people send me to ask of you, in the name of our king, a favor.
+A prince has been born to us and we should like to celebrate his
+christening here before this little altar, which is most precious to us.
+Our kingdom lies in the corridors under the old castle and extends to
+the well by the little chapel, and even to your hut. Our forefathers
+were true servants of your ancestors, the knights of the castle, and
+guarded for them their treasure. In this little altar are pictured the
+faces of our former kings.«
+
+The old lady was pleased that the gnomes wished thus to honor her
+little altar and readily gave her consent, that they might come to it in
+order to celebrate the christening of their prince. The messenger bowed
+and, running quickly down her dress to the floor, disappeared through a
+little hole by the hearth. Immediately, from behind the great hearth,
+came the most wonderful procession she had ever seen.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+First, came the pipers and the band of musicians, playing on strange,
+curved trumpets and beating drums that sounded like the hum of many
+flying insects. Behind them walked the old king and the young queen in
+long robes of spotted butterfly wings and wearing golden crowns that
+glistened with precious stones; then the nurse, bearing a little baby
+upon a cushion of silver cobweb, tied with a hair of gold. Following
+them were many dignitaries in gorgeous cloaks and, last of all, came men
+and women of the people, hurrying across the floor like little insects,
+for they were hardly any larger.
+
+When the procession of tiny folk reached the old lady's shoe, they
+fearlessly climbed up her skirt to her lap and on across her arms which
+rested on the press. She laughed to see the great crowd walk over her
+and was careful not to move--indeed, she hardly breathed--lest she might
+hurt one of them.
+
+When all had gathered around the tree, one old man took the little
+prince in his arms and, as the others knelt before him, he made them a
+long speech. The old lady could not understand it at all, for it sounded
+to her like a fly buzzing on the window pane; but, when the old man had
+finished, all shouted together: »Long live our prince, Tom! May he reign
+happily!«
+
+The girls began to dance around the tree and all the little people
+jumped and laughed and shouted with merriment. The king and the queen,
+followed by the nurse with the little prince, stepped upon the old book,
+which made a good platform, and thanked the herb woman for her kindness.
+The king then begged her to be a kind godmother to the prince and to
+continue to be a good friend to his people, just as her ancestors had
+been. The old lady promised this with pleasure, for she felt a great
+love for the little folk who brought back so vividly the days when her
+people were rich and famous.
+
+The queen started to take the wrappings from the tiny baby, which were
+bound round and round about him, and the herb woman and the old king
+talked of the golden days gone by. The king told her the tales he had
+from his forefathers, of the brilliant life in the great castle; how the
+gnomes nestled in the soft tapestries by the great marble hearths; how
+they cleaned and polished the gold and precious stones in the
+underground chambers; how, on clear moonlight nights, they danced
+graceful figures with the fairies; and how, with grasshoppers as horses,
+they held noisy tournaments.
+
+Whenever there was a newborn baby in the castle, the gnomes, in the
+night, wove beautiful dreams which they spread out in the rays of the
+moon under the canopy of the mother's bed and guarded the baby in its
+silver cradle.
+
+The old lady listened happily, gazing at the gathering of the gnomes,
+lighted by the trembling rays of the candles, now almost burned out.
+Many of the young men had clambered into the branches of the tree and
+were swinging in the paper chains and sitting astride the golden nuts
+and red apples. Little girls were sliding back and forth on the slippery
+surface of the press, while serious old men and grayhaired women walked
+sedately in groups around the base of the tree. There were so many of
+the little people that they could not be counted.
+
+The herb woman looked at the swiftly moving, variegated crowd until her
+eyelids drooped. She was already half asleep when the old king came to
+bid her good-by and, as in a dream, she heard him say: »Honored lady,
+for centuries your race protected us and, today, we would like to reward
+you. The great treasures of your family long ago disappeared, but, in
+the old, choked-up well, there still remains much gold. This we have
+carefully guarded from generation to generation and kept in clean and
+good order. In the well casing, in the fifth circle of stones from the
+top, you will find one engraved with a horseshoe. Behind this stone, you
+will find the money which your forefathers hid there; but be careful to
+replace the stone and not to disturb our underground realm.«
+
+When the old woman awoke, all was quiet and dark in the room. The
+candles on the tree had quite burned out, the cuckoo in the clock called
+twelve, and from the village, came the sound of bells, ringing the glad
+tidings of Christmas Day. Across the brook, she could see the lanterns
+flickering in the village square and the people gathering for church.
+But she did not feel strong enough to go to the midnight service. Then
+she thought, with a smile, of what she had seen on Christmas Eve, but
+she said to herself with a sigh, »It was only a dream«, and took herself
+off to bed.
+
+In the morning she milked Speckle and, as she drank the good, warm milk,
+she laughed to herself over her dream. But it would not leave her mind
+and, presently, she went to the hearth to see whence the procession of
+gnomes had come. She found nothing but a hole in the floor, large enough
+for a cat to pass through; but she thought to herself, »Why should I not
+go to the well by the chapel?«
+
+Over her shoulders she threw a warm sheepskin coat, with the wool inside
+and flowers embroidered on the outside, such as the country people wear,
+and, taking a hoe and a lantern, went to the chapel.
+
+There had been a keen frost and the fields were covered with snow, which
+sparkled in the sun. The snow was also away up to the eaves of the
+chapel, while from the blackberry stalks over the well, hung transparent
+icicles. The herb woman pushed aside the bushes and, crawling into the
+well, dug away the rubbish until she had uncovered the fifth circle of
+stones with which the well was lined.
+
+She laughed at herself to think that she should believe in dreams; but
+her heart was beating rapidly as she lighted her lantern and, digging
+away the gravel, looked at one stone after the other. »When I do not
+find the stone with the horseshoe,« she thought, »I will be convinced
+that it was only a dream.« But as she touched the damp moss on one
+stone, she felt a little depression and, when she had cleaned it, there
+was the horseshoe.
+
+The stone was large and heavy and her hands trembled as she set her hoe
+into the fissure; but lo! the stone was not cemented like the rest and
+was easily loosened. When she had pulled it out, from behind the stone,
+came shining gold pieces, as bright and clean as if they had been minted
+only the day before. Off came her apron, in which she tied up the money;
+but the bundle was so heavy that she could hardly lift it.
+
+She would have liked to look still further into the realm of the gnomes,
+for behind the stone was a hole running deep into the ground; but she
+thought of the old king's request and, setting the stone in its place,
+hurried back home with her treasure.
+
+Now, she was rid of all worry as to how she should keep herself when
+she should grow very old. In her heart, she thanked the little gnomes
+for their care of her and decided to remain in her little hut as long as
+she lived.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+CHAPTER TWO.
+
+HOW LITTLE TOM WAS FOUND BY HIS GODMOTHER.
+
+  THE SPRING. THE FLOOD.
+  HOW THE GODMOTHER FOUND LITTLE TOM
+  IN A NUTSHELL.
+  HOW LITTLE TOM TOOK UP HIS ABODE ON CASTLE
+  EASTER EGG.
+  HOW THE GODMOTHER BROUGHT LITTLE TOM
+  HIS OUTFIT.
+  WHAT LITTLE TOM TOLD HIS GODMOTHER
+  ABOUT THE REALM OF GOBLINS.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+The winter was cruelly cold. Snow covered the paths and drifted high
+against the little hut. With difficulty the herb woman made paths to the
+stable and to the brook.
+
+In the night, when she could not sleep, she listened to every slight
+sound, in the hope that her little friends would appear again. But
+nothing ever happened; it was only the hoot of an owl outside, or the
+squeak of a mouse. The gnomes never came forth again from their
+underground realm.
+
+So, in the day time she read and sewed, pondering how she could go to
+the nearest town to change her money and buy many little things for her
+comfort and for the improvement of the little hut. Her gold pieces she
+had hidden well behind a green tile on the hearth.
+
+Finally, the snow began to melt, the sun became warmer, the fields lost
+their coat of white, the meadows became green, and spring had come. When
+Easter arrived, she had already planted her garden and stripped the
+roses of their winter coverings. The snow drops and gillyflowers were
+blossoming by the brook; the cowslips were poking their yellow caps out
+of their beds, and over the fields the larks sang joyously.
+
+The herb woman placed her treasure in a covered basket, shut the hens in
+their coops, put fresh grass in Speckle's manger, let the dog, Rover,
+into the yard, locked the door of the little hut and went on her way to
+town. She walked lightly, as if she had grown younger during the winter
+and did not at all mind the long journey.
+
+In town she was surprised at what she received for her gold; if she
+should live a hundred years, she could not use all her money. So it was
+placed in a bank for safe keeping and the people treated her with great
+respect. They knew that she had come from a good family, but as she had
+lived so modestly, no one knew how wealthy she was.
+
+When she had made her purchases and finished her business, she wished to
+rest awhile in town, but word had come that the heavy rain in the
+mountains had caused the snow to melt and the water to rush down in
+torrents. She knew very well how bad the brook became when it was
+swollen and she worried lest the hut might be carried away and something
+happen to Speckle. So she hurried home and, on the way, she saw the
+swollen brook stretched out over the meadows like a lake.
+
+When she reached the village, it was dark, and already the people were
+beginning to light up their houses. Many of the little foot bridges had
+been swept away, the water reached nearly to the village square and she
+found it impossible to cross the stream. The torrent raged and stormed,
+bearing along branches, small trees and cakes of ice.
+
+In vain the old lady peered across the bank to the farther shore in the
+attempt to see if her little hut was still standing; but the darkness
+was so thick that you could cut it with a knife. There was nothing left
+for her to do but to ask the good villagers for shelter over night.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The next day, when the sun shone out, the torrent had subsided and the
+brook was running between its banks in a steady stream. The hut was
+still standing, but the bank was undermined and the little bridge
+carried away. So the widow had herself taken across in a boat and, in
+great anxiety, hurried to the hut to see what changes had been wrought.
+The garden was covered with mud and on the meadow were little pools of
+glistening water. Out of the yard bounded Rover barking heartily and,
+from her stall, Speckle mooed a welcome. The hens came hurrying out of
+their coop, flapping their wings and cackling, and straightway began to
+scratch in the ground in search of little worms. Inside the hut, the
+hall was wet through and in the best room stood little pools of water.
+
+The herb woman took her broom and swept out some of the water and with
+a cloth mopped up the little pools. Near the hearth the water was quite
+deep and swirling around and running away through the hole behind. On
+the water swam a tiny barge formed from a hazel nut, and in this boat
+was a very small lad indeed, rowing with his oars of straw and working
+with all his might, so that the whirlpool should not carry him back into
+the hole.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The widow lifted up the shell very carefully and placed it on the palm
+of her hand. The tiny lad, letting go his oars, clasped his hands and
+said, »Dear Godmother, I thank you very much for saving me. I am Little
+Tom, but am so very tired that I can hardly sit up.« But his weariness
+came only from his efforts to keep himself from being swept back into
+the hole.
+
+His Godmother placed the little fellow gingerly on the table and next to
+him she put a drop of milk and beside it a crumb of bread. Little Tom
+gulped the milk eagerly and ate nearly the whole crumb. When she placed
+near him a tiny bit of cloth for a pillow, Tom lay down and fell asleep.
+
+She watched the little fellow tenderly as he lay there so quietly and
+all worn out with his hard work. He was now a fullgrown lad, finely
+built and with black hair. His little hands he had clasped across his
+breast. She felt very badly to think of his sufferings through the night
+in that terrible flood and she wondered what might have happened to the
+underground realm of the gnomes.
+
+While he was sleeping, she started to work. She scrubbed the floor very
+clean, then sifted dry sand all over it; cleaned up the garden, and then
+put some soup to cook over the fire in the kitchen. When she returned to
+the big room, Little Tom was sitting up, rubbing his blue eyes with his
+little fists and calling for his mother. As he looked around, he
+recognized his Godmother and began to cry bitterly. The old lady tried
+to soothe him, begging him not to cry and to tell her all that had
+happened. But, for a long time, he could not be quieted. When he had
+cried himself out, he told her what misfortunes had come upon the
+underground realm.
+
+All the gnomes were quietly sleeping, utterly unconscious of any danger,
+when, all of a sudden, great waters came from under the well, flooded
+the entire town, tore down the walls and rose to the upper floors. His
+mother woke Little Tom and ran with him to the upper corridor, through
+which was already running the stream which was their main river.
+
+On this stream stood the great navy of the gnomes, made from walnut
+shells. The entire court entered the ships and started rowing to the
+east from the underground country; but the stream continued to rise and
+the over-crowded ships began to rock, until they sank one after the
+other and all the gnomes were lost. Little Tom knew how to swim very
+well but he would surely have been drowned, if he had not caught hold of
+a hazel-nut boat. This was taken up by a little current and swept
+through the hole by the hearth into the Godmother's large room.
+
+Instantly, Little Tom knew where he was, for his parents had often told
+him of his christening and how kind the Godmother was to them all; so he
+continued to row with all his might, hoping that his Godmother would
+return in time to save him.
+
+She was surprised to find him grown up, for at Christmas time, he was
+only a tiny baby, wrapped up in his cushions. Little Tom explained, that
+with the gnomes each week is counted as a year, so that he was now
+fifteen years old. Before that age, no prince may ever leave the
+underground realm, but must be studying and learning and, after that, he
+may only go into the outside world for experience. They were just
+preparing to celebrate his coming of age at his Godmother's and to send
+him on his journey into the world, when the great flood came and
+destroyed the whole kingdom. Little Tom was the only one of them to be
+saved, and that seemed to be through a miracle.
+
+The Godmother did not wish to remind him of his misfortunes, so she told
+him that she would take good care of him and that he would find it very
+pleasant in her hut; but she was worried how she should find a suitable
+place for him to sleep, and how she should clothe him and provide the
+things necessary for his comfort.
+
+She placed him on the top of the linen press and opened the altar for
+him; and when he saw the faces of the little figures, Tom became very
+cheerful, saying that the lady with the Child on her lap was very much
+like his mother. While Little Tom was looking at the kings, the
+shepherds and the manger, his Godmother found a nice, large Easter egg
+that was all hollow and gaily painted in red and yellow. With a pin she
+pricked out a door on one side, and on the other, two windows; then she
+set the egg firmly in the earth, under the tree and told him this would
+be his home and that he should carry some earth inside, and stamp it
+into a hard, level floor. She wanted to give him something to keep him
+busy, so that he would not think of the misfortunes that had befallen
+him.
+
+Little Tom crawled inside and admired the great hall, beautifully arched
+from the finest alabaster, standing under the wonderful tree with its
+golden fruit. He asked his Godmother to set him in the branches, so that
+he might look at the golden nuts and taste of the figs and dates. He was
+happy to think that this magic tree from the outside world would shelter
+him for many, many years.
+
+Then he climbed down the trunk, lowering himself by the little spines as
+if they were the rounds of a ladder. He decided to build a wall all
+around Castle Easter Egg and to lay out a garden under the tree.
+
+The herb woman left him busily working and, taking her hoe, went to the
+well by the chapel to learn how the kingdom of the gnomes had fared. She
+took out the stone engraved with the horseshoe and dug behind in until
+she saw a little corridor, in which was a confusion of stones, mud and
+water. Everything was torn down and ruined and of the gnomes, she heard
+not a sound. She felt very sad to think they all had perished and she
+started to cover the hole and replace the stone. But when she took it
+up, she was surprised to find how light it seemed. Examining it more
+carefully, she noticed at the back a tiny, polished metal door. Upon
+pressing this with her finger, it opened and she saw that the inside of
+the stone was entirely hollowed out and filled with many little
+particles.
+
+It occurred to her that, perhaps after all, some possessions of the
+gnomes remained that might prove useful to Tom; so she put the stone on
+her shoulder and taking care that nothing should fall out, carried it
+home.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+When she came into the big room, she found that Tom had already made the
+floor inside his castle and was now engaged in building a wall around it
+out of shining, little pebbles. The Godmother laid a cloth on the top of
+the press and placed the stone on the cloth.
+
+»Little Tom,« she said, »I have brought you something for remembrance.
+Your kingdom is all gone; but do not be sorry, for you will stay with me
+and we will live happily together. Now, perhaps you will find something
+in this stone that will be useful to you.«
+
+Tom crawled sadly into the stone, but, at once, shouted with pleasure.
+»Dear Godmother,« he called, »this is our royal treasury and it contains
+furniture, clothes, linen, arms and dishes; all sorts of things. Now, I
+have everything I need and you will see how nicely I will arrange my new
+home.«
+
+At once, he began to carry out of the stone the rich stores he found
+there. His Godmother placed a tiny piece of cloth by the stone and when
+Tom had piled it high with cupboards, tables and chairs, she raised it
+very carefully and placed it under the tree. In spite of all her care,
+it happened that she broke the leg of a chair and knocked off a corner
+of cupboard. She was very sorry, but Tom soothed her by saying that he
+would repair everything. When he began to bring out the dishes, painted
+porcelain left by his grandmother, cups, saucers and pitchers, old
+silver pieces and other treasures, he was very fearful that she might
+break these, too. To her, they seemed like tiny bits of glistening sand;
+but she made him a little wooden staircase that she set against the tree
+box, and up and down this he climbed, carrying his treasures to his
+castle. He worked so hard all day that by night he was completely tired
+out.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+In the meantime, the Godmother had gone about her own work; but when, in
+the evening, she came back into the room she found that the stone had
+been cleaned out. In the door of Castle Easter Egg hung a flowered
+carpet for a curtain and at the windows were little shades. Inside, the
+furniture had all been set in order, but, outside, there still remained
+piles of the precious stores. She was sorry she could not see inside
+very well to look at Tom's housekeeping, and was afraid to touch the egg
+lest his castle should go to pieces.
+
+In the morning, he was early awake and went carefully over his garden,
+measuring out the paths and deciding where he would have lawns, and
+where he would start a forest of moss. Then he made a store room for his
+surplus supplies, dug a well and completed the wall around the castle.
+
+His Godmother helped him as best she could, cutting tiny pieces of wood
+and cloth for his use. The well they made from an old thimble. She left
+him busy at work, noting how diligent and orderly he was and how well he
+had been educated; for he seemed to understand everything that needed to
+be done. She was pleased that he had so much to keep him busy, that he
+would have no time for bitter reflections.
+
+During the day, each went about his or her own work; but in the evening
+they sat together, the Godmother at the table eating her thick soup and
+potatoes. Upon the table Tom had his own little table and chair opposite
+her. For his supper, he had a baked grain of wheat, a hash of sunflower
+seed, or two or three grains of millet fried in butter. He always ate
+with delicacy. His food tasted good to him and after it was eaten, he
+drank some milk.
+
+When they had cleared away the things they talked together. The
+Godmother wished to know how the gnomes lived in their underground
+kingdom and Tom told her all that he could. What they did outside in the
+fields, he did not know, for he had been obliged to remain at home and
+study in the schools; but he described very well all that happened in
+the underground town which had bustled with people. He had seen long
+lines of them bringing home food, riding on grasshoppers, making traps
+for flies and butterflies, bringing in the captured tree insects and the
+spotted bugs which were kept in roomy stalls.
+
+For himself, he had a fine grasshopper, which carried him along the
+corridors lighted by torches from dried wood which gave out soft blue
+flames. He told how his father and mother used to play with him and
+about his little friend Chrysomela, a sweet little girl who had been
+educated with him. Together, they used to run and play and watch the
+gnomes digging in the mountains or go for a row on the underground
+river. Then he spoke of the frequent visits of foreign guests, gold
+beetles, and spotted wood bugs who came in stately processions and
+brought fine messages of greeting and beautiful presents. He told
+especially of a visit, just before the flood, made by many black ants
+whom the gnomes feasted and welcomed with great honor. His father, the
+king, presented them to him, telling him how diligent and orderly they
+were and what good friends they were to him. He promised Tom that when
+he should grow up he would send him to them for their teaching, so that
+he might learn how to rule over the kingdom.
+
+Tom would often speak of these things he remembered, but, at the end, he
+would always become sad, when he thought how all his kingdom had been
+destroyed and everything had disappeared, and that he would never again
+see his loved ones.
+
+The Godmother listened to his stories with great pleasure, but she
+realized that Tom must have some occupation that would keep him busy and
+not only prevent him from thinking too much of the past, but also
+prepare him for the life he was to lead in the future.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+CHAPTER THREE.
+
+LITTLE TOM'S TRIP
+AROUND THE WORLD.
+
+  LITTLE TOM'S HOUSEHOLD.
+  LITTLE TOM WRITES A DIARY.
+  HE LEARNS TO READ THE BOOKS OF MEN.
+  HOW LITTLE TOM READ WITH HIS FEET AND HOW HE
+  TURNED THE LEAVES.
+  LITTLE TOM LEARNS GEOGRAPHY AND WANTS TO
+  MAKE A TRIP ROUND THE WORLD.
+  WHAT HE WROTE IN HIS DIARY ABOUT THIS TRIP.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Little Tom had his day well planned. He rose early and, as his Godmother
+placed every night on his castle grounds an earthern-ware plate full of
+fresh water he would jump into it the first thing and swim all around in
+it. When he had finished his bath he would take his breakfast in the
+garden.
+
+Under the tree was his store of provisions: A hazel nut with an end cut
+off so that he could take out little bits from time to time, lasting him
+a whole month; a beechnut; sunflower seeds; a piece of sugar; and a
+wonderful apple, into which he cut a narrow passage so that it would not
+dry up from the outside.
+
+When he had breakfasted he would sweep the carpet in his room, clean his
+clothes and shoes, exercise with his weapons so that he would not forget
+the arts of defence he had learned at his home, and then go into the
+garden to plant and weed. Sometimes, he hunted for the ugly worms that
+dug great ditches in the vegetable beds.
+
+When the Godmother rose she would come to say good morning to Tom, look
+at his work, praise and advise him. When she saw it was necessary to
+water the tree, she would tell Tom to take away his tools and would then
+pour water over the tree from a fine sprinkler. Tom loved to run about
+in this rain and was happy to think that he could so bravely bear the
+heavy shower.
+
+After she had gone away, he would write in his diary, describing
+everything he had been doing, as well as all those things he could
+remember from his former kingdom, so that nothing should be forgotten.
+For this purpose, he had a beautiful, smooth parchment, tanned from the
+skins of white tree bugs, sharp pens, made from the bills of gnats, and
+fine writing sand from the powder of butterflies' wings. He only lacked
+ink, but he found a way to get that. On the tree, he discovered the
+smoky wicks from the candles; mixing the soot with water he made himself
+some excellent ink; but in doing this, he became so black that when his
+Godmother saw him she feared that he had turned into a negro.
+
+He took his dinner alone, but always looked forward to the evening meal
+when he could sit down and talk with his Godmother.
+
+Thus the days passed happily. He worked about his castle and in the
+garden and was kept busy with his housekeeping. Every day he was
+becoming more manly and strong and, as he grew up, he thought more and
+more of his past, of his birth and what he would have accomplished had
+he become a king and ruled over his underground realm.
+
+One evening, when they were sitting together and Little Tom was speaking
+of all the things in the world he would like to do, his Godmother said,
+»Dear Little Tom, before you can do great things in the world, it is
+necessary that you should learn how to read and write as large people
+do, so that you can know what they are doing«.
+
+But Tom answered, »I know how to read and write very well, Godmother. I
+will show you what I have written.« And when, at his request, she placed
+him on the press, he ran into the castle and brought out a whole armful
+of parchments; but it seemed to her that they were only a lot of tiny
+petals from cherry blossoms.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+When he had thrown the parchments into her lap she put on her spectacles
+and took one of the little sheets in her palm; but she could make
+nothing out of it at all.
+
+Tom offered to read some of it to her and taking up the sheet, read it
+with much expression. In spite of this, the Godmother shook her head.
+»You read very nicely what you yourself have written,« she said, »but
+you must learn human letters as well, so that you can read and study our
+books.«
+
+Therefore, she brought her book to the table, and reached for Little Tom
+to place him upon it, but he was nowhere to be seen. She looked all
+about and finally spied him clinging desperately to the table cloth. The
+wind caused by turning the leaves had blown him over to the very edge of
+the table and he had barely saved himself. He was calling for help when
+his Godmother rescued him from his perilous position. So it nearly
+happened that, at the very outset, a misfortune might have prevented the
+reading altogether; but, as soon as he had recovered from his fright,
+Tom offered at once to begin.
+
+He crawled quickly up the golden edge of the book and surveyed the
+broad white plain covered in every direction, with curving black lines.
+He ran at once to the upper left hand corner, stepping gingerly on the
+first large letter. After he had walked all over it, he stopped and
+declared confidently that it was a capital »O«. In like manner he went
+on to »N« and »C« and »E« and a little further, until he had no longer
+to run completely over a letter but could place himself in the middle
+and looking all about him could tell at once what it was. One after the
+other he spelled and his Godmother was surprised to see how quickly the
+reading progressed.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+It was only when he came to the end of the page that he found
+difficulty, for then he had to crawl down while she turned the page
+over; but he thought of a way to get around this. When he had reached
+the end of the next page he procured one of his long spears and crawling
+a little way down the sloping edge of the opened book, thrust his spear
+between the leaves and raised the sheet high enough to crawl under it.
+Then, on his hands and knees, he worked his way to the middle of the
+book and exerting all his strength, he was able to turn the page over.
+
+In a short time, he learned to read so rapidly that he could run swiftly
+along the lines and in this way could cover five or six pages in a day.
+He liked especially to linger by the pictures, looking at the little
+knights gazing from the battlements of the castle, or the beautiful
+ladies spinning or embroidering in great rooms; for it seemed to him
+that these were pictures of his former life and reminded him of his lost
+realm. But, after a moment, he would diligently continue his reading.
+
+He was very curious to discover what real people know, so that he also
+might learn; but it seemed to him that he would never be able to read
+fast enough, and so he began to ask his Godmother to teach him from her
+own knowledge. She soon perceived that in some things, like mathematics
+and physics, he was much better educated than herself; but of other
+subjects, such as history and geography, he knew nothing at all.
+
+So she told him how the earth was shaped and about the sun, moon and
+stars. She explained how the sun rose in the East and then there was
+day; and after it had crossed the sky and set in the West, then night
+came. She told him that in the Far North there is perpetual snow on
+great, white plains, so broad that you can not see across them; and in
+the South great deserts of sand, without water, where lions and tigers
+roam and it is so hot that the people become black like the king in the
+altar. Between all the countries stretch seas of salt water, which are
+filled with strange monsters and across which travel large ships.
+
+Little Tom listened breathlessly, and then was eager to learn how people
+came to know all these things. His Godmother told him that there were
+famous travelers who went all over the earth, experiencing many dangers,
+and then came home to describe what they had seen.
+
+That night, Little Tom in his excitement could not sleep for a long,
+long while and, finally, when he began to doze, he dreamed that he was
+walking through the snow, climbing the mountains that reached to the sky
+and crossing the primeval forests. Then he wandered in deserts and swam
+the sea in the midst of fierce sharks.
+
+Next day, he was all the time thinking of the great wonders of the
+world, and his work was not so pleasing to him. He could hardly wait for
+the evening to come so that he might learn more from his Godmother. When
+she had told him other things that she knew, he asked her where was the
+end of the earth. She explained that the world was round and that, if
+any one walked on and on, he would come to the place whence he had
+started.
+
+Little Tom became quite confused, for with his growing mind he could not
+understand how the world could be so great, or how it could be round!
+Neither did he know what it meant to travel. There was only one thing
+that he remembered and that was, if he started in one direction and kept
+on going, in the end he would come back home. His heart was very brave
+and he was not afraid of danger. He wanted very much to gain experience
+and do heroic deeds, even if he did not know where he was going.
+
+So he decided that he would become a great traveler and go round the
+world. He made careful preparations for the trip. In secret, he filled a
+bundle with nourishing food, which he put on his back and hung a bottle
+of water from his neck. On his feet he put heavy shoes, made from strong
+caterpillar leather, belted his sword around his waist and, as soon as
+his Godmother had left in the morning, started on his journey round the
+world.
+
+He looked forward to his Godmother's surprise on his return, when he
+would tell her all that had happened to him and thereby gain great fame.
+
+He walked down from the box that held his castle and crossed the press
+straight to his Godmother's bed. He judged that the window through which
+the light was streaming, was in the East and that, therefore, he was
+going directly to the North.
+
+When the Godmother returned to her room in the evening she was greatly
+surprised that Little Tom was not there to welcome her. She called and
+looked for him everywhere, but could not find him. She feared that he
+had crawled to some place where he had fallen down and died miserably.
+She swept the floor most carefully, but in vain. Sadly, she went to the
+hearth to get some wood to replenish the fire, for it was a cold Spring
+day. As she took out some pieces, there she found Tom asleep with a tiny
+bundle upon his back. He was sleeping so soundly, that he did not stir
+when she called to him, so she took him up carefully and placed him
+under the tree on her handkerchief. She feared that something had
+happened to him. Many times during the night she got up to look at him,
+but Little Tom slept quietly until the morning.
+
+When he finally awoke, he did not at first know where he was. When he
+remembered, he avoided telling his Godmother where he had been the day
+before; but he begged her forgiveness and promised that he would never
+again crawl down from the linen press. She did not insist on an
+explanation, for she thought that he had been curious and had run around
+the room and thus become lost. When she went away, he started diligently
+to write in his diary. This was what he wrote:
+
+
+                                                  _Castle Easter Egg,
+                                           The 114th day of my life._
+
+
+When I was one hundred and twelve days old, believing it to be the duty
+of a man to accomplish great deeds, I decided that I would be a traveler
+and go round the earth--Godmother having told me that it is round--so
+that I could see for myself the wonders she has described. I made my
+preparations in secret. In the morning, when Godmother had gone away, I
+started for the hills on the northern horizon, stretching across the
+plain on which my castle stands.
+
+I expected that beyond those northern hills would lie the snowy plains
+about which she told me; and that, if I kept straight on, I should reach
+the deserts of the hot, tropical country and, beyond them, by crossing
+the forests, I should come to the great ocean. I had planned, if I could
+find a boat by the ocean, to cross to the other side and, by traveling
+over the countries there, finally return home.
+
+Godmother had said that the sun, during the day and the night, goes from
+the East to the West and clear around the earth until it comes back
+again to the East. I judged that if I should hurry my journey, it would
+not take any longer than the sun, so I made up my mind to go from the
+North to the South.
+
+The hills stretch clear across the plain which is sloping and smooth. At
+first, I could not find a suitable place to climb; but, finally, coming
+to the end of the plain before a steep precipice, I saw a little fissure
+by which I might ascend to the very top. With great difficulty I managed
+to make my way by this fissure until I came to the summit, where I could
+look over and, as I had expected, I saw before me a vast, white plain
+stretching out to infinity.
+
+With great care I crawled upon it at the place where it touches the
+hills and, stepping on it, I found that it was elastic and yielding,
+like the snow Godmother described. One can really walk on it with ease
+and I was surprised to find, moreover, that one can so easily overcome
+the difficulties of those desolate countries. Also I did not feel any
+cold.
+
+After a time, I came to a place where the white plain began to slope
+downwards, until it formed, in front of another hill that appeared in
+the distance, a dark and very deep chasm. I made my way at good speed
+into this chasm and was already looking forward to the time when I
+should come out of this inhospitable place, when, all of a sudden, the
+ground began to slip from under my feet. In vain I tried to hold myself
+with my hands. Faster and faster I fell, until, head first, I plunged
+against the wall of the precipice, where I lay unconscious.
+
+When I came to myself, I found that I was on another broad plain; but,
+instead of snow, this one was very rough and covered with coarse sand.
+My arms and legs pained me from my fall, so I rested while I refreshed
+myself with some food from my bundle and drank a little water from my
+bottle. Then I started farther on my way. After this, I proceeded with
+great caution. As I did not in the least doubt that I was now on the
+dangerous desert of Sahara, which is filled with tigers and lions, I
+took care that I should not be pounced upon unawares.
+
+But nothing living appeared; only before me stretched the rocky,
+limitless desert. I hoped that I should come to some oasis where I might
+find palms and a stream of fresh water, but was disappointed. Finally, I
+saw before me a mountain that rose so far into the sky that I could not
+even discern its top. As I came nearer, I perceived that it was warm, so
+I concluded that I had now come to the tropical country and that behind
+this great mountain, lay the deep forests and the ocean of which
+Godmother had told me.
+
+I began to climb the steep side of the mountain, which grew warmer all
+the time, so that my hands were nearly blistered. From the mountain
+itself, there seemed to come forth a great heat, so that I was fearful
+that I had come upon a volcano and that I might fall into the crater. I
+wanted to go back, but my head became dizzy when I looked over the
+narrow ledge on which I stood, into the deep chasm I had left behind me.
+I rested awhile; then, after a drink from my water bottle, I crawled
+down at the risk of my life.
+
+Reaching the level, I decided to walk around the mountain to see if I
+could discover some valley. At this point, I would have preferred
+returning to my home, but did not know how I should climb up the steep
+slope of the snow plain down which I had fallen.
+
+I followed along the foot of the mountain until I came to a vast forest
+which, from under its cliffs, stretched a long distance away. I hoped
+when I should reach the other side that I should come to the ocean. In
+the forest were only bare trunks of trees fallen in every direction and
+many turned up by the roots. Perhaps a great earthquake had destroyed it
+and the heat from the mountain had dried up the trees.
+
+With difficulty, I made my way into the tangle. It soon became darker
+and with the trunks piled high one on top of another, it seemed to me
+that there would be no end to it. On and on I went, hoping each moment
+to see a glimmer of light, when suddenly I ran into a steep, rough wall,
+but it was unlike anything my Godmother had told me about. On both
+sides, to the left and right I went, trying to find a way out; but there
+was not even a hole. Only, on each side was another wall like the one I
+had run into, and so I found myself in a great cave which, perhaps, in
+olden times had been caused by an earthquake and now by way of the
+forest led into the heart of the mountain.
+
+I became frightened and lonely, lost in this desolate place, and feared
+that I might never again come out into God's world. However, I did not
+want to give up without making another effort, so I turned around and
+started back through the forest by the way that I had come, dragging
+myself wearily over the tangled trunks. Many times I stumbled and fell,
+until, finally, weariness overcame me and I sank down in the wood too
+worn out to go further. Before I fell asleep, in my thoughts I said good
+bye to my dear Godmother, fearing that I might never wake up again.
+
+In my dreams, it seemed as if the whole forest was shaken violently and
+that I was lifted bodily and carried to great heights; but I could not
+call out or even open my eyes.
+
+When I finally awoke, I found myself lying on the carpet in front of my
+castle in broad daylight. I was uncertain whether I had simply dreamed
+all about my journey; but, when Godmother came, she asked me with much
+concern where I had been and how I had come to be among the great
+faggots by the hearth.
+
+I did not understand at all what she meant, but at least my journey was
+not a dream and I knew that I had escaped a great danger. I did not want
+to tell whither I had been wandering and, moreover, I was sorry that my
+courageous efforts had been without success. It seems to me that, for
+the present, the journey around the world is too great for my strength
+and that I should wait until I am better prepared and know fully about
+the direction and the dangers I shall be apt to meet.
+
+Last evening, I read my diary to Godmother, so that she might tell me
+the mistakes I had made and how I can better prepare for my next
+journey. While I read, she laughed until the tears ran down her cheeks.
+I was sorry that she made so light of my efforts and that the dangers I
+had encountered seemed so laughable to her, but she endeavored to soothe
+me by saying that she was the one who had made the mistakes and had
+instructed me badly.
+
+She told me that the journey was over her great feather bed, across the
+floor to the hearth, and into the niche where the faggots for the fire
+lay. I had no idea that the lodging of human beings is so vast and
+imagine that the earth itself must be a great deal larger and that I
+shall have to give up my idea. Godmother also advises me to give it up
+until I shall be more experienced. In the meantime, she will tell me
+stories of the great heroes, their adventures and the wonderful deeds
+they accomplished.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+CHAPTER FOUR.
+
+LITTLE TOM IN THE ENCHANTED CASTLE.
+
+  THE GODMOTHER TELLS LITTLE TOM STORIES.
+  LITTLE TOM FINDS HIMSELF IN A CLOCK WITH
+  A CUCKOO AND THINKS HE IS IN AN ENCHANTED
+  CASTLE.
+  WHAT ADVENTURES HE HAD IN THE CLOCK.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The Godmother was very sorry that she had told Little Tom so many things
+he had not understood. She realized that it would be impossible to tell
+him all about the world until he had seen it for himself; so, taking him
+in her hand, she carried him from the bed to the hearth, from there to
+the cupboard, then to the door and the window. Everything she showed him
+she called by name and explained the uses of the different things so
+that he might understand and, another time, not lose his way.
+
+Then she placed him on the floor and Tom, looking around, measured the
+distances with his eye, so that he would know how far he would have to
+travel to each object. He crawled around the corners, examined the feet
+of the furniture and remembered all the things she told him could be
+moved, like the chairs, the poker and the foot-stool, so that he could
+make no mistakes as to his whereabouts in case he could not find one of
+the household articles in its place. Very soon he learned to know the
+whole room as well as his own dwelling, and the Godmother, when she left
+him in the morning, found she could put him on the floor without fear
+and permit him to run where he pleased and to examine everything; but
+she was afraid to take him outside the hut lest something should injure
+him or he should get lost.
+
+Little Tom was quite satisfied, for his explorations kept him busy.
+Every evening, he told his Godmother all the things he had found under
+the cupboard and the linen press and around the hearth, and she was
+surprised to learn how her room appeared when looked at from the floor.
+
+Then she told him more stories and became as interested herself in the
+fairy tales as when she first heard them as a child. Often they sat thus
+together even into the night. Little Tom could not hear enough of the
+sweet princesses taken away by the wizards into deep caverns; the brave
+heroes fighting the dragons and the witches; the glass castles which
+revolved on the nightmare's foot; the valiant tailor who fought with the
+giants; the clever shoemaker who had a magic sack; and of how the strong
+blacksmith cheated the devil and death.
+
+But, best of all, he liked the story of the enchanted castle, suspended
+high above the earth. This castle seemed deserted, but whoever could
+sleep there three nights, and, without saying a word, let himself be
+tormented and tortured by the wicked spirits, would set free a beautiful
+princess who had been enchanted by a witch. And so, one day, a brave lad
+hid himself in the bucket which was lowered each morning to the earth
+and let himself be pulled up to the castle, where he stayed three
+nights. Every night he heard terrible noises; the spirits came and
+pounded him, pinched him and squeezed him; but he valiantly stood the
+torture and never spoke, screamed or cried out with pain. After the
+third night, an enormous griffin flew in the window, bearing on his back
+the beautiful princess who had been freed. The brave lad also climbed on
+his back and the griffin flew with them down to the earth. There he
+married the princess and they lived happily together ever afterwards in
+their kingdom.
+
+Little Tom liked the manly courage of this hero. He seemed braver than
+all the other knights, for he knew how to suffer and bear torture and to
+sacrifice himself for the poor princess. Tom thought that such sacrifice
+was more beautiful than all the heroic deeds. He wished that he could
+have such an adventure and give himself to torture, so that he might
+free a princess.
+
+One morning, before going to the field, the Godmother placed Tom on the
+floor as usual, and then went out to get Speckle. As Tom ran about the
+room, he came suddenly upon a great brass cylinder.
+
+Never before had he seen it there and he wondered what it could be. He
+wanted to climb up but it was so round and so smooth that he could find
+no foothold. He ran to the hearth and taking a strong twig which he
+rested against the cylinder clambered to the top; but when he got there
+his twig slipped and fell down on the floor.
+
+Tom then noticed that on the top of the cylinder was a little depression
+and, in its centre, a hook from which a strong chain ran up in the air.
+He seated himself by this hook and was almost breathless when he thought
+that it might be a bucket lowered to the earth by its great chain from
+an enchanted castle in the sky. He sat waiting for the chain to pull him
+up, trembling with pleasure at the thought that he would get into the
+castle and rescue the enchanted princess.
+
+He was not at all afraid of the pain or the torture, for he knew that if
+he did not cry out, the great bird would fly into the castle bearing the
+princess he had set free.
+
+At that moment, the Godmother returned, took up her cloak and was about
+to leave the room again when she suddenly remembered that she had
+forgotten to wind the clock. So she went to the wall, and taking hold of
+the little hook, lifted the run-down weight from the floor to the clock.
+She did not notice Little Tom sitting on the weight; but he heard a
+terrible noise and felt himself hoisted by the chain into the sky. He
+did not speak or cry out, for he knew if he should make a noise, the
+evil spirits would tear him to pieces.
+
+The Godmother went out to her work in the field and there sat Little Tom
+on the weight at a dizzy height, up in the air under the enchanted
+castle. The rattling of the chain had ceased, but above him in the
+castle, Tom heard a strong voice repeating, »Tick, tack, tick, tack«.
+
+At first Tom was frightened by this moving spectre, but he soon
+discovered that it never went away from the wall. This calmed his fears
+and he decided that he would go farther into the dark rooms of the
+castle, in spite of the poisonous odors that came from them.
+
+Returning to his chain he clambered higher and higher, until he came to
+the powerful cylinder around which the chain was wound. Everywhere, it
+was dusty and musty with much dark, greasy slime which soiled his hands
+and clothes. Such a desolate, lonely castle he had never dreamed could
+exist. Nowhere, a living soul.
+
+Little Tom sat down on the big cylinder, waiting to see what would
+happen and wondering what tortures lay before him. Resolutely, he said
+to himself that he would not scream, no matter if the spectres should
+tear him into little pieces.
+
+Suddenly, the cylinder under him moved and shook so that he nearly fell
+off; but he caught hold of the chain and lay quite still, stretched out
+to his full length. Then he saw something bright, and directly above him
+move, and the giant tooth of a great wheel bent over and caught him by
+the coat. Tom thought that his torture was about to begin, but he
+resolved that he, would not give up easily; so, bravely grasping the
+tooth itself, he pulled himself up with all his strength until he sat
+astride the great wheel.
+
+Now, he felt easier, but the wheel started to move carrying him still
+higher. In a moment, he was lifted high above the great cylinder and saw
+another wheel, with other great teeth approaching, which fitted closely
+into the notches of the wheel on which he sat and, with powerful force,
+turned it up and up. He was afraid that he would be caught between the
+two, so climbing over his wheel, he worked his way back to the cylinder;
+but this was also moving, so that he could not stand upright on it. As
+his eyes had by this time become accustomed to the darkness, he saw
+about him in every direction, wheels, levers, teeth and cylinders.
+Everything was moving and turning around. Poor little Tom was suddenly
+snatched by a great metal talon which almost tore out his shoulder and
+he was terribly pinched, squeezed and pressed.
+
+Setting his teeth so that he would not cry out, he drew his dagger and
+cut away a piece of his coat, which was already caught between the two
+cylinders, and sprang blindly to one side, not knowing where he would
+land. His hand touched an upright steel post which he grasped firmly
+and, climbing upward, he reached a great globe that seemed to stand
+quite still. Here he felt safe for the moment, but he knew that this was
+not the end of his tortures.
+
+Close to the globe was a large, metal vessel, to which he clambered and,
+working his way to the top, where it was fastened, sat down to rest. He
+hoped that this would not move. From his safe perch he looked below him
+into the tangle of wheels and teeth and levers, where everything was
+rustling, growling, and whirring. From all this he had barely escaped
+with his life.
+
+He wondered how long he had been bearing this torture and when it would
+end. While he sat there thinking, all of a sudden the globe which he had
+just left, raised itself, something below rustled and the globe struck
+itself against the vessel with a deafening clang. The great vessel
+trembled and resounded with a terrible noise, so that Tom almost fell
+from his seat. He perceived that this was a new kind of torture, worse
+even than the first. His arms and legs shook with the vibration, his
+spine prickled and his head began to whirl. Again the globe beat against
+the vessel, and again. The clock was sounding three quarters of the
+hour.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+After this, everything became quiet and Little Tom heaved a sigh of
+relief. On the great bell he sat very sadly. He would have returned into
+the machinery below him, for the whole world, as he thought a crowd of
+witches and spirits were storming there and waiting to tear him to
+pieces if he should utter a single sound. But he could see no other way
+out, for around him was nothing but darkness and gloom. He hoped that
+when the torture should stop, the castle would open and the great
+griffin would appear to carry him safely back to earth. He wondered what
+sort of a princess she would be whom he would save and whether she would
+be as beautiful as his own mother had been.
+
+In this way, another quarter of an hour passed; but to Tom, sitting
+there in the darkness, it seemed like an eternity. Again, the machinery
+began to whir and the castle shook. The globe beat into the bell as if
+it were crazy. Little Tom was stiff with fright as he shook and trembled
+under the powerful blows.
+
+Suddenly, the little doors in front of him flew open, letting the light
+of day into the castle; and he saw the great cuckoo, which he at once
+took for the griffin. The bird ran out a little way from the roof and
+called »Cuckoo, cuckoo«.
+
+Tom sprang from the bell to the bird and cried out victoriously. He
+thought that his torture was at an end and that he had broken the spell
+of the enchanted castle. Now, he wanted to find the princess he had set
+free. But, suddenly, the doors closed with a bang, catching Tom between
+them and squeezing him so hard that he nearly lost his breath. He was
+terribly afraid, fearing lest he had cried out too soon and spoiled the
+rescue and now would be torn to pieces by the spectres.
+
+He struggled in vain to tear himself loose. Below him, the clock was
+moaning and groaning; and, far down, he looked into the depths of the
+chasm. Already, he bade farewell to the world and started shouting at
+the top of his lungs.
+
+At this moment, his Godmother came in from the field and, hearing the
+clock rattling, she wondered what could be the matter with it, that it
+should make such a noise. Looking at the partly closed doors, she
+perceived that something was caught between them. Stepping up on a
+chair, she saw Little Tom struggling and crying for help. She released
+him at once and carried him safely down. He told her what had happened
+saying that he wanted to rescue the princess in the enchanted castle,
+but had spoiled the rescue by crying out too soon.
+
+This time, the Godmother did not laugh at him. She was afraid that he
+had been hurt and was very sorry that her stories had brought him into
+such danger. For a long time, Tom could not believe that he had been
+mistaken and that in the clock there were no spectres. She raised him up
+to the dial plate, showed him the painted roses and the numbers,
+explaining all about them and showing how the little hands worked all by
+themselves, day and night, to tell how the time was passing. He became
+very much encouraged, as he began to understand. Then he sat astride the
+long hand as if he were on a horse and liked it so much, that the
+Godmother had to warn him not to slide down and kill himself.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+CHAPTER FIVE.
+
+LITTLE TOM'S ADVENTURES IN THE GARDEN.
+
+  THE GODMOTHER TELLS LITTLE TOM ALL ABOUT HELL
+  AND PARADISE.
+  LITTLE TOM IN MIRMEX'S GARDEN, ON THE ROSE-BUSH,
+  ON THE POPPY-BED AND AMONG THE
+  STRAWBERRIES.
+  THE STRIKE. LITTLE TOM IN THE BLACK KITCHEN.
+  THE COCKROACH.
+  WHERE THE GODMOTHER FOUND LITTLE TOM.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The Godmother realized that it would not do to tell Tom too many fairy
+tales, so, instead, she said that she would tell him other stories more
+beautiful than the made-up ones.
+
+During the day, Little Tom recovered from the adventures of the morning
+and looked forward to the evening, when he was to hear something new.
+After their supper, the Godmother spoke about the wickedness in the
+world and told him that, in the next world, would come justice and
+rewards; that those who had lived rightly and stood the trials of this
+world patiently, would live in Paradise, where there is eternal life and
+pleasure, where beautiful flowers grow, sweet fruits ripen and angels
+fly about the blue heaven and sing; that those who had lived wickedly
+and committed crimes would be taken away by wicked spirits and punished.
+
+Tom was greatly affected by this explanation and longed to see
+Paradise; but he was fearful lest he had done something wrong and that
+the little devils would carry him away. He asked his Godmother what he
+should do to live right and so earn Paradise. She promised that she
+would instruct him in order that he might know how to avoid sin. As it
+was now late in the evening, they went to bed, Little Tom dreaming all
+night long of Paradise, of walking through the delightful groves and
+listening to the angels' songs.
+
+In the morning, when the Godmother arose, she found that it was a warm,
+bright day and opened the window through which came the scents of the
+old lime tree, the carnations and the roses. Then she went into the
+black kitchen, started the fire and hung a pot of potatoes to cook for
+lunch, on the hook over the hearth. She told Tom that she was going to
+the village and that he should not run around and again get into danger.
+Having promised not to run around the room, Tom sat down by Castle
+Easter Egg, under the fir tree, and wrote of the experiences through
+which he had passed.
+
+But, after she had gone, he became curious to know whence came the
+lovely fragrance. He ran down from his garden, crossed the linen press
+to the window and stood upon the ledge. Above him he saw the blue sky
+and the golden sun; he heard the blackbirds and thrushes singing in the
+lilac bushes; and such a beautiful perfume came to him that his heart
+was filled with joy. Without realizing what he was doing, he felt he
+must go out and look at this magic world. Grasping the old vine by the
+window, he slid down very carefully through the transparent green
+leaves, jumped into the middle of a red carnation among its opening
+petals, and felt as though he were in a cloud of perfume. He waded
+through the soft, little petals, pressing them with his hands, and was
+sure that he was in Paradise itself! Yes, it must be the Paradise his
+Godmother had so beautifully described. What lights, colors and odors
+were here! What pleasure to gaze at the broad forest of red, white and
+pink bouquets and on the infinite green plain beyond, on which other
+blossoms like these were growing!
+
+As Tom walked to the edge of this flower, it bent over and he fell into
+the grass. But he did not mind this at all. He waded through the grass
+until he came upon a path, full of hard, shining little stones.
+
+He felt easy in his heart and shouted with delight, drinking the dew
+drops on the blades of grass and saying over and over to himself. »I am
+in Paradise, the place of eternal life and eternal pleasure.« He wanted
+to cross the path to the other side, where he saw great trees growing
+with broad crowns--his Godmother's rose bushes--and he was curious to
+learn what other charming things he might discover.
+
+But it was not easy for him to cross the path. He fell into little
+holes and stumbled over the sand grains which seemed to him like high
+stones. When he stood in the middle of the path, he saw a great black
+creature, with six legs and two horns, about to run by him. He stopped,
+instinctively placing his hand on the hilt of his dagger, but at the
+same time the creature stopped also and gazed at him with bulging eyes,
+raising its horns in the air.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Little Tom went on bravely and at once recognized an ant. At first, it
+retreated, then ran towards him and said, »Prince, it pleases me very
+much that I have found you again. I was once at your father's court,
+with a message from our people to thank him for his hospitality and for
+the shelter he gave us when our town was attacked. I am Mirmex and I
+knew your father very well. All of us were deeply grieved when we
+learned that your town was flooded and destroyed.«
+
+Tom was heartily glad to meet some one with whom he could speak on a
+basis of equality and began at once to tell the ant about his
+adventures; but Mirmex excused himself, saying that he was too busy to
+stop long; so he asked Tom to accompany him. Tom was surprised to learn
+that Mirmex had work in his Godmother's Paradise, but Mirmex was already
+running ahead and Tom could hardly catch up with him.
+
+They crossed the path and waded through the grass to the trunk of the
+rose-bush, up which Mirmex climbed quickly. Tom saw on the trunk a crowd
+of little ants, each carrying a small bit of earth in its antennae.
+Presently, Mirmex came back to Tom. »There is a great obstacle up
+there,« he said, pointing to the bush. »The trunk is covered all the way
+around with some sticky grease and our workmen can not crawl over it to
+get to the leaves. We are now trying to build a bridge across this
+place, but are not succeeding very well.«
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Little Tom promised to help them. Four strong workmen raised him over
+their heads and pushed him up the trunk to the dangerous strip, where he
+sat on a crooked thorn and saw how the ants were putting bits of earth
+on the grease to build a bridge across it; but it was too thick and the
+feet of those who were in front were caught in it. Tom drew his dagger
+and, stepping out on the thorn, dug the ants free and then scratched a
+broad path in the grease. Over this the ants sifted sand and soon began
+to run across it in such crowds, that the leaves appeared all black.
+
+With difficulty, Tom crawled up after them and, finding a seat on a
+rosebud, watched them working. Those on the leaves were biting out
+little round pieces which they threw to the ground, where others were
+waiting. These at once put the green circles over their heads like
+parasols and, in a long stream, hurried to the fence. Tom wanted to know
+what they were going to do with the leaves and called to Mirmex as he
+was passing near him. Mirmex answered that just then, he had no time;
+but, later, he would explain everything.
+
+Tom then asked Mirmex to have him carried down to the ground, as he
+wished to look at the other wonders of Paradise. »With pleasure,«
+answered Mirmex, »but perhaps you would like a horse to ride upon around
+the garden.« Before Tom could reply, a beautiful, green steed jumped
+upon the rose bud. Tom climbed upon him, the grasshopper spread his
+wings, flew to the ground, and then, with great leaps, carried him to
+the poppy beds.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+In the green shade among the high stalks, it was agreeably cool. Little
+Tom rode through this giant forest, above which flamed red and white
+blossoms like huge lamps. The beauty of it all was enchanting. When
+Mirmex came to him, Tom spoke of the place with enthusiasm; but Mirmex
+merely waved his hand. »This is only a useless desert,« he said. »There
+are many like it in the garden; but ride after me and I will show you a
+more beautiful place.«
+
+Mirmex ran rapidly ahead over the bed of carrots, through the strawberry
+plants and under the gooseberry and currant bushes, where he stopped.
+
+»Here,« he said, »is the most beautiful spot in the whole land which you
+call Paradise. Here are the stalks of the sweetest things in the world
+and there are so many that whole towns could live on them. The only
+problem is how to carry them away. You can stop here and, if at any time
+you should wish to visit our Black Town, you will always find here some
+of our workmen who will tell me of your wishes. In the meantime, be
+happy and enjoy yourself.« Mirmex ran quickly away and Little Tom,
+climbing down from his horse, began to look at the wonderful fruit.
+
+He crawled up a gooseberry bush and saw many yellow barrels hanging
+among the leaves. He stuck his dagger into one and found that it was
+filled with excellent wine; so he cut the stems of several others which
+fell to the ground. He then went to the second bush, full of red globes
+that shone like glass. He cut into one and found that it held a
+delicious, tart wine. When he crawled down again, he had in the grass a
+stock of fine drinks that would last him many days.
+
+He was still looking for food when he came upon the strawberries, which
+seemed like giant lumps in the leaves over his head. Selecting the
+largest, he began to cut away its stem with his cutlass; the green stalk
+bent and the strawberry fell heavily to the grass, leaving Tom barely
+time to jump to one side, as the great mass fell. As it was, it struck
+him on the shoulder and threw him head foremost into the grass; but he
+did not regret the misfortune. With his cutlass he dug out the yellow
+seeds and cut great, juicy slices, enjoying huge mouthfuls of the
+delicious fruit.
+
+Never had he eaten anything so good. When he could eat no more, he made
+up his mind that he would remain in this Paradise, and establish his
+home here. For the moment, he had forgotten his Godmother and how sad
+she would be when she could not find him.
+
+First, he thought he would sleep awhile and then bring together the
+timbers for his house; but, at this moment, along came his horse, pawing
+restively and rubbing his head against him, as if asking Tom to hurry.
+It seemed strange to Tom that he should obey so readily; but he climbed
+upon his steed's back at once and the grasshopper started from the bush
+with a great jump and passed under the fence as if some one was chasing
+him.
+
+The grass struck Tom in the face, so that he could hardly keep his seat;
+but the grasshopper took no notice; he only hurried the faster to the
+brook to hide himself in the sorrel close to the water. Suddenly, a huge
+shadow swept over the earth. Tom saw great wings and an open bill. He
+fell on the ground and the grasshopper disappeared, carried away by a
+huge shrike. Rolling in the dust in front of the Godmother's hut, Tom
+saw the great bird sitting on a shrub close to the fence. Holding the
+poor grasshopper in his bill, he jumped upon the branches, impaled the
+grasshopper on a sharp thorn and flew away. Pierced by the thorn, the
+grasshopper struggled to get away buzzing with his wings and kicking his
+feet desperately in the air, but to no avail. He was held fast by the
+thorn which was thrust firmly through his breast.
+
+Little Tom watched his struggles, breathless with fright. What did it
+all mean? He thought of the wicked spirits his Godmother had told him
+about, who carried away those who had done wrong, to torture them. He
+became more frightened when he thought how he had taken advantage of his
+Godmother's goodness.
+
+He did not doubt in the least that the great winged creature had come
+for him to transfix him on the thorn, so that he might suffer his
+punishment and that, only by chance, it had caught the grasshopper
+instead of himself. He did not know where he was. All about him was
+bare, hard ground. Crawling up the little step before the door of the
+hut, he squeezed through a little crack and found himself in a great,
+dark hall.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+With a sigh of relief, he thought that, now, he might escape the
+terrible punishment and that here the flying, wicked spirit could not
+find him. He did not know that he was in the hall of his Godmother's
+hut; but it did seem to him to be that of a human dwelling. He went
+further along the wall, until he found a crack under a door, through
+which he crawled into the black kitchen.
+
+Here it was dark, but far away was shining a great, hot fire on the
+hearth. Little Tom did not know what this meant. He went through the
+darkness towards the red light, wading through the dust until he came to
+the hearth, where, in the mortar, he discovered a little hole. Not
+minding how the rough mortar cut his hands, he crawled up the broad
+fireplace under the chimney and stood astonished.
+
+Before him was a black plain covered with soot and in the middle was a
+tripod holding a huge pot, from under which flames darted forth. The
+fire itself crackled and hissed; sparks were flying through the darkness
+as big as Tom's head, while clouds of steam rose to the chimney. From
+under the cover of the pot, came a great noise of sputtering and
+bubbling, like the quarreling of many angry voices.
+
+Tom felt attracted by the fierce light. He could not turn his eyes away
+from it and great fear pressed upon his heart. After all, he could not
+escape the wicked spirits and he would be punished for having deceived
+his Godmother. Perhaps a devil would come to catch him. Soon, he thought
+the devil actually did appear. A terrible being, twice as big as
+himself, all in shining armor and with great whiskers, came quickly from
+out of the darkness and stood directly in front of him, looking at him,
+till his heart grew faint. Tom thought he was lost, but determined to
+defend himself with all his might.
+
+Drawing his cutlass, he waited. The cockroach raised his feelers and ran
+towards him. Little Tom stood firm and when the cockroach drew near, he
+thrust his sharp cutlass under his chin up to the very hilt. The
+cockroach fell dead on Little Tom, throwing him down by his weight.
+
+When the Godmother returned for lunch, she looked for Tom in the room in
+vain. Calling him, she hunted in all of the corners, through the wood by
+the hearth, and even in the clock, but all to no purpose. Tom was
+nowhere to be seen.
+
+Very sadly, she went back into the black kitchen for the potatoes and
+spied a cockroach by the oven. She was about to sweep it across the
+floor, when something sparkled under it. It was Little Tom's golden cap.
+She placed the poor little fellow in her palm and carried him tenderly
+into the great room, calling him by his name until he wakened; but even
+then he did not recognize her. He had a fever and would only say, »Go
+away from me, you ugly devil«. He kept waving his hands and reaching for
+his sword screaming as if defending himself.
+
+It was some time before he came to himself and recognized his
+Godmother, so that he could tell her what he had experienced. She
+thought that he was still in fever and did not know what he was saying.
+She forgot what she had been telling him about Paradise and the place of
+the wicked spirits. Only when he had quite recovered and could walk
+about in his garden by Castle Easter Egg did she learn what had happened
+to him.
+
+She then realized that she could not keep Little Tom at home all the
+time and that the room could not satisfy his brave, curious little soul.
+So she decided that she would take him out and show the world to him, in
+order that he might have pleasure under the great sky and gain some
+experience of life.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+CHAPTER SIX.
+
+LITTLE TOM'S EXCURSIONS.
+
+  LITTLE TOM'S EXPEDITION BEFORE THE COTTAGE.
+  HIS WALK THROUGH THE CORN-FIELD.
+  THE COBWEB AND THE FIGHT WITH THE SPIDER.
+  LITTLE TOM FINDS HIMSELF IN THE COURT-YARD
+  AMONG CHICKENS.
+  HE RUNS AWAY AND IS PURSUED BY ROVER.
+  HE TUMBLES INTO A BROOK AND IS GOBBLED UP BY
+  A TROUT, WHICH SPITS HIM OUT AGAIN INTO THE
+  GRASS.
+  HE TAKES A WALK ON THE MEADOW WITH
+  HIS GODMOTHER.
+  THE BUMBLE-BEE TALKS LITTLE TOM INTO GETTING
+  DRUNK.
+  LITTLE TOM IS BEING TIED TO A THISTLE AND FINDS
+  HIMSELF IN THE MOUTH OF A COW.
+  HE IS PUT INTO A WOODEN SHOE BY HIS GODMOTHER,
+  BUT IS ENDANGERED BY A HAILSTORM.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+[Illustration]
+
+One bright summer morning, as his Godmother was getting herself ready to
+go to the village, she said to him, »Dear Little Tom, if you want to see
+what God's world is like, I will let you come out in front of the hut;
+although I am afraid that you will lose your way, or that some animal
+will harm you.«
+
+Tom encouraged her by saying that he would put on his weapons and that
+he knew how to defend himself. She did not give much thought to his
+valour but she felt that, because of his small size, no animal would
+notice him; so she took him in her hand and carried him outside in front
+of the hut, through the garden and barn to the brook, pointing out
+everything of interest and telling him the name of objects and places so
+that he could recognize them again. Then she put him on the ground
+before the door and told him, in a severe voice, that he should not run
+far away; she hoped to return soon and, in the meantime, he would not
+meet with any misfortune.
+
+When she had crossed the bridge, she turned around, but no longer saw
+him. He had absolutely disappeared among the stones of the path. He was
+very pleased that he could make an exploration on his own account and
+felt that he was now much more clever. He understood what a human
+dwelling was, a garden, a path, a brook and a lime tree; and he was not
+afraid of anything. He decided to go over the same way his Godmother had
+taken him around the hut, so that he might see for himself all its
+surroundings.
+
+First, he went around the fence to the field, crossed the path and
+passed into the thick, rustling grain. He felt he was in a vast, old
+forest. Above him buzzed wasps, flies, gnats and gadflies. All around
+him were worms, insects and caterpillars, which took no notice of him
+whatsoever, but kept diligently about their own work. He seemed to be in
+a new world and found so many strange objects and animals, that he had
+not time to look at all of them carefully.
+
+He strode forward into the grain, but was careful not to go too far and
+lose his way. As he walked along the edge of the path, he looked at the
+grain, thinking that he would like to cut down one of the stalks and
+make a good, light lance out of it. While he was trying to select one
+that would suit him, he came upon a cobweb stretched between two
+thistles. It was beautifully woven of thin, well-tied threads, and
+seemed to Tom to be a powerful net which some hunter had placed there as
+a trap for wild game.
+
+He wished to see the hunter and learn how game is caught, so he sat down
+in some wild thyme not far away and waited; but nothing happened. Then
+he got up and went nearer, feeling the lines with his hand to see how
+tightly they were drawn. But no sooner had he touched the net than he
+felt it shake and saw, running across it, a great, eight-footed
+creature, with a cross on its back and horrible jaws, rushing straight
+at him.
+
+He drew his sword at once, but a strong, elastic rope was thrown around
+his body, binding his hips and legs. He struggled to free himself, but
+more and more ropes enveloped him. In a very short time, he was tangled
+up in them and tightly bound to the net. Then the great monster darted
+at him with his cruel jaws open.
+
+Brave Little Tom waved his sword; this frightened the spider, which drew
+back. At once he cut the ropes around him, tore himself out of the net
+and ran, beside himself with fear, until he fell rolling on the gravel
+in the path. He expected the monster to rush out after him and eat him;
+but when the spider saw that his prey had escaped him, he started to
+repair his net and paid no further heed to Tom.
+
+Tom was glad to have escaped so easily and no longer wished to go in the
+field and cut down a stalk. He went back very rapidly along the path,
+deciding that he would remain near the hut. He wanted to see his
+Godmother's farm, so he passed through the gate to the little grassy
+place beyond among the daisies and dandelions. As soon as he reached the
+spot, a lot of little yellow chickens came running to him and, gathering
+around him, looked at him with surprised eyes; for that kind of a worm
+these little chicks had never seen before.
+
+Little Tom was frightened, for these birds appeared to him as large as
+the ostriches his Godmother had shown him in the natural history book,
+only they were yellow. The chickens looked at him sideways, peeping and
+calling the mother hen. She was scratching in some sweepings not far
+away and when she heard the peeping, she hurried up, all a flutter, to
+see what was the matter and who the enemy was. When she saw only Little
+Tom, she pecked at him angrily with her bill, then picked him up, but
+let him drop as he did not seem good for eating. Scolding her chicks,
+she drove them away in search of real worms.
+
+Tom was so badly hurt that he fell down as if dead. His coat was torn
+and his hand was bleeding. After a moment, he struggled to his feet and
+fled out of the yard, away from such terrible enemies. In front of the
+yard, the Godmother's woolly-haired dog, Rover, was running about.
+Without seeing Tom he stepped on him with his great, hard foot. When Tom
+cried out in pain, Rover stopped, turned around and smelled at Tom with
+his moist nose.
+
+Little Tom was overcome with another great fear. He was dusty, bruised
+and bleeding and so unhappy that he did not know what to do. He ran on,
+stumbling and limping, while Rover, thinking he was some strange insect,
+ran after him, barking and jumping around him, until he drove him to the
+brook. Little Tom wanted to hide himself among the leaves near the
+water; but, as he stepped on them, he slipped and fell head first into
+the brook.
+
+The water refreshed him and, knowing how to swim very well, he was at
+first pleased to think he had escaped this enemy; but the brook, which
+seemed to him a river, was carrying him away. He had no idea that he
+could reach the shore. He already felt himself lost, believing that the
+waves would dash him against a stone, when, suddenly, a trout came out
+of the water and gobbled him up in his great mouth. But the trout did
+not like this morsel and spat him out again into the grass under the
+bridge.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Catching hold of a grass stem, Tom pulled himself into the bushes and
+sat there, shaking as with a chill. Wet through and cold, with hands
+bruised and bleeding, he could hardly hold himself on the grass which
+the wind waved back and forth.
+
+As he became weaker and weaker and was about to give up hope that he
+would ever come of his adventure alive, he suddenly heard his Godmother
+calling to him. She was coming across the little foot-bridge and calling
+loudly, so that she might not by mistake step on him. Tom immediately
+answered as loud as he could shout, »Here I am Godmother. Here I am«.
+But she had to look a long while before she discovered whence came the
+thin, little voice. Then she promptly rescued him from his perilous
+position. Poor Little Tom was so worn out from his bruises and his
+tremendous exertion, that he could hardly feel anything and it was only
+after he had eaten well and drunk some milk, that he could tell his
+Godmother about all the terrible adventures that had befallen him. How
+in the deep forest of the grain he had been ensnared by the terrible
+robber in his frightful net; how the great, yellow ostriches had pursued
+him and, when he was escaping from them, how a rough, hairy dragon had
+come upon him and chased him into the river, where he was first
+swallowed by an enormous whale and then cast out upon the shore.
+
+The kind Godmother was very, very sorry for poor Little Tom and began
+to realize the danger of leaving him alone, outside the hut, so she
+promised him that she herself would take him to the field. Tom no longer
+wanted to travel alone amid such terrible dangers and was pleased that
+he could accompany his Godmother; but they did not know in just what way
+they could accomplish this. She thought of taking him in her pocket, but
+Tom was afraid of such a dark place, among crumbs of bread and huge
+keys.
+
+On her breast, the Godmother, had a brooch which pinned together the
+ends of the kerchief she wore around her throat; so Tom sat down on the
+pleat of the cloth behind the brooch, grasping the bar to keep his hands
+steady. As she walked along, he thrust out his little head to look at
+the field, the meadow and the forest on top of the hill, where he hoped
+to run around with his Godmother, and wondered what new things he should
+see.
+
+When they reached the meadow under the slope of the hill, the Godmother
+stood Little Tom upon a stone among the heather and said, »I am going to
+gather the hay and I must hurry, as the weather looks as if it were
+going to change. While I am gone, you can walk around on this stone and
+look at the flowers, but do not crawl down, or you will surely get lost
+and I would look in vain for you.«
+
+Obediently, Tom walked around on the top of his rock. He crawled over
+the pebbles, peered into the various holes and examined the small, red
+carnations, the tall, blue monks-hoods and the pink thistles growing
+there. As he walked along, he heard a great buzzing in the air as if
+some one were angry and, on coming closer, he perceived a hairy
+bumble-bee staggering among the blossoms.
+
+Tom became confused as he had never seen such a creature before. He
+thought it might be a wild beast that would attack him. But the
+bumble-bee was quite harmless and, moreover, he had been sucking the
+sweet honey from the flowers so steadily since the early morning, that
+his head had become quite dizzy. As soon as he saw Little Tom, he sidled
+towards him and welcomed him as if he had known him all his life.
+
+»Brother,« he said, »what are you doing here and how are you? I am
+pleased that I have now found a comrade. Come, let us drink together.«
+
+It seemed strange to Tom, that this stout, old gentleman should appear
+to know him so well and should address him so familiarly. The old fellow
+went on to urge him, to fly with him up on the monks-hood, saying that
+there they would find a delicious drink. Tom tried to excuse himself,
+saying that he had given his promise not to leave the rock; but the
+bumble-bee said, »Oh just come along with me. I will bring you back. Let
+us be merry now.«
+
+Catching Tom in his arms, the bumble-bee carried him up the stem and
+seated him on a flower with an arched, blue bell over it, and then gave
+him a push right into the blossom. From the heart of this blue bell
+extended two horns with thick heads, which powdered him with a yellow
+dust that made him sneeze. At this, the bumble-bee laughed heartily and
+began to take long drinks from the cup under the blossoms.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Carefully, Tom crawled a little lower, stretched himself on his stomach
+and also drank. The juice was as clear as water and as sweet as honey.
+He drank gluttonously and, in a little while, became so merry and so
+light at heart that he could have embraced the whole world. When they
+had finished this cup, Tom crawled into another blossom and drank again.
+
+The bumble-bee had chosen another blossom for himself and between sips
+contentedly murmured to Tom, »This is my only pleasure. See how good it
+tastes to you also. Now you can see what it is to be merry«.
+
+Tom no longer knew what he was about. He sat in the blossom, singing and
+drinking, and forgetting everything around him. Presently, the
+bumble-bee, paying no further attention to Tom, flew away; but Tom did
+not notice this and was soon so befuddled, that he hardly knew anything
+at all.
+
+After a while, the Godmother came to the rock to see what he was about.
+Not finding him on top of the stone, she looked carefully around and
+soon discovered him peeping out of the monks-hood blossom. His little
+face was very red. He laughed and shouted and paid no attention to her
+when she spoke to him. At this she became angry, for she saw that he had
+been up to mischief; so she plucked the flower and took Tom out of it.
+
+»Will you not obey,« she said, »there is nothing else to do but to tie
+you up, or you will lose your life somewhere.«
+
+Taking him to the meadow, she pulled a hair from her head and tied him
+to a great thistle. Tom was so overcome by the sweet juice of the
+monkshood, that he lay down and immediately fell asleep.
+
+When he awoke after a while, he had a severe headache. He thought over
+what he had done and was very much ashamed that he had allowed himself
+to be misled by the drunken bumble-bee. He saw that he had been tied up
+and felt very sorry, wondering how he should excuse himself to his
+Godmother when she should return to him.
+
+In the meantime, Speckle, the cow, who had been grazing not far away,
+was all the while coming nearer and nearer to the spot where Tom had
+been fastened. He was lying flat on his back, gazing up into the sky,
+when suddenly a great mouth opened above him, extending from the earth
+to the sky, and--presto--as if a strong wind had blown, everything
+around him disappeared.
+
+With a great rattle, the jaws with their powerful teeth closed over him
+and Tom found himself in complete darkness. All doubled up behind one
+back tooth, he screamed lustily; but Speckle was moving her tongue and
+grinding the grass and did not feel Tom at all. Holding his breath, he
+waited until Speckle opened her mouth, when he ran quickly out on her
+lip and up on her nose to her forehead, where he held himself by
+grasping the hair between her horns. He gave a great sigh of relief as
+he saw that he was saved.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+When Speckle turned her head, Tom sat quietly, then got up and started
+for a walk along her neck and head.
+
+It happened that the Godmother turned and saw Speckle just as she bit
+the thistle. »Oh Tom, Tom, you poor little child,« she cried, running
+towards Speckle as fast as she could. She thought surely that the cow
+had swallowed him and that would be the last that she should see of him;
+but, as she came close, she heard a little voice calling from Speckle's
+back, »Here I am, Godmother, here I am.«
+
+She took him carefully in her hand and carried him off to the meadow
+where she was at work. There she seated him in one of her wooden shoes
+and saying, »Now you must not move from here until I come,« off she went
+to her work again; for she had to hurry with the hay, as dark clouds
+were coming up in the sky.
+
+Little Tom sat quietly in the shoe for a while. It was like a big hut to
+him. Then he thought he would have a look around, so he clambered down
+the side of the shoe and started to walk a little way on the meadow,
+when a big rain drop splashed on him and made him all wet. He was
+greatly surprised, as he did not know what it was that came down in such
+a flood and splashed on the ground all around him. With the rain came
+hail stones, like rocks of ice, larger than Tom's head. They bounded
+away and then came down so thickly, that Tom did not know which way to
+run.
+
+He turned back toward the shoe and ran for it with all his might, but
+on the way a great hailstone hit him and nearly killed him. He managed
+to clamber over the side of the shoe and fall inside, fainting. With
+such strength as he had left, he crawled away up in the toe of the shoe
+where he could hide. The hail rattled down like cannon balls and very
+soon the whole shoe was filled with the little balls of ice. When the
+Godmother came hurrying up, she could hardly find Tom who was curled up
+among the hailstones in the far end of the shoe, half frozen and
+completely exhausted. Taking him carefully in her warm hand, she hurried
+home with him.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Thus, his expedition with his Godmother turned out very sadly and she
+saw that, even when he was with her, he could not be sure of his life.
+
+When they had thoroughly dried themselves and eaten their supper, the
+Godmother said, »There is nothing to do, Tom, except for you to stay at
+home and study and not try for yourself to see the wonders of the world.
+It is a miracle that you did not die today.«
+
+Little Tom himself realized that, outside in the great world, there was
+no happiness for him and he readily promised that he would stay at home.
+But it made him sad to think how terrible and cruel the world is, and
+that in it there seemed to be no safe place for him.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+CHAPTER SEVEN.
+
+LITTLE TOM AND CHRYSOMELA.
+
+  SEVEN SPOT'S VISIT.
+  LITTLE TOM IS INVITED TO PAY A VISIT TO THE
+  KINGDOM OF THE SEVEN SPOTS.
+  HE SETS OUT ON A DRAGONFLY AND COMES TO THE
+  POOL IN THE FOREST.
+  THE BANQUET ON THE LEAF OF THE WATER-ROSE.
+  LITTLE TOM IS PROCLAIMED KING OF THE KINGDOM
+  OF THE SEVEN SPOTS.
+  HE MEETS CHRYSOMELA AGAIN. THE FESTIVAL.
+  THE VISIT TO THE WOOD-BUGS.
+  THE DWELLING IN THE HOLLOW BEECH-TREE.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Little Tom spent many days at home alone on top of the linen press.
+Outside, the sun shone and through the windows the flowers breathed a
+wonderful fragrance; but he no longer wished to go out, for he knew
+there only awaited him terrible traps and dangers. He worked sometimes
+in his garden, or wrote in his diary, or went over to the window to look
+out sadly between the flower pots to the wide world beyond.
+
+One day, as he was standing on the window ledge and looking into the
+garden, he perceived on a fuchsia near the window a beautiful, red
+ladybird with shining wings, crawling on the blossoms and looking
+sideways at him. His Godmother had been away since early morning and he
+knew that she would not return until evening, so he was very lonely
+there all by himself.
+
+The lady-bird opened its wings and flew over to the window. Alighting on
+the edge it started to crawl along, all the time looking towards Tom who
+thought to himself: »What is that gentleman looking for and does he know
+me?« But the lady-bird coming to him said, »Good morning Little Tom. How
+are you? I am very pleased to find you. I am Seven Spot from the
+lady-bird kingdom on the forest pool. We all thought that you had
+perished with the others in the terrible flood.«
+
+Little Tom was surprised to learn that this gentleman knew him so well,
+but he did not wish to inquire how it happened; so he replied that he
+was very pleased to meet Mr. Seven Spot, as he had no companions at all.
+They talked together for some time. Seven Spot told him all about the
+forest pool and how beautiful it was; and Little Tom, on his part,
+confided to his new friend his various adventures. Seven Spot listened
+attentively; but also seemed to have something on his mind. Presently he
+invited Tom to visit the lady-bird kingdom; but Tom declined, as he
+wished never again to act contrary to his Godmother's instructions and
+make an independent excursion into the great world.
+
+Seven Spot persisted, but when he saw that Tom would not be persuaded,
+he said: »My dear Tom, it is true that you suffered very much when you
+came out; but that is because you live with human beings and do not know
+your true place in life, nor your own friends. What kind of a life have
+you among humans? Although your Godmother loves you, you are neither her
+child nor her friend. Your real life is among the gnomes, but, since
+there are none left, you should dwell with their good friends who are
+like you in many respects. They will welcome and honor you. With them
+you can live in peace and happiness, and who knows if you might not find
+among them some one dear to your heart? But if you do not wish to go, I
+will fly back to my people and tell them that my mission was in vain.«
+
+After this long speech, Mr. Seven Spot raised his shells indifferently
+and aired his wings; but he did not fly away. Instead, he lighted on the
+pistil of the fuchsia and started to crawl slowly into the blossom.
+Little Tom was greatly surprised at what he had heard. Who had sent this
+messenger and who was thinking of him? He begged Seven Spot not to go
+away, but to tell him everything he knew. Seven Spot smiled.
+
+»Do you think, Little Tom,« he said, »that I would dare to enter the
+dwelling of a human being without reason, unless I felt sure of finding
+you here? Friend Mirmex told me about you on the meadow, where with his
+workmen he is collecting stores of grain. Then, someone else whom you
+know very well told us about your past life in the realm of the gnomes.
+We asked Mirmex to find out how you are living and what you are doing.
+So, while you were sleeping in the night, his workmen found a way to
+you, looked over everything very carefully and made a report to us. We
+realized that you would not find your happiness with human beings and we
+have, therefore, decided to ask you to come to us and rule over the
+lady-bird realm on the forest pool, since your own kingdom has perished.
+If you do not wish to accept, we shall all be very sorry and, later, you
+will recognize that your decision to remain with humans was not to your
+advantage and somebody will cry for you.«
+
+Little Tom was very curious to know who would cry for him and his heart
+was torn with the hope that he might see again one of his own people.
+Perhaps, after all, he was not alone in the world, but he feared that he
+might be terribly disappointed. He begged Seven Spot not to torture him,
+but to tell him who was expecting him. That gentleman only replied that
+he could say nothing further, as he had given his word of honor, but
+that Tom should go with him and see for himself.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Tom felt as if on thorns. He said that he could go and see, but to
+remain was impossible, as he could not bind himself to do that.
+Moreover, he did not know how to get to the wood. Seven Spot was pleased
+to see that Tom was yielding and said, »Only prepare your things and
+dress in your finest clothes. In a few minutes, I will return, and you
+need not bother about your transportation.« And off he flew.
+
+Tom at once set himself to pack his tiny hand-bag. Then he put on a
+beautiful suit of green and belted his sword about him. When he was
+ready, he was impatient to leave. He had barely completed his
+preparations however, when Seven Spot appeared at the window.
+
+Little Tom, snatching his bag, ran to him at once. There, on the ledge,
+he saw a gorgeous dragonfly with golden eyes, slim, blue body and
+transparent rainbow wings. Tom was a little embarrassed before such a
+magnificent creature; but Seven Spot, without any hesitation, placed
+Tom's bag upon the dragonfly and told him to get on its back. In a
+trice, they were flying like a shot through the warm, summer air.
+
+Such a wonderful journey it was, under the blue sky, over the broad
+stretches of land, high above the earth. The dragonfly, as if not
+feeling the burden, sparkled and glistened in the rays of the sun, while
+above them Seven Spot was flying in great circles.
+
+Tom was intoxicated by the swift flight through the beautiful sunshine
+and the fresh breeze, which, far below them, rippled the sea of grain
+into little waves. Over the slope they flew, across the fields and into
+the cool twilight of the forest, among the pine trees and the beeches.
+Under the thick, quiet arches of the leaves, Tom looked around in
+surprise; but the dragonfly winged his way unerringly, deeper and deeper
+into the wood, until they came, at last, to the valley where, beyond the
+ferns and the colts-foot, shone a dark pool covered with yellow and
+white pond lilies.
+
+There the dragonfly settled into the cool moss. Tom stepped down, but
+before he could turn and thank this kind friend, the dragonfly had sped
+up in the air like a colored spark and disappeared among the yellow
+candles of the cat tails.
+
+It seemed to Tom as if he had landed in some magic kingdom. All about
+him were growing gigantic willow-herbs with thick bunches of little red
+blossoms, broad crowns of yellow lettuce and water crow-feet on thin,
+spreading stalks, with their tender little heads sparkling like white
+flames. Everything was radiant, glittering with bright colors, and
+perfumed with the sweet odors of the forest.
+
+When Tom turned around, he found Seven Spot standing beside him. He
+invited Tom to come with him, saying that all the lady-birds were
+waiting. They went under an arch of green leaves and through a lofty
+green palace to the sprays of sweet-smelling mint by the water. On the
+leaves of the mint, were sitting, side by side, hundreds and hundreds of
+lady-birds, in colors of gold, brown, violet, red and yellow. All
+crowded forward to see the guest, whom they greeted with cheers.
+
+Little Tom was led by the crowd to the shore of the pool, where a great
+water-bug waited. Tom sat on this smooth, shiny back, and off he went
+like a shot over the water to a broad water-lily leaf, where a grand
+banquet was prepared. The lady-birds flew ahead and, lighting on a leaf,
+waited for him, their brilliant colors looking like a border of
+sparkling gems. When Tom arrived, Seven Spot stepped out from the crowd
+and welcomed him with a touching speech.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+»Prince Tom, be welcomed to our Lady-bird Kingdom. Long have we waited
+for you and now respectfully beg you to be our king, rule over our land
+and take for your wife the true comrade of your youth, who, at the time
+of the flood, was visiting us and so was saved.«
+
+As soon as Seven Spot stopped speaking, the water lily opened and out
+stepped a golden haired girl in a violet dress. »Chrysomela« cried Tom
+and ran to her with open arms.
+
+»Long live our King, Little Tom!« was shouted on all sides in a loud
+chorus, while a great crowd of golden flies flew around and around the
+pool and a merry choir sang to celebrate the fête.
+
+Tom was quite beside himself with happiness. The sad past faded away
+and he saw only before him the goldenhaired girl, who smiled at him from
+her blue eyes. They held each other's hands and talked and talked, until
+Seven Spot interrupted them to ask them to sit down to the banquet and
+accept the homage of their subjects.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The banquet was magnificent. Stuffed tiny snails, salad of flower
+tendrils, a giant whitebait born by four cooks on a dog-rose leaf, mint
+candies, and, for drinking, blackberry wine drawn directly from a great
+berry standing on the edge of the leaf.
+
+When they began to feast, beautiful music sounded. It was the famous
+Gnat Quartette, two gnats playing violins, a small cicada, the cello and
+a wood-bee, the bass viol. Joyous strains rang through the warm summer
+air. Presently, a swarm of gnats hovered over the water close by,
+dancing a graceful ballet; and, when they had finished, there came a
+dragonfly who gave an acrobatic performance with giddy jumps and dizzy
+whirling.
+
+The rest of the kingdom of the lady-birds were sitting all around the
+shore of the pool on mint and ferns, cheering and shouting with joy. On
+a fallen trunk by the water, sat a sedate group of water-bugs chewing
+young tendrils and nodding approval with their beards.
+
+By the time the celebration was finished, evening had come and a serious
+brown water-bug came up to invite them to visit the wood-bugs mines. In
+a long procession, they followed him to a powerful, old beech, where he
+conducted them through deep, long corridors to a hollow in the tree
+arranged as a beautiful hall, in which Little Tom and Chrysomela might
+have their home. Tom was wondering how they could live there without
+furniture or utensils; but when he stepped inside, he was struck with
+surprise.
+
+The great hall was lighted from above by dry wood, which glowed with a
+subdued, blue light showing all his own furnishings from Castle Easter
+Egg, neatly arranged around the walls; all the drawers were in the
+cupboards, all the utensils were there, not even a cup was missing.
+
+By the entrance stood Mirmex, with a whole regiment of his ants. He
+said, »I welcome you to your new kingdom and ask you to be our good
+neighbor, as we used to be with your father.«
+
+When Tom had flown away to the lily pond, the ants had moved all his
+belongings and arranged everything in the new palace. They knew very
+well, when Tom had seen Chrysomela, that he would not return to his
+Godmother.
+
+Tom thanked them all very heartily and Mirmex asked him to visit their
+Black Town on the morrow, which he gladly promised to do, remembering
+how his father had planned to send him there to learn how to rule a
+kingdom.
+
+After all had said good night, Little Tom and Chrysomela remained in
+their new home while the crickets under the beech sang them a serenade.
+
+In the morning, when they came out of the old beech, they were greeted
+by a choir of crickets whose music rang clear to the tops of the trees.
+Already, Mirmex and some of the ants, were standing before the entrance,
+among them a brilliant, green rose-bug for carrying Tom to Black Town.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Many onlookers stood about. The Lady-birds greeted their new king, while
+snails on the mushrooms stretched up their heads, so that they, too,
+could see what was going on. Golden flies crowded around in swarms,
+while on the path stood a line of wood-bugs as a guard of honor.
+
+After saying good-bye to Chrysomela, Tom went down to the moss and
+greeted his friends the ants. Chrysomela was very sad that he was
+leaving her so soon and almost wept. She was afraid that she might lose
+him again, as they were so alone in the great world; but Tom soothed her
+by saying that he would surely return the next day, and that he was
+obliged to make this visit to their neighbors to honor them and fulfil
+his father's wish.
+
+Then they arranged with Seven Spot where they should meet him and Seven
+Spot proposed that, immediately on his return, Tom and Chrysomela should
+accompany him to inspect their own kingdom.
+
+When all preparations had been completed, Tom, in full armor, jumped
+upon the rose-bug, the noisy trumpets of the gadflies sounded and the
+great procession started for Black Town.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+CHAPTER EIGHT.
+
+THE ANTS' TOWN.
+
+  LITTLE TOM GOES INTO THE CITY OF THE ANTS.
+  MIRMEX TELLS HIM ABOUT THE KINGDOM OF THE ANTS.
+  THE WELCOMING. THE WALK THROUGH THE CITY.
+  THE WORMS AND THE CHRYSALISES.
+  MIRMEX TELLS ABOUT THE REDHEADS AND THEIR
+  SLAVES.
+  THE DESERTED CITY.
+  THE STORE-HOUSES, THE STABLES, THE HOT-BEDS.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+The procession went on through the silent wood and the morning mists.
+Thousands of dew drops sparkled like diamonds in the moss. Overhead hung
+branches of billberry heavily laden with dark fruit, while, on either
+side, bright red berries peered from the leaves. After they had passed
+the moss plain, they came upon gigantic rocks strewn along the pathway
+of the ants in the dry spines. They crossed by these stones over little
+valleys and passing across tree roots, came to a clearing on the border
+of the Ants kingdom.
+
+There was a great crowd of ants waiting to welcome them. An old ant
+greeted Tom in the name of the whole community and, thanking him for the
+honor of his visit, placed himself in front of the procession, which at
+once began to move along the broad path.
+
+Tom noticed how the surroundings immediately changed. On all sides, were
+gangs of diligent workers, crossing or walking along the path, pulling
+beams, stones and dead flies, hurrying in their work and paying no heed
+to the procession. The nearer they came to the town, the greater became
+the crowds, while the path broadened and was hard, level and free from
+all obstructions. Presently, it opened into a broader clearing, from
+which moss, grass and sticks had been cleared away. In the background,
+appeared a great mound known as Black Town.
+
+On the way, Mirmex sat with Little Tom on the rose-bug and explained to
+him how the town was founded. First, a sheltered location was chosen
+under a tall pine tree, in the clear sun, but with the branches serving
+as a protection in case of rain. Then, paths were laid out in various
+directions where there was plenty of building materials, while
+messengers were sent out to explore the broader country beyond where one
+could find precious grains of grass or hunt green bugs. To such places
+they at once laid out the shortest paths, stamped hard and made
+perfectly smooth, tore out all the roots and built bridges over the
+marsh and other inaccessible places.
+
+While Mirmex talked, he became very affable. Tom listened to him most
+attentively and while he did not understand everything that was told
+him, nevertheless, he recognized that there was a great difference
+between the realm of the ants and that of the ladybirds. The latter were
+living a carefree life, dancing and making merry the whole day long,
+while the ants had a very strict discipline, divided their work
+carefully among themselves and made provision for the welfare of their
+descendants and for the protection of the town.
+
+Tom decided that, on this visit, he would merely look over their
+arrangements, and, later, would return to them with Chrysomela, in order
+to study their methods of administration, so that he could apply them in
+his ladybird kingdom.
+
+Finally, they arrived at the level plain before the town, where the
+noise of the working ants did not cease. The entire surface of the town
+was covered by workers, running and building, while there was a constant
+crowd carrying burdens through the gates of the town. Tom noticed a
+strong perfume that seemed to come from the town itself. After he had
+dismounted from the rose-bug, he was led through a broad corridor within
+the ants mound, where in a low, but solidly constructed hall,
+refreshments had been prepared, consisting of grass grains, delicious,
+palatable bulbs that seemed to melt on the tongue, and sweet juices of
+which Tom had never seen the like, but which tasted very good to him.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+According to their habit the ants ate so rapidly, that Little Tom could
+hardly keep up with them. After they had finished, Mirmex asked what he
+would like to see first: The building, the division and character of the
+daily work, or the storehouses. Tom replied politely that everything was
+of interest to him and that he would leave the selection to Mirmex's
+judgment.
+
+They took leave of the others, who were becoming anxious to return to
+their work and then Mirmex said, »First, I will show you what is most
+precious and dear to us and our future generation«.
+
+They walked through a long corridor, deep in the town. In the darkness,
+Mirmex ran along confidently, only here and there touching the walls,
+while Little Tom was obliged to grope his way. He was hot and the strong
+fragrance was almost overpowering, while every now and then he bumped
+into workmen hurrying and quickly passing around them. Finally, they
+came into a series of dry, warm halls, and when Tom became accustomed to
+the darkness, he perceived thousands of little, light worms that were
+stretching their necks and turning their little black heads.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Workmen were running among them, pushing into their little mouths a
+sweet porridge and thus feeding them. Mirmex silently watched the
+careful attention of the workers for a moment and then said, »These are
+our youth, our pride and hope. They were born from eggs and when they
+grow up, will enclose themselves in chrysalises from which they will
+come out as ants, our descendants. Our chief concern is that they have a
+good living place, neither wet nor cool and that they have enough
+porridge, so that they will develop properly.«
+
+Tom was greatly touched by the ants' care of their little ones, and was
+surprised that they had such experienced and skilful nurses who seemed
+to love their wards so tenderly.
+
+They went up one story higher and found, lying on the floor, thousands
+of white chrysalises all wrapped up in silken coverings. A number of the
+ants were taking these chrysalises in their strong jaws and carrying
+them out through a broad corridor at the end of which daylight was
+shining. Following them, Tom and Mirmex came out under a thick arch of
+pine needles, through which circles had been bitten, to allow the rays
+of the sun to strike the ant hill. On these dry places where the sun was
+shining, the ants placed the chrysalises side by side, so that they
+should be warmed in its rays.
+
+The entire top of the town was covered by stones over which were placed
+pine needles to shed the water when it rained. Mirmex and Tom stepped up
+on one of these stones and looked about them. They saw roads like white
+threads, that lost themselves in the high grass and moss. All over the
+town were the thickly crowded workmen, while other groups were hurrying
+along the paths.
+
+Mirmex explained to Tom the troubles they had with the chrysalises. In
+the mound were corridors of different temperatures so that, according to
+the weather, the chrysalises could be taken where the conditions were
+favorable, while, on clear, dry days, they were brought out in the sun.
+
+Returning inside into a different hall, Little Tom was given a surprise.
+On the floor were lying many chrysalises and on them were ants biting
+and tearing their silk coverings. Tom thought that the ants wanted to
+eat their young, but soon saw that from the white coverings, little
+black heads with shining black bodies were trying to get out and with
+what pleasure the nurses were welcoming them, cleaning them, stretching
+their cramped legs and their bent-up feelers, bringing them food and
+teaching them how to eat.
+
+It was touching to see the little fellows, looking around in surprise,
+falling clumsily about and throwing themselves eagerly on the sweet
+porridge. From the hall led two other corridors, sloping downward, and,
+as Tom was looking into them, Mirmex came to him and said: »These are
+safety exits. When danger threatens, through one of these the workers
+carry the chrysalises outside, where they crawl on the flowers and the
+grass, as our enemies cannot reach these heights. Through the second,
+they can go into the depths of the town and there hide the chrysalises
+in the secret chambers.«
+
+As Mirmex led him through the first exit which opened at the opposite
+end of the town, directly into the highgrowing grass, which the ants had
+spared, Tom wondered what sort of enemies threatened the ants. As they
+walked along Mirmex enlightened him.
+
+»Since unremembered time, the ants have had a great enemy, the Redheads.
+They are larger than we, ugly, red fellows and cruel, rough fighters.
+From early childhood they do nothing but perfect themselves in fighting
+and robbing. They do not understand work and do not even know how to eat
+by themselves. The have long jaws sharp as a lance, with which, at one
+stroke, they can pierce an enemy's head. Their slaves do all their work,
+build their town, care for their children, gather their stock and also
+feed them. The slaves are in greater numbers than their masters and
+could let them die from hunger, yet they never revolt, having no idea of
+the freedom and liberty of the ants in their independent realm. That is
+because they have never lived in freedom. The Redheads are not
+interested in their grown-up enemies, whom they slay, but they steal the
+chrysalises, which they give into the care of the slaves. These the
+slaves care for, bringing up the little ants and teaching them how to
+work for their masters. The youths know nothing of the life of the
+nation from which they came, only knowing how to work for their masters
+and their descendants.«
+
+»You see how efficiently one works here with us. Everyone knows exactly
+his task and does it unceasingly until his last breath, and all work for
+the good of the community. The workman gladly performs his task. He is
+modest and knows neither pleasure nor idleness. His only consolation is
+the proper result of his labors, but he feels himself free, knowing that
+he is creating strong and healthy descendants and is insuring the
+freedom and liberty of the whole nation.«
+
+»Our descendants would prefer to die rather than serve foreign masters.
+This the Redheads well know and, therefore, they take the ungrown
+children, who know nothing of the world, and train them as their slaves.
+Many, many thousands of our people are serving them truly and devotedly,
+but are forever lost to us.«
+
+»But why do you not instruct them,« asked Tom excitedly? »Why do you not
+explain how degrading it is to deny one's own people and serve
+strangers, altogether abandoning one's own nation?«
+
+»That is all in vain,« replied Mirmex. »Who grows up a slave will remain
+a slave. They are quite satisfied with their fate and do not understand
+why they would be better off with us. If they should leave their
+masters, they would not feel happy with us.«
+
+»Then why do you not prepare yourselves and not let them capture the
+chrysalises? Why do you not perfect yourselves in fighting and kill them
+when they come against you?« Little Tom was almost beside himself with
+anger and longed to lead an expedition against the Redheads and destroy
+them, but Mirmex remained cool and undisturbed.
+
+»They are stronger in body and more skilled in fighting,« he answered.
+»If we wanted to ruin them, we should have to give up our manner of
+living; we should have to devote ourselves to fighting, warring and
+gaining skill in arms. Who among us would then attend to the
+agricultural work? Then we should be like them, murderers and robbers,
+living only on the work of others, and that we do not wish to be. We try
+to defend ourselves and at the same time not change our mode of life. We
+build our towns far from the Redheads and, if necessary, would rather
+move away from them. We station guards over our entire territory and, if
+we are attacked, meet the enemy bravely. We also know how to fight. Our
+workmen are skilful and when the worst comes, they become very good
+fighters. We have often defeated the Redheads and driven them away from
+our town; but we do not attack their towns or rob them. The Redheads
+avoid our large towns and attack those that are young and newly
+established. Only when they lack slaves, do they attack our principal
+communities. As for us, we are satisfied to stand up for our rights,
+defend our liberty and our young ones, and live according to our
+destiny.«
+
+Little Tom looked admiringly at Mirmex, who was talking quietly and
+earnestly, but Tom felt his genuine loyalty to his native town and his
+passionate love for freedom.
+
+In the meantime, they came to a lonely part at the back of the town,
+where the corridors were ruined and the surface covered with dust. Tom
+asked in surprise, why such a large part of the town was left in ruins.
+Mirmex explained that this was the oldest portion which had been well
+founded, but, overhead in the pine tree, something had happened. A
+branch had been torn off by the wind, so that the town was not properly
+protected from the rain and the chrysalises were threatened by the
+dampness. Therefore, they started to build new halls a little farther
+along, where it was drier and better sheltered, until the town was
+higher and larger, into which they would then move their stores and the
+chrysalises.
+
+Then Mirmex asked Tom to go with him and look at the storehouses; so
+they went back to the town and passed through winding corridors to great
+rooms, where they met many ants carrying heavy burdens. Tom saw the
+rooms piled clear to the top with little grains dried and cleaned. In
+one room many ants were sitting, some cleaning the grains, others
+blowing away the chaff and still others stacking up the finished
+product. Others gathered up the refuse and carried it outside the ant
+hill.
+
+»These,« said Mirmex, »are our granaries and our stores for bad seasons.
+There are enough supplies here to support the town for a long while.«
+
+Then they went to a hall higher up, where the porridge for the
+chrysalises was being prepared, and there Tom saw workers hurrying out
+of the nests with empty coverings of the chrysalises. He thought how
+this soft silk used to be brought by the gnome merchants to his father
+and how, at home, they were woven into precious silken garments.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+From the granaries and kitchens, they came to the stalls, where Tom saw
+green bugs, fat and lazy, crawling under a low arch. From the back of
+each bug extended two little tubes, through which the ants were sucking
+as they tickled the bugs with their feelers. Tom was surprised again,
+when Mirmex explained that, through these tubes, the bugs let out a
+sweet juice, of which the ants are very fond. »We keep many of them
+here,« continued Mirmex, »for the workers engaged in the town. Those who
+are working outside, have their large stalls on the flowers.«
+
+Tom asked why the bugs on the flowers did not run away and Mirmex told
+him, that where there were enough bugs on a flower, the ants surrounded
+it with trenches and ramparts, so that the bugs were in captivity and
+could not escape. »There they stay in their captivity and do not have to
+be fed and the workmen do not have to return to the town to drink,« he
+added.
+
+Little Tom sincerely admired the whole arrangement of the ants town.
+This pleased Mirmex. »Let us go a little further,« he continued. »I will
+next show you our hot-beds.« They went along a narrow corridor, and Tom,
+touching the walls, found them damp. They passed through rooms that were
+very hot, until they reached a low chamber which was filled with damp,
+round leaves, while the walls were covered with mildew. Tom did not care
+to go into this damp hot bed, but Mirmex laughed.
+
+»Do you remember,« he inquired, »how you helped us build a crossing over
+the strip of glue on the rose-bush in the garden? At that time you were
+curious to know why we were biting out little circles from the rose
+leaves and were carrying them away. Here you see the leaves piled up in
+heaps. In this part of the mound grows a mushroom. Here it is damp. The
+water comes from a near-by mossfield and the dampness is good for the
+mushroom mildew. It puts out little thin stalks that grow up from the
+rose leaves.«
+
+Tom noticed that the heaps were covered with long stalks which
+surrounded them like grass. While he was looking at them, many ants came
+into the room. One examined the stalks to see if they were sufficiently
+grown and then they started to work. One after the other, they bit the
+shoots on the end. Mirmex conducted Tom into the second room, so as not
+to be in the way of the workers. There were no longer stalks on the
+leaves but, in their place, stunted, round bulbs as if the heap were
+covered with pin heads.
+
+»If we should allow the shoots to grow«, remarked Mirmex, »they would
+fill the whole room and be of no use; therefore, we must bite them on
+the end, and so the shoots are stunted and grow into the broad, juicy
+bulbs which are our best food.«
+
+Tom tasted one or two of the bulbs and found them very good. They were
+slightly sweet and full of juice. He envied the ants their clever mode
+of living. He doubted if he would be able to bring the Ladybirds to such
+a degree of perfection; but when they were leaving the halls, he thought
+that, after all, the life of the Ladybirds was better, more beautiful,
+fresher, and more joyous, being spent in pleasure under the great,
+bright sky, without troubles, without heavy labor, and full of happiness
+and merriment.
+
+He thought that he would speak to Mirmex about it and ask him why the
+ants have no pleasure and merriment, if life is so serious that all the
+time it is necessary to worry and work and be on guard and not to have
+one moment of relief or time for one's own pleasure.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+CHAPTER NINE.
+
+THE WAR OF THE ANTS.
+
+  THE PREPARATIONS FOR WAR.
+  LITTLE TOM BECOMES THE COMMANDER OF THE
+  BLACK TOWN.
+  THE AMBUSCADE OF THE REDHEADS.
+  LITTLE TOM'S VICTORY. THE PURSUIT OF THE ENEMY.
+  LITTLE TOM TAKEN CAPTIVE.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+[Illustration]
+
+When they came to the square before the town, Tom told Mirmex of his
+doubts, but before the latter could answer they perceived an ant
+hurrying at great speed out of the moss and barely succeeding in
+staggering around them to the gate. Mirmex looked after him in
+astonishment, but, at this moment, a crowd of the workmen ran out,
+quickly divided themselves into groups, and took their stations on the
+roads in every direction.
+
+The whole town was swarming with workmen, hurrying out, and with the
+nurses who were quickly carrying the chrysalises from the place where
+they had been sunning themselves, inside the mound. Some exciting
+message had set the town in an uproar.
+
+Mirmex immediately disappeared through the gate and Tom was left to look
+on the excited turmoil. It seemed to him the wildest disorder, that
+every one was hustling and running around, as if bereft of reason; but
+he soon saw that all this bustling was part of a carefully directed plan
+and that something was being carried out that he did not understand.
+
+From the gates were coming ants who stretched themselves in long,
+well-ordered lines and then disappeared in the moss. Work in the town
+ceased, and at once the whole surface was deserted; but from all the
+roads, crowds of ants came quickly into the square, where they formed
+themselves in battle array.
+
+Tom finally recognized that the preparations were for battle. At that
+moment, Mirmex came up to him and started leading him into the town,
+telling him that news had come of a marauding expedition of the
+Redheads.
+
+The guards on the borders had seen some Redheads spying about and had
+caught some black slaves, from whom they learned that, since early
+morning, the Redheads had been planning a most formidable expedition. At
+first, they thought the Redheads were planning to attack a small town by
+the brook, in the forest, but they sent out some spies of their own who
+came upon a great crowd of Redheads gathering by the stumps on the
+clearing leading to Black Town, and they at once sent in the messenger
+to give the alarm.
+
+»This will be a battle such as we have never seen,« said Mirmex. »The
+Redheads have all gone into this attack in which they have formed great
+armies. In all probability, they wish to rob us, not only of our
+children but of our large harvests. They themselves live deep in the
+valley, where there is little grass and the country is not rich, while
+they know that we are close to the fields and gardens from which we
+have, this year, gathered great stores of food. This time it will be a
+fight for life or death. Fortunately, we have time to send out
+messengers and collect all our strength and to form our army.«
+
+Tom was trembling with excitement and asked to be allowed to fight in
+the first rank and to help in the victory over the robbers. Mirmex
+thanked him. »You will be most welcome,« he said, »but you cannot go
+into the field, for you do not know our way of fighting. It is not a
+question of personal bravery but of a sound plan based on our knowledge
+of the ground. We are not afraid of the result, for we are well prepared
+and all that we need is the full strength of our numbers to equalize the
+greater weight and the better fighting equipment of our enemies. The
+only thing we fear is the treacherous attack of some reserve force, for
+the Redheads are very crafty and know how to conceal their plans and we
+are quite likely to be attacked in the town while our forces are all in
+the field.«
+
+[Illustration]
+
+»We ought to leave a garrison to defend the town. Therefore, we will ask
+you to remain for its defense, in which case a small group with you will
+be sufficient. Then we will not fear that anything will happen behind
+our backs, while we are out in the field.«
+
+Tom thanked Mirmex for this confidence and promised him that he would
+defend the town to his last breath.
+
+In the meantime, the last divisions were disappearing in the moss and in
+the grass. The town became quiet; only some guards were running on the
+stones at the top and crawling up the flowers in the square. A small
+garrison remained at the crossroads and watched the last of the soldiers
+marching toward the depths of the wood. Mirmex quickly said good-bye and
+also disappeared. Tom returned to the town, as he wanted to mount to the
+top and take a look around the country.
+
+Thus a terrible war started which completely changed Tom's fate.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The broad country around the ants' town was almost deserted. Tom saw
+only his garrison in the square, the guards hiding in the blossoms of
+hawkweed and grass stems, groups of workmen putting various things in
+order, and the nurses in perturbation, running all over the town and
+taking care of the entrances where they had placed the chrysalises.
+
+Tom ran down from the top of the mound, saw that there were guards at
+the magazines and went out to take a look at the surroundings. At the
+gate, he met two guards who were leading his rose-bug steed out of the
+stall, having been ordered by Mirmex to get him ready, in case Tom
+should need him in the fight. Tom at once mounted and rode to the
+heather, to see if there was any danger threatening the town in that
+direction.
+
+On the way, he thought of his friends and wondered how they were getting
+on in the fight; then he thought of Chrysomela and decided that after
+the battle he would send her a message, lest she should worry about him.
+
+As he rode through the moss, he saw behind a stone at one side, two
+little red spots moving. They seemed, at first, only two dry twigs, but
+their movement was suspicious. He rode along slowly as if he did not see
+them, but when he had come up to them, he jumped down suddenly and with
+drawn sword threw himself behind the stone; there he found a Redhead
+whom he cut in two. The moss moved and there were two other Redheads
+running away. Tom left them, mounted hurriedly and rode back to the town
+as fast as he could go. It was high time.
+
+The reserves of the Redhead army were stealing through the heather to
+the town, hoping to find it weakly guarded and to plunder it. When a
+messenger reached them reporting how a giant had killed one of their
+spies, they were greatly surprised; but they did not suspect that Tom
+was an ally of the Black Ants, so they became quieted, thinking that the
+giant had met their spies only by accident, and started forward toward
+the town.
+
+Tom ordered all the guards to be brought back to the town, so that they
+should not be surprised by the attack of the Redheads, and placed part
+of the garrison on top of the town and the rest in the grass close by.
+He already knew whence the attack would come and was prepared to meet
+it.
+
+The Redheads crawled carefully through the moss and when they did not
+encounter any guards, they thought that the Black Ants did not suspect
+that they had reserves. They soon came out on the square and ran in a
+great crowd to the town which seemed to be deserted. As soon as they
+came close, Tom sent the garrison hidden by the gates to attack them.
+Although taken by surprise, the Redheads defended themselves bravely.
+
+They struck the defenders with their long, sharp jaws and in a compact
+body, pushed forward toward the main gate. At this moment, out of the
+gate came Tom with his band of selected workers, and wherever he struck
+with his sword, off flew a red head or a foot. Then, two or three of his
+companions would throw themselves on the red fighters, biting their feet
+and backs. The Redheads became afraid and leaving many dead and wounded
+on the square, ran headlong for the moss.
+
+At this moment, a great company of Black Ants that had hidden in the
+grass, came out and met them. A terrible fight followed and only a few
+of the Redheads were able to beat their way through the black ranks and
+return as best they could to the rest of their army.
+
+Tom was not satisfied with this victory. He sat on his rose-bug and, in
+his rage, wished to exterminate the Redheads altogether. All his friends
+begged him not to leave the town, but he was burning for revenge.
+Leaving the older men on guard, he chose a group of young, enthusiastic
+workers and hurried with them after the retreating enemy.
+
+Moss, red and blue berries, sped by them as they hastened on and,
+whenever they came to one of their foes lagging behind, they immediately
+cut him to pieces. The rose-bug, who also became enthusiastic over the
+fight, was soon running at the head of the scattered crowd and wherever
+he saw a Redhead easily overtook him, when Little Tom would cut him down
+with his sword. So they ran blindly ahead, paying little heed to
+anything, intoxicated with their victory.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Now brave Little Tom did not know the sly cunning of his foes. The
+fleeing ones scattered broadly as they made for their home. The
+strongest among them, however, stopped a moment and, hiding themselves,
+noticed that Tom was riding almost alone, having outridden his own
+troop. Then they ran as fast as they could to their home, where they
+found a swarm of slaves awaiting the results of the main battle. With
+them were many of their masters in great excitement. They had received
+many discouraging reports. Many fighters had been lost and the army was
+being pressed back, step by step.
+
+Tom was really dreaming how he would attack the deserted Red Town, start
+a revolt of the black slaves and fall upon their army in the rear, thus
+completing the victory. He did not even wait for his scattered party to
+catch up with him and, as soon as he saw the black slaves, immediately
+urged his steed after them. The slaves became frightened at the sight of
+this victorious giant on a golden horse and turned around, running in
+desperate fright with Tom galloping after them.
+
+At this moment, some of those who were retreating came up and reported
+that just behind them was a great giant at the head of a band of Black
+fighters, heading straight for their town. Immediately, they gathered
+themselves together and, hiding all along the path, sent some black
+slaves toward Tom. They knew these slaves could not fight, but would
+start to run away from Tom and thus draw him on.
+
+Already, before him, appeared the town and he was almost on the square
+in front of it, when the Red fighters came out of their ambush and threw
+themselves on the rose-bug. He stopped. Tom struck around him into the
+red bodies which squirmed under his blows; but the clever fighters,
+protected by the bodies of their fallen comrades, attacked him by biting
+his feet with their powerful jaws, until he slipped and fell to the
+ground.
+
+Before he could get up, they rendered him unconscious and ordered the
+slaves to drag him victoriously into the town. There they took away
+everything that he had, bit his clothes to pieces and left him
+unconscious in a dark dungeon.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+CHAPTER TEN.
+
+LITTLE TOM IN CAPTIVITY AND FREEDOM.
+
+  THE DEFEAT OF THE REDHEADS.
+  MIRMEX TRIES TO FIND LITTLE TOM.
+  LITTLE TOM IN PRISON.
+  THE BANQUET OF THE REDHEADS.
+  LITTLE TOM BECOMES AN ARCHITECT.
+  HIS WALKS TO THE BROOK.
+  SEVEN SPOT DISCOVERS THE WHEREABOUTS OF
+  LITTLE TOM.
+  LITTLE TOM SAVED BY THE WOOD-BUG.
+  LITTLE TOM AND CHRYSOMELA.
+  THE PREPARATIONS FOR THE WINTER-SLEEP.
+  LITTLE TOM AND CHRYSOMELA SET OUT ON THEIR
+  WAY TO THE ABODES OF MEN.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+The Red fighters returned to their nest in disorder and were very angry.
+They had lost the battle. The Blacks, after chasing them away, stopped
+the pursuit and returned to their homes. Mirmex hurried along among the
+first to learn how things were going in the town. When he approached,
+the guards hurried out to meet him with great joy and told him how Tom
+had defeated the treacherous attack of the Reds and how the town was
+untouched.
+
+Mirmex at once looked for Tom to thank him and was surprised that he did
+not come to greet him. When he learned that Tom had gone in pursuit of
+the fleeing enemy, he was greatly troubled. He knew Tom's brave heart
+and also the cool, treacherous Redheads and he feared for the worst.
+
+The town quickly resumed its normal life. Workers cleared the square and
+removed the dead bodies, while the nurses carried the chrysalises back
+to the upper stories; everything moved along in the regular channels,
+only Mirmex ran impatiently out to the paths looking and waiting for
+Tom's return.
+
+But he did not return. Towards evening, the tired warriors who had
+accompanied him, returned and told of his brave fight and his capture.
+They related how he was overpowered and pulled away before they could
+run to his rescue.
+
+The entire town was very sad over the fate of its brave defender. Mirmex
+went himself to announce the sad news to Chrysomela and the Ladybird
+kingdom. There was no thought of rescue. In their defenses the Red
+fighters were invincible. This the Black Ants knew very well. Therefore
+they gave up the idea of trying to free Tom. They again took up the work
+that had been interrupted by the fight and could no longer be delayed,
+as they were preparing for the winter.
+
+In the meantime, Tom was lying wounded and unconscious in the nest of
+the Redheads, who crawled over him and looked at him with the greatest
+curiosity. When he finally revived, he could not move and lay for a long
+while trying to think where he was. He felt the touch of feelers and
+feet, which he began to push away, but was at once bitten. Then he
+remembered his defeat and that he was in captivity.
+
+When the Redheads saw that Tom was becoming conscious, they gathered
+around him. He raised himself to a sitting position with difficulty and
+looked about. He saw that they had brought him a kind of porridge with
+little seeds in it, but he was not hungry. His wounds burned and he had
+a fever. When he fully recalled all that had happened, he almost cried
+with sorrow. All his dreams of capturing the town had melted away, and
+his friends had vanished. What was to happen to Chrysomela? In vain, she
+would be waiting and watching for her hero to return. And what would
+happen to him?
+
+When the Redheads had looked at Tom long enough to satisfy their
+curiosity, they left him alone; but he noted that the little hall was
+well guarded and that they were watching to see what he would do when he
+could again control the strength of his limbs. After his pain and
+sadness had passed, he did not by any means give up all hope. He thought
+that Mirmex would surely learn of his fate and tell what had happened to
+the ladybirds, and his friends would plan how to set him free.
+
+Of course they were powerless against the Redheads and would not dare to
+attack their town. He himself, without armor and with torn clothes would
+not dare to pit his strength alone against his captors. He had observed
+that they were quarrelsome, doughty and well armed.
+
+If he should stand up against them, even if he could kill some of them,
+he would be wounded and very likely be killed himself. He realized that,
+first of all, he must regain his strength, act very quietly so as not to
+arouse suspicion, and wait for an opportunity to escape. Therefore, he
+sat quietly all day long, ate the unpalatable seed porridge, until he
+felt that he had quite recovered his strength.
+
+The Redheads noticed that he was beginning to walk about and appearing
+better; so, one morning, they sent a few slaves to him to request him to
+go out with them. He accompanied them quietly through the corridors and
+out on the square where many fighters had gathered. They sat around him
+in a dense circle, proud in manner and not seeming to notice anything
+while they were being served by their slaves.
+
+Tom saw how the slaves swarmed about them, bringing to them quantities
+of food. Each fighter simply opened his terrible jaws and the obliging
+slaves quickly and skilfully thrust in morsels of tasty food. None of
+them wanted to be kept waiting a minute, and if he did not immediately
+get his morsel he would pitilessly grasp the slave by the foot and
+remind him of his duty.
+
+Tom paled with anger when he saw all this, and waited to see what would
+happen next. When the masters had eaten enough, they formed into dense
+battle array for an expedition and started off, while in the town only
+the slaves and a few guards remained, walking about without noticing Tom
+in the least.
+
+Some of the slaves ran to Tom and led him through corridors to a great
+hall, whose ceiling had fallen. With their feelers, they pointed to a
+heap of stones and spines. He understood that they were asking him to
+help. He thought the best thing to do would be to work and thus gain
+their confidence, so that he would not remain all of the time locked up
+in his dark cell.
+
+He started bravely at the work and the ants saw with surprise how well
+he knew how to handle the stones and beams, and what a gigantic strength
+he had. The slaves began to obey him, when he showed them how to clear
+away the fallen pieces, and the fighters themselves admired him, when
+they saw that he knew how to build, how to support the ceiling with
+beams, fasten the walls and smoothly level the corners.
+
+Tom was very glad to have the work, for the time forgetting his wounds
+and humiliation, and hoped that through it he would regain his freedom.
+When the evening came, the work had advanced more than the slaves could
+have accomplished in weeks; when they had finished, they led Tom back to
+prison.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+[Illustration]
+
+On the way, he saw a group of fighters joyously returning. They brought
+with them many white chrysalises, which the slaves at once took to the
+nest as if they were their own. The last comers brought grains and
+immediately all began to feast, the slaves as usual bringing them food,
+until they could eat no more.
+
+Tom knew that, somewhere, they had robbed a Black nest and compensated
+themselves for their recent defeat. He was sorry that he, too, was their
+slave and obliged to serve them like his black comrades, but he did not
+see any other way, if he hoped to escape from their clutches.
+
+Next day, he continued his building and the Redheads were greatly
+surprised, for they had never seen such construction. Then they began to
+show him a little consideration, feeding him well, but not allowing him
+to go out of the nest. Five or six fighting men never left his side. But
+Tom thought out a clever plan. He began to look for large, heavy
+branches, showing them that it was necessary to have strong, heavy
+pillars, in place of the thin spines. The Redheads at once sent out the
+slaves, but they could not drag such heavy beams into the nest. Then
+they sent Tom with a guard into the wood to select his own beams and
+bring them back. He purposely went very far and kept looking about, as
+if he could not find anything quite suitable.
+
+The guards followed him patiently and did not leave him a moment. There
+was no idea of flight on Tom's part. He noticed that the appearance of
+nature had changed. Blossoms had disappeared, the grass was dry and
+yellow, the heather was rustling and through the wood a mist was
+blowing. It was cold, and Little Tom was very uncomfortable in his torn
+dress.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Presently, they came to a little brook where there was a lot of cut
+twigs in a pile. There Tom stopped and began to look for hard, straight
+small pieces. The ants were biting the dried leaves and the blossoms,
+until he had his bundle of beams ready. Then he took one on his shoulder
+and carried it back to the nest. Thus, he worked for a few days, sure of
+being allowed to go outside. Every day they would go out, Tom preparing
+the beams, and hauling them back, while the slaves smoothed the roadway.
+
+One day, Tom saw on a blackberry a red spot that moved. He looked more
+closely and recognized his friend, Seven Spot. His throat tightened with
+delight, but he did not know how to give him a sign without arousing the
+suspicion of the ants. Then he began to sing at his work as loud as he
+could. Seven Spot spread his wings and flew away as if he had not seen
+him. Then Tom knew that everything was well--and that his friends had
+not forgotten him.
+
+He was so happy that he worked hard all day long, and the Redheads were
+amazed and delighted with his diligence. Then they began to consider how
+fine it would be if Tom would ally himself with them, and go against the
+Blacks and help them to victory. But they did not know Tom.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Tom, at first, had planned to jump in the brook and swim to the other
+side, when he should be given an opportunity, but he did not know how he
+should get to the Ladybirds' kingdom and was afraid that he would lose
+his way and perish. But now he did not mind, for he hoped that Seven
+Spot would show him the way. All night long he did not sleep from
+excitement, and in the morning hurried early to the brook.
+
+But when they reached it, Seven Spot was not to be seen. Tom looked all
+around, but, all day, his friend did not appear. He was quite desperate
+when he returned in the evening. The outside work was almost finished.
+They had beams enough and were now preparing for the winter.
+
+What if Tom had made a mistake and Seven Spot had appeared only by
+chance and had not noticed his King? Tom made up his mind that if Seven
+Spot should not come again, he would jump into the brook and swim
+across. He preferred to die in the wood rather than to spend the rest of
+his life in captivity with the Black Ants.
+
+When, next day, Tom came with his guards to the brook, there was no sign
+of Seven Spot. The last beams were prepared and only waiting to be
+carried to the nest. Tom stooped to take up one, wondering how he should
+reach the brook, when out of the pile he saw two great, bulging eyes
+looking straight at him. The pile moved a little, then appeared a pair
+of fierce whiskers and two pincer-like feelers and out came a giant
+Wood-bug with broad shoulders and a powerful breast.
+
+Tom became frightened and dropped the beam. The Redheads ran towards
+him, but the Wood-bug with a few steps met them. One he bit in two, the
+second he crushed under his foot and, jumping upon the pile, he caught
+Tom carefully in his jaws and ran with him into the forest. The slaves
+were horrified and ran away on all sides; the guards stood stupified,
+but where was the Wood-bug?
+
+He ran quickly through the blueberries and, when they were far away, he
+stopped. Placing Little Tom on the ground, he said, »Now sit on me and
+it will be easier for us both«. Not another word did he say why he had
+come, or who had sent him.
+
+With delight, Tom threw his arms around his neck and could not ask him
+enough questions, but the Wood-bug did not say very much and only waved
+his foot. »Crawl up, crawl up. You will soon know all. Do not keep them
+waiting.«
+
+Tom did crawl quickly upon his back and could hardly believe that he was
+free. The Wood-bug ran without stopping until they came to the old
+beech. Into the corridor he slipped and carried Tom right into his
+chamber. As soon as his whiskers appeared in the corridor, Chrysomela
+had come running out, caught Tom in her arms and cried from very joy.
+
+When Tom jumped down, the Wood-bug turned and disappeared without
+waiting to be thanked. As he looked at Chrysomela, Tom became alarmed to
+see how she had changed. She was pale and thin and only her true, violet
+eyes were as bright as formerly.
+
+At this moment came Seven Spot, dragging himself sleepily along and
+hardly able to keep his feet. He welcomed Little Tom and was pleased
+that everything had turned out so well. Tom wanted to thank him, but
+Seven Spot disregarded his speech, saying that everything had been done
+through Chrysomela and that, without her, nothing would have been
+accomplished.
+
+After they had eaten and drunk, they all sat down together and Seven
+Spot related how frightened they all were when Mirmex brought the news
+that the Redheads had captured Tom and taken him to their town. The
+Ladybirds flew everywhere to find their King and made inquiries of the
+snails, the ground beetles and the grubs, but none of them had seen him.
+This was probably during the time that he was kept a close prisoner in
+the Redheads' nest.
+
+They had begun to fear that the Redheads might have killed Tom for
+revenge and buried him in some place. Mirmex, also, for a long time, had
+been sending out spies and had headed a searching expedition on which he
+had captured some of the slaves, from whom he learned that Tom was alive
+and well and working inside the town.
+
+Mirmex would have liked to have gone to Tom's rescue, but the Black Town
+was very busy in getting ready for the long winter, while the Ladybirds
+themselves were beginning to succumb to the coming sleep and were
+disappearing one after the other. Even Seven Spot was becoming drowsy as
+the winter languor began to steal over him. With difficulty he kept
+himself from yielding to the desire for sleep, yawning much in secret,
+but Chrysomela encouraged him with praise of his real willingness to
+help. Every day he flew to the neighborhood of the Red Town, crawling
+all around it, until, one day, he was rewarded by seeing Little Tom come
+out of the town with his guards.
+
+Seven Spot did not want to show himself, so he flew high above the
+procession, lighting here and there on the bushes, until he discovered
+the exact spot where Tom was working. Then he sat hidden near by, on a
+wild briar bush, until he discovered the store of beams Tom was
+collecting. The next day, he came very early and lighting low down, on a
+blackberry, crawled about conspicuously so that Tom would be sure to see
+him. When he learned that Tom had seen him, he flew back immediately to
+Chrysomela to tell her the good news.
+
+Then they planned how they should help Tom to escape, but no good plan
+occurred to them. All that night they could not sleep, and in the
+morning they again took counsel with one another, but without result,
+until, towards evening, when Seven Spot was again describing how Tom was
+working close to the brook, the Wood-bug suddenly thrust his head into
+the room and asked just where the spot was. He had been working in the
+corridor preparing his winter quarters and had overheard what Chrysomela
+and Seven Spot were discussing. When Seven Spot had described the place
+to him and just how one could reach it, Chrysomela begged him to help
+them with his advice. The Wood-bug listened very carefully, nodding his
+head now and then. When Seven Spot had finished, he only said »To-morrow
+I will bring him«, and at once left the room.
+
+All that night and the next day they waited in the greatest anxiety,
+until, finally, the Wood-bug, true to his word, arrived with Little Tom.
+When Chrysomela had finished her story, they heard Seven Spot snoring
+loudly and they could hardly waken him. Seven Spot looked up, rubbing
+his eyes, heavy with sleep.
+
+»Oh, King,« he said, speaking with some difficulty, »I am happy that I
+again see you, but be good enough to excuse me, for already the winter
+sleep is upon me and I hardly know where I stand.«
+
+They took leave of each other and Seven Spot disappeared languidly into
+the corridor, while Tom was left alone with Chrysomela in their
+dwelling. They sat together until late in the evening, as they had much
+to talk about. When, finally, they were ready to retire, they told each
+other that in the morning they would look over their kingdom.
+
+In the morning, when they had come out of the beech, they could see
+nothing around them but a white fog which lay on every object. Through
+the mist, they groped their way to the pool; but there was now no sign
+of the green arches, the yellow cattails, or the red willow herbs.
+Everywhere, were only the ends of bare, brown trunks and dry, rustling
+bushes, while the ground was muddy and the moss soaked with water and
+even from the pool the beautiful water-lilies had disappeared. All
+around them, there was not a single living creature. Empty and sad was
+their kingdom, without color, light or perfume.
+
+Nowhere was there a sign of the former life, or its delightful charm.
+They sadly returned to their home, wet and cold, where the Wood-bug
+awaited them. When he finally espied them, he shuffled about on his six
+feet, nodded with his whiskers and aired his wing shells, until he found
+courage to speak.
+
+»When are we going to clear up?« he inquired.
+
+Neither understood him and asked what he meant. Wood-bug was puzzled
+that his meaning was not plain. »Why, clear up for the winter,« he said.
+»Where do you wish to sleep?«
+
+They tried to explain to him that they did not sleep during the winter.
+Now it was the Wood-bug's turn to be puzzled. Tom did not know what
+winter was, but when he saw that the whole Ladybird kingdom had
+disappeared and that all the creatures were preparing for a long sleep,
+he felt that they must surely perish in the lonely wood. Nothing was
+left to do, but to seek his Godmother and take Chrysomela to her, asking
+her to forgive them and allow them to stay with her during the winter.
+
+Tom begged the Wood-bug to take them to the Godmother in the little hut
+by the field behind the wood, near the brook. The Wood-bug listened
+without understanding until he heard the words, »field behind the wood«.
+Then he said, »I know where that is. It is where there are no trees and
+no bark. There we will go. In the meantime, I will clear up here and
+close in everything for the spring.«
+
+Tom put on a warm suit, belted on his sword and prepared a bundle of
+food, while Chrysomela put on a warm cloak of mole's fur lined with the
+silk of ants. When they were ready, they stepped out and looked around
+over their kingdom for the last time.
+
+The sun shone through the clouds, brightening the dry stumps, while the
+cold wind whirled showers of leaves and yellow beech nut shells over the
+dark water. The Wood-bug was waiting for them, so at once they sat down
+on his back and started to ride through the forest.
+
+For a long time they rode quietly. The Wood-bug walked heavily but
+quickly, as the winter sleep was not yet on him. Finally they came to
+the edge of the forest where there was a road with deep ruts, in which
+stood pools of water. The Wood-bug crossed the road to the stubble
+field, where he put them down and said, »This is the field and the path
+of human beings. It is not for us for, if we walk along it, before we
+are aware, we are crushed. Go along the stubble field. There it is safe
+and somewhere down there, you will find the hut.«
+
+They wanted to thank him, but the good Wood-bug was already running
+back across the path, hurrying to reach his own little den; so the two
+travelers started out by themselves to find the human dwelling.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+CHAPTER ELEVEN.
+
+CHRYSOMELA'S DEATH.
+
+  LITTLE TOM AND CHRYSOMELA BETAKE THEMSELVES
+  TO TOM'S GODMOTHER.
+  THEY REST UNDER THE DOG-ROSE.
+  THE WIND SWEEPS THEM INTO A FURROW.
+  THEY WANDER IN THE DARK AND MEET A HAMSTER.
+  IN THE HAMSTER'S BURROW.
+  CHRYSOMELA FALLS ILL AND DIES. THE FUNERAL.
+  THE HAMSTER TAKES LITTLE TOM THROUGH THE SNOW
+  TO THE CHAPEL.
+  LITTLE TOM LEARNS, FROM A MOUSE, ABOUT THE
+  DEATH OF HIS GODMOTHER AND VISITS HER TOMB.
+  HE RETURNS WITH THE HAMSTER.
+  THE SLEDGE OF QUEEN FAIRY.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Tom walked with Chrysomela along the edge of the stubble field, down the
+road; that was all they knew of their direction--that they must always
+be going down. They expected that the way would not be long, for they
+remembered that, in one day, the ants had brought all their possessions
+from the Godmother's house to the wood. They forgot that the ants knew
+the direction and therefore walked straight over everything, while they,
+not knowing where to go, had to travel the path of the humans and
+therefore traveled in a wide circle.
+
+Chrysomela was well wrapped up in her cloak and over her head she had
+pulled a cobweb veil, so that her golden hair should not fly around, but
+on her feet she had only little, light shoes of birch bark. After she
+had gone a little way, she felt how heavily she was walking over the
+clods by the stubble field and stumbled so that she had to lean on Tom's
+strong arm.
+
+Tom tried to encourage her by telling her that they would soon see the
+human dwellings. He decided that if they should see any human being he
+would speak and ask that they be carried to the Godmother, so that
+Chrysomela should not suffer. She was very weak by the time the sun had
+gone down and fogs were coming over the woods. Day after day she had
+been sinking. Sorrowing over Tom's captivity had only made her worse,
+but she was of a brave heart and therefore went on uncomplaining, not
+wishing to trouble Tom. She wondered what she would find at the
+Godmother's house.
+
+On the way, they did not meet a single living creature. All the little
+animals were already hidden and only tiny spiders were wafted above them
+on silvery threads. The cold breeze blowing through the stubble field
+was becoming stronger and turning against them. Chrysomela began to
+cough. She controlled herself as best she could, but finally she was
+obliged to ask Tom if they could rest a bit, as the walking was tiring
+her.
+
+By this time, they had reached the end of the stubble field and had come
+to a wild briar bush, behind which was a freshly ploughed field full of
+glistening furrows. Tom placed Chrysomela on a few dried leaves under
+the briar and offered her seeds of beech nut and a nice red berry, but
+she was not hungry and only drank thirstily the blackberry juice from
+his bottle. Her hands were hot, her little forehead burning; she
+trembled all over with cold, while her eyes were shining with fever's
+brightness.
+
+Tom stroked her hair and soothed her by telling her how comfortable they
+would be at Castle Easter Egg with the Godmother. He told her of the
+tree with the golden nuts and sweet dates, and the precious little altar
+with the kings, shepherds, the Mother and the Baby; but Chrysomela no
+longer heard him. She leaned her head on his shoulder and closed her
+eyes.
+
+Tom realized that they would not be able to go any farther that day and
+dreaded the night under the open sky. He covered Chrysomela with a briar
+leaf and seated himself beside her. In a little while, as he was very
+tired, he fell asleep.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Suddenly, he awoke. Already, the darkness was stealing over the county,
+the evening wind was whistling through the wild briar and playing with
+the leaves. Tom wanted to protect Chrysomela. He put his arm around her
+waist and wrapped a rolled up beech leaf around her, but the strong wind
+caught it up and, whirling it with many others, carried them through the
+air until they fell into a deep furrow.
+
+Here they were sheltered, at least, from the wind and, crawling out from
+the leaf, they looked around them, but everywhere they could only see
+black earth slippery and soft like high hills with nowhere any sign of
+human traces. They did not know where they were, or whither the wind had
+carried them.
+
+All about them was only the dark night, while the cold of the evening
+pierced them to the bone. Chrysomela pressed close to Little Tom, but
+she was so weary, she could hardly stand on her feet. Tom feared to
+leave her, lest he might lose her, so, supporting her as best he could,
+stumbled on with her along the furrow until they came to a broad hole.
+He wanted at once to step in with Chrysomela, not caring who was there,
+and to ask for shelter, when, suddenly, out of the darkness, came a
+gigantic animal in a fur coat, with bristling whiskers and puffed out
+cheeks. It was the Hamster.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+He was about to slide into the hole, when he smelled something strange.
+He sniffed about him and peered into the darkness with his close-set
+eyes. When he saw the poor little travelers and how they were pressing
+together close to the hole, trembling with the cold, he said kindly,
+»Hullo there. Where are you going so late, you little travelers?«
+
+Tom advanced and, bowing politely before the Hamster, asked him for
+shelter for a weak, ill traveler. When the Hamster saw that there was a
+lady with Tom, he acted very courteously, and immediately invited them
+to come in. He ran ahead and returned at once with a torch of rotten
+wood, with which he lighted them along the corridor, until they came to
+his dining-room.
+
+There it was warm and cosy. The torch shone brightly and, when
+Chrysomela had removed her cloak and sat on the Hamster's bed, he
+wondered at her beauty. Then he ran to the pantry, shook out the grains
+which he had hidden in his baggy cheeks and, choosing from his store the
+best morsels, placed them before his guests. They were so dainty and
+delicate that they just melted in their mouths.
+
+Chrysomela rested. She gathered her golden, wind-blown hair into braids
+and thanked the good Hamster for his kindly courtesy with a sweet smile.
+For a little while, the fever left her and she seemed to be gaining
+strength.
+
+The Hamster outdid himself with attentions and brought out everything
+good that he had; but Chrysomela said that she only wanted to rest, so
+they prepared a soft bed for her, covered her with a warm coat and said
+good night. They then went into the pantry where there was room for both
+Tom and the Hamster.
+
+The Hamster had a wonderful store for the winter and showed Tom all his
+rooms filled with grain. One held oats, a second, wheat, and the third,
+rye. Everything was thoroughly peeled, cleaned and carefully put away in
+dry places. Tom praised his fine housekeeping and when the Hamster asked
+whence they had come and whither they were going, he told him their
+adventures.
+
+They talked late into the night, and when the Hamster learned that Tom
+was a prince and king of the Ladybirds' realm, he said that he had never
+seen gnomes but had heard very much about them from a mouse family that
+lived under the chapel by the forest.
+
+When Tom heard him speak of the chapel, he remembered that his
+Godmother had found the treasure in the wall near it and he asked the
+Hamster whether he could take them to her. The Hamster laughed. »Why
+should I not know her? On her field I am as if at home. She is a good
+woman. She does not know how to chase me or throw stones at me. There I
+have gathered my very best stores. This year, she did not come at all.
+All the grain had grown together and I could take what I wanted. Only,
+later, strange people came and gathered the grain; but, by that time I
+had all mine at home.« He promised that he would take Tom to the chapel
+with Chrysomela and from there, the mice would show them the way to the
+Godmother's hut.
+
+When they had talked enough, they went to bed. Tom fell asleep,
+confident that their troubles were at an end and that tomorrow he would
+see his Godmother and that she would be greatly pleased with Chrysomela.
+He slept soundly. In the morning the Hamster woke him, excitedly; he
+said that he should at once look at Chrysomela, for all was not well
+with her.
+
+Tom ran to her at once and took her by the hand, but she did not
+recognize him. Her blue eyes were veiled and she was calling Seven Spot
+and the Wood-bug to save Tom; and then she would sing summer songs. She
+was in delirium. Tom did not know what to do. He sat by her bed, while
+the Hamster ran around bringing food and, finally, sat down in a corner
+by himself, desperate and sad.
+
+Thus they sat through the whole day. From time to time, Chrysomela
+became conscious, drank something and stroked Tom's hand. Then she would
+hear the music of gnats and the swarm of golden flies above the water,
+or would scream with fright.
+
+All night long, Tom and the Hamster did not sleep. They tried to care
+for Chrysomela and only towards morning did they themselves fall asleep.
+When they awoke, they found her sitting up in bed apparently well, but
+very weak.
+
+Tom was very happy that the illness had left her and that she was
+herself again. He knelt beside her, while the Hamster came running with
+pleasure and asked what she would have to eat; but the sad girl stroked
+the Hamster's fur and said to Tom in a thin voice, »My dear Tom, it is
+the end. It is not permitted to me to live with you and to be merry at
+the Godmother's house. I am growing weaker and weaker and, by evening, I
+will not be with you any more. Do not forget me in the world and
+remember that I was always your true comrade. You, Hamster, I thank for
+your good heart. You are not of us, but you are a good friend and
+perhaps I will meet you there, where our little nation has gone
+forever.«
+
+She lay down and closed her eyes with weariness. Tom fell down on the
+bed and wept. The Hamster ran away and hid himself and did not come out
+any more. Chrysomela wakened again, soothed Tom and told him that he
+should not despair, that they would surely meet in the other world, when
+their days would begin again.
+
+Tom did not want to be soothed and only controlled his grief, so that he
+could make her last hour easier. He was sitting by her looking into her
+dying eyes, when, suddenly he saw that she brightened, looking over him
+into the darkness and he heard what she was whispering, »The Queen, our
+Queen is coming. I hear her horses neighing. She is nodding to me,
+nodding, Little Tom. We will meet.« Then she became quiet and her face,
+deathly pale. Tom knelt silently by her bed, hearing nothing, knowing
+nothing.
+
+He did not know how long he was there, until the Hamster came and said,
+as if with an indifferent voice, »Come, now it is time. We will lay her
+away so that she can sleep easily«.
+
+Tom obeyed blindly, covering her with her cloak, then raised her in his
+arms and walked behind the Hamster through a long corridor until they
+came to a small niche which the Hamster had dug and lined with daisies
+for Chrysomela. When they had laid her there, Tom said good bye to her,
+the Hamster closed in the niche, and they went back to the lonely
+dining-room.
+
+They sat there for a long time without speaking, until the Hamster
+suddenly said, »My dear Tom, I am as fond of you as a brother. Stay here
+with me. I have food enough. It will be better for us both. We will
+think of your poor Chrysomela until the Spring comes, and then I can
+drive you to the Ladybird kingdom.«
+
+Tom thought of the Ladybirds, looked at the empty bed and cried
+bitterly. He never wanted to go back to the Ladybirds without
+Chrysomela, and only wished to get to the Godmother so that he could
+hide himself with her for the rest of his life. He asked the Hamster to
+take him there at once, for, here, his heart was breaking with grief.
+The Hamster said that, outside, there was a terrible snowstorm and they
+would have to wait until the next day. Perhaps, over night, Tom would
+reconsider.
+
+So they talked together without thinking of sleep. They thought of
+Chrysomela's death and Tom remembered how, in her delirium, she seemed
+to see a Queen. The Hamster then became thoughtful and said, »I do not
+know, but I think that such a Queen exists. She rules over all living
+creatures on the earth. All do not know her, only the chosen ones. There
+are rumors about her among those who live on the earth, in the air and
+in the water. All honor and acknowledge her. Whoever knows anything of
+her, does not talk about it.«
+
+Tom begged him to tell him everything that he knew. He was trembling
+with excitement, believing, that, perhaps, after all, Chrysomela was not
+dreaming, but was arranging for their meeting.
+
+»I do not know a thing,« replied the Hamster. »I am only an underground
+creature and it is not given to us to know the secret; but I believe
+that she exists, for the larks are singing of her, when I am running
+through the fields, the bees are buzzing about her in the grass and the
+flowers are dreaming of her, when in the evening they are breathing out
+their fragrance.«
+
+The Hamster rose and went out, coming back to say that it was now
+possible to ride out and he would not try any longer to delay Tom.
+
+Tom went to say farewell to Chrysomela's last resting place; then he
+took his seat in the Hamster's fur coat and started out of the hole. Tom
+was greatly amazed when he looked around. Far and wide, wherever the eye
+could see, there was a great, white plain, and, everywhere, the snow was
+sparkling in the sun. The Hamster hurried through the snow, with the
+snow-dust rising behind them. Tom held on to his fur and could hardly
+breathe in the fresh morning air. They ran down by the field, crossed
+the meadow and saw the chapel under the wood, shining in the plain by
+the brook, but nowhere was the hut.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Tom looked around in vain; even from the stone steps of the chapel, he
+could not see it. All at once, a bright, little mouse stuck her sharp
+nose from under the rail and welcomed the Hamster. »How do you do,
+Godfather,« she cried. »You have brought us a guest. How is it that you
+still take walks in the snow?«
+
+The Hamster introduced Little Tom and told her that they were seeking
+the widow's hut, but could not find it. The Mouse was surprised. »You
+are my neighbor and do not know it?« she asked incredulously. »Long
+since the widow has been sleeping under the ground of the chapel. In the
+Spring, she was ill and did not even chase us when we visited her. In
+the Summer, she lay down and died. They tore down her hut seeking some
+treasure. Now, they want to build here, I do not know what.«
+
+The Mouse knew all the news for miles around and was very greatly
+pleased that she could talk with someone. The Hamster thanked her for
+all the information and asked where the lady was lying, for he suspected
+that Little Tom would like to say farewell to her. The Mouse took them
+through the hole under the floor, until they came into the crypt, where
+were standing the old, decaying coffins of the former knights and, in
+the middle, a black new one, the Godmother's.
+
+Tom stood before it and was so unhappy, that he did not even feel his
+great suffering. Then they came out into the daylight and said good-by
+to the talkative Mouse. Tom sat in the Hamster's fur and they started to
+return.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The sky, in the meantime, was covered with clouds, a gentle wind came
+up, and small flakes began to fall from the darkened sky. On the plain
+far away, Tom saw a reddish leaf and noticed how it was running, as if
+blown by the wind straight towards them. It seemed strange to him. The
+Hamster became confused, as he looked around; he looked once more, then
+doubled with fright into the snow, whispering, »The Queen!«
+
+The leaf came nearer; but it proved to be not a leaf at all, but a
+beautiful sledge drawn by four black crickets. On the box, sat a
+speckled coachman and, beside him, the footmen--centipedes, while,
+behind, nestled a most beautiful lady, all wrapped up in the green and
+black fur of a butterfly caterpillar. The little bells were ringing on
+the horses and the coachman snapped his whip as they approached the
+Hamster.
+
+The lady, leaning out of the sledge and shaking her finger at Little
+Tom, said, »You wanderer. Where are you going now? For a long time I
+have been looking for you. Everyone is expecting you and here you are,
+running around with such an underground monster. Come at once and sit
+down. You will go with me.«
+
+The Hamster buried himself still deeper in the snow, but Tom bowed and
+said, »Dear Queen, the Hamster is my good friend. He helped me to take
+care of my beloved Chrysomela. I can not go where he may not, for I will
+not be untrue to him«.
+
+The Queen smiled at the Hamster. »Look at this. Sometimes, even the
+Hamsters have good hearts. But now don't trouble about him. Hamster, go
+to your den, and when the time comes, speak and we will open to you.«
+
+Tom said good-by to the Hamster, took his seat in the sledge, the Queen
+wrapped him up in her fur cloak, and soon they were flying and
+disappearing through the whirling flakes into the realm of Queen Fairy.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+
+
+  TRANSCRIBER NOTES
+
+  Page  15 « removed after "when she had cleaned it, there was the
+           horseshoe."
+  Page  27 extra r removed from measurring: "measuring out the paths"
+  Page  31 typo corrected: Godmocher to Godmother in "when his Godmother
+           saw him"
+  Page  53 changed , to . in "ride upon around the garden.« Before"
+  Page  59 replaced desieved with deceived in "punished for having
+           deceived his Grandmother."
+  Page  67 corrected typo: of to if in "if you want to see what God's
+           world is like,"
+  Page  67 inserted space between valour and but in "She did not give
+           much thought to his valour but"
+  Page  68 inserted space between monster and darted in "Then the great
+           monster darted"
+  Page  69 mill corrected to milk in "drunk some milk,"
+  Page  70 blosoom corrected to blossom in "push right into the
+           blossom."
+  Page  74 space removed from the middle of today. "It is a miracle that
+           you did not die today."
+  Page  81 smellimg corrected to smelling in "sweet-smelling mint by the
+           water."
+  Page  90 typo corrected from Axterl to After in "After he had
+           dismounted"
+  Page  93 hin corrected to him in "Mirmex came to him and said:"
+  Page  94 healty corrected to healthy in "knowing that he is creating
+           strong and healthy descendants"
+  Page  94 Readheads corrected to Redheads in "This the Redheads well
+           know"
+  Page  95 duplicate "and" deleted in "defeated the Redheads and driven
+           them away"
+  Page  96 comma inserted: "Let us go a little further," he continued
+  Page 103 hat corrected to that in "from whom they learned that,"
+  Page 111 changed wery to were very in "and were very angry."
+  Page 112 comma inserted in "Tom was very glad to have the work, for
+           the time"
+  Page 119 hin corrected to him in "ran with him into the forest"
+  Page 120 The corrected to Then in "Then he sat hidden near by,"
+  Page 121 duplicate "of" deleted in "Nowhere was there a sign of the
+           former life,"
+  Page 122 missing « added after "you will find the hut.«"
+  Page 131 hyphen put in dining-room for consistency "until they came to
+           his dining-room."
+  Page 132 exitedly corrected to excitedly in "the hamster woke him
+           excitedly;"
+  Page 134 neighfor corrected to neighbor in "»You are my neighbor"
+  Page 134 missing hyphen put in good-by in "and said good-by to the
+           talkative Mouse."
+  Page 134 full stop added after "and said good-by to the talkative
+           Mouse."
+  Page 134 increduously corrected to incredulously in "she asked
+           incredulously."
+  Page 136 hin corrected to him in "It seemed strange to him."
+
+  The use of » and « for open and close quotation marks respectively
+  has been retained.
+
+  [^S] and [^C] represent S and C with caron.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Little Tom, by V. Tille
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+      The Project Gutenberg eBook of Little Tom, by V. Tille.
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+<pre>
+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Little Tom, by V. Tille
+
+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: Little Tom
+
+Author: V. Tille
+
+Illustrator: O. Stafi
+
+Release Date: January 31, 2011 [EBook #35126]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LITTLE TOM ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by David Edwards, monkeyclogs and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This
+file was produced from images generously made available
+by The Internet Archive)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_0" id="Page_0">[Pg 0]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 475px;">
+<a href="images/001.png"><img src="images/001th.png" width="237" height="300" alt="" title="" /></a>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p>
+<hr style="width: 45%;" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span></p>
+<h1>LITTLE TOM</h1>
+<hr style="width: 45%;" />
+
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2>LITTLE TOM</h2>
+
+<h3>TOLD<br />
+BY V. TILLE<br />
+AND ILLUSTRATED<br />
+BY O. &#x0160;TÁFL.</h3>
+
+<h5>PUBLISHED BY B. KO&#x010C;Í,<br />
+14, MASARYK QUAY, PRAGUE,<br />
+CZECHOSLOVAKIA.<br />
+1922.<br /></h5>
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS"></a>CONTENTS.</h2>
+
+
+<div class="center">
+<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="TOC">
+<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="right">PAGE</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Chapter one: THE CHRISTENING OF LITTLE TOM</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_5">5</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Chapter two: HOW LITTLE TOM WAS FOUND BY HIS GODMOTHER</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_17">17</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Chapter three: LITTLE TOM'S TRIP AROUND THE WORLD</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_29">29</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Chapter four: LITTLE TOM IN THE ENCHANTED CASTLE</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_41">41</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Chapter five: LITTLE TOM'S ADVENTURES IN THE GARDEN</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_49">49</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Chapter six: LITTLE TOM'S EXCURSIONS</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_63">63</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Chapter seven: LITTLE TOM AND CHRYSOMELA</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_75">75</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Chapter eight: THE ANTS' TOWN</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_87">87</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Chapter nine: THE WAR OF THE ANTS</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_99">99</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Chapter ten: LITTLE TOM IN CAPTIVITY AND FREEDOM</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_109">109</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Chapter eleven: CHRYSOMELA'S DEATH</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_123">123</a></td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span></p>
+<p class="center">Printed by Jos. B. Zápoto&#x010D;ný, Rokycany, Czechoslovakia.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;">
+<img src="images/003.jpg" width="450" height="236" alt="" title="" />
+</div>
+<h3>CHAPTER ONE.</h3>
+
+<h2>THE CHRISTENING OF LITTLE TOM.</h2>
+
+<p class="center">THE WIDOW THAT GATHERED HERBS. CHRISTMAS EVE. <br />
+THE MESSENGER OF THE KING OF THE GOBLINS.<br />
+THE CHRISTENING OF LITTLE TOM. <br />
+WHAT LITTLE TOM'S GODMOTHER FOUND IN THE WELL NEAR THE CHAPEL. <br />
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span></p>
+
+<hr style="width: 45%;" />
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 475px;">
+<a href="images/004.png"><img src="images/004th.png" width="197" height="150" alt="" title="" /></a>
+</div>
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<p class="firstsection">In a little wooden hut within the shadow of the forest and close to a
+noisy brook, a poor widow dwelt alone. She passed her days gathering and
+drying plants and herbs, from which she was forever making strange
+simples which proved very helpful to the village people and their cattle
+when illness came upon them. But the villagers only came to visit her
+when they had need of her medicines, and these had such wonderful power
+to cure that it was whispered about the lonely old woman to be a witch.</p>
+
+<p>The villagers also told strange stories about her, for no one knew
+whence she came or when she had taken up her solitary abode apart from
+the village.</p>
+
+<p>Many said that she sprang from the race of knights, who, in an age long
+past, lived in their great castle deep in the woods and on the hill
+which rose above the little hut. But no knights lived there now, nor had
+they for many, many years, and the castle had been in ruins for a longer
+time than the oldest people could remember. In fact, all that now
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span>remained of the great place which the old folks liked to tell their
+grandchildren about, was a little chapel near the edge of the dark woods
+and, beside it, an old, old well, now entirely filled up and overgrown
+with weeds.</p>
+
+<p>But the widow was not lonely, nor did she wish anyone to help her care
+for her little house and the garden she loved so dearly, or even the
+field beyond where grazed her cow, »Speckle«. Whenever anyone came to
+her in trouble or in illness, she was glad to put aside on the instant
+whatever task she was about and to give her advice or administer the
+medicine which always brought relief and cure, for she understood all
+troubles and illnesses and knew the simples for each.</p>
+
+<p>Inside the little hut, everything was as clean and orderly as one would
+find in the castles of the nobility, where many servants toiled and
+swept. Over the thatched roof an old lime tree spread its friendly
+branches, and all day long there sounded about the fragrant buds and
+blossoms sounded the cheerful humming of swarms of grateful bees.</p>
+
+<p>The great beams along the walls of the hut were rubbed clean with red
+earth and on the whitewashed spaces, between the little windows and the
+door, were painted red and yellow flowers with leaves of green, while in
+its bed of earth a blue strip of real flowers ran all around the house.</p>
+
+<p>On the gable ledge blossomed red and pink carnations and from the little
+balcony under the peak of the roof, with its carved wooden posts and
+railing, peered dried poppy heads, ears of yellow corn, sage and all
+manner of herbs and spices with strange odors. All these had been
+gathered in the clear, white light of the full moon before the dew had
+begun to fall.</p>
+
+<p>Besides all these pleasant things, the garden was full of roses,
+mignonette and tall mallow. Close to the fence which ran all about it,
+grew gooseberries, currants and raspberries; and in the very middle of
+the garden was a bed of luscious red strawberries, flanked by rows of
+cabbages, lettuce and peas. Against the walls of the hut, between the
+windows, old, gnarled vines ran clear to the eaves, bearing bunches of
+delicious grapes.</p>
+
+<p>The hut had one large room, a small chamber and the black kitchen, with
+its great fireplace and broad chimney. From the outside, it looked not
+unlike the houses of the villagers; but, inside, stood furniture of an
+older day. In a corner stood a bed of polished wood, piled high with
+white, downy quilts and covers. In the middle of the room was a round
+table with smooth, polished chairs set against it. Next to the wall was
+a beautifully carved old chest for clothes; on the wall, a clock with
+brass weights and a cuckoo that called the hours; and between the
+windows through which blossomed fuchsias and other plants, stood a rare
+old linen press, ornamented with flowers, birds, and hammered silver
+work.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 475px;">
+<a href="images/005.png"><img src="images/005th.png" width="240" height="300" alt="" title="" /></a>
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span></p>
+</div> <hr style="width: 45%;" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span></p>
+<p>But, most precious of all her possessions, was a little altar carved in
+ivory. In size, it was no larger than an apple; but it had two little
+doors, which, opening, showed a little stall, in which sat the Holy
+Virgin with the Child on her lap and, behind, a yellow ox and a grey
+donkey looking out across the manger and breathing upon the two. On the
+left, knelt the shepherds surrounded by their fleecy sheep; and, from
+the right, came the three kings with golden crowns on their heads and
+dressed in cloaks of violet, red and green. The black one was smiling
+and showing his white teeth, as they offered their gifts. All of the
+figures were just like life! The Virgin had a beautiful face with blue
+eyes and dark eyebrows, and the Babe was all pink and held in His hands
+a little golden apple.</p>
+
+<p>It was a rare and precious piece of work, which the herb woman had been
+told was a relic of olden times, having come from the castle in the wood
+above the hut, to which it had been brought by one of the knights from
+the Holy Land.</p>
+
+<p>All day long, the herb woman had much to do in caring for her house,
+fetching and drying her herbs and brewing her medicines. From one week's
+end to the other, she was never idle. But, on Sunday afternoons, when
+her work was done, she would take the little altar and place it on the
+press between the windows. Sitting down before it in a comfortable
+leather armchair, she would read to herself from a very old book,
+ornamented with hammered brass and with colored stones set in the
+covers. Her book told all about the patient Griselda, the siege of Troy,
+about Siegfried, Brunswick, Blanik, and many other brave heroes. Around
+the first letter of each story, were painted knights, princesses,
+men-at-arms, magic castles, and scenes from strange, oversea countries.</p>
+
+<p>Looking at the pictures in her book and at the little figures of the
+altar, the old woman would think of bygone days when she was a bright
+little child, playing with her friends in make-believe weddings and
+christenings before this same little altar; and when her grandmother,
+sitting in the same old chair, would read to them stories from the old
+book and tell them of the former fame of their knightly home; of how the
+knights fared forth to the Holy Land, while their wives sat at home in
+the great castle, embroidering silks and cambrics, and the little
+children played in the castle garden.</p>
+
+<p>Her thoughts travelled back to herself, growing into beautiful girlhood;
+then, as a bride and the happy wife of a good husband; later, as the
+mother of two beautiful babies; then, sad memories crowded her weary
+head. Her husband and the two little children had died and she was left
+alone, without any relatives and without money, and with only this
+little hut in the shadow of the wood where she might live and earn her
+food.</p>
+
+<p>Often she sat like this, until the shadows of night had gathered around
+her; and the older she grew, the more heavily these sad thoughts weighed
+upon her. Each year, she felt herself growing weaker and began to be
+fearful that she could not manage to work at home and to gather the
+herbs in the woods and fields. In the winter, when the garden was
+covered with snow and the great drifts kept her from the village, she
+became even more sad to think how alone she was, the last of her race,
+with no one to whom she could tell her troubles and who would be a
+companion to her.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Now, one year, it was the day before Christmas. The snow had drifted
+against the little house clear to the eaves. As was her custom, she had
+brought from the forest a little Christmas tree and, having set it in a
+box, in earth carried from the wood, began to trim it. She hung from the
+branches gilded nuts and draped the tree with festoons of colored paper.
+Then, she fastened tiny, wax candles to the branches and then she peeled
+some apples and, finally, lighted the little candles, thinking of the
+used to dance and play olden days at home when they danced and played
+around the Christmas tree. The fire burned cheerily in the broad hearth
+with its green glass tiles. The room was warm and filled with the odor
+of mint and of lavender. As she sat thus, alone before the tree,
+presently, her head fell forward upon her hands which rested upon the
+linen press, and she slept.</p>
+
+<p>The old lady dreamed she was a girl again, in her Sunday dress and with
+her braided hair held by a red ribbon, kneeling before the little altar.
+Suddenly, she saw the Holy Virgin smiling at her and the little Baby
+stretching out its tiny hands and handing the golden apple to her; the
+sheep began to bleat, the shepherds were bowing, and the three kings
+swung their burning censers and walked toward her over the shining
+surface of the linen press. She even heard them call her by name and
+speak to her.</p>
+
+<p>The old lady woke with a start, but the voices seemed to call to her
+faintly, as if from a great distance. She looked about her, but saw no
+one. The same faint sound of voices was still to be heard, and, now,
+right under the tree, she perceived a tiny little man in a red coat,
+just as if one of the three kings had really come from the altar and
+wakened her. Not one whit surprised, she bent toward him. It seemed to
+her that she had always known him.</p>
+
+<p>The little man scrambled up to the edge of the old book which still lay
+upon the press, bowed, stroked his black beard, and spoke: »Honored
+lady, my people send me to ask of you, in the name of our king, a favor.
+A prince has been born to us and we should like to celebrate his
+christening here before this little altar, which is most precious to us.
+Our kingdom lies in the corridors under the old castle and extends to
+the well by the little chapel, and even to your hut. Our forefathers
+were true servants of your ancestors, the knights of the castle, and
+guarded for them their treasure. In this little altar are pictured the
+faces of our former kings.«</p>
+
+<p>The old lady was pleased that the gnomes wished thus to honor her little
+altar and readily gave her consent, that they might come to it in order
+to celebrate the christening of their prince. The messenger bowed and,
+running quickly down her dress to the floor, disappeared through a
+little hole by the hearth. Immediately, from behind the great hearth,
+came the most wonderful procession she had ever seen.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 475px;">
+<a href="images/006.png"><img src="images/006th.png" width="245" height="300" alt="" title="" /></a>
+</div><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>First, came the pipers and the band of musicians, playing on strange,
+curved trumpets and beating drums that sounded like the hum of many
+flying insects. Behind them walked the old king and the young queen in
+long robes of spotted butterfly wings and wearing golden crowns that
+glistened with precious stones; then the nurse, bearing a little baby
+upon a cushion of silver cobweb, tied with a hair of gold. Following
+them were many dignitaries in gorgeous cloaks and, last of all, came men
+and women of the people, hurrying across the floor like little insects,
+for they were hardly any larger.</p>
+
+<p>When the procession of tiny folk reached the old lady's shoe, they
+fearlessly climbed up her skirt to her lap and on across her arms which
+rested on the press. She laughed to see the great crowd walk over her
+and was careful not to move&mdash;indeed, she hardly breathed&mdash;lest she might
+hurt one of them.</p>
+
+<p>When all had gathered around the tree, one old man took the little
+prince in his arms and, as the others knelt before him, he made them a
+long speech. The old lady could not understand it at all, for it sounded
+to her like a fly buzzing on the window pane; but, when the old man had
+finished, all shouted together: »Long live our prince, Tom! May he reign
+happily!«</p>
+
+<p>The girls began to dance around the tree and all the little people
+jumped and laughed and shouted with merriment. The king and the queen,
+followed by the nurse with the little prince, stepped upon the old book,
+which made a good platform, and thanked the herb woman for her kindness.
+The king then begged her to be a kind godmother to the prince and to
+continue to be a good friend to his people, just as her ancestors had
+been. The old lady promised this with pleasure, for she felt a great
+love for the little folk who brought back so vividly the days when her
+people were rich and famous.</p>
+
+<p>The queen started to take the wrappings from the tiny baby, which were
+bound round and round about him, and the herb woman and the old king
+talked of the golden days gone by. The king told her the tales he had
+from his forefathers, of the brilliant life in the great castle; how the
+gnomes nestled in the soft tapestries by the great marble hearths; how
+they cleaned and polished the gold and precious stones in the
+underground chambers; how, on clear moonlight nights, they danced
+graceful figures with the fairies; and how, with grasshoppers as horses,
+they held noisy tournaments.</p>
+
+<p>Whenever there was a newborn baby in the castle, the gnomes, in the
+night, wove beautiful dreams which they spread out in the rays of the
+moon under the canopy of the mother's bed and guarded the baby in its
+silver cradle.</p>
+
+<p>The old lady listened happily, gazing at the gathering of the gnomes,
+lighted by the trembling rays of the candles, now almost burned out.
+Many of the young men had clambered into the branches of the tree and
+were swinging in the paper chains and sitting astride the golden nuts
+and red apples. Little girls were sliding back and forth on the slippery
+surface of the press, while serious old men and grayhaired women walked
+sedately in groups around the base of the tree. There were so many of
+the little people that they could not be counted.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The herb woman looked at the swiftly moving, variegated crowd until her
+eyelids drooped. She was already half asleep when the old king came to
+bid her good-by and, as in a dream, she heard him say: »Honored lady,
+for centuries your race protected us and, today, we would like to reward
+you. The great treasures of your family long ago disappeared, but, in
+the old, choked-up well, there still remains much gold. This we have
+carefully guarded from generation to generation and kept in clean and
+good order. In the well casing, in the fifth circle of stones from the
+top, you will find one engraved with a horseshoe. Behind this stone, you
+will find the money which your forefathers hid there; but be careful to
+replace the stone and not to disturb our underground realm.«</p>
+
+<p>When the old woman awoke, all was quiet and dark in the room. The
+candles on the tree had quite burned out, the cuckoo in the clock called
+twelve, and from the village, came the sound of bells, ringing the glad
+tidings of Christmas Day. Across the brook, she could see the lanterns
+flickering in the village square and the people gathering for church.
+But she did not feel strong enough to go to the midnight service. Then
+she thought, with a smile, of what she had seen on Christmas Eve, but
+she said to herself with a sigh, »It was only a dream«, and took herself
+off to bed.</p>
+
+<p>In the morning she milked Speckle and, as she drank the good, warm milk,
+she laughed to herself over her dream. But it would not leave her mind
+and, presently, she went to the hearth to see whence the procession of
+gnomes had come. She found nothing but a hole in the floor, large enough
+for a cat to pass through; but she thought to herself, »Why should I not
+go to the well by the chapel?«</p>
+
+<p>Over her shoulders she threw a warm sheepskin coat, with the wool inside
+and flowers embroidered on the outside, such as the country people wear,
+and, taking a hoe and a lantern, went to the chapel.</p>
+
+<p>There had been a keen frost and the fields were covered with snow, which
+sparkled in the sun. The snow was also away up to the eaves of the
+chapel, while from the blackberry stalks over the well, hung transparent
+icicles. The herb woman pushed aside the bushes and, crawling into the
+well, dug away the rubbish until she had uncovered the fifth circle of
+stones with which the well was lined.</p>
+
+<p>She laughed at herself to think that she should believe in dreams; but
+her heart was beating rapidly as she lighted her lantern and, digging
+away the gravel, looked at one stone after the other. »When I do not
+find the stone with the horseshoe,« she thought, »I will be convinced
+that it was only a dream.« But as she touched the damp moss on one
+stone, she felt a little depression and, when she had cleaned it, there
+was the horseshoe.</p>
+
+<p>The stone was large and heavy and her hands trembled as she set her hoe
+into the fissure; but lo! the stone was not cemented like the rest and
+was easily loosened. When she had pulled it out, from behind the stone,
+came shining gold pieces, as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> bright and clean as if they had been
+minted only the day before. Off came her apron, in which she tied up the
+money; but the bundle was so heavy that she could hardly lift it.</p>
+
+<p>She would have liked to look still further into the realm of the gnomes,
+for behind the stone was a hole running deep into the ground; but she
+thought of the old king's request and, setting the stone in its place,
+hurried back home with her treasure.</p>
+
+<p>Now, she was rid of all worry as to how she should keep herself when she
+should grow very old. In her heart, she thanked the little gnomes for
+their care of her and decided to remain in her little hut as long as she
+lived.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;">
+<img src="images/007.jpg" width="450" height="276" alt="" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<h3>CHAPTER TWO.</h3>
+
+<h2>HOW LITTLE TOM WAS FOUND BY HIS GODMOTHER.</h2>
+
+<p class="center">
+THE SPRING. THE FLOOD.<br />
+HOW THE GODMOTHER FOUND LITTLE TOM<br />
+IN A NUTSHELL.<br />
+HOW LITTLE TOM TOOK UP HIS ABODE ON CASTLE<br />
+EASTER EGG.<br />
+HOW THE GODMOTHER BROUGHT LITTLE TOM<br />
+HIS OUTFIT.<br />
+WHAT LITTLE TOM TOLD HIS GODMOTHER<br />
+ABOUT THE REALM OF GOBLINS.<br />
+</p>
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span></p>
+<hr style="width: 45%;" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<p class="firstsection">The winter was cruelly cold. Snow covered the paths and drifted high
+against the little hut. With difficulty the herb woman made paths to the
+stable and to the brook.</p>
+
+<p>In the night, when she could not sleep, she listened to every slight
+sound, in the hope that her little friends would appear again. But
+nothing ever happened; it was only the hoot of an owl outside, or the
+squeak of a mouse. The gnomes never came forth again from their
+underground realm.</p>
+
+<p>So, in the day time she read and sewed, pondering how she could go to
+the nearest town to change her money and buy many little things for her
+comfort and for the improvement of the little hut. Her gold pieces she
+had hidden well behind a green tile on the hearth.</p>
+
+<p>Finally, the snow began to melt, the sun became warmer, the fields lost
+their coat of white, the meadows became green, and spring had come. When
+Easter arrived, she had already planted her garden and stripped the
+roses of their winter coverings. The snow drops and gillyflowers were
+blossoming by the brook; the cowslips were poking their yellow caps out
+of their beds, and over the fields the larks sang joyously.</p>
+
+<p>The herb woman placed her treasure in a covered basket, shut the hens in
+their coops, put fresh grass in Speckle's manger, let the dog, Rover,
+into the yard, locked the door of the little hut and went on her way to
+town. She walked lightly, as if she had grown younger during the winter
+and did not at all mind the long journey.</p>
+
+<p>In town she was surprised at what she received for her gold; if she
+should live a hundred years, she could not use all her money. So it was
+placed in a bank for safe keeping and the people treated her with great
+respect. They knew that she had come from a good family, but as she had
+lived so modestly, no one knew how wealthy she was.</p>
+
+<p>When she had made her purchases and finished her business, she wished to
+rest awhile in town, but word had come that the heavy rain in the
+mountains had caused the snow to melt and the water to rush down in
+torrents. She knew very well how bad the brook became when it was
+swollen and she worried lest the hut might be carried away and something
+happen to Speckle. So she hurried home and, on the way, she saw the
+swollen brook stretched out over the meadows like a lake.</p>
+
+<p>When she reached the village, it was dark, and already the people were
+beginning to light up their houses. Many of the little foot bridges had
+been swept away, the water reached nearly to the village square and she
+found it impossible to cross the stream. The torrent raged and stormed,
+bearing along branches, small trees and cakes of ice.</p>
+
+<p>In vain the old lady peered across the bank to the farther shore in the
+attempt to see if her little hut was still standing; but the darkness
+was so thick that you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> could cut it with a knife. There was nothing left
+for her to do but to ask the good villagers for shelter over night.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 475px;">
+<a href="images/008.png"><img src="images/008th.png" width="271" height="150" alt="" title="" /></a>
+</div>
+
+<p>The next day, when the sun shone out, the torrent had subsided and the
+brook was running between its banks in a steady stream. The hut was
+still standing, but the bank was undermined and the little bridge
+carried away. So the widow had herself taken across in a boat and, in
+great anxiety, hurried to the hut to see what changes had been wrought.
+The garden was covered with mud and on the meadow were little pools of
+glistening water. Out of the yard bounded Rover barking heartily and,
+from her stall, Speckle mooed a welcome. The hens came hurrying out of
+their coop, flapping their wings and cackling, and straightway began to
+scratch in the ground in search of little worms. Inside the hut, the
+hall was wet through and in the best room stood little pools of water.</p>
+
+<p>The herb woman took her broom and swept out some of the water and with a
+cloth mopped up the little pools. Near the hearth the water was quite
+deep and swirling around and running away through the hole behind. On
+the water swam a tiny barge formed from a hazel nut, and in this boat
+was a very small lad indeed, rowing with his oars of straw and working
+with all his might, so that the whirlpool should not carry him back into
+the hole.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 475px;">
+<a href="images/009.png"><img src="images/009th.png" width="239" height="300" alt="" title="" /></a>
+</div><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The widow lifted up the shell very carefully and placed it on the palm
+of her hand. The tiny lad, letting go his oars, clasped his hands and
+said, »Dear Godmother, I thank you very much for saving me. I am Little
+Tom, but am so very tired that I can hardly sit up.« But his weariness
+came only from his efforts to keep himself from being swept back into
+the hole.</p>
+
+<p>His Godmother placed the little fellow gingerly on the table and next to
+him she put a drop of milk and beside it a crumb of bread. Little Tom
+gulped the milk eagerly and ate nearly the whole crumb. When she placed
+near him a tiny bit of cloth for a pillow, Tom lay down and fell asleep.</p>
+
+<p>She watched the little fellow tenderly as he lay there so quietly and
+all worn out with his hard work. He was now a fullgrown lad, finely
+built and with black hair. His little hands he had clasped across his
+breast. She felt very badly to think of his sufferings through the night
+in that terrible flood and she wondered what might have happened to the
+underground realm of the gnomes.</p>
+
+<p>While he was sleeping, she started to work. She scrubbed the floor very
+clean, then sifted dry sand all over it; cleaned up the garden, and then
+put some soup to cook over the fire in the kitchen. When she returned to
+the big room, Little Tom was sitting up, rubbing his blue eyes with his
+little fists and calling for his mother. As he looked around, he
+recognized his Godmother and began to cry bitterly. The old lady tried
+to soothe him, begging him not to cry and to tell her all that had
+happened. But, for a long time, he could not be quieted. When he had
+cried himself out, he told her what misfortunes had come upon the
+underground realm.</p>
+
+<p>All the gnomes were quietly sleeping, utterly unconscious of any danger,
+when, all of a sudden, great waters came from under the well, flooded
+the entire town, tore down the walls and rose to the upper floors. His
+mother woke Little Tom and ran with him to the upper corridor, through
+which was already running the stream which was their main river.</p>
+
+<p>On this stream stood the great navy of the gnomes, made from walnut
+shells. The entire court entered the ships and started rowing to the
+east from the underground country; but the stream continued to rise and
+the over-crowded ships began to rock, until they sank one after the
+other and all the gnomes were lost. Little Tom knew how to swim very
+well but he would surely have been drowned, if he had not caught hold of
+a hazel-nut boat. This was taken up by a little current and swept
+through the hole by the hearth into the Godmother's large room.</p>
+
+<p>Instantly, Little Tom knew where he was, for his parents had often told
+him of his christening and how kind the Godmother was to them all; so he
+continued to row with all his might, hoping that his Godmother would
+return in time to save him.</p>
+
+<p>She was surprised to find him grown up, for at Christmas time, he was
+only a tiny baby, wrapped up in his cushions. Little Tom explained, that
+with the gnomes each week is counted as a year, so that he was now
+fifteen years old. Before that age, no prince may ever leave the
+underground realm, but must be studying and learning and, after that, he
+may only go into the outside world for experience. They<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> were just
+preparing to celebrate his coming of age at his Godmother's and to send
+him on his journey into the world, when the great flood came and
+destroyed the whole kingdom. Little Tom was the only one of them to be
+saved, and that seemed to be through a miracle.</p>
+
+<p>The Godmother did not wish to remind him of his misfortunes, so she told
+him that she would take good care of him and that he would find it very
+pleasant in her hut; but she was worried how she should find a suitable
+place for him to sleep, and how she should clothe him and provide the
+things necessary for his comfort.</p>
+
+<p>She placed him on the top of the linen press and opened the altar for
+him; and when he saw the faces of the little figures, Tom became very
+cheerful, saying that the lady with the Child on her lap was very much
+like his mother. While Little Tom was looking at the kings, the
+shepherds and the manger, his Godmother found a nice, large Easter egg
+that was all hollow and gaily painted in red and yellow. With a pin she
+pricked out a door on one side, and on the other, two windows; then she
+set the egg firmly in the earth, under the tree and told him this would
+be his home and that he should carry some earth inside, and stamp it
+into a hard, level floor. She wanted to give him something to keep him
+busy, so that he would not think of the misfortunes that had befallen
+him.</p>
+
+<p>Little Tom crawled inside and admired the great hall, beautifully arched
+from the finest alabaster, standing under the wonderful tree with its
+golden fruit. He asked his Godmother to set him in the branches, so that
+he might look at the golden nuts and taste of the figs and dates. He was
+happy to think that this magic tree from the outside world would shelter
+him for many, many years.</p>
+
+<p>Then he climbed down the trunk, lowering himself by the little spines as
+if they were the rounds of a ladder. He decided to build a wall all
+around Castle Easter Egg and to lay out a garden under the tree.</p>
+
+<p>The herb woman left him busily working and, taking her hoe, went to the
+well by the chapel to learn how the kingdom of the gnomes had fared. She
+took out the stone engraved with the horseshoe and dug behind in until
+she saw a little corridor, in which was a confusion of stones, mud and
+water. Everything was torn down and ruined and of the gnomes, she heard
+not a sound. She felt very sad to think they all had perished and she
+started to cover the hole and replace the stone. But when she took it
+up, she was surprised to find how light it seemed. Examining it more
+carefully, she noticed at the back a tiny, polished metal door. Upon
+pressing this with her finger, it opened and she saw that the inside of
+the stone was entirely hollowed out and filled with many little
+particles.</p>
+
+<p>It occurred to her that, perhaps after all, some possessions of the
+gnomes remained that might prove useful to Tom; so she put the stone on
+her shoulder and taking care that nothing should fall out, carried it
+home.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 475px;">
+<a href="images/010.png"><img src="images/010th.png" width="271" height="150" alt="" title="" /></a>
+</div>
+
+<p>When she came into the big room, she found that Tom had already made the
+floor inside his castle and was now engaged in building a wall around it
+out of shining, little pebbles. The Godmother laid a cloth on the top of
+the press and placed the stone on the cloth.</p>
+
+<p>»Little Tom,« she said, »I have brought you something for remembrance.
+Your kingdom is all gone; but do not be sorry, for you will stay with me
+and we will live happily together. Now, perhaps you will find something
+in this stone that will be useful to you.«</p>
+
+<p>Tom crawled sadly into the stone, but, at once, shouted with pleasure.
+»Dear Godmother,« he called, »this is our royal treasury and it contains
+furniture, clothes, linen, arms and dishes; all sorts of things. Now, I
+have everything I need and you will see how nicely I will arrange my new
+home.«</p>
+
+<p>At once, he began to carry out of the stone the rich stores he found
+there. His Godmother placed a tiny piece of cloth by the stone and when
+Tom had piled it high with cupboards, tables and chairs, she raised it
+very carefully and placed it under the tree. In spite of all her care,
+it happened that she broke the leg of a chair and knocked off a corner
+of cupboard. She was very sorry, but Tom soothed her by saying that he
+would repair everything. When he began to bring out the dishes, painted
+porcelain left by his grandmother, cups, saucers and pitchers, old
+silver pieces and other treasures, he was very fearful that she might
+break these, too. To her, they seemed like tiny bits of glistening sand;
+but she made him a little wooden staircase that she set against the tree
+box, and up and down this he climbed, carrying his treasures to his
+castle. He worked so hard all day that by night he was completely tired
+out.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span></p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 475px;">
+<a href="images/011.png"><img src="images/011th.png" width="240" height="300" alt="" title="" /></a>
+</div> <hr style="width: 45%;" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>In the meantime, the Godmother had gone about her own work; but when, in
+the evening, she came back into the room she found that the stone had
+been cleaned out. In the door of Castle Easter Egg hung a flowered
+carpet for a curtain and at the windows were little shades. Inside, the
+furniture had all been set in order, but, outside, there still remained
+piles of the precious stores. She was sorry she could not see inside
+very well to look at Tom's housekeeping, and was afraid to touch the egg
+lest his castle should go to pieces.</p>
+
+<p>In the morning, he was early awake and went carefully over his garden,
+measuring out the paths and deciding where he would have lawns, and
+where he would start a forest of moss. Then he made a store room for his
+surplus supplies, dug a well and completed the wall around the castle.</p>
+
+<p>His Godmother helped him as best she could, cutting tiny pieces of wood
+and cloth for his use. The well they made from an old thimble. She left
+him busy at work, noting how diligent and orderly he was and how well he
+had been educated; for he seemed to understand everything that needed to
+be done. She was pleased that he had so much to keep him busy, that he
+would have no time for bitter reflections.</p>
+
+<p>During the day, each went about his or her own work; but in the evening
+they sat together, the Godmother at the table eating her thick soup and
+potatoes. Upon the table Tom had his own little table and chair opposite
+her. For his supper, he had a baked grain of wheat, a hash of sunflower
+seed, or two or three grains of millet fried in butter. He always ate
+with delicacy. His food tasted good to him and after it was eaten, he
+drank some milk.</p>
+
+<p>When they had cleared away the things they talked together. The
+Godmother wished to know how the gnomes lived in their underground
+kingdom and Tom told her all that he could. What they did outside in the
+fields, he did not know, for he had been obliged to remain at home and
+study in the schools; but he described very well all that happened in
+the underground town which had bustled with people. He had seen long
+lines of them bringing home food, riding on grasshoppers, making traps
+for flies and butterflies, bringing in the captured tree insects and the
+spotted bugs which were kept in roomy stalls.</p>
+
+<p>For himself, he had a fine grasshopper, which carried him along the
+corridors lighted by torches from dried wood which gave out soft blue
+flames. He told how his father and mother used to play with him and
+about his little friend Chrysomela, a sweet little girl who had been
+educated with him. Together, they used to run and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> play and watch the
+gnomes digging in the mountains or go for a row on the underground
+river. Then he spoke of the frequent visits of foreign guests, gold
+beetles, and spotted wood bugs who came in stately processions and
+brought fine messages of greeting and beautiful presents. He told
+especially of a visit, just before the flood, made by many black ants
+whom the gnomes feasted and welcomed with great honor. His father, the
+king, presented them to him, telling him how diligent and orderly they
+were and what good friends they were to him. He promised Tom that when
+he should grow up he would send him to them for their teaching, so that
+he might learn how to rule over the kingdom.</p>
+
+<p>Tom would often speak of these things he remembered, but, at the end, he
+would always become sad, when he thought how all his kingdom had been
+destroyed and everything had disappeared, and that he would never again
+see his loved ones.</p>
+
+<p>The Godmother listened to his stories with great pleasure, but she
+realized that Tom must have some occupation that would keep him busy and
+not only prevent him from thinking too much of the past, but also
+prepare him for the life he was to lead in the future.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;">
+<img src="images/012.jpg" width="450" height="216" alt="" title="" />
+</div>
+
+
+<h3>CHAPTER THREE.</h3>
+
+<h2>LITTLE TOM'S TRIP<br />
+AROUND THE WORLD.</h2>
+<p class="center">LITTLE TOM'S HOUSEHOLD.<br />
+LITTLE TOM WRITES A DIARY.<br />
+HE LEARNS TO READ THE BOOKS OF MEN.<br />
+HOW LITTLE TOM READ WITH HIS FEET AND HOW HE<br />
+TURNED THE LEAVES.<br />
+LITTLE TOM LEARNS GEOGRAPHY AND WANTS TO<br />
+MAKE A TRIP ROUND THE WORLD.<br />
+WHAT HE WROTE IN HIS DIARY ABOUT THIS TRIP.<br />
+</p>
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span></p>
+<hr style="width: 45%;" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<p class="firstsection">Little Tom had his day well planned. He rose early and, as his Godmother
+placed every night on his castle grounds an earthern-ware plate full of
+fresh water he would jump into it the first thing and swim all around in
+it. When he had finished his bath he would take his breakfast in the
+garden.</p>
+
+<p>Under the tree was his store of provisions: A hazel nut with an end cut
+off so that he could take out little bits from time to time, lasting him
+a whole month; a beechnut; sunflower seeds; a piece of sugar; and a
+wonderful apple, into which he cut a narrow passage so that it would not
+dry up from the outside.</p>
+
+<p>When he had breakfasted he would sweep the carpet in his room, clean his
+clothes and shoes, exercise with his weapons so that he would not forget
+the arts of defence he had learned at his home, and then go into the
+garden to plant and weed. Sometimes, he hunted for the ugly worms that
+dug great ditches in the vegetable beds.</p>
+
+<p>When the Godmother rose she would come to say good morning to Tom, look
+at his work, praise and advise him. When she saw it was necessary to
+water the tree, she would tell Tom to take away his tools and would then
+pour water over the tree from a fine sprinkler. Tom loved to run about
+in this rain and was happy to think that he could so bravely bear the
+heavy shower.</p>
+
+<p>After she had gone away, he would write in his diary, describing
+everything he had been doing, as well as all those things he could
+remember from his former kingdom, so that nothing should be forgotten.
+For this purpose, he had a beautiful, smooth parchment, tanned from the
+skins of white tree bugs, sharp pens, made from the bills of gnats, and
+fine writing sand from the powder of butterflies' wings. He only lacked
+ink, but he found a way to get that. On the tree, he discovered the
+smoky wicks from the candles; mixing the soot with water he made himself
+some excellent ink; but in doing this, he became so black that when his
+Godmother saw him she feared that he had turned into a negro.</p>
+
+<p>He took his dinner alone, but always looked forward to the evening meal
+when he could sit down and talk with his Godmother.</p>
+
+<p>Thus the days passed happily. He worked about his castle and in the
+garden and was kept busy with his housekeeping. Every day he was
+becoming more manly and strong and, as he grew up, he thought more and
+more of his past, of his birth and what he would have accomplished had
+he become a king and ruled over his underground realm.</p>
+
+<p>One evening, when they were sitting together and Little Tom was speaking
+of all the things in the world he would like to do, his Godmother said,
+»Dear Little Tom, before you can do great things in the world, it is
+necessary that you should learn how to read and write as large people
+do, so that you can know what they are doing«.</p>
+
+<p>But Tom answered, »I know how to read and write very well, Godmother. I
+will show you what I have written.« And when, at his request, she placed
+him on the press,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> he ran into the castle and brought out a whole armful
+of parchments; but it seemed to her that they were only a lot of tiny
+petals from cherry blossoms.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 475px;">
+<a href="images/013.png"><img src="images/013th.png" width="272" height="150" alt="" title="" /></a>
+</div>
+
+<p>When he had thrown the parchments into her lap she put on her spectacles
+and took one of the little sheets in her palm; but she could make
+nothing out of it at all.</p>
+
+<p>Tom offered to read some of it to her and taking up the sheet, read it
+with much expression. In spite of this, the Godmother shook her head.
+»You read very nicely what you yourself have written,« she said, »but
+you must learn human letters as well, so that you can read and study our
+books.«</p>
+
+<p>Therefore, she brought her book to the table, and reached for Little Tom
+to place him upon it, but he was nowhere to be seen. She looked all
+about and finally spied him clinging desperately to the table cloth. The
+wind caused by turning the leaves had blown him over to the very edge of
+the table and he had barely saved himself. He was calling for help when
+his Godmother rescued him from his perilous position. So it nearly
+happened that, at the very outset, a misfortune might have prevented the
+reading altogether; but, as soon as he had recovered from his fright,
+Tom offered at once to begin.</p>
+
+<p>He crawled quickly up the golden edge of the book and surveyed the broad
+white plain covered in every direction, with curving black lines. He ran
+at once to the upper left hand corner, stepping gingerly on the first
+large letter. After he had walked all over it, he stopped and declared
+confidently that it was a capital »O«. In like manner he went on to »N«
+and »C« and »E« and a little further, until he had no longer to run
+completely over a letter but could place himself in the middle and
+looking all about him could tell at once what it was. One after the
+other he spelled and his Godmother was surprised to see how quickly the
+reading progressed.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 475px;">
+<a href="images/014.png"><img src="images/014th.png" width="241" height="300" alt="" title="" /></a>
+</div><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>It was only when he came to the end of the page that he found
+difficulty, for then he had to crawl down while she turned the page
+over; but he thought of a way to get around this. When he had reached
+the end of the next page he procured one of his long spears and crawling
+a little way down the sloping edge of the opened book, thrust his spear
+between the leaves and raised the sheet high enough to crawl under it.
+Then, on his hands and knees, he worked his way to the middle of the
+book and exerting all his strength, he was able to turn the page over.</p>
+
+<p>In a short time, he learned to read so rapidly that he could run swiftly
+along the lines and in this way could cover five or six pages in a day.
+He liked especially to linger by the pictures, looking at the little
+knights gazing from the battlements of the castle, or the beautiful
+ladies spinning or embroidering in great rooms; for it seemed to him
+that these were pictures of his former life and reminded him of his lost
+realm. But, after a moment, he would diligently continue his reading.</p>
+
+<p>He was very curious to discover what real people know, so that he also
+might learn; but it seemed to him that he would never be able to read
+fast enough, and so he began to ask his Godmother to teach him from her
+own knowledge. She soon perceived that in some things, like mathematics
+and physics, he was much better educated than herself; but of other
+subjects, such as history and geography, he knew nothing at all.</p>
+
+<p>So she told him how the earth was shaped and about the sun, moon and
+stars. She explained how the sun rose in the East and then there was
+day; and after it had crossed the sky and set in the West, then night
+came. She told him that in the Far North there is perpetual snow on
+great, white plains, so broad that you can not see across them; and in
+the South great deserts of sand, without water, where lions and tigers
+roam and it is so hot that the people become black like the king in the
+altar. Between all the countries stretch seas of salt water, which are
+filled with strange monsters and across which travel large ships.</p>
+
+<p>Little Tom listened breathlessly, and then was eager to learn how people
+came to know all these things. His Godmother told him that there were
+famous travelers who went all over the earth, experiencing many dangers,
+and then came home to describe what they had seen.</p>
+
+<p>That night, Little Tom in his excitement could not sleep for a long,
+long while and, finally, when he began to doze, he dreamed that he was
+walking through the snow, climbing the mountains that reached to the sky
+and crossing the primeval forests. Then he wandered in deserts and swam
+the sea in the midst of fierce sharks.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Next day, he was all the time thinking of the great wonders of the
+world, and his work was not so pleasing to him. He could hardly wait for
+the evening to come so that he might learn more from his Godmother. When
+she had told him other things that she knew, he asked her where was the
+end of the earth. She explained that the world was round and that, if
+any one walked on and on, he would come to the place whence he had
+started.</p>
+
+<p>Little Tom became quite confused, for with his growing mind he could not
+understand how the world could be so great, or how it could be round!
+Neither did he know what it meant to travel. There was only one thing
+that he remembered and that was, if he started in one direction and kept
+on going, in the end he would come back home. His heart was very brave
+and he was not afraid of danger. He wanted very much to gain experience
+and do heroic deeds, even if he did not know where he was going.</p>
+
+<p>So he decided that he would become a great traveler and go round the
+world. He made careful preparations for the trip. In secret, he filled a
+bundle with nourishing food, which he put on his back and hung a bottle
+of water from his neck. On his feet he put heavy shoes, made from strong
+caterpillar leather, belted his sword around his waist and, as soon as
+his Godmother had left in the morning, started on his journey round the
+world.</p>
+
+<p>He looked forward to his Godmother's surprise on his return, when he
+would tell her all that had happened to him and thereby gain great fame.</p>
+
+<p>He walked down from the box that held his castle and crossed the press
+straight to his Godmother's bed. He judged that the window through which
+the light was streaming, was in the East and that, therefore, he was
+going directly to the North.</p>
+
+<p>When the Godmother returned to her room in the evening she was greatly
+surprised that Little Tom was not there to welcome her. She called and
+looked for him everywhere, but could not find him. She feared that he
+had crawled to some place where he had fallen down and died miserably.
+She swept the floor most carefully, but in vain. Sadly, she went to the
+hearth to get some wood to replenish the fire, for it was a cold Spring
+day. As she took out some pieces, there she found Tom asleep with a tiny
+bundle upon his back. He was sleeping so soundly, that he did not stir
+when she called to him, so she took him up carefully and placed him
+under the tree on her handkerchief. She feared that something had
+happened to him. Many times during the night she got up to look at him,
+but Little Tom slept quietly until the morning.</p>
+
+<p>When he finally awoke, he did not at first know where he was. When he
+remembered, he avoided telling his Godmother where he had been the day
+before; but he begged her forgiveness and promised that he would never
+again crawl down from the linen press. She did not insist on an
+explanation, for she thought that he had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> been curious and had run
+around the room and thus become lost. When she went away, he started
+diligently to write in his diary. This was what he wrote:</p>
+
+<p>
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><i>Castle Easter Egg,</i></span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><i>The 114th day of my life.</i></span><br />
+</p>
+
+<p>When I was one hundred and twelve days old, believing it to be the duty
+of a man to accomplish great deeds, I decided that I would be a traveler
+and go round the earth&mdash;Godmother having told me that it is round&mdash;so
+that I could see for myself the wonders she has described. I made my
+preparations in secret. In the morning, when Godmother had gone away, I
+started for the hills on the northern horizon, stretching across the
+plain on which my castle stands.</p>
+
+<p>I expected that beyond those northern hills would lie the snowy plains
+about which she told me; and that, if I kept straight on, I should reach
+the deserts of the hot, tropical country and, beyond them, by crossing
+the forests, I should come to the great ocean. I had planned, if I could
+find a boat by the ocean, to cross to the other side and, by traveling
+over the countries there, finally return home.</p>
+
+<p>Godmother had said that the sun, during the day and the night, goes from
+the East to the West and clear around the earth until it comes back
+again to the East. I judged that if I should hurry my journey, it would
+not take any longer than the sun, so I made up my mind to go from the
+North to the South.</p>
+
+<p>The hills stretch clear across the plain which is sloping and smooth. At
+first, I could not find a suitable place to climb; but, finally, coming
+to the end of the plain before a steep precipice, I saw a little fissure
+by which I might ascend to the very top. With great difficulty I managed
+to make my way by this fissure until I came to the summit, where I could
+look over and, as I had expected, I saw before me a vast, white plain
+stretching out to infinity.</p>
+
+<p>With great care I crawled upon it at the place where it touches the
+hills and, stepping on it, I found that it was elastic and yielding,
+like the snow Godmother described. One can really walk on it with ease
+and I was surprised to find, moreover, that one can so easily overcome
+the difficulties of those desolate countries. Also I did not feel any
+cold.</p>
+
+<p>After a time, I came to a place where the white plain began to slope
+downwards, until it formed, in front of another hill that appeared in
+the distance, a dark and very deep chasm. I made my way at good speed
+into this chasm and was already looking forward to the time when I
+should come out of this inhospitable place, when, all of a sudden, the
+ground began to slip from under my feet. In vain I tried to hold myself
+with my hands. Faster and faster I fell, until, head first, I plunged
+against the wall of the precipice, where I lay unconscious.</p>
+
+<p>When I came to myself, I found that I was on another broad plain; but,
+instead of snow, this one was very rough and covered with coarse sand.
+My arms and legs pained me from my fall, so I rested while I refreshed
+myself with some food from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> my bundle and drank a little water from my
+bottle. Then I started farther on my way. After this, I proceeded with
+great caution. As I did not in the least doubt that I was now on the
+dangerous desert of Sahara, which is filled with tigers and lions, I
+took care that I should not be pounced upon unawares.</p>
+
+<p>But nothing living appeared; only before me stretched the rocky,
+limitless desert. I hoped that I should come to some oasis where I might
+find palms and a stream of fresh water, but was disappointed. Finally, I
+saw before me a mountain that rose so far into the sky that I could not
+even discern its top. As I came nearer, I perceived that it was warm, so
+I concluded that I had now come to the tropical country and that behind
+this great mountain, lay the deep forests and the ocean of which
+Godmother had told me.</p>
+
+<p>I began to climb the steep side of the mountain, which grew warmer all
+the time, so that my hands were nearly blistered. From the mountain
+itself, there seemed to come forth a great heat, so that I was fearful
+that I had come upon a volcano and that I might fall into the crater. I
+wanted to go back, but my head became dizzy when I looked over the
+narrow ledge on which I stood, into the deep chasm I had left behind me.
+I rested awhile; then, after a drink from my water bottle, I crawled
+down at the risk of my life.</p>
+
+<p>Reaching the level, I decided to walk around the mountain to see if I
+could discover some valley. At this point, I would have preferred
+returning to my home, but did not know how I should climb up the steep
+slope of the snow plain down which I had fallen.</p>
+
+<p>I followed along the foot of the mountain until I came to a vast forest
+which, from under its cliffs, stretched a long distance away. I hoped
+when I should reach the other side that I should come to the ocean. In
+the forest were only bare trunks of trees fallen in every direction and
+many turned up by the roots. Perhaps a great earthquake had destroyed it
+and the heat from the mountain had dried up the trees.</p>
+
+<p>With difficulty, I made my way into the tangle. It soon became darker
+and with the trunks piled high one on top of another, it seemed to me
+that there would be no end to it. On and on I went, hoping each moment
+to see a glimmer of light, when suddenly I ran into a steep, rough wall,
+but it was unlike anything my Godmother had told me about. On both
+sides, to the left and right I went, trying to find a way out; but there
+was not even a hole. Only, on each side was another wall like the one I
+had run into, and so I found myself in a great cave which, perhaps, in
+olden times had been caused by an earthquake and now by way of the
+forest led into the heart of the mountain.</p>
+
+<p>I became frightened and lonely, lost in this desolate place, and feared
+that I might never again come out into God's world. However, I did not
+want to give up without making another effort, so I turned around and
+started back through the forest by the way that I had come, dragging
+myself wearily over the tangled trunks. Many times<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> I stumbled and fell,
+until, finally, weariness overcame me and I sank down in the wood too
+worn out to go further. Before I fell asleep, in my thoughts I said good
+bye to my dear Godmother, fearing that I might never wake up again.</p>
+
+<p>In my dreams, it seemed as if the whole forest was shaken violently and
+that I was lifted bodily and carried to great heights; but I could not
+call out or even open my eyes.</p>
+
+<p>When I finally awoke, I found myself lying on the carpet in front of my
+castle in broad daylight. I was uncertain whether I had simply dreamed
+all about my journey; but, when Godmother came, she asked me with much
+concern where I had been and how I had come to be among the great
+faggots by the hearth.</p>
+
+<p>I did not understand at all what she meant, but at least my journey was
+not a dream and I knew that I had escaped a great danger. I did not want
+to tell whither I had been wandering and, moreover, I was sorry that my
+courageous efforts had been without success. It seems to me that, for
+the present, the journey around the world is too great for my strength
+and that I should wait until I am better prepared and know fully about
+the direction and the dangers I shall be apt to meet.</p>
+
+<p>Last evening, I read my diary to Godmother, so that she might tell me
+the mistakes I had made and how I can better prepare for my next
+journey. While I read, she laughed until the tears ran down her cheeks.
+I was sorry that she made so light of my efforts and that the dangers I
+had encountered seemed so laughable to her, but she endeavored to soothe
+me by saying that she was the one who had made the mistakes and had
+instructed me badly.</p>
+
+<p>She told me that the journey was over her great feather bed, across the
+floor to the hearth, and into the niche where the faggots for the fire
+lay. I had no idea that the lodging of human beings is so vast and
+imagine that the earth itself must be a great deal larger and that I
+shall have to give up my idea. Godmother also advises me to give it up
+until I shall be more experienced. In the meantime, she will tell me
+stories of the great heroes, their adventures and the wonderful deeds
+they accomplished.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span></p>
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span></p><div class="figcenter" style="width: 475px;">
+
+
+<a href="images/015.png"><img src="images/015th.png" width="239" height="300" alt="" title="" /></a>
+</div> <hr style="width: 45%;" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span></p>
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;">
+<img src="images/016.jpg" width="450" height="277" alt="" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<h3>CHAPTER FOUR.</h3>
+
+<h2>LITTLE TOM IN THE ENCHANTED CASTLE.</h2>
+
+<p class="center">
+THE GODMOTHER TELLS LITTLE TOM STORIES.<br />
+LITTLE TOM FINDS HIMSELF IN A CLOCK WITH<br />
+A CUCKOO AND THINKS HE IS IN AN ENCHANTED<br />
+CASTLE.<br />
+WHAT ADVENTURES HE HAD IN THE CLOCK.<br />
+</p>
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span></p>
+<hr style="width: 45%;" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 475px;">
+<a href="images/017.png"><img src="images/017th.png" width="239" height="300" alt="" title="" /></a>
+</div><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<p class="firstsection">The Godmother was very sorry that she had told Little Tom so many things
+he had not understood. She realized that it would be impossible to tell
+him all about the world until he had seen it for himself; so, taking him
+in her hand, she carried him from the bed to the hearth, from there to
+the cupboard, then to the door and the window. Everything she showed him
+she called by name and explained the uses of the different things so
+that he might understand and, another time, not lose his way.</p>
+
+<p>Then she placed him on the floor and Tom, looking around, measured the
+distances with his eye, so that he would know how far he would have to
+travel to each object. He crawled around the corners, examined the feet
+of the furniture and remembered all the things she told him could be
+moved, like the chairs, the poker and the foot-stool, so that he could
+make no mistakes as to his whereabouts in case he could not find one of
+the household articles in its place. Very soon he learned to know the
+whole room as well as his own dwelling, and the Godmother, when she left
+him in the morning, found she could put him on the floor without fear
+and permit him to run where he pleased and to examine everything; but
+she was afraid to take him outside the hut lest something should injure
+him or he should get lost.</p>
+
+<p>Little Tom was quite satisfied, for his explorations kept him busy.
+Every evening, he told his Godmother all the things he had found under
+the cupboard and the linen press and around the hearth, and she was
+surprised to learn how her room appeared when looked at from the floor.</p>
+
+<p>Then she told him more stories and became as interested herself in the
+fairy tales as when she first heard them as a child. Often they sat thus
+together even into the night. Little Tom could not hear enough of the
+sweet princesses taken away by the wizards into deep caverns; the brave
+heroes fighting the dragons and the witches; the glass castles which
+revolved on the nightmare's foot; the valiant tailor who fought with the
+giants; the clever shoemaker who had a magic sack; and of how the strong
+blacksmith cheated the devil and death.</p>
+
+<p>But, best of all, he liked the story of the enchanted castle, suspended
+high above the earth. This castle seemed deserted, but whoever could
+sleep there three nights, and, without saying a word, let himself be
+tormented and tortured by the wicked spirits, would set free a beautiful
+princess who had been enchanted by a witch. And so, one day, a brave lad
+hid himself in the bucket which was lowered each morning to the earth
+and let himself be pulled up to the castle, where he stayed three
+nights. Every night he heard terrible noises; the spirits came and
+pounded him, pinched him and squeezed him; but he valiantly stood the
+torture and never spoke, screamed or cried out with pain. After the
+third night, an enormous griffin flew in the window, bearing on his back
+the beautiful princess who had been freed. The brave lad also climbed on
+his back and the griffin flew with them down to the earth. There he
+married the princess and they lived happily together ever afterwards in
+their kingdom.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Little Tom liked the manly courage of this hero. He seemed braver than
+all the other knights, for he knew how to suffer and bear torture and to
+sacrifice himself for the poor princess. Tom thought that such sacrifice
+was more beautiful than all the heroic deeds. He wished that he could
+have such an adventure and give himself to torture, so that he might
+free a princess.</p>
+
+<p>One morning, before going to the field, the Godmother placed Tom on the
+floor as usual, and then went out to get Speckle. As Tom ran about the
+room, he came suddenly upon a great brass cylinder.</p>
+
+<p>Never before had he seen it there and he wondered what it could be. He
+wanted to climb up but it was so round and so smooth that he could find
+no foothold. He ran to the hearth and taking a strong twig which he
+rested against the cylinder clambered to the top; but when he got there
+his twig slipped and fell down on the floor.</p>
+
+<p>Tom then noticed that on the top of the cylinder was a little depression
+and, in its centre, a hook from which a strong chain ran up in the air.
+He seated himself by this hook and was almost breathless when he thought
+that it might be a bucket lowered to the earth by its great chain from
+an enchanted castle in the sky. He sat waiting for the chain to pull him
+up, trembling with pleasure at the thought that he would get into the
+castle and rescue the enchanted princess.</p>
+
+<p>He was not at all afraid of the pain or the torture, for he knew that if
+he did not cry out, the great bird would fly into the castle bearing the
+princess he had set free.</p>
+
+<p>At that moment, the Godmother returned, took up her cloak and was about
+to leave the room again when she suddenly remembered that she had
+forgotten to wind the clock. So she went to the wall, and taking hold of
+the little hook, lifted the run-down weight from the floor to the clock.
+She did not notice Little Tom sitting on the weight; but he heard a
+terrible noise and felt himself hoisted by the chain into the sky. He
+did not speak or cry out, for he knew if he should make a noise, the
+evil spirits would tear him to pieces.</p>
+
+<p>The Godmother went out to her work in the field and there sat Little Tom
+on the weight at a dizzy height, up in the air under the enchanted
+castle. The rattling of the chain had ceased, but above him in the
+castle, Tom heard a strong voice repeating, »Tick, tack, tick, tack«.</p>
+
+<p>At first Tom was frightened by this moving spectre, but he soon
+discovered that it never went away from the wall. This calmed his fears
+and he decided that he would go farther into the dark rooms of the
+castle, in spite of the poisonous odors that came from them.</p>
+
+<p>Returning to his chain he clambered higher and higher, until he came to
+the powerful cylinder around which the chain was wound. Everywhere, it
+was dusty and musty with much dark, greasy slime which soiled his hands
+and clothes. Such a desolate, lonely castle he had never dreamed could
+exist. Nowhere, a living soul.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Little Tom sat down on the big cylinder, waiting to see what would
+happen and wondering what tortures lay before him. Resolutely, he said
+to himself that he would not scream, no matter if the spectres should
+tear him into little pieces.</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly, the cylinder under him moved and shook so that he nearly fell
+off; but he caught hold of the chain and lay quite still, stretched out
+to his full length. Then he saw something bright, and directly above him
+move, and the giant tooth of a great wheel bent over and caught him by
+the coat. Tom thought that his torture was about to begin, but he
+resolved that he, would not give up easily; so, bravely grasping the
+tooth itself, he pulled himself up with all his strength until he sat
+astride the great wheel.</p>
+
+<p>Now, he felt easier, but the wheel started to move carrying him still
+higher. In a moment, he was lifted high above the great cylinder and saw
+another wheel, with other great teeth approaching, which fitted closely
+into the notches of the wheel on which he sat and, with powerful force,
+turned it up and up. He was afraid that he would be caught between the
+two, so climbing over his wheel, he worked his way back to the cylinder;
+but this was also moving, so that he could not stand upright on it. As
+his eyes had by this time become accustomed to the darkness, he saw
+about him in every direction, wheels, levers, teeth and cylinders.
+Everything was moving and turning around. Poor little Tom was suddenly
+snatched by a great metal talon which almost tore out his shoulder and
+he was terribly pinched, squeezed and pressed.</p>
+
+<p>Setting his teeth so that he would not cry out, he drew his dagger and
+cut away a piece of his coat, which was already caught between the two
+cylinders, and sprang blindly to one side, not knowing where he would
+land. His hand touched an upright steel post which he grasped firmly
+and, climbing upward, he reached a great globe that seemed to stand
+quite still. Here he felt safe for the moment, but he knew that this was
+not the end of his tortures.</p>
+
+<p>Close to the globe was a large, metal vessel, to which he clambered and,
+working his way to the top, where it was fastened, sat down to rest. He
+hoped that this would not move. From his safe perch he looked below him
+into the tangle of wheels and teeth and levers, where everything was
+rustling, growling, and whirring. From all this he had barely escaped
+with his life.</p>
+
+<p>He wondered how long he had been bearing this torture and when it would
+end. While he sat there thinking, all of a sudden the globe which he had
+just left, raised itself, something below rustled and the globe struck
+itself against the vessel with a deafening clang. The great vessel
+trembled and resounded with a terrible noise, so that Tom almost fell
+from his seat. He perceived that this was a new kind of torture, worse
+even than the first. His arms and legs shook with the vibration, his
+spine prickled and his head began to whirl. Again the globe beat against
+the vessel, and again. The clock was sounding three quarters of the
+hour.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figleft" style="width: 250px;">
+<a href="images/018.png"><img src="images/018th.png" width="132" height="200" alt="" title="" /></a>
+</div>
+
+<p>After this, everything became quiet and Little Tom heaved a sigh of
+relief. On the great bell he sat very sadly. He would have returned into
+the machinery below him, for the whole world, as he thought a crowd of
+witches and spirits were storming there and waiting to tear him to
+pieces if he should utter a single sound. But he could see no other way
+out, for around him was nothing but darkness and gloom. He hoped that
+when the torture should stop, the castle would open and the great
+griffin would appear to carry him safely back to earth. He wondered what
+sort of a princess she would be whom he would save and whether she would
+be as beautiful as his own mother had been.</p>
+
+<p>In this way, another quarter of an hour passed; but to Tom, sitting
+there in the darkness, it seemed like an eternity. Again, the machinery
+began to whir and the castle shook. The globe beat into the bell as if
+it were crazy. Little Tom was stiff with fright as he shook and trembled
+under the powerful blows.</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly, the little doors in front of him flew open, letting the light
+of day into the castle; and he saw the great cuckoo, which he at once
+took for the griffin. The bird ran out a little way from the roof and
+called »Cuckoo, cuckoo«.</p>
+
+<p>Tom sprang from the bell to the bird and cried out victoriously. He
+thought that his torture was at an end and that he had broken the spell
+of the enchanted castle. Now, he wanted to find the princess he had set
+free. But, suddenly, the doors closed with a bang, catching Tom between
+them and squeezing him so hard that he nearly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> lost his breath. He was
+terribly afraid, fearing lest he had cried out too soon and spoiled the
+rescue and now would be torn to pieces by the spectres.</p>
+
+<p>He struggled in vain to tear himself loose. Below him, the clock was
+moaning and groaning; and, far down, he looked into the depths of the
+chasm. Already, he bade farewell to the world and started shouting at
+the top of his lungs.</p>
+
+<p>At this moment, his Godmother came in from the field and, hearing the
+clock rattling, she wondered what could be the matter with it, that it
+should make such a noise. Looking at the partly closed doors, she
+perceived that something was caught between them. Stepping up on a
+chair, she saw Little Tom struggling and crying for help. She released
+him at once and carried him safely down. He told her what had happened
+saying that he wanted to rescue the princess in the enchanted castle,
+but had spoiled the rescue by crying out too soon.</p>
+
+<p>This time, the Godmother did not laugh at him. She was afraid that he
+had been hurt and was very sorry that her stories had brought him into
+such danger. For a long time, Tom could not believe that he had been
+mistaken and that in the clock there were no spectres. She raised him up
+to the dial plate, showed him the painted roses and the numbers,
+explaining all about them and showing how the little hands worked all by
+themselves, day and night, to tell how the time was passing. He became
+very much encouraged, as he began to understand. Then he sat astride the
+long hand as if he were on a horse and liked it so much, that the
+Godmother had to warn him not to slide down and kill himself.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;">
+<img src="images/019.jpg" width="450" height="280" alt="" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<h3>CHAPTER FIVE.</h3>
+
+<h2>LITTLE TOM'S ADVENTURES IN THE GARDEN.</h2>
+
+<p class="center">
+THE GODMOTHER TELLS LITTLE TOM ALL ABOUT HELL<br />
+AND PARADISE.<br />
+LITTLE TOM IN MIRMEX'S GARDEN, ON THE ROSE-BUSH,<br />
+ON THE POPPY-BED AND AMONG THE<br />
+STRAWBERRIES.<br />
+THE STRIKE. LITTLE TOM IN THE BLACK KITCHEN.<br />
+THE COCKROACH.<br />
+WHERE THE GODMOTHER FOUND LITTLE TOM.<br />
+</p>
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span></p>
+<hr style="width: 45%;" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 475px;">
+<a href="images/020.png"><img src="images/020th.png" width="201" height="150" alt="" title="" /></a>
+</div>
+
+<p class="firstsection">The Godmother realized that it would not do to tell Tom too many fairy
+tales, so, instead, she said that she would tell him other stories more
+beautiful than the made-up ones.</p>
+
+<p>During the day, Little Tom recovered from the adventures of the morning
+and looked forward to the evening, when he was to hear something new.
+After their supper, the Godmother spoke about the wickedness in the
+world and told him that, in the next world, would come justice and
+rewards; that those who had lived rightly and stood the trials of this
+world patiently, would live in Paradise, where there is eternal life and
+pleasure, where beautiful flowers grow, sweet fruits ripen and angels
+fly about the blue heaven and sing; that those who had lived wickedly
+and committed crimes would be taken away by wicked spirits and punished.</p>
+
+<p>Tom was greatly affected by this explanation and longed to see Paradise;
+but he was fearful lest he had done something wrong and that the little
+devils would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> carry him away. He asked his Godmother what he should do
+to live right and so earn Paradise. She promised that she would instruct
+him in order that he might know how to avoid sin. As it was now late in
+the evening, they went to bed, Little Tom dreaming all night long of
+Paradise, of walking through the delightful groves and listening to the
+angels' songs.</p>
+
+<p>In the morning, when the Godmother arose, she found that it was a warm,
+bright day and opened the window through which came the scents of the
+old lime tree, the carnations and the roses. Then she went into the
+black kitchen, started the fire and hung a pot of potatoes to cook for
+lunch, on the hook over the hearth. She told Tom that she was going to
+the village and that he should not run around and again get into danger.
+Having promised not to run around the room, Tom sat down by Castle
+Easter Egg, under the fir tree, and wrote of the experiences through
+which he had passed.</p>
+
+<p>But, after she had gone, he became curious to know whence came the
+lovely fragrance. He ran down from his garden, crossed the linen press
+to the window and stood upon the ledge. Above him he saw the blue sky
+and the golden sun; he heard the blackbirds and thrushes singing in the
+lilac bushes; and such a beautiful perfume came to him that his heart
+was filled with joy. Without realizing what he was doing, he felt he
+must go out and look at this magic world. Grasping the old vine by the
+window, he slid down very carefully through the transparent green
+leaves, jumped into the middle of a red carnation among its opening
+petals, and felt as though he were in a cloud of perfume. He waded
+through the soft, little petals, pressing them with his hands, and was
+sure that he was in Paradise itself! Yes, it must be the Paradise his
+Godmother had so beautifully described. What lights, colors and odors
+were here! What pleasure to gaze at the broad forest of red, white and
+pink bouquets and on the infinite green plain beyond, on which other
+blossoms like these were growing!</p>
+
+<p>As Tom walked to the edge of this flower, it bent over and he fell into
+the grass. But he did not mind this at all. He waded through the grass
+until he came upon a path, full of hard, shining little stones.</p>
+
+<p>He felt easy in his heart and shouted with delight, drinking the dew
+drops on the blades of grass and saying over and over to himself. »I am
+in Paradise, the place of eternal life and eternal pleasure.« He wanted
+to cross the path to the other side, where he saw great trees growing
+with broad crowns&mdash;his Godmother's rose bushes&mdash;and he was curious to
+learn what other charming things he might discover.</p>
+
+<p>But it was not easy for him to cross the path. He fell into little holes
+and stumbled over the sand grains which seemed to him like high stones.
+When he stood in the middle of the path, he saw a great black creature,
+with six legs and two horns, about to run by him. He stopped,
+instinctively placing his hand on the hilt of his dagger, but at the
+same time the creature stopped also and gazed at him with bulging eyes,
+raising its horns in the air.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 475px;">
+<a href="images/021.png"><img src="images/021th.png" width="268" height="150" alt="" title="" /></a>
+</div>
+
+<p>Little Tom went on bravely and at once recognized an ant. At first, it
+retreated, then ran towards him and said, »Prince, it pleases me very
+much that I have found you again. I was once at your father's court,
+with a message from our people to thank him for his hospitality and for
+the shelter he gave us when our town was attacked. I am Mirmex and I
+knew your father very well. All of us were deeply grieved when we
+learned that your town was flooded and destroyed.«</p>
+
+<p>Tom was heartily glad to meet some one with whom he could speak on a
+basis of equality and began at once to tell the ant about his
+adventures; but Mirmex excused himself, saying that he was too busy to
+stop long; so he asked Tom to accompany him. Tom was surprised to learn
+that Mirmex had work in his Godmother's Paradise, but Mirmex was already
+running ahead and Tom could hardly catch up with him.</p>
+
+<p>They crossed the path and waded through the grass to the trunk of the
+rose-bush, up which Mirmex climbed quickly. Tom saw on the trunk a crowd
+of little ants, each carrying a small bit of earth in its antennae.
+Presently, Mirmex came back to Tom. »There is a great obstacle up
+there,« he said, pointing to the bush. »The trunk is covered all the way
+around with some sticky grease and our workmen can not crawl over it to
+get to the leaves. We are now trying to build a bridge across this
+place, but are not succeeding very well.«<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 475px;">
+<a href="images/022.png"><img src="images/022th.png" width="270" height="150" alt="" title="" /></a>
+</div>
+
+<p>Little Tom promised to help them. Four strong workmen raised him over
+their heads and pushed him up the trunk to the dangerous strip, where he
+sat on a crooked thorn and saw how the ants were putting bits of earth
+on the grease to build a bridge across it; but it was too thick and the
+feet of those who were in front were caught in it. Tom drew his dagger
+and, stepping out on the thorn, dug the ants free and then scratched a
+broad path in the grease. Over this the ants sifted sand and soon began
+to run across it in such crowds, that the leaves appeared all black.</p>
+
+<p>With difficulty, Tom crawled up after them and, finding a seat on a
+rosebud, watched them working. Those on the leaves were biting out
+little round pieces which they threw to the ground, where others were
+waiting. These at once put the green circles over their heads like
+parasols and, in a long stream, hurried to the fence. Tom wanted to know
+what they were going to do with the leaves and called to Mirmex as he
+was passing near him. Mirmex answered that just then, he had no time;
+but, later, he would explain everything.</p>
+
+<p>Tom then asked Mirmex to have him carried down to the ground, as he
+wished to look at the other wonders of Paradise. »With pleasure,«
+answered Mirmex, »but perhaps you would like a horse to ride upon around
+the garden.« Before Tom could reply, a beautiful, green steed jumped
+upon the rose bud. Tom climbed upon him, the grasshopper spread his
+wings, flew to the ground, and then, with great leaps, carried him to
+the poppy beds.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 475px;">
+<a href="images/023.png"><img src="images/023th.png" width="276" height="150" alt="" title="" /></a>
+</div>
+
+<p>In the green shade among the high stalks, it was agreeably cool. Little
+Tom rode through this giant forest, above which flamed red and white
+blossoms like huge lamps. The beauty of it all was enchanting. When
+Mirmex came to him, Tom spoke of the place with enthusiasm; but Mirmex
+merely waved his hand. »This is only a useless desert,« he said. »There
+are many like it in the garden; but ride after me and I will show you a
+more beautiful place.«</p>
+
+<p>Mirmex ran rapidly ahead over the bed of carrots, through the strawberry
+plants and under the gooseberry and currant bushes, where he stopped.</p>
+
+<p>»Here,« he said, »is the most beautiful spot in the whole land which you
+call Paradise. Here are the stalks of the sweetest things in the world
+and there are so many that whole towns could live on them. The only
+problem is how to carry them away. You can stop here and, if at any time
+you should wish to visit our Black Town, you will always find here some
+of our workmen who will tell me of your wishes. In the meantime, be
+happy and enjoy yourself.« Mirmex ran quickly away and Little Tom,
+climbing down from his horse, began to look at the wonderful fruit.</p>
+
+<p>He crawled up a gooseberry bush and saw many yellow barrels hanging
+among the leaves. He stuck his dagger into one and found that it was
+filled with excellent wine; so he cut the stems of several others which
+fell to the ground. He then went to the second bush, full of red globes
+that shone like glass. He cut into one and found<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> that it held a
+delicious, tart wine. When he crawled down again, he had in the grass a
+stock of fine drinks that would last him many days.</p>
+
+<p>He was still looking for food when he came upon the strawberries, which
+seemed like giant lumps in the leaves over his head. Selecting the
+largest, he began to cut away its stem with his cutlass; the green stalk
+bent and the strawberry fell heavily to the grass, leaving Tom barely
+time to jump to one side, as the great mass fell. As it was, it struck
+him on the shoulder and threw him head foremost into the grass; but he
+did not regret the misfortune. With his cutlass he dug out the yellow
+seeds and cut great, juicy slices, enjoying huge mouthfuls of the
+delicious fruit.</p>
+
+<p>Never had he eaten anything so good. When he could eat no more, he made
+up his mind that he would remain in this Paradise, and establish his
+home here. For the moment, he had forgotten his Godmother and how sad
+she would be when she could not find him.</p>
+
+<p>First, he thought he would sleep awhile and then bring together the
+timbers for his house; but, at this moment, along came his horse, pawing
+restively and rubbing his head against him, as if asking Tom to hurry.
+It seemed strange to Tom that he should obey so readily; but he climbed
+upon his steed's back at once and the grasshopper started from the bush
+with a great jump and passed under the fence as if some one was chasing
+him.</p>
+
+<p>The grass struck Tom in the face, so that he could hardly keep his seat;
+but the grasshopper took no notice; he only hurried the faster to the
+brook to hide himself in the sorrel close to the water. Suddenly, a huge
+shadow swept over the earth. Tom saw great wings and an open bill. He
+fell on the ground and the grasshopper disappeared, carried away by a
+huge shrike. Rolling in the dust in front of the Godmother's hut, Tom
+saw the great bird sitting on a shrub close to the fence. Holding the
+poor grasshopper in his bill, he jumped upon the branches, impaled the
+grasshopper on a sharp thorn and flew away. Pierced by the thorn, the
+grasshopper struggled to get away buzzing with his wings and kicking his
+feet desperately in the air, but to no avail. He was held fast by the
+thorn which was thrust firmly through his breast.</p>
+
+<p>Little Tom watched his struggles, breathless with fright. What did it
+all mean? He thought of the wicked spirits his Godmother had told him
+about, who carried away those who had done wrong, to torture them. He
+became more frightened when he thought how he had taken advantage of his
+Godmother's goodness.</p>
+
+<p>He did not doubt in the least that the great winged creature had come
+for him to transfix him on the thorn, so that he might suffer his
+punishment and that, only by chance, it had caught the grasshopper
+instead of himself. He did not know where he was. All about him was
+bare, hard ground. Crawling up the little step before the door of the
+hut, he squeezed through a little crack and found himself in a great,
+dark hall.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span></p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span></p><div class="figcenter" style="width: 475px;">
+<a href="images/024.png"><img src="images/024th.png" width="243" height="300" alt="" title="" /></a>
+</div> <hr style="width: 45%;" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span></p>
+<p>With a sigh of relief, he thought that, now, he might escape the
+terrible punishment and that here the flying, wicked spirit could not
+find him. He did not know that he was in the hall of his Godmother's
+hut; but it did seem to him to be that of a human dwelling. He went
+further along the wall, until he found a crack under a door, through
+which he crawled into the black kitchen.</p>
+
+<p>Here it was dark, but far away was shining a great, hot fire on the
+hearth. Little Tom did not know what this meant. He went through the
+darkness towards the red light, wading through the dust until he came to
+the hearth, where, in the mortar, he discovered a little hole. Not
+minding how the rough mortar cut his hands, he crawled up the broad
+fireplace under the chimney and stood astonished.</p>
+
+<p>Before him was a black plain covered with soot and in the middle was a
+tripod holding a huge pot, from under which flames darted forth. The
+fire itself crackled and hissed; sparks were flying through the darkness
+as big as Tom's head, while clouds of steam rose to the chimney. From
+under the cover of the pot, came a great noise of sputtering and
+bubbling, like the quarreling of many angry voices.</p>
+
+<p>Tom felt attracted by the fierce light. He could not turn his eyes away
+from it and great fear pressed upon his heart. After all, he could not
+escape the wicked spirits and he would be punished for having deceived
+his Godmother. Perhaps a devil would come to catch him. Soon, he thought
+the devil actually did appear. A terrible being, twice as big as
+himself, all in shining armor and with great whiskers, came quickly from
+out of the darkness and stood directly in front of him, looking at him,
+till his heart grew faint. Tom thought he was lost, but determined to
+defend himself with all his might.</p>
+
+<p>Drawing his cutlass, he waited. The cockroach raised his feelers and ran
+towards him. Little Tom stood firm and when the cockroach drew near, he
+thrust his sharp cutlass under his chin up to the very hilt. The
+cockroach fell dead on Little Tom, throwing him down by his weight.</p>
+
+<p>When the Godmother returned for lunch, she looked for Tom in the room in
+vain. Calling him, she hunted in all of the corners, through the wood by
+the hearth, and even in the clock, but all to no purpose. Tom was
+nowhere to be seen.</p>
+
+<p>Very sadly, she went back into the black kitchen for the potatoes and
+spied a cockroach by the oven. She was about to sweep it across the
+floor, when something sparkled under it. It was Little Tom's golden cap.
+She placed the poor little fellow in her palm and carried him tenderly
+into the great room, calling him by his name until he wakened; but even
+then he did not recognize her. He had a fever and would only say, »Go
+away from me, you ugly devil«. He kept waving his hands and reaching for
+his sword screaming as if defending himself.</p>
+
+<p>It was some time before he came to himself and recognized his Godmother,
+so that he could tell her what he had experienced. She thought that he
+was still in fever and did not know what he was saying. She forgot what
+she had been telling him about Paradise and the place of the wicked
+spirits. Only when he had quite recovered and could walk about in his
+garden by Castle Easter Egg did she learn what had happened to him.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>She then realized that she could not keep Little Tom at home all the
+time and that the room could not satisfy his brave, curious little soul.
+So she decided that she would take him out and show the world to him, in
+order that he might have pleasure under the great sky and gain some
+experience of life.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span></p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span></p><div class="figcenter" style="width: 475px;">
+<a href="images/025.png"><img src="images/025th.png" width="241" height="300" alt="" title="" /></a>
+</div> <hr style="width: 45%;" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span></p>
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;">
+<img src="images/026.jpg" width="450" height="296" alt="" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<h3>CHAPTER SIX.</h3>
+
+<h2>LITTLE TOM'S EXCURSIONS.</h2>
+
+<p class="center">
+LITTLE TOM'S EXPEDITION BEFORE THE COTTAGE.<br />
+HIS WALK THROUGH THE CORN-FIELD.<br />
+THE COBWEB AND THE FIGHT WITH THE SPIDER.<br />
+LITTLE TOM FINDS HIMSELF IN THE COURT-YARD<br />
+AMONG CHICKENS.<br />
+HE RUNS AWAY AND IS PURSUED BY ROVER.<br />
+HE TUMBLES INTO A BROOK AND IS GOBBLED UP BY<br />
+A TROUT, WHICH SPITS HIM OUT AGAIN INTO THE<br />
+GRASS.<br />
+HE TAKES A WALK ON THE MEADOW WITH<br />
+HIS GODMOTHER.<br />
+THE BUMBLE-BEE TALKS LITTLE TOM INTO GETTING<br />
+DRUNK.<br />
+LITTLE TOM IS BEING TIED TO A THISTLE AND FINDS<br />
+HIMSELF IN THE MOUTH OF A COW.<br />
+HE IS PUT INTO A WOODEN SHOE BY HIS GODMOTHER,<br />
+BUT IS ENDANGERED BY A HAILSTORM.<br />
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span></p><hr style="width: 45%;" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 475px;">
+<a href="images/027.png"><img src="images/027th.png" width="243" height="300" alt="" title="" /></a>
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span></p>
+</div> <hr style="width: 45%;" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span></p>
+<p class="firstsection">One bright summer morning, as his Godmother was getting herself ready to
+go to the village, she said to him, »Dear Little Tom, if you want to see
+what God's world is like, I will let you come out in front of the hut;
+although I am afraid that you will lose your way, or that some animal
+will harm you.«</p>
+
+<p>Tom encouraged her by saying that he would put on his weapons and that
+he knew how to defend himself. She did not give much thought to his
+valour but she felt that, because of his small size, no animal would
+notice him; so she took him in her hand and carried him outside in front
+of the hut, through the garden and barn to the brook, pointing out
+everything of interest and telling him the name of objects and places so
+that he could recognize them again. Then she put him on the ground
+before the door and told him, in a severe voice, that he should not run
+far away; she hoped to return soon and, in the meantime, he would not
+meet with any misfortune.</p>
+
+<p>When she had crossed the bridge, she turned around, but no longer saw
+him. He had absolutely disappeared among the stones of the path. He was
+very pleased that he could make an exploration on his own account and
+felt that he was now much more clever. He understood what a human
+dwelling was, a garden, a path, a brook and a lime tree; and he was not
+afraid of anything. He decided to go over the same way his Godmother had
+taken him around the hut, so that he might see for himself all its
+surroundings.</p>
+
+<p>First, he went around the fence to the field, crossed the path and
+passed into the thick, rustling grain. He felt he was in a vast, old
+forest. Above him buzzed wasps, flies, gnats and gadflies. All around
+him were worms, insects and caterpillars, which took no notice of him
+whatsoever, but kept diligently about their own work. He seemed to be in
+a new world and found so many strange objects and animals, that he had
+not time to look at all of them carefully.</p>
+
+<p>He strode forward into the grain, but was careful not to go too far and
+lose his way. As he walked along the edge of the path, he looked at the
+grain, thinking that he would like to cut down one of the stalks and
+make a good, light lance out of it. While he was trying to select one
+that would suit him, he came upon a cobweb stretched between two
+thistles. It was beautifully woven of thin, well-tied threads, and
+seemed to Tom to be a powerful net which some hunter had placed there as
+a trap for wild game.</p>
+
+<p>He wished to see the hunter and learn how game is caught, so he sat down
+in some wild thyme not far away and waited; but nothing happened. Then
+he got up and went nearer, feeling the lines with his hand to see how
+tightly they were drawn. But no sooner had he touched the net than he
+felt it shake and saw, running across it, a great, eight-footed
+creature, with a cross on its back and horrible jaws, rushing straight
+at him.</p>
+
+<p>He drew his sword at once, but a strong, elastic rope was thrown around
+his body, binding his hips and legs. He struggled to free himself, but
+more and more<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> ropes enveloped him. In a very short time, he was tangled
+up in them and tightly bound to the net. Then the great monster darted
+at him with his cruel jaws open.</p>
+
+<p>Brave Little Tom waved his sword; this frightened the spider, which drew
+back. At once he cut the ropes around him, tore himself out of the net
+and ran, beside himself with fear, until he fell rolling on the gravel
+in the path. He expected the monster to rush out after him and eat him;
+but when the spider saw that his prey had escaped him, he started to
+repair his net and paid no further heed to Tom.</p>
+
+<p>Tom was glad to have escaped so easily and no longer wished to go in the
+field and cut down a stalk. He went back very rapidly along the path,
+deciding that he would remain near the hut. He wanted to see his
+Godmother's farm, so he passed through the gate to the little grassy
+place beyond among the daisies and dandelions. As soon as he reached the
+spot, a lot of little yellow chickens came running to him and, gathering
+around him, looked at him with surprised eyes; for that kind of a worm
+these little chicks had never seen before.</p>
+
+<p>Little Tom was frightened, for these birds appeared to him as large as
+the ostriches his Godmother had shown him in the natural history book,
+only they were yellow. The chickens looked at him sideways, peeping and
+calling the mother hen. She was scratching in some sweepings not far
+away and when she heard the peeping, she hurried up, all a flutter, to
+see what was the matter and who the enemy was. When she saw only Little
+Tom, she pecked at him angrily with her bill, then picked him up, but
+let him drop as he did not seem good for eating. Scolding her chicks,
+she drove them away in search of real worms.</p>
+
+<p>Tom was so badly hurt that he fell down as if dead. His coat was torn
+and his hand was bleeding. After a moment, he struggled to his feet and
+fled out of the yard, away from such terrible enemies. In front of the
+yard, the Godmother's woolly-haired dog, Rover, was running about.
+Without seeing Tom he stepped on him with his great, hard foot. When Tom
+cried out in pain, Rover stopped, turned around and smelled at Tom with
+his moist nose.</p>
+
+<p>Little Tom was overcome with another great fear. He was dusty, bruised
+and bleeding and so unhappy that he did not know what to do. He ran on,
+stumbling and limping, while Rover, thinking he was some strange insect,
+ran after him, barking and jumping around him, until he drove him to the
+brook. Little Tom wanted to hide himself among the leaves near the
+water; but, as he stepped on them, he slipped and fell head first into
+the brook.</p>
+
+<p>The water refreshed him and, knowing how to swim very well, he was at
+first pleased to think he had escaped this enemy; but the brook, which
+seemed to him a river, was carrying him away. He had no idea that he
+could reach the shore. He already felt himself lost, believing that the
+waves would dash him against a stone, when, suddenly, a trout came out
+of the water and gobbled him up in his great mouth. But the trout did
+not like this morsel and spat him out again into the grass under the
+bridge.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 475px;">
+<a href="images/028.png"><img src="images/028th.png" width="271" height="150" alt="" title="" /></a>
+</div>
+
+<p>Catching hold of a grass stem, Tom pulled himself into the bushes and
+sat there, shaking as with a chill. Wet through and cold, with hands
+bruised and bleeding, he could hardly hold himself on the grass which
+the wind waved back and forth.</p>
+
+<p>As he became weaker and weaker and was about to give up hope that he
+would ever come of his adventure alive, he suddenly heard his Godmother
+calling to him. She was coming across the little foot-bridge and calling
+loudly, so that she might not by mistake step on him. Tom immediately
+answered as loud as he could shout, »Here I am Godmother. Here I am«.
+But she had to look a long while before she discovered whence came the
+thin, little voice. Then she promptly rescued him from his perilous
+position. Poor Little Tom was so worn out from his bruises and his
+tremendous exertion, that he could hardly feel anything and it was only
+after he had eaten well and drunk some milk, that he could tell his
+Godmother about all the terrible adventures that had befallen him. How
+in the deep forest of the grain he had been ensnared by the terrible
+robber in his frightful net; how the great, yellow ostriches had pursued
+him and, when he was escaping from them, how a rough, hairy dragon had
+come upon him and chased him into the river, where he was first
+swallowed by an enormous whale and then cast out upon the shore.</p>
+
+<p>The kind Godmother was very, very sorry for poor Little Tom and began to
+realize the danger of leaving him alone, outside the hut, so she
+promised him that she herself would take him to the field. Tom no longer
+wanted to travel alone amid<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> such terrible dangers and was pleased that
+he could accompany his Godmother; but they did not know in just what way
+they could accomplish this. She thought of taking him in her pocket, but
+Tom was afraid of such a dark place, among crumbs of bread and huge
+keys.</p>
+
+<p>On her breast, the Godmother, had a brooch which pinned together the
+ends of the kerchief she wore around her throat; so Tom sat down on the
+pleat of the cloth behind the brooch, grasping the bar to keep his hands
+steady. As she walked along, he thrust out his little head to look at
+the field, the meadow and the forest on top of the hill, where he hoped
+to run around with his Godmother, and wondered what new things he should
+see.</p>
+
+<p>When they reached the meadow under the slope of the hill, the Godmother
+stood Little Tom upon a stone among the heather and said, »I am going to
+gather the hay and I must hurry, as the weather looks as if it were
+going to change. While I am gone, you can walk around on this stone and
+look at the flowers, but do not crawl down, or you will surely get lost
+and I would look in vain for you.«</p>
+
+<p>Obediently, Tom walked around on the top of his rock. He crawled over
+the pebbles, peered into the various holes and examined the small, red
+carnations, the tall, blue monks-hoods and the pink thistles growing
+there. As he walked along, he heard a great buzzing in the air as if
+some one were angry and, on coming closer, he perceived a hairy
+bumble-bee staggering among the blossoms.</p>
+
+<p>Tom became confused as he had never seen such a creature before. He
+thought it might be a wild beast that would attack him. But the
+bumble-bee was quite harmless and, moreover, he had been sucking the
+sweet honey from the flowers so steadily since the early morning, that
+his head had become quite dizzy. As soon as he saw Little Tom, he sidled
+towards him and welcomed him as if he had known him all his life.</p>
+
+<p>»Brother,« he said, »what are you doing here and how are you? I am
+pleased that I have now found a comrade. Come, let us drink together.«</p>
+
+<p>It seemed strange to Tom, that this stout, old gentleman should appear
+to know him so well and should address him so familiarly. The old fellow
+went on to urge him, to fly with him up on the monks-hood, saying that
+there they would find a delicious drink. Tom tried to excuse himself,
+saying that he had given his promise not to leave the rock; but the
+bumble-bee said, »Oh just come along with me. I will bring you back. Let
+us be merry now.«</p>
+
+<p>Catching Tom in his arms, the bumble-bee carried him up the stem and
+seated him on a flower with an arched, blue bell over it, and then gave
+him a push right into the blossom. From the heart of this blue bell
+extended two horns with thick heads, which powdered him with a yellow
+dust that made him sneeze. At this, the bumble-bee laughed heartily and
+began to take long drinks from the cup under the blossoms.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 475px;">
+<a href="images/029.png"><img src="images/029th.png" width="241" height="300" alt="" title="" /></a>
+</div><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Carefully, Tom crawled a little lower, stretched himself on his stomach
+and also drank. The juice was as clear as water and as sweet as honey.
+He drank gluttonously and, in a little while, became so merry and so
+light at heart that he could have embraced the whole world. When they
+had finished this cup, Tom crawled into another blossom and drank again.</p>
+
+<p>The bumble-bee had chosen another blossom for himself and between sips
+contentedly murmured to Tom, »This is my only pleasure. See how good it
+tastes to you also. Now you can see what it is to be merry«.</p>
+
+<p>Tom no longer knew what he was about. He sat in the blossom, singing and
+drinking, and forgetting everything around him. Presently, the
+bumble-bee, paying no further attention to Tom, flew away; but Tom did
+not notice this and was soon so befuddled, that he hardly knew anything
+at all.</p>
+
+<p>After a while, the Godmother came to the rock to see what he was about.
+Not finding him on top of the stone, she looked carefully around and
+soon discovered him peeping out of the monks-hood blossom. His little
+face was very red. He laughed and shouted and paid no attention to her
+when she spoke to him. At this she became angry, for she saw that he had
+been up to mischief; so she plucked the flower and took Tom out of it.</p>
+
+<p>»Will you not obey,« she said, »there is nothing else to do but to tie
+you up, or you will lose your life somewhere.«</p>
+
+<p>Taking him to the meadow, she pulled a hair from her head and tied him
+to a great thistle. Tom was so overcome by the sweet juice of the
+monkshood, that he lay down and immediately fell asleep.</p>
+
+<p>When he awoke after a while, he had a severe headache. He thought over
+what he had done and was very much ashamed that he had allowed himself
+to be misled by the drunken bumble-bee. He saw that he had been tied up
+and felt very sorry, wondering how he should excuse himself to his
+Godmother when she should return to him.</p>
+
+<p>In the meantime, Speckle, the cow, who had been grazing not far away,
+was all the while coming nearer and nearer to the spot where Tom had
+been fastened. He was lying flat on his back, gazing up into the sky,
+when suddenly a great mouth opened above him, extending from the earth
+to the sky, and&mdash;presto&mdash;as if a strong wind had blown, everything
+around him disappeared.</p>
+
+<p>With a great rattle, the jaws with their powerful teeth closed over him
+and Tom found himself in complete darkness. All doubled up behind one
+back tooth, he screamed lustily; but Speckle was moving her tongue and
+grinding the grass and did not feel Tom at all. Holding his breath, he
+waited until Speckle opened her mouth, when he ran quickly out on her
+lip and up on her nose to her forehead, where he held himself by
+grasping the hair between her horns. He gave a great sigh of relief as
+he saw that he was saved.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 475px;">
+<a href="images/030.png"><img src="images/030th.png" width="271" height="150" alt="" title="" /></a>
+</div>
+
+<p>When Speckle turned her head, Tom sat quietly, then got up and started
+for a walk along her neck and head.</p>
+
+<p>It happened that the Godmother turned and saw Speckle just as she bit
+the thistle. »Oh Tom, Tom, you poor little child,« she cried, running
+towards Speckle as fast as she could. She thought surely that the cow
+had swallowed him and that would be the last that she should see of him;
+but, as she came close, she heard a little voice calling from Speckle's
+back, »Here I am, Godmother, here I am.«</p>
+
+<p>She took him carefully in her hand and carried him off to the meadow
+where she was at work. There she seated him in one of her wooden shoes
+and saying, »Now you must not move from here until I come,« off she went
+to her work again; for she had to hurry with the hay, as dark clouds
+were coming up in the sky.</p>
+
+<p>Little Tom sat quietly in the shoe for a while. It was like a big hut to
+him. Then he thought he would have a look around, so he clambered down
+the side of the shoe and started to walk a little way on the meadow,
+when a big rain drop splashed on him and made him all wet. He was
+greatly surprised, as he did not know what it was that came down in such
+a flood and splashed on the ground all around him. With the rain came
+hail stones, like rocks of ice, larger than Tom's head. They bounded
+away and then came down so thickly, that Tom did not know which way to
+run.</p>
+
+<p>He turned back toward the shoe and ran for it with all his might, but on
+the way a great hailstone hit him and nearly killed him. He managed to
+clamber over the side<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> of the shoe and fall inside, fainting. With such
+strength as he had left, he crawled away up in the toe of the shoe where
+he could hide. The hail rattled down like cannon balls and very soon the
+whole shoe was filled with the little balls of ice. When the Godmother
+came hurrying up, she could hardly find Tom who was curled up among the
+hailstones in the far end of the shoe, half frozen and completely
+exhausted. Taking him carefully in her warm hand, she hurried home with
+him.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 475px;">
+<a href="images/031.png"><img src="images/031th.png" width="270" height="150" alt="" title="" /></a>
+</div>
+
+<p>Thus, his expedition with his Godmother turned out very sadly and she
+saw that, even when he was with her, he could not be sure of his life.</p>
+
+<p>When they had thoroughly dried themselves and eaten their supper, the
+Godmother said, »There is nothing to do, Tom, except for you to stay at
+home and study and not try for yourself to see the wonders of the world.
+It is a miracle that you did not die today.«</p>
+
+<p>Little Tom himself realized that, outside in the great world, there was
+no happiness for him and he readily promised that he would stay at home.
+But it made him sad to think how terrible and cruel the world is, and
+that in it there seemed to be no safe place for him.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;">
+<img src="images/032.jpg" width="450" height="279" alt="" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<h3>CHAPTER SEVEN.</h3>
+
+<h2>LITTLE TOM AND CHRYSOMELA.</h2>
+
+<p class="center">
+SEVEN SPOT'S VISIT.<br />
+LITTLE TOM IS INVITED TO PAY A VISIT TO THE<br />
+KINGDOM OF THE SEVEN SPOTS.<br />
+HE SETS OUT ON A DRAGONFLY AND COMES TO THE<br />
+POOL IN THE FOREST.<br />
+THE BANQUET ON THE LEAF OF THE WATER-ROSE.<br />
+LITTLE TOM IS PROCLAIMED KING OF THE KINGDOM<br />
+OF THE SEVEN SPOTS.<br />
+HE MEETS CHRYSOMELA AGAIN. THE FESTIVAL.<br />
+THE VISIT TO THE WOOD-BUGS.<br />
+THE DWELLING IN THE HOLLOW BEECH-TREE.<br />
+</p>
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span></p>
+<hr style="width: 45%;" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 475px;">
+<a href="images/033.png"><img src="images/033th.png" width="270" height="150" alt="" title="" /></a>
+</div>
+
+<p class="firstsection">Little Tom spent many days at home alone on top of the linen press.
+Outside, the sun shone and through the windows the flowers breathed a
+wonderful fragrance; but he no longer wished to go out, for he knew
+there only awaited him terrible traps and dangers. He worked sometimes
+in his garden, or wrote in his diary, or went over to the window to look
+out sadly between the flower pots to the wide world beyond.</p>
+
+<p>One day, as he was standing on the window ledge and looking into the
+garden, he perceived on a fuchsia near the window a beautiful, red
+ladybird with shining wings, crawling on the blossoms and looking
+sideways at him. His Godmother had been away since early morning and he
+knew that she would not return until evening, so he was very lonely
+there all by himself.</p>
+
+<p>The lady-bird opened its wings and flew over to the window. Alighting on
+the edge it started to crawl along, all the time looking towards Tom who
+thought to himself: »What is that gentleman looking for and does he know
+me?« But the lady-bird coming to him said, »Good morning Little Tom. How
+are you? I am very pleased to find you. I am Seven Spot from the
+lady-bird kingdom on the forest pool. We all thought that you had
+perished with the others in the terrible flood.«</p>
+
+<p>Little Tom was surprised to learn that this gentleman knew him so well,
+but he did not wish to inquire how it happened; so he replied that he
+was very pleased to meet Mr. Seven Spot, as he had no companions at all.
+They talked together for some time. Seven Spot told him all about the
+forest pool and how beautiful it was; and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> Little Tom, on his part,
+confided to his new friend his various adventures. Seven Spot listened
+attentively; but also seemed to have something on his mind. Presently he
+invited Tom to visit the lady-bird kingdom; but Tom declined, as he
+wished never again to act contrary to his Godmother's instructions and
+make an independent excursion into the great world.</p>
+
+<p>Seven Spot persisted, but when he saw that Tom would not be persuaded,
+he said: »My dear Tom, it is true that you suffered very much when you
+came out; but that is because you live with human beings and do not know
+your true place in life, nor your own friends. What kind of a life have
+you among humans? Although your Godmother loves you, you are neither her
+child nor her friend. Your real life is among the gnomes, but, since
+there are none left, you should dwell with their good friends who are
+like you in many respects. They will welcome and honor you. With them
+you can live in peace and happiness, and who knows if you might not find
+among them some one dear to your heart? But if you do not wish to go, I
+will fly back to my people and tell them that my mission was in vain.«</p>
+
+<p>After this long speech, Mr. Seven Spot raised his shells indifferently
+and aired his wings; but he did not fly away. Instead, he lighted on the
+pistil of the fuchsia and started to crawl slowly into the blossom.
+Little Tom was greatly surprised at what he had heard. Who had sent this
+messenger and who was thinking of him? He begged Seven Spot not to go
+away, but to tell him everything he knew. Seven Spot smiled.</p>
+
+<p>»Do you think, Little Tom,« he said, »that I would dare to enter the
+dwelling of a human being without reason, unless I felt sure of finding
+you here? Friend Mirmex told me about you on the meadow, where with his
+workmen he is collecting stores of grain. Then, someone else whom you
+know very well told us about your past life in the realm of the gnomes.
+We asked Mirmex to find out how you are living and what you are doing.
+So, while you were sleeping in the night, his workmen found a way to
+you, looked over everything very carefully and made a report to us. We
+realized that you would not find your happiness with human beings and we
+have, therefore, decided to ask you to come to us and rule over the
+lady-bird realm on the forest pool, since your own kingdom has perished.
+If you do not wish to accept, we shall all be very sorry and, later, you
+will recognize that your decision to remain with humans was not to your
+advantage and somebody will cry for you.«</p>
+
+<p>Little Tom was very curious to know who would cry for him and his heart
+was torn with the hope that he might see again one of his own people.
+Perhaps, after all, he was not alone in the world, but he feared that he
+might be terribly disappointed. He begged Seven Spot not to torture him,
+but to tell him who was expecting him. That gentleman only replied that
+he could say nothing further, as he had given his word of honor, but
+that Tom should go with him and see for himself.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span></p>
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 475px;">
+<a href="images/034.png"><img src="images/034th.png" width="239" height="300" alt="" title="" /></a>
+</div> <hr style="width: 45%;" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Tom felt as if on thorns. He said that he could go and see, but to
+remain was impossible, as he could not bind himself to do that.
+Moreover, he did not know how to get to the wood. Seven Spot was pleased
+to see that Tom was yielding and said, »Only prepare your things and
+dress in your finest clothes. In a few minutes, I will return, and you
+need not bother about your transportation.« And off he flew.</p>
+
+<p>Tom at once set himself to pack his tiny hand-bag. Then he put on a
+beautiful suit of green and belted his sword about him. When he was
+ready, he was impatient to leave. He had barely completed his
+preparations however, when Seven Spot appeared at the window.</p>
+
+<p>Little Tom, snatching his bag, ran to him at once. There, on the ledge,
+he saw a gorgeous dragonfly with golden eyes, slim, blue body and
+transparent rainbow wings. Tom was a little embarrassed before such a
+magnificent creature; but Seven Spot, without any hesitation, placed
+Tom's bag upon the dragonfly and told him to get on its back. In a
+trice, they were flying like a shot through the warm, summer air.</p>
+
+<p>Such a wonderful journey it was, under the blue sky, over the broad
+stretches of land, high above the earth. The dragonfly, as if not
+feeling the burden, sparkled and glistened in the rays of the sun, while
+above them Seven Spot was flying in great circles.</p>
+
+<p>Tom was intoxicated by the swift flight through the beautiful sunshine
+and the fresh breeze, which, far below them, rippled the sea of grain
+into little waves. Over the slope they flew, across the fields and into
+the cool twilight of the forest, among the pine trees and the beeches.
+Under the thick, quiet arches of the leaves, Tom looked around in
+surprise; but the dragonfly winged his way unerringly, deeper and deeper
+into the wood, until they came, at last, to the valley where, beyond the
+ferns and the colts-foot, shone a dark pool covered with yellow and
+white pond lilies.</p>
+
+<p>There the dragonfly settled into the cool moss. Tom stepped down, but
+before he could turn and thank this kind friend, the dragonfly had sped
+up in the air like a colored spark and disappeared among the yellow
+candles of the cat tails.</p>
+
+<p>It seemed to Tom as if he had landed in some magic kingdom. All about
+him were growing gigantic willow-herbs with thick bunches of little red
+blossoms, broad crowns of yellow lettuce and water crow-feet on thin,
+spreading stalks, with their tender little heads sparkling like white
+flames. Everything was radiant, glittering with bright colors, and
+perfumed with the sweet odors of the forest.</p>
+
+<p>When Tom turned around, he found Seven Spot standing beside him. He
+invited Tom to come with him, saying that all the lady-birds were
+waiting. They went under an arch of green leaves and through a lofty
+green palace to the sprays of sweet-smelling mint by the water. On the
+leaves of the mint, were sitting, side by side, hundreds and hundreds of
+lady-birds, in colors of gold, brown, violet, red and yellow. All
+crowded forward to see the guest, whom they greeted with cheers.</p>
+
+<p>Little Tom was led by the crowd to the shore of the pool, where a great
+water-<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span>bug waited. Tom sat on this smooth, shiny back, and off he went
+like a shot over the water to a broad water-lily leaf, where a grand
+banquet was prepared. The lady-birds flew ahead and, lighting on a leaf,
+waited for him, their brilliant colors looking like a border of
+sparkling gems. When Tom arrived, Seven Spot stepped out from the crowd
+and welcomed him with a touching speech.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 475px;">
+<a href="images/035.png"><img src="images/035th.png" width="270" height="150" alt="" title="" /></a>
+</div>
+
+<p>»Prince Tom, be welcomed to our Lady-bird Kingdom. Long have we waited
+for you and now respectfully beg you to be our king, rule over our land
+and take for your wife the true comrade of your youth, who, at the time
+of the flood, was visiting us and so was saved.«</p>
+
+<p>As soon as Seven Spot stopped speaking, the water lily opened and out
+stepped a golden haired girl in a violet dress. »Chrysomela« cried Tom
+and ran to her with open arms.</p>
+
+<p>»Long live our King, Little Tom!« was shouted on all sides in a loud
+chorus, while a great crowd of golden flies flew around and around the
+pool and a merry choir sang to celebrate the fête.</p>
+
+<p>Tom was quite beside himself with happiness. The sad past faded away and
+he saw only before him the goldenhaired girl, who smiled at him from her
+blue eyes. They held each other's hands and talked and talked, until
+Seven Spot interrupted them to ask them to sit down to the banquet and
+accept the homage of their subjects.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span></p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span></p><div class="figcenter" style="width: 475px;">
+<a href="images/036.png"><img src="images/036th.png" width="242" height="300" alt="" title="" /></a>
+</div> <hr style="width: 45%;" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The banquet was magnificent. Stuffed tiny snails, salad of flower
+tendrils, a giant whitebait born by four cooks on a dog-rose leaf, mint
+candies, and, for drinking, blackberry wine drawn directly from a great
+berry standing on the edge of the leaf.</p>
+
+<p>When they began to feast, beautiful music sounded. It was the famous
+Gnat Quartette, two gnats playing violins, a small cicada, the cello and
+a wood-bee, the bass viol. Joyous strains rang through the warm summer
+air. Presently, a swarm of gnats hovered over the water close by,
+dancing a graceful ballet; and, when they had finished, there came a
+dragonfly who gave an acrobatic performance with giddy jumps and dizzy
+whirling.</p>
+
+<p>The rest of the kingdom of the lady-birds were sitting all around the
+shore of the pool on mint and ferns, cheering and shouting with joy. On
+a fallen trunk by the water, sat a sedate group of water-bugs chewing
+young tendrils and nodding approval with their beards.</p>
+
+<p>By the time the celebration was finished, evening had come and a serious
+brown water-bug came up to invite them to visit the wood-bugs mines. In
+a long procession, they followed him to a powerful, old beech, where he
+conducted them through deep, long corridors to a hollow in the tree
+arranged as a beautiful hall, in which Little Tom and Chrysomela might
+have their home. Tom was wondering how they could live there without
+furniture or utensils; but when he stepped inside, he was struck with
+surprise.</p>
+
+<p>The great hall was lighted from above by dry wood, which glowed with a
+subdued, blue light showing all his own furnishings from Castle Easter
+Egg, neatly arranged around the walls; all the drawers were in the
+cupboards, all the utensils were there, not even a cup was missing.</p>
+
+<p>By the entrance stood Mirmex, with a whole regiment of his ants. He
+said, »I welcome you to your new kingdom and ask you to be our good
+neighbor, as we used to be with your father.«</p>
+
+<p>When Tom had flown away to the lily pond, the ants had moved all his
+belongings and arranged everything in the new palace. They knew very
+well, when Tom had seen Chrysomela, that he would not return to his
+Godmother.</p>
+
+<p>Tom thanked them all very heartily and Mirmex asked him to visit their
+Black Town on the morrow, which he gladly promised to do, remembering
+how his father had planned to send him there to learn how to rule a
+kingdom.</p>
+
+<p>After all had said good night, Little Tom and Chrysomela remained in
+their new home while the crickets under the beech sang them a serenade.</p>
+
+<p>In the morning, when they came out of the old beech, they were greeted
+by a choir of crickets whose music rang clear to the tops of the trees.
+Already, Mirmex and some of the ants, were standing before the entrance,
+among them a brilliant, green rose-bug for carrying Tom to Black Town.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 475px;">
+<a href="images/037.png"><img src="images/037th.png" width="268" height="150" alt="" title="" /></a>
+</div>
+
+<p>Many onlookers stood about. The Lady-birds greeted their new king, while
+snails on the mushrooms stretched up their heads, so that they, too,
+could see what was going on. Golden flies crowded around in swarms,
+while on the path stood a line of wood-bugs as a guard of honor.</p>
+
+<p>After saying good-bye to Chrysomela, Tom went down to the moss and
+greeted his friends the ants. Chrysomela was very sad that he was
+leaving her so soon and almost wept. She was afraid that she might lose
+him again, as they were so alone in the great world; but Tom soothed her
+by saying that he would surely return the next day, and that he was
+obliged to make this visit to their neighbors to honor them and fulfil
+his father's wish.</p>
+
+<p>Then they arranged with Seven Spot where they should meet him and Seven
+Spot proposed that, immediately on his return, Tom and Chrysomela should
+accompany him to inspect their own kingdom.</p>
+
+<p>When all preparations had been completed, Tom, in full armor, jumped
+upon the rose-bug, the noisy trumpets of the gadflies sounded and the
+great procession started for Black Town.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;">
+<img src="images/038.jpg" width="450" height="271" alt="" title="" />
+</div>
+
+
+<h3>CHAPTER EIGHT.</h3>
+
+<h2>THE ANTS' TOWN.</h2>
+
+<p class="center">
+LITTLE TOM GOES INTO THE CITY OF THE ANTS.<br />
+MIRMEX TELLS HIM ABOUT THE KINGDOM OF THE ANTS.<br />
+THE WELCOMING. THE WALK THROUGH THE CITY.<br />
+THE WORMS AND THE CHRYSALISES.<br />
+MIRMEX TELLS ABOUT THE REDHEADS AND THEIR<br />
+SLAVES.<br />
+THE DESERTED CITY.<br />
+THE STORE-HOUSES, THE STABLES, THE HOT-BEDS.<br />
+</p>
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span></p>
+<hr style="width: 45%;" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<p class="firstsection">The procession went on through the silent wood and the morning mists.
+Thousands of dew drops sparkled like diamonds in the moss. Overhead hung
+branches of billberry heavily laden with dark fruit, while, on either
+side, bright red berries peered from the leaves. After they had passed
+the moss plain, they came upon gigantic rocks strewn along the pathway
+of the ants in the dry spines. They crossed by these stones over little
+valleys and passing across tree roots, came to a clearing on the border
+of the Ants kingdom.</p>
+
+<p>There was a great crowd of ants waiting to welcome them. An old ant
+greeted Tom in the name of the whole community and, thanking him for the
+honor of his visit, placed himself in front of the procession, which at
+once began to move along the broad path.</p>
+
+<p>Tom noticed how the surroundings immediately changed. On all sides, were
+gangs of diligent workers, crossing or walking along the path, pulling
+beams, stones and dead flies, hurrying in their work and paying no heed
+to the procession. The nearer they came to the town, the greater became
+the crowds, while the path broadened and was hard, level and free from
+all obstructions. Presently, it opened into a broader clearing, from
+which moss, grass and sticks had been cleared away. In the background,
+appeared a great mound known as Black Town.</p>
+
+<p>On the way, Mirmex sat with Little Tom on the rose-bug and explained to
+him how the town was founded. First, a sheltered location was chosen
+under a tall pine tree, in the clear sun, but with the branches serving
+as a protection in case of rain. Then, paths were laid out in various
+directions where there was plenty of building materials, while
+messengers were sent out to explore the broader country beyond where one
+could find precious grains of grass or hunt green bugs. To such places
+they at once laid out the shortest paths, stamped hard and made
+perfectly smooth, tore out all the roots and built bridges over the
+marsh and other inaccessible places.</p>
+
+<p>While Mirmex talked, he became very affable. Tom listened to him most
+attentively and while he did not understand everything that was told
+him, nevertheless, he recognized that there was a great difference
+between the realm of the ants and that of the ladybirds. The latter were
+living a carefree life, dancing and making merry the whole day long,
+while the ants had a very strict discipline, divided their work
+carefully among themselves and made provision for the welfare of their
+descendants and for the protection of the town.</p>
+
+<p>Tom decided that, on this visit, he would merely look over their
+arrangements, and, later, would return to them with Chrysomela, in order
+to study their methods of administration, so that he could apply them in
+his ladybird kingdom.</p>
+
+<p>Finally, they arrived at the level plain before the town, where the
+noise of the working ants did not cease. The entire surface of the town
+was covered by workers, running and building, while there was a constant
+crowd carrying burdens through the gates of the town. Tom noticed a
+strong perfume that seemed to come from the town<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> itself. After he had
+dismounted from the rose-bug, he was led through a broad corridor within
+the ants mound, where in a low, but solidly constructed hall,
+refreshments had been prepared, consisting of grass grains, delicious,
+palatable bulbs that seemed to melt on the tongue, and sweet juices of
+which Tom had never seen the like, but which tasted very good to him.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 475px;">
+<a href="images/039.png"><img src="images/039th.png" width="269" height="150" alt="" title="" /></a>
+</div>
+
+<p>According to their habit the ants ate so rapidly, that Little Tom could
+hardly keep up with them. After they had finished, Mirmex asked what he
+would like to see first: The building, the division and character of the
+daily work, or the storehouses. Tom replied politely that everything was
+of interest to him and that he would leave the selection to Mirmex's
+judgment.</p>
+
+<p>They took leave of the others, who were becoming anxious to return to
+their work and then Mirmex said, »First, I will show you what is most
+precious and dear to us and our future generation«.</p>
+
+<p>They walked through a long corridor, deep in the town. In the darkness,
+Mirmex ran along confidently, only here and there touching the walls,
+while Little Tom was obliged to grope his way. He was hot and the strong
+fragrance was almost overpowering, while every now and then he bumped
+into workmen hurrying and quickly passing around them. Finally, they
+came into a series of dry, warm halls, and when Tom became accustomed to
+the darkness, he perceived thousands of little, light worms that were
+stretching their necks and turning their little black heads.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span></p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span></p><div class="figcenter" style="width: 475px;">
+<a href="images/040.png"><img src="images/040th.png" width="241" height="300" alt="" title="" /></a>
+</div> <hr style="width: 45%;" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span></p>
+<p>Workmen were running among them, pushing into their little mouths a
+sweet porridge and thus feeding them. Mirmex silently watched the
+careful attention of the workers for a moment and then said, »These are
+our youth, our pride and hope. They were born from eggs and when they
+grow up, will enclose themselves in chrysalises from which they will
+come out as ants, our descendants. Our chief concern is that they have a
+good living place, neither wet nor cool and that they have enough
+porridge, so that they will develop properly.«</p>
+
+<p>Tom was greatly touched by the ants' care of their little ones, and was
+surprised that they had such experienced and skilful nurses who seemed
+to love their wards so tenderly.</p>
+
+<p>They went up one story higher and found, lying on the floor, thousands
+of white chrysalises all wrapped up in silken coverings. A number of the
+ants were taking these chrysalises in their strong jaws and carrying
+them out through a broad corridor at the end of which daylight was
+shining. Following them, Tom and Mirmex came out under a thick arch of
+pine needles, through which circles had been bitten, to allow the rays
+of the sun to strike the ant hill. On these dry places where the sun was
+shining, the ants placed the chrysalises side by side, so that they
+should be warmed in its rays.</p>
+
+<p>The entire top of the town was covered by stones over which were placed
+pine needles to shed the water when it rained. Mirmex and Tom stepped up
+on one of these stones and looked about them. They saw roads like white
+threads, that lost themselves in the high grass and moss. All over the
+town were the thickly crowded workmen, while other groups were hurrying
+along the paths.</p>
+
+<p>Mirmex explained to Tom the troubles they had with the chrysalises. In
+the mound were corridors of different temperatures so that, according to
+the weather, the chrysalises could be taken where the conditions were
+favorable, while, on clear, dry days, they were brought out in the sun.</p>
+
+<p>Returning inside into a different hall, Little Tom was given a surprise.
+On the floor were lying many chrysalises and on them were ants biting
+and tearing their silk coverings. Tom thought that the ants wanted to
+eat their young, but soon saw that from the white coverings, little
+black heads with shining black bodies were trying to get out and with
+what pleasure the nurses were welcoming them, cleaning them, stretching
+their cramped legs and their bent-up feelers, bringing them food and
+teaching them how to eat.</p>
+
+<p>It was touching to see the little fellows, looking around in surprise,
+falling clumsily about and throwing themselves eagerly on the sweet
+porridge. From the hall led two other corridors, sloping downward, and,
+as Tom was looking into them, Mirmex came to him and said: »These are
+safety exits. When danger threatens, through one of these the workers
+carry the chrysalises outside, where they crawl on the flowers and the
+grass, as our enemies cannot reach these heights. Through the sec<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span>ond,
+they can go into the depths of the town and there hide the chrysalises
+in the secret chambers.«</p>
+
+<p>As Mirmex led him through the first exit which opened at the opposite
+end of the town, directly into the highgrowing grass, which the ants had
+spared, Tom wondered what sort of enemies threatened the ants. As they
+walked along Mirmex enlightened him.</p>
+
+<p>»Since unremembered time, the ants have had a great enemy, the Redheads.
+They are larger than we, ugly, red fellows and cruel, rough fighters.
+From early childhood they do nothing but perfect themselves in fighting
+and robbing. They do not understand work and do not even know how to eat
+by themselves. The have long jaws sharp as a lance, with which, at one
+stroke, they can pierce an enemy's head. Their slaves do all their work,
+build their town, care for their children, gather their stock and also
+feed them. The slaves are in greater numbers than their masters and
+could let them die from hunger, yet they never revolt, having no idea of
+the freedom and liberty of the ants in their independent realm. That is
+because they have never lived in freedom. The Redheads are not
+interested in their grown-up enemies, whom they slay, but they steal the
+chrysalises, which they give into the care of the slaves. These the
+slaves care for, bringing up the little ants and teaching them how to
+work for their masters. The youths know nothing of the life of the
+nation from which they came, only knowing how to work for their masters
+and their descendants.«</p>
+
+<p>»You see how efficiently one works here with us. Everyone knows exactly
+his task and does it unceasingly until his last breath, and all work for
+the good of the community. The workman gladly performs his task. He is
+modest and knows neither pleasure nor idleness. His only consolation is
+the proper result of his labors, but he feels himself free, knowing that
+he is creating strong and healthy descendants and is insuring the
+freedom and liberty of the whole nation.«</p>
+
+<p>»Our descendants would prefer to die rather than serve foreign masters.
+This the Redheads well know and, therefore, they take the ungrown
+children, who know nothing of the world, and train them as their slaves.
+Many, many thousands of our people are serving them truly and devotedly,
+but are forever lost to us.«</p>
+
+<p>»But why do you not instruct them,« asked Tom excitedly? »Why do you not
+explain how degrading it is to deny one's own people and serve
+strangers, altogether abandoning one's own nation?«</p>
+
+<p>»That is all in vain,« replied Mirmex. »Who grows up a slave will remain
+a slave. They are quite satisfied with their fate and do not understand
+why they would be better off with us. If they should leave their
+masters, they would not feel happy with us.«</p>
+
+<p>»Then why do you not prepare yourselves and not let them capture the
+chrysalises? Why do you not perfect yourselves in fighting and kill them
+when they come against you?« Little Tom was almost beside himself with
+anger and longed to lead<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> an expedition against the Redheads and destroy
+them, but Mirmex remained cool and undisturbed.</p>
+
+<p>»They are stronger in body and more skilled in fighting,« he answered.
+»If we wanted to ruin them, we should have to give up our manner of
+living; we should have to devote ourselves to fighting, warring and
+gaining skill in arms. Who among us would then attend to the
+agricultural work? Then we should be like them, murderers and robbers,
+living only on the work of others, and that we do not wish to be. We try
+to defend ourselves and at the same time not change our mode of life. We
+build our towns far from the Redheads and, if necessary, would rather
+move away from them. We station guards over our entire territory and, if
+we are attacked, meet the enemy bravely. We also know how to fight. Our
+workmen are skilful and when the worst comes, they become very good
+fighters. We have often defeated the Redheads and driven them away from
+our town; but we do not attack their towns or rob them. The Redheads
+avoid our large towns and attack those that are young and newly
+established. Only when they lack slaves, do they attack our principal
+communities. As for us, we are satisfied to stand up for our rights,
+defend our liberty and our young ones, and live according to our
+destiny.«</p>
+
+<p>Little Tom looked admiringly at Mirmex, who was talking quietly and
+earnestly, but Tom felt his genuine loyalty to his native town and his
+passionate love for freedom.</p>
+
+<p>In the meantime, they came to a lonely part at the back of the town,
+where the corridors were ruined and the surface covered with dust. Tom
+asked in surprise, why such a large part of the town was left in ruins.
+Mirmex explained that this was the oldest portion which had been well
+founded, but, overhead in the pine tree, something had happened. A
+branch had been torn off by the wind, so that the town was not properly
+protected from the rain and the chrysalises were threatened by the
+dampness. Therefore, they started to build new halls a little farther
+along, where it was drier and better sheltered, until the town was
+higher and larger, into which they would then move their stores and the
+chrysalises.</p>
+
+<p>Then Mirmex asked Tom to go with him and look at the storehouses; so
+they went back to the town and passed through winding corridors to great
+rooms, where they met many ants carrying heavy burdens. Tom saw the
+rooms piled clear to the top with little grains dried and cleaned. In
+one room many ants were sitting, some cleaning the grains, others
+blowing away the chaff and still others stacking up the finished
+product. Others gathered up the refuse and carried it outside the ant
+hill.</p>
+
+<p>»These,« said Mirmex, »are our granaries and our stores for bad seasons.
+There are enough supplies here to support the town for a long while.«</p>
+
+<p>Then they went to a hall higher up, where the porridge for the
+chrysalises was being prepared, and there Tom saw workers hurrying out
+of the nests with empty coverings of the chrysalises. He thought how
+this soft silk used to be brought<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> by the gnome merchants to his father
+and how, at home, they were woven into precious silken garments.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 475px;">
+<a href="images/041.png"><img src="images/041th.png" width="269" height="150" alt="" title="" /></a>
+</div>
+
+<p>From the granaries and kitchens, they came to the stalls, where Tom saw
+green bugs, fat and lazy, crawling under a low arch. From the back of
+each bug extended two little tubes, through which the ants were sucking
+as they tickled the bugs with their feelers. Tom was surprised again,
+when Mirmex explained that, through these tubes, the bugs let out a
+sweet juice, of which the ants are very fond. »We keep many of them
+here,« continued Mirmex, »for the workers engaged in the town. Those who
+are working outside, have their large stalls on the flowers.«</p>
+
+<p>Tom asked why the bugs on the flowers did not run away and Mirmex told
+him, that where there were enough bugs on a flower, the ants surrounded
+it with trenches and ramparts, so that the bugs were in captivity and
+could not escape. »There they stay in their captivity and do not have to
+be fed and the workmen do not have to return to the town to drink,« he
+added.</p>
+
+<p>Little Tom sincerely admired the whole arrangement of the ants town.
+This pleased Mirmex. »Let us go a little further,« he continued. »I will
+next show you our hot-beds.« They went along a narrow corridor, and Tom,
+touching the walls, found them damp. They passed through rooms that were
+very hot, until they reached a low chamber which was filled with damp,
+round leaves, while the walls were covered with mildew. Tom did not care
+to go into this damp hot bed, but Mirmex laughed.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>»Do you remember,« he inquired, »how you helped us build a crossing over
+the strip of glue on the rose-bush in the garden? At that time you were
+curious to know why we were biting out little circles from the rose
+leaves and were carrying them away. Here you see the leaves piled up in
+heaps. In this part of the mound grows a mushroom. Here it is damp. The
+water comes from a near-by mossfield and the dampness is good for the
+mushroom mildew. It puts out little thin stalks that grow up from the
+rose leaves.«</p>
+
+<p>Tom noticed that the heaps were covered with long stalks which
+surrounded them like grass. While he was looking at them, many ants came
+into the room. One examined the stalks to see if they were sufficiently
+grown and then they started to work. One after the other, they bit the
+shoots on the end. Mirmex conducted Tom into the second room, so as not
+to be in the way of the workers. There were no longer stalks on the
+leaves but, in their place, stunted, round bulbs as if the heap were
+covered with pin heads.</p>
+
+<p>»If we should allow the shoots to grow«, remarked Mirmex, »they would
+fill the whole room and be of no use; therefore, we must bite them on
+the end, and so the shoots are stunted and grow into the broad, juicy
+bulbs which are our best food.«</p>
+
+<p>Tom tasted one or two of the bulbs and found them very good. They were
+slightly sweet and full of juice. He envied the ants their clever mode
+of living. He doubted if he would be able to bring the Ladybirds to such
+a degree of perfection; but when they were leaving the halls, he thought
+that, after all, the life of the Ladybirds was better, more beautiful,
+fresher, and more joyous, being spent in pleasure under the great,
+bright sky, without troubles, without heavy labor, and full of happiness
+and merriment.</p>
+
+<p>He thought that he would speak to Mirmex about it and ask him why the
+ants have no pleasure and merriment, if life is so serious that all the
+time it is necessary to worry and work and be on guard and not to have
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span>one moment of relief or time for one's own pleasure.</p> <hr style="width: 45%;" />
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span></p>
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;">
+<img src="images/042.jpg" width="450" height="272" alt="" title="" />
+</div>
+
+
+<h3>CHAPTER NINE.</h3>
+
+<h2>THE WAR OF THE ANTS.</h2>
+
+<p class="center">
+THE PREPARATIONS FOR WAR.<br />
+LITTLE TOM BECOMES THE COMMANDER OF THE<br />
+BLACK TOWN.<br />
+THE AMBUSCADE OF THE REDHEADS.<br />
+LITTLE TOM'S VICTORY. THE PURSUIT OF THE ENEMY.<br />
+LITTLE TOM TAKEN CAPTIVE.<br />
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span></p><hr style="width: 45%;" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 475px;">
+<a href="images/043.png"><img src="images/043th.png" width="239" height="300" alt="" title="" /></a>
+</div><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span></p> <hr style="width: 45%;" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<p class="firstsection">When they came to the square before the town, Tom told Mirmex of his
+doubts, but before the latter could answer they perceived an ant
+hurrying at great speed out of the moss and barely succeeding in
+staggering around them to the gate. Mirmex looked after him in
+astonishment, but, at this moment, a crowd of the workmen ran out,
+quickly divided themselves into groups, and took their stations on the
+roads in every direction.</p>
+
+<p>The whole town was swarming with workmen, hurrying out, and with the
+nurses who were quickly carrying the chrysalises from the place where
+they had been sunning themselves, inside the mound. Some exciting
+message had set the town in an uproar.</p>
+
+<p>Mirmex immediately disappeared through the gate and Tom was left to look
+on the excited turmoil. It seemed to him the wildest disorder, that
+every one was hustling and running around, as if bereft of reason; but
+he soon saw that all this bustling was part of a carefully directed plan
+and that something was being carried out that he did not understand.</p>
+
+<p>From the gates were coming ants who stretched themselves in long,
+well-ordered lines and then disappeared in the moss. Work in the town
+ceased, and at once the whole surface was deserted; but from all the
+roads, crowds of ants came quickly into the square, where they formed
+themselves in battle array.</p>
+
+<p>Tom finally recognized that the preparations were for battle. At that
+moment, Mirmex came up to him and started leading him into the town,
+telling him that news had come of a marauding expedition of the
+Redheads.</p>
+
+<p>The guards on the borders had seen some Redheads spying about and had
+caught some black slaves, from whom they learned that, since early
+morning, the Redheads had been planning a most formidable expedition. At
+first, they thought the Redheads were planning to attack a small town by
+the brook, in the forest, but they sent out some spies of their own who
+came upon a great crowd of Redheads gathering by the stumps on the
+clearing leading to Black Town, and they at once sent in the messenger
+to give the alarm.</p>
+
+<p>»This will be a battle such as we have never seen,« said Mirmex. »The
+Redheads have all gone into this attack in which they have formed great
+armies. In all probability, they wish to rob us, not only of our
+children but of our large harvests. They themselves live deep in the
+valley, where there is little grass and the country is not rich, while
+they know that we are close to the fields and gardens from which we
+have, this year, gathered great stores of food. This time it will be a
+fight for life or death. Fortunately, we have time to send out
+messengers and collect all our strength and to form our army.«</p>
+
+<p>Tom was trembling with excitement and asked to be allowed to fight in
+the first rank and to help in the victory over the robbers. Mirmex
+thanked him. »You will be most welcome,« he said, »but you cannot go
+into the field, for you do not know<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> our way of fighting. It is not a
+question of personal bravery but of a sound plan based on our knowledge
+of the ground. We are not afraid of the result, for we are well prepared
+and all that we need is the full strength of our numbers to equalize the
+greater weight and the better fighting equipment of our enemies. The
+only thing we fear is the treacherous attack of some reserve force, for
+the Redheads are very crafty and know how to conceal their plans and we
+are quite likely to be attacked in the town while our forces are all in
+the field.«</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 475px;">
+<a href="images/044.png"><img src="images/044th.png" width="273" height="150" alt="" title="" /></a>
+</div>
+
+<p>»We ought to leave a garrison to defend the town. Therefore, we will ask
+you to remain for its defense, in which case a small group with you will
+be sufficient. Then we will not fear that anything will happen behind
+our backs, while we are out in the field.«</p>
+
+<p>Tom thanked Mirmex for this confidence and promised him that he would
+defend the town to his last breath.</p>
+
+<p>In the meantime, the last divisions were disappearing in the moss and in
+the grass. The town became quiet; only some guards were running on the
+stones at the top and crawling up the flowers in the square. A small
+garrison remained at the crossroads and watched the last of the soldiers
+marching toward the depths of the wood. Mirmex quickly said good-bye and
+also disappeared. Tom returned to the town, as he wanted to mount to the
+top and take a look around the country.</p>
+
+<p>Thus a terrible war started which completely changed Tom's fate.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 475px;">
+<a href="images/045.png"><img src="images/045th.png" width="273" height="150" alt="" title="" /></a>
+</div>
+
+<p>The broad country around the ants' town was almost deserted. Tom saw
+only his garrison in the square, the guards hiding in the blossoms of
+hawkweed and grass stems, groups of workmen putting various things in
+order, and the nurses in perturbation, running all over the town and
+taking care of the entrances where they had placed the chrysalises.</p>
+
+<p>Tom ran down from the top of the mound, saw that there were guards at
+the magazines and went out to take a look at the surroundings. At the
+gate, he met two guards who were leading his rose-bug steed out of the
+stall, having been ordered by Mirmex to get him ready, in case Tom
+should need him in the fight. Tom at once mounted and rode to the
+heather, to see if there was any danger threatening the town in that
+direction.</p>
+
+<p>On the way, he thought of his friends and wondered how they were getting
+on in the fight; then he thought of Chrysomela and decided that after
+the battle he would send her a message, lest she should worry about him.</p>
+
+<p>As he rode through the moss, he saw behind a stone at one side, two
+little red spots moving. They seemed, at first, only two dry twigs, but
+their movement was suspicious. He rode along slowly as if he did not see
+them, but when he had come up to them, he jumped down suddenly and with
+drawn sword threw himself behind the stone; there he found a Redhead
+whom he cut in two. The moss moved and there<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> were two other Redheads
+running away. Tom left them, mounted hurriedly and rode back to the town
+as fast as he could go. It was high time.</p>
+
+<p>The reserves of the Redhead army were stealing through the heather to
+the town, hoping to find it weakly guarded and to plunder it. When a
+messenger reached them reporting how a giant had killed one of their
+spies, they were greatly surprised; but they did not suspect that Tom
+was an ally of the Black Ants, so they became quieted, thinking that the
+giant had met their spies only by accident, and started forward toward
+the town.</p>
+
+<p>Tom ordered all the guards to be brought back to the town, so that they
+should not be surprised by the attack of the Redheads, and placed part
+of the garrison on top of the town and the rest in the grass close by.
+He already knew whence the attack would come and was prepared to meet
+it.</p>
+
+<p>The Redheads crawled carefully through the moss and when they did not
+encounter any guards, they thought that the Black Ants did not suspect
+that they had reserves. They soon came out on the square and ran in a
+great crowd to the town which seemed to be deserted. As soon as they
+came close, Tom sent the garrison hidden by the gates to attack them.
+Although taken by surprise, the Redheads defended themselves bravely.</p>
+
+<p>They struck the defenders with their long, sharp jaws and in a compact
+body, pushed forward toward the main gate. At this moment, out of the
+gate came Tom with his band of selected workers, and wherever he struck
+with his sword, off flew a red head or a foot. Then, two or three of his
+companions would throw themselves on the red fighters, biting their feet
+and backs. The Redheads became afraid and leaving many dead and wounded
+on the square, ran headlong for the moss.</p>
+
+<p>At this moment, a great company of Black Ants that had hidden in the
+grass, came out and met them. A terrible fight followed and only a few
+of the Redheads were able to beat their way through the black ranks and
+return as best they could to the rest of their army.</p>
+
+<p>Tom was not satisfied with this victory. He sat on his rose-bug and, in
+his rage, wished to exterminate the Redheads altogether. All his friends
+begged him not to leave the town, but he was burning for revenge.
+Leaving the older men on guard, he chose a group of young, enthusiastic
+workers and hurried with them after the retreating enemy.</p>
+
+<p>Moss, red and blue berries, sped by them as they hastened on and,
+whenever they came to one of their foes lagging behind, they immediately
+cut him to pieces. The rose-bug, who also became enthusiastic over the
+fight, was soon running at the head of the scattered crowd and wherever
+he saw a Redhead easily overtook him, when Little Tom would cut him down
+with his sword. So they ran blindly ahead, paying little heed to
+anything, intoxicated with their victory.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 475px;">
+<a href="images/046.png"><img src="images/046th.png" width="273" height="150" alt="" title="" /></a>
+</div>
+
+<p>Now brave Little Tom did not know the sly cunning of his foes. The
+fleeing ones scattered broadly as they made for their home. The
+strongest among them, however, stopped a moment and, hiding themselves,
+noticed that Tom was riding almost alone, having outridden his own
+troop. Then they ran as fast as they could to their home, where they
+found a swarm of slaves awaiting the results of the main battle. With
+them were many of their masters in great excitement. They had received
+many discouraging reports. Many fighters had been lost and the army was
+being pressed back, step by step.</p>
+
+<p>Tom was really dreaming how he would attack the deserted Red Town, start
+a revolt of the black slaves and fall upon their army in the rear, thus
+completing the victory. He did not even wait for his scattered party to
+catch up with him and, as soon as he saw the black slaves, immediately
+urged his steed after them. The slaves became frightened at the sight of
+this victorious giant on a golden horse and turned around, running in
+desperate fright with Tom galloping after them.</p>
+
+<p>At this moment, some of those who were retreating came up and reported
+that just behind them was a great giant at the head of a band of Black
+fighters, heading straight for their town. Immediately, they gathered
+themselves together and, hiding all along the path, sent some black
+slaves toward Tom. They knew these slaves could not fight, but would
+start to run away from Tom and thus draw him on.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Already, before him, appeared the town and he was almost on the square
+in front of it, when the Red fighters came out of their ambush and threw
+themselves on the rose-bug. He stopped. Tom struck around him into the
+red bodies which squirmed under his blows; but the clever fighters,
+protected by the bodies of their fallen comrades, attacked him by biting
+his feet with their powerful jaws, until he slipped and fell to the
+ground.</p>
+
+<p>Before he could get up, they rendered him unconscious and ordered the
+slaves to drag him victoriously into the town. There they took away
+everything that he had, bit his clothes to pieces and left him
+unconscious in a dark dungeon.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;">
+<img src="images/047.jpg" width="450" height="274" alt="" title="" />
+</div>
+
+
+<h3>CHAPTER TEN.</h3>
+
+<h2>LITTLE TOM IN CAPTIVITY AND FREEDOM.</h2>
+
+<p class="center">
+THE DEFEAT OF THE REDHEADS.<br />
+MIRMEX TRIES TO FIND LITTLE TOM.<br />
+LITTLE TOM IN PRISON.<br />
+THE BANQUET OF THE REDHEADS.<br />
+LITTLE TOM BECOMES AN ARCHITECT.<br />
+HIS WALKS TO THE BROOK.<br />
+SEVEN SPOT DISCOVERS THE WHEREABOUTS OF<br />
+LITTLE TOM.<br />
+LITTLE TOM SAVED BY THE WOOD-BUG.<br />
+LITTLE TOM AND CHRYSOMELA.<br />
+THE PREPARATIONS FOR THE WINTER-SLEEP.<br />
+LITTLE TOM AND CHRYSOMELA SET OUT ON THEIR<br />
+WAY TO THE ABODES OF MEN.<br />
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span></p><hr style="width: 45%;" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<p class="firstsection">The Red fighters returned to their nest in disorder and were very angry.
+They had lost the battle. The Blacks, after chasing them away, stopped
+the pursuit and returned to their homes. Mirmex hurried along among the
+first to learn how things were going in the town. When he approached,
+the guards hurried out to meet him with great joy and told him how Tom
+had defeated the treacherous attack of the Reds and how the town was
+untouched.</p>
+
+<p>Mirmex at once looked for Tom to thank him and was surprised that he did
+not come to greet him. When he learned that Tom had gone in pursuit of
+the fleeing enemy, he was greatly troubled. He knew Tom's brave heart
+and also the cool, treacherous Redheads and he feared for the worst.</p>
+
+<p>The town quickly resumed its normal life. Workers cleared the square and
+removed the dead bodies, while the nurses carried the chrysalises back
+to the upper stories; everything moved along in the regular channels,
+only Mirmex ran impatiently out to the paths looking and waiting for
+Tom's return.</p>
+
+<p>But he did not return. Towards evening, the tired warriors who had
+accompanied him, returned and told of his brave fight and his capture.
+They related how he was overpowered and pulled away before they could
+run to his rescue.</p>
+
+<p>The entire town was very sad over the fate of its brave defender. Mirmex
+went himself to announce the sad news to Chrysomela and the Ladybird
+kingdom. There was no thought of rescue. In their defenses the Red
+fighters were invincible. This the Black Ants knew very well. Therefore
+they gave up the idea of trying to free Tom. They again took up the work
+that had been interrupted by the fight and could no longer be delayed,
+as they were preparing for the winter.</p>
+
+<p>In the meantime, Tom was lying wounded and unconscious in the nest of
+the Redheads, who crawled over him and looked at him with the greatest
+curiosity. When he finally revived, he could not move and lay for a long
+while trying to think where he was. He felt the touch of feelers and
+feet, which he began to push away, but was at once bitten. Then he
+remembered his defeat and that he was in captivity.</p>
+
+<p>When the Redheads saw that Tom was becoming conscious, they gathered
+around him. He raised himself to a sitting position with difficulty and
+looked about. He saw that they had brought him a kind of porridge with
+little seeds in it, but he was not hungry. His wounds burned and he had
+a fever. When he fully recalled all that had happened, he almost cried
+with sorrow. All his dreams of capturing the town had melted away, and
+his friends had vanished. What was to happen to Chrysomela? In vain, she
+would be waiting and watching for her hero to return. And what would
+happen to him?</p>
+
+<p>When the Redheads had looked at Tom long enough to satisfy their
+curiosity, they left him alone; but he noted that the little hall was
+well guarded and that they were watching to see what he would do when he
+could again control the strength of his limbs. After his pain and
+sadness had passed, he did not by any means give up all<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> hope. He
+thought that Mirmex would surely learn of his fate and tell what had
+happened to the ladybirds, and his friends would plan how to set him
+free.</p>
+
+<p>Of course they were powerless against the Redheads and would not dare to
+attack their town. He himself, without armor and with torn clothes would
+not dare to pit his strength alone against his captors. He had observed
+that they were quarrelsome, doughty and well armed.</p>
+
+<p>If he should stand up against them, even if he could kill some of them,
+he would be wounded and very likely be killed himself. He realized that,
+first of all, he must regain his strength, act very quietly so as not to
+arouse suspicion, and wait for an opportunity to escape. Therefore, he
+sat quietly all day long, ate the unpalatable seed porridge, until he
+felt that he had quite recovered his strength.</p>
+
+<p>The Redheads noticed that he was beginning to walk about and appearing
+better; so, one morning, they sent a few slaves to him to request him to
+go out with them. He accompanied them quietly through the corridors and
+out on the square where many fighters had gathered. They sat around him
+in a dense circle, proud in manner and not seeming to notice anything
+while they were being served by their slaves.</p>
+
+<p>Tom saw how the slaves swarmed about them, bringing to them quantities
+of food. Each fighter simply opened his terrible jaws and the obliging
+slaves quickly and skilfully thrust in morsels of tasty food. None of
+them wanted to be kept waiting a minute, and if he did not immediately
+get his morsel he would pitilessly grasp the slave by the foot and
+remind him of his duty.</p>
+
+<p>Tom paled with anger when he saw all this, and waited to see what would
+happen next. When the masters had eaten enough, they formed into dense
+battle array for an expedition and started off, while in the town only
+the slaves and a few guards remained, walking about without noticing Tom
+in the least.</p>
+
+<p>Some of the slaves ran to Tom and led him through corridors to a great
+hall, whose ceiling had fallen. With their feelers, they pointed to a
+heap of stones and spines. He understood that they were asking him to
+help. He thought the best thing to do would be to work and thus gain
+their confidence, so that he would not remain all of the time locked up
+in his dark cell.</p>
+
+<p>He started bravely at the work and the ants saw with surprise how well
+he knew how to handle the stones and beams, and what a gigantic strength
+he had. The slaves began to obey him, when he showed them how to clear
+away the fallen pieces, and the fighters themselves admired him, when
+they saw that he knew how to build, how to support the ceiling with
+beams, fasten the walls and smoothly level the corners.</p>
+
+<p>Tom was very glad to have the work, for the time forgetting his wounds
+and humiliation, and hoped that through it he would regain his freedom.
+When the evening came, the work had advanced more than the slaves could
+have accomplished in weeks; when they had finished, they led Tom back to
+prison.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span></p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span></p><div class="figcenter" style="width: 475px;">
+<a href="images/048.png"><img src="images/048th.png" width="241" height="300" alt="" title="" /></a>
+</div> <hr style="width: 45%;" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 475px;">
+<a href="images/049.png"><img src="images/049th.png" width="267" height="150" alt="" title="" /></a>
+</div>
+
+<p>On the way, he saw a group of fighters joyously returning. They brought
+with them many white chrysalises, which the slaves at once took to the
+nest as if they were their own. The last comers brought grains and
+immediately all began to feast, the slaves as usual bringing them food,
+until they could eat no more.</p>
+
+<p>Tom knew that, somewhere, they had robbed a Black nest and compensated
+themselves for their recent defeat. He was sorry that he, too, was their
+slave and obliged to serve them like his black comrades, but he did not
+see any other way, if he hoped to escape from their clutches.</p>
+
+<p>Next day, he continued his building and the Redheads were greatly
+surprised, for they had never seen such construction. Then they began to
+show him a little consideration, feeding him well, but not allowing him
+to go out of the nest. Five or six fighting men never left his side. But
+Tom thought out a clever plan. He began to look for large, heavy
+branches, showing them that it was necessary to have strong, heavy
+pillars, in place of the thin spines. The Redheads at once sent out the
+slaves, but they could not drag such heavy beams into the nest. Then
+they sent Tom with a guard into the wood to select his own beams and
+bring them back. He purposely went very far and kept looking about, as
+if he could not find anything quite suitable.</p>
+
+<p>The guards followed him patiently and did not leave him a moment. There
+was no idea of flight on Tom's part. He noticed that the appearance of
+nature had changed. Blossoms had disappeared, the grass was dry and
+yellow, the heather was rustling and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> through the wood a mist was
+blowing. It was cold, and Little Tom was very uncomfortable in his torn
+dress.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 475px;">
+<a href="images/050.png"><img src="images/050th.png" width="268" height="150" alt="" title="" /></a>
+</div>
+
+<p>Presently, they came to a little brook where there was a lot of cut
+twigs in a pile. There Tom stopped and began to look for hard, straight
+small pieces. The ants were biting the dried leaves and the blossoms,
+until he had his bundle of beams ready. Then he took one on his shoulder
+and carried it back to the nest. Thus, he worked for a few days, sure of
+being allowed to go outside. Every day they would go out, Tom preparing
+the beams, and hauling them back, while the slaves smoothed the roadway.</p>
+
+<p>One day, Tom saw on a blackberry a red spot that moved. He looked more
+closely and recognized his friend, Seven Spot. His throat tightened with
+delight, but he did not know how to give him a sign without arousing the
+suspicion of the ants. Then he began to sing at his work as loud as he
+could. Seven Spot spread his wings and flew away as if he had not seen
+him. Then Tom knew that everything was well&mdash;and that his friends had
+not forgotten him.</p>
+
+<p>He was so happy that he worked hard all day long, and the Redheads were
+amazed and delighted with his diligence. Then they began to consider how
+fine it would be if Tom would ally himself with them, and go against the
+Blacks and help them to victory. But they did not know Tom.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span></p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span></p><div class="figcenter" style="width: 475px;">
+<a href="images/051.png"><img src="images/051th.png" width="241" height="300" alt="" title="" /></a>
+</div> <hr style="width: 45%;" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span></p>
+<p>Tom, at first, had planned to jump in the brook and swim to the other
+side, when he should be given an opportunity, but he did not know how he
+should get to the Ladybirds' kingdom and was afraid that he would lose
+his way and perish. But now he did not mind, for he hoped that Seven
+Spot would show him the way. All night long he did not sleep from
+excitement, and in the morning hurried early to the brook.</p>
+
+<p>But when they reached it, Seven Spot was not to be seen. Tom looked all
+around, but, all day, his friend did not appear. He was quite desperate
+when he returned in the evening. The outside work was almost finished.
+They had beams enough and were now preparing for the winter.</p>
+
+<p>What if Tom had made a mistake and Seven Spot had appeared only by
+chance and had not noticed his King? Tom made up his mind that if Seven
+Spot should not come again, he would jump into the brook and swim
+across. He preferred to die in the wood rather than to spend the rest of
+his life in captivity with the Black Ants.</p>
+
+<p>When, next day, Tom came with his guards to the brook, there was no sign
+of Seven Spot. The last beams were prepared and only waiting to be
+carried to the nest. Tom stooped to take up one, wondering how he should
+reach the brook, when out of the pile he saw two great, bulging eyes
+looking straight at him. The pile moved a little, then appeared a pair
+of fierce whiskers and two pincer-like feelers and out came a giant
+Wood-bug with broad shoulders and a powerful breast.</p>
+
+<p>Tom became frightened and dropped the beam. The Redheads ran towards
+him, but the Wood-bug with a few steps met them. One he bit in two, the
+second he crushed under his foot and, jumping upon the pile, he caught
+Tom carefully in his jaws and ran with him into the forest. The slaves
+were horrified and ran away on all sides; the guards stood stupified,
+but where was the Wood-bug?</p>
+
+<p>He ran quickly through the blueberries and, when they were far away, he
+stopped. Placing Little Tom on the ground, he said, »Now sit on me and
+it will be easier for us both«. Not another word did he say why he had
+come, or who had sent him.</p>
+
+<p>With delight, Tom threw his arms around his neck and could not ask him
+enough questions, but the Wood-bug did not say very much and only waved
+his foot. »Crawl up, crawl up. You will soon know all. Do not keep them
+waiting.«</p>
+
+<p>Tom did crawl quickly upon his back and could hardly believe that he was
+free. The Wood-bug ran without stopping until they came to the old
+beech. Into the corridor he slipped and carried Tom right into his
+chamber. As soon as his whiskers appeared in the corridor, Chrysomela
+had come running out, caught Tom in her arms and cried from very joy.</p>
+
+<p>When Tom jumped down, the Wood-bug turned and disappeared without
+waiting to be thanked. As he looked at Chrysomela, Tom became alarmed to
+see how she had changed. She was pale and thin and only her true, violet
+eyes were as bright as formerly.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>At this moment came Seven Spot, dragging himself sleepily along and
+hardly able to keep his feet. He welcomed Little Tom and was pleased
+that everything had turned out so well. Tom wanted to thank him, but
+Seven Spot disregarded his speech, saying that everything had been done
+through Chrysomela and that, without her, nothing would have been
+accomplished.</p>
+
+<p>After they had eaten and drunk, they all sat down together and Seven
+Spot related how frightened they all were when Mirmex brought the news
+that the Redheads had captured Tom and taken him to their town. The
+Ladybirds flew everywhere to find their King and made inquiries of the
+snails, the ground beetles and the grubs, but none of them had seen him.
+This was probably during the time that he was kept a close prisoner in
+the Redheads' nest.</p>
+
+<p>They had begun to fear that the Redheads might have killed Tom for
+revenge and buried him in some place. Mirmex, also, for a long time, had
+been sending out spies and had headed a searching expedition on which he
+had captured some of the slaves, from whom he learned that Tom was alive
+and well and working inside the town.</p>
+
+<p>Mirmex would have liked to have gone to Tom's rescue, but the Black Town
+was very busy in getting ready for the long winter, while the Ladybirds
+themselves were beginning to succumb to the coming sleep and were
+disappearing one after the other. Even Seven Spot was becoming drowsy as
+the winter languor began to steal over him. With difficulty he kept
+himself from yielding to the desire for sleep, yawning much in secret,
+but Chrysomela encouraged him with praise of his real willingness to
+help. Every day he flew to the neighborhood of the Red Town, crawling
+all around it, until, one day, he was rewarded by seeing Little Tom come
+out of the town with his guards.</p>
+
+<p>Seven Spot did not want to show himself, so he flew high above the
+procession, lighting here and there on the bushes, until he discovered
+the exact spot where Tom was working. Then he sat hidden near by, on a
+wild briar bush, until he discovered the store of beams Tom was
+collecting. The next day, he came very early and lighting low down, on a
+blackberry, crawled about conspicuously so that Tom would be sure to see
+him. When he learned that Tom had seen him, he flew back immediately to
+Chrysomela to tell her the good news.</p>
+
+<p>Then they planned how they should help Tom to escape, but no good plan
+occurred to them. All that night they could not sleep, and in the
+morning they again took counsel with one another, but without result,
+until, towards evening, when Seven Spot was again describing how Tom was
+working close to the brook, the Wood-bug suddenly thrust his head into
+the room and asked just where the spot was. He had been working in the
+corridor preparing his winter quarters and had overheard what Chrysomela
+and Seven Spot were discussing. When Seven Spot had described the place
+to him and just how one could reach it, Chrysomela begged him to help
+them<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> with his advice. The Wood-bug listened very carefully, nodding his
+head now and then. When Seven Spot had finished, he only said »To-morrow
+I will bring him«, and at once left the room.</p>
+
+<p>All that night and the next day they waited in the greatest anxiety,
+until, finally, the Wood-bug, true to his word, arrived with Little Tom.
+When Chrysomela had finished her story, they heard Seven Spot snoring
+loudly and they could hardly waken him. Seven Spot looked up, rubbing
+his eyes, heavy with sleep.</p>
+
+<p>»Oh, King,« he said, speaking with some difficulty, »I am happy that I
+again see you, but be good enough to excuse me, for already the winter
+sleep is upon me and I hardly know where I stand.«</p>
+
+<p>They took leave of each other and Seven Spot disappeared languidly into
+the corridor, while Tom was left alone with Chrysomela in their
+dwelling. They sat together until late in the evening, as they had much
+to talk about. When, finally, they were ready to retire, they told each
+other that in the morning they would look over their kingdom.</p>
+
+<p>In the morning, when they had come out of the beech, they could see
+nothing around them but a white fog which lay on every object. Through
+the mist, they groped their way to the pool; but there was now no sign
+of the green arches, the yellow cattails, or the red willow herbs.
+Everywhere, were only the ends of bare, brown trunks and dry, rustling
+bushes, while the ground was muddy and the moss soaked with water and
+even from the pool the beautiful water-lilies had disappeared. All
+around them, there was not a single living creature. Empty and sad was
+their kingdom, without color, light or perfume.</p>
+
+<p>Nowhere was there a sign of the former life, or its delightful charm.
+They sadly returned to their home, wet and cold, where the Wood-bug
+awaited them. When he finally espied them, he shuffled about on his six
+feet, nodded with his whiskers and aired his wing shells, until he found
+courage to speak.</p>
+
+<p>»When are we going to clear up?« he inquired.</p>
+
+<p>Neither understood him and asked what he meant. Wood-bug was puzzled
+that his meaning was not plain. »Why, clear up for the winter,« he said.
+»Where do you wish to sleep?«</p>
+
+<p>They tried to explain to him that they did not sleep during the winter.
+Now it was the Wood-bug's turn to be puzzled. Tom did not know what
+winter was, but when he saw that the whole Ladybird kingdom had
+disappeared and that all the creatures were preparing for a long sleep,
+he felt that they must surely perish in the lonely wood. Nothing was
+left to do, but to seek his Godmother and take Chrysomela to her, asking
+her to forgive them and allow them to stay with her during the winter.</p>
+
+<p>Tom begged the Wood-bug to take them to the Godmother in the little hut
+by the field behind the wood, near the brook. The Wood-bug listened
+without understanding until he heard the words, »field behind the wood«.
+Then he said, »I know<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> where that is. It is where there are no trees and
+no bark. There we will go. In the meantime, I will clear up here and
+close in everything for the spring.«</p>
+
+<p>Tom put on a warm suit, belted on his sword and prepared a bundle of
+food, while Chrysomela put on a warm cloak of mole's fur lined with the
+silk of ants. When they were ready, they stepped out and looked around
+over their kingdom for the last time.</p>
+
+<p>The sun shone through the clouds, brightening the dry stumps, while the
+cold wind whirled showers of leaves and yellow beech nut shells over the
+dark water. The Wood-bug was waiting for them, so at once they sat down
+on his back and started to ride through the forest.</p>
+
+<p>For a long time they rode quietly. The Wood-bug walked heavily but
+quickly, as the winter sleep was not yet on him. Finally they came to
+the edge of the forest where there was a road with deep ruts, in which
+stood pools of water. The Wood-bug crossed the road to the stubble
+field, where he put them down and said, »This is the field and the path
+of human beings. It is not for us for, if we walk along it, before we
+are aware, we are crushed. Go along the stubble field. There it is safe
+and somewhere down there, you will find the hut.«</p>
+
+<p>They wanted to thank him, but the good Wood-bug was already running back
+across the path, hurrying to reach his own little den; so the two
+travelers started out by themselves to find the human dwelling.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;">
+<img src="images/052.jpg" width="450" height="262" alt="" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<h3>CHAPTER ELEVEN.</h3>
+
+<h2>CHRYSOMELA'S DEATH.</h2>
+
+<p class="center">
+LITTLE TOM AND CHRYSOMELA BETAKE THEMSELVES<br />
+TO TOM'S GODMOTHER.<br />
+THEY REST UNDER THE DOG-ROSE.<br />
+THE WIND SWEEPS THEM INTO A FURROW.<br />
+THEY WANDER IN THE DARK AND MEET A HAMSTER.<br />
+IN THE HAMSTER'S BURROW.<br />
+CHRYSOMELA FALLS ILL AND DIES. THE FUNERAL.<br />
+THE HAMSTER TAKES LITTLE TOM THROUGH THE SNOW<br />
+TO THE CHAPEL.<br />
+LITTLE TOM LEARNS, FROM A MOUSE, ABOUT THE<br />
+DEATH OF HIS GODMOTHER AND VISITS HER TOMB.<br />
+HE RETURNS WITH THE HAMSTER.<br />
+THE SLEDGE OF QUEEN FAIRY.<br />
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span></p><hr style="width: 45%;" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 475px;">
+<a href="images/053.png"><img src="images/053th.png" width="241" height="300" alt="" title="" /></a>
+</div><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span></p> <hr style="width: 45%;" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span></p>
+
+<p class="firstsection">Tom walked with Chrysomela along the edge of the stubble field, down the
+road; that was all they knew of their direction&mdash;that they must always
+be going down. They expected that the way would not be long, for they
+remembered that, in one day, the ants had brought all their possessions
+from the Godmother's house to the wood. They forgot that the ants knew
+the direction and therefore walked straight over everything, while they,
+not knowing where to go, had to travel the path of the humans and
+therefore traveled in a wide circle.</p>
+
+<p>Chrysomela was well wrapped up in her cloak and over her head she had
+pulled a cobweb veil, so that her golden hair should not fly around, but
+on her feet she had only little, light shoes of birch bark. After she
+had gone a little way, she felt how heavily she was walking over the
+clods by the stubble field and stumbled so that she had to lean on Tom's
+strong arm.</p>
+
+<p>Tom tried to encourage her by telling her that they would soon see the
+human dwellings. He decided that if they should see any human being he
+would speak and ask that they be carried to the Godmother, so that
+Chrysomela should not suffer. She was very weak by the time the sun had
+gone down and fogs were coming over the woods. Day after day she had
+been sinking. Sorrowing over Tom's captivity had only made her worse,
+but she was of a brave heart and therefore went on uncomplaining, not
+wishing to trouble Tom. She wondered what she would find at the
+Godmother's house.</p>
+
+<p>On the way, they did not meet a single living creature. All the little
+animals were already hidden and only tiny spiders were wafted above them
+on silvery threads. The cold breeze blowing through the stubble field
+was becoming stronger and turning against them. Chrysomela began to
+cough. She controlled herself as best she could, but finally she was
+obliged to ask Tom if they could rest a bit, as the walking was tiring
+her.</p>
+
+<p>By this time, they had reached the end of the stubble field and had come
+to a wild briar bush, behind which was a freshly ploughed field full of
+glistening furrows. Tom placed Chrysomela on a few dried leaves under
+the briar and offered her seeds of beech nut and a nice red berry, but
+she was not hungry and only drank thirstily the blackberry juice from
+his bottle. Her hands were hot, her little forehead burning; she
+trembled all over with cold, while her eyes were shining with fever's
+brightness.</p>
+
+<p>Tom stroked her hair and soothed her by telling her how comfortable they
+would be at Castle Easter Egg with the Godmother. He told her of the
+tree with the golden nuts and sweet dates, and the precious little altar
+with the kings, shepherds, the Mother and the Baby; but Chrysomela no
+longer heard him. She leaned her head on his shoulder and closed her
+eyes.</p>
+
+<p>Tom realized that they would not be able to go any farther that day and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span>
+dreaded the night under the open sky. He covered Chrysomela with a briar
+leaf and seated himself beside her. In a little while, as he was very
+tired, he fell asleep.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 475px;">
+<a href="images/054.png"><img src="images/054th.png" width="271" height="150" alt="" title="" /></a>
+</div>
+
+<p>Suddenly, he awoke. Already, the darkness was stealing over the county,
+the evening wind was whistling through the wild briar and playing with
+the leaves. Tom wanted to protect Chrysomela. He put his arm around her
+waist and wrapped a rolled up beech leaf around her, but the strong wind
+caught it up and, whirling it with many others, carried them through the
+air until they fell into a deep furrow.</p>
+
+<p>Here they were sheltered, at least, from the wind and, crawling out from
+the leaf, they looked around them, but everywhere they could only see
+black earth slippery and soft like high hills with nowhere any sign of
+human traces. They did not know where they were, or whither the wind had
+carried them.</p>
+
+<p>All about them was only the dark night, while the cold of the evening
+pierced them to the bone. Chrysomela pressed close to Little Tom, but
+she was so weary, she could hardly stand on her feet. Tom feared to
+leave her, lest he might lose her, so, supporting her as best he could,
+stumbled on with her along the furrow until they came to a broad hole.
+He wanted at once to step in with Chrysomela, not caring who was there,
+and to ask for shelter, when, suddenly, out of the darkness, came a
+gigantic animal in a fur coat, with bristling whiskers and puffed out
+cheeks. It was the Hamster.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span></p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span></p><div class="figcenter" style="width: 475px;">
+<a href="images/055.png"><img src="images/055th.png" width="241" height="300" alt="" title="" /></a>
+</div> <hr style="width: 45%;" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span></p>
+<p>He was about to slide into the hole, when he smelled something strange.
+He sniffed about him and peered into the darkness with his close-set
+eyes. When he saw the poor little travelers and how they were pressing
+together close to the hole, trembling with the cold, he said kindly,
+»Hullo there. Where are you going so late, you little travelers?«</p>
+
+<p>Tom advanced and, bowing politely before the Hamster, asked him for
+shelter for a weak, ill traveler. When the Hamster saw that there was a
+lady with Tom, he acted very courteously, and immediately invited them
+to come in. He ran ahead and returned at once with a torch of rotten
+wood, with which he lighted them along the corridor, until they came to
+his dining-room.</p>
+
+<p>There it was warm and cosy. The torch shone brightly and, when
+Chrysomela had removed her cloak and sat on the Hamster's bed, he
+wondered at her beauty. Then he ran to the pantry, shook out the grains
+which he had hidden in his baggy cheeks and, choosing from his store the
+best morsels, placed them before his guests. They were so dainty and
+delicate that they just melted in their mouths.</p>
+
+<p>Chrysomela rested. She gathered her golden, wind-blown hair into braids
+and thanked the good Hamster for his kindly courtesy with a sweet smile.
+For a little while, the fever left her and she seemed to be gaining
+strength.</p>
+
+<p>The Hamster outdid himself with attentions and brought out everything
+good that he had; but Chrysomela said that she only wanted to rest, so
+they prepared a soft bed for her, covered her with a warm coat and said
+good night. They then went into the pantry where there was room for both
+Tom and the Hamster.</p>
+
+<p>The Hamster had a wonderful store for the winter and showed Tom all his
+rooms filled with grain. One held oats, a second, wheat, and the third,
+rye. Everything was thoroughly peeled, cleaned and carefully put away in
+dry places. Tom praised his fine housekeeping and when the Hamster asked
+whence they had come and whither they were going, he told him their
+adventures.</p>
+
+<p>They talked late into the night, and when the Hamster learned that Tom
+was a prince and king of the Ladybirds' realm, he said that he had never
+seen gnomes but had heard very much about them from a mouse family that
+lived under the chapel by the forest.</p>
+
+<p>When Tom heard him speak of the chapel, he remembered that his Godmother
+had found the treasure in the wall near it and he asked the Hamster
+whether he could take them to her. The Hamster laughed. »Why should I
+not know her? On her field I am as if at home. She is a good woman. She
+does not know how to chase me or throw stones at me. There I have
+gathered my very best stores. This year, she did not come at all. All
+the grain had grown together and I could take what I wanted. Only,
+later, strange people came and gathered the grain; but, by that time I
+had all mine at home.« He promised that he would take Tom to the chapel
+with Chrysomela and from there, the mice would show them the way to the
+Godmother's hut.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>When they had talked enough, they went to bed. Tom fell asleep,
+confident that their troubles were at an end and that tomorrow he would
+see his Godmother and that she would be greatly pleased with Chrysomela.
+He slept soundly. In the morning the Hamster woke him, excitedly; he
+said that he should at once look at Chrysomela, for all was not well
+with her.</p>
+
+<p>Tom ran to her at once and took her by the hand, but she did not
+recognize him. Her blue eyes were veiled and she was calling Seven Spot
+and the Wood-bug to save Tom; and then she would sing summer songs. She
+was in delirium. Tom did not know what to do. He sat by her bed, while
+the Hamster ran around bringing food and, finally, sat down in a corner
+by himself, desperate and sad.</p>
+
+<p>Thus they sat through the whole day. From time to time, Chrysomela
+became conscious, drank something and stroked Tom's hand. Then she would
+hear the music of gnats and the swarm of golden flies above the water,
+or would scream with fright.</p>
+
+<p>All night long, Tom and the Hamster did not sleep. They tried to care
+for Chrysomela and only towards morning did they themselves fall asleep.
+When they awoke, they found her sitting up in bed apparently well, but
+very weak.</p>
+
+<p>Tom was very happy that the illness had left her and that she was
+herself again. He knelt beside her, while the Hamster came running with
+pleasure and asked what she would have to eat; but the sad girl stroked
+the Hamster's fur and said to Tom in a thin voice, »My dear Tom, it is
+the end. It is not permitted to me to live with you and to be merry at
+the Godmother's house. I am growing weaker and weaker and, by evening, I
+will not be with you any more. Do not forget me in the world and
+remember that I was always your true comrade. You, Hamster, I thank for
+your good heart. You are not of us, but you are a good friend and
+perhaps I will meet you there, where our little nation has gone
+forever.«</p>
+
+<p>She lay down and closed her eyes with weariness. Tom fell down on the
+bed and wept. The Hamster ran away and hid himself and did not come out
+any more. Chrysomela wakened again, soothed Tom and told him that he
+should not despair, that they would surely meet in the other world, when
+their days would begin again.</p>
+
+<p>Tom did not want to be soothed and only controlled his grief, so that he
+could make her last hour easier. He was sitting by her looking into her
+dying eyes, when, suddenly he saw that she brightened, looking over him
+into the darkness and he heard what she was whispering, »The Queen, our
+Queen is coming. I hear her horses neighing. She is nodding to me,
+nodding, Little Tom. We will meet.« Then she became quiet and her face,
+deathly pale. Tom knelt silently by her bed, hearing nothing, knowing
+nothing.</p>
+
+<p>He did not know how long he was there, until the Hamster came and said,
+as if with an indifferent voice, »Come, now it is time. We will lay her
+away so that she can sleep easily«.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Tom obeyed blindly, covering her with her cloak, then raised her in his
+arms and walked behind the Hamster through a long corridor until they
+came to a small niche which the Hamster had dug and lined with daisies
+for Chrysomela. When they had laid her there, Tom said good bye to her,
+the Hamster closed in the niche, and they went back to the lonely
+dining-room.</p>
+
+<p>They sat there for a long time without speaking, until the Hamster
+suddenly said, »My dear Tom, I am as fond of you as a brother. Stay here
+with me. I have food enough. It will be better for us both. We will
+think of your poor Chrysomela until the Spring comes, and then I can
+drive you to the Ladybird kingdom.«</p>
+
+<p>Tom thought of the Ladybirds, looked at the empty bed and cried
+bitterly. He never wanted to go back to the Ladybirds without
+Chrysomela, and only wished to get to the Godmother so that he could
+hide himself with her for the rest of his life. He asked the Hamster to
+take him there at once, for, here, his heart was breaking with grief.
+The Hamster said that, outside, there was a terrible snowstorm and they
+would have to wait until the next day. Perhaps, over night, Tom would
+reconsider.</p>
+
+<p>So they talked together without thinking of sleep. They thought of
+Chrysomela's death and Tom remembered how, in her delirium, she seemed
+to see a Queen. The Hamster then became thoughtful and said, »I do not
+know, but I think that such a Queen exists. She rules over all living
+creatures on the earth. All do not know her, only the chosen ones. There
+are rumors about her among those who live on the earth, in the air and
+in the water. All honor and acknowledge her. Whoever knows anything of
+her, does not talk about it.«</p>
+
+<p>Tom begged him to tell him everything that he knew. He was trembling
+with excitement, believing, that, perhaps, after all, Chrysomela was not
+dreaming, but was arranging for their meeting.</p>
+
+<p>»I do not know a thing,« replied the Hamster. »I am only an underground
+creature and it is not given to us to know the secret; but I believe
+that she exists, for the larks are singing of her, when I am running
+through the fields, the bees are buzzing about her in the grass and the
+flowers are dreaming of her, when in the evening they are breathing out
+their fragrance.«</p>
+
+<p>The Hamster rose and went out, coming back to say that it was now
+possible to ride out and he would not try any longer to delay Tom.</p>
+
+<p>Tom went to say farewell to Chrysomela's last resting place; then he
+took his seat in the Hamster's fur coat and started out of the hole. Tom
+was greatly amazed when he looked around. Far and wide, wherever the eye
+could see, there was a great, white plain, and, everywhere, the snow was
+sparkling in the sun. The Hamster hurried through the snow, with the
+snow-dust rising behind them. Tom held on to his fur and could hardly
+breathe in the fresh morning air. They ran down by the field, crossed
+the meadow and saw the chapel under the wood, shining in the plain by
+the brook, but nowhere was the hut.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 475px;">
+<a href="images/056.png"><img src="images/056th.png" width="269" height="150" alt="" title="" /></a>
+</div>
+
+<p>Tom looked around in vain; even from the stone steps of the chapel, he
+could not see it. All at once, a bright, little mouse stuck her sharp
+nose from under the rail and welcomed the Hamster. »How do you do,
+Godfather,« she cried. »You have brought us a guest. How is it that you
+still take walks in the snow?«</p>
+
+<p>The Hamster introduced Little Tom and told her that they were seeking
+the widow's hut, but could not find it. The Mouse was surprised. »You
+are my neighbor and do not know it?« she asked incredulously. »Long
+since the widow has been sleeping under the ground of the chapel. In the
+Spring, she was ill and did not even chase us when we visited her. In
+the Summer, she lay down and died. They tore down her hut seeking some
+treasure. Now, they want to build here, I do not know what.«</p>
+
+<p>The Mouse knew all the news for miles around and was very greatly
+pleased that she could talk with someone. The Hamster thanked her for
+all the information and asked where the lady was lying, for he suspected
+that Little Tom would like to say farewell to her. The Mouse took them
+through the hole under the floor, until they came into the crypt, where
+were standing the old, decaying coffins of the former knights and, in
+the middle, a black new one, the Godmother's.</p>
+
+<p>Tom stood before it and was so unhappy, that he did not even feel his
+great suffering. Then they came out into the daylight and said good-by
+to the talkative Mouse. Tom sat in the Hamster's fur and they started to
+return.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 475px;">
+<a href="images/057.png"><img src="images/057th.png" width="240" height="300" alt="" title="" /></a>
+</div><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The sky, in the meantime, was covered with clouds, a gentle wind came
+up, and small flakes began to fall from the darkened sky. On the plain
+far away, Tom saw a reddish leaf and noticed how it was running, as if
+blown by the wind straight towards them. It seemed strange to him. The
+Hamster became confused, as he looked around; he looked once more, then
+doubled with fright into the snow, whispering, »The Queen!«</p>
+
+<p>The leaf came nearer; but it proved to be not a leaf at all, but a
+beautiful sledge drawn by four black crickets. On the box, sat a
+speckled coachman and, beside him, the footmen&mdash;centipedes, while,
+behind, nestled a most beautiful lady, all wrapped up in the green and
+black fur of a butterfly caterpillar. The little bells were ringing on
+the horses and the coachman snapped his whip as they approached the
+Hamster.</p>
+
+<p>The lady, leaning out of the sledge and shaking her finger at Little
+Tom, said, »You wanderer. Where are you going now? For a long time I
+have been looking for you. Everyone is expecting you and here you are,
+running around with such an underground monster. Come at once and sit
+down. You will go with me.«</p>
+
+<p>The Hamster buried himself still deeper in the snow, but Tom bowed and
+said, »Dear Queen, the Hamster is my good friend. He helped me to take
+care of my beloved Chrysomela. I can not go where he may not, for I will
+not be untrue to him«.</p>
+
+<p>The Queen smiled at the Hamster. »Look at this. Sometimes, even the
+Hamsters have good hearts. But now don't trouble about him. Hamster, go
+to your den, and when the time comes, speak and we will open to you.«</p>
+
+<p>Tom said good-by to the Hamster, took his seat in the sledge, the Queen
+wrapped him up in her fur cloak, and soon they were flying and
+disappearing through the whirling flakes into the realm of Queen Fairy.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 200px;">
+<img src="images/058.jpg" width="200" height="129" alt="" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<hr style="width: 45%;" />
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="TRANSCRIBER_NOTES" id="TRANSCRIBER_NOTES"></a>TRANSCRIBER NOTES</h2>
+
+
+
+
+<div class="center">
+<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="">
+<tr><td align="left">Page  <a href="#Page_15">15</a></td><td align="left">« removed after "when she had cleaned it, there was the horseshoe."</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Page  <a href="#Page_27">27</a></td><td align="left">extra r removed from measurring: "measuring out the paths"</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Page  <a href="#Page_31">31</a></td><td align="left">typo corrected: Godmocher to Godmother in "when his Godmother saw him"</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Page  <a href="#Page_53">53</a></td><td align="left">changed , to . in "ride upon around the garden.« Before"</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Page  <a href="#Page_59">59</a></td><td align="left">replaced deseived with deceived in "punished for having deceived his Grandmother."</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Page  <a href="#Page_67">67</a></td><td align="left">corrected typo: of to if in "if you want to see what God's world is like,"</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Page  <a href="#Page_67">67</a></td><td align="left">inserted space between valour and but in "She did not give much thought to his valour but"</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Page  <a href="#Page_68">68</a></td><td align="left">inserted space between monster and darted in "Then the great monster darted"</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Page  <a href="#Page_69">69</a></td><td align="left">mill corrected to milk in "drunk some milk,"</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Page  <a href="#Page_70">70</a></td><td align="left">blosoom corrected to blossom in "push right into the blossom."</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Page  <a href="#Page_74">74</a></td><td align="left">space removed from the middle of today. "It is a miracle that you did not die today."</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Page  <a href="#Page_81">81</a></td><td align="left">smellimg corrected to smelling in "sweet-smelling mint by the water."</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Page  <a href="#Page_90">90</a></td><td align="left">typo corrected from Axterl to After in "After he had dismounted"</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Page  <a href="#Page_93">93</a></td><td align="left">hin corrected to him in "Mirmex came to him and said:"</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Page  <a href="#Page_94">94</a></td><td align="left">healty corrected to healthy in "knowing that he is creating strong and healthy descendants"</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Page  <a href="#Page_94">94</a></td><td align="left">Readheads corrected to Redheads in "This the Redheads well know"</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Page  <a href="#Page_95">95</a></td><td align="left">duplicate "and" deleted in "defeated the Redheads and driven them away"</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Page  <a href="#Page_96">96</a></td><td align="left">comma inserted: "Let us go a little further," he continued</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Page <a href="#Page_103">103</a></td><td align="left">hat corrected to that in "from whom they learned that,"</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Page <a href="#Page_111">111</a></td><td align="left">changed wery to were very in "and were very angry."</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Page <a href="#Page_112">112</a></td><td align="left">comma inserted in "Tom was very glad to have the work, for the time"</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Page <a href="#Page_119">119</a></td><td align="left">hin corrected to him in "ran with him into the forest"</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Page <a href="#Page_120">120</a></td><td align="left">The corrected to Then in "Then he sat hidden near by,"</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Page <a href="#Page_121">121</a></td><td align="left">duplicate "of" deleted in "Nowhere was there a sign of the former life,"</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Page <a href="#Page_122">122</a></td><td align="left">missing « added after "you will find the hut.«"</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Page <a href="#Page_131">131</a></td><td align="left">hyphen put in dining-room for consistency "until they came to his dining-room."</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Page <a href="#Page_132">132</a></td><td align="left">exitedly corrected to excitedly in "the hamster woke him excitedly;"</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Page <a href="#Page_134">134</a></td><td align="left">neighfor corrected to neighbor in "»You are my neighbor"</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Page <a href="#Page_134">134</a></td><td align="left">missing hyphen put in good-by in "and said good-by to the talkative Mouse."</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Page <a href="#Page_134">134</a></td><td align="left">full stop added after "and said good-by to the talkative Mouse."</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Page <a href="#Page_134">134</a></td><td align="left">increduously corrected to incredulously in "she asked incredulously."</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Page <a href="#Page_136">136</a></td><td align="left">hin corrected to him in "It seemed strange to him."</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+<p class="center">
+The use of » and « for open and close quotation marks respectively has been retained. </p>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Little Tom, by V. Tille
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@@ -0,0 +1,3903 @@
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Little Tom, by V. Tille
+
+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: Little Tom
+
+Author: V. Tille
+
+Illustrator: O. Stafi
+
+Release Date: January 31, 2011 [EBook #35126]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LITTLE TOM ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by David Edwards, monkeyclogs and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This
+file was produced from images generously made available
+by The Internet Archive)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration:
+
+  PROF. V. TILLE
+
+  LITTLE TOM
+
+  ILLUSTRATED BY
+
+  O. [vS]TAFL
+
+  PUBLISHER--B. KO[vC]I--PRAGUE.CZECHOSLOVAKIA]
+
+
+
+
+LITTLE TOM
+
+
+
+
+  LITTLE TOM
+
+  TOLD
+  BY V. TILLE
+  AND ILLUSTRATED
+  BY O. [vS]TAFL.
+
+
+
+
+  PUBLISHED BY B. KO[vC]I,
+  14, MASARYK QUAY, PRAGUE,
+  CZECHOSLOVAKIA.
+  1922.
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS.
+
+                                                         PAGE
+  Chapter one: THE CHRISTENING OF LITTLE TOM                5
+  Chapter two: HOW LITTLE TOM WAS FOUND BY HIS GODMOTHER   17
+  Chapter three: LITTLE TOM'S TRIP AROUND THE WORLD        29
+  Chapter four: LITTLE TOM IN THE ENCHANTED CASTLE         41
+  Chapter five: LITTLE TOM'S ADVENTURES IN THE GARDEN      49
+  Chapter six: LITTLE TOM'S EXCURSIONS                     63
+  Chapter seven: LITTLE TOM AND CHRYSOMELA                 75
+  Chapter eight: THE ANTS' TOWN                            87
+  Chapter nine: THE WAR OF THE ANTS                        99
+  Chapter ten: LITTLE TOM IN CAPTIVITY AND FREEDOM        109
+  Chapter eleven: CHRYSOMELA'S DEATH                      123
+
+
+Printed by Jos. B. Zapoto[vc]ny, Rokycany, Czechoslovakia.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+CHAPTER ONE.
+
+THE CHRISTENING OF LITTLE TOM.
+
+  THE WIDOW THAT GATHERED HERBS. CHRISTMAS EVE.
+  THE MESSENGER OF THE KING OF THE GOBLINS.
+  THE CHRISTENING OF LITTLE TOM.
+  WHAT LITTLE TOM'S GODMOTHER FOUND IN THE WELL
+  NEAR THE CHAPEL.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+[Illustration]
+
+In a little wooden hut within the shadow of the forest and close to a
+noisy brook, a poor widow dwelt alone. She passed her days gathering and
+drying plants and herbs, from which she was forever making strange
+simples which proved very helpful to the village people and their cattle
+when illness came upon them. But the villagers only came to visit her
+when they had need of her medicines, and these had such wonderful power
+to cure that it was whispered about the lonely old woman to be a witch.
+
+The villagers also told strange stories about her, for no one knew
+whence she came or when she had taken up her solitary abode apart from
+the village.
+
+Many said that she sprang from the race of knights, who, in an age long
+past, lived in their great castle deep in the woods and on the hill
+which rose above the little hut. But no knights lived there now, nor had
+they for many, many years, and the castle had been in ruins for a longer
+time than the oldest people could remember. In fact, all that now
+remained of the great place which the old folks liked to tell their
+grandchildren about, was a little chapel near the edge of the dark woods
+and, beside it, an old, old well, now entirely filled up and overgrown
+with weeds.
+
+But the widow was not lonely, nor did she wish anyone to help her care
+for her little house and the garden she loved so dearly, or even the
+field beyond where grazed her cow, "Speckle". Whenever anyone came to
+her in trouble or in illness, she was glad to put aside on the instant
+whatever task she was about and to give her advice or administer the
+medicine which always brought relief and cure, for she understood all
+troubles and illnesses and knew the simples for each.
+
+Inside the little hut, everything was as clean and orderly as one would
+find in the castles of the nobility, where many servants toiled and
+swept. Over the thatched roof an old lime tree spread its friendly
+branches, and all day long there sounded about the fragrant buds and
+blossoms sounded the cheerful humming of swarms of grateful bees.
+
+The great beams along the walls of the hut were rubbed clean with red
+earth and on the whitewashed spaces, between the little windows and the
+door, were painted red and yellow flowers with leaves of green, while in
+its bed of earth a blue strip of real flowers ran all around the house.
+
+On the gable ledge blossomed red and pink carnations and from the little
+balcony under the peak of the roof, with its carved wooden posts and
+railing, peered dried poppy heads, ears of yellow corn, sage and all
+manner of herbs and spices with strange odors. All these had been
+gathered in the clear, white light of the full moon before the dew had
+begun to fall.
+
+Besides all these pleasant things, the garden was full of roses,
+mignonette and tall mallow. Close to the fence which ran all about it,
+grew gooseberries, currants and raspberries; and in the very middle of
+the garden was a bed of luscious red strawberries, flanked by rows of
+cabbages, lettuce and peas. Against the walls of the hut, between the
+windows, old, gnarled vines ran clear to the eaves, bearing bunches of
+delicious grapes.
+
+The hut had one large room, a small chamber and the black kitchen, with
+its great fireplace and broad chimney. From the outside, it looked not
+unlike the houses of the villagers; but, inside, stood furniture of an
+older day. In a corner stood a bed of polished wood, piled high with
+white, downy quilts and covers. In the middle of the room was a round
+table with smooth, polished chairs set against it. Next to the wall was
+a beautifully carved old chest for clothes; on the wall, a clock with
+brass weights and a cuckoo that called the hours; and between the
+windows through which blossomed fuchsias and other plants, stood a rare
+old linen press, ornamented with flowers, birds, and hammered silver
+work.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+But, most precious of all her possessions, was a little altar carved in
+ivory. In size, it was no larger than an apple; but it had two little
+doors, which, opening, showed a little stall, in which sat the Holy
+Virgin with the Child on her lap and, behind, a yellow ox and a grey
+donkey looking out across the manger and breathing upon the two. On the
+left, knelt the shepherds surrounded by their fleecy sheep; and, from
+the right, came the three kings with golden crowns on their heads and
+dressed in cloaks of violet, red and green. The black one was smiling
+and showing his white teeth, as they offered their gifts. All of the
+figures were just like life! The Virgin had a beautiful face with blue
+eyes and dark eyebrows, and the Babe was all pink and held in His hands
+a little golden apple.
+
+It was a rare and precious piece of work, which the herb woman had been
+told was a relic of olden times, having come from the castle in the wood
+above the hut, to which it had been brought by one of the knights from
+the Holy Land.
+
+All day long, the herb woman had much to do in caring for her house,
+fetching and drying her herbs and brewing her medicines. From one week's
+end to the other, she was never idle. But, on Sunday afternoons, when
+her work was done, she would take the little altar and place it on the
+press between the windows. Sitting down before it in a comfortable
+leather armchair, she would read to herself from a very old book,
+ornamented with hammered brass and with colored stones set in the
+covers. Her book told all about the patient Griselda, the siege of Troy,
+about Siegfried, Brunswick, Blanik, and many other brave heroes. Around
+the first letter of each story, were painted knights, princesses,
+men-at-arms, magic castles, and scenes from strange, oversea countries.
+
+Looking at the pictures in her book and at the little figures of the
+altar, the old woman would think of bygone days when she was a bright
+little child, playing with her friends in make-believe weddings and
+christenings before this same little altar; and when her grandmother,
+sitting in the same old chair, would read to them stories from the old
+book and tell them of the former fame of their knightly home; of how the
+knights fared forth to the Holy Land, while their wives sat at home in
+the great castle, embroidering silks and cambrics, and the little
+children played in the castle garden.
+
+Her thoughts travelled back to herself, growing into beautiful girlhood;
+then, as a bride and the happy wife of a good husband; later, as the
+mother of two beautiful babies; then, sad memories crowded her weary
+head. Her husband and the two little children had died and she was left
+alone, without any relatives and without money, and with only this
+little hut in the shadow of the wood where she might live and earn her
+food.
+
+Often she sat like this, until the shadows of night had gathered around
+her; and the older she grew, the more heavily these sad thoughts weighed
+upon her. Each year, she felt herself growing weaker and began to be
+fearful that she could not manage to work at home and to gather the
+herbs in the woods and fields. In the winter, when the garden was
+covered with snow and the great drifts kept her from the village, she
+became even more sad to think how alone she was, the last of her race,
+with no one to whom she could tell her troubles and who would be a
+companion to her.
+
+Now, one year, it was the day before Christmas. The snow had drifted
+against the little house clear to the eaves. As was her custom, she had
+brought from the forest a little Christmas tree and, having set it in a
+box, in earth carried from the wood, began to trim it. She hung from the
+branches gilded nuts and draped the tree with festoons of colored paper.
+Then, she fastened tiny, wax candles to the branches and then she peeled
+some apples and, finally, lighted the little candles, thinking of the
+used to dance and play olden days at home when they danced and played
+around the Christmas tree. The fire burned cheerily in the broad hearth
+with its green glass tiles. The room was warm and filled with the odor
+of mint and of lavender. As she sat thus, alone before the tree,
+presently, her head fell forward upon her hands which rested upon the
+linen press, and she slept.
+
+The old lady dreamed she was a girl again, in her Sunday dress and with
+her braided hair held by a red ribbon, kneeling before the little altar.
+Suddenly, she saw the Holy Virgin smiling at her and the little Baby
+stretching out its tiny hands and handing the golden apple to her; the
+sheep began to bleat, the shepherds were bowing, and the three kings
+swung their burning censers and walked toward her over the shining
+surface of the linen press. She even heard them call her by name and
+speak to her.
+
+The old lady woke with a start, but the voices seemed to call to her
+faintly, as if from a great distance. She looked about her, but saw no
+one. The same faint sound of voices was still to be heard, and, now,
+right under the tree, she perceived a tiny little man in a red coat,
+just as if one of the three kings had really come from the altar and
+wakened her. Not one whit surprised, she bent toward him. It seemed to
+her that she had always known him.
+
+The little man scrambled up to the edge of the old book which still lay
+upon the press, bowed, stroked his black beard, and spoke: "Honored
+lady, my people send me to ask of you, in the name of our king, a favor.
+A prince has been born to us and we should like to celebrate his
+christening here before this little altar, which is most precious to us.
+Our kingdom lies in the corridors under the old castle and extends to
+the well by the little chapel, and even to your hut. Our forefathers
+were true servants of your ancestors, the knights of the castle, and
+guarded for them their treasure. In this little altar are pictured the
+faces of our former kings."
+
+The old lady was pleased that the gnomes wished thus to honor her
+little altar and readily gave her consent, that they might come to it in
+order to celebrate the christening of their prince. The messenger bowed
+and, running quickly down her dress to the floor, disappeared through a
+little hole by the hearth. Immediately, from behind the great hearth,
+came the most wonderful procession she had ever seen.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+First, came the pipers and the band of musicians, playing on strange,
+curved trumpets and beating drums that sounded like the hum of many
+flying insects. Behind them walked the old king and the young queen in
+long robes of spotted butterfly wings and wearing golden crowns that
+glistened with precious stones; then the nurse, bearing a little baby
+upon a cushion of silver cobweb, tied with a hair of gold. Following
+them were many dignitaries in gorgeous cloaks and, last of all, came men
+and women of the people, hurrying across the floor like little insects,
+for they were hardly any larger.
+
+When the procession of tiny folk reached the old lady's shoe, they
+fearlessly climbed up her skirt to her lap and on across her arms which
+rested on the press. She laughed to see the great crowd walk over her
+and was careful not to move--indeed, she hardly breathed--lest she might
+hurt one of them.
+
+When all had gathered around the tree, one old man took the little
+prince in his arms and, as the others knelt before him, he made them a
+long speech. The old lady could not understand it at all, for it sounded
+to her like a fly buzzing on the window pane; but, when the old man had
+finished, all shouted together: "Long live our prince, Tom! May he reign
+happily!"
+
+The girls began to dance around the tree and all the little people
+jumped and laughed and shouted with merriment. The king and the queen,
+followed by the nurse with the little prince, stepped upon the old book,
+which made a good platform, and thanked the herb woman for her kindness.
+The king then begged her to be a kind godmother to the prince and to
+continue to be a good friend to his people, just as her ancestors had
+been. The old lady promised this with pleasure, for she felt a great
+love for the little folk who brought back so vividly the days when her
+people were rich and famous.
+
+The queen started to take the wrappings from the tiny baby, which were
+bound round and round about him, and the herb woman and the old king
+talked of the golden days gone by. The king told her the tales he had
+from his forefathers, of the brilliant life in the great castle; how the
+gnomes nestled in the soft tapestries by the great marble hearths; how
+they cleaned and polished the gold and precious stones in the
+underground chambers; how, on clear moonlight nights, they danced
+graceful figures with the fairies; and how, with grasshoppers as horses,
+they held noisy tournaments.
+
+Whenever there was a newborn baby in the castle, the gnomes, in the
+night, wove beautiful dreams which they spread out in the rays of the
+moon under the canopy of the mother's bed and guarded the baby in its
+silver cradle.
+
+The old lady listened happily, gazing at the gathering of the gnomes,
+lighted by the trembling rays of the candles, now almost burned out.
+Many of the young men had clambered into the branches of the tree and
+were swinging in the paper chains and sitting astride the golden nuts
+and red apples. Little girls were sliding back and forth on the slippery
+surface of the press, while serious old men and grayhaired women walked
+sedately in groups around the base of the tree. There were so many of
+the little people that they could not be counted.
+
+The herb woman looked at the swiftly moving, variegated crowd until her
+eyelids drooped. She was already half asleep when the old king came to
+bid her good-by and, as in a dream, she heard him say: "Honored lady,
+for centuries your race protected us and, today, we would like to reward
+you. The great treasures of your family long ago disappeared, but, in
+the old, choked-up well, there still remains much gold. This we have
+carefully guarded from generation to generation and kept in clean and
+good order. In the well casing, in the fifth circle of stones from the
+top, you will find one engraved with a horseshoe. Behind this stone, you
+will find the money which your forefathers hid there; but be careful to
+replace the stone and not to disturb our underground realm."
+
+When the old woman awoke, all was quiet and dark in the room. The
+candles on the tree had quite burned out, the cuckoo in the clock called
+twelve, and from the village, came the sound of bells, ringing the glad
+tidings of Christmas Day. Across the brook, she could see the lanterns
+flickering in the village square and the people gathering for church.
+But she did not feel strong enough to go to the midnight service. Then
+she thought, with a smile, of what she had seen on Christmas Eve, but
+she said to herself with a sigh, "It was only a dream", and took herself
+off to bed.
+
+In the morning she milked Speckle and, as she drank the good, warm milk,
+she laughed to herself over her dream. But it would not leave her mind
+and, presently, she went to the hearth to see whence the procession of
+gnomes had come. She found nothing but a hole in the floor, large enough
+for a cat to pass through; but she thought to herself, "Why should I not
+go to the well by the chapel?"
+
+Over her shoulders she threw a warm sheepskin coat, with the wool inside
+and flowers embroidered on the outside, such as the country people wear,
+and, taking a hoe and a lantern, went to the chapel.
+
+There had been a keen frost and the fields were covered with snow, which
+sparkled in the sun. The snow was also away up to the eaves of the
+chapel, while from the blackberry stalks over the well, hung transparent
+icicles. The herb woman pushed aside the bushes and, crawling into the
+well, dug away the rubbish until she had uncovered the fifth circle of
+stones with which the well was lined.
+
+She laughed at herself to think that she should believe in dreams; but
+her heart was beating rapidly as she lighted her lantern and, digging
+away the gravel, looked at one stone after the other. "When I do not
+find the stone with the horseshoe," she thought, "I will be convinced
+that it was only a dream." But as she touched the damp moss on one
+stone, she felt a little depression and, when she had cleaned it, there
+was the horseshoe.
+
+The stone was large and heavy and her hands trembled as she set her hoe
+into the fissure; but lo! the stone was not cemented like the rest and
+was easily loosened. When she had pulled it out, from behind the stone,
+came shining gold pieces, as bright and clean as if they had been minted
+only the day before. Off came her apron, in which she tied up the money;
+but the bundle was so heavy that she could hardly lift it.
+
+She would have liked to look still further into the realm of the gnomes,
+for behind the stone was a hole running deep into the ground; but she
+thought of the old king's request and, setting the stone in its place,
+hurried back home with her treasure.
+
+Now, she was rid of all worry as to how she should keep herself when
+she should grow very old. In her heart, she thanked the little gnomes
+for their care of her and decided to remain in her little hut as long as
+she lived.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+CHAPTER TWO.
+
+HOW LITTLE TOM WAS FOUND BY HIS GODMOTHER.
+
+  THE SPRING. THE FLOOD.
+  HOW THE GODMOTHER FOUND LITTLE TOM
+  IN A NUTSHELL.
+  HOW LITTLE TOM TOOK UP HIS ABODE ON CASTLE
+  EASTER EGG.
+  HOW THE GODMOTHER BROUGHT LITTLE TOM
+  HIS OUTFIT.
+  WHAT LITTLE TOM TOLD HIS GODMOTHER
+  ABOUT THE REALM OF GOBLINS.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+The winter was cruelly cold. Snow covered the paths and drifted high
+against the little hut. With difficulty the herb woman made paths to the
+stable and to the brook.
+
+In the night, when she could not sleep, she listened to every slight
+sound, in the hope that her little friends would appear again. But
+nothing ever happened; it was only the hoot of an owl outside, or the
+squeak of a mouse. The gnomes never came forth again from their
+underground realm.
+
+So, in the day time she read and sewed, pondering how she could go to
+the nearest town to change her money and buy many little things for her
+comfort and for the improvement of the little hut. Her gold pieces she
+had hidden well behind a green tile on the hearth.
+
+Finally, the snow began to melt, the sun became warmer, the fields lost
+their coat of white, the meadows became green, and spring had come. When
+Easter arrived, she had already planted her garden and stripped the
+roses of their winter coverings. The snow drops and gillyflowers were
+blossoming by the brook; the cowslips were poking their yellow caps out
+of their beds, and over the fields the larks sang joyously.
+
+The herb woman placed her treasure in a covered basket, shut the hens in
+their coops, put fresh grass in Speckle's manger, let the dog, Rover,
+into the yard, locked the door of the little hut and went on her way to
+town. She walked lightly, as if she had grown younger during the winter
+and did not at all mind the long journey.
+
+In town she was surprised at what she received for her gold; if she
+should live a hundred years, she could not use all her money. So it was
+placed in a bank for safe keeping and the people treated her with great
+respect. They knew that she had come from a good family, but as she had
+lived so modestly, no one knew how wealthy she was.
+
+When she had made her purchases and finished her business, she wished to
+rest awhile in town, but word had come that the heavy rain in the
+mountains had caused the snow to melt and the water to rush down in
+torrents. She knew very well how bad the brook became when it was
+swollen and she worried lest the hut might be carried away and something
+happen to Speckle. So she hurried home and, on the way, she saw the
+swollen brook stretched out over the meadows like a lake.
+
+When she reached the village, it was dark, and already the people were
+beginning to light up their houses. Many of the little foot bridges had
+been swept away, the water reached nearly to the village square and she
+found it impossible to cross the stream. The torrent raged and stormed,
+bearing along branches, small trees and cakes of ice.
+
+In vain the old lady peered across the bank to the farther shore in the
+attempt to see if her little hut was still standing; but the darkness
+was so thick that you could cut it with a knife. There was nothing left
+for her to do but to ask the good villagers for shelter over night.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The next day, when the sun shone out, the torrent had subsided and the
+brook was running between its banks in a steady stream. The hut was
+still standing, but the bank was undermined and the little bridge
+carried away. So the widow had herself taken across in a boat and, in
+great anxiety, hurried to the hut to see what changes had been wrought.
+The garden was covered with mud and on the meadow were little pools of
+glistening water. Out of the yard bounded Rover barking heartily and,
+from her stall, Speckle mooed a welcome. The hens came hurrying out of
+their coop, flapping their wings and cackling, and straightway began to
+scratch in the ground in search of little worms. Inside the hut, the
+hall was wet through and in the best room stood little pools of water.
+
+The herb woman took her broom and swept out some of the water and with
+a cloth mopped up the little pools. Near the hearth the water was quite
+deep and swirling around and running away through the hole behind. On
+the water swam a tiny barge formed from a hazel nut, and in this boat
+was a very small lad indeed, rowing with his oars of straw and working
+with all his might, so that the whirlpool should not carry him back into
+the hole.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The widow lifted up the shell very carefully and placed it on the palm
+of her hand. The tiny lad, letting go his oars, clasped his hands and
+said, "Dear Godmother, I thank you very much for saving me. I am Little
+Tom, but am so very tired that I can hardly sit up." But his weariness
+came only from his efforts to keep himself from being swept back into
+the hole.
+
+His Godmother placed the little fellow gingerly on the table and next to
+him she put a drop of milk and beside it a crumb of bread. Little Tom
+gulped the milk eagerly and ate nearly the whole crumb. When she placed
+near him a tiny bit of cloth for a pillow, Tom lay down and fell asleep.
+
+She watched the little fellow tenderly as he lay there so quietly and
+all worn out with his hard work. He was now a fullgrown lad, finely
+built and with black hair. His little hands he had clasped across his
+breast. She felt very badly to think of his sufferings through the night
+in that terrible flood and she wondered what might have happened to the
+underground realm of the gnomes.
+
+While he was sleeping, she started to work. She scrubbed the floor very
+clean, then sifted dry sand all over it; cleaned up the garden, and then
+put some soup to cook over the fire in the kitchen. When she returned to
+the big room, Little Tom was sitting up, rubbing his blue eyes with his
+little fists and calling for his mother. As he looked around, he
+recognized his Godmother and began to cry bitterly. The old lady tried
+to soothe him, begging him not to cry and to tell her all that had
+happened. But, for a long time, he could not be quieted. When he had
+cried himself out, he told her what misfortunes had come upon the
+underground realm.
+
+All the gnomes were quietly sleeping, utterly unconscious of any danger,
+when, all of a sudden, great waters came from under the well, flooded
+the entire town, tore down the walls and rose to the upper floors. His
+mother woke Little Tom and ran with him to the upper corridor, through
+which was already running the stream which was their main river.
+
+On this stream stood the great navy of the gnomes, made from walnut
+shells. The entire court entered the ships and started rowing to the
+east from the underground country; but the stream continued to rise and
+the over-crowded ships began to rock, until they sank one after the
+other and all the gnomes were lost. Little Tom knew how to swim very
+well but he would surely have been drowned, if he had not caught hold of
+a hazel-nut boat. This was taken up by a little current and swept
+through the hole by the hearth into the Godmother's large room.
+
+Instantly, Little Tom knew where he was, for his parents had often told
+him of his christening and how kind the Godmother was to them all; so he
+continued to row with all his might, hoping that his Godmother would
+return in time to save him.
+
+She was surprised to find him grown up, for at Christmas time, he was
+only a tiny baby, wrapped up in his cushions. Little Tom explained, that
+with the gnomes each week is counted as a year, so that he was now
+fifteen years old. Before that age, no prince may ever leave the
+underground realm, but must be studying and learning and, after that, he
+may only go into the outside world for experience. They were just
+preparing to celebrate his coming of age at his Godmother's and to send
+him on his journey into the world, when the great flood came and
+destroyed the whole kingdom. Little Tom was the only one of them to be
+saved, and that seemed to be through a miracle.
+
+The Godmother did not wish to remind him of his misfortunes, so she told
+him that she would take good care of him and that he would find it very
+pleasant in her hut; but she was worried how she should find a suitable
+place for him to sleep, and how she should clothe him and provide the
+things necessary for his comfort.
+
+She placed him on the top of the linen press and opened the altar for
+him; and when he saw the faces of the little figures, Tom became very
+cheerful, saying that the lady with the Child on her lap was very much
+like his mother. While Little Tom was looking at the kings, the
+shepherds and the manger, his Godmother found a nice, large Easter egg
+that was all hollow and gaily painted in red and yellow. With a pin she
+pricked out a door on one side, and on the other, two windows; then she
+set the egg firmly in the earth, under the tree and told him this would
+be his home and that he should carry some earth inside, and stamp it
+into a hard, level floor. She wanted to give him something to keep him
+busy, so that he would not think of the misfortunes that had befallen
+him.
+
+Little Tom crawled inside and admired the great hall, beautifully arched
+from the finest alabaster, standing under the wonderful tree with its
+golden fruit. He asked his Godmother to set him in the branches, so that
+he might look at the golden nuts and taste of the figs and dates. He was
+happy to think that this magic tree from the outside world would shelter
+him for many, many years.
+
+Then he climbed down the trunk, lowering himself by the little spines as
+if they were the rounds of a ladder. He decided to build a wall all
+around Castle Easter Egg and to lay out a garden under the tree.
+
+The herb woman left him busily working and, taking her hoe, went to the
+well by the chapel to learn how the kingdom of the gnomes had fared. She
+took out the stone engraved with the horseshoe and dug behind in until
+she saw a little corridor, in which was a confusion of stones, mud and
+water. Everything was torn down and ruined and of the gnomes, she heard
+not a sound. She felt very sad to think they all had perished and she
+started to cover the hole and replace the stone. But when she took it
+up, she was surprised to find how light it seemed. Examining it more
+carefully, she noticed at the back a tiny, polished metal door. Upon
+pressing this with her finger, it opened and she saw that the inside of
+the stone was entirely hollowed out and filled with many little
+particles.
+
+It occurred to her that, perhaps after all, some possessions of the
+gnomes remained that might prove useful to Tom; so she put the stone on
+her shoulder and taking care that nothing should fall out, carried it
+home.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+When she came into the big room, she found that Tom had already made the
+floor inside his castle and was now engaged in building a wall around it
+out of shining, little pebbles. The Godmother laid a cloth on the top of
+the press and placed the stone on the cloth.
+
+"Little Tom," she said, "I have brought you something for remembrance.
+Your kingdom is all gone; but do not be sorry, for you will stay with me
+and we will live happily together. Now, perhaps you will find something
+in this stone that will be useful to you."
+
+Tom crawled sadly into the stone, but, at once, shouted with pleasure.
+"Dear Godmother," he called, "this is our royal treasury and it contains
+furniture, clothes, linen, arms and dishes; all sorts of things. Now, I
+have everything I need and you will see how nicely I will arrange my new
+home."
+
+At once, he began to carry out of the stone the rich stores he found
+there. His Godmother placed a tiny piece of cloth by the stone and when
+Tom had piled it high with cupboards, tables and chairs, she raised it
+very carefully and placed it under the tree. In spite of all her care,
+it happened that she broke the leg of a chair and knocked off a corner
+of cupboard. She was very sorry, but Tom soothed her by saying that he
+would repair everything. When he began to bring out the dishes, painted
+porcelain left by his grandmother, cups, saucers and pitchers, old
+silver pieces and other treasures, he was very fearful that she might
+break these, too. To her, they seemed like tiny bits of glistening sand;
+but she made him a little wooden staircase that she set against the tree
+box, and up and down this he climbed, carrying his treasures to his
+castle. He worked so hard all day that by night he was completely tired
+out.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+In the meantime, the Godmother had gone about her own work; but when, in
+the evening, she came back into the room she found that the stone had
+been cleaned out. In the door of Castle Easter Egg hung a flowered
+carpet for a curtain and at the windows were little shades. Inside, the
+furniture had all been set in order, but, outside, there still remained
+piles of the precious stores. She was sorry she could not see inside
+very well to look at Tom's housekeeping, and was afraid to touch the egg
+lest his castle should go to pieces.
+
+In the morning, he was early awake and went carefully over his garden,
+measuring out the paths and deciding where he would have lawns, and
+where he would start a forest of moss. Then he made a store room for his
+surplus supplies, dug a well and completed the wall around the castle.
+
+His Godmother helped him as best she could, cutting tiny pieces of wood
+and cloth for his use. The well they made from an old thimble. She left
+him busy at work, noting how diligent and orderly he was and how well he
+had been educated; for he seemed to understand everything that needed to
+be done. She was pleased that he had so much to keep him busy, that he
+would have no time for bitter reflections.
+
+During the day, each went about his or her own work; but in the evening
+they sat together, the Godmother at the table eating her thick soup and
+potatoes. Upon the table Tom had his own little table and chair opposite
+her. For his supper, he had a baked grain of wheat, a hash of sunflower
+seed, or two or three grains of millet fried in butter. He always ate
+with delicacy. His food tasted good to him and after it was eaten, he
+drank some milk.
+
+When they had cleared away the things they talked together. The
+Godmother wished to know how the gnomes lived in their underground
+kingdom and Tom told her all that he could. What they did outside in the
+fields, he did not know, for he had been obliged to remain at home and
+study in the schools; but he described very well all that happened in
+the underground town which had bustled with people. He had seen long
+lines of them bringing home food, riding on grasshoppers, making traps
+for flies and butterflies, bringing in the captured tree insects and the
+spotted bugs which were kept in roomy stalls.
+
+For himself, he had a fine grasshopper, which carried him along the
+corridors lighted by torches from dried wood which gave out soft blue
+flames. He told how his father and mother used to play with him and
+about his little friend Chrysomela, a sweet little girl who had been
+educated with him. Together, they used to run and play and watch the
+gnomes digging in the mountains or go for a row on the underground
+river. Then he spoke of the frequent visits of foreign guests, gold
+beetles, and spotted wood bugs who came in stately processions and
+brought fine messages of greeting and beautiful presents. He told
+especially of a visit, just before the flood, made by many black ants
+whom the gnomes feasted and welcomed with great honor. His father, the
+king, presented them to him, telling him how diligent and orderly they
+were and what good friends they were to him. He promised Tom that when
+he should grow up he would send him to them for their teaching, so that
+he might learn how to rule over the kingdom.
+
+Tom would often speak of these things he remembered, but, at the end, he
+would always become sad, when he thought how all his kingdom had been
+destroyed and everything had disappeared, and that he would never again
+see his loved ones.
+
+The Godmother listened to his stories with great pleasure, but she
+realized that Tom must have some occupation that would keep him busy and
+not only prevent him from thinking too much of the past, but also
+prepare him for the life he was to lead in the future.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+CHAPTER THREE.
+
+LITTLE TOM'S TRIP
+AROUND THE WORLD.
+
+  LITTLE TOM'S HOUSEHOLD.
+  LITTLE TOM WRITES A DIARY.
+  HE LEARNS TO READ THE BOOKS OF MEN.
+  HOW LITTLE TOM READ WITH HIS FEET AND HOW HE
+  TURNED THE LEAVES.
+  LITTLE TOM LEARNS GEOGRAPHY AND WANTS TO
+  MAKE A TRIP ROUND THE WORLD.
+  WHAT HE WROTE IN HIS DIARY ABOUT THIS TRIP.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Little Tom had his day well planned. He rose early and, as his Godmother
+placed every night on his castle grounds an earthern-ware plate full of
+fresh water he would jump into it the first thing and swim all around in
+it. When he had finished his bath he would take his breakfast in the
+garden.
+
+Under the tree was his store of provisions: A hazel nut with an end cut
+off so that he could take out little bits from time to time, lasting him
+a whole month; a beechnut; sunflower seeds; a piece of sugar; and a
+wonderful apple, into which he cut a narrow passage so that it would not
+dry up from the outside.
+
+When he had breakfasted he would sweep the carpet in his room, clean his
+clothes and shoes, exercise with his weapons so that he would not forget
+the arts of defence he had learned at his home, and then go into the
+garden to plant and weed. Sometimes, he hunted for the ugly worms that
+dug great ditches in the vegetable beds.
+
+When the Godmother rose she would come to say good morning to Tom, look
+at his work, praise and advise him. When she saw it was necessary to
+water the tree, she would tell Tom to take away his tools and would then
+pour water over the tree from a fine sprinkler. Tom loved to run about
+in this rain and was happy to think that he could so bravely bear the
+heavy shower.
+
+After she had gone away, he would write in his diary, describing
+everything he had been doing, as well as all those things he could
+remember from his former kingdom, so that nothing should be forgotten.
+For this purpose, he had a beautiful, smooth parchment, tanned from the
+skins of white tree bugs, sharp pens, made from the bills of gnats, and
+fine writing sand from the powder of butterflies' wings. He only lacked
+ink, but he found a way to get that. On the tree, he discovered the
+smoky wicks from the candles; mixing the soot with water he made himself
+some excellent ink; but in doing this, he became so black that when his
+Godmother saw him she feared that he had turned into a negro.
+
+He took his dinner alone, but always looked forward to the evening meal
+when he could sit down and talk with his Godmother.
+
+Thus the days passed happily. He worked about his castle and in the
+garden and was kept busy with his housekeeping. Every day he was
+becoming more manly and strong and, as he grew up, he thought more and
+more of his past, of his birth and what he would have accomplished had
+he become a king and ruled over his underground realm.
+
+One evening, when they were sitting together and Little Tom was speaking
+of all the things in the world he would like to do, his Godmother said,
+"Dear Little Tom, before you can do great things in the world, it is
+necessary that you should learn how to read and write as large people
+do, so that you can know what they are doing".
+
+But Tom answered, "I know how to read and write very well, Godmother. I
+will show you what I have written." And when, at his request, she placed
+him on the press, he ran into the castle and brought out a whole armful
+of parchments; but it seemed to her that they were only a lot of tiny
+petals from cherry blossoms.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+When he had thrown the parchments into her lap she put on her spectacles
+and took one of the little sheets in her palm; but she could make
+nothing out of it at all.
+
+Tom offered to read some of it to her and taking up the sheet, read it
+with much expression. In spite of this, the Godmother shook her head.
+"You read very nicely what you yourself have written," she said, "but
+you must learn human letters as well, so that you can read and study our
+books."
+
+Therefore, she brought her book to the table, and reached for Little Tom
+to place him upon it, but he was nowhere to be seen. She looked all
+about and finally spied him clinging desperately to the table cloth. The
+wind caused by turning the leaves had blown him over to the very edge of
+the table and he had barely saved himself. He was calling for help when
+his Godmother rescued him from his perilous position. So it nearly
+happened that, at the very outset, a misfortune might have prevented the
+reading altogether; but, as soon as he had recovered from his fright,
+Tom offered at once to begin.
+
+He crawled quickly up the golden edge of the book and surveyed the
+broad white plain covered in every direction, with curving black lines.
+He ran at once to the upper left hand corner, stepping gingerly on the
+first large letter. After he had walked all over it, he stopped and
+declared confidently that it was a capital "O". In like manner he went
+on to "N" and "C" and "E" and a little further, until he had no longer
+to run completely over a letter but could place himself in the middle
+and looking all about him could tell at once what it was. One after the
+other he spelled and his Godmother was surprised to see how quickly the
+reading progressed.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+It was only when he came to the end of the page that he found
+difficulty, for then he had to crawl down while she turned the page
+over; but he thought of a way to get around this. When he had reached
+the end of the next page he procured one of his long spears and crawling
+a little way down the sloping edge of the opened book, thrust his spear
+between the leaves and raised the sheet high enough to crawl under it.
+Then, on his hands and knees, he worked his way to the middle of the
+book and exerting all his strength, he was able to turn the page over.
+
+In a short time, he learned to read so rapidly that he could run swiftly
+along the lines and in this way could cover five or six pages in a day.
+He liked especially to linger by the pictures, looking at the little
+knights gazing from the battlements of the castle, or the beautiful
+ladies spinning or embroidering in great rooms; for it seemed to him
+that these were pictures of his former life and reminded him of his lost
+realm. But, after a moment, he would diligently continue his reading.
+
+He was very curious to discover what real people know, so that he also
+might learn; but it seemed to him that he would never be able to read
+fast enough, and so he began to ask his Godmother to teach him from her
+own knowledge. She soon perceived that in some things, like mathematics
+and physics, he was much better educated than herself; but of other
+subjects, such as history and geography, he knew nothing at all.
+
+So she told him how the earth was shaped and about the sun, moon and
+stars. She explained how the sun rose in the East and then there was
+day; and after it had crossed the sky and set in the West, then night
+came. She told him that in the Far North there is perpetual snow on
+great, white plains, so broad that you can not see across them; and in
+the South great deserts of sand, without water, where lions and tigers
+roam and it is so hot that the people become black like the king in the
+altar. Between all the countries stretch seas of salt water, which are
+filled with strange monsters and across which travel large ships.
+
+Little Tom listened breathlessly, and then was eager to learn how people
+came to know all these things. His Godmother told him that there were
+famous travelers who went all over the earth, experiencing many dangers,
+and then came home to describe what they had seen.
+
+That night, Little Tom in his excitement could not sleep for a long,
+long while and, finally, when he began to doze, he dreamed that he was
+walking through the snow, climbing the mountains that reached to the sky
+and crossing the primeval forests. Then he wandered in deserts and swam
+the sea in the midst of fierce sharks.
+
+Next day, he was all the time thinking of the great wonders of the
+world, and his work was not so pleasing to him. He could hardly wait for
+the evening to come so that he might learn more from his Godmother. When
+she had told him other things that she knew, he asked her where was the
+end of the earth. She explained that the world was round and that, if
+any one walked on and on, he would come to the place whence he had
+started.
+
+Little Tom became quite confused, for with his growing mind he could not
+understand how the world could be so great, or how it could be round!
+Neither did he know what it meant to travel. There was only one thing
+that he remembered and that was, if he started in one direction and kept
+on going, in the end he would come back home. His heart was very brave
+and he was not afraid of danger. He wanted very much to gain experience
+and do heroic deeds, even if he did not know where he was going.
+
+So he decided that he would become a great traveler and go round the
+world. He made careful preparations for the trip. In secret, he filled a
+bundle with nourishing food, which he put on his back and hung a bottle
+of water from his neck. On his feet he put heavy shoes, made from strong
+caterpillar leather, belted his sword around his waist and, as soon as
+his Godmother had left in the morning, started on his journey round the
+world.
+
+He looked forward to his Godmother's surprise on his return, when he
+would tell her all that had happened to him and thereby gain great fame.
+
+He walked down from the box that held his castle and crossed the press
+straight to his Godmother's bed. He judged that the window through which
+the light was streaming, was in the East and that, therefore, he was
+going directly to the North.
+
+When the Godmother returned to her room in the evening she was greatly
+surprised that Little Tom was not there to welcome her. She called and
+looked for him everywhere, but could not find him. She feared that he
+had crawled to some place where he had fallen down and died miserably.
+She swept the floor most carefully, but in vain. Sadly, she went to the
+hearth to get some wood to replenish the fire, for it was a cold Spring
+day. As she took out some pieces, there she found Tom asleep with a tiny
+bundle upon his back. He was sleeping so soundly, that he did not stir
+when she called to him, so she took him up carefully and placed him
+under the tree on her handkerchief. She feared that something had
+happened to him. Many times during the night she got up to look at him,
+but Little Tom slept quietly until the morning.
+
+When he finally awoke, he did not at first know where he was. When he
+remembered, he avoided telling his Godmother where he had been the day
+before; but he begged her forgiveness and promised that he would never
+again crawl down from the linen press. She did not insist on an
+explanation, for she thought that he had been curious and had run around
+the room and thus become lost. When she went away, he started diligently
+to write in his diary. This was what he wrote:
+
+
+                                                  _Castle Easter Egg,
+                                           The 114th day of my life._
+
+
+When I was one hundred and twelve days old, believing it to be the duty
+of a man to accomplish great deeds, I decided that I would be a traveler
+and go round the earth--Godmother having told me that it is round--so
+that I could see for myself the wonders she has described. I made my
+preparations in secret. In the morning, when Godmother had gone away, I
+started for the hills on the northern horizon, stretching across the
+plain on which my castle stands.
+
+I expected that beyond those northern hills would lie the snowy plains
+about which she told me; and that, if I kept straight on, I should reach
+the deserts of the hot, tropical country and, beyond them, by crossing
+the forests, I should come to the great ocean. I had planned, if I could
+find a boat by the ocean, to cross to the other side and, by traveling
+over the countries there, finally return home.
+
+Godmother had said that the sun, during the day and the night, goes from
+the East to the West and clear around the earth until it comes back
+again to the East. I judged that if I should hurry my journey, it would
+not take any longer than the sun, so I made up my mind to go from the
+North to the South.
+
+The hills stretch clear across the plain which is sloping and smooth. At
+first, I could not find a suitable place to climb; but, finally, coming
+to the end of the plain before a steep precipice, I saw a little fissure
+by which I might ascend to the very top. With great difficulty I managed
+to make my way by this fissure until I came to the summit, where I could
+look over and, as I had expected, I saw before me a vast, white plain
+stretching out to infinity.
+
+With great care I crawled upon it at the place where it touches the
+hills and, stepping on it, I found that it was elastic and yielding,
+like the snow Godmother described. One can really walk on it with ease
+and I was surprised to find, moreover, that one can so easily overcome
+the difficulties of those desolate countries. Also I did not feel any
+cold.
+
+After a time, I came to a place where the white plain began to slope
+downwards, until it formed, in front of another hill that appeared in
+the distance, a dark and very deep chasm. I made my way at good speed
+into this chasm and was already looking forward to the time when I
+should come out of this inhospitable place, when, all of a sudden, the
+ground began to slip from under my feet. In vain I tried to hold myself
+with my hands. Faster and faster I fell, until, head first, I plunged
+against the wall of the precipice, where I lay unconscious.
+
+When I came to myself, I found that I was on another broad plain; but,
+instead of snow, this one was very rough and covered with coarse sand.
+My arms and legs pained me from my fall, so I rested while I refreshed
+myself with some food from my bundle and drank a little water from my
+bottle. Then I started farther on my way. After this, I proceeded with
+great caution. As I did not in the least doubt that I was now on the
+dangerous desert of Sahara, which is filled with tigers and lions, I
+took care that I should not be pounced upon unawares.
+
+But nothing living appeared; only before me stretched the rocky,
+limitless desert. I hoped that I should come to some oasis where I might
+find palms and a stream of fresh water, but was disappointed. Finally, I
+saw before me a mountain that rose so far into the sky that I could not
+even discern its top. As I came nearer, I perceived that it was warm, so
+I concluded that I had now come to the tropical country and that behind
+this great mountain, lay the deep forests and the ocean of which
+Godmother had told me.
+
+I began to climb the steep side of the mountain, which grew warmer all
+the time, so that my hands were nearly blistered. From the mountain
+itself, there seemed to come forth a great heat, so that I was fearful
+that I had come upon a volcano and that I might fall into the crater. I
+wanted to go back, but my head became dizzy when I looked over the
+narrow ledge on which I stood, into the deep chasm I had left behind me.
+I rested awhile; then, after a drink from my water bottle, I crawled
+down at the risk of my life.
+
+Reaching the level, I decided to walk around the mountain to see if I
+could discover some valley. At this point, I would have preferred
+returning to my home, but did not know how I should climb up the steep
+slope of the snow plain down which I had fallen.
+
+I followed along the foot of the mountain until I came to a vast forest
+which, from under its cliffs, stretched a long distance away. I hoped
+when I should reach the other side that I should come to the ocean. In
+the forest were only bare trunks of trees fallen in every direction and
+many turned up by the roots. Perhaps a great earthquake had destroyed it
+and the heat from the mountain had dried up the trees.
+
+With difficulty, I made my way into the tangle. It soon became darker
+and with the trunks piled high one on top of another, it seemed to me
+that there would be no end to it. On and on I went, hoping each moment
+to see a glimmer of light, when suddenly I ran into a steep, rough wall,
+but it was unlike anything my Godmother had told me about. On both
+sides, to the left and right I went, trying to find a way out; but there
+was not even a hole. Only, on each side was another wall like the one I
+had run into, and so I found myself in a great cave which, perhaps, in
+olden times had been caused by an earthquake and now by way of the
+forest led into the heart of the mountain.
+
+I became frightened and lonely, lost in this desolate place, and feared
+that I might never again come out into God's world. However, I did not
+want to give up without making another effort, so I turned around and
+started back through the forest by the way that I had come, dragging
+myself wearily over the tangled trunks. Many times I stumbled and fell,
+until, finally, weariness overcame me and I sank down in the wood too
+worn out to go further. Before I fell asleep, in my thoughts I said good
+bye to my dear Godmother, fearing that I might never wake up again.
+
+In my dreams, it seemed as if the whole forest was shaken violently and
+that I was lifted bodily and carried to great heights; but I could not
+call out or even open my eyes.
+
+When I finally awoke, I found myself lying on the carpet in front of my
+castle in broad daylight. I was uncertain whether I had simply dreamed
+all about my journey; but, when Godmother came, she asked me with much
+concern where I had been and how I had come to be among the great
+faggots by the hearth.
+
+I did not understand at all what she meant, but at least my journey was
+not a dream and I knew that I had escaped a great danger. I did not want
+to tell whither I had been wandering and, moreover, I was sorry that my
+courageous efforts had been without success. It seems to me that, for
+the present, the journey around the world is too great for my strength
+and that I should wait until I am better prepared and know fully about
+the direction and the dangers I shall be apt to meet.
+
+Last evening, I read my diary to Godmother, so that she might tell me
+the mistakes I had made and how I can better prepare for my next
+journey. While I read, she laughed until the tears ran down her cheeks.
+I was sorry that she made so light of my efforts and that the dangers I
+had encountered seemed so laughable to her, but she endeavored to soothe
+me by saying that she was the one who had made the mistakes and had
+instructed me badly.
+
+She told me that the journey was over her great feather bed, across the
+floor to the hearth, and into the niche where the faggots for the fire
+lay. I had no idea that the lodging of human beings is so vast and
+imagine that the earth itself must be a great deal larger and that I
+shall have to give up my idea. Godmother also advises me to give it up
+until I shall be more experienced. In the meantime, she will tell me
+stories of the great heroes, their adventures and the wonderful deeds
+they accomplished.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+CHAPTER FOUR.
+
+LITTLE TOM IN THE ENCHANTED CASTLE.
+
+  THE GODMOTHER TELLS LITTLE TOM STORIES.
+  LITTLE TOM FINDS HIMSELF IN A CLOCK WITH
+  A CUCKOO AND THINKS HE IS IN AN ENCHANTED
+  CASTLE.
+  WHAT ADVENTURES HE HAD IN THE CLOCK.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The Godmother was very sorry that she had told Little Tom so many things
+he had not understood. She realized that it would be impossible to tell
+him all about the world until he had seen it for himself; so, taking him
+in her hand, she carried him from the bed to the hearth, from there to
+the cupboard, then to the door and the window. Everything she showed him
+she called by name and explained the uses of the different things so
+that he might understand and, another time, not lose his way.
+
+Then she placed him on the floor and Tom, looking around, measured the
+distances with his eye, so that he would know how far he would have to
+travel to each object. He crawled around the corners, examined the feet
+of the furniture and remembered all the things she told him could be
+moved, like the chairs, the poker and the foot-stool, so that he could
+make no mistakes as to his whereabouts in case he could not find one of
+the household articles in its place. Very soon he learned to know the
+whole room as well as his own dwelling, and the Godmother, when she left
+him in the morning, found she could put him on the floor without fear
+and permit him to run where he pleased and to examine everything; but
+she was afraid to take him outside the hut lest something should injure
+him or he should get lost.
+
+Little Tom was quite satisfied, for his explorations kept him busy.
+Every evening, he told his Godmother all the things he had found under
+the cupboard and the linen press and around the hearth, and she was
+surprised to learn how her room appeared when looked at from the floor.
+
+Then she told him more stories and became as interested herself in the
+fairy tales as when she first heard them as a child. Often they sat thus
+together even into the night. Little Tom could not hear enough of the
+sweet princesses taken away by the wizards into deep caverns; the brave
+heroes fighting the dragons and the witches; the glass castles which
+revolved on the nightmare's foot; the valiant tailor who fought with the
+giants; the clever shoemaker who had a magic sack; and of how the strong
+blacksmith cheated the devil and death.
+
+But, best of all, he liked the story of the enchanted castle, suspended
+high above the earth. This castle seemed deserted, but whoever could
+sleep there three nights, and, without saying a word, let himself be
+tormented and tortured by the wicked spirits, would set free a beautiful
+princess who had been enchanted by a witch. And so, one day, a brave lad
+hid himself in the bucket which was lowered each morning to the earth
+and let himself be pulled up to the castle, where he stayed three
+nights. Every night he heard terrible noises; the spirits came and
+pounded him, pinched him and squeezed him; but he valiantly stood the
+torture and never spoke, screamed or cried out with pain. After the
+third night, an enormous griffin flew in the window, bearing on his back
+the beautiful princess who had been freed. The brave lad also climbed on
+his back and the griffin flew with them down to the earth. There he
+married the princess and they lived happily together ever afterwards in
+their kingdom.
+
+Little Tom liked the manly courage of this hero. He seemed braver than
+all the other knights, for he knew how to suffer and bear torture and to
+sacrifice himself for the poor princess. Tom thought that such sacrifice
+was more beautiful than all the heroic deeds. He wished that he could
+have such an adventure and give himself to torture, so that he might
+free a princess.
+
+One morning, before going to the field, the Godmother placed Tom on the
+floor as usual, and then went out to get Speckle. As Tom ran about the
+room, he came suddenly upon a great brass cylinder.
+
+Never before had he seen it there and he wondered what it could be. He
+wanted to climb up but it was so round and so smooth that he could find
+no foothold. He ran to the hearth and taking a strong twig which he
+rested against the cylinder clambered to the top; but when he got there
+his twig slipped and fell down on the floor.
+
+Tom then noticed that on the top of the cylinder was a little depression
+and, in its centre, a hook from which a strong chain ran up in the air.
+He seated himself by this hook and was almost breathless when he thought
+that it might be a bucket lowered to the earth by its great chain from
+an enchanted castle in the sky. He sat waiting for the chain to pull him
+up, trembling with pleasure at the thought that he would get into the
+castle and rescue the enchanted princess.
+
+He was not at all afraid of the pain or the torture, for he knew that if
+he did not cry out, the great bird would fly into the castle bearing the
+princess he had set free.
+
+At that moment, the Godmother returned, took up her cloak and was about
+to leave the room again when she suddenly remembered that she had
+forgotten to wind the clock. So she went to the wall, and taking hold of
+the little hook, lifted the run-down weight from the floor to the clock.
+She did not notice Little Tom sitting on the weight; but he heard a
+terrible noise and felt himself hoisted by the chain into the sky. He
+did not speak or cry out, for he knew if he should make a noise, the
+evil spirits would tear him to pieces.
+
+The Godmother went out to her work in the field and there sat Little Tom
+on the weight at a dizzy height, up in the air under the enchanted
+castle. The rattling of the chain had ceased, but above him in the
+castle, Tom heard a strong voice repeating, "Tick, tack, tick, tack".
+
+At first Tom was frightened by this moving spectre, but he soon
+discovered that it never went away from the wall. This calmed his fears
+and he decided that he would go farther into the dark rooms of the
+castle, in spite of the poisonous odors that came from them.
+
+Returning to his chain he clambered higher and higher, until he came to
+the powerful cylinder around which the chain was wound. Everywhere, it
+was dusty and musty with much dark, greasy slime which soiled his hands
+and clothes. Such a desolate, lonely castle he had never dreamed could
+exist. Nowhere, a living soul.
+
+Little Tom sat down on the big cylinder, waiting to see what would
+happen and wondering what tortures lay before him. Resolutely, he said
+to himself that he would not scream, no matter if the spectres should
+tear him into little pieces.
+
+Suddenly, the cylinder under him moved and shook so that he nearly fell
+off; but he caught hold of the chain and lay quite still, stretched out
+to his full length. Then he saw something bright, and directly above him
+move, and the giant tooth of a great wheel bent over and caught him by
+the coat. Tom thought that his torture was about to begin, but he
+resolved that he, would not give up easily; so, bravely grasping the
+tooth itself, he pulled himself up with all his strength until he sat
+astride the great wheel.
+
+Now, he felt easier, but the wheel started to move carrying him still
+higher. In a moment, he was lifted high above the great cylinder and saw
+another wheel, with other great teeth approaching, which fitted closely
+into the notches of the wheel on which he sat and, with powerful force,
+turned it up and up. He was afraid that he would be caught between the
+two, so climbing over his wheel, he worked his way back to the cylinder;
+but this was also moving, so that he could not stand upright on it. As
+his eyes had by this time become accustomed to the darkness, he saw
+about him in every direction, wheels, levers, teeth and cylinders.
+Everything was moving and turning around. Poor little Tom was suddenly
+snatched by a great metal talon which almost tore out his shoulder and
+he was terribly pinched, squeezed and pressed.
+
+Setting his teeth so that he would not cry out, he drew his dagger and
+cut away a piece of his coat, which was already caught between the two
+cylinders, and sprang blindly to one side, not knowing where he would
+land. His hand touched an upright steel post which he grasped firmly
+and, climbing upward, he reached a great globe that seemed to stand
+quite still. Here he felt safe for the moment, but he knew that this was
+not the end of his tortures.
+
+Close to the globe was a large, metal vessel, to which he clambered and,
+working his way to the top, where it was fastened, sat down to rest. He
+hoped that this would not move. From his safe perch he looked below him
+into the tangle of wheels and teeth and levers, where everything was
+rustling, growling, and whirring. From all this he had barely escaped
+with his life.
+
+He wondered how long he had been bearing this torture and when it would
+end. While he sat there thinking, all of a sudden the globe which he had
+just left, raised itself, something below rustled and the globe struck
+itself against the vessel with a deafening clang. The great vessel
+trembled and resounded with a terrible noise, so that Tom almost fell
+from his seat. He perceived that this was a new kind of torture, worse
+even than the first. His arms and legs shook with the vibration, his
+spine prickled and his head began to whirl. Again the globe beat against
+the vessel, and again. The clock was sounding three quarters of the
+hour.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+After this, everything became quiet and Little Tom heaved a sigh of
+relief. On the great bell he sat very sadly. He would have returned into
+the machinery below him, for the whole world, as he thought a crowd of
+witches and spirits were storming there and waiting to tear him to
+pieces if he should utter a single sound. But he could see no other way
+out, for around him was nothing but darkness and gloom. He hoped that
+when the torture should stop, the castle would open and the great
+griffin would appear to carry him safely back to earth. He wondered what
+sort of a princess she would be whom he would save and whether she would
+be as beautiful as his own mother had been.
+
+In this way, another quarter of an hour passed; but to Tom, sitting
+there in the darkness, it seemed like an eternity. Again, the machinery
+began to whir and the castle shook. The globe beat into the bell as if
+it were crazy. Little Tom was stiff with fright as he shook and trembled
+under the powerful blows.
+
+Suddenly, the little doors in front of him flew open, letting the light
+of day into the castle; and he saw the great cuckoo, which he at once
+took for the griffin. The bird ran out a little way from the roof and
+called "Cuckoo, cuckoo".
+
+Tom sprang from the bell to the bird and cried out victoriously. He
+thought that his torture was at an end and that he had broken the spell
+of the enchanted castle. Now, he wanted to find the princess he had set
+free. But, suddenly, the doors closed with a bang, catching Tom between
+them and squeezing him so hard that he nearly lost his breath. He was
+terribly afraid, fearing lest he had cried out too soon and spoiled the
+rescue and now would be torn to pieces by the spectres.
+
+He struggled in vain to tear himself loose. Below him, the clock was
+moaning and groaning; and, far down, he looked into the depths of the
+chasm. Already, he bade farewell to the world and started shouting at
+the top of his lungs.
+
+At this moment, his Godmother came in from the field and, hearing the
+clock rattling, she wondered what could be the matter with it, that it
+should make such a noise. Looking at the partly closed doors, she
+perceived that something was caught between them. Stepping up on a
+chair, she saw Little Tom struggling and crying for help. She released
+him at once and carried him safely down. He told her what had happened
+saying that he wanted to rescue the princess in the enchanted castle,
+but had spoiled the rescue by crying out too soon.
+
+This time, the Godmother did not laugh at him. She was afraid that he
+had been hurt and was very sorry that her stories had brought him into
+such danger. For a long time, Tom could not believe that he had been
+mistaken and that in the clock there were no spectres. She raised him up
+to the dial plate, showed him the painted roses and the numbers,
+explaining all about them and showing how the little hands worked all by
+themselves, day and night, to tell how the time was passing. He became
+very much encouraged, as he began to understand. Then he sat astride the
+long hand as if he were on a horse and liked it so much, that the
+Godmother had to warn him not to slide down and kill himself.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+CHAPTER FIVE.
+
+LITTLE TOM'S ADVENTURES IN THE GARDEN.
+
+  THE GODMOTHER TELLS LITTLE TOM ALL ABOUT HELL
+  AND PARADISE.
+  LITTLE TOM IN MIRMEX'S GARDEN, ON THE ROSE-BUSH,
+  ON THE POPPY-BED AND AMONG THE
+  STRAWBERRIES.
+  THE STRIKE. LITTLE TOM IN THE BLACK KITCHEN.
+  THE COCKROACH.
+  WHERE THE GODMOTHER FOUND LITTLE TOM.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The Godmother realized that it would not do to tell Tom too many fairy
+tales, so, instead, she said that she would tell him other stories more
+beautiful than the made-up ones.
+
+During the day, Little Tom recovered from the adventures of the morning
+and looked forward to the evening, when he was to hear something new.
+After their supper, the Godmother spoke about the wickedness in the
+world and told him that, in the next world, would come justice and
+rewards; that those who had lived rightly and stood the trials of this
+world patiently, would live in Paradise, where there is eternal life and
+pleasure, where beautiful flowers grow, sweet fruits ripen and angels
+fly about the blue heaven and sing; that those who had lived wickedly
+and committed crimes would be taken away by wicked spirits and punished.
+
+Tom was greatly affected by this explanation and longed to see
+Paradise; but he was fearful lest he had done something wrong and that
+the little devils would carry him away. He asked his Godmother what he
+should do to live right and so earn Paradise. She promised that she
+would instruct him in order that he might know how to avoid sin. As it
+was now late in the evening, they went to bed, Little Tom dreaming all
+night long of Paradise, of walking through the delightful groves and
+listening to the angels' songs.
+
+In the morning, when the Godmother arose, she found that it was a warm,
+bright day and opened the window through which came the scents of the
+old lime tree, the carnations and the roses. Then she went into the
+black kitchen, started the fire and hung a pot of potatoes to cook for
+lunch, on the hook over the hearth. She told Tom that she was going to
+the village and that he should not run around and again get into danger.
+Having promised not to run around the room, Tom sat down by Castle
+Easter Egg, under the fir tree, and wrote of the experiences through
+which he had passed.
+
+But, after she had gone, he became curious to know whence came the
+lovely fragrance. He ran down from his garden, crossed the linen press
+to the window and stood upon the ledge. Above him he saw the blue sky
+and the golden sun; he heard the blackbirds and thrushes singing in the
+lilac bushes; and such a beautiful perfume came to him that his heart
+was filled with joy. Without realizing what he was doing, he felt he
+must go out and look at this magic world. Grasping the old vine by the
+window, he slid down very carefully through the transparent green
+leaves, jumped into the middle of a red carnation among its opening
+petals, and felt as though he were in a cloud of perfume. He waded
+through the soft, little petals, pressing them with his hands, and was
+sure that he was in Paradise itself! Yes, it must be the Paradise his
+Godmother had so beautifully described. What lights, colors and odors
+were here! What pleasure to gaze at the broad forest of red, white and
+pink bouquets and on the infinite green plain beyond, on which other
+blossoms like these were growing!
+
+As Tom walked to the edge of this flower, it bent over and he fell into
+the grass. But he did not mind this at all. He waded through the grass
+until he came upon a path, full of hard, shining little stones.
+
+He felt easy in his heart and shouted with delight, drinking the dew
+drops on the blades of grass and saying over and over to himself. "I am
+in Paradise, the place of eternal life and eternal pleasure." He wanted
+to cross the path to the other side, where he saw great trees growing
+with broad crowns--his Godmother's rose bushes--and he was curious to
+learn what other charming things he might discover.
+
+But it was not easy for him to cross the path. He fell into little
+holes and stumbled over the sand grains which seemed to him like high
+stones. When he stood in the middle of the path, he saw a great black
+creature, with six legs and two horns, about to run by him. He stopped,
+instinctively placing his hand on the hilt of his dagger, but at the
+same time the creature stopped also and gazed at him with bulging eyes,
+raising its horns in the air.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Little Tom went on bravely and at once recognized an ant. At first, it
+retreated, then ran towards him and said, "Prince, it pleases me very
+much that I have found you again. I was once at your father's court,
+with a message from our people to thank him for his hospitality and for
+the shelter he gave us when our town was attacked. I am Mirmex and I
+knew your father very well. All of us were deeply grieved when we
+learned that your town was flooded and destroyed."
+
+Tom was heartily glad to meet some one with whom he could speak on a
+basis of equality and began at once to tell the ant about his
+adventures; but Mirmex excused himself, saying that he was too busy to
+stop long; so he asked Tom to accompany him. Tom was surprised to learn
+that Mirmex had work in his Godmother's Paradise, but Mirmex was already
+running ahead and Tom could hardly catch up with him.
+
+They crossed the path and waded through the grass to the trunk of the
+rose-bush, up which Mirmex climbed quickly. Tom saw on the trunk a crowd
+of little ants, each carrying a small bit of earth in its antennae.
+Presently, Mirmex came back to Tom. "There is a great obstacle up
+there," he said, pointing to the bush. "The trunk is covered all the way
+around with some sticky grease and our workmen can not crawl over it to
+get to the leaves. We are now trying to build a bridge across this
+place, but are not succeeding very well."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Little Tom promised to help them. Four strong workmen raised him over
+their heads and pushed him up the trunk to the dangerous strip, where he
+sat on a crooked thorn and saw how the ants were putting bits of earth
+on the grease to build a bridge across it; but it was too thick and the
+feet of those who were in front were caught in it. Tom drew his dagger
+and, stepping out on the thorn, dug the ants free and then scratched a
+broad path in the grease. Over this the ants sifted sand and soon began
+to run across it in such crowds, that the leaves appeared all black.
+
+With difficulty, Tom crawled up after them and, finding a seat on a
+rosebud, watched them working. Those on the leaves were biting out
+little round pieces which they threw to the ground, where others were
+waiting. These at once put the green circles over their heads like
+parasols and, in a long stream, hurried to the fence. Tom wanted to know
+what they were going to do with the leaves and called to Mirmex as he
+was passing near him. Mirmex answered that just then, he had no time;
+but, later, he would explain everything.
+
+Tom then asked Mirmex to have him carried down to the ground, as he
+wished to look at the other wonders of Paradise. "With pleasure,"
+answered Mirmex, "but perhaps you would like a horse to ride upon around
+the garden." Before Tom could reply, a beautiful, green steed jumped
+upon the rose bud. Tom climbed upon him, the grasshopper spread his
+wings, flew to the ground, and then, with great leaps, carried him to
+the poppy beds.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+In the green shade among the high stalks, it was agreeably cool. Little
+Tom rode through this giant forest, above which flamed red and white
+blossoms like huge lamps. The beauty of it all was enchanting. When
+Mirmex came to him, Tom spoke of the place with enthusiasm; but Mirmex
+merely waved his hand. "This is only a useless desert," he said. "There
+are many like it in the garden; but ride after me and I will show you a
+more beautiful place."
+
+Mirmex ran rapidly ahead over the bed of carrots, through the strawberry
+plants and under the gooseberry and currant bushes, where he stopped.
+
+"Here," he said, "is the most beautiful spot in the whole land which you
+call Paradise. Here are the stalks of the sweetest things in the world
+and there are so many that whole towns could live on them. The only
+problem is how to carry them away. You can stop here and, if at any time
+you should wish to visit our Black Town, you will always find here some
+of our workmen who will tell me of your wishes. In the meantime, be
+happy and enjoy yourself." Mirmex ran quickly away and Little Tom,
+climbing down from his horse, began to look at the wonderful fruit.
+
+He crawled up a gooseberry bush and saw many yellow barrels hanging
+among the leaves. He stuck his dagger into one and found that it was
+filled with excellent wine; so he cut the stems of several others which
+fell to the ground. He then went to the second bush, full of red globes
+that shone like glass. He cut into one and found that it held a
+delicious, tart wine. When he crawled down again, he had in the grass a
+stock of fine drinks that would last him many days.
+
+He was still looking for food when he came upon the strawberries, which
+seemed like giant lumps in the leaves over his head. Selecting the
+largest, he began to cut away its stem with his cutlass; the green stalk
+bent and the strawberry fell heavily to the grass, leaving Tom barely
+time to jump to one side, as the great mass fell. As it was, it struck
+him on the shoulder and threw him head foremost into the grass; but he
+did not regret the misfortune. With his cutlass he dug out the yellow
+seeds and cut great, juicy slices, enjoying huge mouthfuls of the
+delicious fruit.
+
+Never had he eaten anything so good. When he could eat no more, he made
+up his mind that he would remain in this Paradise, and establish his
+home here. For the moment, he had forgotten his Godmother and how sad
+she would be when she could not find him.
+
+First, he thought he would sleep awhile and then bring together the
+timbers for his house; but, at this moment, along came his horse, pawing
+restively and rubbing his head against him, as if asking Tom to hurry.
+It seemed strange to Tom that he should obey so readily; but he climbed
+upon his steed's back at once and the grasshopper started from the bush
+with a great jump and passed under the fence as if some one was chasing
+him.
+
+The grass struck Tom in the face, so that he could hardly keep his seat;
+but the grasshopper took no notice; he only hurried the faster to the
+brook to hide himself in the sorrel close to the water. Suddenly, a huge
+shadow swept over the earth. Tom saw great wings and an open bill. He
+fell on the ground and the grasshopper disappeared, carried away by a
+huge shrike. Rolling in the dust in front of the Godmother's hut, Tom
+saw the great bird sitting on a shrub close to the fence. Holding the
+poor grasshopper in his bill, he jumped upon the branches, impaled the
+grasshopper on a sharp thorn and flew away. Pierced by the thorn, the
+grasshopper struggled to get away buzzing with his wings and kicking his
+feet desperately in the air, but to no avail. He was held fast by the
+thorn which was thrust firmly through his breast.
+
+Little Tom watched his struggles, breathless with fright. What did it
+all mean? He thought of the wicked spirits his Godmother had told him
+about, who carried away those who had done wrong, to torture them. He
+became more frightened when he thought how he had taken advantage of his
+Godmother's goodness.
+
+He did not doubt in the least that the great winged creature had come
+for him to transfix him on the thorn, so that he might suffer his
+punishment and that, only by chance, it had caught the grasshopper
+instead of himself. He did not know where he was. All about him was
+bare, hard ground. Crawling up the little step before the door of the
+hut, he squeezed through a little crack and found himself in a great,
+dark hall.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+With a sigh of relief, he thought that, now, he might escape the
+terrible punishment and that here the flying, wicked spirit could not
+find him. He did not know that he was in the hall of his Godmother's
+hut; but it did seem to him to be that of a human dwelling. He went
+further along the wall, until he found a crack under a door, through
+which he crawled into the black kitchen.
+
+Here it was dark, but far away was shining a great, hot fire on the
+hearth. Little Tom did not know what this meant. He went through the
+darkness towards the red light, wading through the dust until he came to
+the hearth, where, in the mortar, he discovered a little hole. Not
+minding how the rough mortar cut his hands, he crawled up the broad
+fireplace under the chimney and stood astonished.
+
+Before him was a black plain covered with soot and in the middle was a
+tripod holding a huge pot, from under which flames darted forth. The
+fire itself crackled and hissed; sparks were flying through the darkness
+as big as Tom's head, while clouds of steam rose to the chimney. From
+under the cover of the pot, came a great noise of sputtering and
+bubbling, like the quarreling of many angry voices.
+
+Tom felt attracted by the fierce light. He could not turn his eyes away
+from it and great fear pressed upon his heart. After all, he could not
+escape the wicked spirits and he would be punished for having deceived
+his Godmother. Perhaps a devil would come to catch him. Soon, he thought
+the devil actually did appear. A terrible being, twice as big as
+himself, all in shining armor and with great whiskers, came quickly from
+out of the darkness and stood directly in front of him, looking at him,
+till his heart grew faint. Tom thought he was lost, but determined to
+defend himself with all his might.
+
+Drawing his cutlass, he waited. The cockroach raised his feelers and ran
+towards him. Little Tom stood firm and when the cockroach drew near, he
+thrust his sharp cutlass under his chin up to the very hilt. The
+cockroach fell dead on Little Tom, throwing him down by his weight.
+
+When the Godmother returned for lunch, she looked for Tom in the room in
+vain. Calling him, she hunted in all of the corners, through the wood by
+the hearth, and even in the clock, but all to no purpose. Tom was
+nowhere to be seen.
+
+Very sadly, she went back into the black kitchen for the potatoes and
+spied a cockroach by the oven. She was about to sweep it across the
+floor, when something sparkled under it. It was Little Tom's golden cap.
+She placed the poor little fellow in her palm and carried him tenderly
+into the great room, calling him by his name until he wakened; but even
+then he did not recognize her. He had a fever and would only say, "Go
+away from me, you ugly devil". He kept waving his hands and reaching for
+his sword screaming as if defending himself.
+
+It was some time before he came to himself and recognized his
+Godmother, so that he could tell her what he had experienced. She
+thought that he was still in fever and did not know what he was saying.
+She forgot what she had been telling him about Paradise and the place of
+the wicked spirits. Only when he had quite recovered and could walk
+about in his garden by Castle Easter Egg did she learn what had happened
+to him.
+
+She then realized that she could not keep Little Tom at home all the
+time and that the room could not satisfy his brave, curious little soul.
+So she decided that she would take him out and show the world to him, in
+order that he might have pleasure under the great sky and gain some
+experience of life.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+CHAPTER SIX.
+
+LITTLE TOM'S EXCURSIONS.
+
+  LITTLE TOM'S EXPEDITION BEFORE THE COTTAGE.
+  HIS WALK THROUGH THE CORN-FIELD.
+  THE COBWEB AND THE FIGHT WITH THE SPIDER.
+  LITTLE TOM FINDS HIMSELF IN THE COURT-YARD
+  AMONG CHICKENS.
+  HE RUNS AWAY AND IS PURSUED BY ROVER.
+  HE TUMBLES INTO A BROOK AND IS GOBBLED UP BY
+  A TROUT, WHICH SPITS HIM OUT AGAIN INTO THE
+  GRASS.
+  HE TAKES A WALK ON THE MEADOW WITH
+  HIS GODMOTHER.
+  THE BUMBLE-BEE TALKS LITTLE TOM INTO GETTING
+  DRUNK.
+  LITTLE TOM IS BEING TIED TO A THISTLE AND FINDS
+  HIMSELF IN THE MOUTH OF A COW.
+  HE IS PUT INTO A WOODEN SHOE BY HIS GODMOTHER,
+  BUT IS ENDANGERED BY A HAILSTORM.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+[Illustration]
+
+One bright summer morning, as his Godmother was getting herself ready to
+go to the village, she said to him, "Dear Little Tom, if you want to see
+what God's world is like, I will let you come out in front of the hut;
+although I am afraid that you will lose your way, or that some animal
+will harm you."
+
+Tom encouraged her by saying that he would put on his weapons and that
+he knew how to defend himself. She did not give much thought to his
+valour but she felt that, because of his small size, no animal would
+notice him; so she took him in her hand and carried him outside in front
+of the hut, through the garden and barn to the brook, pointing out
+everything of interest and telling him the name of objects and places so
+that he could recognize them again. Then she put him on the ground
+before the door and told him, in a severe voice, that he should not run
+far away; she hoped to return soon and, in the meantime, he would not
+meet with any misfortune.
+
+When she had crossed the bridge, she turned around, but no longer saw
+him. He had absolutely disappeared among the stones of the path. He was
+very pleased that he could make an exploration on his own account and
+felt that he was now much more clever. He understood what a human
+dwelling was, a garden, a path, a brook and a lime tree; and he was not
+afraid of anything. He decided to go over the same way his Godmother had
+taken him around the hut, so that he might see for himself all its
+surroundings.
+
+First, he went around the fence to the field, crossed the path and
+passed into the thick, rustling grain. He felt he was in a vast, old
+forest. Above him buzzed wasps, flies, gnats and gadflies. All around
+him were worms, insects and caterpillars, which took no notice of him
+whatsoever, but kept diligently about their own work. He seemed to be in
+a new world and found so many strange objects and animals, that he had
+not time to look at all of them carefully.
+
+He strode forward into the grain, but was careful not to go too far and
+lose his way. As he walked along the edge of the path, he looked at the
+grain, thinking that he would like to cut down one of the stalks and
+make a good, light lance out of it. While he was trying to select one
+that would suit him, he came upon a cobweb stretched between two
+thistles. It was beautifully woven of thin, well-tied threads, and
+seemed to Tom to be a powerful net which some hunter had placed there as
+a trap for wild game.
+
+He wished to see the hunter and learn how game is caught, so he sat down
+in some wild thyme not far away and waited; but nothing happened. Then
+he got up and went nearer, feeling the lines with his hand to see how
+tightly they were drawn. But no sooner had he touched the net than he
+felt it shake and saw, running across it, a great, eight-footed
+creature, with a cross on its back and horrible jaws, rushing straight
+at him.
+
+He drew his sword at once, but a strong, elastic rope was thrown around
+his body, binding his hips and legs. He struggled to free himself, but
+more and more ropes enveloped him. In a very short time, he was tangled
+up in them and tightly bound to the net. Then the great monster darted
+at him with his cruel jaws open.
+
+Brave Little Tom waved his sword; this frightened the spider, which drew
+back. At once he cut the ropes around him, tore himself out of the net
+and ran, beside himself with fear, until he fell rolling on the gravel
+in the path. He expected the monster to rush out after him and eat him;
+but when the spider saw that his prey had escaped him, he started to
+repair his net and paid no further heed to Tom.
+
+Tom was glad to have escaped so easily and no longer wished to go in the
+field and cut down a stalk. He went back very rapidly along the path,
+deciding that he would remain near the hut. He wanted to see his
+Godmother's farm, so he passed through the gate to the little grassy
+place beyond among the daisies and dandelions. As soon as he reached the
+spot, a lot of little yellow chickens came running to him and, gathering
+around him, looked at him with surprised eyes; for that kind of a worm
+these little chicks had never seen before.
+
+Little Tom was frightened, for these birds appeared to him as large as
+the ostriches his Godmother had shown him in the natural history book,
+only they were yellow. The chickens looked at him sideways, peeping and
+calling the mother hen. She was scratching in some sweepings not far
+away and when she heard the peeping, she hurried up, all a flutter, to
+see what was the matter and who the enemy was. When she saw only Little
+Tom, she pecked at him angrily with her bill, then picked him up, but
+let him drop as he did not seem good for eating. Scolding her chicks,
+she drove them away in search of real worms.
+
+Tom was so badly hurt that he fell down as if dead. His coat was torn
+and his hand was bleeding. After a moment, he struggled to his feet and
+fled out of the yard, away from such terrible enemies. In front of the
+yard, the Godmother's woolly-haired dog, Rover, was running about.
+Without seeing Tom he stepped on him with his great, hard foot. When Tom
+cried out in pain, Rover stopped, turned around and smelled at Tom with
+his moist nose.
+
+Little Tom was overcome with another great fear. He was dusty, bruised
+and bleeding and so unhappy that he did not know what to do. He ran on,
+stumbling and limping, while Rover, thinking he was some strange insect,
+ran after him, barking and jumping around him, until he drove him to the
+brook. Little Tom wanted to hide himself among the leaves near the
+water; but, as he stepped on them, he slipped and fell head first into
+the brook.
+
+The water refreshed him and, knowing how to swim very well, he was at
+first pleased to think he had escaped this enemy; but the brook, which
+seemed to him a river, was carrying him away. He had no idea that he
+could reach the shore. He already felt himself lost, believing that the
+waves would dash him against a stone, when, suddenly, a trout came out
+of the water and gobbled him up in his great mouth. But the trout did
+not like this morsel and spat him out again into the grass under the
+bridge.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Catching hold of a grass stem, Tom pulled himself into the bushes and
+sat there, shaking as with a chill. Wet through and cold, with hands
+bruised and bleeding, he could hardly hold himself on the grass which
+the wind waved back and forth.
+
+As he became weaker and weaker and was about to give up hope that he
+would ever come of his adventure alive, he suddenly heard his Godmother
+calling to him. She was coming across the little foot-bridge and calling
+loudly, so that she might not by mistake step on him. Tom immediately
+answered as loud as he could shout, "Here I am Godmother. Here I am".
+But she had to look a long while before she discovered whence came the
+thin, little voice. Then she promptly rescued him from his perilous
+position. Poor Little Tom was so worn out from his bruises and his
+tremendous exertion, that he could hardly feel anything and it was only
+after he had eaten well and drunk some milk, that he could tell his
+Godmother about all the terrible adventures that had befallen him. How
+in the deep forest of the grain he had been ensnared by the terrible
+robber in his frightful net; how the great, yellow ostriches had pursued
+him and, when he was escaping from them, how a rough, hairy dragon had
+come upon him and chased him into the river, where he was first
+swallowed by an enormous whale and then cast out upon the shore.
+
+The kind Godmother was very, very sorry for poor Little Tom and began
+to realize the danger of leaving him alone, outside the hut, so she
+promised him that she herself would take him to the field. Tom no longer
+wanted to travel alone amid such terrible dangers and was pleased that
+he could accompany his Godmother; but they did not know in just what way
+they could accomplish this. She thought of taking him in her pocket, but
+Tom was afraid of such a dark place, among crumbs of bread and huge
+keys.
+
+On her breast, the Godmother, had a brooch which pinned together the
+ends of the kerchief she wore around her throat; so Tom sat down on the
+pleat of the cloth behind the brooch, grasping the bar to keep his hands
+steady. As she walked along, he thrust out his little head to look at
+the field, the meadow and the forest on top of the hill, where he hoped
+to run around with his Godmother, and wondered what new things he should
+see.
+
+When they reached the meadow under the slope of the hill, the Godmother
+stood Little Tom upon a stone among the heather and said, "I am going to
+gather the hay and I must hurry, as the weather looks as if it were
+going to change. While I am gone, you can walk around on this stone and
+look at the flowers, but do not crawl down, or you will surely get lost
+and I would look in vain for you."
+
+Obediently, Tom walked around on the top of his rock. He crawled over
+the pebbles, peered into the various holes and examined the small, red
+carnations, the tall, blue monks-hoods and the pink thistles growing
+there. As he walked along, he heard a great buzzing in the air as if
+some one were angry and, on coming closer, he perceived a hairy
+bumble-bee staggering among the blossoms.
+
+Tom became confused as he had never seen such a creature before. He
+thought it might be a wild beast that would attack him. But the
+bumble-bee was quite harmless and, moreover, he had been sucking the
+sweet honey from the flowers so steadily since the early morning, that
+his head had become quite dizzy. As soon as he saw Little Tom, he sidled
+towards him and welcomed him as if he had known him all his life.
+
+"Brother," he said, "what are you doing here and how are you? I am
+pleased that I have now found a comrade. Come, let us drink together."
+
+It seemed strange to Tom, that this stout, old gentleman should appear
+to know him so well and should address him so familiarly. The old fellow
+went on to urge him, to fly with him up on the monks-hood, saying that
+there they would find a delicious drink. Tom tried to excuse himself,
+saying that he had given his promise not to leave the rock; but the
+bumble-bee said, "Oh just come along with me. I will bring you back. Let
+us be merry now."
+
+Catching Tom in his arms, the bumble-bee carried him up the stem and
+seated him on a flower with an arched, blue bell over it, and then gave
+him a push right into the blossom. From the heart of this blue bell
+extended two horns with thick heads, which powdered him with a yellow
+dust that made him sneeze. At this, the bumble-bee laughed heartily and
+began to take long drinks from the cup under the blossoms.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Carefully, Tom crawled a little lower, stretched himself on his stomach
+and also drank. The juice was as clear as water and as sweet as honey.
+He drank gluttonously and, in a little while, became so merry and so
+light at heart that he could have embraced the whole world. When they
+had finished this cup, Tom crawled into another blossom and drank again.
+
+The bumble-bee had chosen another blossom for himself and between sips
+contentedly murmured to Tom, "This is my only pleasure. See how good it
+tastes to you also. Now you can see what it is to be merry".
+
+Tom no longer knew what he was about. He sat in the blossom, singing and
+drinking, and forgetting everything around him. Presently, the
+bumble-bee, paying no further attention to Tom, flew away; but Tom did
+not notice this and was soon so befuddled, that he hardly knew anything
+at all.
+
+After a while, the Godmother came to the rock to see what he was about.
+Not finding him on top of the stone, she looked carefully around and
+soon discovered him peeping out of the monks-hood blossom. His little
+face was very red. He laughed and shouted and paid no attention to her
+when she spoke to him. At this she became angry, for she saw that he had
+been up to mischief; so she plucked the flower and took Tom out of it.
+
+"Will you not obey," she said, "there is nothing else to do but to tie
+you up, or you will lose your life somewhere."
+
+Taking him to the meadow, she pulled a hair from her head and tied him
+to a great thistle. Tom was so overcome by the sweet juice of the
+monkshood, that he lay down and immediately fell asleep.
+
+When he awoke after a while, he had a severe headache. He thought over
+what he had done and was very much ashamed that he had allowed himself
+to be misled by the drunken bumble-bee. He saw that he had been tied up
+and felt very sorry, wondering how he should excuse himself to his
+Godmother when she should return to him.
+
+In the meantime, Speckle, the cow, who had been grazing not far away,
+was all the while coming nearer and nearer to the spot where Tom had
+been fastened. He was lying flat on his back, gazing up into the sky,
+when suddenly a great mouth opened above him, extending from the earth
+to the sky, and--presto--as if a strong wind had blown, everything
+around him disappeared.
+
+With a great rattle, the jaws with their powerful teeth closed over him
+and Tom found himself in complete darkness. All doubled up behind one
+back tooth, he screamed lustily; but Speckle was moving her tongue and
+grinding the grass and did not feel Tom at all. Holding his breath, he
+waited until Speckle opened her mouth, when he ran quickly out on her
+lip and up on her nose to her forehead, where he held himself by
+grasping the hair between her horns. He gave a great sigh of relief as
+he saw that he was saved.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+When Speckle turned her head, Tom sat quietly, then got up and started
+for a walk along her neck and head.
+
+It happened that the Godmother turned and saw Speckle just as she bit
+the thistle. "Oh Tom, Tom, you poor little child," she cried, running
+towards Speckle as fast as she could. She thought surely that the cow
+had swallowed him and that would be the last that she should see of him;
+but, as she came close, she heard a little voice calling from Speckle's
+back, "Here I am, Godmother, here I am."
+
+She took him carefully in her hand and carried him off to the meadow
+where she was at work. There she seated him in one of her wooden shoes
+and saying, "Now you must not move from here until I come," off she went
+to her work again; for she had to hurry with the hay, as dark clouds
+were coming up in the sky.
+
+Little Tom sat quietly in the shoe for a while. It was like a big hut to
+him. Then he thought he would have a look around, so he clambered down
+the side of the shoe and started to walk a little way on the meadow,
+when a big rain drop splashed on him and made him all wet. He was
+greatly surprised, as he did not know what it was that came down in such
+a flood and splashed on the ground all around him. With the rain came
+hail stones, like rocks of ice, larger than Tom's head. They bounded
+away and then came down so thickly, that Tom did not know which way to
+run.
+
+He turned back toward the shoe and ran for it with all his might, but
+on the way a great hailstone hit him and nearly killed him. He managed
+to clamber over the side of the shoe and fall inside, fainting. With
+such strength as he had left, he crawled away up in the toe of the shoe
+where he could hide. The hail rattled down like cannon balls and very
+soon the whole shoe was filled with the little balls of ice. When the
+Godmother came hurrying up, she could hardly find Tom who was curled up
+among the hailstones in the far end of the shoe, half frozen and
+completely exhausted. Taking him carefully in her warm hand, she hurried
+home with him.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Thus, his expedition with his Godmother turned out very sadly and she
+saw that, even when he was with her, he could not be sure of his life.
+
+When they had thoroughly dried themselves and eaten their supper, the
+Godmother said, "There is nothing to do, Tom, except for you to stay at
+home and study and not try for yourself to see the wonders of the world.
+It is a miracle that you did not die today."
+
+Little Tom himself realized that, outside in the great world, there was
+no happiness for him and he readily promised that he would stay at home.
+But it made him sad to think how terrible and cruel the world is, and
+that in it there seemed to be no safe place for him.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+CHAPTER SEVEN.
+
+LITTLE TOM AND CHRYSOMELA.
+
+  SEVEN SPOT'S VISIT.
+  LITTLE TOM IS INVITED TO PAY A VISIT TO THE
+  KINGDOM OF THE SEVEN SPOTS.
+  HE SETS OUT ON A DRAGONFLY AND COMES TO THE
+  POOL IN THE FOREST.
+  THE BANQUET ON THE LEAF OF THE WATER-ROSE.
+  LITTLE TOM IS PROCLAIMED KING OF THE KINGDOM
+  OF THE SEVEN SPOTS.
+  HE MEETS CHRYSOMELA AGAIN. THE FESTIVAL.
+  THE VISIT TO THE WOOD-BUGS.
+  THE DWELLING IN THE HOLLOW BEECH-TREE.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Little Tom spent many days at home alone on top of the linen press.
+Outside, the sun shone and through the windows the flowers breathed a
+wonderful fragrance; but he no longer wished to go out, for he knew
+there only awaited him terrible traps and dangers. He worked sometimes
+in his garden, or wrote in his diary, or went over to the window to look
+out sadly between the flower pots to the wide world beyond.
+
+One day, as he was standing on the window ledge and looking into the
+garden, he perceived on a fuchsia near the window a beautiful, red
+ladybird with shining wings, crawling on the blossoms and looking
+sideways at him. His Godmother had been away since early morning and he
+knew that she would not return until evening, so he was very lonely
+there all by himself.
+
+The lady-bird opened its wings and flew over to the window. Alighting on
+the edge it started to crawl along, all the time looking towards Tom who
+thought to himself: "What is that gentleman looking for and does he know
+me?" But the lady-bird coming to him said, "Good morning Little Tom. How
+are you? I am very pleased to find you. I am Seven Spot from the
+lady-bird kingdom on the forest pool. We all thought that you had
+perished with the others in the terrible flood."
+
+Little Tom was surprised to learn that this gentleman knew him so well,
+but he did not wish to inquire how it happened; so he replied that he
+was very pleased to meet Mr. Seven Spot, as he had no companions at all.
+They talked together for some time. Seven Spot told him all about the
+forest pool and how beautiful it was; and Little Tom, on his part,
+confided to his new friend his various adventures. Seven Spot listened
+attentively; but also seemed to have something on his mind. Presently he
+invited Tom to visit the lady-bird kingdom; but Tom declined, as he
+wished never again to act contrary to his Godmother's instructions and
+make an independent excursion into the great world.
+
+Seven Spot persisted, but when he saw that Tom would not be persuaded,
+he said: "My dear Tom, it is true that you suffered very much when you
+came out; but that is because you live with human beings and do not know
+your true place in life, nor your own friends. What kind of a life have
+you among humans? Although your Godmother loves you, you are neither her
+child nor her friend. Your real life is among the gnomes, but, since
+there are none left, you should dwell with their good friends who are
+like you in many respects. They will welcome and honor you. With them
+you can live in peace and happiness, and who knows if you might not find
+among them some one dear to your heart? But if you do not wish to go, I
+will fly back to my people and tell them that my mission was in vain."
+
+After this long speech, Mr. Seven Spot raised his shells indifferently
+and aired his wings; but he did not fly away. Instead, he lighted on the
+pistil of the fuchsia and started to crawl slowly into the blossom.
+Little Tom was greatly surprised at what he had heard. Who had sent this
+messenger and who was thinking of him? He begged Seven Spot not to go
+away, but to tell him everything he knew. Seven Spot smiled.
+
+"Do you think, Little Tom," he said, "that I would dare to enter the
+dwelling of a human being without reason, unless I felt sure of finding
+you here? Friend Mirmex told me about you on the meadow, where with his
+workmen he is collecting stores of grain. Then, someone else whom you
+know very well told us about your past life in the realm of the gnomes.
+We asked Mirmex to find out how you are living and what you are doing.
+So, while you were sleeping in the night, his workmen found a way to
+you, looked over everything very carefully and made a report to us. We
+realized that you would not find your happiness with human beings and we
+have, therefore, decided to ask you to come to us and rule over the
+lady-bird realm on the forest pool, since your own kingdom has perished.
+If you do not wish to accept, we shall all be very sorry and, later, you
+will recognize that your decision to remain with humans was not to your
+advantage and somebody will cry for you."
+
+Little Tom was very curious to know who would cry for him and his heart
+was torn with the hope that he might see again one of his own people.
+Perhaps, after all, he was not alone in the world, but he feared that he
+might be terribly disappointed. He begged Seven Spot not to torture him,
+but to tell him who was expecting him. That gentleman only replied that
+he could say nothing further, as he had given his word of honor, but
+that Tom should go with him and see for himself.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Tom felt as if on thorns. He said that he could go and see, but to
+remain was impossible, as he could not bind himself to do that.
+Moreover, he did not know how to get to the wood. Seven Spot was pleased
+to see that Tom was yielding and said, "Only prepare your things and
+dress in your finest clothes. In a few minutes, I will return, and you
+need not bother about your transportation." And off he flew.
+
+Tom at once set himself to pack his tiny hand-bag. Then he put on a
+beautiful suit of green and belted his sword about him. When he was
+ready, he was impatient to leave. He had barely completed his
+preparations however, when Seven Spot appeared at the window.
+
+Little Tom, snatching his bag, ran to him at once. There, on the ledge,
+he saw a gorgeous dragonfly with golden eyes, slim, blue body and
+transparent rainbow wings. Tom was a little embarrassed before such a
+magnificent creature; but Seven Spot, without any hesitation, placed
+Tom's bag upon the dragonfly and told him to get on its back. In a
+trice, they were flying like a shot through the warm, summer air.
+
+Such a wonderful journey it was, under the blue sky, over the broad
+stretches of land, high above the earth. The dragonfly, as if not
+feeling the burden, sparkled and glistened in the rays of the sun, while
+above them Seven Spot was flying in great circles.
+
+Tom was intoxicated by the swift flight through the beautiful sunshine
+and the fresh breeze, which, far below them, rippled the sea of grain
+into little waves. Over the slope they flew, across the fields and into
+the cool twilight of the forest, among the pine trees and the beeches.
+Under the thick, quiet arches of the leaves, Tom looked around in
+surprise; but the dragonfly winged his way unerringly, deeper and deeper
+into the wood, until they came, at last, to the valley where, beyond the
+ferns and the colts-foot, shone a dark pool covered with yellow and
+white pond lilies.
+
+There the dragonfly settled into the cool moss. Tom stepped down, but
+before he could turn and thank this kind friend, the dragonfly had sped
+up in the air like a colored spark and disappeared among the yellow
+candles of the cat tails.
+
+It seemed to Tom as if he had landed in some magic kingdom. All about
+him were growing gigantic willow-herbs with thick bunches of little red
+blossoms, broad crowns of yellow lettuce and water crow-feet on thin,
+spreading stalks, with their tender little heads sparkling like white
+flames. Everything was radiant, glittering with bright colors, and
+perfumed with the sweet odors of the forest.
+
+When Tom turned around, he found Seven Spot standing beside him. He
+invited Tom to come with him, saying that all the lady-birds were
+waiting. They went under an arch of green leaves and through a lofty
+green palace to the sprays of sweet-smelling mint by the water. On the
+leaves of the mint, were sitting, side by side, hundreds and hundreds of
+lady-birds, in colors of gold, brown, violet, red and yellow. All
+crowded forward to see the guest, whom they greeted with cheers.
+
+Little Tom was led by the crowd to the shore of the pool, where a great
+water-bug waited. Tom sat on this smooth, shiny back, and off he went
+like a shot over the water to a broad water-lily leaf, where a grand
+banquet was prepared. The lady-birds flew ahead and, lighting on a leaf,
+waited for him, their brilliant colors looking like a border of
+sparkling gems. When Tom arrived, Seven Spot stepped out from the crowd
+and welcomed him with a touching speech.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"Prince Tom, be welcomed to our Lady-bird Kingdom. Long have we waited
+for you and now respectfully beg you to be our king, rule over our land
+and take for your wife the true comrade of your youth, who, at the time
+of the flood, was visiting us and so was saved."
+
+As soon as Seven Spot stopped speaking, the water lily opened and out
+stepped a golden haired girl in a violet dress. "Chrysomela" cried Tom
+and ran to her with open arms.
+
+"Long live our King, Little Tom!" was shouted on all sides in a loud
+chorus, while a great crowd of golden flies flew around and around the
+pool and a merry choir sang to celebrate the fete.
+
+Tom was quite beside himself with happiness. The sad past faded away
+and he saw only before him the goldenhaired girl, who smiled at him from
+her blue eyes. They held each other's hands and talked and talked, until
+Seven Spot interrupted them to ask them to sit down to the banquet and
+accept the homage of their subjects.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The banquet was magnificent. Stuffed tiny snails, salad of flower
+tendrils, a giant whitebait born by four cooks on a dog-rose leaf, mint
+candies, and, for drinking, blackberry wine drawn directly from a great
+berry standing on the edge of the leaf.
+
+When they began to feast, beautiful music sounded. It was the famous
+Gnat Quartette, two gnats playing violins, a small cicada, the cello and
+a wood-bee, the bass viol. Joyous strains rang through the warm summer
+air. Presently, a swarm of gnats hovered over the water close by,
+dancing a graceful ballet; and, when they had finished, there came a
+dragonfly who gave an acrobatic performance with giddy jumps and dizzy
+whirling.
+
+The rest of the kingdom of the lady-birds were sitting all around the
+shore of the pool on mint and ferns, cheering and shouting with joy. On
+a fallen trunk by the water, sat a sedate group of water-bugs chewing
+young tendrils and nodding approval with their beards.
+
+By the time the celebration was finished, evening had come and a serious
+brown water-bug came up to invite them to visit the wood-bugs mines. In
+a long procession, they followed him to a powerful, old beech, where he
+conducted them through deep, long corridors to a hollow in the tree
+arranged as a beautiful hall, in which Little Tom and Chrysomela might
+have their home. Tom was wondering how they could live there without
+furniture or utensils; but when he stepped inside, he was struck with
+surprise.
+
+The great hall was lighted from above by dry wood, which glowed with a
+subdued, blue light showing all his own furnishings from Castle Easter
+Egg, neatly arranged around the walls; all the drawers were in the
+cupboards, all the utensils were there, not even a cup was missing.
+
+By the entrance stood Mirmex, with a whole regiment of his ants. He
+said, "I welcome you to your new kingdom and ask you to be our good
+neighbor, as we used to be with your father."
+
+When Tom had flown away to the lily pond, the ants had moved all his
+belongings and arranged everything in the new palace. They knew very
+well, when Tom had seen Chrysomela, that he would not return to his
+Godmother.
+
+Tom thanked them all very heartily and Mirmex asked him to visit their
+Black Town on the morrow, which he gladly promised to do, remembering
+how his father had planned to send him there to learn how to rule a
+kingdom.
+
+After all had said good night, Little Tom and Chrysomela remained in
+their new home while the crickets under the beech sang them a serenade.
+
+In the morning, when they came out of the old beech, they were greeted
+by a choir of crickets whose music rang clear to the tops of the trees.
+Already, Mirmex and some of the ants, were standing before the entrance,
+among them a brilliant, green rose-bug for carrying Tom to Black Town.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Many onlookers stood about. The Lady-birds greeted their new king, while
+snails on the mushrooms stretched up their heads, so that they, too,
+could see what was going on. Golden flies crowded around in swarms,
+while on the path stood a line of wood-bugs as a guard of honor.
+
+After saying good-bye to Chrysomela, Tom went down to the moss and
+greeted his friends the ants. Chrysomela was very sad that he was
+leaving her so soon and almost wept. She was afraid that she might lose
+him again, as they were so alone in the great world; but Tom soothed her
+by saying that he would surely return the next day, and that he was
+obliged to make this visit to their neighbors to honor them and fulfil
+his father's wish.
+
+Then they arranged with Seven Spot where they should meet him and Seven
+Spot proposed that, immediately on his return, Tom and Chrysomela should
+accompany him to inspect their own kingdom.
+
+When all preparations had been completed, Tom, in full armor, jumped
+upon the rose-bug, the noisy trumpets of the gadflies sounded and the
+great procession started for Black Town.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+CHAPTER EIGHT.
+
+THE ANTS' TOWN.
+
+  LITTLE TOM GOES INTO THE CITY OF THE ANTS.
+  MIRMEX TELLS HIM ABOUT THE KINGDOM OF THE ANTS.
+  THE WELCOMING. THE WALK THROUGH THE CITY.
+  THE WORMS AND THE CHRYSALISES.
+  MIRMEX TELLS ABOUT THE REDHEADS AND THEIR
+  SLAVES.
+  THE DESERTED CITY.
+  THE STORE-HOUSES, THE STABLES, THE HOT-BEDS.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+The procession went on through the silent wood and the morning mists.
+Thousands of dew drops sparkled like diamonds in the moss. Overhead hung
+branches of billberry heavily laden with dark fruit, while, on either
+side, bright red berries peered from the leaves. After they had passed
+the moss plain, they came upon gigantic rocks strewn along the pathway
+of the ants in the dry spines. They crossed by these stones over little
+valleys and passing across tree roots, came to a clearing on the border
+of the Ants kingdom.
+
+There was a great crowd of ants waiting to welcome them. An old ant
+greeted Tom in the name of the whole community and, thanking him for the
+honor of his visit, placed himself in front of the procession, which at
+once began to move along the broad path.
+
+Tom noticed how the surroundings immediately changed. On all sides, were
+gangs of diligent workers, crossing or walking along the path, pulling
+beams, stones and dead flies, hurrying in their work and paying no heed
+to the procession. The nearer they came to the town, the greater became
+the crowds, while the path broadened and was hard, level and free from
+all obstructions. Presently, it opened into a broader clearing, from
+which moss, grass and sticks had been cleared away. In the background,
+appeared a great mound known as Black Town.
+
+On the way, Mirmex sat with Little Tom on the rose-bug and explained to
+him how the town was founded. First, a sheltered location was chosen
+under a tall pine tree, in the clear sun, but with the branches serving
+as a protection in case of rain. Then, paths were laid out in various
+directions where there was plenty of building materials, while
+messengers were sent out to explore the broader country beyond where one
+could find precious grains of grass or hunt green bugs. To such places
+they at once laid out the shortest paths, stamped hard and made
+perfectly smooth, tore out all the roots and built bridges over the
+marsh and other inaccessible places.
+
+While Mirmex talked, he became very affable. Tom listened to him most
+attentively and while he did not understand everything that was told
+him, nevertheless, he recognized that there was a great difference
+between the realm of the ants and that of the ladybirds. The latter were
+living a carefree life, dancing and making merry the whole day long,
+while the ants had a very strict discipline, divided their work
+carefully among themselves and made provision for the welfare of their
+descendants and for the protection of the town.
+
+Tom decided that, on this visit, he would merely look over their
+arrangements, and, later, would return to them with Chrysomela, in order
+to study their methods of administration, so that he could apply them in
+his ladybird kingdom.
+
+Finally, they arrived at the level plain before the town, where the
+noise of the working ants did not cease. The entire surface of the town
+was covered by workers, running and building, while there was a constant
+crowd carrying burdens through the gates of the town. Tom noticed a
+strong perfume that seemed to come from the town itself. After he had
+dismounted from the rose-bug, he was led through a broad corridor within
+the ants mound, where in a low, but solidly constructed hall,
+refreshments had been prepared, consisting of grass grains, delicious,
+palatable bulbs that seemed to melt on the tongue, and sweet juices of
+which Tom had never seen the like, but which tasted very good to him.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+According to their habit the ants ate so rapidly, that Little Tom could
+hardly keep up with them. After they had finished, Mirmex asked what he
+would like to see first: The building, the division and character of the
+daily work, or the storehouses. Tom replied politely that everything was
+of interest to him and that he would leave the selection to Mirmex's
+judgment.
+
+They took leave of the others, who were becoming anxious to return to
+their work and then Mirmex said, "First, I will show you what is most
+precious and dear to us and our future generation".
+
+They walked through a long corridor, deep in the town. In the darkness,
+Mirmex ran along confidently, only here and there touching the walls,
+while Little Tom was obliged to grope his way. He was hot and the strong
+fragrance was almost overpowering, while every now and then he bumped
+into workmen hurrying and quickly passing around them. Finally, they
+came into a series of dry, warm halls, and when Tom became accustomed to
+the darkness, he perceived thousands of little, light worms that were
+stretching their necks and turning their little black heads.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Workmen were running among them, pushing into their little mouths a
+sweet porridge and thus feeding them. Mirmex silently watched the
+careful attention of the workers for a moment and then said, "These are
+our youth, our pride and hope. They were born from eggs and when they
+grow up, will enclose themselves in chrysalises from which they will
+come out as ants, our descendants. Our chief concern is that they have a
+good living place, neither wet nor cool and that they have enough
+porridge, so that they will develop properly."
+
+Tom was greatly touched by the ants' care of their little ones, and was
+surprised that they had such experienced and skilful nurses who seemed
+to love their wards so tenderly.
+
+They went up one story higher and found, lying on the floor, thousands
+of white chrysalises all wrapped up in silken coverings. A number of the
+ants were taking these chrysalises in their strong jaws and carrying
+them out through a broad corridor at the end of which daylight was
+shining. Following them, Tom and Mirmex came out under a thick arch of
+pine needles, through which circles had been bitten, to allow the rays
+of the sun to strike the ant hill. On these dry places where the sun was
+shining, the ants placed the chrysalises side by side, so that they
+should be warmed in its rays.
+
+The entire top of the town was covered by stones over which were placed
+pine needles to shed the water when it rained. Mirmex and Tom stepped up
+on one of these stones and looked about them. They saw roads like white
+threads, that lost themselves in the high grass and moss. All over the
+town were the thickly crowded workmen, while other groups were hurrying
+along the paths.
+
+Mirmex explained to Tom the troubles they had with the chrysalises. In
+the mound were corridors of different temperatures so that, according to
+the weather, the chrysalises could be taken where the conditions were
+favorable, while, on clear, dry days, they were brought out in the sun.
+
+Returning inside into a different hall, Little Tom was given a surprise.
+On the floor were lying many chrysalises and on them were ants biting
+and tearing their silk coverings. Tom thought that the ants wanted to
+eat their young, but soon saw that from the white coverings, little
+black heads with shining black bodies were trying to get out and with
+what pleasure the nurses were welcoming them, cleaning them, stretching
+their cramped legs and their bent-up feelers, bringing them food and
+teaching them how to eat.
+
+It was touching to see the little fellows, looking around in surprise,
+falling clumsily about and throwing themselves eagerly on the sweet
+porridge. From the hall led two other corridors, sloping downward, and,
+as Tom was looking into them, Mirmex came to him and said: "These are
+safety exits. When danger threatens, through one of these the workers
+carry the chrysalises outside, where they crawl on the flowers and the
+grass, as our enemies cannot reach these heights. Through the second,
+they can go into the depths of the town and there hide the chrysalises
+in the secret chambers."
+
+As Mirmex led him through the first exit which opened at the opposite
+end of the town, directly into the highgrowing grass, which the ants had
+spared, Tom wondered what sort of enemies threatened the ants. As they
+walked along Mirmex enlightened him.
+
+"Since unremembered time, the ants have had a great enemy, the Redheads.
+They are larger than we, ugly, red fellows and cruel, rough fighters.
+From early childhood they do nothing but perfect themselves in fighting
+and robbing. They do not understand work and do not even know how to eat
+by themselves. The have long jaws sharp as a lance, with which, at one
+stroke, they can pierce an enemy's head. Their slaves do all their work,
+build their town, care for their children, gather their stock and also
+feed them. The slaves are in greater numbers than their masters and
+could let them die from hunger, yet they never revolt, having no idea of
+the freedom and liberty of the ants in their independent realm. That is
+because they have never lived in freedom. The Redheads are not
+interested in their grown-up enemies, whom they slay, but they steal the
+chrysalises, which they give into the care of the slaves. These the
+slaves care for, bringing up the little ants and teaching them how to
+work for their masters. The youths know nothing of the life of the
+nation from which they came, only knowing how to work for their masters
+and their descendants."
+
+"You see how efficiently one works here with us. Everyone knows exactly
+his task and does it unceasingly until his last breath, and all work for
+the good of the community. The workman gladly performs his task. He is
+modest and knows neither pleasure nor idleness. His only consolation is
+the proper result of his labors, but he feels himself free, knowing that
+he is creating strong and healthy descendants and is insuring the
+freedom and liberty of the whole nation."
+
+"Our descendants would prefer to die rather than serve foreign masters.
+This the Redheads well know and, therefore, they take the ungrown
+children, who know nothing of the world, and train them as their slaves.
+Many, many thousands of our people are serving them truly and devotedly,
+but are forever lost to us."
+
+"But why do you not instruct them," asked Tom excitedly? "Why do you not
+explain how degrading it is to deny one's own people and serve
+strangers, altogether abandoning one's own nation?"
+
+"That is all in vain," replied Mirmex. "Who grows up a slave will remain
+a slave. They are quite satisfied with their fate and do not understand
+why they would be better off with us. If they should leave their
+masters, they would not feel happy with us."
+
+"Then why do you not prepare yourselves and not let them capture the
+chrysalises? Why do you not perfect yourselves in fighting and kill them
+when they come against you?" Little Tom was almost beside himself with
+anger and longed to lead an expedition against the Redheads and destroy
+them, but Mirmex remained cool and undisturbed.
+
+"They are stronger in body and more skilled in fighting," he answered.
+"If we wanted to ruin them, we should have to give up our manner of
+living; we should have to devote ourselves to fighting, warring and
+gaining skill in arms. Who among us would then attend to the
+agricultural work? Then we should be like them, murderers and robbers,
+living only on the work of others, and that we do not wish to be. We try
+to defend ourselves and at the same time not change our mode of life. We
+build our towns far from the Redheads and, if necessary, would rather
+move away from them. We station guards over our entire territory and, if
+we are attacked, meet the enemy bravely. We also know how to fight. Our
+workmen are skilful and when the worst comes, they become very good
+fighters. We have often defeated the Redheads and driven them away from
+our town; but we do not attack their towns or rob them. The Redheads
+avoid our large towns and attack those that are young and newly
+established. Only when they lack slaves, do they attack our principal
+communities. As for us, we are satisfied to stand up for our rights,
+defend our liberty and our young ones, and live according to our
+destiny."
+
+Little Tom looked admiringly at Mirmex, who was talking quietly and
+earnestly, but Tom felt his genuine loyalty to his native town and his
+passionate love for freedom.
+
+In the meantime, they came to a lonely part at the back of the town,
+where the corridors were ruined and the surface covered with dust. Tom
+asked in surprise, why such a large part of the town was left in ruins.
+Mirmex explained that this was the oldest portion which had been well
+founded, but, overhead in the pine tree, something had happened. A
+branch had been torn off by the wind, so that the town was not properly
+protected from the rain and the chrysalises were threatened by the
+dampness. Therefore, they started to build new halls a little farther
+along, where it was drier and better sheltered, until the town was
+higher and larger, into which they would then move their stores and the
+chrysalises.
+
+Then Mirmex asked Tom to go with him and look at the storehouses; so
+they went back to the town and passed through winding corridors to great
+rooms, where they met many ants carrying heavy burdens. Tom saw the
+rooms piled clear to the top with little grains dried and cleaned. In
+one room many ants were sitting, some cleaning the grains, others
+blowing away the chaff and still others stacking up the finished
+product. Others gathered up the refuse and carried it outside the ant
+hill.
+
+"These," said Mirmex, "are our granaries and our stores for bad seasons.
+There are enough supplies here to support the town for a long while."
+
+Then they went to a hall higher up, where the porridge for the
+chrysalises was being prepared, and there Tom saw workers hurrying out
+of the nests with empty coverings of the chrysalises. He thought how
+this soft silk used to be brought by the gnome merchants to his father
+and how, at home, they were woven into precious silken garments.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+From the granaries and kitchens, they came to the stalls, where Tom saw
+green bugs, fat and lazy, crawling under a low arch. From the back of
+each bug extended two little tubes, through which the ants were sucking
+as they tickled the bugs with their feelers. Tom was surprised again,
+when Mirmex explained that, through these tubes, the bugs let out a
+sweet juice, of which the ants are very fond. "We keep many of them
+here," continued Mirmex, "for the workers engaged in the town. Those who
+are working outside, have their large stalls on the flowers."
+
+Tom asked why the bugs on the flowers did not run away and Mirmex told
+him, that where there were enough bugs on a flower, the ants surrounded
+it with trenches and ramparts, so that the bugs were in captivity and
+could not escape. "There they stay in their captivity and do not have to
+be fed and the workmen do not have to return to the town to drink," he
+added.
+
+Little Tom sincerely admired the whole arrangement of the ants town.
+This pleased Mirmex. "Let us go a little further," he continued. "I will
+next show you our hot-beds." They went along a narrow corridor, and Tom,
+touching the walls, found them damp. They passed through rooms that were
+very hot, until they reached a low chamber which was filled with damp,
+round leaves, while the walls were covered with mildew. Tom did not care
+to go into this damp hot bed, but Mirmex laughed.
+
+"Do you remember," he inquired, "how you helped us build a crossing over
+the strip of glue on the rose-bush in the garden? At that time you were
+curious to know why we were biting out little circles from the rose
+leaves and were carrying them away. Here you see the leaves piled up in
+heaps. In this part of the mound grows a mushroom. Here it is damp. The
+water comes from a near-by mossfield and the dampness is good for the
+mushroom mildew. It puts out little thin stalks that grow up from the
+rose leaves."
+
+Tom noticed that the heaps were covered with long stalks which
+surrounded them like grass. While he was looking at them, many ants came
+into the room. One examined the stalks to see if they were sufficiently
+grown and then they started to work. One after the other, they bit the
+shoots on the end. Mirmex conducted Tom into the second room, so as not
+to be in the way of the workers. There were no longer stalks on the
+leaves but, in their place, stunted, round bulbs as if the heap were
+covered with pin heads.
+
+"If we should allow the shoots to grow", remarked Mirmex, "they would
+fill the whole room and be of no use; therefore, we must bite them on
+the end, and so the shoots are stunted and grow into the broad, juicy
+bulbs which are our best food."
+
+Tom tasted one or two of the bulbs and found them very good. They were
+slightly sweet and full of juice. He envied the ants their clever mode
+of living. He doubted if he would be able to bring the Ladybirds to such
+a degree of perfection; but when they were leaving the halls, he thought
+that, after all, the life of the Ladybirds was better, more beautiful,
+fresher, and more joyous, being spent in pleasure under the great,
+bright sky, without troubles, without heavy labor, and full of happiness
+and merriment.
+
+He thought that he would speak to Mirmex about it and ask him why the
+ants have no pleasure and merriment, if life is so serious that all the
+time it is necessary to worry and work and be on guard and not to have
+one moment of relief or time for one's own pleasure.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+CHAPTER NINE.
+
+THE WAR OF THE ANTS.
+
+  THE PREPARATIONS FOR WAR.
+  LITTLE TOM BECOMES THE COMMANDER OF THE
+  BLACK TOWN.
+  THE AMBUSCADE OF THE REDHEADS.
+  LITTLE TOM'S VICTORY. THE PURSUIT OF THE ENEMY.
+  LITTLE TOM TAKEN CAPTIVE.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+[Illustration]
+
+When they came to the square before the town, Tom told Mirmex of his
+doubts, but before the latter could answer they perceived an ant
+hurrying at great speed out of the moss and barely succeeding in
+staggering around them to the gate. Mirmex looked after him in
+astonishment, but, at this moment, a crowd of the workmen ran out,
+quickly divided themselves into groups, and took their stations on the
+roads in every direction.
+
+The whole town was swarming with workmen, hurrying out, and with the
+nurses who were quickly carrying the chrysalises from the place where
+they had been sunning themselves, inside the mound. Some exciting
+message had set the town in an uproar.
+
+Mirmex immediately disappeared through the gate and Tom was left to look
+on the excited turmoil. It seemed to him the wildest disorder, that
+every one was hustling and running around, as if bereft of reason; but
+he soon saw that all this bustling was part of a carefully directed plan
+and that something was being carried out that he did not understand.
+
+From the gates were coming ants who stretched themselves in long,
+well-ordered lines and then disappeared in the moss. Work in the town
+ceased, and at once the whole surface was deserted; but from all the
+roads, crowds of ants came quickly into the square, where they formed
+themselves in battle array.
+
+Tom finally recognized that the preparations were for battle. At that
+moment, Mirmex came up to him and started leading him into the town,
+telling him that news had come of a marauding expedition of the
+Redheads.
+
+The guards on the borders had seen some Redheads spying about and had
+caught some black slaves, from whom they learned that, since early
+morning, the Redheads had been planning a most formidable expedition. At
+first, they thought the Redheads were planning to attack a small town by
+the brook, in the forest, but they sent out some spies of their own who
+came upon a great crowd of Redheads gathering by the stumps on the
+clearing leading to Black Town, and they at once sent in the messenger
+to give the alarm.
+
+"This will be a battle such as we have never seen," said Mirmex. "The
+Redheads have all gone into this attack in which they have formed great
+armies. In all probability, they wish to rob us, not only of our
+children but of our large harvests. They themselves live deep in the
+valley, where there is little grass and the country is not rich, while
+they know that we are close to the fields and gardens from which we
+have, this year, gathered great stores of food. This time it will be a
+fight for life or death. Fortunately, we have time to send out
+messengers and collect all our strength and to form our army."
+
+Tom was trembling with excitement and asked to be allowed to fight in
+the first rank and to help in the victory over the robbers. Mirmex
+thanked him. "You will be most welcome," he said, "but you cannot go
+into the field, for you do not know our way of fighting. It is not a
+question of personal bravery but of a sound plan based on our knowledge
+of the ground. We are not afraid of the result, for we are well prepared
+and all that we need is the full strength of our numbers to equalize the
+greater weight and the better fighting equipment of our enemies. The
+only thing we fear is the treacherous attack of some reserve force, for
+the Redheads are very crafty and know how to conceal their plans and we
+are quite likely to be attacked in the town while our forces are all in
+the field."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"We ought to leave a garrison to defend the town. Therefore, we will ask
+you to remain for its defense, in which case a small group with you will
+be sufficient. Then we will not fear that anything will happen behind
+our backs, while we are out in the field."
+
+Tom thanked Mirmex for this confidence and promised him that he would
+defend the town to his last breath.
+
+In the meantime, the last divisions were disappearing in the moss and in
+the grass. The town became quiet; only some guards were running on the
+stones at the top and crawling up the flowers in the square. A small
+garrison remained at the crossroads and watched the last of the soldiers
+marching toward the depths of the wood. Mirmex quickly said good-bye and
+also disappeared. Tom returned to the town, as he wanted to mount to the
+top and take a look around the country.
+
+Thus a terrible war started which completely changed Tom's fate.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The broad country around the ants' town was almost deserted. Tom saw
+only his garrison in the square, the guards hiding in the blossoms of
+hawkweed and grass stems, groups of workmen putting various things in
+order, and the nurses in perturbation, running all over the town and
+taking care of the entrances where they had placed the chrysalises.
+
+Tom ran down from the top of the mound, saw that there were guards at
+the magazines and went out to take a look at the surroundings. At the
+gate, he met two guards who were leading his rose-bug steed out of the
+stall, having been ordered by Mirmex to get him ready, in case Tom
+should need him in the fight. Tom at once mounted and rode to the
+heather, to see if there was any danger threatening the town in that
+direction.
+
+On the way, he thought of his friends and wondered how they were getting
+on in the fight; then he thought of Chrysomela and decided that after
+the battle he would send her a message, lest she should worry about him.
+
+As he rode through the moss, he saw behind a stone at one side, two
+little red spots moving. They seemed, at first, only two dry twigs, but
+their movement was suspicious. He rode along slowly as if he did not see
+them, but when he had come up to them, he jumped down suddenly and with
+drawn sword threw himself behind the stone; there he found a Redhead
+whom he cut in two. The moss moved and there were two other Redheads
+running away. Tom left them, mounted hurriedly and rode back to the town
+as fast as he could go. It was high time.
+
+The reserves of the Redhead army were stealing through the heather to
+the town, hoping to find it weakly guarded and to plunder it. When a
+messenger reached them reporting how a giant had killed one of their
+spies, they were greatly surprised; but they did not suspect that Tom
+was an ally of the Black Ants, so they became quieted, thinking that the
+giant had met their spies only by accident, and started forward toward
+the town.
+
+Tom ordered all the guards to be brought back to the town, so that they
+should not be surprised by the attack of the Redheads, and placed part
+of the garrison on top of the town and the rest in the grass close by.
+He already knew whence the attack would come and was prepared to meet
+it.
+
+The Redheads crawled carefully through the moss and when they did not
+encounter any guards, they thought that the Black Ants did not suspect
+that they had reserves. They soon came out on the square and ran in a
+great crowd to the town which seemed to be deserted. As soon as they
+came close, Tom sent the garrison hidden by the gates to attack them.
+Although taken by surprise, the Redheads defended themselves bravely.
+
+They struck the defenders with their long, sharp jaws and in a compact
+body, pushed forward toward the main gate. At this moment, out of the
+gate came Tom with his band of selected workers, and wherever he struck
+with his sword, off flew a red head or a foot. Then, two or three of his
+companions would throw themselves on the red fighters, biting their feet
+and backs. The Redheads became afraid and leaving many dead and wounded
+on the square, ran headlong for the moss.
+
+At this moment, a great company of Black Ants that had hidden in the
+grass, came out and met them. A terrible fight followed and only a few
+of the Redheads were able to beat their way through the black ranks and
+return as best they could to the rest of their army.
+
+Tom was not satisfied with this victory. He sat on his rose-bug and, in
+his rage, wished to exterminate the Redheads altogether. All his friends
+begged him not to leave the town, but he was burning for revenge.
+Leaving the older men on guard, he chose a group of young, enthusiastic
+workers and hurried with them after the retreating enemy.
+
+Moss, red and blue berries, sped by them as they hastened on and,
+whenever they came to one of their foes lagging behind, they immediately
+cut him to pieces. The rose-bug, who also became enthusiastic over the
+fight, was soon running at the head of the scattered crowd and wherever
+he saw a Redhead easily overtook him, when Little Tom would cut him down
+with his sword. So they ran blindly ahead, paying little heed to
+anything, intoxicated with their victory.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Now brave Little Tom did not know the sly cunning of his foes. The
+fleeing ones scattered broadly as they made for their home. The
+strongest among them, however, stopped a moment and, hiding themselves,
+noticed that Tom was riding almost alone, having outridden his own
+troop. Then they ran as fast as they could to their home, where they
+found a swarm of slaves awaiting the results of the main battle. With
+them were many of their masters in great excitement. They had received
+many discouraging reports. Many fighters had been lost and the army was
+being pressed back, step by step.
+
+Tom was really dreaming how he would attack the deserted Red Town, start
+a revolt of the black slaves and fall upon their army in the rear, thus
+completing the victory. He did not even wait for his scattered party to
+catch up with him and, as soon as he saw the black slaves, immediately
+urged his steed after them. The slaves became frightened at the sight of
+this victorious giant on a golden horse and turned around, running in
+desperate fright with Tom galloping after them.
+
+At this moment, some of those who were retreating came up and reported
+that just behind them was a great giant at the head of a band of Black
+fighters, heading straight for their town. Immediately, they gathered
+themselves together and, hiding all along the path, sent some black
+slaves toward Tom. They knew these slaves could not fight, but would
+start to run away from Tom and thus draw him on.
+
+Already, before him, appeared the town and he was almost on the square
+in front of it, when the Red fighters came out of their ambush and threw
+themselves on the rose-bug. He stopped. Tom struck around him into the
+red bodies which squirmed under his blows; but the clever fighters,
+protected by the bodies of their fallen comrades, attacked him by biting
+his feet with their powerful jaws, until he slipped and fell to the
+ground.
+
+Before he could get up, they rendered him unconscious and ordered the
+slaves to drag him victoriously into the town. There they took away
+everything that he had, bit his clothes to pieces and left him
+unconscious in a dark dungeon.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+CHAPTER TEN.
+
+LITTLE TOM IN CAPTIVITY AND FREEDOM.
+
+  THE DEFEAT OF THE REDHEADS.
+  MIRMEX TRIES TO FIND LITTLE TOM.
+  LITTLE TOM IN PRISON.
+  THE BANQUET OF THE REDHEADS.
+  LITTLE TOM BECOMES AN ARCHITECT.
+  HIS WALKS TO THE BROOK.
+  SEVEN SPOT DISCOVERS THE WHEREABOUTS OF
+  LITTLE TOM.
+  LITTLE TOM SAVED BY THE WOOD-BUG.
+  LITTLE TOM AND CHRYSOMELA.
+  THE PREPARATIONS FOR THE WINTER-SLEEP.
+  LITTLE TOM AND CHRYSOMELA SET OUT ON THEIR
+  WAY TO THE ABODES OF MEN.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+The Red fighters returned to their nest in disorder and were very angry.
+They had lost the battle. The Blacks, after chasing them away, stopped
+the pursuit and returned to their homes. Mirmex hurried along among the
+first to learn how things were going in the town. When he approached,
+the guards hurried out to meet him with great joy and told him how Tom
+had defeated the treacherous attack of the Reds and how the town was
+untouched.
+
+Mirmex at once looked for Tom to thank him and was surprised that he did
+not come to greet him. When he learned that Tom had gone in pursuit of
+the fleeing enemy, he was greatly troubled. He knew Tom's brave heart
+and also the cool, treacherous Redheads and he feared for the worst.
+
+The town quickly resumed its normal life. Workers cleared the square and
+removed the dead bodies, while the nurses carried the chrysalises back
+to the upper stories; everything moved along in the regular channels,
+only Mirmex ran impatiently out to the paths looking and waiting for
+Tom's return.
+
+But he did not return. Towards evening, the tired warriors who had
+accompanied him, returned and told of his brave fight and his capture.
+They related how he was overpowered and pulled away before they could
+run to his rescue.
+
+The entire town was very sad over the fate of its brave defender. Mirmex
+went himself to announce the sad news to Chrysomela and the Ladybird
+kingdom. There was no thought of rescue. In their defenses the Red
+fighters were invincible. This the Black Ants knew very well. Therefore
+they gave up the idea of trying to free Tom. They again took up the work
+that had been interrupted by the fight and could no longer be delayed,
+as they were preparing for the winter.
+
+In the meantime, Tom was lying wounded and unconscious in the nest of
+the Redheads, who crawled over him and looked at him with the greatest
+curiosity. When he finally revived, he could not move and lay for a long
+while trying to think where he was. He felt the touch of feelers and
+feet, which he began to push away, but was at once bitten. Then he
+remembered his defeat and that he was in captivity.
+
+When the Redheads saw that Tom was becoming conscious, they gathered
+around him. He raised himself to a sitting position with difficulty and
+looked about. He saw that they had brought him a kind of porridge with
+little seeds in it, but he was not hungry. His wounds burned and he had
+a fever. When he fully recalled all that had happened, he almost cried
+with sorrow. All his dreams of capturing the town had melted away, and
+his friends had vanished. What was to happen to Chrysomela? In vain, she
+would be waiting and watching for her hero to return. And what would
+happen to him?
+
+When the Redheads had looked at Tom long enough to satisfy their
+curiosity, they left him alone; but he noted that the little hall was
+well guarded and that they were watching to see what he would do when he
+could again control the strength of his limbs. After his pain and
+sadness had passed, he did not by any means give up all hope. He thought
+that Mirmex would surely learn of his fate and tell what had happened to
+the ladybirds, and his friends would plan how to set him free.
+
+Of course they were powerless against the Redheads and would not dare to
+attack their town. He himself, without armor and with torn clothes would
+not dare to pit his strength alone against his captors. He had observed
+that they were quarrelsome, doughty and well armed.
+
+If he should stand up against them, even if he could kill some of them,
+he would be wounded and very likely be killed himself. He realized that,
+first of all, he must regain his strength, act very quietly so as not to
+arouse suspicion, and wait for an opportunity to escape. Therefore, he
+sat quietly all day long, ate the unpalatable seed porridge, until he
+felt that he had quite recovered his strength.
+
+The Redheads noticed that he was beginning to walk about and appearing
+better; so, one morning, they sent a few slaves to him to request him to
+go out with them. He accompanied them quietly through the corridors and
+out on the square where many fighters had gathered. They sat around him
+in a dense circle, proud in manner and not seeming to notice anything
+while they were being served by their slaves.
+
+Tom saw how the slaves swarmed about them, bringing to them quantities
+of food. Each fighter simply opened his terrible jaws and the obliging
+slaves quickly and skilfully thrust in morsels of tasty food. None of
+them wanted to be kept waiting a minute, and if he did not immediately
+get his morsel he would pitilessly grasp the slave by the foot and
+remind him of his duty.
+
+Tom paled with anger when he saw all this, and waited to see what would
+happen next. When the masters had eaten enough, they formed into dense
+battle array for an expedition and started off, while in the town only
+the slaves and a few guards remained, walking about without noticing Tom
+in the least.
+
+Some of the slaves ran to Tom and led him through corridors to a great
+hall, whose ceiling had fallen. With their feelers, they pointed to a
+heap of stones and spines. He understood that they were asking him to
+help. He thought the best thing to do would be to work and thus gain
+their confidence, so that he would not remain all of the time locked up
+in his dark cell.
+
+He started bravely at the work and the ants saw with surprise how well
+he knew how to handle the stones and beams, and what a gigantic strength
+he had. The slaves began to obey him, when he showed them how to clear
+away the fallen pieces, and the fighters themselves admired him, when
+they saw that he knew how to build, how to support the ceiling with
+beams, fasten the walls and smoothly level the corners.
+
+Tom was very glad to have the work, for the time forgetting his wounds
+and humiliation, and hoped that through it he would regain his freedom.
+When the evening came, the work had advanced more than the slaves could
+have accomplished in weeks; when they had finished, they led Tom back to
+prison.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+[Illustration]
+
+On the way, he saw a group of fighters joyously returning. They brought
+with them many white chrysalises, which the slaves at once took to the
+nest as if they were their own. The last comers brought grains and
+immediately all began to feast, the slaves as usual bringing them food,
+until they could eat no more.
+
+Tom knew that, somewhere, they had robbed a Black nest and compensated
+themselves for their recent defeat. He was sorry that he, too, was their
+slave and obliged to serve them like his black comrades, but he did not
+see any other way, if he hoped to escape from their clutches.
+
+Next day, he continued his building and the Redheads were greatly
+surprised, for they had never seen such construction. Then they began to
+show him a little consideration, feeding him well, but not allowing him
+to go out of the nest. Five or six fighting men never left his side. But
+Tom thought out a clever plan. He began to look for large, heavy
+branches, showing them that it was necessary to have strong, heavy
+pillars, in place of the thin spines. The Redheads at once sent out the
+slaves, but they could not drag such heavy beams into the nest. Then
+they sent Tom with a guard into the wood to select his own beams and
+bring them back. He purposely went very far and kept looking about, as
+if he could not find anything quite suitable.
+
+The guards followed him patiently and did not leave him a moment. There
+was no idea of flight on Tom's part. He noticed that the appearance of
+nature had changed. Blossoms had disappeared, the grass was dry and
+yellow, the heather was rustling and through the wood a mist was
+blowing. It was cold, and Little Tom was very uncomfortable in his torn
+dress.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Presently, they came to a little brook where there was a lot of cut
+twigs in a pile. There Tom stopped and began to look for hard, straight
+small pieces. The ants were biting the dried leaves and the blossoms,
+until he had his bundle of beams ready. Then he took one on his shoulder
+and carried it back to the nest. Thus, he worked for a few days, sure of
+being allowed to go outside. Every day they would go out, Tom preparing
+the beams, and hauling them back, while the slaves smoothed the roadway.
+
+One day, Tom saw on a blackberry a red spot that moved. He looked more
+closely and recognized his friend, Seven Spot. His throat tightened with
+delight, but he did not know how to give him a sign without arousing the
+suspicion of the ants. Then he began to sing at his work as loud as he
+could. Seven Spot spread his wings and flew away as if he had not seen
+him. Then Tom knew that everything was well--and that his friends had
+not forgotten him.
+
+He was so happy that he worked hard all day long, and the Redheads were
+amazed and delighted with his diligence. Then they began to consider how
+fine it would be if Tom would ally himself with them, and go against the
+Blacks and help them to victory. But they did not know Tom.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Tom, at first, had planned to jump in the brook and swim to the other
+side, when he should be given an opportunity, but he did not know how he
+should get to the Ladybirds' kingdom and was afraid that he would lose
+his way and perish. But now he did not mind, for he hoped that Seven
+Spot would show him the way. All night long he did not sleep from
+excitement, and in the morning hurried early to the brook.
+
+But when they reached it, Seven Spot was not to be seen. Tom looked all
+around, but, all day, his friend did not appear. He was quite desperate
+when he returned in the evening. The outside work was almost finished.
+They had beams enough and were now preparing for the winter.
+
+What if Tom had made a mistake and Seven Spot had appeared only by
+chance and had not noticed his King? Tom made up his mind that if Seven
+Spot should not come again, he would jump into the brook and swim
+across. He preferred to die in the wood rather than to spend the rest of
+his life in captivity with the Black Ants.
+
+When, next day, Tom came with his guards to the brook, there was no sign
+of Seven Spot. The last beams were prepared and only waiting to be
+carried to the nest. Tom stooped to take up one, wondering how he should
+reach the brook, when out of the pile he saw two great, bulging eyes
+looking straight at him. The pile moved a little, then appeared a pair
+of fierce whiskers and two pincer-like feelers and out came a giant
+Wood-bug with broad shoulders and a powerful breast.
+
+Tom became frightened and dropped the beam. The Redheads ran towards
+him, but the Wood-bug with a few steps met them. One he bit in two, the
+second he crushed under his foot and, jumping upon the pile, he caught
+Tom carefully in his jaws and ran with him into the forest. The slaves
+were horrified and ran away on all sides; the guards stood stupified,
+but where was the Wood-bug?
+
+He ran quickly through the blueberries and, when they were far away, he
+stopped. Placing Little Tom on the ground, he said, "Now sit on me and
+it will be easier for us both". Not another word did he say why he had
+come, or who had sent him.
+
+With delight, Tom threw his arms around his neck and could not ask him
+enough questions, but the Wood-bug did not say very much and only waved
+his foot. "Crawl up, crawl up. You will soon know all. Do not keep them
+waiting."
+
+Tom did crawl quickly upon his back and could hardly believe that he was
+free. The Wood-bug ran without stopping until they came to the old
+beech. Into the corridor he slipped and carried Tom right into his
+chamber. As soon as his whiskers appeared in the corridor, Chrysomela
+had come running out, caught Tom in her arms and cried from very joy.
+
+When Tom jumped down, the Wood-bug turned and disappeared without
+waiting to be thanked. As he looked at Chrysomela, Tom became alarmed to
+see how she had changed. She was pale and thin and only her true, violet
+eyes were as bright as formerly.
+
+At this moment came Seven Spot, dragging himself sleepily along and
+hardly able to keep his feet. He welcomed Little Tom and was pleased
+that everything had turned out so well. Tom wanted to thank him, but
+Seven Spot disregarded his speech, saying that everything had been done
+through Chrysomela and that, without her, nothing would have been
+accomplished.
+
+After they had eaten and drunk, they all sat down together and Seven
+Spot related how frightened they all were when Mirmex brought the news
+that the Redheads had captured Tom and taken him to their town. The
+Ladybirds flew everywhere to find their King and made inquiries of the
+snails, the ground beetles and the grubs, but none of them had seen him.
+This was probably during the time that he was kept a close prisoner in
+the Redheads' nest.
+
+They had begun to fear that the Redheads might have killed Tom for
+revenge and buried him in some place. Mirmex, also, for a long time, had
+been sending out spies and had headed a searching expedition on which he
+had captured some of the slaves, from whom he learned that Tom was alive
+and well and working inside the town.
+
+Mirmex would have liked to have gone to Tom's rescue, but the Black Town
+was very busy in getting ready for the long winter, while the Ladybirds
+themselves were beginning to succumb to the coming sleep and were
+disappearing one after the other. Even Seven Spot was becoming drowsy as
+the winter languor began to steal over him. With difficulty he kept
+himself from yielding to the desire for sleep, yawning much in secret,
+but Chrysomela encouraged him with praise of his real willingness to
+help. Every day he flew to the neighborhood of the Red Town, crawling
+all around it, until, one day, he was rewarded by seeing Little Tom come
+out of the town with his guards.
+
+Seven Spot did not want to show himself, so he flew high above the
+procession, lighting here and there on the bushes, until he discovered
+the exact spot where Tom was working. Then he sat hidden near by, on a
+wild briar bush, until he discovered the store of beams Tom was
+collecting. The next day, he came very early and lighting low down, on a
+blackberry, crawled about conspicuously so that Tom would be sure to see
+him. When he learned that Tom had seen him, he flew back immediately to
+Chrysomela to tell her the good news.
+
+Then they planned how they should help Tom to escape, but no good plan
+occurred to them. All that night they could not sleep, and in the
+morning they again took counsel with one another, but without result,
+until, towards evening, when Seven Spot was again describing how Tom was
+working close to the brook, the Wood-bug suddenly thrust his head into
+the room and asked just where the spot was. He had been working in the
+corridor preparing his winter quarters and had overheard what Chrysomela
+and Seven Spot were discussing. When Seven Spot had described the place
+to him and just how one could reach it, Chrysomela begged him to help
+them with his advice. The Wood-bug listened very carefully, nodding his
+head now and then. When Seven Spot had finished, he only said "To-morrow
+I will bring him", and at once left the room.
+
+All that night and the next day they waited in the greatest anxiety,
+until, finally, the Wood-bug, true to his word, arrived with Little Tom.
+When Chrysomela had finished her story, they heard Seven Spot snoring
+loudly and they could hardly waken him. Seven Spot looked up, rubbing
+his eyes, heavy with sleep.
+
+"Oh, King," he said, speaking with some difficulty, "I am happy that I
+again see you, but be good enough to excuse me, for already the winter
+sleep is upon me and I hardly know where I stand."
+
+They took leave of each other and Seven Spot disappeared languidly into
+the corridor, while Tom was left alone with Chrysomela in their
+dwelling. They sat together until late in the evening, as they had much
+to talk about. When, finally, they were ready to retire, they told each
+other that in the morning they would look over their kingdom.
+
+In the morning, when they had come out of the beech, they could see
+nothing around them but a white fog which lay on every object. Through
+the mist, they groped their way to the pool; but there was now no sign
+of the green arches, the yellow cattails, or the red willow herbs.
+Everywhere, were only the ends of bare, brown trunks and dry, rustling
+bushes, while the ground was muddy and the moss soaked with water and
+even from the pool the beautiful water-lilies had disappeared. All
+around them, there was not a single living creature. Empty and sad was
+their kingdom, without color, light or perfume.
+
+Nowhere was there a sign of the former life, or its delightful charm.
+They sadly returned to their home, wet and cold, where the Wood-bug
+awaited them. When he finally espied them, he shuffled about on his six
+feet, nodded with his whiskers and aired his wing shells, until he found
+courage to speak.
+
+"When are we going to clear up?" he inquired.
+
+Neither understood him and asked what he meant. Wood-bug was puzzled
+that his meaning was not plain. "Why, clear up for the winter," he said.
+"Where do you wish to sleep?"
+
+They tried to explain to him that they did not sleep during the winter.
+Now it was the Wood-bug's turn to be puzzled. Tom did not know what
+winter was, but when he saw that the whole Ladybird kingdom had
+disappeared and that all the creatures were preparing for a long sleep,
+he felt that they must surely perish in the lonely wood. Nothing was
+left to do, but to seek his Godmother and take Chrysomela to her, asking
+her to forgive them and allow them to stay with her during the winter.
+
+Tom begged the Wood-bug to take them to the Godmother in the little hut
+by the field behind the wood, near the brook. The Wood-bug listened
+without understanding until he heard the words, "field behind the wood".
+Then he said, "I know where that is. It is where there are no trees and
+no bark. There we will go. In the meantime, I will clear up here and
+close in everything for the spring."
+
+Tom put on a warm suit, belted on his sword and prepared a bundle of
+food, while Chrysomela put on a warm cloak of mole's fur lined with the
+silk of ants. When they were ready, they stepped out and looked around
+over their kingdom for the last time.
+
+The sun shone through the clouds, brightening the dry stumps, while the
+cold wind whirled showers of leaves and yellow beech nut shells over the
+dark water. The Wood-bug was waiting for them, so at once they sat down
+on his back and started to ride through the forest.
+
+For a long time they rode quietly. The Wood-bug walked heavily but
+quickly, as the winter sleep was not yet on him. Finally they came to
+the edge of the forest where there was a road with deep ruts, in which
+stood pools of water. The Wood-bug crossed the road to the stubble
+field, where he put them down and said, "This is the field and the path
+of human beings. It is not for us for, if we walk along it, before we
+are aware, we are crushed. Go along the stubble field. There it is safe
+and somewhere down there, you will find the hut."
+
+They wanted to thank him, but the good Wood-bug was already running
+back across the path, hurrying to reach his own little den; so the two
+travelers started out by themselves to find the human dwelling.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+CHAPTER ELEVEN.
+
+CHRYSOMELA'S DEATH.
+
+  LITTLE TOM AND CHRYSOMELA BETAKE THEMSELVES
+  TO TOM'S GODMOTHER.
+  THEY REST UNDER THE DOG-ROSE.
+  THE WIND SWEEPS THEM INTO A FURROW.
+  THEY WANDER IN THE DARK AND MEET A HAMSTER.
+  IN THE HAMSTER'S BURROW.
+  CHRYSOMELA FALLS ILL AND DIES. THE FUNERAL.
+  THE HAMSTER TAKES LITTLE TOM THROUGH THE SNOW
+  TO THE CHAPEL.
+  LITTLE TOM LEARNS, FROM A MOUSE, ABOUT THE
+  DEATH OF HIS GODMOTHER AND VISITS HER TOMB.
+  HE RETURNS WITH THE HAMSTER.
+  THE SLEDGE OF QUEEN FAIRY.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Tom walked with Chrysomela along the edge of the stubble field, down the
+road; that was all they knew of their direction--that they must always
+be going down. They expected that the way would not be long, for they
+remembered that, in one day, the ants had brought all their possessions
+from the Godmother's house to the wood. They forgot that the ants knew
+the direction and therefore walked straight over everything, while they,
+not knowing where to go, had to travel the path of the humans and
+therefore traveled in a wide circle.
+
+Chrysomela was well wrapped up in her cloak and over her head she had
+pulled a cobweb veil, so that her golden hair should not fly around, but
+on her feet she had only little, light shoes of birch bark. After she
+had gone a little way, she felt how heavily she was walking over the
+clods by the stubble field and stumbled so that she had to lean on Tom's
+strong arm.
+
+Tom tried to encourage her by telling her that they would soon see the
+human dwellings. He decided that if they should see any human being he
+would speak and ask that they be carried to the Godmother, so that
+Chrysomela should not suffer. She was very weak by the time the sun had
+gone down and fogs were coming over the woods. Day after day she had
+been sinking. Sorrowing over Tom's captivity had only made her worse,
+but she was of a brave heart and therefore went on uncomplaining, not
+wishing to trouble Tom. She wondered what she would find at the
+Godmother's house.
+
+On the way, they did not meet a single living creature. All the little
+animals were already hidden and only tiny spiders were wafted above them
+on silvery threads. The cold breeze blowing through the stubble field
+was becoming stronger and turning against them. Chrysomela began to
+cough. She controlled herself as best she could, but finally she was
+obliged to ask Tom if they could rest a bit, as the walking was tiring
+her.
+
+By this time, they had reached the end of the stubble field and had come
+to a wild briar bush, behind which was a freshly ploughed field full of
+glistening furrows. Tom placed Chrysomela on a few dried leaves under
+the briar and offered her seeds of beech nut and a nice red berry, but
+she was not hungry and only drank thirstily the blackberry juice from
+his bottle. Her hands were hot, her little forehead burning; she
+trembled all over with cold, while her eyes were shining with fever's
+brightness.
+
+Tom stroked her hair and soothed her by telling her how comfortable they
+would be at Castle Easter Egg with the Godmother. He told her of the
+tree with the golden nuts and sweet dates, and the precious little altar
+with the kings, shepherds, the Mother and the Baby; but Chrysomela no
+longer heard him. She leaned her head on his shoulder and closed her
+eyes.
+
+Tom realized that they would not be able to go any farther that day and
+dreaded the night under the open sky. He covered Chrysomela with a briar
+leaf and seated himself beside her. In a little while, as he was very
+tired, he fell asleep.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Suddenly, he awoke. Already, the darkness was stealing over the county,
+the evening wind was whistling through the wild briar and playing with
+the leaves. Tom wanted to protect Chrysomela. He put his arm around her
+waist and wrapped a rolled up beech leaf around her, but the strong wind
+caught it up and, whirling it with many others, carried them through the
+air until they fell into a deep furrow.
+
+Here they were sheltered, at least, from the wind and, crawling out from
+the leaf, they looked around them, but everywhere they could only see
+black earth slippery and soft like high hills with nowhere any sign of
+human traces. They did not know where they were, or whither the wind had
+carried them.
+
+All about them was only the dark night, while the cold of the evening
+pierced them to the bone. Chrysomela pressed close to Little Tom, but
+she was so weary, she could hardly stand on her feet. Tom feared to
+leave her, lest he might lose her, so, supporting her as best he could,
+stumbled on with her along the furrow until they came to a broad hole.
+He wanted at once to step in with Chrysomela, not caring who was there,
+and to ask for shelter, when, suddenly, out of the darkness, came a
+gigantic animal in a fur coat, with bristling whiskers and puffed out
+cheeks. It was the Hamster.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+He was about to slide into the hole, when he smelled something strange.
+He sniffed about him and peered into the darkness with his close-set
+eyes. When he saw the poor little travelers and how they were pressing
+together close to the hole, trembling with the cold, he said kindly,
+"Hullo there. Where are you going so late, you little travelers?"
+
+Tom advanced and, bowing politely before the Hamster, asked him for
+shelter for a weak, ill traveler. When the Hamster saw that there was a
+lady with Tom, he acted very courteously, and immediately invited them
+to come in. He ran ahead and returned at once with a torch of rotten
+wood, with which he lighted them along the corridor, until they came to
+his dining-room.
+
+There it was warm and cosy. The torch shone brightly and, when
+Chrysomela had removed her cloak and sat on the Hamster's bed, he
+wondered at her beauty. Then he ran to the pantry, shook out the grains
+which he had hidden in his baggy cheeks and, choosing from his store the
+best morsels, placed them before his guests. They were so dainty and
+delicate that they just melted in their mouths.
+
+Chrysomela rested. She gathered her golden, wind-blown hair into braids
+and thanked the good Hamster for his kindly courtesy with a sweet smile.
+For a little while, the fever left her and she seemed to be gaining
+strength.
+
+The Hamster outdid himself with attentions and brought out everything
+good that he had; but Chrysomela said that she only wanted to rest, so
+they prepared a soft bed for her, covered her with a warm coat and said
+good night. They then went into the pantry where there was room for both
+Tom and the Hamster.
+
+The Hamster had a wonderful store for the winter and showed Tom all his
+rooms filled with grain. One held oats, a second, wheat, and the third,
+rye. Everything was thoroughly peeled, cleaned and carefully put away in
+dry places. Tom praised his fine housekeeping and when the Hamster asked
+whence they had come and whither they were going, he told him their
+adventures.
+
+They talked late into the night, and when the Hamster learned that Tom
+was a prince and king of the Ladybirds' realm, he said that he had never
+seen gnomes but had heard very much about them from a mouse family that
+lived under the chapel by the forest.
+
+When Tom heard him speak of the chapel, he remembered that his
+Godmother had found the treasure in the wall near it and he asked the
+Hamster whether he could take them to her. The Hamster laughed. "Why
+should I not know her? On her field I am as if at home. She is a good
+woman. She does not know how to chase me or throw stones at me. There I
+have gathered my very best stores. This year, she did not come at all.
+All the grain had grown together and I could take what I wanted. Only,
+later, strange people came and gathered the grain; but, by that time I
+had all mine at home." He promised that he would take Tom to the chapel
+with Chrysomela and from there, the mice would show them the way to the
+Godmother's hut.
+
+When they had talked enough, they went to bed. Tom fell asleep,
+confident that their troubles were at an end and that tomorrow he would
+see his Godmother and that she would be greatly pleased with Chrysomela.
+He slept soundly. In the morning the Hamster woke him, excitedly; he
+said that he should at once look at Chrysomela, for all was not well
+with her.
+
+Tom ran to her at once and took her by the hand, but she did not
+recognize him. Her blue eyes were veiled and she was calling Seven Spot
+and the Wood-bug to save Tom; and then she would sing summer songs. She
+was in delirium. Tom did not know what to do. He sat by her bed, while
+the Hamster ran around bringing food and, finally, sat down in a corner
+by himself, desperate and sad.
+
+Thus they sat through the whole day. From time to time, Chrysomela
+became conscious, drank something and stroked Tom's hand. Then she would
+hear the music of gnats and the swarm of golden flies above the water,
+or would scream with fright.
+
+All night long, Tom and the Hamster did not sleep. They tried to care
+for Chrysomela and only towards morning did they themselves fall asleep.
+When they awoke, they found her sitting up in bed apparently well, but
+very weak.
+
+Tom was very happy that the illness had left her and that she was
+herself again. He knelt beside her, while the Hamster came running with
+pleasure and asked what she would have to eat; but the sad girl stroked
+the Hamster's fur and said to Tom in a thin voice, "My dear Tom, it is
+the end. It is not permitted to me to live with you and to be merry at
+the Godmother's house. I am growing weaker and weaker and, by evening, I
+will not be with you any more. Do not forget me in the world and
+remember that I was always your true comrade. You, Hamster, I thank for
+your good heart. You are not of us, but you are a good friend and
+perhaps I will meet you there, where our little nation has gone
+forever."
+
+She lay down and closed her eyes with weariness. Tom fell down on the
+bed and wept. The Hamster ran away and hid himself and did not come out
+any more. Chrysomela wakened again, soothed Tom and told him that he
+should not despair, that they would surely meet in the other world, when
+their days would begin again.
+
+Tom did not want to be soothed and only controlled his grief, so that he
+could make her last hour easier. He was sitting by her looking into her
+dying eyes, when, suddenly he saw that she brightened, looking over him
+into the darkness and he heard what she was whispering, "The Queen, our
+Queen is coming. I hear her horses neighing. She is nodding to me,
+nodding, Little Tom. We will meet." Then she became quiet and her face,
+deathly pale. Tom knelt silently by her bed, hearing nothing, knowing
+nothing.
+
+He did not know how long he was there, until the Hamster came and said,
+as if with an indifferent voice, "Come, now it is time. We will lay her
+away so that she can sleep easily".
+
+Tom obeyed blindly, covering her with her cloak, then raised her in his
+arms and walked behind the Hamster through a long corridor until they
+came to a small niche which the Hamster had dug and lined with daisies
+for Chrysomela. When they had laid her there, Tom said good bye to her,
+the Hamster closed in the niche, and they went back to the lonely
+dining-room.
+
+They sat there for a long time without speaking, until the Hamster
+suddenly said, "My dear Tom, I am as fond of you as a brother. Stay here
+with me. I have food enough. It will be better for us both. We will
+think of your poor Chrysomela until the Spring comes, and then I can
+drive you to the Ladybird kingdom."
+
+Tom thought of the Ladybirds, looked at the empty bed and cried
+bitterly. He never wanted to go back to the Ladybirds without
+Chrysomela, and only wished to get to the Godmother so that he could
+hide himself with her for the rest of his life. He asked the Hamster to
+take him there at once, for, here, his heart was breaking with grief.
+The Hamster said that, outside, there was a terrible snowstorm and they
+would have to wait until the next day. Perhaps, over night, Tom would
+reconsider.
+
+So they talked together without thinking of sleep. They thought of
+Chrysomela's death and Tom remembered how, in her delirium, she seemed
+to see a Queen. The Hamster then became thoughtful and said, "I do not
+know, but I think that such a Queen exists. She rules over all living
+creatures on the earth. All do not know her, only the chosen ones. There
+are rumors about her among those who live on the earth, in the air and
+in the water. All honor and acknowledge her. Whoever knows anything of
+her, does not talk about it."
+
+Tom begged him to tell him everything that he knew. He was trembling
+with excitement, believing, that, perhaps, after all, Chrysomela was not
+dreaming, but was arranging for their meeting.
+
+"I do not know a thing," replied the Hamster. "I am only an underground
+creature and it is not given to us to know the secret; but I believe
+that she exists, for the larks are singing of her, when I am running
+through the fields, the bees are buzzing about her in the grass and the
+flowers are dreaming of her, when in the evening they are breathing out
+their fragrance."
+
+The Hamster rose and went out, coming back to say that it was now
+possible to ride out and he would not try any longer to delay Tom.
+
+Tom went to say farewell to Chrysomela's last resting place; then he
+took his seat in the Hamster's fur coat and started out of the hole. Tom
+was greatly amazed when he looked around. Far and wide, wherever the eye
+could see, there was a great, white plain, and, everywhere, the snow was
+sparkling in the sun. The Hamster hurried through the snow, with the
+snow-dust rising behind them. Tom held on to his fur and could hardly
+breathe in the fresh morning air. They ran down by the field, crossed
+the meadow and saw the chapel under the wood, shining in the plain by
+the brook, but nowhere was the hut.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Tom looked around in vain; even from the stone steps of the chapel, he
+could not see it. All at once, a bright, little mouse stuck her sharp
+nose from under the rail and welcomed the Hamster. "How do you do,
+Godfather," she cried. "You have brought us a guest. How is it that you
+still take walks in the snow?"
+
+The Hamster introduced Little Tom and told her that they were seeking
+the widow's hut, but could not find it. The Mouse was surprised. "You
+are my neighbor and do not know it?" she asked incredulously. "Long
+since the widow has been sleeping under the ground of the chapel. In the
+Spring, she was ill and did not even chase us when we visited her. In
+the Summer, she lay down and died. They tore down her hut seeking some
+treasure. Now, they want to build here, I do not know what."
+
+The Mouse knew all the news for miles around and was very greatly
+pleased that she could talk with someone. The Hamster thanked her for
+all the information and asked where the lady was lying, for he suspected
+that Little Tom would like to say farewell to her. The Mouse took them
+through the hole under the floor, until they came into the crypt, where
+were standing the old, decaying coffins of the former knights and, in
+the middle, a black new one, the Godmother's.
+
+Tom stood before it and was so unhappy, that he did not even feel his
+great suffering. Then they came out into the daylight and said good-by
+to the talkative Mouse. Tom sat in the Hamster's fur and they started to
+return.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The sky, in the meantime, was covered with clouds, a gentle wind came
+up, and small flakes began to fall from the darkened sky. On the plain
+far away, Tom saw a reddish leaf and noticed how it was running, as if
+blown by the wind straight towards them. It seemed strange to him. The
+Hamster became confused, as he looked around; he looked once more, then
+doubled with fright into the snow, whispering, "The Queen!"
+
+The leaf came nearer; but it proved to be not a leaf at all, but a
+beautiful sledge drawn by four black crickets. On the box, sat a
+speckled coachman and, beside him, the footmen--centipedes, while,
+behind, nestled a most beautiful lady, all wrapped up in the green and
+black fur of a butterfly caterpillar. The little bells were ringing on
+the horses and the coachman snapped his whip as they approached the
+Hamster.
+
+The lady, leaning out of the sledge and shaking her finger at Little
+Tom, said, "You wanderer. Where are you going now? For a long time I
+have been looking for you. Everyone is expecting you and here you are,
+running around with such an underground monster. Come at once and sit
+down. You will go with me."
+
+The Hamster buried himself still deeper in the snow, but Tom bowed and
+said, "Dear Queen, the Hamster is my good friend. He helped me to take
+care of my beloved Chrysomela. I can not go where he may not, for I will
+not be untrue to him".
+
+The Queen smiled at the Hamster. "Look at this. Sometimes, even the
+Hamsters have good hearts. But now don't trouble about him. Hamster, go
+to your den, and when the time comes, speak and we will open to you."
+
+Tom said good-by to the Hamster, took his seat in the sledge, the Queen
+wrapped him up in her fur cloak, and soon they were flying and
+disappearing through the whirling flakes into the realm of Queen Fairy.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+
+
+  TRANSCRIBER NOTES
+
+  Page  15 " removed after "when she had cleaned it, there was the
+           horseshoe."
+  Page  27 extra r removed from measurring: "measuring out the paths"
+  Page  31 typo corrected: Godmocher to Godmother in "when his Godmother
+           saw him"
+  Page  53 changed , to . in "ride upon around the garden." Before"
+  Page  59 replaced desieved with deceived in "punished for having
+           deceived his Grandmother."
+  Page  67 corrected typo: of to if in "if you want to see what God's
+           world is like,"
+  Page  67 inserted space between valour and but in "She did not give
+           much thought to his valour but"
+  Page  68 inserted space between monster and darted in "Then the great
+           monster darted"
+  Page  69 mill corrected to milk in "drunk some milk,"
+  Page  70 blosoom corrected to blossom in "push right into the
+           blossom."
+  Page  74 space removed from the middle of today. "It is a miracle that
+           you did not die today."
+  Page  81 smellimg corrected to smelling in "sweet-smelling mint by the
+           water."
+  Page  90 typo corrected from Axterl to After in "After he had
+           dismounted"
+  Page  93 hin corrected to him in "Mirmex came to him and said:"
+  Page  94 healty corrected to healthy in "knowing that he is creating
+           strong and healthy descendants"
+  Page  94 Readheads corrected to Redheads in "This the Redheads well
+           know"
+  Page  95 duplicate "and" deleted in "defeated the Redheads and driven
+           them away"
+  Page  96 comma inserted: "Let us go a little further," he continued
+  Page 103 hat corrected to that in "from whom they learned that,"
+  Page 111 changed wery to were very in "and were very angry."
+  Page 112 comma inserted in "Tom was very glad to have the work, for
+           the time"
+  Page 119 hin corrected to him in "ran with him into the forest"
+  Page 120 The corrected to Then in "Then he sat hidden near by,"
+  Page 121 duplicate "of" deleted in "Nowhere was there a sign of the
+           former life,"
+  Page 122 missing " added after "you will find the hut.""
+  Page 131 hyphen put in dining-room for consistency "until they came to
+           his dining-room."
+  Page 132 exitedly corrected to excitedly in "the hamster woke him
+           excitedly;"
+  Page 134 neighfor corrected to neighbor in ""You are my neighbor"
+  Page 134 missing hyphen put in good-by in "and said good-by to the
+           talkative Mouse."
+  Page 134 full stop added after "and said good-by to the talkative
+           Mouse."
+  Page 134 increduously corrected to incredulously in "she asked
+           incredulously."
+  Page 136 hin corrected to him in "It seemed strange to him."
+
+  The use of " and " for open and close quotation marks respectively
+  has been retained.
+
+  [^S] and [^C] represent S and C with caron.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Little Tom, by V. Tille
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