diff options
| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 20:03:25 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 20:03:25 -0700 |
| commit | 9ac3a15b21b7683405198201cfdbd9a1680bcc84 (patch) | |
| tree | ad078d00ac9f24546fba3b46079418e50636b9b7 | |
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35281-0.txt | 6152 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35281-0.zip | bin | 0 -> 82589 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35281-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 2160094 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35281-h/35281-h.htm | 5342 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35281-h/images/cover.jpg | bin | 0 -> 110917 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35281-h/images/i002.png | bin | 0 -> 46719 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35281-h/images/i003.png | bin | 0 -> 59722 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35281-h/images/i004.png | bin | 0 -> 58376 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35281-h/images/i005b.png | bin | 0 -> 893 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35281-h/images/i005c.png | bin | 0 -> 962 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35281-h/images/i006.png | bin | 0 -> 61933 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35281-h/images/i006b.png | bin | 0 -> 1030 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35281-h/images/i007.png | bin | 0 -> 51606 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35281-h/images/i008.png | bin | 0 -> 65659 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35281-h/images/i009.png | bin | 0 -> 60572 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35281-h/images/i010.png | bin | 0 -> 59621 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35281-h/images/i011.png | bin | 0 -> 54064 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35281-h/images/i012.png | bin | 0 -> 98512 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35281-h/images/i013.png | bin | 0 -> 127173 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35281-h/images/i014.png | bin | 0 -> 53299 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35281-h/images/i015.png | bin | 0 -> 53448 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35281-h/images/i016.png | bin | 0 -> 53260 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35281-h/images/i017.png | bin | 0 -> 40781 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35281-h/images/i018.png | bin | 0 -> 46259 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35281-h/images/i019.png | bin | 0 -> 40930 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35281-h/images/i020.png | bin | 0 -> 45230 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35281-h/images/i021.png | bin | 0 -> 46978 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35281-h/images/i022.png | bin | 0 -> 56324 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35281-h/images/i023.png | bin | 0 -> 45683 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35281-h/images/i024.png | bin | 0 -> 42281 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35281-h/images/i025.png | bin | 0 -> 49415 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35281-h/images/i026.png | bin | 0 -> 123738 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35281-h/images/i027.png | bin | 0 -> 64460 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35281-h/images/i028.png | bin | 0 -> 65094 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35281-h/images/i029.png | bin | 0 -> 107960 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35281-h/images/i030.png | bin | 0 -> 64228 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35281-h/images/i031.png | bin | 0 -> 50206 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35281-h/images/i032.png | bin | 0 -> 58559 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35281-h/images/i033.png | bin | 0 -> 54517 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 35281-h/images/i034.png | bin | 0 -> 46937 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
43 files changed, 11510 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/35281-0.txt b/35281-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..55e0f54 --- /dev/null +++ b/35281-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6152 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Joyous Story of Toto, by Laura E. Richards + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and +most other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you +will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before +using this eBook. + +Title: The Joyous Story of Toto + +Author: Laura E. Richards + +Illustrator: E. H. Garrett + +Release Date: February 14, 2011 [eBook #35281] +[Most recently updated: June 7, 2021] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +Produced by: David Edwards, Katherine Ward, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE JOYOUS STORY OF TOTO *** + + + + +The Joyous Story +of +TOTO. + +by +LAURA E. RICHARDS. + +_WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY E. H. GARRETT._ +BOSTON: +ROBERTS BROTHERS. +1885. + +_Copyright, 1885_, +By Roberts Brothers. +University Press: +John Wilson and Son, Cambridge. + +_TO MY CHILDREN_ +This Story +IS LOVINGLY DEDICATED. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + +TOTO was a little boy, and his grandmother +was an old woman (I have noticed that +grandmothers are very apt to be old women); and +this story is about both of them. Now, whether +the story be true or not you must decide for yourselves; +and the child who finds this out will be +wiser than I. + +Toto’s grandmother lived in a little cottage far +from any town, and just by the edge of a thick +wood; and Toto lived with her, for his father +and mother were dead, and the old woman was +the only relation he had in the world. + +The cottage was painted red, with white window-casings, +and little diamond-shaped panes of +glass in the windows. Up the four walls grew a +red rose, a yellow rose, a woodbine, and a clematis; +and they all met together at the top, and +fought and scratched for the possession of the top +of the chimney, from which there was the finest +view; so foolish are these vegetables. + +Inside the cottage there was a big kitchen, with +a great open fireplace, in which a bright fire +was always crackling; a floor scrubbed white and +clean; a dresser with shining copper and tin +dishes on it; a table, a rocking-chair for the +grandmother, and a stool for Toto. There were +two bedrooms and a storeroom, and perhaps another +room; and there was a kitchen closet, +where the cookies lived. So now you know all +about the inside of the cottage. Outside there +was a garden behind and a bit of green in front, +and three big trees; and that is all there is to +tell. + +As for Toto, he was a curly-haired fellow, with +bright eyes and rosy cheeks, and a mouth that +was always laughing. + +His grandmother was the best grandmother in +the world, I have been given to understand, +though that is saying a great deal, to be sure. +She was certainly a very good, kind old body; and +she had pretty silver curls and pink cheeks, as +every grandmother should have. There was only +one trouble about her; but that was a very serious +one,—she was blind. + +Her blindness did not affect Toto much; for +he had never known her when she was not blind, +and he supposed it was a peculiarity of grandmothers +in general. But to the poor old lady +herself it was a great affliction, though she bore +it, for the most part, very cheerfully. She was +wonderfully clever and industrious; and her fingers +seemed, in many ways, to see better than +some people’s eyes. She kept the cottage always +as neat as a new pin. She was an excellent cook, +too, and made the best gingerbread and cookies +in the world. And she knit—oh! how she _did_ +knit!—stockings, mittens, and comforters; comforters, +mittens, and stockings: all for Toto. +Toto wore them out very fast; but he could +not keep up with his grandmother’s knitting. +Clickety click, clickety clack, went the shining +needles all through the long afternoons, when +Toto was away in the wood; and nothing answered +the needles, except the tea-kettle, which +always did its best to make things cheerful. But +even in her knitting there were often trials for +the grandmother. Sometimes her ball rolled off +her lap and away over the floor; and then the +poor old lady had a hard time of it groping about +in all the corners (there never was a kitchen that +had so many corners as hers), and knocking her +head against the table and the dresser. + +The kettle was always much troubled when +anything of this sort happened. He puffed +angrily, and looked at the tongs. “If _I_ had legs,” +he said, “I would make some use of them, even +if they _were_ awkward and ungainly. But when a +person is absolutely _all_ head and legs, it is easy +to understand that he should have no heart.” + +The tongs never made any reply to these +remarks, but stood stiff and straight, and pretended +not to hear. + +But the grandmother had other troubles beside +dropping her ball. Toto was a very good boy,—better, +in fact, than most boys,—and he loved his +grandmother very much indeed; but he was forgetful, +as every child is. Sometimes he forgot +this, and sometimes that, and sometimes the +other; for you see his heart was generally in the +forest, and his head went to look after it; and +that often made trouble. He always _meant_ to get +before he went to the forest everything that his +grandmother could possibly want while he was +away. Wood and water he never forgot, for he +always brought those in before breakfast. But +sometimes the brown potatoes sat waiting in the +cellar closet, with their jackets all buttoned up, +wondering why they were not taken out, as their +brothers had been the day before, and put in a +wonderful wicker cage, and carried off to see the +great world. And the yellow apples blushed with +anger and a sense of neglect; while the red apples +turned yellow with vexation. And sometimes,—well, +sometimes _this_ sort of thing would happen: +one day the old lady was going to make some +gingerbread; for there was not a bit in the house, +and Toto could _not_ live without gingerbread. So +she said, “Toto, go to the cupboard and get me +the ginger-box and the soda, that’s a good +boy!” + +Now, Toto was standing in the doorway when +his grandmother spoke, and just at that moment +he caught sight of a green lizard on a stone at a +little distance. He wanted very much to catch +that lizard; but he was an obedient boy, and +always did what “Granny” asked him to do. So +he ran to the cupboard, still keeping one eye on +the lizard outside, seized a box full of something +yellow and a bag full of something white, +and handed them to his grandmother. “There, +Granny,” he cried, “that’s ginger, and _that’s_ +soda. Now may I go? There’s a lizard—” and +he was off like a flash. + + + + + + + + + +“Oh, oh! what a dreadful face he made!” + + + +Well, Granny made the gingerbread, and at tea-time +in came Master Toto, quite out of breath, +having chased the lizard about twenty-five miles +(so he said, and he ought to know), and hungry as +a hunter. He sat down, and ate his bread-and-milk +first, like a good boy; and then he pounced +upon the gingerbread, and took a huge bite out +of it. Oh, oh! what a dreadful face he made! +He gave a wild howl, and jumping up from +the table, danced up and down the room, crying, +“Oh! what _nasty_ stuff! Oh, Granny, how _could_ +you make such horrid gingerbread? Br-r-rr! oh, +dear! I never, never, _never_ tasted anything so +horrid.” + +The poor old lady was quite aghast. “My dear +boy,” she said, “I made it just as usual. You +must be mistaken. Let me—” and then _she_ tasted +the gingerbread. + +Well, she did not get up and dance, but she +came very near it. “What does this mean?” she +cried. “I made it just as usual. What can it be? +Ah!” she added, a new thought striking her. +“Toto, bring me the ginger and the soda; bring +just what you brought me this afternoon. Quick! +don’t stop to examine the boxes; bring the same +ones.” + +Toto, wondering, brought the box full of something +yellow, and the bag full of something white. + +His grandmother tasted the contents of both, +and then she leaned back in her chair and laughed +heartily. “My dear little boy,” she said, “you +think I am a very good cook, and I myself think +I am not a very bad one; but I certainly can_not_ +make good gingerbread with mustard and salt +instead of ginger and soda!” + +Toto thought there _were_ some disadvantages +about being blind, after all; and after that his +grandmother always tasted the ingredients before +she began to cook. + +Now, it happened one day that the grandmother +was sitting in the sun before the cottage door, +knitting; and as she knitted, from time to time +she heaved a deep sigh. And one of those sighs is +the reason why this story is written; for if the +grandmother had not sighed, and Toto had not +heard her, none of the funny things that I am +going to tell you would have happened. Moral: +always sigh when you want a story written. + +Toto was just coming home from the wood, +where he had been spending the afternoon, as +usual. As he came round the corner of the cottage +he heard his grandmother sigh deeply, as if +she were very sad about something; and this +troubled Toto, for he was an affectionate little +boy, and loved his grandmother dearly. + +“Why, Granny!” he cried, running up to her +and throwing his arms round her neck. “Dear +Granny, why do you sigh so? What is the matter? +Are you ill?” + +The grandmother shook her head, and wiped a +tear from her sightless eyes. “No, dear little +boy!” she said. “No, I am not ill; but I am very +lonely. It’s a solitary life here, though you are +too young to feel it, Toto, and I am very glad of +that. But I do wish, sometimes, that I had some +one to talk to, who could tell me what is going on +in the world. It is a long time since any one has +been here. The travelling pedler comes only once +a year, and the last time he came he had a toothache, +so that he could not talk. Ah, deary me! +it’s a solitary life.” And the grandmother shook +her head again, and went on with her knitting. + +Toto had listened to this with his eyes very +wide open, and his mouth very tight shut; and +when his grandmother had finished speaking, he +went and sat down on a stone at a little distance, +and began to think very hard. His grandmother +was lonely. The thought had never occurred to +him before. It had always seemed as natural for +her to stay at home and knit and make cookies, +as for him to go to the wood. He supposed all +grandmothers did so. He wondered how it felt +to be lonely; he thought it must be very unpleasant. +_He_ was never lonely in the wood. + +“But then,” he said to himself, “I have all my +friends in the wood, and Granny has none. Very +likely if I had no friends I should be lonely too. +I wonder what I can do about it.” + +Then suddenly a bright idea struck him. +“Why,” he thought,—“why should not my friends +be Granny’s friends too? They are very amusing, +I am sure. Why should I not bring them to see +Granny, and let them talk to her? She _couldn’t_ +be lonely then. I’ll go and see them this minute, +and tell them all about it. I’m sure they will +come.” + +Full of his new idea, the boy sprang to his feet, +and ran off in the direction of the wood. The +grandmother called to him, “Toto! Toto! where +are you going?” but he did not hear her. The +good woman shook her head and went on with her +knitting. “Let the dear child amuse himself as +much as he can now. There’s little enough +amusement in life.” + +But Toto was not thinking of his own amusement +this time. He ran straight to the wood, and +entered it, threading his way quickly among the +trees, as if he knew every step of the way, which, +indeed, he did. At length, after going some way, +he reached an open space, with trees all round it. +Such a pretty place! The ground was carpeted +with softest moss, into which the boy’s feet sunk +so deep that they were almost covered; and all +over the moss were sprinkled little star-shaped pink +flowers. The trees stood back a little from this +pretty place, as I said; but their long branches met +overhead, as they bent over to look down into—what +do you think?—the loveliest little pool of +water that ever was seen, I verily believe. A tiny +pool, as round as if a huge giant had punched a +hole for it with the end of his umbrella or walking-stick, +and as clear as crystal. The edge of the +pool was covered all round with plants and flowers, +which seemed all to be trying to get a peep into +the clear brown water. I have heard that these +flowers growing round the pool had become excessively +vain through looking so constantly at +their own reflection, and that they gave themselves +insufferable airs in consequence; but as this +was only said by the flowers which did _not_ grow +near the pool, perhaps it was a slight exaggeration. +They were certainly very pretty flowers, and I +never wondered at their wanting to look at themselves. +You see I have been in the wood, and +know all about it. + +It was in this pretty place that Toto stopped. +He sat down on a great cushion of moss near the +pool, and began to whistle. Presently he heard +a rustling in the tree-tops above his head. He +stopped whistling and looked up expectantly. A +beechnut fell plump on his nose, and he saw the +sharp black eyes of a gray squirrel peering at him +through the leaves. + +“Hello, Toto!” said the squirrel. “Back again +already? What’s the matter?” + +“Come down here, and I’ll tell you,” said +Toto. + +The squirrel took a flying leap, and alighted +on Toto’s shoulder. At the same moment a +louder rustling was heard, among the bushes this +time, a sound of cracking and snapping twigs, and +presently a huge black bear poked his nose out of +the bushes, and sniffed inquiringly. “What’s +up?” he asked. “I thought you fellows had +gone home for the night, and I was just taking +a nap.” + +“So we had,” said Toto; “but I came back +because I had something important to say. I +want to see you all on business. Where are the +others?” + + + + + + + + + +“Well,” said Toto, “it’s about my grandmother.” + + + +“Coon will be here in a minute,” answered +the bear. “He stopped to eat the woodchuck’s +supper. Chucky was so sound asleep it seemed +a pity to miss such an opportunity. The birds +have all flown away except the wood-pigeon, and +she told me she would come as soon as she had +fed her young ones. What’s your business, +Toto?” and Bruin sat down in a very comfortable +attitude, and prepared to listen. + +“Well,” said Toto, “it’s about my grandmother. +You see, she—oh! here’s Coon! I’ll wait for +him.” As he spoke, a large raccoon came out +into the little dell. He was very handsome, with +a most beautiful tail, but he looked sly and lazy. +He winked at Toto, by way of greeting, and sat +down by the pool, curling his tail round his legs, +and then looking into the water to see if the +effect was good. At the same moment a pretty +wood-pigeon fluttered down, with a soft “Coo!” +and settled on Toto’s other shoulder. + +“Now then!” said the squirrel, flicking the +boy’s nose with his tail, “go on, and tell us all +about it!” + +So Toto began again. “My grandmother, you +see: she is blind; and she’s all alone most of the +time when I’m out here playing with all of you, +and it makes her lonely.” + +“Lonely! What’s that?” asked the raccoon. + +“I know what it is!” said the bear. “It’s +when there aren’t any blueberries, and you’ve +hurt your paw so that you can’t climb. It’s a +horrid feeling. Isn’t that it, Toto?” + +“N-no, not exactly,” said Toto, “for my grandmother +never climbs trees, anyhow. She hasn’t +anybody to talk to, or listen to; nobody comes to +see her, and she doesn’t know what is going +on in the world. That’s what she means by +‘lonely.’” + +“Humph!” said the raccoon, waving his tail +thoughtfully. “Why don’t you both come and +live in the wood? She couldn’t be lonely here, you +know; and it would be very convenient for us all. +I know a nice hollow tree that I could get for you +not far from here. A wild-cat lives in it now, but +if your grandmother doesn’t like wild-cats, the +bear can easily drive him away. He’s a disagreeable +fellow, and we shall be glad to get rid of him +and have a pleasanter neighbor. Does—a—does +your grandmother scratch?” + +“No, certainly not!” said Toto indignantly. +“She is the best grandmother in the world. +She never scratched anybody in her life, I am +sure.” + +“No offence, no offence,” said the raccoon. +“_My_ grandmother scratched, and I thought yours +might. Most of them do, in my experience.” + +“Besides,” Toto went on, “she wouldn’t like +at all to live in a hollow tree. She is not used to +that way of living, you see. Now, _I_ have a plan, +and I want you all to help me in it. In the +morning Granny is busy, so she has not time to +be lonely. It’s only in the afternoon, when she +sits still and knits. So I say, why shouldn’t you +all come over to the cottage in the afternoon, and +talk to Granny instead of talking here to each +other? I don’t mean _every_ afternoon, of course, +but two or three times a week. She would enjoy +the stories and things as much as I do; and she +would give you gingerbread, I’m sure she would; +and perhaps jam too, if you were _very_ good.” + +“What’s gingerbread?” asked the bear. “And +what’s jam? You do use such queer words sometimes, +Toto.” + +“Gingerbread?” said Toto. “Oh, it’s—well, +it’s—why, it’s _gingerbread_, you know. You don’t +have anything exactly like it, so I can’t exactly +tell you. But there’s molasses in it, and ginger, +and things; it’s good, anyhow, very good. And +jam—well, jam is sweet, something like honey, +only better. You will like it, I know, Bruin. + +“Well, what do you all say? Will you come +and try it?” + +The bear looked at the raccoon; the raccoon +looked at the squirrel; and the squirrel looked at +the wood-pigeon. The pretty, gentle bird had +not spoken before; but now, seeing all the other +members of the party undecided, she answered +quietly and softly, “Yes, Toto; I will come, and +I am sure the others will, for they are all good +creatures. You are a dear boy, and we shall all +be glad to give pleasure to you or your grandmother.” + +The other creatures all nodded approval to the +wood-pigeon’s little speech, and Toto gave a sigh +of relief and satisfaction. “That is settled, then,” +he said. “Thank you, dear pigeon, and thank +you all. Now, when will you come? To-morrow +afternoon? The sooner the better, I think.” + +The raccoon looked critically at his reflection in +the water. “Chucky bit my ear yesterday,” he +said, “and it doesn’t look very well for making +visits. Suppose we wait till it is healed over. +Nothing like making a good impression at first, +you know.” + +“Nonsense, Coon!” growled the bear. “You +are always thinking about your looks. I never +saw such a fellow. Let us go to-morrow if we +are going.” + +“Besides,” said Toto, laughing, “Granny is +blind, and will not know whether you have any +ears or not, Master Coon. So I shall expect you +all to-morrow. Good-by, all, and thank you very +much.” And away ran Toto, and away went all +the rest to get their respective suppers. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +“GRANNY,” said Toto the next day, when the +afternoon shadows began to lengthen, “I +am expecting some friends here this afternoon.” + +“Some friends, Toto!” exclaimed his grandmother +in astonishment. “My dear boy, what +friend have you in the world except your old +Granny? You are laughing at me.” + +“No, I am not, Granny,” said the boy. “Of +course you are the _best_ friend, very much the +best; but I have some other very good ones. +And I have told them about your being lonely,” +he went on hurriedly, glancing towards the wood, +“and they are coming to see you this afternoon, +to talk to you and tell you stories. In fact, I +think I hear one of them coming now.” + +“But _who are they_?” cried the astonished old +woman, putting her hand up at the same time to +settle her cap straight, and smoothing her apron, +in great trepidation at the approach of these unexpected +visitors. + +“Oh,” said Toto, “they are—here is one of +them!” and he ran to meet the huge bear, who at +that moment made his appearance, walking slowly +and solemnly towards the cottage. He seemed ill +at ease, and turned frequently to look back, in +hopes of seeing his companions. + +“Grandmother, this is my friend Bruin!” said +Toto, leading the bear up to the horrified old lady. +“I am very fond of Bruin,” he added, “and I +hope you and he will be great friends. He tells +the most _delightful_ stories.” + +Poor Granny made a trembling courtesy, and +Bruin stood up on his hind-legs and rocked slowly +backwards and forwards, which was the nearest +approach he could make to a bow. (N. B. He +looked so very formidable in this attitude, that if +the old lady had seen him, she would certainly +have fainted away. But she did not see, and +Toto was used to it, and saw nothing out of the +way in it.) + +“Your servant, ma’am,” said the bear. “I hope +I see you well.” + +Granny courtesied again, and replied in a faltering +voice, “Quite well, thank you, Mr. Bruin. It’s—it’s +a fine day, sir.” + +“It is indeed!” said the bear with alacrity. “It +is a _very_ fine day. I was just about to make the +same remark myself. I—don’t know when I +have seen a finer day. In fact, I don’t believe +there ever _was_ a finer day. A—yesterday was—a—_not_ +a fine day. A— + +“Look here!” he added, in a low growl, aside +to Toto, “I can’t stand much more of this. Where +is Coon? He knows how to talk to people, and I +don’t. I’m not accustomed to it. Now, when I +go to see _my_ grandmother, I take her a good +bone, and she hits me on the head by way of saying +thank you, and that’s all. I have a bone +somewhere about me now,” said poor Bruin hesitatingly, +“but I don’t suppose she—eh?” + +“No, certainly not!” replied Toto promptly. +“Not upon any account. And here’s Coon now, +and the others too, so you needn’t make any +more fine speeches.” + +Bruin, much relieved, sat down on his haunches, +and watched the approach of his companions. + +The raccoon advanced cautiously, yet with a +very jaunty air. The squirrel was perched on his +back, and the wood-pigeon fluttered about his head, +in company with a very distinguished-looking gray +parrot, with a red tail; while behind came a fat +woodchuck, who seemed scarcely more than half-awake. + +The creatures all paid their respects to Toto’s +grandmother, each in his best manner; the raccoon +professed himself charmed to make her acquaintance. +“It is more than a year,” he said, +“since I had the pleasure of meeting your accomplished +grandson. I have esteemed it a high privilege +to converse with him, and have enjoyed his +society immensely. Now that I have the further +happiness of becoming acquainted with his elegant +and highly intellectual progenitress, I feel that I +am indeed most fortunate. I—” + +But here Toto broke in upon the stream of eloquence. +“Oh, _come_, Coon!” he cried, “your +politeness is as bad as Bruin’s shyness. Why +can’t we all be jolly, as we usually are? You need +not be afraid of Granny. + +“Come,” he continued, “let us have our story. +We can all sit down in a circle, and fancy ourselves +around the pool. Whose turn is it to-day? Yours, +isn’t it, Cracker?” + +“No,” said the squirrel. “It is Coon’s turn. +I told my story yesterday.” + +“You see, Granny,” said Toto, turning to his +grandmother, “we take turns in telling stories, +every afternoon. It is _such_ fun! you’d like to +hear a story, wouldn’t you, Granny?” + +“Very much indeed!” replied the good woman. +“Will you take a chair, Mr.—Mr. Coon?” she +asked. + +“Thank you, no,” replied the raccoon graciously. +“My mother earth shall suffice me.” +And sitting down, he curled up his tail in a +very effective manner, and looked about him +meditatively, as if in search of a subject for his +story. + +“My natural diffidence,” he said, “will render +it a difficult task, but still—” + +“Oh yes, we know!” said the squirrel. “Your +natural diffidence is a fine thing. Go ahead, old +fellow!” + +At this moment Mr. Coon’s sharp eyes fell upon +the poultry-yard, on the fence of which a fine +Shanghai cock was sitting. His face lighted up, +as if an idea had just struck him. “That is a very +fine rooster, madam!” he said, addressing the +grandmother,—“a remarkably fine bird. That +bird, madam, reminds me strongly of the Golden-breasted +Kootoo.” + +“And what is the Golden-breasted Kootoo?” +asked the grandmother. + +The raccoon smiled, and looked slyly round +upon his auditors, who had all assumed comfortable +attitudes of listening, sure that the story was +now coming. + +“The story of the Golden-breasted Kootoo,” he +said, “was told to me several years ago by a distinguished +foreigner, a learned and highly accomplished +magpie, who formerly resided in this +vicinity, but who is now, unhappily, no longer in +our midst.” + +“That’s a good one, that is!” whispered the +wood chuck to Toto. “He ate that magpie about +a year ago; said he loved her so much he couldn’t +help it. What a fellow he is!” + +“Hush!” said Toto. “He’s beginning!” + +And Mr. Coon, dropping his airs and graces, +told his story in tolerably plain language, as +follows:— + +THE GOLDEN-BREASTED KOOTOO. + + +Once upon a time—and a good time it was—there +lived a king. I do not know exactly what +his name was, or just where he lived; but it doesn’t +matter at all: his kingdom was somewhere between +Ashantee and Holland, and his name sounded a +little like Samuel, and a little like Dolabella, and a +good deal like Chimborazo, and yet it was not quite +any of them. But, as I said before, it doesn’t matter. +We will call him the King, and that will be +all that is necessary, as there is no other king in +the story. + +This King was very fond of music; in fact, he +was excessively fond of it. He kept four bands of +music playing all day long. The first was a brass +band, the second was a string band, the third was +a rubber band, and the fourth was a man who +played on the jews-harp. (Some people thought +he ought not to be called a band, but he said he +was all the jews-harp band there was, and that was +very true.) The four bands played all day long +on the four sides of the grand courtyard, and the +king sat on a throne in the middle and transacted +affairs of state. And when His Majesty went to +bed at night, the grand chamberlain wound up a +musical-box that was in his pillow, and another one +in the top bureau-drawer, and they played “The +Dog’s-meat Man” and “Pride of the Pirate’s +Heart” till daylight did appear. + +One day it occurred to the King that it would be +an excellent plan for him to learn to sing. He +wondered that he had never thought of it before. +“You see,” he said, “it would amuse me very much +to sing while I am out hunting. I cannot take the +bands with me to the forest, for they would frighten +away the wild beasts; and I miss my music very +much on such occasions. Yes, decidedly, I will +learn to sing.” + + + + + + + + + +“Take this man and behead him!” said the King. + + + +So he sent for the Chief Musician, and +ordered him to teach him to sing. The Chief +Musician was delighted, and said they would begin +at once. So he sat down at the piano, and struck +a note. “O King,” he said, “please sing this +note.” And the King sang, in a loud, deep voice, + +The Chief Musician was enchanted. +“Superb!” he cried. “Magnificent! +Now, O King, please to sing _this_ note!” and he +struck another note: + +The King sang, +in a loud, deep voice, + +The Chief Musician looked grave. +“O King,” he said, “you did not quite understand +me. We will try another note.” And he +struck another: + +The King sang, in +a loud, deep voice, + +The Chief Musician looked dejected. +“I fear, O King,” he said, “that you can never +learn to sing.” “What do you mean by that, +Chief Musician?” asked the King. “It is your +business to teach me to sing. Do you not know +how to teach?” “No man knows better,” replied +the Chief Musician. “But Your Majesty has +no ear for music. You never can sing but one +note.” + +At these words the King grew purple in the face. +He said nothing, for he was a man of few words; +but he rang a large bell, and an executioner appeared. +“Take this man and behead him!” said +the King. “And send me the Second Musician!” + +The Second Musician came, looking very grave, +for he had heard the shrieks of his unhappy superior +as he was dragged off to execution, and he had +no desire to share his fate. He bowed low, and +demanded His Majesty’s pleasure. “Teach me to +sing!” said His Majesty. So the Second Musician +sat down at the piano, and tried several notes, just +as the Chief Musician had done, and with the same +result. Whatever note was struck, the King still +sang, + + +Now the Second Musician was a quick-witted +fellow, and he saw in a moment what the trouble +had been with his predecessor, and saw, too, what +great peril he was in himself. So he assumed a +look of grave importance, and said solemnly, +“O King, this is a very serious matter. I cannot +conceal from you that there are great obstacles in +the way of your learning to sing—” The King +looked at the bell. “But,” said the Second Musician, +“they can be overcome.” The King looked +away again. “I beg,” said the Second Musician, +“for twenty-four hours’ time for consideration. At +the end of that time I shall have decided upon the +best method of teaching; and I am bound to say +this to Your Majesty, that if you learn to sing—” +“What?” said the King, looking at the bell +again. “That when you learn to sing,” said the +Second Musician hastily,—“_when_ you learn to +sing, your singing will be like no other that has +ever been heard.” This pleased the King, and he +graciously accorded the desired delay. + +Accordingly the Second Musician took his leave +with great humility, and spent all that night and +the following day plunged in the deepest thought. +As soon as the twenty-four hours had elapsed he +again appeared before the King, who was awaiting +him impatiently, sitting on the music-stool. +“Well?” said the King. “Quite well, O King, I +thank you,” replied the Second Musician, “though +somewhat fatigued by my labors.” “Pshaw!” +said the King impatiently. “Have you found a +way of teaching me to sing?” “I have, O King,” +replied the Second Musician solemnly; “but it is +not an easy way. Nevertheless it is the only one.” +The King assured him that money was no object, +and begged him to unfold his plan. “In order to +learn to sing,” said the Second Musician, “you +must eat a pie composed of all the singing-birds in +the world. In this way only can the difficulty +of your having no natural ear for music be overcome. +If a single bird is omitted, or if you do not +consume the whole pie, the charm will have no +effect. I leave Your Majesty to judge of the +difficulty of the undertaking.” + +Difficulty? The King would not admit that +there was such a word. He instantly summoned +his Chief Huntsman, and ordered him to send +other huntsmen to every country in the world, to +bring back a specimen of every kind of singing-bird. +Accordingly, as there were sixty countries +in the world at that time, sixty huntsmen started +off immediately, fully armed and equipped. + +After they were gone, the King, who was very +impatient, summoned his Wise Men, and bade +them look in all the books, and find out how +many kinds of singing-birds there were in the +world. The Wise Men all put their spectacles +on their noses, and their noses into their books, +and after studying a long time, and adding up +on their slates the number of birds described in +each book, they found that there were in all nine +thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine varieties +of singing-birds. + +They made their report to the King, and he +was rather troubled by it; for he remembered +that the Second Musician had said he must eat +every morsel of the pie himself, or the charm +would have no effect. It would be a _very_ large +pie, he thought, with nine thousand nine hundred +and ninety-nine birds in it. “The only way,” he +said to himself, “will be for me to eat as little as +possible until the huntsmen come back; then I +shall be very hungry. I have never been _very_ +hungry in my life, so there is no knowing how +much I could eat if I were.” So the King ate +nothing from one week’s end to another, except +bread and dripping; and by the time the huntsmen +returned he was so thin that it was really +shocking. + +At last, after a long time, the sixty huntsmen +returned, laden down with huge bags, the contents +of which they piled up in a great heap in the +middle of the courtyard. A mountain of birds! +Such a thing had never been seen before. The +mountain was so high that everybody thought the +full number of birds must be there; and the Chief +Cook began to make his preparations, and sent to +borrow the garden roller from John the gardener, +as his own was not big enough to roll out such a +quantity of paste. + +The King and the Wise Men next proceeded to +count the birds. But alas! what was their sorrow +to find that the number fell short by one! They +counted again and again; but it was of no use: +there were only nine thousand nine hundred and +ninety-eight birds in the pile. + +The next thing was to find out what bird was +missing. So the Wise Men sorted all the birds, +and compared them with the pictures in the books, +and studied so hard that they wore out three pairs +of spectacles apiece; and at last they discovered +that the missing bird was the “Golden breasted +Kootoo.” The chief Wise Man read aloud from +the biggest book:— + +“The Golden-breasted Kootoo, the most beautiful +and the most melodious of singing birds, +is found only in secluded parts of the Vale of +Coringo. Its plumage is of a brilliant golden +yellow, except on the back, where it is streaked +with green. Its beak is—” + +“There! there!” interrupted the King impatiently; +“never mind about its beak. Tell the +Lord Chamberlain to pack my best wig and a clean +shirt, and send them after me by a courier; and, +Chief Huntsman, follow me. We start this moment +for the Vale of Coringo!” + + + + + + + + + +“He rode on horseback, and was accompanied only by the Chief Huntsman and the jews-harp band.” + + + +And actually, if you will believe it, the King +_did_ start off in less than an hour from the counting +of the birds. He rode on horseback, and was accompanied +only by the Chief Huntsman and the +jews-harp band, the courier being obliged to wait +for the King’s best wig to be curled. + +The poor Band had a hard time of it; for he +had a very frisky horse, and found it extremely +difficult to manage the beast with one hand and +hold the jews-harp with the other; but the King, +with much ingenuity, fastened the head of the +horse to the tail of his own steady cob, thereby +enabling the musician to give all his attention to +his instrument. The music was a trifle jerky at +times; but what of that? It was music, and the +King was satisfied. + +They rode night and day, and at length arrived +at the Vale of Coringo, and took lodgings at +the principal hotel. The King was very weary, +as he had been riding for a week without stopping. +So he went to bed at once, and slept for +two whole days. + + + + + + + + + +“Seizing his gun, he hastily descended the stairs.” + + + +On the morning of the third day he was roused +from a wonderful dream (in which he was singing +a duet with the Golden-breasted Kootoo, to a +jews-harp accompaniment) by the sound of music. +The King sat up in bed, and listened. It was a +bird’s song that he heard, and it seemed to come +from the vines outside his window. But what a +song it was! And what a bird it must be that +could utter such wondrous +sounds! He listened, +too enchanted to +move, while the magical +song swelled louder +and clearer, filling the +air with melody. +At last +he rose, and +crept softly +to the window. +There, +on a swinging vine, sat a beautiful bird, all golden +yellow, with streaks of green on its back. It was +the Golden-breasted Kootoo! There could be no +doubt about it, even if its marvellous song had +not announced it as the sweetest singer of the +whole world. Very quietly, but trembling with +excitement, the King put on his slippers and his +flowered dressing-gown, and seizing his gun, he +hastily descended the stairs. + +It was early dawn, and nobody was awake in +the hotel except the Boots, who was blacking his +namesakes in the back hall. He saw the King +come down, and thought he had come to get his +boots; but the monarch paid no attention to him, +quietly unbolted the front door, and slipped out +into the garden. Was he too late? Had the +bird flown? No, the magic song still rose from +the vines outside his chamber-window. But even +now, as the King approached, a fluttering was +heard, and the Golden-breasted Kootoo, spreading +its wings, flew slowly away over the garden wall, +and away towards the mountain which rose just +behind the hotel. The King followed, clambering +painfully over the high wall, and leaving fragments +of his brocade dressing-gown on the sharp +spikes which garnished it. Once over, he made +all speed, and found that he could well keep the +bird in sight, for it was flying very slowly. A +provoking bird it was, to be sure! It would fly a +little way, and then, alighting on a bush or hanging +spray, would pour forth a flood of melody, as +if inviting its pursuer to come nearer; but before +the unhappy King could get within gunshot, it +would flutter slowly onward, keeping just out of +reach, and uttering a series of mocking notes, +which seemed to laugh at his efforts. On and on +flew the bird, up the steep mountain; on and on +went the King in pursuit. It is all very well to +_fly_ up a mountain; but to crawl and climb up, with +a heavy gun in one’s hand, and one’s dressing-gown +catching on every sharp point of rock, and +the tassel of one’s nightcap bobbing into one’s +eyes, is a very different matter, I can tell you. +But the King never thought of stopping for an +instant; not he! He lost first one slipper, and +then the other; the cord and tassels of his dressing-gown +tripped him up, so that he fell and +almost broke his nose; and finally his gun slipped +from his hold and went crashing down over a +precipice; but still the King climbed on and on, +breathless but undaunted. + +At length, at the very top of the mountain, as +it seemed, the bird made a longer pause than +usual. It lighted on a point of rock, and folding +its wings, seemed really to wait for the King, +singing, meanwhile, a song of the most inviting +and encouraging description. Nearer and nearer +crept the King, and still the bird did not move. +He was within arm’s-length, and was just stretching +out his arm to seize the prize, when it fluttered +off the rock. Frantic with excitement, the +King made a desperate clutch after it, and— + +PART II. + + +At eight o’clock the landlady knocked at the +King’s door. “Hot water, Your Majesty,” she +said. “Shall I bring the can in? And the Band +desires his respects, and would you wish him to +play while you are a-dressing, being as you didn’t +bring a music-box with you?” + +Receiving no answer, after knocking several +times, the good woman opened the door very +cautiously, and peeped in, fully expecting to see +the royal nightcap reposing calmly on the pillow. +What was her amazement at finding the room +empty; no sign of the King was to be seen, +although his pink-silk knee-breeches lay on a +chair, and his ermine mantle and his crown were +hanging on a peg against the wall. + +The landlady gave the alarm at once. The +King had disappeared! He had been robbed, +murdered; the assassins had chopped him up into +little pieces and carried him away in a bundle-handkerchief! +“Murder! police! fire!!!!” + +In the midst of the wild confusion the voice +of the Boots was heard. “Please, ’m, I see +His Majesty go out at about five o’clock this +morning.” + +Again the chorus rose: he had run away; he +had gone to surprise and slay the King of Coringo +while he was taking his morning chocolate; he +had gone to take a bath in the river, and was +drowned! “Murder! police!” + +The voice of the Boots was heard again. “And +please, ’m, he’s a sittin’ out in the courtyard now; +and please, ’m, I think he’s crazy!” + +Out rushed everybody, pell-mell, into the courtyard. +There, on the ground, sat the King, with +his tattered dressing-gown wrapped majestically +about him. An ecstatic smile illuminated his face, +while he clasped in his arms a large bird with +shining plumage. + +“Bless me!” cried the poultry-woman. “If he +hasn’t got my Shanghai rooster that I couldn’t +catch last night!” + +The King, hearing voices, looked round, and +smiled graciously on the astonished crowd. +“Good people,” he said, “success has crowned my +efforts. I have found the Golden-breasted Kootoo! +You shall all have ten pounds apiece, in +honor of this joyful event, and the landlady shall +be made a baroness in her own right!” + +“But,” said the poultry-woman, “it is my +Shang—” + +“Be still, you idiot!” whispered the landlady, +putting her hand over the woman’s mouth. “Do +you want to lose your ten pounds and your head +too? If the King has caught the Golden-breasted +Kootoo, why, then it _is_ the Golden-breasted Kootoo, +as sure as I am a baroness!” and she added +in a still lower tone, “There hasn’t been a Kootoo +seen in the Vale for ten years; the birds have +died out.” + +Great were the rejoicings at the palace when +the King returned in triumph, bringing with him +the much-coveted prize, the Golden-breasted Kootoo. +The bands played until they almost killed +themselves; the cooks waved their ladles and set +to work at once on the pie; the huntsmen sang +hunting-songs. All was joy and rapture, except +in the breast of one man; that man was the Second +Musician, or, as we should now call him, the +Chief Musician. He felt no thrill of joy at sight of +the wondrous bird; on the contrary, he made his +will, and prepared to leave the country at once; +but when the pie was finished, and he saw its huge +dimensions, he was comforted. “No man,” he said +to himself, “can eat the whole of that pie and +live!” + +Alas! he was right. The unhappy King fell a +victim to his musical ambition before he had half +finished his pie, and died in a fit. His subjects ate +the remainder of the mighty pasty, with mingled +tears and smiles, as a memorial feast; and if the +Golden-breasted Kootoo _was_ a Shanghai rooster, +nobody in the kingdom was ever the wiser for it. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +THE raccoon’s story was received with general +approbation; and the grandmother, in particular, +declared she had not passed so pleasant an +hour for a very long time. The good woman was +gradually becoming accustomed to her strange +visitors, and ventured to address them with a little +more freedom, though she still trembled and +clutched her knitting-needles tighter when she +heard the bear’s deep tones. + +“It is really very good of you all,” she said, +“to take compassion upon my loneliness. Before +I came to this cottage I lived in a large town, +where I had many friends, and I find the change +very great, and the life here very solitary. Indeed, +if it were not for my dear little Toto, I +should lead quite the life of a hermit.” + +“What is a hermit?” asked the bear, who had +an inquiring mind, and liked to know the meaning +of words. + +“It is a crab,” said the parrot. “I have often +seen them in the West Indies. They get into the +shells of other crabs, and drive the owners out. +A wretched set!” + +“Oh, dear!” cried the grandmother. “That is +not at all the kind of hermit I mean. A hermit +in this country is a man who lives quite alone, +without any companions, in some uninhabited +region, such as a wood or a lonely hillside.” + +“Is it?” exclaimed the bear and the squirrel +at the same moment. “Why, then, we know one.” + +“Certainly,” the squirrel went on; “Old Baldhead +must be a hermit, of course. He lives alone, +and in an uninhabited region; that is, what _you_ +would call uninhabited, I suppose.” + +“How very interesting! Where does he live?” +asked Toto. “Who is he? How is it that I have +never seen him?” + +“Oh, he lives quite at the other end of the +wood!” replied the squirrel; “some ten miles or +more from here. You have never been so far, my +dear boy, and Old Baldhead isn’t likely to come +into our part of the wood. He paid us one visit +several years ago, and that was enough for him, +eh, Bruin?” + +“Humph! I think so!” said Bruin, smiling +grimly. “He seemed quite satisfied, I thought.” + +“Tell us about his visit!” cried Toto eagerly. +“I have never heard anything about him, and I +know it must be funny, or you would not chuckle +so, Bruin.” + +“Well,” said the bear, “there isn’t much to +tell, but you shall hear all I know. _I_ call that +hermit, if that is his name, a very impudent +fellow. Just fancy this, will you? One evening, +late in the autumn, about three years ago, I was +coming home from a long ramble, very tired and +hungry. I had left a particularly nice comb of +honey and some other little things in my cave, +all ready for supper, for I knew when I started +that I should be late, and I was looking forward +to a very comfortable evening. + +“Well, when I came to the door of my cave, +what should I see but an old man with a long +gray beard, sitting on the ground eating my +honey!” Here the bear looked around with a +deeply injured air, and there was a general murmur +of sympathy. + +“Your course was obvious!” said the raccoon. +“Why didn’t you eat him, stupid?” + +“Hush!” whispered the wood-pigeon softly. +“You must not say things like that, Coon! you +will frighten the old lady.” And indeed, the +grandmother seemed much discomposed by the +raccoon’s suggestion. + +“Wouldn’t have been polite!” replied Bruin. +“My own house, you know, and all that. Besides,” +he added in an undertone, with an apprehensive +glance at the grandmother, “he was old, +and probably very—” + +“Ahem!” said Toto in a warning voice. + +“Oh, certainly not!” said the bear hastily, +“not upon any account. I was about to make the +same remark myself. A—where was I?” + +“The old man was eating your honey,” said the +woodchuck. + + + + + + + + + +“I only stood up on my hind legs.” + + + +“Of course!” replied Bruin. “So, though I +would not have hurt him _for the world_” (with +another glance towards the grandmother), “I +thought there would be no harm in frightening +him a little. Accordingly, I first made a great +noise among the bushes, snapping the twigs and +rustling the leaves at a great rate. He stopped +eating, and looked and listened, listened and +looked; didn’t seem to like it much, I thought. +Then, when he was pretty thoroughly roused, I +came slowly forward, and planted myself directly +in front of the cave.” + +“Dear me!” cried the grandmother. “How +very dreadful! poor old man!” + +“Well now, ma’am!” said Bruin appealingly, +“he had no right to steal my honey; now had +he? And I didn’t hurt a hair of his head,” he +continued. “I only stood up on my hind-legs +and waved my fore-paws round and round like +a windmill, and roared.” + +A general burst of merriment greeted this statement, +from all except the grandmother, who shuddered +in sympathy with the unfortunate hermit. + +“Well?” asked Toto, “and what did he do +then?” + +“Why,” said Bruin, “he crouched down in a +little heap on the ground, and squeezed himself +against the wall of the cave, evidently expecting +me to rush upon him and tear him to pieces; +I sat down in front of him and looked at him for +a few minutes; then, when I thought he had +had about enough, I walked past him into the +cave, and then he ran away. He has never made +me another visit.” + +“No,” said the squirrel; “he went home to +his own cave at the other end of the wood, and +built a barricade round it, and didn’t put his nose +out of doors for a week after. I have a cousin +who lives in that neighborhood, and he told me +about it.” + +“Have you ever been over there?” asked +Toto. + +“Yes, indeed!” replied the squirrel, “hundreds +of times. I often go over to spend the day with +my cousin, and we amuse ourselves by dropping +nuts on the hermit’s head as he sits in front of +his cave. I know few things more amusing,” he +continued, turning to the grandmother, “than +dropping nuts on a bald head. You can make +bets as to how high they will go on the rebound. +Have you ever tried it, ma’am? sitting in a tree, +you know.” + +“Never!” replied the grandmother with much +dignity. “In my youth it was not the custom +for gentlewomen to sit in trees for any purpose; +and if it had been, I trust I should have had more +respect for age and infirmity than to amuse myself +in the manner you suggest.” + +The squirrel was somewhat abashed at this, and +scratched his ear to hide his embarrassment. + +The pause which ensued gave the raccoon an +opportunity for which he had been waiting. He +addressed the grandmother in his most honeyed +accents:— + +“Our ways, dear madam,” he said, “are necessarily +very different from yours. There must be +much in our woodland life that seems rough, and +possibly even savage, to a person of refinement +and culture like yourself. While we roam about +in the untutored forest” (“Hear! hear!” interrupted +the squirrel. “‘Untutored forest’ is +good!”), “you remain in the elegant atmosphere +of your polished home. While we fare hardly, +snatching a precarious and scanty subsistence from +roots and herbs, you, lapped in intellectual and +highly cultivated leisure, while away the hours by +manufacturing gingerbread and—a—jam.” The +raccoon here waved his tail, and gave Toto a look +whose craftiness cannot be described in words. + +Toto took the hint. “Dear me!” he cried. +“Of course! how stupid of me! Grandmother, is +there any gingerbread in the house? My friends +have never tasted any, and I should like to give +them some of yours.” + +“Certainly, my dear boy,” said the good old +lady; “by all means. I have just made some +this afternoon. Bring a good plateful, and bring +a pot of raspberry jam, too. Perhaps Mr. Coon +would like a little of that.” + +Mr. Coon _did_ like a little of that. In fact, Mr. +Coon would have liked the whole pot, and would +have taken it, too, if it had not been for Toto, +who declared that it must be share and share +alike. He gave them each a spoon, and let them +help themselves in turn, observing the strictest +impartiality. + +The feast seemed to be highly enjoyed by all. + +“Well, Bruin, how do you like jam?” asked +Toto. + +“Very much, very much indeed!” replied the +bear. “Something like honey, isn’t it, only entirely +different? What kind of creatures make it? +Butterflies?” + +“Lady makes it herself, stupid!” muttered the +woodchuck, who was out of temper, having just +tried to get a spoonful out of turn, and failed. +“Didn’t you hear her say so? Butterflies never +make anything except butter.” + +The little squirrel sat nibbling his gingerbread +in a state of great satisfaction. “Who’s to tell +the story next time?” he asked presently. + +“Parrot,” answered the raccoon, with his mouth +full of jam. “Parrot promised ever so long ago +to tell us a story about Africa. Didn’t you, +Polly?” + +The parrot drew herself up with an air of +offended dignity. “The gentlemen of my acquaintance, +Mr. Coon,” she said, “call me Miss +Mary. I am ‘Polly’ to a few intimates only.” + +“Oh, indeed!” said the raccoon. “I beg your +pardon, Miss Mary. No offence, I trust?” + +Miss Mary unbent a little, and condescended to +explain. “My real name,” she said, “is Chamchamchamchamkickeryboo; +but, not understanding +the subtleties of our African languages, I do +not expect you to pronounce that. ‘Miss Mary’ +will do very well; though,” she added, “I _have_ +been called Princess in happier days.” + +“When was that?” inquired Toto. “Tell us +about it, Miss Mary.” + +“No, no!” interrupted the bear. “No more +stories to-night. It is too late. We must be getting +home, or the owls will be after us.” + +“To-morrow, then,” cried Toto. “Will you all +come to-morrow? Then we will hear the parrot’s +story.” + +The animals all promised to come on the morrow, +and each in turn took leave of the grandmother, +thanking her for the treat they had had. +The bear, after making his best bow, led the way +towards the forest, followed by the raccoon, the +woodchuck, the squirrel, the parrot, and the wood-pigeon. +And soon the whole company disappeared +among the branches. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +“I was born,” said the parrot, “in Africa.” + +It was a lovely afternoon; and Toto’s +friends were again assembled around the cottage-door. +The parrot, as the story-teller of the day, +was perched in great state on the high back of an +old-fashioned easy-chair, which Toto had brought +out for his grandmother. The old lady sat quietly +knitting, with Bruin on one side of her, and Coon +on the other; while Toto lay on the grass at her +feet, alternately caressing the wood-pigeon and +poking the woodchuck to wake him up. + +When the parrot said, “I was born in Africa,” +all the animals looked very wise, but said nothing; +so she added, “Of course, you all know where +Africa is.” + +“Of course,” said the raccoon hastily; “certainly, +I should hope so! We know _where_ it is; +if you come to that, we know where it is.” + +“Coon,” said Toto, laughing, “what a humbug +you are! How is Africa bounded, old fellow? +Tell us, if you know so well.” + +“North by the Gulf States, south by Kalamazoo, +east by Mt. Everest, and west by the Straits of +Frangipanni,” replied the raccoon, without a +moment’s hesitation. + +Miss Mary looked much disgusted. “Africa,” +she said, “as every person of _education_ knows +[with a withering glance at the raccoon], is the +exact centre of the universe. It is the most beautiful +of all lands,—a land of palm-trees and +crocodiles, ivory and gold-dust, sunny fountains +and—” + +“Oh!” cried Toto eagerly, “excuse me for +interrupting, Miss Mary; but _are_ the sands really +golden? ‘Where Afric’s sunny fountains,’ you +know, ‘roll down their golden sands,’—is that +really true?” + +“Certainly,” replied Miss Mary. + +“Dear me, yes. A fountain wouldn’t be called +a fountain in Africa if it hadn’t golden sands. It +would be called a cucumber-wood pump,” suggested +the woodchuck drowsily. + +“Toto,” said the parrot sharply, “if I am interrupted +any more, I shall go home. Will that +woodchuck be quiet, or will he not?” + +“He will, he will!” cried Toto. “We will all +be very quiet, Miss Mary, and not say a word. +Pray go on.” + +Miss Mary smoothed her feathers, which had +become quite ruffled, and continued,— + +“I was not a common wild parrot,—I should +think not, indeed! My mother came of a distinguished +family, and was the favorite bird of the +great Bhughabhoo, King of Central Africa; and I, +as soon as I was fully fledged, became the pet and +darling of his only daughter, the Princess Polpetti. +Ah! happy, indeed, were the first years of my life! +I was the Princess’s constant companion. She +used to make songs in my honor, and sing them to +her royal father while he drank his rum-and-water. +They were lovely songs. Would you like to hear +one of them?” + +All the company declared that it was the one +desire of their hearts. So, clearing her throat, +and cocking her head on one side, Miss Mary +sang:— + + +“‘Chamchamchamchamkickeryboo, + +Fairest fowl that ever grew, + +Fairest fowl that ever growed, + +How you brighten my abode! + +How you ornament the view, + +Chamchamchamchamkickeryboo! + + +“‘Chamchamchamchamkickeryboo, + +You have wit and beauty, too; + +You can dance, and you can sing; + +You can tie a pudding-string. + +Is there aught you _cannot_ do, + +Chamchamchamchamkickeryboo?’ + + +“That was her opinion of my merits,” continued +the parrot modestly. “Indeed, it was the general +opinion. + +“As I was saying, I was the Princess’s constant +companion. All day I followed her about, sitting +on her shoulder, or flying about her head. All +night I slept perched on her nose-ring, which she +always hung upon a hook when she went to bed. + +“Ah! that nose-ring! I wish I had never seen +it. It was the cause of all my misfortunes,—of +my lovely Princess’s death and my own exile. +And yet it was a lovely thing in itself. + +“I observe, madam,” continued the parrot, addressing +the grandmother, “that you wear no +nose-ring. Such a pity! There is no ornament +so becoming. In Africa it is a most important +article of dress,—I may say _the_ most important. +Can I not persuade you to try the effect?” + +“Thank you,” replied the grandmother, smiling. +“I fear I am too old, Miss Mary, even if it were +the custom in this country to wear nose-rings, +which I believe it is not. But how was the Princess’s +nose-ring the cause of your misfortunes? +Pray tell us.” + +The parrot looked sadly at the grandmother’s +nose, and shook her head. “Such a pity!” she repeated. +“It would be so becoming! You would +never regret it. However,” she added, “you shall +hear the rest of my sad story. + +“The Princess’s nose-ring was, as you may infer +from the fact of my being able to swing in it, a +very large one. She was a connoisseur in nose-rings, +and had a large collection of them, of which +collection this was the gem. It was of beaten +gold, incrusted with precious stones. No other +nose in the kingdom could have sustained such +a weight; but hers—ah, hers was a nose in a +thousand.” + +“Pardon me!” said the raccoon softly, “do I +understand that a long nose is considered a beauty +in Africa?” + +“It is, indeed,” replied the parrot. “It is, +indeed. You would be much admired in Africa, +Mr. Coon.” + +The raccoon looked sidewise at his sharp-pointed +nose, and stroked it complacently. “Ah!” he +observed, “I agree with you, Miss Mary, as to +Africa being the centre of the earth. Pray go +on.” + +“I need hardly say,” continued the parrot, +“that the jewelled nose-ring was the envy of all +the other princesses for miles around. Foremost +among the envious ones was the Princess Panka, the +daughter of a neighboring king. She never could +have worn the nose-ring; her nose was less than +half an inch long, and she was altogether hideous; +but she wanted it, and she made up her mind to +get it by foul means, if fair ones would not do. +Accordingly she bribed the Princess’s bogghun.” + +“The Princess’s _what_?” asked the bear. + +“Bogghun,” repeated the parrot testily. “The +Princess’s bogghun! Don’t tell me you don’t +know what a bogghun is!” + +“Well, I don’t,” replied sturdy Bruin; “and +what’s more, I don’t believe any one else does!” + +The parrot looked around, but as no one seemed +inclined to give any information respecting bogghuns, +she continued, “The bogghun is a kind of +lizard, found only on the island of Bogghun-Chunka. +It is about five feet long, of a brilliant green color. +It invariably holds the end of its tail in its mouth, +and moves by rolling, while in this position, like a +child’s hoop. In fact, it is used as a hoop by +African children; hence the term ‘bogghun.’ It +feeds on the chunka, a triangular yellow beetle +found in the same locality; hence the name of the +island, Bogghun-Chunka. + + + + + + + + + +“She caressed the bogghun.” + + + +“The bogghun +is a treacherous +animal, as I have +found to my cost. +The one belonging +to my mistress was +a very beautiful +creature, and much beloved by her, yet he betrayed +her in the basest manner, as you shall hear. + +“The Princess Panka, finding that the bogghun +was very fond of molasses candy, bribed him by +the offer of three pounds of that condiment to deliver +the Princess into her hands. The plot was +arranged, and the day set. On that day, as usual, +the bogghun rolled up to the door after dinner, +and the Princess, taking me on her shoulder, +went out for her usual afternoon play. She caressed +the bogghun,—ah! faithless wretch! how +could he bear the touch of that gentle hand?—and +then struck him lightly with her silver hoop-stick; +he rolled swiftly away, and we followed, +Polpetti bounding as lightly as a deer, while I +sat upon her shoulder, undisturbed by the rapid +motion. + +“Away rolled the bogghun, away and away, +over the meadows and into the forest; away and +away bounded the Princess in pursuit. The golden +nose-ring flashed and glittered in the sunlight; +the golden bangles on her wrists and ankles +tinkled and rang their tiny bells as she went. +Faster and faster! faster and faster! The monkeys, +swinging by their tails from the branches, +chattered with astonishment at us; the wild +parrots screamed at us; all the birds sang and +chirped and twittered,— + + +‘Come! come! tweedle-dee-dum! + +See! see! tweedle-de-dee! + +Hi! hi! kikeriki! + +They have no wings, and yet they fly.’ + + +And truly we did seem to fly, so swift was our +motion. At length I became alarmed, and begged +the Princess to turn back. She had never before +gone so far in the forest unattended, I told her; +and there was no knowing what dangers might +lurk in its leafy depths. But, alas! she was too +much excited to listen to my remonstrances. On +and on rolled the treacherous bogghun, and on +and on she bounded in pursuit. + +“Suddenly, as we went skimming across an open +glade, a sharp twang was heard: I saw a white +flash in the air; and the next moment I was +hurled violently to the ground. Recovering myself +in an instant, I saw my lovely Princess +stretched lifeless on the ground, with an arrow +quivering in her heart! + +“At the same moment the bogghun stopped; and +out from the surrounding coppice rushed the Princess +Panka and her attendants. + +“‘Where is my molasses candy?’ asked the +bogghun. Three of the attendants presented him +with three one-pound packages; and thus in a +moment I understood the whole villanous plot. +The Princess Panka rushed to where Polpetti lay, +and snatched the golden nose-ring from her lovely +nose. Fastening it in her own hideous snub, she +sprang to her feet with a shrill yell of triumph. +‘At last!’ she cried,—‘at last I have it!’ + +“‘Hideous witch!’ I exclaimed. ‘You have +no nose to wear it in! You are uglier than the +blue-faced monkey, or the toad with three tails. +The very sight of you makes the leaves drop off +the trees with horror. You odious, squint-eyed—’ + +“‘Catch that parrot!’ shrieked the enraged +Panka. ‘Wring that parrot’s neck! Pull his +feathers out! Let me get at him!’ + +“I rose in the air, and flying round her head, continued—‘Snub-nosed, +monkey-faced, bald-headed +[this adjective was not exactly correct, but I was +too angry to choose my words], hump-backed +_Ant-eater_!!!’ and with the last word, the most +opprobrious epithet that can be applied to an +African, I gave the creature a peck in the face +that sent her tumbling over backwards, and flew +off among the trees. A storm of arrows followed +me, but I escaped unhurt, and flying rapidly, was +soon far away from the spot.” + + + + + + + + + +“‘Hideous witch!’ I exclaimed.” + + + +Here the parrot paused to take breath, having +become quite excited in telling her story. + +“Ahem!” said the woodchuck. “May I be permitted +to ask a question, Miss Mary?” + +“Certainly,” replied the parrot graciously. +“What is it, Woodchuck?” + +“Did I understand,” said the woodchuck cautiously, +“that the bogghun _never_ takes his tail out +of his mouth?” + +“Never!” replied the parrot. “Never, upon +any occasion!” + +“Then how,” asked Chucky, “did he eat the +molasses candy?” + +“Woodchuck,” said the parrot, with great severity, +“the question does credit neither to your +head nor to your heart. I decline to answer +it!” + +The woodchuck looked sulky, and scratched his +nose expressively. The raccoon, who had been +on the point of asking the same question himself, +frowned at him, and said he was ashamed of him. +“Pray continue your story, Miss Mary!” said he. +“I assure you we are all, with perhaps _one_ exception +[the woodchuck sniffed audibly], quite faint +with excitement and suspense. What became of +you after the Princess’s death?” + +“I remained in the forest,” said the parrot. “I +could not go back to the village without the Princess; +the King would have put me to death if I +had made my appearance. + +“For some time I lived alone, associating as little +as possible with the uneducated birds of the forest. +At length, finding my life very solitary, I accepted +the claw and heart of a rich and respectable green +parrot, who offered me a good home and the devotion +of a life-time. With him I passed several +quiet and happy years; but finally we were both +surprised and captured by a band of American +sailors, who had penetrated to this distance in the +forest in search of ivory. They treated us kindly, +and carried us miles and miles till we came to a +river, where other sailors were waiting with a +boat. In this we embarked, and after rowing for +several days, came to the mouth of the river, near +which their ship was waiting for them. + +“In the confusion of boarding, my husband +managed to make his escape. He flew back to +the shore, calling to me to follow him; but, alas! +I was too closely guarded, and I never saw him +again. He was a very worthy parrot, and a kind +husband, though sometimes greedy in the matter +of snails.” + +The parrot sighed, meditated for a few moments, +with her head on one side, on the virtues of her +departed lord, and then continued,— + +“My life on board ship was a very pleasant one. +Petted and caressed by the sailors, I soon lost my +shyness, and became once more accustomed to the +society of men. I learned English quickly, and +could soon whistle ‘Yankee Doodle’ and ‘Three +Cheers for the Red, White, and Blue.’ One +phrase I objected very much to repeating, ‘Polly +wants a cracker.’ I disliked crackers extremely, +and could not endure the name of Polly; but for +some time I could not get anything to eat without +making this stupid remark. + +“One day I received a shock which nearly +caused me to faint. I was sitting on the taffrail, +watching two of my particular friends, Joe Brown +and Simeon Plunkett, who were splicing ropes. +They always spliced better, I noticed, when my +eye was on them. They were talking about some +adventure in the forest, and suddenly I caught +the words, ‘golden nose-ring.’ I had been half +dozing; but this roused me at once, and I began +to listen with all my ears.” + +“How many ears has she?” growled the woodchuck, +in a low tone. + +“Twenty-five,” replied the raccoon, in the same +tone. “They are invisible to idiots, which is +probably the reason why you have never noticed +them.” + +“‘How did you get that nose-ring?’ asked Joe +Brown. ‘You have begun to tell me once or +twice, and something has always stopped you. +Were there many of them lying around? I +shouldn’t mind having that myself.’ + +“Judge of my feelings when Simeon Plunkett, +before replying, pulled out from the breast of his +flannel shirt a huge golden ring, set with jewels,—_the_ +identical golden nose-ring which had caused +the death of my lovely Princess. I shuddered, +and came very near falling from the taffrail; but, +composing myself, I listened eagerly, and heard +Simeon tell the other how, as he and his mates +were returning to their boat (he had been with a +second exploring party sent out from the ship), +they found a well, and stopped to fish in it.” + +“To fish in a well?” interrupted Bruin. “What +did they do that for?” + +“To see what they could catch,” replied the parrot. +“What do people fish for in this country? + +“The first thing they caught was the body of +a young woman, with this golden ring in her nose. +Her feet were up, and her head was down; and altogether, +Simeon said, it was very evident that, +in stooping over either to drink or to admire her +beauty in the well, the weight of the ring had +overbalanced her, and caused her to fall in. + +“When I heard this news I flapped my wings +and crowed, to the great astonishment of the +two sailors. My enemy was dead, and Polpetti +avenged. My joy was great, and I wanted to +thank Simeon Plunkett for being the bearer of +such good news; so I perched on his knee, and +sang him the sweetest song I knew,—a song +which had often brought tears to the eyes of my +lost husband. But he only said, ‘Princess [they +all called me Princess, I should observe], if any +other bird made such a row as that, I’d wring its +neck.’ The Americans, I find, have absolutely _no_ +ear for music. + +“We reached America after a pleasant and +prosperous voyage. + + + + + + + + + +“But he only said, ‘Princess, if any other bird made such a row as that, I’d wring its neck.’” + + + +“After that my adventures may be told in a +few words. Joe Brown presented me, as a great +treasure, to the captain’s wife, Mrs. Jeremy Jibb; +but I found her a most unpleasant person to live +with. She kept me in a cage,—a tin cage,—me, +the favorite companion of the Princess Royal of +Central Africa! She fed me on crackers, called +me Polly all the time, and treated me in a most +degrading manner generally. If I had been a +canary-bird, her manner could not have been more +insufferably patronizing. After enduring this life +for several weeks, I managed to make my escape +one day while Mrs. Jibb was cleaning my cage. +After a long flight, I reached this forest, in whose +pleasant retirement I have remained ever since. +Here I find society and snails, both of excellent +quality; and, with these, what more does one require? +And here I hope to pass the remainder +of my days.” + +The parrot’s story, with the various pauses and +interruptions, had occupied a good deal of time; +and when it was finished the party broke up, +promising to reassemble on the following day. +Before they separated, Toto asked, as usual, who +was to tell the next story. + +“Tell it yourself, Toto,” said the wood-pigeon; +and all the rest chimed in, “Yes, Toto shall tell +the next himself.” So it was settled; and they +all shook paws, and departed. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +THE next day it rained, so the party of friends +did not assemble as usual. The bear stayed +in his cave, sucking his paw, and listening to the +chatter of the squirrel, who came to spend the +day with him. The raccoon, after one look at +the weather, curled himself up in his tree-house +and went to sleep. As for the woodchuck, he +never woke up at all, for nobody came to wake +him, and he could not do it for himself. + +Poor Toto was very disconsolate. He never +stayed indoors for an ordinary rain, but this was a +perfect deluge; so he stood by the window and +said, “Oh, dear! oh, _dear_!! oh, dear!!!” as if he +did not know how to say anything else. + +His good grandmother bore this quietly for +some time; but at length she said, “Toto, do you +know what happened to the boy who said ‘Oh, +dear!’ too many times?” + +“No!” said Toto, brightening up at the prospect +of a story. “What did happen to him? Tell +me, Granny, please!” + +“Come and hold this skein of yarn for me, +then,” replied the grandmother, “and I will tell +you as I wind it. + +“Once upon a time there was a boy—” + +“What was his name?” interrupted Toto. + +“Chimborazo,” replied the grandmother. “I +should have told you his real name in a moment, +if you had not interrupted me, but now I shall +call him Chimborazo, and that will be something +for you to remember.” + +Toto blushed and hung his head. + +“This boy,” continued the grandmother, “invariably +put the wrong foot out of bed first when +he got up in the morning, and consequently he +was always unhappy.” + +“May I speak?” murmured Toto softly. + +“Yes, you may speak,” said the old lady. +“What is it?” + +“Please, grandmother,” said Toto, “which _is_ the +wrong foot?” + +“Don’t you know which your right foot is?” +asked the grandmother. + +“Why, yes, of course,” replied Toto. + +“And do you know the difference between right +and wrong?” + +“Why, yes, of course,” said Toto. + +“Then,” said the grandmother, “you know +which the wrong foot is. + +“As I was saying, Chimborazo was a very +unhappy boy. He pouted, and he sulked, and +he said, ‘Oh, dear! oh, dear! oh, dear! oh, +dear!’ He said it till everybody was tired of +hearing it. + +“‘Chimborazo,’ his mother would say, ‘please +don’t say, “Oh, dear!” any more. It is very +annoying. Say something else.’ + +“‘Oh, dear!’ the boy would answer, ‘I can’t! +I don’t know anything else to say. Oh, dear! oh, +_dear_!! oh, dear!!!’ + +“So one day his mother could not bear it any +longer, and she sent for his fairy godmother, and +told her all about it. + +“‘Humph!’ said the fairy godmother. ‘I will +see to it. Send the boy to me!’ + +“So Chimborazo was sent for, and came, hanging +his head as usual. When he saw his fairy +godmother, he said, ‘Oh, dear!’ for he was rather +afraid of her. + +“‘“Oh, dear!” it is!’ said the godmother +sharply; and she put on her spectacles and looked +at him. ‘Do you know what a bell-punch is?’ + +“‘Oh, dear!’ said Chimborazo. ‘No, ma’am, I +don’t!’ + +“‘Well,’ said the godmother, ‘I am going to +give you one.’ + +“‘Oh, dear!’ said Chimborazo, ‘I don’t want +one.’ + +“‘Probably not,’ replied she, ‘but that doesn’t +make much difference. You have it now, in your +jacket pocket.’ + +“Chimborazo felt in his pocket, and took out a +queer-looking instrument of shining metal. ‘Oh, +dear!’ he said. + +“‘“Oh, dear!” it is!’ said the fairy godmother. +‘Now,’ she continued, ‘listen to me, Chimborazo! +I am going to put you on an allowance of “Oh, +dears.” This is a self-acting bell-punch, and it +will ring whenever you say “Oh, dear!” How +many times do you generally say it in the course +of the day?’ + +“‘Oh, dear!’ said Chimborazo, ‘I don’t know. +Oh, _dear_!’ + +“‘_Ting! ting!_’ the bell-punch rang twice sharply; +and looking at it in dismay, he saw two little +round holes punched in a long slip of pasteboard +which was fastened to the instrument. + +“‘Exactly!’ said the fairy. ‘That is the way +it works, and a very pretty way, too. Now, my +boy, I am going to make you a very liberal allowance. +You may say “Oh, dear!” forty-five times +a day. There’s liberality for you!’ + +“‘Oh, dear!’ cried Chimborazo, ‘I—’ + +“‘_Ting!_’ said the bell-punch. + +“‘You see!’ observed the fairy. ‘Nothing +could be prettier. You have now had three of +this day’s allowance. It is still some hours before +noon, so I advise you to be careful. If you exceed +the allowance—’ Here she paused, and +glowered through her spectacles in a very dreadful +manner. + +“‘Oh, dear!’ cried Chimborazo. ‘What will +happen then?’ + +“‘You will see!’ said the fairy godmother, with +a nod. ‘_Something_ will happen, you may be very +sure of that. Good-by. Remember, only forty-five!’ +And away she flew out of the window. + +“‘Oh, dear!’ cried Chimborazo, bursting into +tears. ‘I don’t want it! I won’t have it! Oh, +_dear_! oh, dear! oh, dear! oh, dear! oh, dear!!!’ + + + + + + + + + +“Good-by. Remember, only forty-five!” + + + +“‘Ting! ting! ting-ting-ting-_ting_!’ said the bell-punch; +and now there were ten round holes in +the strip of pasteboard. Chimborazo was now +really frightened. He was silent for some time; +and when his mother called him to his lessons he +tried very hard not to say the dangerous words. +But the habit was so strong that he said them unconsciously. +By dinner-time there were twenty-five +holes in the cardboard strip; by tea-time there +were forty! Poor Chimborazo! he was afraid to +open his lips, for whenever he did the words would +slip out in spite of him. + +“‘Well, Chimbo,’ said his father after tea, ‘I +hear you have had a visit from your fairy godmother. +What did she say to you, eh?’ + +“‘Oh, dear!’ said Chimborazo, ‘she said—oh, +dear! I’ve said it again!’ + +“‘She said, “Oh, dear! I’ve said it again!”’ +repeated his father. ‘What do you mean by +that?’ + +“‘Oh, dear! I didn’t mean that,’ cried Chimborazo +hastily; and again the inexorable bell rang, +and he knew that another hole was punched in +the fatal cardboard. He pressed his lips firmly +together, and did not open them again except to +say ‘Good-night,’ until he was safe in his own +room. Then he hastily drew the hated bell-punch +from his pocket, and counted the holes in the strip +of cardboard; there were forty-three! ‘Oh, +_dear_!’ cried the boy, forgetting himself again +in his alarm, ‘only two more! Oh, _dear_! oh, +dear! I’ve done it again! oh—’ ‘Ting! ting!’ +went the bell-punch; and the cardboard was +punched to the end. ‘Oh, dear!’ cried Chimborazo, +now beside himself with terror. ‘Oh, dear! +oh, dear! oh, dear! oh, _dear_!! what will become +of me?’ + +“A strange whirring noise was heard, then a loud +clang; and the next moment the bell-punch, as if +it were alive, flew out of his hand, out of the +window, and was gone! + +“Chimborazo stood breathless with terror for a +few minutes, momentarily expecting that the roof +would fall in on his head, or the floor blow up +under his feet, or some appalling catastrophe of +some kind follow; but nothing followed. Everything +was quiet, and there seemed to be nothing +to do but go to bed; so to bed he went, and +slept, only to dream that he was shot through +the head with a bell-punch, and died saying, ‘Oh, +dear!’ + +“The next morning, when Chimborazo came +downstairs, his father said, ‘My boy, I am going +to drive over to your grandfather’s farm this morning; +would you like to go with me?’ + +“A drive to the farm was one of the greatest +pleasures Chimborazo had, so he answered promptly, +‘Oh, _dear_!’ + +“‘Oh, very well!’ said his father, looking much +surprised. ‘You need not go, my son, if you do +not want to. I will take Robert instead.’ + +“Poor Chimborazo! He had opened his lips to +say, ‘Thank you, papa. I should like to go _very_ +much!’ and, instead of these words, out had +popped, in his most doleful tone, the now hated +‘Oh, dear!’ He sat amazed; but was roused by +his mother’s calling him to breakfast. + +“‘Come, Chimbo,’ she said. ‘Here are sausages +and scrambled eggs; and you are very fond of +both of them. Which will you have?’ + +“Chimborazo hastened to say, ‘Sausages, please, +mamma,’—that is, he hastened to _try_ to say it; +but all his mother heard was, ‘Oh, _dear_!’ + +“His father looked much displeased. ‘Give the +boy some bread and water, wife,’ he said sternly. +‘If he cannot answer properly, he must be taught. +I have had enough of this “Oh, dear!” business.’ + +“Poor Chimborazo! He saw plainly enough +now what his punishment was to be; and the +thought of it made him tremble. He tried to ask +for some more bread, but only brought out his +‘Oh, _dear_!’ in such a lamentable tone that his +father ordered him to leave the room. He went +out into the garden, and there he met John the +gardener, carrying a basket of rosy apples. Oh! +how good they looked! + +“‘I am bringing some of the finest apples up +to the house, little master,’ said John. ‘Will you +have one to put in your pocket?’ + +“‘Oh, _dear_!’ was all the poor boy could say, +though he wanted an apple, oh, so much! And +when John heard that he put the apple back in +his basket, muttering something about ungrateful +monkeys. + +“Poor Chimborazo! I will not give the whole +history of that miserable day,—a miserable day it +was from beginning to end. He fared no better +at dinner than at breakfast; for at the second +‘Oh, dear!’ his father sent him up to his room, +‘to stay there until he knew how to take what +was given him, and be thankful for it.’ He knew +well enough by this time; but he could not tell his +father so. He went to his room, and sat looking +out of the window, a hungry and miserable +boy. + +“In the afternoon his cousin Will came up to +see him. ‘Why, Chimbo!’ he cried. ‘Why do +you sit moping here in the house, when all the +boys are out? Come and play marbles with me on +the piazza. Ned and Harry are out there waiting +for you. Come on!’ + +“‘Oh, dear!’ said Chimborazo. + +“‘What’s the matter?’ asked Will. ‘Haven’t +you any marbles? Never mind. I’ll give you +half of mine, if you like. Come!’ + +“‘Oh, dear!’ said Chimborazo. + +“‘Well,’ said Will, ‘if that’s all you have to say +when I offer you marbles, I’ll keep them myself. +I suppose you expected me to give you all of +them, did you? I never saw such a fellow!’ and +off he went in a huff. + + +“‘Well, Chimborazo,’ said the fairy godmother, +‘what do you think of “Oh, dear!” now?’ + + + + + + + + + +“Touching his lips with her wand.” + + + +“Chimborazo looked at her beseechingly, but +said nothing. + +“‘Finding that forty-five times was not enough +for you yesterday, I thought I would let you have +all you wanted to-day, you see,’ said the fairy +wickedly. + +“The boy still looked imploringly at her, but +did not open his lips. + +“‘Well, well,’ she said at last, touching his lips +with her wand, ‘I think that is enough in the way +of punishment, though I am sorry you broke the +bell-punch. Good-by! I don’t believe you will +say “Oh, dear!” any more.’ + +“And he didn’t.” + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +THE rain continued for several days; and +though Toto, mindful of the sad story of +Chimborazo, tried hard not to say “Oh, dear!” +still he found the time hang very heavy on his +hands. On the fourth day, however, the clouds +broke away, and the sun came out bright and +beautiful. Toto snatched up his cap, kissed his +grandmother, and flew off to the forest. Oh, how +glad he was to be out of doors again, and how +glad everything seemed to be to see him! All +the trees shook down pearls and diamonds on +him (very wet ones they were, but he did not +mind that), the birds sang to him, the flowers +nodded to him, the sunbeams twinkled at him; +everything seemed to say, “How are you, Toto? +Hasn’t it been a lovely rain, and aren’t you glad +it is over?” + +He went straight to the forest pool, hoping to +find some of his companions there. Sure enough, +there was the raccoon, sitting by the edge of the +pool, making his toilet, and stopping every now +and then to gaze admiringly at himself in the +clear mirror. + +“Good-morning, Coon!” said Toto; “admiring +your beauty as usual, eh?” + +“Well, Toto,” replied the raccoon complacently, +“my view of the matter is this: what is the use +of having beauty if you don’t admire it? That is +what it’s for, I suppose.” + +“I suppose so,” assented Toto. + +“And you can’t expect other people to admire +you if you don’t admire yourself!” added the raccoon +impressively. “Remember that! How’s +your grandmother?” + +“She’s very well,” replied Toto, “and she +hopes to see you all this afternoon. She has +made a new kind of gingerbread, and she wants +you to try it. I have tried it, and it is very good +indeed.” + +“Your grandmother,” said the raccoon, “is in +many respects the most delightful person I have +ever met. I, for one, will come with pleasure. I +can’t tell about the rest; haven’t seen them for +a day or two. Suppose we go and hunt them +up.” + +“With all my heart!” said Toto. + +They had not gone far before they met the +wood-pigeon flying along with a bunch of berries +in her bill. + +“Where are you going, Pigeon Pretty?” inquired +Toto; “and who is to have those nice berries? +I am sure they are not for yourself; I +believe you never get anything for yourself, you +are so busy helping others.” + +“These berries are for poor Chucky,” replied +the wood-pigeon. “Ah, Coon,” she added reproachfully, +“how could you hurt the poor fellow +so? He is really ill this morning in consequence.” + +“What have you been doing to Chucky, you +naughty Coon?” asked Toto. “Biting his nose +off?” + +“Oh, no!” said the raccoon, looking rather +guilty, in spite of his assurance. “Dear me, no! +I didn’t bite it _off_. Certainly not! I—I just bit +it a little, don’t you know! it was raining, and I +hadn’t anything else to do; and he was _so_ sound +asleep, it was a great temptation. But I won’t do +it again, Pigeon Pretty,” he added cheerfully, “I +won’t really. Take him the berries, with my love, +and say I hope they will do him good!” and +with a crafty wink, Master Coon trotted on with +Toto, while Pigeon Pretty flew off in the opposite +direction. + +They soon arrived at the mouth of the bear’s +cave, and looking in, saw the worthy Bruin +quietly playing backgammon with his devoted +friend Cracker. The latter was chattering as +usual. “And so _I_ said to him,” he was saying +as Toto and Coon approached, “‘_I_ think it is a +mean trick, and I’ll have nothing to do with it. +And what is more, I’ll put a stop to it if I can!’ +So he said he’d like to see me do it, and flounced +off into the water.” + +“Humph!” said Bruin, “I never did think +much of that muskrat.” + +“What’s all this?” asked the raccoon, walking +in. “Anything the matter, Cracker?” + + + + + + + + + +“Bruin playing backgammon with his friend Cracker.” + + + +“Good-morning, Coon!” said Bruin. “Morning, +Toto! Sit down, both of you. Cracker was +just telling me—” + +“It is that muskrat that lives in the pool, you +know, Coon!” broke in the squirrel excitedly. +“He wants to marry the Widow Bullfrog’s +daughter, and she won’t have him, because she’s +engaged to young Mud Turtle. So now the +muskrat has contrived a plan for carrying her off +to-night whether she will or no; and if you will +believe it, he came to _me_ and asked me to help +him,—me, the head squirrel of the whole forest!” +and little Cracker whisked his tail about fiercely, +and looked as if he could devour a whole army of +muskrats. + +“Don’t frighten us, Cracker!” said the raccoon, +with a look of mock terror. “I shall faint +if you look so ferocious. I shall, indeed! Hold +me, Toto!” + +“Now, Coon, you know I won’t have Cracker +teased!” growled the bear. “He’s a good little +fellow, and if he wants to help the Widow Bullfrog +out of this scrape, he shall. I believe she +is a very respectable person. Now, I don’t know +whether I can do anything about it myself. I’m +rather large, you see, and it won’t do for me to +go paddling about in the pool and getting the +water all muddy.” + +“Certainly not!” said the squirrel, “you dear +old monster. I should as soon think of asking +the mountain to come and hunt mosquitoes. But +Coon, now—” + +“Oh, I’m ready!” exclaimed the raccoon. +“Delighted, I’m sure, to do anything I can. +What shall I do to the muskrat? Eat him?” + +“I suppose that would be the easiest thing to +do,” said the bear. “What do you say, +Cracker?” + +“He is very hard to catch,” replied the squirrel. +“In fact, you _cannot_ catch a muskrat unless you +put tar on his nose.” + +“That is true,” said the raccoon. “I had +forgotten that, and I haven’t any tar just +now. Would pitch or turpentine do as well, +do you think? They all begin with ‘A’, you +know.” + +“I’m afraid not!” said the squirrel. “‘Tar +to catch a Tartar,’ as the old saying goes; and +the muskrat is certainly a Tartar.” + +“Look here!” said Toto, “I think we have +some tar at home, in the shed. I am quite sure +there is some.” + +“Really?” said the squirrel, brightening up. +“Good boy, Toto! Tell me where I can find it, +and I’ll go and get it.” + +“No!” said Toto. “It’s in a bucket, and you +couldn’t carry it, Cracker! I’ll go and fetch it, +while you and Coon are arranging your plan of +action.” + +So away ran Toto, and the squirrel and the +raccoon sat down to consult. + +“The first thing to do,” said Coon, “is to get +the muskrat out of his hole. Now, my advice is +this: do you go to Mrs. Bullfrog, and borrow an +old overcoat of her husband’s.” + +“Husband’s dead,” said the bear. + +“That’s no reason why his overcoat should be +dead, stupid!” replied the raccoon. “It isn’t +likely that he was buried in his overcoat, and it +isn’t likely that she has cut it up for a riding-habit. +Borrow the overcoat,” he continued, turning +to the squirrel again, “and put it on. Old +Bullfrog was a very big fellow, and I think you +can get it on. Then you can sit on a stone and +whistle like a frog.” + +“I can’t sit down in a frog’s overcoat!” objected +the squirrel. “I know I can’t. It’s not +the right shape, and I don’t sit down in that way. +And I can’t whistle like a frog either.” + +“Dear me!” said the raccoon peevishly. “What +_can_ you do? I am sure _I_ could sit down in any +coat I could wear at all. Well, then,” he added +after a pause, “you can _stand_ on a stone, and _look_ +like a frog. I suppose you can do that?” + +“I suppose so,” said Cracker, dubiously. + +“And Toto,” continued the raccoon, “can hide +himself in the reeds on one side of you, and I on +the other. Toto whistles beautifully, and he can +imitate Miss Bullfrog’s voice to perfection. The +muskrat will be sure to come up when he hears +it, and the moment he pops his head out of the +water, you can drop some tar on his nose, and +_then_—” + +“Then what?” asked the squirrel anxiously. + +“I will attend to the rest of it,” said Coon, with +a wink. “See that I have cards to the Mud Turtle’s +wedding, will you? Here comes Toto,” he +added, “with tar enough to catch fifty muskrats. +Off with you, Cracker, and ask the Widow Frog +for the overcoat.” + +The squirrel disappeared among the bushes, and +at the same time Toto came running up with the +tar-bucket. + +“Well,” he said breathlessly, “is it all arranged? +Oh! I ran all the way, and I am _so_ tired!” and +he dropped down on a mossy seat, and fanned +himself with his cap. + +Bruin brought a piece of honeycomb to refresh +him, and Coon told him the proposed plan, which +delighted the boy greatly. + +“And I am to do the whistling?” he exclaimed. +“I must practise a bit, for I have not +done any frog-whistling for some time.” And +with that he began to whistle in such a wonderfully +frog-like way, that Bruin almost thought he +must have swallowed a frog. + +“How do you do that, Toto?” he asked. “I +wish I could learn. You just purse your mouth up +so, eh? Ugh! wah! woonk!” And the bear gave +a series of most surprising grunts and growls, accompanied +with such singular grimaces that both +Toto and the raccoon rolled over on the ground in +convulsions of laughter. + +“My dear Bruin,” cried Toto, as soon as he +could regain a little composure, “I don’t think—ha! +ha! ha!—I really do _not_ think you will ever +be mistaken for a frog.” + +“Ho! ho! ho!” cried the raccoon, bursting into +another fit of laughter as he looked towards the +mouth of the cave. “Look at Cracker. Oh, my +eye! _will_ you look at Cracker? Oh, dear me! I +shall certainly die if I laugh any more. Ho! ho!” + +Bruin and Toto turned, and saw the squirrel +hobbling in, dressed in a green frog-skin, and looking—well, +did you ever see a squirrel in a frog-skin? +No? Then you never saw the funniest +thing in the world. + +Poor Cracker, however, seemed to see no fun in +it at all. “It’s all very well for you fellows to +laugh,” he said ruefully. “I wonder how you +would like to be pinched up in an abominable, ill-fitting +thing like this? Ugh! I wouldn’t be a +frog for all the beechnuts in the world. Come +on!” he added sharply. “Let us get the matter +over, and have done with it. I can’t stand this +long.” + +Accordingly the three started off, leaving Bruin +shaking his head and chuckling at the mouth of +the cave. + +Arrived at the pool, they stationed themselves +as had been previously arranged: the squirrel on +a large stone at the very edge of the pool, with +the tar-bucket beside him; the raccoon crouching +among the tall reeds on one side of the stone, +while Toto lay closely hidden on the other, behind +a clump of tall ferns. + +When all was ready, Toto began to whistle. +At first he whistled very softly, but gradually the +notes swelled, growing clearer and shriller, till +they seemed to fill the air. + +Presently a ripple was seen in the clear water, +and the sharp black nose of a muskrat appeared +above the surface. “Lovely creature!” exclaimed +the muskrat. “Adored Miss Bullfrog, is it possible +that you have +changed your mind, and +decided to listen to +my suit?” + + + + + + + + + +“‘Oh, rapture!’ cried the muskrat.” + + + +“I have,” said the squirrel softly. + +“Oh, rapture!” cried the muskrat. “Come, +then, at once with me! Let us fly, or rather +swim, before your tyrannical parent discovers us! +Leap down, my lovely one, with your accustomed +grace and agility, into the arms of your +faithful, your adoring muskrat! Come!” + +“You must come a little nearer,” whispered +the squirrel coyly. “I want to be sure that it is +_really_ you; such a sudden step, you know! Please +put your whole head out, my love, that I may be +_quite_ sure of you!” + +The eager muskrat thrust his head out of +the water; and plump! the squirrel dropped the +tar on the end of his nose. + +The muskrat gave a wild shriek, and plunging +his nose among the rushes on the bank, tried to rub +off the tar. But, alas! the tar stuck to the rushes, +and his nose stuck to the tar, and there he was! + +At that instant the raccoon leaped from his +hiding-place. + +Toto, still concealed behind the clump of ferns, +heard the noise of a violent struggle; then came +several short squeaks; then a crunching noise; and +then silence. Coming out from his hiding-place, +he saw the raccoon sitting quietly on a stone, licking +his chops, and smoothing his ruffled fur. + +He smiled sweetly at Toto, and said, “It’s +all right, my boy! you whistled beautifully; +couldn’t have done it better myself!” (N. B. +Coon’s whistling powers were nearly equal to +those of the bear.) + +“But where is the muskrat?” asked Toto, bewildered. +“What have you done with him?” + +“Eaten him, my dear!” replied Coon, benignly. +“It is always the best plan in any case of this sort; +saves trouble, you see, and prevents any further +inquiry in the matter; besides, I was always +taught in my youth never to waste anything. +The flavor was not all I could have wished,” he +added, “and there was more or less stringiness; +but what will not one do in the cause of friendship! +Don’t mention it, Cracker, my boy! I +am sure you would have done as much for me. +And now let us help you off with the overcoat of +the late lamented Bullfrog; for to speak in perfect +frankness, Cracker, it is _not_ what one would call +becoming to your style of beauty.” + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +ON account of the woodchuck’s illness, and at +the special request of Pigeon Pretty, the +story-telling was postponed for a day or two. +Very soon, however, Chucky recovered sufficiently +to ride as far as the cottage on Bruin’s +back; and on a fine afternoon the friends were +all once more assembled, and waiting for Toto’s +story. + +“I don’t know any long stories,” said Toto, +“at least not well enough to tell them; so +I will tell two short ones instead. Will that +do?” + +“Just as well,” said the raccoon. “Five minutes +for refreshments between the two, did you +say? My view precisely.” + +Toto smiled, and began the story of + +THE TRAVELLER, THE COOK, AND THE LITTLE +OLD MAN. + + +Once upon a time there was a little old man +who lived in a well. He was a very small little +old man, and the well was very deep; and the +only reason why he lived there was because he +could not get out. Indeed, what better reason +could he have? + +He had long white hair, and a long red nose, +and a long green coat; and this was all he had in +the world, except a three-legged stool, a large +iron kettle, and a cook. There was not room in +the well for the cook; so she lived on the ground +above, and cooked the little old man’s dinner and +supper in the iron kettle, and lowered them down +to him in the bucket; and the little old man sat +on the three-legged stool, and ate whatever the +cook sent down to him, with a cheerful heart, +if it was good; and so things went on very +pleasantly. + + + + + + + + + +“The old man thought it was raining.” + + + +But one day it happened that the cook could +not find anything for the old man’s dinner. She +looked high, and she looked +low, but nothing could she +find; so she was very unhappy; +for she knew her +master would be miserable +if he had no +dinner. She sat +down by the +well, and wept +bitterly; and her +tears fell into the +well so fast that +the little old man +thought it was +raining, and put +up a red cotton +umbrella, which +he borrowed for +the occasion. You may wonder where he borrowed +it; but I cannot tell you, because I do not +know. + +Now, at that moment a traveller happened to +pass by, and when he saw the cook sitting by the +well and weeping, he stopped, and asked her what +was the matter. So the cook told him that she +was weeping because she could not find anything +to cook for her master’s dinner. + +“And who is your master?” asked the traveller. + +“He is a little old man,” replied the cook; +“and he lives down in this well.” + +“Why does he live there?” inquired the traveller. + +“I do not know,” answered the cook; “I never +asked him.” + +“He must be a singular person,” said the traveller. +“I should like to see him. What does he +look like?” + +But this the cook could not tell him; for she +had never seen the little old man, having come to +work for him after he had gone down to live in +the well. + +“Does he like to receive visitors?” asked the +traveller. + +“Don’t know,” said the cook. “He has never +had any to receive since I have been here.” + +“Humph!” said the other. “I think I will go +down and pay my respects to him. Will you let +me down in the bucket?” + +“But suppose he should mistake you for his +dinner, and eat you up?” the cook suggested. + +“Pooh!” he replied. “No fear of that; I can +take care of myself. And as for his dinner,” he +added, “get him some radishes. There are plenty +about here. I had nothing but radishes for my +dinner, and very good they were, though rather +biting. Let down the bucket, please! I am all +right.” + +“What are radishes?” the cook called after him +as he went down. + +“Long red things, stupid! with green leaves to +them!” he shouted; and then, in a moment, he +found himself at the bottom of the well. + +The little old man was delighted to see him, and +told him that he had lived down there forty years, +and had never had a visitor before in all that time. + +“Why do you live down here?” inquired the +traveller. + +“Because I cannot get out,” replied the little +old man. + +“But how did you get down here in the first +place?” + +“Really,” he said, “it is so long ago that I +hardly remember. My impression is, however, +that I came down in the bucket.” + +“Then why, in the name of common-sense,” +said the traveller, “don’t you go _up_ in the +bucket?” + +The little old man sprang up from the three-legged +stool, and flung his arms around the +traveller’s neck. “My _dear_ friend!” he cried rapturously. +“My precious benefactor! Thank you +a thousand times for those words! I assure you +I never thought of it before! I will go up at +once. You will excuse me?” + +“Certainly,” said the traveller. “Go up first, +and I will follow you.” + +The little old man got into the bucket, and was +drawn up to the top of the well. But, alas! +when the cook saw his long red nose and his +long green coat, she said to herself, “This must +be a radish! How lucky I am!” and seizing the +poor little old man, she popped him into the +kettle without more ado. Then she let the bucket +down for the traveller, calling to him to make +haste, as she wanted to send down her master’s +dinner. + + + + + + + + + +“’Tis an ill wind that blows nobody any good!” + + + +Up came the traveller, and looking around, +asked where her master was. + +“Where should he be,” said the cook, “but at +the bottom of the well, where you left him?” + +“What do you mean?” exclaimed the traveller. +“He has just come up in the bucket!” + +“_Oh!_” cried the cook. “Oh! _oh!!_ o-o-o-h!!! +was that my master? Why, I thought he was +a radish, and I have boiled him for his own +dinner!” + +“I hope he will have a good appetite!” said +the traveller. + +The cook was a good woman, and her grief was +so excessive that she fell into the kettle and was +boiled too. + +Then the traveller, who had formerly been an +ogre by profession, said, “’Tis an ill wind that +blows nobody any good! My dinner was very +insufficient;” and he ate both the little old man +and the cook, and proceeded on his journey with +a cheerful heart. + + +“The traveller was a sensible man,” said Bruin. +“Did you make up that story, Toto?” + +“Yes,” replied Toto. “I made it up the other +day,—one of those rainy days. I found a forked +radish in the bunch we had for tea, and it had a +kind of nose, and looked just like a funny little +red man. So I thought that if there was a radish +that looked like a man, there might be a man that +looked like a radish, you see. And now—” + +“Ahem!” said the raccoon softly. “_Did_ you +say five minutes for refreshments, Toto, or did I +misunderstand you?” and he winked at the company +in a very expressive manner. + +Toto ran to get the gingerbread; and for some +time sounds of crunching and nibbling were the +only ones that were heard, except the constant +“click, click,” of the grandmother’s needles. +Bruin sat for some time watching in silence the +endless crossing and re-crossing of the shining bits +of steel. Presently he said in a timid growl,— + +“Excuse me, ma’am; do you make the gingerbread +with those things?” + +“With what things, Mr. Bruin?” asked the +grandmother. + +“Those bright things that go clickety-clack,” +said the bear. “I see some soft brown stuff on +them, just about the color of the gingerbread, and +I thought possibly—” + +“Oh,” said the grandmother, smiling, “you +mean my knitting. No, Mr. Bruin, gingerbread +is made in a very different way. I mix it in +a bowl, with a spoon, and then I put it in a +pan, and bake it in the oven. Do you understand?” + +Poor Bruin rubbed his nose, and looked helplessly +at Coon. The latter, however, merely +grinned diabolically at him, and said nothing; +so he was obliged to answer the grandmother +himself. + +“Oh, of course,” he said. “If you mix it with +a _spoon_, I should say certainly. As far as a spoon +goes, you know, I—ah—quite correct, I’m sure.” +Here the poor fellow subsided into a vague murmur, +and glared savagely at the raccoon. + +But now the gentle wood-pigeon interposed, +with her soft, cooing voice. “Toto,” she said, +“were we not promised two stories to-day? Tell +us the other one now, dear boy, for the shadows +are beginning to lengthen.” + +“I made this story myself, too,” said Toto, +“and it is called + +THE AMBITIOUS ROCKING-HORSE. + + +There was once a rocking-horse, but he did not +want to be a rocking-horse. He wanted to be a +trotter. So he went to a jockey— + +“What’s a jockey?” inquired the bear. + +A man who drives fast and tells lies. + +He went to a jockey and asked him if he would +like to buy a trotter. + +“Where is your trotter?” asked the jockey. + +“Me’s him,” said the rocking-horse. That was +all the grammar he knew. + +“Oh!” said the jockey. “You are the trotter, +eh?” + +“Yes,” said the rocking-horse. “What will you +give me for myself?” + +“A bushel of shavings,” said the jockey. + +The rocking-horse thought that was better than +nothing, so he sold himself. Then the jockey +took him to another jockey who was blind, and +told him (the blind jockey) that this was the Sky-born +Snorter of the Sarsaparillas, and that he +could trot two miles in a minute. So the blind +jockey bought him, and paid ten thousand dollars +for him. + + + + + + + + + +“‘Me’s him,’ said the rocking-horse.” + + + +There was a race the next day, and the blind +jockey took the Sky-born Snorter to the race-course, +and started him with the other horses. +The other horses trotted away round the course, +but the Sky-born Snorter stayed just where he +was, and rocked; and when the other horses came +round the turn, there he was waiting for them at +the judge’s stand. So he won the race; and the +judge gave the prize, which was a white buffalo, +to the blind jockey. + +The jockey put the Sky-born Snorter in the +stable, and then went to get his white buffalo; +and while he was gone, the other jockeys came +into the stable to see the new horse. + +“Why, he’s a rocking-horse!” said one of +them. + +“Hush!” said the Sky-born Snorter. “Yes, I +am a rocking-horse, but don’t tell my master. He +doesn’t know it, and he paid ten thousand dollars +for me.” + +“Whom did he pay it to?” asked the jockeys. + +“To the other jockey, who bought me from +myself,” replied the Snorter. + +“Oh! and what did _he_ give for you?” + +“A bushel of shavings,” said the Snorter. + +“Ah!” said one of the jockeys. “A bushel of +shavings, eh? Now, how would you like to have +those shavings turned into gold?” + +“Very much indeed!” cried the Sky-born. + +“Well,” said the jockey, “bring them here, and +we will change them for you.” + +So the rocking-horse went and fetched the shavings, +and the jockeys set fire to them. The flames +shot up, bright and yellow. + +“See!” cried the jockeys. “The shavings are +all turned into gold. Now we will see what we +can do for you.” And they took the Sky-born +Snorter and put him in the fire, and he turned +into gold too, and was all burned up. And the +blind jockey drove the white buffalo all the rest +of his life, and never knew the difference. + +Moral: don’t be ambitious. + + +They all laughed heartily at the fate of the Sky-born +Snorter; and the wood-pigeon said, “Both +your stories have a most melancholy ending, Toto. +One hero boiled and eaten up, and the other +burned! It is quite dreadful. I think I must +tell the next story myself, and I shall be sure to +tell one that ends cheerfully.” + +“Yes, yes!” cried all the others. “Pigeon +Pretty shall be the next story-teller!” + +“And now,” continued the pigeon, “my Chucky +must go home to his supper, for he is not well yet, +by any means, and must be very careful of himself. +Climb up on Bruin’s back, Chucky dear! +so, that is right. Good-night, Toto. Good-night, +dear madam. Now home again, all!” and flying +round and round the bear’s head, Pigeon Pretty +led the way towards the forest. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +“IS this one of your own stories that you are +going to tell us, Pigeon Pretty?” inquired +the squirrel, when they were next assembled +around the cottage door. + +“No,” replied the wood-pigeon. “This is a +story I heard a short time ago. I was flying +home, after paying a visit to some cousins of mine +who live in a village some miles away. As I +passed by a pretty white cottage, something like +this, I noticed that there were crumbs scattered +on one of the window-sills. ‘Here lives somebody +who is fond of birds!’ said I to myself, and as I +was rather hungry, I stopped to pick up some of +the crumbs. The window was open, and looking +in, I saw a pretty and neatly furnished room. +Near the window was a bed, in which lay a boy of +about Toto’s age. He was evidently ill, for he +had a bandage tied round his head, and he looked +pale and thin. Beside the bed sat a little girl, +apparently a year or two older; a sweet, pretty +girl, as one would wish to see. She was reading +aloud to her brother (I suppose he was her +brother) from a large red book. Neither of the +children noticed me, so I sat on the window-sill +for some time, and heard the whole of this story, +which you shall now hear in your turn. It is +called + +THE STORY OF THE TAIL OF THE BARON’S +WAR-HORSE. + + +Many years ago there lived a Baron, famous +in peace and war, but chiefly in the latter. War +was his great delight, fighting his natural occupation; +and he was never so much in his element as +when leading his valiant troops to battle, mounted +on his noble iron-gray charger. Ah! what a +charger that was!—stately and strong, swift and +sure, fiery and bold, yet ready to obey his master’s +lightest touch or softest word; briefly, a horse in +ten thousand. Right proud the Baron was of his +gallant steed; and right well did they love each +other, horse and master. + +The vassals of the Baron knew no greater +pleasure than to see their lord ride by mounted on +Gray Berold; it filled their souls with joy, and +caused them to throw up their caps and shout +“Hi!” in a hilarious manner. As for the lovely +Ermengarde, the Baron’s young and beautiful +wife, she would far rather have gone without her +dinner than have missed the sight. Whenever +Gray Berold was brought to the door, she hastened +out, and overwhelmed him with caresses +and words of endearment, proffering meanwhile +the toothsome sugar and the crisp and sprightly +apple, neither of which the engaging animal disdained +to accept. In truth, it was a goodly sight +to see the golden locks of the lady (for was she +not known in all the country as Ermengarde of +the Fair Tresses?) mingling with the wavy silver +of the charger’s mane as he bent his head lovingly +over his fair young mistress,—a goodly sight, +and one which often sent the bold Baron rejoicing +on his way, with a tender smile on his otherwise +slightly ferocious countenance. + +It chanced one day that a great tournament +was about to take place in the neighborhood. All +the knights in the country round, and many bold +champions from a greater distance, were to show +their prowess in riding at the ring, and in friendly +combat with each other. Among the gallant +knights, who so ready for the tournament as our +bold Baron? He fairly pranced for the fray; for +there had been no war for two months, and he was +very weary of the long peaceful days. He had +been practising for a week past, riding at any +number of rings of different sizes, and tilting with +his squire, whom he had run through the body +several times, thereby seriously impairing that +worthy’s digestive powers. + +And now the eventful morning was come. +The vassals were assembled in the courtyard of +the castle, a goodly array, to see their master +depart in pomp and pride. + +Gray Berold was brought round to the door, +magnificently caparisoned, his bridle and housings +glittering with precious stones. The gallant +steed pawed the ground, and tossed his head +proudly, as impatient of delay as his master. +From a balcony above leaned the lovely Ermengarde, +her golden tresses crowned with a nightcap +of rare and curious design; for the Baron was +making an early start, and his fair lady had not +yet completed her toilet. + +Amid the vociferous cheers of his vassals, the +Baron descended the steps, armed _cap-à-pie_, his +good sword by his side, and his mace, battle-axe, +cutlass, and shillalah displayed about his stately +person in a very imposing manner. He could +scarcely walk, it is true, so many and so weighty +were his accoutrements; but then, as he himself +aptly observed, he did not want to walk. + +He got into the saddle with some difficulty, +owing to the tendency of his battle-axe to get +between his legs; but once there, the warrior was +at home. An attendant handed him his lance, +with its glittering pennon. Gray Berold pranced +and curvetted, making nothing of the enormous +weight on his back; the Lady Ermengarde waved +her broidered kerchief; and, with a parting glance +at his lovely bride, the Baron rode slowly out of +the courtyard. + +But, alas! he was not destined to ride far. +Alas for the proud Baron! Alas and alack for the +gallant steed! + +He had scarcely ridden a hundred paces when +he heard a fearful growl behind him, which caused +him to turn quickly in his saddle. What was his +horror to see a huge bear spring out of the woods +and come rushing towards him! + +For one moment the Baron was paralyzed; the +next, he wheeled his horse round, and couching +his lance, prepared to meet his savage assailant. + + + + + + + + + +“The bear caught the charger by the tail.” + + + +But Gray Berold had not bargained for this. +Many a fair fight had he seen in battle-field and in +tourney; many a time he had faced danger as +boldly as his rider, and had borne the brunt of +many a fierce attack. But those fights were +with men and horses. He knew what they were, +and how they should be met; but this was something +very different. This great creature, that +came rushing along with its head down and its +mouth open, was something Berold did not know; +moreover, it was something he did not like. Stand +there and be rushed at by a thing that was neither +horse nor man? Not if he knew it! And just +when the bear was close upon him, Gray Berold, +with a squeal of mingled terror and anger, wheeled +short round. The bear made a spring, and +caught the charger by the tail. The terrified +animal bounded forward; the Baron made a downward +stroke with his battle-axe that would have +felled an ox, and Master Bruin (no offence to +you, my dear fellow! it’s the name of all your +family, you know) rolled over and over in the +dust. + +But alas! and alas! _he took the tail with him_! That +noble tail, the pride of the stable-yard, the glory +of the grooms, lay in the road, a glittering mass +of silver; and it was a tailless steed that now +galloped frantically back into the castle-court, +from which only a few short minutes ago he had +so proudly emerged. + +The Baron was mad with fury. Pity for his +gallant horse, rage and mortification at the ridiculous +plight he was in, anxiety lest he should be +late for the tournament, all combined to make +him for a time beside himself; he rushed up and +down the courtyard, whirling his battle-axe round +his head, and uttering the most fearful imprecations. +Finally, however, yielding to the tears and +entreaties of his retainers, he calmed his noble +frenzy, and set himself to think what was best +to be done. “Give up the tournament? Perish +the thought! Ride another horse than Berold? +Never while he lives! Ride him tailless and +unadorned? Shades of my ancestors forbid!” +thus cried the Baron at every new suggestion +of his sympathizing retainers. + +At last the head groom had an idea. “Let us +fasten on another tail,” he said, “an’t please your +worship!” + +“Ha!” cried the Baron, starting at the notion. +“’Tis well! Ho! there, Hodge, Barnaby, Perkin! +Cut me the tails from the three cart-horses, and +tie them together. And be quick about it, ye +knaves!” + +The three grooms flew to execute their master’s +mandate, and returned in a few minutes, bearing +a magnificent tail, whose varied hues of black, +sorrel, and white, showed it to be the spoil of +Dobbin, Smiler, and Bumps, the three stout Flemish +cart-horses. + +“By my halidome, a motley tail!” exclaimed +the Baron. “But it boots not, so it be a tail! +Fasten it on with all speed, for time presses!—ha! +what is this!” + +Well might the Baron start, and exclaim. + +The moment the three grooms touched the +flanks of Gray Berold, before they had time to +lay hands on the stump of his tail, they found +themselves flying through the air, and tumbling +in a very uncomfortable sort of way against the +wall of the courtyard. Marry, that was a brave +kick! and when he had given it, the charger +looked round after the unhappy grooms, and +tossed his stately head, and snorted, evidently +meaning to say, “_Don’t_ you want to try it +again?” + +But the grooms did not want to try it again. +They picked themselves up, and rubbed their +poor shins and their poor heads, and proceeded +to hobble off on their poor feet as fast as they +could. But they did not hobble far, for the voice +of the Baron was heard in angry expostulation. + + + + + + + + + +“They found themselves flying through the air.” + + + +“How now, varlets!” cried that nobleman. +“Do you slink away like beaten hounds because, +forsooth, the good beast shakes off a fly, or lashes +out his heels in playful sport? Shame on ye, coward +hinds! Back, I command ye, and tie me on +that tail. Obey, sirrahs, or else—hum—ha—hrrrrugh!!!” +and the Baron waved his battle-axe, +and looked as if he had swallowed the meat-chopper +and the gridiron and the blunderbuss, all at +one mouthful. + +Hodge, Barnaby, and Perkin were in a bad way, +assuredly. On the one hand was the charger, +snorting defiance, and with his heels all ready for +the next kick, should they presume to touch him; +on the other was the furious Baron, also snorting, +and with his battle-axe all ready for the next +whack, should they presume _not_ to touch him. +Here were two sharp horns to a dilemma! + +Cautiously the poor knaves crept up once +more behind Gray Berold. “Vault thou upon +his back, Perkin!” whispered Barnaby. “Perchance +from there—” Whizz! whack! thud!—This +time Berold did not wait for them to touch +him: the sound of their voices was enough; there +they all lay again in a heap against the wall, +moaning sore and cursing the day they were +born. + +But now the Baron’s humor changed. “Beshrew +me!” he cried. “’Tis a gallant steed. +He will not brook, at such a moment, the touch +of hireling hands. ’Tis well! give _me_ the tail, +my masters! and ye shall see.” + +Alas! they did see; they saw their Baron rolling +over and over on the ground. They saw +their Baron roll; they heard their Baron rave; +they turned and fled for their lives. + +At this moment the portal swung open, and +the Lady Ermengarde appeared. She had seen +all from an upper window, and she now hastened +to raise her fallen lord, who sat spluttering and +cursing on the ground, unable to rise, owing to +the weight of his armor. “Oh! blame not the +steed!” cried the lovely lady. “Chide not the +gallant beast, good my lord! ’twas not the touch, +’twas the _tail_, he could not brook. Tie the rustic +tail of a plebeian cart-horse on Gray Berold? +Oh! fie, my lord! it may not be. _I_ will provide +a tail for your charger!” + +“You!” exclaimed the Baron. “What mean +you, lady?” + +The Lady Ermengarde replied by drawing from +the embroidered pouch which hung from her jewelled +girdle a pair of shears. Snip! snap! snip! +snap! and before her astonished lord could interfere, +the golden tresses, the pride of the whole +country-side, were severed from her head. Deftly +she tied the shining curls together; lightly she +stepped to where Gray Berold stood. She stroked +his noble head; she spoke to him; she showed him +the tresses, and told him what she had done. +Then with her own hands she tied them on to +the stump of his tail with her embroidered girdle; +and Gray Berold moved not fore-leg nor hind, but +stood like a steed of granite till it was done. + +The retainers were dissolved in tears; the Baron +sobbed aloud as he climbed, with the assistance of +seven hostlers, into the saddle; but the heroic +lady smiled, and bade them be of good cheer. +She could get a black wig, she said; and she +had always thought she should look better as a +brunette. + +And to make a long story short, said the wood-pigeon, +she _did_ get a black wig, and looked like +a beauty in it. And the Baron went to the +tournament, and won all the prizes. And Gray +Berold lived to be sixty years old, and wore the +golden tail to the end of his days. And that’s +all. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +“OH! what a delightful story, Pigeon Pretty!” +cried Toto. “Did you hear any more like +it? I wish I had that red book! Did the boy +look as nice as his sister? What was his name?” + +“His name,” said the pigeon, “was Jim, I +think. And he did not—no, Toto, he certainly +did _not_ look as nice as his sister. In fact, although +I pitied him because he was ill, I thought +he looked like a disagreeable sort of boy.” + +“Red hair?” interposed the squirrel, looking +at the raccoon. + +“Freckled face?” asked the raccoon, looking at +the squirrel. + +“Why, yes!” said the pigeon, in surprise. “He +_had_ red hair and a freckled face; but how should +you two know anything about him?” + +The squirrel and the raccoon nodded at each +other. + +“Same boy, I should say!” said Cracker. + +“Same boy, _I_ should say!” answered Coon. + +“What is it?” asked Toto, curious as usual. +“Tell us about it, one of you! It is early yet, +and we have plenty of time.” + +“Well, I will tell you,” said the squirrel. “I +meant to keep it and tell it next time, for I cannot +make up stories as easily as some of you, and +this is something that really happened; but I +might just as well tell it now, especially as Pigeon +Pretty has told you about the boy. + +“You need not be at all sorry for that boy,” +he continued. “He is a bad boy, and he deserves +all he got, and more too.” + +“Dear, dear!” said the grandmother. “I am +sorry to hear that. What did he do, Mr. Cracker?” + +“He tried to rob my Uncle Munkle of his winter +store!” replied the squirrel. “And he got +the worst of it, that’s all.” + +“Who is your Uncle Munkle?” asked Toto. +“I don’t know him, do I?” + +“No,” said Cracker. “He lives quite at the +other end of the wood, where people sometimes +go for fagots and nuts and such things. Nobody +ever comes near our end of the wood, because +they are afraid of Bruin. + +“My uncle is a Munk,” he continued, “and a +most excellent person.” + +“A monk?” interrupted the grandmother in +amazement. + +“Yes, a Chipmunk!” said the squirrel. “It’s +the same thing, I believe, only we spell it with a +_u_. Third cousin to a monkey, you know.” + +Toto and his grandmother both looked quite bewildered +at this; but the raccoon smiled sweetly, +and said,— + +“Go on, Cracker, my boy! never try to explain +things _too_ fully; it’s apt to be a little tedious, +and it is always better to leave something to the +imagination.” + +“I am going on,” said Cracker. “As I said +before, people sometimes go into that part of the +wood; there are one or two hives not far from +it.” + +“One or two hives?” interrupted Toto. “What +_do_ you mean, Cracker?” + +“Why, a lot of houses together,” said the +squirrel. “Don’t you call them hives? The +only other creatures I know that live in that +kind of way (and a very poor way it is, to my +thinking) are the bees, and their places are called +hives.” + +“A collection of houses, Mr. Cracker,” said the +grandmother gently, “is called a village or a +town, according to its size; a village being a small +collection.” + +“Oh!” said the squirrel. “Thank you, ma’am! +I will try to remember that. Well, this boy Jim +lives in the nearest village, and sometimes goes +into the forest. Now, the autumn is slipping +away fast, as we all know; and last week my +Uncle Munkle, who is always fore-handed and +thrifty, thought it was high time to be getting in +his winter store of nuts and acorns. So he sent +for his nephews to come and help him (he has no +children of his own). We all went, of course, and +Coon went with us, for my uncle always gives us +a feast after the nuts are in, and Coon always +goes wherever there is anything to—” + +“What?” said the raccoon, looking up sharply. + +“Wherever there is anything to be _done_!” said +the squirrel hastily. + +“The second day, as we were all hard at work +shelling the beechnuts, I heard a noise among the +bushes,—a crackling noise that did not sound like +any animal I knew. I looked, and saw two eyes +peering out from the leaves of a young beech-tree. +‘That is a boy,’ said I to myself, ‘and he +means mischief!’ So I skipped off without saying +anything to the others, and crept softly round +behind the bushes, making no more noise than an +eel in the mud. There I found, not one boy, but +two, crouching among the bushes, and watching +the nut-shelling. They were whispering to each +other; and I crept nearer and nearer till I could +hear all they said. + +“‘When shall we come?’ said one. + +“‘To-night,’ said the other, who had red hair +and a freckled face, ‘when the moon is up, and +the little beggars are all asleep. Then we can +easily knock them on the head, and get the nuts +without being bitten. They bite like wild-cats +when they are roused, these little fellows.’ + +“‘All right!’ said the other, whose face I could +not see. ‘I’ll bring a bag and be here at eight +o’clock.’ + +“‘_Will_ you?’ thought I, and I crept away again, +having heard all I wanted to know. I went back +to the others, and presently a snapping and crackling +told me that the boys were gone. Then I +went to Uncle Munkle and told him what I had +heard. He was very angry, and whisked his tail +about till he nearly whisked it off. ‘Call your +large friend,’ he said, ‘and we will hold a council.’ +So I waked Coon—” + +“Waked Coon?” exclaimed the woodchuck +slyly. “What! do you mean to say he was not +working twice as hard as any of the others?” + +“I had been, my good fellow!” said the raccoon +loftily. “I had been; and exhausted with +my labors. I was snatching a moment’s hard-earned +repose. Go on, Cracker.” + +“Well,” continued the squirrel, “we held a +council, and settled everything beautifully. Uncle +Munkle, who has very particularly sharp teeth, +was to get into the nut-closet and wait there. The +rest of us were to be ready together on the nearest +branch, and Coon was to hide himself somewhere +close by. No one was to move until Uncle +Munkle gave the signal, and then—well, you +shall hear how it happened. We all went on with +our work until sunset. Then we had supper, and +a game of scamper, and then we began to prepare +for business. We sharpened our claws on the bark +of the trees till they were as sharp as—as—” + +“Razors,” suggested Toto. + +“Don’t know what that means,” said the +squirrel. + +“As sharp as Coon’s nose, then; that will do.” + +“We filled our cheek-pouches with three-cornered +pebbles and nut-shells. Then, when the +moon rose, and all the forest was quiet, we +retired to our posts. We had waited some time, +and were becoming rather impatient, when suddenly +a distant sound was heard; the sound of +snapping and cracking twigs. It grew louder and +louder, louder and louder; and presently we saw a +freckled face looking out from among the leaves. + +“Cautiously the boy advanced, and soon another +boy appeared, not so ill-looking as the first. He +carried a bag in his hand. The two came softly to +the foot of our tree, and looked up. The leaves +twinkled in the moonlight; but all was still, not a +sound to be heard. The two whispered together +a moment; then the freckled boy began slowly +and carefully to climb the tree. We saw his red +head coming nearer and nearer, nearer and nearer. +We knew he must be near Uncle Munkle’s hole. +We all held our breath and listened for the signal. + +“Presently the boy stopped climbing, and we +saw him stretch out his hand. Then—oh! such a +screech! You _never_ heard such a screech, not +even from a wild-cat. Another yell, and another. +That was the signal. Now we knew what Uncle +Munkle meant by saying, ‘I may not give the signal +_myself_, but you will hear it all the same.’ + +“Instantly we sprang at the boy, ten strong, +healthy squirrels, teeth and claws and all. I +don’t think he enjoyed himself very much for the +next few minutes. He yelled all the time, and +at last he lost his hold on the tree, and fell heavily +to the ground. Also, Coon had been biting his +legs a little. But when he fell, Coon started after +the other boy, who was dancing about the foot of +the tree in a frenzy of terror and amazement. +When he saw Coon coming, he started on a run; +but Coon jumped on his back and got him by the +ear, and then rode him round and round the forest +till he howled as loud as the other one had.” + +“A very pleasant ride I had, too,” said the raccoon +placidly. “My young friend was excitable, +very excitable, but that only made it the more +lively. Yes. I don’t know when I have enjoyed +anything more.” + +“But what became of the first boy after he +fell?” asked Toto eagerly. + + + + + + + + + +“His father took him away in a wheelbarrow.” + + + +“Well, my dear, he lay still,” said the squirrel. +“He lay still. He had broken his leg, so it was +really the only thing for him to do. And when +Coon came back from riding the other boy he +jumped backwards and forwards over him till his +father came and took him away in a wheelbarrow. +Every time Coon jumped, he grinned at the boy; +and every time he grinned, the boy screamed; so +one inferred that he did not like it, you know. + +“Altogether,” said the little squirrel, in conclusion, +“it was a great success; a great success; +really, worthy of our end of the wood. And +_such_ a feast as Uncle Munkle gave us the day +after!” + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +IT was agreed by all hands at the next meeting, +that Bruin must tell the story. + +“You have not told a story for a long, long +time, Bruin,” said Toto,—“not since we began +to meet here; and Granny wants to hear one of +your stories; don’t you, Granny?” + +“Indeed,” said the grandmother, “I should +like very much to hear one of Mr. Bruin’s stories. +I am told they are very delightful.” + +Mr. Bruin bowed in his peculiar fashion, and +murmured something which sounded like “How-wow-mumberygrubble.” + +The old lady knew, however, that it was meant +for “Thank you, ma’am,” and took the will for +the deed. + +Bruin sucked his paw thoughtfully for a few +minutes; then, raising his head with an air of +inspiration,—“Pigeon Pretty,” he asked, “what +kind of a bear was that in your story?” + +“Really, Bruin, I do not know,” replied the +wood-pigeon. “It said ‘a bear,’ that was all.” + +“You see,” continued Bruin, “there are so +many kinds of bears,—black, brown, cinnamon, +grizzly, polar,—really, there is no end to them. +I thought, however, that this might possibly have +been the Lost Prince of the Poles.” + +Here Bruin paused a moment and looked about. + +“The Lost Prince of the Poles!” exclaimed +Toto. “What a fine name for a story! Tell us +now, Bruin; tell us all about him.” + +“Listen, then,” said the bear, “and you shall +hear about + +THE LOST PRINCE OF THE POLES. + + +The polar bears, as you probably know, are a +large and powerful nation. They are governed +by a king, who is called the Solar-Polarity of the +Hypopeppercorns. + +“Oh!” cried Toto. “What _does_ that mean?” + +Nobody knows what it means. That is the +great charm of the title. Gives it majesty, you +understand. The present Solar-Polarity is, I am +told, quite worthy of his title, for he is very +majestic, and knows absolutely nothing. He sits +on the top of the North Pole, and directs the +movement of the icebergs. + +At the time of which I am going to tell you, +which was so long ago as to be no particular time +at all, the Solar-Polarity had an only son,—a most +promising young bear,—the heir to the kingdom. +He was brought up with the greatest care possible, +and when he had arrived at a suitable age, his +father begged him to choose a mate among the +youngest and fairest of the she-bears, or, as they +are more elegantly termed, bearesses. To the +amazement of the Solar-Polarity, the Prince flatly +refused. + +“I will not marry one of these cold, white +creatures!” he said; “I am tired of white. I +want to marry one of those things;” and he +pointed to the north, where the Northern Lights +were shooting up in long streamers of crimson +and green and purple. + +“One of those things!” cried his father. “My +dear son, are you mad? Those are Rory-Bories; +they are not the sort of thing one can marry. It’s—it’s +ridiculous to think of such a thing.” + +“Well,” said the Prince, “then I will marry +the creature that is most like them. There must +be some creature that has those pretty colors. I +will go and ask the Principal Whale.” + +So he went and asked the Principal Whale if +he knew any creature that was colored like the +Rory-Bories. + +“Frankly,” said the whale, “I do not. Doubtless +there are such, but I have never happened to +meet any of them. I will tell you what I will do, +however,” he said, seeing the Prince’s look of disappointment. +“I am just starting on a voyage to +the Southern seas; and if you like I will take you +with me, and you can look about you and decide +for yourself.” + +The young bear was delighted with this proposition, +and proceeded at once to assume the full-dress +costume of the polar bears, which consists in +tying three knots in the tail. + +“A—_ex_cuse me!” interrupted the raccoon, “I +thought no bears had any tails to speak of;” and +he glanced complacently at his own magnificent +tail, which was curled round his feet. + + + + + + + + + +“He sailed away for the Southern seas.” + + + +They have none to speak of; which makes it +all the more remarkable for them to be able to +tie three knots in them. As soon as this was +accomplished, the Prince declared that he was +ready to start. + +“So am I,” said the Principal Whale. And +taking the Prince of the Poles on his back, he +sailed away for the Southern seas. + +They went on and on for several days without +any adventures; till one day the young bear +saw a huge jelly-fish floating towards them. +“See!” he cried, “there is a lovely creature, as +bright and beautiful as the Rory-Bories. Surely +this is the creature for me to marry!” + +“I don’t think you would like to marry that,” +said the whale. “That is a jelly-fish. But we +will go and speak to it, and you can judge for +yourself.” So the whale swam up to the jelly-fish, +who looked at them, but said nothing. + +“My dear,” said the Prince, “you are very +beautiful.” + +“Yah!” said the jelly-fish (who was in reality +extremely ignorant, and had never gone to dancing-school), +“that’s more than I can say for you!” + +“I am sorry to hear you say that,” said the +Prince, mildly. + +“Will you marry me, and be Princess of the +Poles?” + +“Marry your grandmother!” replied the jelly-fish +in a very rude manner; and off it flounced +under the water. + +The young bear looked sadly after it. “It was +very pretty,” he said; “why did it want me to +marry my grandmother?” + +“It didn’t,” replied the whale. “That was +only its way of speaking. An unmannerly minx! +Don’t think any more about it,” and they continued +their voyage. + +A couple of days after this they met the swordfish +and his daughter. + +“These are some friends of mine,” said the +Principal Whale. “We will see if they can aid +us in our search.” + +The swordfish greeted them kindly, and invited +them to come down and make him a visit. + +“Thank you,” said the whale. “We have +not time to stop now. We are in search of a +creature as bright in color as the Rory-Bories. +My young friend here, the Prince of the Poles, is +anxious to marry such a creature, if he can only +find her.” + +But the swordfish shook his head, and said he +could not think of any one who would answer the +description. + +“_I_ will marry you if you wish,” said the swordfish’s +daughter, who was much struck by the appearance +of the young bear. “I am considered +very agreeable, and I think I could make you +happy.” + +“But you are not bright,” cried the poor +Prince in distress. “You are even black, saving +your presence. I don’t wish to hurt your feelings, +but really you are not at all the sort of creature +I was looking for; though I have no doubt,” he +added, “that you are extremely agreeable.” + +“You might play I was a Rory-Bory behind a +cloud on a dark night,” suggested the swordfish’s +daughter. + +But the Prince did not think that would do, +and the whale agreed with him. “One cannot +play,” he said, “when one is married.” Accordingly +they bade a friendly farewell to the swordfish +and his daughter, and continued their voyage. + +After several days they saw in the distance +the coast of Africa. As they approached it, the +Prince saw something bright on the land, near +the edge of the water. “See!” he cried, “there +is something very bright and beautiful. Let +us go nearer, and see what it is.” So they +went nearer, and saw a long line of scarlet flamingoes, +drawn up on the beach like a company +of soldiers. + +“Prince,” said the Principal Whale, “your journey +has not been in vain. I really think these are +the creatures you have been looking for.” + +As he spoke, the flamingoes, who had caught +sight of the strange creatures approaching the +shore, rose into the air, with a great flapping of +wings, and flew slowly away. + +The Prince was in ecstasies. “Oh, Whale!” +he cried, “these _are_ Rory-Bories, real live Rory-Bories! +See how they shoot up, like long streamers! +See how they glow and shine! One still +remains on the shore, the loveliest of all. She is +my bride! She is the Princess of the Poles! +Swim close to the shore, good Whale!” + +The whale swam up to the shore, the water +being fortunately deep enough to allow him to do +so, and the bear addressed the solitary flamingo, +which still stood upon the beach, watching them +with great curiosity. This was, in fact, the Princess +of the Flamingoes; and besides being rather +curious by nature, she thought it would be beneath +her dignity to fly away just because some +strange creatures were approaching. So she stood +still, in an attitude of royal ease. + +“Lovely creature!” said the Prince, “tell me, +oh, tell me, are you really and truly a Rory-Bory? +I am sure you must be, from your brilliant +and exquisite beauty.” + +“Not quite,” answered the flamingo. “Not +_quite_ the same thing, though very nearly. I am a +flamingo, and the Rory-Bory is a flaming go; +pronounced differently, you perceive. That is +the principal difference between the two families, +though there are some other minor variations, +which may be caused by the climate. What is +your pleasure with me, and what might you happen +to be?” + +“My pleasure is to marry you!” exclaimed the +young bear rapturously. “I am a white bear, +and am called the Prince of the Poles. After my +father’s death I shall become Solar-Polarity of +the Hypopeppercorns. Will you be my bride, +and reign with me as queen? You shall sit upon +the North Pole, and direct the movements of the +icebergs.” + +The flamingo closed one eye, and drew up one +leg in an attitude of graceful and maidenly coyness. +“Your manners and bearing interest me much,” +she said after a pause; “and I should be glad +to do as you suggest, but I fear it is impossible. +We are not allowed to marry any one with more +than two legs; and you, I perceive, have four.” + +The poor Prince was quite staggered by this +remark, for he was proud of his legs, which, +though short, were finely formed. He was silent +in dismay. But now the Principal Whale interposed. +“Would it not be possible to make an +exception in this case?” he asked. “My young +friend has come a very long way in search of you, +and has quite set his heart on this marriage.” + +“Alas!” said the flamingo, “I fear not. It +is the first law in the kingdom, and I dare not +break it.” + +“What shall I do, then?” cried the Prince in +despair. “If I cannot have you, I will go back +and marry the swordfish’s daughter, and you +would be sorry to have me do that if you knew +how ugly she was.” + +“In difficult cases,” said the flamingo, “we +always consult the hippopotamouse. I should +advise you to do the same.” + +“The hippopotamouse?” exclaimed the Prince. +“Where is he to be found? Tell me, that I may +fly to him at once.” + +“He lives in the middle of the central plain of +Pongolia,” replied the flamingo. + +“In that case,” said the Principal Whale, “I must +leave you, my Prince, as travelling on land is one +of the pleasures I must deny myself, being constitutionally +unfitted for it.” + +The Prince thanked the whale warmly for his +kindness, and after taking a most affecting leave +of the Flamingo Princess, he set off for the central +plain of Pongolia. + +He travelled night and day, and after many +days he arrived at the very middle of the plain. +There he found the hippopotamouse, sitting in the +middle of a river, nibbling a huge cheese. + +This singular animal combined all the chief +qualities of a hippopotamus and a mouse. His appearance +was truly astonishing, and filled the mind +of the Prince with mingled feelings. He stood for +some time gazing at him in silent amazement. + +Presently the hippopotamouse looked up sharply. +“Well,” he said, “what do you want? Do +you think I am pretty?” + +“N-no!” replied the young bear. “You may be +good; but I don’t think you are pretty. I want,” +he continued, “to marry the Flamingo Princess. +I am the Prince of the Poles, son of the Solar-Polarity +of the Hypopeppercorns. You may have +heard of my father.” + +“Oh! ah! yes!” said the hippopotamouse. +“I’ve heard of _him_. Well, why _don’t_ you marry +her?” + +“Because I have four legs,” answered the Prince +sadly; “and it is against the law for a flamingo to +marry any one with more than two.” + +“True. I had forgotten that,” said the hippopotamouse. + +“Can you suggest any way out of the difficulty?” +inquired the Prince. + +Without making any reply, the hippopotamouse +plunged into meditation and the cheese at the +same moment, and nibbled and meditated in +silence for several hours; while the unhappy +Prince stood first on one leg, and then on the +other, endeavoring in vain to conceal his impatience. +Finally, when he was quite exhausted +with waiting, the hippopotamouse took his head +out of the cheese. + + + + + + + + + +“My young friend,” he said, “I see but one way.” + + + +“My young friend,” he said, “I see but one +way out of the difficulty, and that is for you to +walk about on two of your legs until they are +worn out. Then, you perceive, you will have, +unless my calculations have misled me, exactly +two left,—the proper number to enable you +legally to marry the Flamingo Princess. You +may find this fatiguing,” he continued, seeing the +Prince’s look of dismay; “but really I can see +nothing else for you to do; and when you reflect +that everything is more or less fatiguing, and that +I have worn out five complete sets of teeth on this +very cheese, you may become reconciled to your +lot. Good-by. I wish you well.” And without +more ado, he plunged into the cheese once more. + +The unhappy Prince uttered one wild howl, +and turning away, fled into the savage wilds of +the Pongolian forest. + + +Here Bruin paused, shook his head, and sighed +deeply. + +“Oh! go on, Bruin,” cried Toto eagerly. “How +_can_ you stop there? Go on immediately, and tell +us the rest!” + +Alas! there is little more to tell; for from that +moment the Prince of the Poles has never been +seen or heard of. + +The Flamingo Princess waited long and anxiously +for his return; but he never came. I believe +she finally married an ostrich, who led her a +terrible life. + +The Principal Whale called at the coast of +Africa on his way back from the Southern seas, +and hearing the sad intelligence of the Prince’s +disappearance, departed in great sadness for his +Northern home, to break the news to the Solar-Polarity +of the Hypopeppercorns. When that +potentate heard of the disappearance of his son, +he fell off the North Pole, and broke his neck; +and the whole nation assumed the mourning costume +of the polar bears, which consists in tying +a sailor’s knot in the left ear, and a granny’s knot +in the right. + +And thus ends, in sadness and despair, the story +of “The Lost Prince of the Poles.” + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + +ONE afternoon (it was not a “story” afternoon, +for the grandmother was very busy, dyeing +some of her homespun yarn) Toto went off to the +forest early, intending to have a game of scamper +with Coon and Cracker. As he sauntered along +with his hands in his pockets, he met the woodchuck. +Master Chucky looked very spruce and +neat, and was trotting along with an air of great +self-satisfaction. + +“Hallo! you Chucky,” exclaimed Toto, “where +are you going?” + +The woodchuck stopped, and glanced around +with his sharp little eyes. “Is any one with you, +Toto?” he asked,—“Coon, or Cracker, or any of +those fellows?” + +“No,” answered Toto in some surprise. “I was +just going to find them. Do you want them?” + +“No, indeed!” exclaimed the woodchuck. “You +see,” and he lowered his voice confidentially, “I +am going to a rinktum, and I don’t want those +fellows to know about it.” + +“What is a rinktum?” asked Toto. “And +why don’t you want them to know about it?” + +“Why, a rinktum is a rabbit’s ball, of course. +What else should it be?” answered Chucky. “The +rabbits have invited me; but at the last one Coon +ate up all the supper, and bit the rabbits if they +tried to get any; so they determined not to invite +him again, and asked me not to say anything +about it.” + +“Oh, Chucky,” exclaimed Toto, “I wish you +would take me! I have never been to a rabbit’s +ball, and I should like to go _so_ much! and I +wouldn’t eat anything at all!” he added, seeing +that the woodchuck looked doubtful. + +Chucky brightened up at the last remark, and +said, “Well, after all, I don’t see why I shouldn’t +take you. They are always glad to see people, if +they will only behave themselves. So come along, +Toto;” and the fat little creature hurried along, +with Toto following him. + +“You may have some difficulty,” he said as they +went along, “in getting into the ball-room, but I +think you will be able to squeeze through. It is +in the Big Burrow, which is certainly large enough +for any reasonable creature. Here we are now at +the mouth of the burrow.” + +They were crossing a rough, uneven meadow, +with trees and shrubs thickly scattered over it; +and the woodchuck stopped at a large juniper-bush, +in front of which sat a black rabbit. + +“How do you do, Woodchuck?” inquired the +rabbit. “And who is this with you?” + +“This is a—a—a boy, in fact,” said the woodchuck +in some embarrassment. “He is a great +friend of mine, and has never seen a rinktum in his +life, so I ventured to bring him. He—he won’t +eat anything!” he added in a whisper. + +The rabbit bowed to Toto by way of reply, and +pulling aside the branches of the juniper-bush, +disclosed a large hole in the ground. + +“Follow me,” said the woodchuck; “I will lead +the way.” And he disappeared through the mouth +of the hole. + +Toto dropped on his hands and knees, and followed +as best he could. The path was _very_ narrow, +and wound about and about in a very inconvenient +manner. Several times the boy was stuck so fast +that it seemed as if he _could not_ get any farther; +but he always managed, by much wriggling, to +squeeze through the tight places. It was perfectly +dark, but there was no possibility of his losing his +way, for obvious reasons. At last he saw a glimmer +of light ahead. It grew brighter and brighter; +and at last Toto emerged from the passage, and +found himself in a large cave, which in one part +was high enough to allow him to stand upright. +He immediately crawled over to this part, and +getting on his feet, looked about at the strange +scene before him. + +The Big Burrow was lighted by the United +Company of Glow-worms. These little creatures +had arranged themselves in patterns all over the +walls and roof of the cave, and were shining +with all their might. The effect was truly lovely, +and Toto could not help wishing that his +grandmother’s cottage were lighted in the same +way. The floor was crowded with rabbits of +every size and color, and they were all dancing. +Black rabbits, brown rabbits, white rabbits, big +and little rabbits, racing round and round, jumping +up and down, shaking their ears, and wiggling +their noses. Oh, what a good time they were +having! + +“Would you like to dance?” asked a very large +white rabbit, who seemed to be the master of +ceremonies, looking up at Toto. + +“Thank you,” said Toto. “I do not know the +step, and I should only make confusion among +the dancers, I fear.” + +“Oh, you will have no difficulty in learning +the step,” said the white rabbit. “Nothing could +be easier: first you jump up, then wriggle your +hind-legs in the air, then turn round three times, +rub your nose with your right fore-paw, jump +again, rub your nose with your left hind-paw, +turn round—” + +“But I have only two legs,” objected Toto +meekly. + + + + + + + + + +“Would you like to dance?” + + + +“Dear, dear!” said the master of ceremonies. +“That does seem to be a difficulty, doesn’t it? +What a pity! Haven’t you ever had any +more?” + +“No,” said Toto. “We are not made that way, +you see. But don’t mind me,” he added, seeing +that the hospitable rabbit seemed really distressed. +“I only came to look on, and I am enjoying myself +very much indeed, I assure you.” + +“Pretty sight, isn’t it, Toto?” said the woodchuck, +bustling up, while the master of ceremonies +went off to attend to his duties. “See that +young white rabbit with the black nose and tail? +She is the belle of the evening, I should say. +Lovely creature! I have just danced twice with +her.” + +“What _is_ that brown rabbit doing?” exclaimed +Toto. “He has been standing on his head before +her, and now he is lying on his back and kicking +his feet in the air. I think he is in a fit.” + +“No, no,” said the woodchuck. “Oh, no. He is +merely expressing his devotion to her, that is all. +He has been in love with her for a long time,” +he added, “but I don’t think it will ever come to +anything. He has no whiskers to speak of, and +he comes from a very inferior sort of burrow. +She ought not to dance with him at all, in point +of fact, but she is _so_ amiable!” + +“It is a pity they have no music,” said Toto. +“I don’t see how they manage to dance. Would +they like me to whistle for them, do you think, +Chucky?” + +“Oh, _wouldn’t_ they!” cried the woodchuck in +delight. “What a nice boy you are, Toto! I am +_so_ glad I brought you!” + +So Toto whistled a merry tune, and the rabbits +nearly went mad with delight. They capered, +and jumped, and wriggled their hind-legs, and +rubbed their noses, till Toto really thought they +would dance themselves into small pieces; and +when he stopped, they all tumbled down on the +ground in little black and white and brown heaps, +and lay panting and exhausted. + +The master of ceremonies came up to Toto, +and after making him nine very polite bows, +thanked him warmly for the pleasure he had +given them. “This is certainly _the_ rinktum of +the season,” he said, “and much of its success is +owing to your kindness.” He then begged Toto +to come into the supper-room, and led the way +to an adjoining cave. + +Toto followed, with a comical glance at the +woodchuck, to remind him that he had not forgotten +his promise. + +The supper was served in superb style, worthy +of “_the_ rinktum of the season.” There was cabbage-soup +and broccoli broth. There were turnips +and carrots, celery and beets and onions, in +profusion; and in the centre of the room rose a +lofty mountain of crisp green lettuce. Ah! that +was a supper to do a rabbit’s heart good! + +Toto, mindful of his promise, showed great +self-denial with regard to the raw vegetables, and +even remained firm against the attractions of the +cabbage-soup. + +The white rabbit was quite melancholy over his +guest’s persistent refusal to eat of his good cheer. +“But perhaps,” he said, “creatures of your race +never eat. I see that your nose does not wiggle +when you speak, so perhaps you cannot +eat, eh?” + +“Oh, yes,” said Toto in an off-hand way. “Yes, +we _can_; and sometimes we _do_. I have eaten in +the course of my life, and I may do it again, but +not to-night.” + +At this moment the guests all came pouring +into the supper-room; and Toto began to think +that it would be wise for him to slip away quietly, +as it must be near his own supper-time, and his +grandmother would be wondering where he was. +So he took a friendly leave of the master of ceremonies, +and nodding to the woodchuck, he left +the supper-room, made his way through the ball-room, +and dropping once more on his hands and +knees, proceeded to wriggle his way as best he +might through the underground passage. + +A very grimy and dusty boy he was when he +came out again from behind the juniper-bush. +He shook himself as well as he could, laughed a +little over the recollection of the unsuccessful rabbit +suitor kicking his heels in the air to express +his devotion, and started on his way home. + +He had spent a much longer time than he had +meant to at the rinktum, and it was growing quite +dark. He hurried along, for his way lay through +a part of the wood where he did not like to go +after dark. The owls lived there, and Toto did +not like the owls, because none of his friends +liked them. They were surly, growly, ill-tempered +birds, and were apt to make themselves very +disagreeable if one met them after dark. Indeed, +it was said that Mrs. Growler, the old grandmother +owl of the family, had once eaten several +of Cracker’s brothers and sisters. The squirrel +did not like to talk about it, but Toto knew that +he hated the owls bitterly. + +“I hope I shall not meet any of them,” said the +boy to himself as he entered the wood. “I am +not afraid of them, of course,—it would be absurd +for a boy to be afraid of an owl,—but I don’t like +them.” + +The thought had scarcely crossed his mind, +when he heard a sound of flapping wings; and a +moment after a huge white owl flew down directly +in front of him, and spreading its broad pinions, +completely barred his passage. + +“Who?” said the owl. + + + + + + + + + +“‘Who?’ said the owl. ‘Toto,’ said the boy.” + + + +“Toto,” said the boy shortly. “Let me pass, +please. I’m in a hurry.” + +“You’re late!” said the owl severely. + +“I know it,” replied Toto. “That’s why I +asked you to let me pass. I don’t want to talk to +you, Mrs. Growler, and I don’t suppose you want +to talk to me.” + +“Whit!” cried Mrs. Growler (for it was no +other than that redoubtable female). “Don’t give +me any of your impudence, sir! What do you +mean by coming into our wood after dark, and +then insulting me? Here, Hoots! Flappy! Horner! +Come here, all of you! Here’s this imp +of a boy who’s always making mischief here with +that thieving raccoon. Let us give him a lesson, +and teach him to stay where he belongs, and not +come spying and prying into our wood!” + +Immediately a rushing sound was heard from +all sides, and half-a-dozen owls came hooting and +screaming around our hero. + +Toto held his ground manfully, though he saw +that the odds were greatly against him. One owl +was all very well; but seven or eight owls, all +armed with powerful beaks and claws, and all +angry, were quite another matter, especially as +the darkness, which exactly suited them, made it +difficult for him to tell in which direction he +should beat his retreat, supposing he were able +to beat it at all. + +He set his back against a tree, and faced the +hooting, flapping crowd, whose great round eyes +glared fiercely at him. + +“I’ve never done any harm to any of you,” +he said boldly. “I’ve never thrown stones at you, +and I’ve never taken more than one egg at a +time from your nests. You have always hated me, +Mother Growler, because I am a friend of Coon; +and you’re afraid of Coon, you know you are. +Come, let me go home quietly, and I’ll promise +not to come into your part of the wood again. + +“I’m sure, there’s no inducement for coming,” +he added in a lower tone. “It’s the scraggiest +part of the whole forest,—only fit for owls to live +in!” + +“Hoo! hoo!” cried Mother Growler in a rage. +“I’m afraid of Coon, am I? A nasty, thieving +creature, with an amount of tail that is simply disgusting! +And our wood is scraggy, is it? Hoo! +Give it to him, children!” + +“Peck him!” cried all the owls in chorus; +“scratch him! tear him! hustle him!” and, with +wings and claws spread, they came flying at Toto. + +Toto put one arm before his face, and prepared +to defend himself as well as he could with the other. +His blood was up, and he had no thought of +trying to escape. If he could only get Mother +Growler by the head now, and wring her neck! + +But blows were falling like hail on his own head +now,—sharp blows from horny beaks and crooked +talons. They were tearing his jacket off. He +was dazed, almost stunned, by the beating of the +huge wings in his face. Decidedly, our Toto is in +a bad way. + +Suddenly a loud crackling noise was heard +among the bushes. It came nearer; it grew louder. +Toto listened, with his heart in his mouth. Surely, +but one animal there was big enough to make a +noise like that. + +“_Bruin!_” he cried, with all the breath he could +gather, panting and struggling as he was. “Bruin! +help! help!” + +A portentous growl answered his cry. The +boughs crackled and burst right and left, and the +next instant the bear sprang through the bushes. + +“What is it?” he cried. “Toto, that was your +voice. Where are you, boy? What is the +matter?” + +“Here!” cried Toto faintly. “Here, Bruin! +The owls—” But at that moment the little +fellow’s voice failed, and he sank bleeding and +exhausted on the ground. + +“How-grrrrr-wow-_wurra_-Wurra-WURRA-WOW!!!” + +In two minutes more there were no owls in that +part of the wood. Hoots, Horner, and the rest, +when they saw the fiery eyes and glittering teeth +of the bear, and heard his terrible roar, as he +rushed upon them, loosed their hold of the +boy, and flew for their lives. As for Mother +Growler— + +“I _did_ say,” remarked Bruin, taking some feathers +out of his mouth, “that I never would eat +another owl unless it was plucked. Feathers are +certainly a most inferior article of food; but in a +case of this kind it is really the only thing to do. +As Coon says, it settles the matter, and there is no +further trouble about it. And now,” continued +the good bear, “how is my dear boy? Why, +Toto! look up, boy. They are all gone, and +you are cock of the whole wood. Come, my +Toto! I’ll eat them all, if they have hurt the +boy!” he added in an undertone. + +But Toto made no reply. He had, in point of +fact, fainted from exhaustion and excitement. + +Bruin sniffed at him, and poked him from head +to foot; then, finding that no bones were broken, +he lifted the boy gently by the waistband of his +breeches, and shambled off in the direction of the +cottage. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + +THE grandmother all this time was wondering +very much where her Toto was. “What +can have become of the boy?” she said to herself +for the twentieth time. “He is always punctual +at supper-time; and now it is more than an +hour past. It must be quite dark, too, in the +wood. Where _can_ he be?” And she went to the +door and listened, as she had been listening ever +since six o’clock. “Toto!” she said aloud. “Toto, +do you hear me?” But no sound came in +reply, save the distant hoot of an owl; and reluctantly +the good woman closed the door again, and +went back to her knitting. She felt very anxious, +very much troubled; but what could she do? +Blind and alone, she was quite helpless. Suppose +the boy should have wandered off into some distant +part of the forest, and lost his way? Suppose +he should have encountered some fierce wild +beast, unlike the friendly creatures with whom he +played every day? Suppose—But here the +current of her anxious thoughts was interrupted +by a sound; a curious sound,—a soft _thud_ against +the door, followed by a scratching noise, and a +sound of heavy breathing. + +The poor grandmother turned cold with fear; +she did not dare to move for some minutes; but +the thud was repeated several times, as if somebody +were trying to knock. She tottered towards +the door, and said in a tremulous voice, “Who is +there?” + +“Only Bruin, ma’am,” was the reply, in a meek +growl. + +Oh, how relieved the grandmother was! With +hands that still trembled she unfastened the door. +“Oh, Mr. Bruin!” she cried. “Dear Mr. Bruin, +I am so glad you have come! Can you tell me +anything about Toto? He has not come home, +and I am very anxious indeed. I fear he may +have met some wild creature, and—” + +“Well, ma’am,” said the bear slowly, “as for +being wild—well, yes; perhaps you _would_ call her +wild. And I don’t say she was amiable, and she +was certainly very free in the matter of claws; +very free, indeed, she was!” + +“What _do_ you mean, Mr. Bruin?” cried the +poor old lady. “Claws? Oh! then I know he _has_ +been attacked, and you know all about it, and +have come to break it to me. My boy! my boy! +Tell me quickly where he is, and what has happened +to him!” + +“Don’t be alarmed, ma’am,” said Bruin. “Pray +don’t be alarmed! there are no bones broken, I +assure you; and as for _her_, you need have no +further anxiety. I—I saw to the matter myself, +and I have no reason to think—no, I really have +_no_ reason to think that you will have any further +trouble with her.” + +“_Her!_” said the bewildered old grandmother. +“I don’t—I _can’t_ understand you, Mr. Bruin. I +want to know what has become of Toto, my +boy.” + +“Certainly, certainly,” said the bear hastily. +“Very natural, I’m sure; don’t mention it, I beg +of you. As for a little blood, you know,” he added +apologetically, “that couldn’t be helped, you see. +I didn’t come up quite soon enough; but we know +the blood is _there_, after all; and a little of it outside +instead of inside,—why, what difference does it +make? He has plenty left, you know.” + +“Bruin, Bruin!” cried a faint voice, “do stop! +You will frighten her to death with your explanations. +Here I am, Granny dear, safe and +sound, barring a few scratches.” And Toto, who +had been gradually recovering his senses during +the last few minutes, raised himself from the doorstep +on which the bear had laid him, and flung his +arms round his grandmother’s neck. + +The poor old woman gave a cry of joy, and then +burst into tears, being quite overcome by the sudden +change from grief and anxiety to security and +delight. + +At the sight of her tears, the worthy Bruin +uttered a remorseful growl, and boxed his own +ears several times very severely, assuring himself +that he was quite the most stupid beast that +ever lived, and that he was always making a +mess of it. “I didn’t mean to frighten you, +ma’am,” he said, “I didn’t indeed; but I am such +a stupid! And now,” he added, “I think I must +be going. Good-night, ma’am.” + +“What!” cried Toto, turning from his grandmother, +and throwing his arms in turn round the +bear’s huge shaggy neck. “Going, before we +have thanked you? Going off without a word, +after saving my life? Oh, you unnatural old +Bruin! you shall not stir! Do you know, Granny, +that he has saved my life from the owls, and that +if it had not been for him you would have no Toto +at all, but only a hundred little bits of him?” And +he told the whole story in glowing words, while +Bruin hung his head and shuffled from one foot to +another, much abashed at hearing his own praises. + +And when the grandmother had heard all about +it, what did she do? Why, she too put her arms +round the huge shaggy neck; and if ever a bear +came near being hugged to death, it was that +bear. + +“And now,” said the grandmother, when she +had recovered her composure, and had thanked +and blessed Bruin till he did not know whether he +had one head or seven, “it is very late, and I am +sure you must be tired. Why will you not stay +and spend the night with us? There is a beautiful +fire in the kitchen, and a nice soft rug in front +of it, on which you could sleep very comfortably. +Do stay!” + +The bear rubbed his nose and looked helplessly +at Toto. “I don’t think—” he began. + +“Of course he will stay,” said Toto decidedly. +“There isn’t any ‘thinking’ about it. He will +stay. Walk in, old fellow, and sit down in front +of the fire, and Granny will give us both some +supper. Oh! my Granny dear, if you _knew_ how +hungry I am!” + +It would have been a pleasant sight, had there +been any one there to enjoy it, to see the trio +gathered around the bright wood-fire an hour +later. The grandmother sat in her high-backed +arm-chair, in snowy cap and kerchief, knitting and +smiling, smiling and knitting, as happy and contented +as a grandmother could possibly be. On +the other side of the hearth sat the bear, blinking +comfortably at the fire, while Toto leaned against +his shaggy side, and chattered like a magpie. + +“How jolly this is!” he said. “It reminds me +of Snow-White and Rose-Red, when the bear came +and slept in front of the fire. By the way, Bruin, +you are not an enchanted prince, are you? The +bear in that story was an enchanted prince. +What fun if you should be!” + +“Not to my knowledge,” replied the bear, +shaking his head. “Not—to—my—knowledge. +Never heard of such a thing in our branch of the +family. I had a cousin once who travelled with a +showman, but that is the only thing of the kind +that I know of.” + +“Tell us about your cousin!” said Toto, eager, +as usual, for a story. “How came he to take to +the show business?” + + + + + + + + + +“The man taught him to beat the drum.” + + + +“It took him,” said Bruin. “He was taken +when he was a little fellow, only a few months +old. The man who caught him made a pet of him +at first; taught him to dance, and shake paws, +and beat the drum. He was a drummer in the +army,—the man, I mean. He was very kind, +and my cousin grew extremely fond of him.” + +“What was your cousin’s name?” asked Toto. + +“They called him ‘Grimshaw;’” said Bruin. +“His master’s name was Shaw, and he was grim, +you know, when he didn’t like people, and so +they called him ‘Grimshaw.’ He mostly _didn’t_ +like people,” added the bear reflectively. “He +certainly didn’t like the showman.” + +“Then Shaw was not the showman?” said Toto. + +“Oh, dear, no!” said Bruin. “A war broke +out, and Shaw’s regiment was ordered off, and he +couldn’t take Grimshaw with him. He was very +big then, and the other soldiers didn’t like him. +He had a way of going into the different tents +and taking anything he happened to fancy for +supper; and if any one said anything to him, he +boxed that one’s ears. They always tumbled down +when he boxed their ears, and they made a great +fuss about it, and so finally his master was obliged +to sell him to the showman. _His_ name was Jinks. + +“He taught my cousin several new tricks, and +took him all over the country, exhibiting him in +the different towns and villages. You see,” said +Bruin apologetically, “he—I mean Grimshaw—didn’t +know any better. He was so young +when he was taken that he didn’t remember +much about his family, and didn’t know what an +undignified sort of thing it was to be going about +in that way. One day, however, Jinks undertook +to make him waltz with a piece of meat on his +nose, without attempting to eat it. Grimshaw +would not do that, because he didn’t think it was +reasonable; and I don’t think it was. So then +Jinks attempted to beat him, and Grimshaw boxed +his ears, and he tumbled down and didn’t get up +again. Grimshaw waited a few minutes, and finding +that he did not seem inclined to move, he ran +away and took to the woods.” + +“But why did not the showman get up?” inquired +the grandmother innocently. + +“I think it highly probable that he was dead, +madam,” replied Bruin. “But I cannot say positively, +as I was not there. + +“After this Grimshaw lived alone for some time, +wandering about from one forest to another. One +day, as he was roaming up and down, he came +suddenly upon a party of soldiers, three or four +in number, sitting round a fire, and cooking their +dinner. The moment they saw the bear, they +dropped everything, and ran for their lives, leaving +the good chops to burn, which was a sin. It +was a good thing for Grimshaw, however, as he +was very hungry; so he sat down by the fire and +made a hearty meal. After he had dined comfortably, +he began to look about him, and spied a +big drum, which the soldiers had left behind in +their flight. Seizing the drumsticks, he began to +beat a lively tattoo. In a few moments he heard +a rustling among the bushes, and saw a man’s +head thrust cautiously out. What was his delight +to recognize his old master, Sergeant Shaw! He +threw down the drumsticks and uttered a peculiar +howl. It was answered by a shrill whistle, and in +another moment Shaw and Grimshaw were in +each other’s arms. When the other soldiers ventured +to return, they found the two gravely dancing +a hornpipe, with great mutual satisfaction.” + +“Oh! how delightful!” exclaimed Toto. “And +did they stay together after that?” + + + + + + + + + +“They found the two dancing a hornpipe.” + + + +“No, that was impossible,” replied the bear. +“But they spent a couple of days together, and +parted with the utmost good-will. + +“After roaming about for some time longer, my +cousin met some other bears, who invited him to +join them. To their great amazement, one of +them turned out to be Grimshaw’s elder brother; +he recognized Grimshaw by one of his ears, out of +which he had himself bitten a piece in their infancy. +This was a very joyful meeting, and led +to the restoration of Grimshaw to his parents, who +were still alive. He spent the remainder of his +life in peace and happiness; and that is all there is +to tell about him. + +“And now,” continued Bruin, “you ought to +have been asleep long ago, Toto, and I have been +keeping you awake with my long story. Off with +you, now! And good-night to you too, dear +madam. I will lie here in front of the fire; and +if any creature, human or otherwise, comes to +disturb the house during the night, I will attend +to that creature!” + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + +THE grandmother thought, the next morning, +that she had not passed such a pleasant +evening, or such a comfortable and restful night, +for a long time. “Dear me!” she said, after Bruin +had departed, with many thanks and at least ten +profound bows,—“dear me! what a difference it +makes, having a bear in the house! one feels so +secure; and one does not think of waking up to +listen, every time a branch snaps outside, or a +door creaks in the house. I wonder—” But the +grandmother did not tell Toto what she wondered. + +The next fine afternoon, the animals all came to +the cottage in good season, for they were to have +a story from their kind hostess herself this time, +and it was to be about a giant. + +“And if you will believe it,” said the raccoon, +“our poor Chucky here does not—ha! ha!—actually +does not know what a giant is! Will +you kindly explain to him, dear madam?” + +“Ugh!” grunted the woodchuck. “I don’t believe +you know yourself, Coon, for all your airs! +You said this morning it was a kind of vegetable, +and now—” + +“Stop quarrelling, and listen to the story, will +you?” said Bruin. “Wow!” + +When the bear said “Wow” in that manner, all +the others knew it meant business; and as he lay +down at the grandmother’s feet, they all drew +nearer, and were silent in expectation. + +“A giant,” said the grandmother, “is like a +man, only very much bigger; very, _very_ much +bigger. The giant about whom I am going to +tell you was one of the largest of his kind, being +no less than fourteen miles high.” + +There was a general murmur of amazement. + +“Fourteen miles high!” the old lady repeated. +“His name was as short as he himself was long, +for it was neither more nor less than _Crump_; and +he fell in love with the Lady Moon. He fell so +deeply in love with her that it was quite impossible +for him to get out again; so he informed her +of the fact, and begged her to marry him. + + +‘Come and share my mammoth lot, + +And shine in my gigantic cot!’ + + +That was what he said, or words to that effect. + +“But the Lady Moon replied, ‘Dear Crump, I +would gladly do as you suggest, but the thing is +not possible. I have no body, but only a head; +and I could not think of going into church to +be married without any body, to say nothing of +legs and feet.’ + +“‘Is that your only objection?’ asked Giant +Crump. + +“‘The only one, upon my lunar honor!’ replied +the Lady Moon. + +“‘Then I think I can manage it,’ said the giant. +Accordingly he went and gathered together all +the silver there was in the world at that time, and +out of it he made a beautiful silver body, with +arms and legs all complete. And when it was +finished he made a silver dress, and silver slippers, +and a silver moonshade, and dressed the body up +in the most fashionable and delightful manner. +Then, when all was ready, he called to the Lady +Moon, and told her that her body was ready, and +that she had only to come down and put it on. + +“‘But I cannot come down,’ said the Lady +Moon. ‘Nothing would induce me to come down +without a body. You must bring it up here.’ + +“Now that was not an easy thing to do; for +though Crump was very big, he was not nearly +big enough. What are fourteen miles, compared +with two hundred and forty thousand? However, +he was a very persevering giant, and had no idea +of giving up; and he was very clever too. So he +sat down on the ground and reflected for the +space of seven years, and at the end of that time +a thought struck him. + +“He rose at once, and went to work and made a +pair of stilts, high enough to reach to the moon. +That was quite a piece of work, as you may +imagine; but when they were finished, a new +difficulty arose: how was he to get up on them? +This required more reflection, and Crump sat and +thought about it for six weeks more. Then +another thought struck him, which was really an +extremely clever one. He made a long ladder, +as long as the stilts. He set this up against one +of the stilts, and climbed up and put one foot on +it; and then he set the ladder against the other +stilt, and climbed up and put the other foot on +that; this was very difficult, but it was also very +clever. I forgot to say that he took the silver +body up with him. Then he called out to the +Lady Moon, ‘Here I am, dear Lady Moon, and +here is your silver body. Stop now, stop your +rolling, and let me fasten it on for you, and then +come down and be my beautiful silver bride.’ +And he held up the silver body, which shone and +sparkled in the most enchanting manner. + + + + + + + + + +“Here I am, dear Lady Moon.” + + + +“But the Lady Moon replied, ‘Stop rolling, +indeed! that is quite out of the question, I assure +you. I have never done such a thing, and I am +not going to begin at my time of life. No, no, +Giant Crump; if you want me, you must catch +me!’ and she went rolling on in the most heartless +and unfeeling way. + +“There was nothing for the poor giant to do but +follow; so, tucking the silver body under his arm, +he set off on his tall stilts, and walked after the +Lady Moon. Round and round the world went +she, and round and round went the giant after +her; and as I have never heard of his catching +up with her, he is very likely walking round and +round still.” + + +“Is that all?” inquired the insatiable Toto. +“What a very short story, Granny!” + +“It is rather short,” said the grandmother; +“but I don’t see how it could be made any longer. +I will, however, if you wish, tell you another +short story, and that will be equal to one long +one. Listen, therefore, and you shall hear the +story of Hokey Pokey.” + +So they listened, and heard it. + +“Hokey Pokey was the youngest of a large +family of children. His elder brothers, as they +grew up, all became either butchers or bakers +or makers of candlesticks, for such was the custom +of the family. But Hokey Pokey would be +none of these things; so when he was grown to +be a tall youth he went to his father and said, +‘Give me my fortune.’ + +“‘Will you be a butcher?’ asked his father. + +“‘No,’ said Hokey Pokey. + +“‘Will you be a baker?’ + +“‘No, again.’ + +“‘Will you make candlesticks?’ + +“‘Nor that either.’ + +“‘Then,’ said his father, ‘this is the only fortune +I can give you;’ and with that he took up +his cudgel and gave the youth a stout beating. +‘Now you cannot complain that I gave you nothing,’ +said he. + +“‘That is true,’ said Hokey Pokey. ‘But give +me also the wooden mallet which lies on the shelf, +and I will make my way through the world.’ + +“His father gave him the mallet, glad to be +so easily rid of him, and Hokey Pokey went out +into the world to seek his fortune. He walked +all day, and at nightfall he came to a small village. +Feeling hungry, he went into a baker’s +shop, intending to buy a loaf of bread for his +supper. There was a great noise and confusion +in the back part of the shop; and on going to +see what was the matter, he found the baker on +his knees beside a large box or chest, which he +was trying with might and main to keep shut. +But there was something inside the box which +was trying just as hard to get out, and it screamed +and kicked, and pushed the lid up as often as the +baker shut it down. + +“‘What have you there in the box?’ asked +Hokey Pokey. + +“‘I have my wife,’ replied the baker. ‘She +is so frightfully ill-tempered that whenever I am +going to bake bread I am obliged to shut her up +in this box, lest she push me into the oven and +bake me with the bread, as she has often threatened +to do. But to-day she has broken the lock of +the box, and I know not how to keep her down.’ + +“‘That is easily managed,’ said Hokey Pokey. +‘Do you but tell her, when she asks who I am, +that I am a giant with three heads, and all will +be well.’ So saying, he took his wooden mallet +and dealt three tremendous blows on the box, +saying in a loud voice,— + + +‘Hickory Hox! + +I sit by the box, + +Waiting to give you a few of my knocks. + + +“‘Husband, husband! whom have you there?’ +cried the wife in terror. + +“‘Alas!’ said the baker; ‘it is a frightful giant +with three heads. He is sitting by the box, and +if you open it so much as the width of your little +finger, he will pull you out and beat you to +powder.’ + +“When the wife heard that she crouched down +in the box, and said never a word, for she was +afraid of her life. + +“The baker then took Hokey Pokey into the +other part of the shop, thanked him warmly, and +gave him a good supper and a bed. The next +morning he gave him for a present the finest loaf +of bread in his shop, which was shaped like a large +round ball; and Hokey Pokey, after knocking +once more on the lid of the box, continued his +travels. + +“He had not gone far before he came to another +village, and wishing to inquire his way he entered +the first shop he came to, which proved to be that +of a confectioner. The shop was full of the most +beautiful sweetmeats imaginable, and everything +was bright and gay; but the confectioner himself +sat upon a bench, weeping bitterly. + +“‘What ails you, friend?’ asked Hokey-Pokey; +‘and why do you weep, when you are surrounded +by the most delightful things in the world?’ + +“‘Alas!’ replied the confectioner. ‘That is just +the cause of my trouble. The sweetmeats that I +make are so good that their fame has spread far +and wide, and the Rat King, hearing of them, has +taken up his abode in my cellar. Every night he +comes up and eats all the sweetmeats I have made +the day before. There is no comfort in my life, +and I am thinking of becoming a rope-maker and +hanging myself with the first rope I make.’ + +“‘Why don’t you set a trap for him?’ asked +Hokey Pokey. + +“‘I have set fifty-nine traps,’ replied the confectioner, +‘but he is so strong that he breaks +them all.’ + +“‘Poison him,’ suggested Hokey Pokey. + +“‘He dislikes poison,’ said the confectioner, +‘and will not take it in any form.’ + +“‘In that case,’ said Hokey Pokey, ‘leave him +to me. Go away, and hide yourself for a few +minutes, and all will be well.’ + + + + + + + + + +“The confectioner thanked him warmly.” + + + +“The confectioner retired behind a large screen, +having first showed Hokey Pokey the hole of the +Rat King, which was certainly a very large one. +Hokey Pokey sat down by the hole, with his mallet +in his hand, and said in a squeaking voice,— + + +‘Ratly King! Kingly Rat! + +Here your mate comes pit-a-pat. + +Come and see; the way is free; + +Hear my signal: one! two! three!’ + + +And he scratched three times on the floor. Almost +immediately the head of a rat popped up through +the hole. He was a huge rat, quite as large as a +cat; but his size was no help to him, for as soon +as he appeared, Hokey Pokey dealt him such a +blow with his mallet that he fell down dead without +even a squeak. Then Hokey Pokey called +the confectioner, who came out from behind the +screen and thanked him warmly; he also bade +him choose anything he liked in the shop, in payment +for his services. + +“‘Can you match this?’ asked Hokey Pokey, +showing his round ball of bread. + +“‘That can I!’ said the confectioner; and he +brought out a most beautiful ball, twice as large +as the loaf, composed of the finest sweetmeats in +the world, red and yellow and white. Hokey +Pokey took it with many thanks, and then went +on his way. + +“The next day he came to a third village, in +the streets of which the people were all running +to and fro in the wildest confusion. + +“‘What is the matter?’ asked Hokey Pokey, +as one man ran directly into his arms. + +“‘Alas!’ replied the man. ‘A wild bull has +got into the principal china-shop, and is breaking +all the beautiful dishes.’ + +“‘Why do you not drive him out?’ asked +Hokey Pokey. + +“‘We are afraid to do that,’ said the man; ‘but +we are running up and down to express our emotion +and sympathy, and that is something.’ + +“‘Show me the china-shop,’ said Hokey Pokey. + +“So the man showed him the china-shop; and +there, sure enough, was a furious bull, making +most terrible havoc. He was dancing up and +down on a Dresden dinner set, and butting at the +Chinese mandarins, and switching down finger-bowls +and teapots with his tail, bellowing meanwhile +in the most outrageous manner. The floor +was covered with broken crockery, and the whole +scene was melancholy to behold. + +“Now when Hokey Pokey saw this, he said +to the owner of the china-shop, who was tearing +his hair in a frenzy of despair, ‘Stop tearing +your hair, which is indeed a senseless occupation, +and I will manage this matter for you. Bring +me a red cotton umbrella, and all will yet be +well.’ + +“So the china-shop man brought him a red cotton +umbrella, and Hokey Pokey began to open +and shut it violently in front of the door. When +the bull saw that, he stopped dancing on the Dresden +dinner set and came charging out of the shop, +straight towards the red umbrella. When he +came near enough, Hokey Pokey dropped the +umbrella, and raising his wooden mallet hit the +bull such a blow on the muzzle that he fell down +dead, and never bellowed again. + +“The people all flung up their hats, and cheered, +and ran up and down all the more, to express their +gratification. As for the china-shop man, he threw +his arms round Hokey Pokey’s neck, called him +his cherished preserver, and bade him choose anything +that was left in his shop in payment for his +services. + +“‘Can you match these?’ asked Hokey Pokey, +holding up the loaf of bread and the ball of sweetmeats. + +“‘That can I,’ said the shop-man; and he +brought out a huge ball of solid ivory, inlaid with +gold and silver, and truly lovely to behold. It +was very heavy, being twice as large as the ball +of sweetmeats; but Hokey Pokey took it, and, +after thanking the shop-man and receiving his +thanks in return, he proceeded on his way. + +“After walking for several days, he came to a +fair, large castle, in front of which sat a man on +horseback. When the man saw Hokey Pokey, +he called out,— + +“‘Who are you, and what do you bring to the +mighty Dragon, lord of this castle?’ + +“‘Hokey Pokey is my name,’ replied the youth, +‘and strange things do I bring. But what does +the mighty Dragon want, for example?’ + +“‘He wants something new to eat,’ said the +man on horseback. ‘He has eaten of everything +that is known in the world, and pines for something +new. He who brings him a new dish, never +before tasted by him, shall have a thousand +crowns and a new jacket; but he who fails, after +three trials, shall have his jacket taken away from +him, and his head cut off besides.’ + +“‘I bring strange food,’ said Hokey Pokey. +‘Let me pass in, that I may serve the mighty +Dragon.’ + +“Then the man on horseback lowered his lance, +and let him pass in, and in short space he came +before the mighty Dragon. The Dragon sat on +a silver throne, with a golden knife in one hand, +and a golden fork in the other. Around him were +many people, who offered him dishes of every description; +but he would none of them, for he had +tasted them all before; and he howled with hunger +on his silver throne. Then came forward +Hokey Pokey, and said boldly,— + +“‘Here come I, Hokey Pokey, bringing strange +food for the mighty Dragon.’ + +“The Dragon howled again, and waving his +knife and fork, bade Hokey Pokey give the food +to the attendants, that they might serve him. + +“‘Not so,’ said Hokey Pokey. ‘I must serve +you myself, most mighty Dragon, else you shall +not taste of my food. Therefore put down your +knife and fork, and open your mouth, and you +shall see what you shall see.’ + +“So the Dragon, after summoning the man-with-the-thousand-crowns +and the man-with-the-new-jacket +to one side of his throne, and the man-to-take-away-the-old-jacket +and the executioner +to the other, laid down his knife and fork and +opened his mouth. Hokey Pokey stepped lightly +forward, and dropped the round loaf down the +great red throat. The Dragon shut his jaws together +with a snap, and swallowed the loaf in two +gulps. + +“‘That is good,’ he said; ‘but it is not new. I +have eaten much bread, though never before in a +round loaf. Have you anything more? Or shall +the man take away your jacket?’ + +“‘I have this, an it please you,’ said Hokey +Pokey; and he dropped the ball of sweetmeats +into the Dragon’s mouth. + +“When the Dragon tasted this, he rolled his +eyes round and round, and was speechless with +delight for some time. At length he said, ‘Worthy +youth, this is very good; it is extremely good; it +is better than anything I ever tasted. Nevertheless, +it is not new; for I have tasted the same +kind of thing before, only not nearly so good. +And now, unless you are positively sure that you +have something new for your third trial, you really +might as well take off your jacket; and the executioner +shall take off your head at the same +time, as it is getting rather late. Executioner, do +your—’ + + + + + + + + + +“People,” he said, “I am Hokey Pokey.” + + + +“‘Craving your pardon, most mighty Dragon,’ +said Hokey Pokey, ‘I will first make my third +trial;’ and with that he dropped the ivory ball +into the Dragon’s mouth. + +“‘Gug-wugg-gllll-grrr!’ said the Dragon, for +the ball had stuck fast, being too big for him to +swallow. + +“Then Hokey Pokey lifted his mallet and struck +one tremendous blow upon the ball, driving it +far down the throat of the monster, and killing +him most fatally dead. He rolled off the throne +like a scaly log, and his crown fell off and rolled +to Hokey Pokey’s feet. The youth picked it up +and put it on his own head, and then called the +people about him and addressed them. + +“‘People,’ he said, ‘I am Hokey Pokey, and +I have come from a far land to rule over you. +Your Dragon have I slain, and now I am your +king; and if you will always do exactly what I +tell you to do, you will have no further trouble.’ + +“So the people threw up their caps and cried, +‘Long live Hokey Pokey!’ and they always +did exactly as he told them, and had no further +trouble. + +“And Hokey Pokey sent for his three brothers, +and made them Chief Butcher, Chief Baker, and +Chief Candlestick-maker of his kingdom. But to +his father he sent a large cudgel made of pure +gold, with these words engraved on it: ‘Now +you cannot complain that I have given you +nothing!’” + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + +“YA-Ha!” said the raccoon, yawning and +stretching himself. “Ya-a-_hoo_! Hm-a-yeaow! +oh, dear me! what a pity!” + +“What, for instance, is the matter?” demanded +the squirrel, dropping a hickory-nut down on the +raccoon’s nose. “I knew a raccoon once who +yawned till his head broke in two, and the top +rolled off.” + +“Hm!” said the raccoon. “Not much loss if +it was like some people’s heads. + +“I was sighing,” he continued, “you very stupid +Cracker! to think that summer is gone, and +that winter will be here before we can say ‘Beechnuts.’” + +“Ah!” said the squirrel, looking grave. “That, +indeed! To be sure; yes.” + +“The leaves are falling fast,” continued the +raccoon meditatively; “the birds are all gone, +except Pigeon Pretty and Miss Mary, and they are +going in a day or two. Very soon, my Cracker, +we shall have to roll ourselves up and go to sleep +for the winter. No more gingerbread and jam, my +boy. No more pleasant afternoons at the cottage; +no more stories. Nothing but a hollow tree +and four months’ sleep. Ah, dear me!” and Coon +sighed again, and shook his head despondingly. + +“By the way,” said Cracker, “Toto tells me +that he and his people don’t sleep in winter any +more than in summer. Queer, isn’t it? I suppose +it has something to do with their having only +two legs.” + +“Something to do with their having two heads!” +growled the raccoon. “They don’t sleep with +their legs, do they, stupid?” + +“They certainly don’t sleep _without_ them!” +said the squirrel rather sharply. + +“Look here!” replied the raccoon, rising and +shaking himself, “should you like me to bite +about two inches off your tail? It won’t take me +a minute, and I would just as lief do it as not.” + +Affairs were becoming rather serious, when +suddenly the wood-pigeon appeared, and fluttered +down with a gentle “Coo!” between the +two friends, who certainly seemed anything but +friendly. + +“What are you two quarrelling about?” she +asked. “How extremely silly you both are! But +now make friends, and put on your very best +manners, for we are going to have a visitor here +in a few minutes. I am going to call Chucky +and Miss Mary, and do you make everything +tidy about the pool before she comes.” And off +flew Pigeon Pretty in a great hurry. + +“_She?_” said Cracker inquiringly, looking at +Coon. + +“She _said_ ‘she’!” replied Coon, bestirring himself, +and picking up the dead branches that had +fallen on the smooth green moss-carpet. + +“Perhaps it is that aunt of Chucky’s who has +been making him a visit,” suggested the squirrel. + +“Oh, well!” said the raccoon, stopping short +in his work. “If Pigeon Pretty thinks I am +going to put this place in order for a woodchuck’s +aunt, she is very much mistaken, that’s +all. I never heard of such—” But here he +stopped, for a loud rustling in the underbrush +announced that the visitor, whoever she might +be, was close at hand. + +The bushes separated, and to the utter astonishment +of both Coon and Cracker, who should +appear but the grandmother herself, escorted by +Toto and Bruin, and attended also by the wood-pigeon +and the parrot, who fluttered about her +head with cries of pleasure. + +Toto led the old lady to the mossy bank beside +the pool, where she sat down, rather out of breath, +and a little bewildered, but evidently much pleased +at having accomplished such a feat. + +The raccoon hastened to express his delight in +the finest possible language, while the little squirrel +turned a dozen somersaults in succession, by +way of showing how pleased he was. As for the +worthy Bruin, he fairly beamed with pleasure, and +even went so far as to execute a sort of saraband, +which, if the grandmother could have seen it, +would certainly have alarmed her a good deal. + +“My dear friends,” said the old lady, “it gives +me great pleasure to be here, I assure you. Toto +has for some time had his heart quite set on my +seeing you once—though, alas! my _seeing_ is only +_hearing_—in your own pleasant home, before you +separate for the winter. So, thanks to our kind +friend, Mr. Bruin, I am actually here. How warm +and soft the air is!” she continued. “What a +delightful cushion you have found for me! and +is that a brook, that is tinkling so pleasantly?” + +“That is the spring, Granny!” said Toto eagerly. +“It bubbles up, as clear as crystal, out of +a hole in the rock, and then it falls over into the +pool. And the pool is round, as round as a cup; +and there are ferns and purple flags growing all +around it, and the trees are all reflected in it, you +know; and there are turtles in it, and there used +to be a muskrat, only Coon ate him, and—and—oh! +it’s so jolly!” and here Toto paused, fairly +out of breath. + +Indeed, it was very lovely by the pool, in the +soft glow of the Indian summer day. The spring +murmured and tinkled and sang to them; the +trees dropped yellow leaves on them, like fairy +gold; and then the sun laughed, and sent down +flights of his golden arrows, to show them what a +very poor thing earthly gold was, after all. So +they all sat and talked around the pool, of the +summer that was past and the winter that was +coming. Then the grandmother made a little +speech which she had been thinking over for some +time. It was a very short speech; but it was very +much to the point. + +“Dear friends,” she said, “you are all sad at +the prospect of the long winter; but I have a +plan which will make the winter a joyous season, +instead of a melancholy one. I have plenty of +room in my cottage, warmth, and food, and everything +comfortable; and I want you all to come +and spend the winter with Toto and me. There +is a large wood-pile where you can climb or sit +when you are tired of the house. You shall sleep +when you please, and wake when you please; +and we will be a happy and united family. Come, +my friends, what do you say?” + + + + + + + + + +“Then the grandmother made a little speech.” + + + +What did they say? Indeed, they did not +know what to say. There was silence around the +pool for a few minutes. Then the bear looked at +the raccoon, the raccoon looked at the squirrel, +and the squirrel looked at the wood-pigeon; and +finally the gentle bird answered, as she usually +did, for all. + +“Dear, dear madam,” she said, “we can imagine +nothing so delightful as to live with you and our +dear Toto. We all accept your invitation thankfully +and joyfully; and we will all do our best to +be a help, rather than a burden, to you.” + +All the animals nodded approval. Then Toto, +who had been waiting breathless for the answer, +seized the bear by the paws, and the raccoon +seized the squirrel, and they all danced round and +round till there was no breath left in their bodies; +and the woodchuck—who had been asleep behind +a tree, and had waked up just in time to hear the +grandmother’s speech—danced all alone on his +hind-legs, to the admiration of all beholders. And +then Cracker went and brought some nuts, and +Coon brought apples, and Bruin brought great +shining combs of honey, and they sat and feasted +around the pool, and were right merry. + +And then they all went back to the cottage,—the +grandmother, and Toto, and Bruin, and Coon, +and Cracker, and Chucky, and Pigeon Pretty, and +Miss Mary,—and there they all lived and were +happy; and if you ever lead half such a merry +life as they did, you may consider yourself +extremely fortunate. + +THE END. + + + +_Messrs. Roberts Brothers’ Publications._ + + +MRS. DODGE’S POPULAR BOOK. + + + + + + + + + +A Portrait of Dorothy at Sixteen. + + + +DONALD AND DOROTHY. + + +By MARY MAPES DODGE. + + +Beautifully Illustrated and Bound. Price $2.00. + +_An honest tribute from an admiring friend._ + + +“Dear Mrs. Dodge,—I have just finished your book called ‘Donald and +Dorothy’ for the third or fourth time, and would like very much to know +whether Dorothy is a real person, and if so, what is her name? I am nearly +as old as Dorothy was at the close of the book, so am very much interested +in her. I would also like to know how old she is, and where she lives. If you +would be kind enough to reply, you would greatly oblige + +“Your admiring friend,” ——. + + +ROBERTS BROTHERS, Publishers, Boston + + + + + + + + + + + +“Do you remember how you used to play ‘Pilgrim’s Progress’ when you were little things? Nothing delighted you more than to have me +tie my piece-bags on your backs for burdens, give you hats and sticks, and rolls of paper, and let you travel through the house from the cellar to +the house-top.”—_Vide_ “Little Women.” + + +A GIFT BOOK FOR THE FAMILY. + + +LITTLE WOMEN. + + +_ILLUSTRATED._ + + +This, the most famous of +all the famous books by Miss +Alcott, is now presented in +an illustrated edition, with + +Nearly Two Hundred Characteristic +Designs, + +drawn and engraved expressly +for this work. It is safe to +say that there are not many +homes which have not been +made happier through the +healthy influence of this celebrated +book, which can now +be had in a fit dress for the +centre table of the domestic +fireside. + +_One handsome small quarto +volume, bound in cloth, with emblematic +cover designs. Price, +$2.50._ + +ROBERTS BROTHERS, +_Publishers, Boston_. + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE JOYOUS STORY OF TOTO *** + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will +be renamed. + +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the +United States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part +of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm +concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, +and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following +the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use +of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for +copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very +easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation +of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project +Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away--you may +do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected +by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark +license, especially commercial redistribution. + +START: FULL LICENSE + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full +Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at +www.gutenberg.org/license. + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or +destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your +possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a +Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound +by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the +person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph +1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this +agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the +Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection +of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual +works in the collection are in the public domain in the United +States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the +United States and you are located in the United States, we do not +claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, +displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as +all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope +that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting +free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm +works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the +Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily +comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the +same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when +you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are +in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, +check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this +agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, +distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any +other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no +representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any +country other than the United States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other +immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear +prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work +on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, +performed, viewed, copied or distributed: + + This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and + most other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the + United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where + you are located before using this eBook. + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is +derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not +contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the +copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in +the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are +redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply +either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or +obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm +trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any +additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms +will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works +posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the +beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including +any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access +to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format +other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official +version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm website +(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense +to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means +of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain +Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the +full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +provided that: + +* You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed + to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has + agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project + Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid + within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are + legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty + payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project + Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in + Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg + Literary Archive Foundation." + +* You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all + copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue + all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm + works. + +* You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of + any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of + receipt of the work. + +* You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than +are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing +from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of +the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the Foundation as set +forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project +Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may +contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate +or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other +intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or +other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or +cannot be read by your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium +with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you +with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in +lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person +or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second +opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If +the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing +without further opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO +OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT +LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of +damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement +violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the +agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or +limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or +unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the +remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in +accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the +production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, +including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of +the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this +or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or +additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any +Defect you cause. + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of +computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It +exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations +from people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future +generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see +Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at +www.gutenberg.org + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by +U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, +Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up +to date contact information can be found at the Foundation's website +and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without +widespread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND +DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular +state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To +donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project +Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be +freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and +distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of +volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in +the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not +necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper +edition. + +Most people start at our website which has the main PG search +facility: www.gutenberg.org + +This website includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + diff --git a/35281-0.zip b/35281-0.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e7a5171 --- /dev/null +++ b/35281-0.zip diff --git a/35281-h.zip b/35281-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ef53a0a --- /dev/null +++ b/35281-h.zip diff --git a/35281-h/35281-h.htm b/35281-h/35281-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..83bfae8 --- /dev/null +++ b/35281-h/35281-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,5342 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" /> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Joyous Story of Toto, by Laura E. Richards</title> + +<style type="text/css"> + p {margin-top: 0.5em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0.5em;} + + .chsp {margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em;} + .figcenter {margin: 2em auto 2em auto; text-align: center; width: auto;} + .figleft {padding: .5em .5em 0 0; float: left; width: auto;} + .figtag {height: 1px;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .smcaplc {text-transform: lowercase; font-variant: small-caps;} + div.poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;} + div.poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em;} + div.poem p {margin: 0; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + hr.tb {border: none; border-bottom:1px solid black; width: 33%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;font-size: 90%; text-align:center;} + .center, .center p {text-align: center;} + .dcap {text-transform: uppercase;} + .larger {font-size: large;} + .muchlarger {font-size: x-large;} + .padtop {margin-top: 2em;} + .sig1 {display: block; padding-right: 8em; text-align: right;} + .smaller {font-size: small;} + blockquote {display: block; margin: .75em 5%; font-size: 90%;} + h1,h2,h3,h4 {text-align: center;} + img.embed {margin: 0 0.3em;} + p.dropcap:first-letter {padding-top: .07em;} + p.dropcap:first-letter, p.dropcapq span.drop {float: left; margin-right: .05em; font-size: 300%; line-height: .8em; width: auto;} + p.dropcapq small {float: left; font-weight: bold; width: auto;} + p.dropcapq span.drop {padding-top: 0; padding-bottom: 0;} +</style> + +</head> +<body> + +<div style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Joyous Story of Toto, by Laura E. Richards</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and +most other parts of the world 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 <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you +are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the +country where you are located before using this eBook. +</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: The Joyous Story of Toto</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Laura E. Richards</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Illustrator: E. H. Garrett</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: February 14, 2011 [eBook #35281]<br /> +[Most recently updated: June 7, 2021]</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Character set encoding: UTF-8</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Produced by: David Edwards, Katherine Ward, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team</div> +<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE JOYOUS STORY OF TOTO ***</div> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_1' id='linki_1'></a> +</div> +<img src='images/cover.jpg' alt='' title='' width='365' height='600' /> +<br /> +</div> +<div class='center'> +<h1><span class='smcap'>The Joyous Story</span><br /> +<span class='smcap'>of</span><br /> +TOTO.</h1> +<p class='larger'><span class='smcap'>by</span><br /> +LAURA E. RICHARDS.</p> +<p><i>WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY E. H. GARRETT.</i></p> +<p class='padtop'>BOSTON:<br /> +ROBERTS BROTHERS.<br /> +1885.</p> +<hr class='pb' /> +<p><i>Copyright, 1885</i>,<br /> +<span class='smcap'>By Roberts Brothers</span>.</p> +<p class='smaller'>University Press:<br /> +<span class='smcap'>John Wilson and Son, Cambridge</span>.</p> +<hr class='pb' /> +<p><i>TO MY CHILDREN</i><br /> +<b>This Story</b><br /> +IS LOVINGLY DEDICATED.</p> +</div> +<div class='chsp'> +<a name='CHAPTER_I' id='CHAPTER_I'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> +</div> +<div class='figcenter'> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_2' id='linki_2'></a> +</div> +<img src='images/i002.png' alt='' title='' width='413' height='243' /> +<br /> +</div> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Toto</span> was a little boy, and his grandmother +was an old woman (I have noticed that +grandmothers are very apt to be old women); and +this story is about both of them. Now, whether +the story be true or not you must decide for yourselves; +and the child who finds this out will be +wiser than I.</p> +<p>Toto’s grandmother lived in a little cottage far +from any town, and just by the edge of a thick +wood; and Toto lived with her, for his father +and mother were dead, and the old woman was +the only relation he had in the world.</p> +<p>The cottage was painted red, with white window-casings, +and little diamond-shaped panes of +glass in the windows. Up the four walls grew a +red rose, a yellow rose, a woodbine, and a clematis; +and they all met together at the top, and +fought and scratched for the possession of the top +of the chimney, from which there was the finest +view; so foolish are these vegetables.</p> +<p>Inside the cottage there was a big kitchen, with +a great open fireplace, in which a bright fire +was always crackling; a floor scrubbed white and +clean; a dresser with shining copper and tin +dishes on it; a table, a rocking-chair for the +grandmother, and a stool for Toto. There were +two bedrooms and a storeroom, and perhaps another +room; and there was a kitchen closet, +where the cookies lived. So now you know all +about the inside of the cottage. Outside there +was a garden behind and a bit of green in front, +and three big trees; and that is all there is to +tell.</p> +<p>As for Toto, he was a curly-haired fellow, with +bright eyes and rosy cheeks, and a mouth that +was always laughing.</p> +<p>His grandmother was the best grandmother in +the world, I have been given to understand, +though that is saying a great deal, to be sure. +She was certainly a very good, kind old body; and +she had pretty silver curls and pink cheeks, as +every grandmother should have. There was only +one trouble about her; but that was a very serious +one,—she was blind.</p> +<p>Her blindness did not affect Toto much; for +he had never known her when she was not blind, +and he supposed it was a peculiarity of grandmothers +in general. But to the poor old lady +herself it was a great affliction, though she bore +it, for the most part, very cheerfully. She was +wonderfully clever and industrious; and her fingers +seemed, in many ways, to see better than +some people’s eyes. She kept the cottage always +as neat as a new pin. She was an excellent cook, +too, and made the best gingerbread and cookies +in the world. And she knit—oh! how she <i>did</i> +knit!—stockings, mittens, and comforters; comforters, +mittens, and stockings: all for Toto. +Toto wore them out very fast; but he could +not keep up with his grandmother’s knitting. +Clickety click, clickety clack, went the shining +needles all through the long afternoons, when +Toto was away in the wood; and nothing answered +the needles, except the tea-kettle, which +always did its best to make things cheerful. But +even in her knitting there were often trials for +the grandmother. Sometimes her ball rolled off +her lap and away over the floor; and then the +poor old lady had a hard time of it groping about +in all the corners (there never was a kitchen that +had so many corners as hers), and knocking her +head against the table and the dresser.</p> +<p>The kettle was always much troubled when +anything of this sort happened. He puffed +angrily, and looked at the tongs. “If <i>I</i> had legs,” +he said, “I would make some use of them, even +if they <i>were</i> awkward and ungainly. But when a +person is absolutely <i>all</i> head and legs, it is easy +to understand that he should have no heart.”</p> +<p>The tongs never made any reply to these +remarks, but stood stiff and straight, and pretended +not to hear.</p> +<p>But the grandmother had other troubles beside +dropping her ball. Toto was a very good boy,—better, +in fact, than most boys,—and he loved his +grandmother very much indeed; but he was forgetful, +as every child is. Sometimes he forgot +this, and sometimes that, and sometimes the +other; for you see his heart was generally in the +forest, and his head went to look after it; and +that often made trouble. He always <i>meant</i> to get +before he went to the forest everything that his +grandmother could possibly want while he was +away. Wood and water he never forgot, for he +always brought those in before breakfast. But +sometimes the brown potatoes sat waiting in the +cellar closet, with their jackets all buttoned up, +wondering why they were not taken out, as their +brothers had been the day before, and put in a +wonderful wicker cage, and carried off to see the +great world. And the yellow apples blushed with +anger and a sense of neglect; while the red apples +turned yellow with vexation. And sometimes,—well, +sometimes <i>this</i> sort of thing would happen: +one day the old lady was going to make some +gingerbread; for there was not a bit in the house, +and Toto could <i>not</i> live without gingerbread. So +she said, “Toto, go to the cupboard and get me +the ginger-box and the soda, that’s a good +boy!”</p> +<p>Now, Toto was standing in the doorway when +his grandmother spoke, and just at that moment +he caught sight of a green lizard on a stone at a +little distance. He wanted very much to catch +that lizard; but he was an obedient boy, and +always did what “Granny” asked him to do. So +he ran to the cupboard, still keeping one eye on +the lizard outside, seized a box full of something +yellow and a bag full of something white, +and handed them to his grandmother. “There, +Granny,” he cried, “that’s ginger, and <i>that’s</i> +soda. Now may I go? There’s a lizard—” and +he was off like a flash.</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_3' id='linki_3'></a> +</div> +<img src='images/i003.png' alt='' title='' width='425' height='335' /> +<br /> +<p class='caption'> +“Oh, oh! what a dreadful face he made!”<br /> +</p> +</div> +<p>Well, Granny made the gingerbread, and at tea-time +in came Master Toto, quite out of breath, +having chased the lizard about twenty-five miles +(so he said, and he ought to know), and hungry as +a hunter. He sat down, and ate his bread-and-milk +first, like a good boy; and then he pounced +upon the gingerbread, and took a huge bite out +of it. Oh, oh! what a dreadful face he made! +He gave a wild howl, and jumping up from +the table, danced up and down the room, crying, +“Oh! what <i>nasty</i> stuff! Oh, Granny, how <i>could</i> +you make such horrid gingerbread? Br-r-rr! oh, +dear! I never, never, <i>never</i> tasted anything so +horrid.”</p> +<p>The poor old lady was quite aghast. “My dear +boy,” she said, “I made it just as usual. You +must be mistaken. Let me—” and then <i>she</i> tasted +the gingerbread.</p> +<p>Well, she did not get up and dance, but she +came very near it. “What does this mean?” she +cried. “I made it just as usual. What can it be? +Ah!” she added, a new thought striking her. +“Toto, bring me the ginger and the soda; bring +just what you brought me this afternoon. Quick! +don’t stop to examine the boxes; bring the same +ones.”</p> +<p>Toto, wondering, brought the box full of something +yellow, and the bag full of something white.</p> +<p>His grandmother tasted the contents of both, +and then she leaned back in her chair and laughed +heartily. “My dear little boy,” she said, “you +think I am a very good cook, and I myself think +I am not a very bad one; but I certainly can<i>not</i> +make good gingerbread with mustard and salt +instead of ginger and soda!”</p> +<p>Toto thought there <i>were</i> some disadvantages +about being blind, after all; and after that his +grandmother always tasted the ingredients before +she began to cook.</p> +<p>Now, it happened one day that the grandmother +was sitting in the sun before the cottage door, +knitting; and as she knitted, from time to time +she heaved a deep sigh. And one of those sighs is +the reason why this story is written; for if the +grandmother had not sighed, and Toto had not +heard her, none of the funny things that I am +going to tell you would have happened. Moral: +always sigh when you want a story written.</p> +<p>Toto was just coming home from the wood, +where he had been spending the afternoon, as +usual. As he came round the corner of the cottage +he heard his grandmother sigh deeply, as if +she were very sad about something; and this +troubled Toto, for he was an affectionate little +boy, and loved his grandmother dearly.</p> +<p>“Why, Granny!” he cried, running up to her +and throwing his arms round her neck. “Dear +Granny, why do you sigh so? What is the matter? +Are you ill?”</p> +<p>The grandmother shook her head, and wiped a +tear from her sightless eyes. “No, dear little +boy!” she said. “No, I am not ill; but I am very +lonely. It’s a solitary life here, though you are +too young to feel it, Toto, and I am very glad of +that. But I do wish, sometimes, that I had some +one to talk to, who could tell me what is going on +in the world. It is a long time since any one has +been here. The travelling pedler comes only once +a year, and the last time he came he had a toothache, +so that he could not talk. Ah, deary me! +it’s a solitary life.” And the grandmother shook +her head again, and went on with her knitting.</p> +<p>Toto had listened to this with his eyes very +wide open, and his mouth very tight shut; and +when his grandmother had finished speaking, he +went and sat down on a stone at a little distance, +and began to think very hard. His grandmother +was lonely. The thought had never occurred to +him before. It had always seemed as natural for +her to stay at home and knit and make cookies, +as for him to go to the wood. He supposed all +grandmothers did so. He wondered how it felt +to be lonely; he thought it must be very unpleasant. +<i>He</i> was never lonely in the wood.</p> +<p>“But then,” he said to himself, “I have all my +friends in the wood, and Granny has none. Very +likely if I had no friends I should be lonely too. +I wonder what I can do about it.”</p> +<p>Then suddenly a bright idea struck him. +“Why,” he thought,—“why should not my friends +be Granny’s friends too? They are very amusing, +I am sure. Why should I not bring them to see +Granny, and let them talk to her? She <i>couldn’t</i> +be lonely then. I’ll go and see them this minute, +and tell them all about it. I’m sure they will +come.”</p> +<p>Full of his new idea, the boy sprang to his feet, +and ran off in the direction of the wood. The +grandmother called to him, “Toto! Toto! where +are you going?” but he did not hear her. The +good woman shook her head and went on with her +knitting. “Let the dear child amuse himself as +much as he can now. There’s little enough +amusement in life.”</p> +<p>But Toto was not thinking of his own amusement +this time. He ran straight to the wood, and +entered it, threading his way quickly among the +trees, as if he knew every step of the way, which, +indeed, he did. At length, after going some way, +he reached an open space, with trees all round it. +Such a pretty place! The ground was carpeted +with softest moss, into which the boy’s feet sunk +so deep that they were almost covered; and all +over the moss were sprinkled little star-shaped pink +flowers. The trees stood back a little from this +pretty place, as I said; but their long branches met +overhead, as they bent over to look down into—what +do you think?—the loveliest little pool of +water that ever was seen, I verily believe. A tiny +pool, as round as if a huge giant had punched a +hole for it with the end of his umbrella or walking-stick, +and as clear as crystal. The edge of the +pool was covered all round with plants and flowers, +which seemed all to be trying to get a peep into +the clear brown water. I have heard that these +flowers growing round the pool had become excessively +vain through looking so constantly at +their own reflection, and that they gave themselves +insufferable airs in consequence; but as this +was only said by the flowers which did <i>not</i> grow +near the pool, perhaps it was a slight exaggeration. +They were certainly very pretty flowers, and I +never wondered at their wanting to look at themselves. +You see I have been in the wood, and +know all about it.</p> +<p>It was in this pretty place that Toto stopped. +He sat down on a great cushion of moss near the +pool, and began to whistle. Presently he heard +a rustling in the tree-tops above his head. He +stopped whistling and looked up expectantly. A +beechnut fell plump on his nose, and he saw the +sharp black eyes of a gray squirrel peering at him +through the leaves.</p> +<p>“Hello, Toto!” said the squirrel. “Back again +already? What’s the matter?”</p> +<p>“Come down here, and I’ll tell you,” said +Toto.</p> +<p>The squirrel took a flying leap, and alighted +on Toto’s shoulder. At the same moment a +louder rustling was heard, among the bushes this +time, a sound of cracking and snapping twigs, and +presently a huge black bear poked his nose out of +the bushes, and sniffed inquiringly. “What’s +up?” he asked. “I thought you fellows had +gone home for the night, and I was just taking +a nap.”</p> +<p>“So we had,” said Toto; “but I came back +because I had something important to say. I +want to see you all on business. Where are the +others?”</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_4' id='linki_4'></a> +</div> +<img src='images/i004.png' alt='' title='' width='416' height='316' /> +<br /> +<p class='caption'> +“Well,” said Toto, “it’s about my grandmother.”<br /> +</p> +</div> +<p>“Coon will be here in a minute,” answered +the bear. “He stopped to eat the woodchuck’s +supper. Chucky was so sound asleep it seemed +a pity to miss such an opportunity. The birds +have all flown away except the wood-pigeon, and +she told me she would come as soon as she had +fed her young ones. What’s your business, +Toto?” and Bruin sat down in a very comfortable +attitude, and prepared to listen.</p> +<p>“Well,” said Toto, “it’s about my grandmother. +You see, she—oh! here’s Coon! I’ll wait for +him.” As he spoke, a large raccoon came out +into the little dell. He was very handsome, with +a most beautiful tail, but he looked sly and lazy. +He winked at Toto, by way of greeting, and sat +down by the pool, curling his tail round his legs, +and then looking into the water to see if the +effect was good. At the same moment a pretty +wood-pigeon fluttered down, with a soft “Coo!” +and settled on Toto’s other shoulder.</p> +<p>“Now then!” said the squirrel, flicking the +boy’s nose with his tail, “go on, and tell us all +about it!”</p> +<p>So Toto began again. “My grandmother, you +see: she is blind; and she’s all alone most of the +time when I’m out here playing with all of you, +and it makes her lonely.”</p> +<p>“Lonely! What’s that?” asked the raccoon.</p> +<p>“I know what it is!” said the bear. “It’s +when there aren’t any blueberries, and you’ve +hurt your paw so that you can’t climb. It’s a +horrid feeling. Isn’t that it, Toto?”</p> +<p>“N-no, not exactly,” said Toto, “for my grandmother +never climbs trees, anyhow. She hasn’t +anybody to talk to, or listen to; nobody comes to +see her, and she doesn’t know what is going +on in the world. That’s what she means by +‘lonely.’”</p> +<p>“Humph!” said the raccoon, waving his tail +thoughtfully. “Why don’t you both come and +live in the wood? She couldn’t be lonely here, you +know; and it would be very convenient for us all. +I know a nice hollow tree that I could get for you +not far from here. A wild-cat lives in it now, but +if your grandmother doesn’t like wild-cats, the +bear can easily drive him away. He’s a disagreeable +fellow, and we shall be glad to get rid of him +and have a pleasanter neighbor. Does—a—does +your grandmother scratch?”</p> +<p>“No, certainly not!” said Toto indignantly. +“She is the best grandmother in the world. +She never scratched anybody in her life, I am +sure.”</p> +<p>“No offence, no offence,” said the raccoon. +“<i>My</i> grandmother scratched, and I thought yours +might. Most of them do, in my experience.”</p> +<p>“Besides,” Toto went on, “she wouldn’t like +at all to live in a hollow tree. She is not used to +that way of living, you see. Now, <i>I</i> have a plan, +and I want you all to help me in it. In the +morning Granny is busy, so she has not time to +be lonely. It’s only in the afternoon, when she +sits still and knits. So I say, why shouldn’t you +all come over to the cottage in the afternoon, and +talk to Granny instead of talking here to each +other? I don’t mean <i>every</i> afternoon, of course, +but two or three times a week. She would enjoy +the stories and things as much as I do; and she +would give you gingerbread, I’m sure she would; +and perhaps jam too, if you were <i>very</i> good.”</p> +<p>“What’s gingerbread?” asked the bear. “And +what’s jam? You do use such queer words sometimes, +Toto.”</p> +<p>“Gingerbread?” said Toto. “Oh, it’s—well, +it’s—why, it’s <i>gingerbread</i>, you know. You don’t +have anything exactly like it, so I can’t exactly +tell you. But there’s molasses in it, and ginger, +and things; it’s good, anyhow, very good. And +jam—well, jam is sweet, something like honey, +only better. You will like it, I know, Bruin.</p> +<p>“Well, what do you all say? Will you come +and try it?”</p> +<p>The bear looked at the raccoon; the raccoon +looked at the squirrel; and the squirrel looked at +the wood-pigeon. The pretty, gentle bird had +not spoken before; but now, seeing all the other +members of the party undecided, she answered +quietly and softly, “Yes, Toto; I will come, and +I am sure the others will, for they are all good +creatures. You are a dear boy, and we shall all +be glad to give pleasure to you or your grandmother.”</p> +<p>The other creatures all nodded approval to the +wood-pigeon’s little speech, and Toto gave a sigh +of relief and satisfaction. “That is settled, then,” +he said. “Thank you, dear pigeon, and thank +you all. Now, when will you come? To-morrow +afternoon? The sooner the better, I think.”</p> +<p>The raccoon looked critically at his reflection in +the water. “Chucky bit my ear yesterday,” he +said, “and it doesn’t look very well for making +visits. Suppose we wait till it is healed over. +Nothing like making a good impression at first, +you know.”</p> +<p>“Nonsense, Coon!” growled the bear. “You +are always thinking about your looks. I never +saw such a fellow. Let us go to-morrow if we +are going.”</p> +<p>“Besides,” said Toto, laughing, “Granny is +blind, and will not know whether you have any +ears or not, Master Coon. So I shall expect you +all to-morrow. Good-by, all, and thank you very +much.” And away ran Toto, and away went all +the rest to get their respective suppers.</p> +<div class='chsp'> +<a name='CHAPTER_II' id='CHAPTER_II'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> +</div> +<p class='dropcapq'><small>“</small><span class='drop'>G</span><span class='dcap'>ranny</span>,” said Toto the next day, when the +afternoon shadows began to lengthen, “I +am expecting some friends here this afternoon.”</p> +<p>“Some friends, Toto!” exclaimed his grandmother +in astonishment. “My dear boy, what +friend have you in the world except your old +Granny? You are laughing at me.”</p> +<p>“No, I am not, Granny,” said the boy. “Of +course you are the <i>best</i> friend, very much the +best; but I have some other very good ones. +And I have told them about your being lonely,” +he went on hurriedly, glancing towards the wood, +“and they are coming to see you this afternoon, +to talk to you and tell you stories. In fact, I +think I hear one of them coming now.”</p> +<p>“But <i>who are they</i>?” cried the astonished old +woman, putting her hand up at the same time to +settle her cap straight, and smoothing her apron, +in great trepidation at the approach of these unexpected +visitors.</p> +<p>“Oh,” said Toto, “they are—here is one of +them!” and he ran to meet the huge bear, who at +that moment made his appearance, walking slowly +and solemnly towards the cottage. He seemed ill +at ease, and turned frequently to look back, in +hopes of seeing his companions.</p> +<p>“Grandmother, this is my friend Bruin!” said +Toto, leading the bear up to the horrified old lady. +“I am very fond of Bruin,” he added, “and I +hope you and he will be great friends. He tells +the most <i>delightful</i> stories.”</p> +<p>Poor Granny made a trembling courtesy, and +Bruin stood up on his hind-legs and rocked slowly +backwards and forwards, which was the nearest +approach he could make to a bow. (N. B. He +looked so very formidable in this attitude, that if +the old lady had seen him, she would certainly +have fainted away. But she did not see, and +Toto was used to it, and saw nothing out of the +way in it.)</p> +<p>“Your servant, ma’am,” said the bear. “I hope +I see you well.”</p> +<p>Granny courtesied again, and replied in a faltering +voice, “Quite well, thank you, Mr. Bruin. It’s—it’s +a fine day, sir.”</p> +<p>“It is indeed!” said the bear with alacrity. “It +is a <i>very</i> fine day. I was just about to make the +same remark myself. I—don’t know when I +have seen a finer day. In fact, I don’t believe +there ever <i>was</i> a finer day. A—yesterday was—a—<i>not</i> +a fine day. A—</p> +<p>“Look here!” he added, in a low growl, aside +to Toto, “I can’t stand much more of this. Where +is Coon? He knows how to talk to people, and I +don’t. I’m not accustomed to it. Now, when I +go to see <i>my</i> grandmother, I take her a good +bone, and she hits me on the head by way of saying +thank you, and that’s all. I have a bone +somewhere about me now,” said poor Bruin hesitatingly, +“but I don’t suppose she—eh?”</p> +<p>“No, certainly not!” replied Toto promptly. +“Not upon any account. And here’s Coon now, +and the others too, so you needn’t make any +more fine speeches.”</p> +<p>Bruin, much relieved, sat down on his haunches, +and watched the approach of his companions.</p> +<p>The raccoon advanced cautiously, yet with a +very jaunty air. The squirrel was perched on his +back, and the wood-pigeon fluttered about his head, +in company with a very distinguished-looking gray +parrot, with a red tail; while behind came a fat +woodchuck, who seemed scarcely more than half-awake.</p> +<p>The creatures all paid their respects to Toto’s +grandmother, each in his best manner; the raccoon +professed himself charmed to make her acquaintance. +“It is more than a year,” he said, +“since I had the pleasure of meeting your accomplished +grandson. I have esteemed it a high privilege +to converse with him, and have enjoyed his +society immensely. Now that I have the further +happiness of becoming acquainted with his elegant +and highly intellectual progenitress, I feel that I +am indeed most fortunate. I—”</p> +<p>But here Toto broke in upon the stream of eloquence. +“Oh, <i>come</i>, Coon!” he cried, “your +politeness is as bad as Bruin’s shyness. Why +can’t we all be jolly, as we usually are? You need +not be afraid of Granny.</p> +<p>“Come,” he continued, “let us have our story. +We can all sit down in a circle, and fancy ourselves +around the pool. Whose turn is it to-day? Yours, +isn’t it, Cracker?”</p> +<p>“No,” said the squirrel. “It is Coon’s turn. +I told my story yesterday.”</p> +<p>“You see, Granny,” said Toto, turning to his +grandmother, “we take turns in telling stories, +every afternoon. It is <i>such</i> fun! you’d like to +hear a story, wouldn’t you, Granny?”</p> +<p>“Very much indeed!” replied the good woman. +“Will you take a chair, Mr.—Mr. Coon?” she +asked.</p> +<p>“Thank you, no,” replied the raccoon graciously. +“My mother earth shall suffice me.” +And sitting down, he curled up his tail in a +very effective manner, and looked about him +meditatively, as if in search of a subject for his +story.</p> +<p>“My natural diffidence,” he said, “will render +it a difficult task, but still—”</p> +<p>“Oh yes, we know!” said the squirrel. “Your +natural diffidence is a fine thing. Go ahead, old +fellow!”</p> +<p>At this moment Mr. Coon’s sharp eyes fell upon +the poultry-yard, on the fence of which a fine +Shanghai cock was sitting. His face lighted up, +as if an idea had just struck him. “That is a very +fine rooster, madam!” he said, addressing the +grandmother,—“a remarkably fine bird. That +bird, madam, reminds me strongly of the Golden-breasted +Kootoo.”</p> +<p>“And what is the Golden-breasted Kootoo?” +asked the grandmother.</p> +<p>The raccoon smiled, and looked slyly round +upon his auditors, who had all assumed comfortable +attitudes of listening, sure that the story was +now coming.</p> +<p>“The story of the Golden-breasted Kootoo,” he +said, “was told to me several years ago by a distinguished +foreigner, a learned and highly accomplished +magpie, who formerly resided in this +vicinity, but who is now, unhappily, no longer in +our midst.”</p> +<p>“That’s a good one, that is!” whispered the +wood chuck to Toto. “He ate that magpie about +a year ago; said he loved her so much he couldn’t +help it. What a fellow he is!”</p> +<p>“Hush!” said Toto. “He’s beginning!”</p> +<p>And Mr. Coon, dropping his airs and graces, +told his story in tolerably plain language, as +follows:—</p> +<h3>THE GOLDEN-BREASTED KOOTOO.</h3> +<p>Once upon a time—and a good time it was—there +lived a king. I do not know exactly what +his name was, or just where he lived; but it doesn’t +matter at all: his kingdom was somewhere between +Ashantee and Holland, and his name sounded a +little like Samuel, and a little like Dolabella, and a +good deal like Chimborazo, and yet it was not quite +any of them. But, as I said before, it doesn’t matter. +We will call him the King, and that will be +all that is necessary, as there is no other king in +the story.</p> +<p>This King was very fond of music; in fact, he +was excessively fond of it. He kept four bands of +music playing all day long. The first was a brass +band, the second was a string band, the third was +a rubber band, and the fourth was a man who +played on the jews-harp. (Some people thought +he ought not to be called a band, but he said he +was all the jews-harp band there was, and that was +very true.) The four bands played all day long +on the four sides of the grand courtyard, and the +king sat on a throne in the middle and transacted +affairs of state. And when His Majesty went to +bed at night, the grand chamberlain wound up a +musical-box that was in his pillow, and another one +in the top bureau-drawer, and they played “The +Dog’s-meat Man” and “Pride of the Pirate’s +Heart” till daylight did appear.</p> +<p>One day it occurred to the King that it would be +an excellent plan for him to learn to sing. He +wondered that he had never thought of it before. +“You see,” he said, “it would amuse me very much +to sing while I am out hunting. I cannot take the +bands with me to the forest, for they would frighten +away the wild beasts; and I miss my music very +much on such occasions. Yes, decidedly, I will +learn to sing.”</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_5' id='linki_5'></a> +</div> +<img src='images/i006.png' alt='' title='' width='430' height='341' /> +<br /> +<p class='caption'> +“Take this man and behead him!” said the King.<br /> +</p> +</div> +<p>So he sent for the Chief Musician, and +ordered him to teach him to sing. The Chief +Musician was delighted, and said they would begin +at once. So he sat down at the piano, and struck +a note. “O King,” he said, “please sing this +note.” And the King sang, in a loud, deep voice, +<img src="images/i005c.png" title="Treble clef B" alt="" class="embed" /> +The Chief Musician was enchanted. +“Superb!” he cried. “Magnificent! +Now, O King, please to sing <i>this</i> note!” and he +struck another note: +<img src="images/i005b.png" title="Bass clef G" alt="" class="embed" /> +The King sang, +in a loud, deep voice, +<img src="images/i005c.png" title="Treble clef B" alt="" class="embed" /> +The Chief Musician looked grave. +“O King,” he said, “you did not quite understand +me. We will try another note.” And he +struck another: +<img src="images/i006b.png" title="Treble clef C" alt="" class="embed" /> +The King sang, in +a loud, deep voice, +<img src="images/i005c.png" title="Treble clef B" alt="" class="embed" /> +The Chief Musician looked dejected. +“I fear, O King,” he said, “that you can never +learn to sing.” “What do you mean by that, +Chief Musician?” asked the King. “It is your +business to teach me to sing. Do you not know +how to teach?” “No man knows better,” replied +the Chief Musician. “But Your Majesty has +no ear for music. You never can sing but one +note.”</p> +<p>At these words the King grew purple in the face. +He said nothing, for he was a man of few words; +but he rang a large bell, and an executioner appeared. +“Take this man and behead him!” said +the King. “And send me the Second Musician!”</p> +<p>The Second Musician came, looking very grave, +for he had heard the shrieks of his unhappy superior +as he was dragged off to execution, and he had +no desire to share his fate. He bowed low, and +demanded His Majesty’s pleasure. “Teach me to +sing!” said His Majesty. So the Second Musician +sat down at the piano, and tried several notes, just +as the Chief Musician had done, and with the same +result. Whatever note was struck, the King still +sang, +<img src="images/i005c.png" title="Treble clef B" alt="" class="embed" /></p> +<p>Now the Second Musician was a quick-witted +fellow, and he saw in a moment what the trouble +had been with his predecessor, and saw, too, what +great peril he was in himself. So he assumed a +look of grave importance, and said solemnly, +“O King, this is a very serious matter. I cannot +conceal from you that there are great obstacles in +the way of your learning to sing—” The King +looked at the bell. “<span class='smcap'>But</span>,” said the Second Musician, +“they can be overcome.” The King looked +away again. “I beg,” said the Second Musician, +“for twenty-four hours’ time for consideration. At +the end of that time I shall have decided upon the +best method of teaching; and I am bound to say +this to Your Majesty, that <span class='smcap'>if</span> you learn to sing—” +“<span class='smcap'>What?”</span> said the King, looking at the bell +again. “That <span class='smcaplc'>WHEN</span> you learn to sing,” said the +Second Musician hastily,—“<i>when</i> you learn to +sing, your singing will be like no other that has +ever been heard.” This pleased the King, and he +graciously accorded the desired delay.</p> +<p>Accordingly the Second Musician took his leave +with great humility, and spent all that night and +the following day plunged in the deepest thought. +As soon as the twenty-four hours had elapsed he +again appeared before the King, who was awaiting +him impatiently, sitting on the music-stool. +“Well?” said the King. “Quite well, O King, I +thank you,” replied the Second Musician, “though +somewhat fatigued by my labors.” “Pshaw!” +said the King impatiently. “Have you found a +way of teaching me to sing?” “I have, O King,” +replied the Second Musician solemnly; “but it is +not an easy way. Nevertheless it is the only one.” +The King assured him that money was no object, +and begged him to unfold his plan. “In order to +learn to sing,” said the Second Musician, “you +must eat a pie composed of all the singing-birds in +the world. In this way only can the difficulty +of your having no natural ear for music be overcome. +If a single bird is omitted, or if you do not +consume the whole pie, the charm will have no +effect. I leave Your Majesty to judge of the +difficulty of the undertaking.”</p> +<p>Difficulty? The King would not admit that +there was such a word. He instantly summoned +his Chief Huntsman, and ordered him to send +other huntsmen to every country in the world, to +bring back a specimen of every kind of singing-bird. +Accordingly, as there were sixty countries +in the world at that time, sixty huntsmen started +off immediately, fully armed and equipped.</p> +<p>After they were gone, the King, who was very +impatient, summoned his Wise Men, and bade +them look in all the books, and find out how +many kinds of singing-birds there were in the +world. The Wise Men all put their spectacles +on their noses, and their noses into their books, +and after studying a long time, and adding up +on their slates the number of birds described in +each book, they found that there were in all nine +thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine varieties +of singing-birds.</p> +<p>They made their report to the King, and he +was rather troubled by it; for he remembered +that the Second Musician had said he must eat +every morsel of the pie himself, or the charm +would have no effect. It would be a <i>very</i> large +pie, he thought, with nine thousand nine hundred +and ninety-nine birds in it. “The only way,” he +said to himself, “will be for me to eat as little as +possible until the huntsmen come back; then I +shall be very hungry. I have never been <i>very</i> +hungry in my life, so there is no knowing how +much I could eat if I were.” So the King ate +nothing from one week’s end to another, except +bread and dripping; and by the time the huntsmen +returned he was so thin that it was really +shocking.</p> +<p>At last, after a long time, the sixty huntsmen +returned, laden down with huge bags, the contents +of which they piled up in a great heap in the +middle of the courtyard. A mountain of birds! +Such a thing had never been seen before. The +mountain was so high that everybody thought the +full number of birds must be there; and the Chief +Cook began to make his preparations, and sent to +borrow the garden roller from John the gardener, +as his own was not big enough to roll out such a +quantity of paste.</p> +<p>The King and the Wise Men next proceeded to +count the birds. But alas! what was their sorrow +to find that the number fell short by one! They +counted again and again; but it was of no use: +there were only nine thousand nine hundred and +ninety-eight birds in the pile.</p> +<p>The next thing was to find out what bird was +missing. So the Wise Men sorted all the birds, +and compared them with the pictures in the books, +and studied so hard that they wore out three pairs +of spectacles apiece; and at last they discovered +that the missing bird was the “Golden breasted +Kootoo.” The chief Wise Man read aloud from +the biggest book:—</p> +<p>“The Golden-breasted Kootoo, the most beautiful +and the most melodious of singing birds, +is found only in secluded parts of the Vale of +Coringo. Its plumage is of a brilliant golden +yellow, except on the back, where it is streaked +with green. Its beak is—”</p> +<p>“There! there!” interrupted the King impatiently; +“never mind about its beak. Tell the +Lord Chamberlain to pack my best wig and a clean +shirt, and send them after me by a courier; and, +Chief Huntsman, follow me. We start this moment +for the Vale of Coringo!”</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_6' id='linki_6'></a> +</div> +<img src='images/i007.png' alt='' title='' width='421' height='299' /> +<br /> +<p class='caption'> +“He rode on horseback, and was accompanied only by the Chief Huntsman and the jews-harp band.”<br /> +</p> +</div> +<p>And actually, if you will believe it, the King +<i>did</i> start off in less than an hour from the counting +of the birds. He rode on horseback, and was accompanied +only by the Chief Huntsman and the +jews-harp band, the courier being obliged to wait +for the King’s best wig to be curled.</p> +<p>The poor Band had a hard time of it; for he +had a very frisky horse, and found it extremely +difficult to manage the beast with one hand and +hold the jews-harp with the other; but the King, +with much ingenuity, fastened the head of the +horse to the tail of his own steady cob, thereby +enabling the musician to give all his attention to +his instrument. The music was a trifle jerky at +times; but what of that? It was music, and the +King was satisfied.</p> +<p>They rode night and day, and at length arrived +at the Vale of Coringo, and took lodgings at +the principal hotel. The King was very weary, +as he had been riding for a week without stopping. +So he went to bed at once, and slept for +two whole days.</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_7' id='linki_7'></a> +</div> +<img src='images/i008.png' alt='' title='' width='420' height='449' /> +<br /> +<p class='caption'> +“Seizing his gun, he hastily descended the stairs.”<br /> +</p> +</div> +<p>On the morning of the third day he was roused +from a wonderful dream (in which he was singing +a duet with the Golden-breasted Kootoo, to a +jews-harp accompaniment) by the sound of music. +The King sat up in bed, and listened. It was a +bird’s song that he heard, and it seemed to come +from the vines outside his window. But what a +song it was! And what a bird it must be that +could utter such wondrous +sounds! He listened, +too enchanted to +move, while the magical +song swelled louder +and clearer, filling the +air with melody. +At last +he rose, and +crept softly +to the window. +There, +on a swinging vine, sat a beautiful bird, all golden +yellow, with streaks of green on its back. It was +the Golden-breasted Kootoo! There could be no +doubt about it, even if its marvellous song had +not announced it as the sweetest singer of the +whole world. Very quietly, but trembling with +excitement, the King put on his slippers and his +flowered dressing-gown, and seizing his gun, he +hastily descended the stairs.</p> +<p>It was early dawn, and nobody was awake in +the hotel except the Boots, who was blacking his +namesakes in the back hall. He saw the King +come down, and thought he had come to get his +boots; but the monarch paid no attention to him, +quietly unbolted the front door, and slipped out +into the garden. Was he too late? Had the +bird flown? No, the magic song still rose from +the vines outside his chamber-window. But even +now, as the King approached, a fluttering was +heard, and the Golden-breasted Kootoo, spreading +its wings, flew slowly away over the garden wall, +and away towards the mountain which rose just +behind the hotel. The King followed, clambering +painfully over the high wall, and leaving fragments +of his brocade dressing-gown on the sharp +spikes which garnished it. Once over, he made +all speed, and found that he could well keep the +bird in sight, for it was flying very slowly. A +provoking bird it was, to be sure! It would fly a +little way, and then, alighting on a bush or hanging +spray, would pour forth a flood of melody, as +if inviting its pursuer to come nearer; but before +the unhappy King could get within gunshot, it +would flutter slowly onward, keeping just out of +reach, and uttering a series of mocking notes, +which seemed to laugh at his efforts. On and on +flew the bird, up the steep mountain; on and on +went the King in pursuit. It is all very well to +<i>fly</i> up a mountain; but to crawl and climb up, with +a heavy gun in one’s hand, and one’s dressing-gown +catching on every sharp point of rock, and +the tassel of one’s nightcap bobbing into one’s +eyes, is a very different matter, I can tell you. +But the King never thought of stopping for an +instant; not he! He lost first one slipper, and +then the other; the cord and tassels of his dressing-gown +tripped him up, so that he fell and +almost broke his nose; and finally his gun slipped +from his hold and went crashing down over a +precipice; but still the King climbed on and on, +breathless but undaunted.</p> +<p>At length, at the very top of the mountain, as +it seemed, the bird made a longer pause than +usual. It lighted on a point of rock, and folding +its wings, seemed really to wait for the King, +singing, meanwhile, a song of the most inviting +and encouraging description. Nearer and nearer +crept the King, and still the bird did not move. +He was within arm’s-length, and was just stretching +out his arm to seize the prize, when it fluttered +off the rock. Frantic with excitement, the +King made a desperate clutch after it, and—</p> +<h3>PART II.</h3> +<p>At eight o’clock the landlady knocked at the +King’s door. “Hot water, Your Majesty,” she +said. “Shall I bring the can in? And the Band +desires his respects, and would you wish him to +play while you are a-dressing, being as you didn’t +bring a music-box with you?”</p> +<p>Receiving no answer, after knocking several +times, the good woman opened the door very +cautiously, and peeped in, fully expecting to see +the royal nightcap reposing calmly on the pillow. +What was her amazement at finding the room +empty; no sign of the King was to be seen, +although his pink-silk knee-breeches lay on a +chair, and his ermine mantle and his crown were +hanging on a peg against the wall.</p> +<p>The landlady gave the alarm at once. The +King had disappeared! He had been robbed, +murdered; the assassins had chopped him up into +little pieces and carried him away in a bundle-handkerchief! +“Murder! police! fire!!!!”</p> +<p>In the midst of the wild confusion the voice +of the Boots was heard. “Please, ’m, I see +His Majesty go out at about five o’clock this +morning.”</p> +<p>Again the chorus rose: he had run away; he +had gone to surprise and slay the King of Coringo +while he was taking his morning chocolate; he +had gone to take a bath in the river, and was +drowned! “Murder! police!”</p> +<p>The voice of the Boots was heard again. “And +please, ’m, he’s a sittin’ out in the courtyard now; +and please, ’m, I think he’s crazy!”</p> +<p>Out rushed everybody, pell-mell, into the courtyard. +There, on the ground, sat the King, with +his tattered dressing-gown wrapped majestically +about him. An ecstatic smile illuminated his face, +while he clasped in his arms a large bird with +shining plumage.</p> +<p>“Bless me!” cried the poultry-woman. “If he +hasn’t got my Shanghai rooster that I couldn’t +catch last night!”</p> +<p>The King, hearing voices, looked round, and +smiled graciously on the astonished crowd. +“Good people,” he said, “success has crowned my +efforts. I have found the Golden-breasted Kootoo! +You shall all have ten pounds apiece, in +honor of this joyful event, and the landlady shall +be made a baroness in her own right!”</p> +<p>“But,” said the poultry-woman, “it is my +Shang—”</p> +<p>“Be still, you idiot!” whispered the landlady, +putting her hand over the woman’s mouth. “Do +you want to lose your ten pounds and your head +too? If the King has caught the Golden-breasted +Kootoo, why, then it <i>is</i> the Golden-breasted Kootoo, +as sure as I am a baroness!” and she added +in a still lower tone, “There hasn’t been a Kootoo +seen in the Vale for ten years; the birds have +died out.”</p> +<p>Great were the rejoicings at the palace when +the King returned in triumph, bringing with him +the much-coveted prize, the Golden-breasted Kootoo. +The bands played until they almost killed +themselves; the cooks waved their ladles and set +to work at once on the pie; the huntsmen sang +hunting-songs. All was joy and rapture, except +in the breast of one man; that man was the Second +Musician, or, as we should now call him, the +Chief Musician. He felt no thrill of joy at sight of +the wondrous bird; on the contrary, he made his +will, and prepared to leave the country at once; +but when the pie was finished, and he saw its huge +dimensions, he was comforted. “No man,” he said +to himself, “can eat the whole of that pie and +live!”</p> +<p>Alas! he was right. The unhappy King fell a +victim to his musical ambition before he had half +finished his pie, and died in a fit. His subjects ate +the remainder of the mighty pasty, with mingled +tears and smiles, as a memorial feast; and if the +Golden-breasted Kootoo <i>was</i> a Shanghai rooster, +nobody in the kingdom was ever the wiser for it.</p> +<div class='chsp'> +<a name='CHAPTER_III' id='CHAPTER_III'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> +</div> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>The</span> raccoon’s story was received with general +approbation; and the grandmother, in particular, +declared she had not passed so pleasant an +hour for a very long time. The good woman was +gradually becoming accustomed to her strange +visitors, and ventured to address them with a little +more freedom, though she still trembled and +clutched her knitting-needles tighter when she +heard the bear’s deep tones.</p> +<p>“It is really very good of you all,” she said, +“to take compassion upon my loneliness. Before +I came to this cottage I lived in a large town, +where I had many friends, and I find the change +very great, and the life here very solitary. Indeed, +if it were not for my dear little Toto, I +should lead quite the life of a hermit.”</p> +<p>“What is a hermit?” asked the bear, who had +an inquiring mind, and liked to know the meaning +of words.</p> +<p>“It is a crab,” said the parrot. “I have often +seen them in the West Indies. They get into the +shells of other crabs, and drive the owners out. +A wretched set!”</p> +<p>“Oh, dear!” cried the grandmother. “That is +not at all the kind of hermit I mean. A hermit +in this country is a man who lives quite alone, +without any companions, in some uninhabited +region, such as a wood or a lonely hillside.”</p> +<p>“Is it?” exclaimed the bear and the squirrel +at the same moment. “Why, then, we know one.”</p> +<p>“Certainly,” the squirrel went on; “Old Baldhead +must be a hermit, of course. He lives alone, +and in an uninhabited region; that is, what <i>you</i> +would call uninhabited, I suppose.”</p> +<p>“How very interesting! Where does he live?” +asked Toto. “Who is he? How is it that I have +never seen him?”</p> +<p>“Oh, he lives quite at the other end of the +wood!” replied the squirrel; “some ten miles or +more from here. You have never been so far, my +dear boy, and Old Baldhead isn’t likely to come +into our part of the wood. He paid us one visit +several years ago, and that was enough for him, +eh, Bruin?”</p> +<p>“Humph! I think so!” said Bruin, smiling +grimly. “He seemed quite satisfied, I thought.”</p> +<p>“Tell us about his visit!” cried Toto eagerly. +“I have never heard anything about him, and I +know it must be funny, or you would not chuckle +so, Bruin.”</p> +<p>“Well,” said the bear, “there isn’t much to +tell, but you shall hear all I know. <i>I</i> call that +hermit, if that is his name, a very impudent +fellow. Just fancy this, will you? One evening, +late in the autumn, about three years ago, I was +coming home from a long ramble, very tired and +hungry. I had left a particularly nice comb of +honey and some other little things in my cave, +all ready for supper, for I knew when I started +that I should be late, and I was looking forward +to a very comfortable evening.</p> +<p>“Well, when I came to the door of my cave, +what should I see but an old man with a long +gray beard, sitting on the ground eating my +honey!” Here the bear looked around with a +deeply injured air, and there was a general murmur +of sympathy.</p> +<p>“Your course was obvious!” said the raccoon. +“Why didn’t you eat him, stupid?”</p> +<p>“Hush!” whispered the wood-pigeon softly. +“You must not say things like that, Coon! you +will frighten the old lady.” And indeed, the +grandmother seemed much discomposed by the +raccoon’s suggestion.</p> +<p>“Wouldn’t have been polite!” replied Bruin. +“My own house, you know, and all that. Besides,” +he added in an undertone, with an apprehensive +glance at the grandmother, “he was old, +and probably very—”</p> +<p>“Ahem!” said Toto in a warning voice.</p> +<p>“Oh, certainly not!” said the bear hastily, +“not upon any account. I was about to make the +same remark myself. A—where was I?”</p> +<p>“The old man was eating your honey,” said the +woodchuck.</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_8' id='linki_8'></a> +</div> +<img src='images/i009.png' alt='' title='' width='420' height='335' /> +<br /> +<p class='caption'> +“I only stood up on my hind legs.”<br /> +</p> +</div> +<p>“Of course!” replied Bruin. “So, though I +would not have hurt him <i>for the world</i>” (with +another glance towards the grandmother), “I +thought there would be no harm in frightening +him a little. Accordingly, I first made a great +noise among the bushes, snapping the twigs and +rustling the leaves at a great rate. He stopped +eating, and looked and listened, listened and +looked; didn’t seem to like it much, I thought. +Then, when he was pretty thoroughly roused, I +came slowly forward, and planted myself directly +in front of the cave.”</p> +<p>“Dear me!” cried the grandmother. “How +very dreadful! poor old man!”</p> +<p>“Well now, ma’am!” said Bruin appealingly, +“he had no right to steal my honey; now had +he? And I didn’t hurt a hair of his head,” he +continued. “I only stood up on my hind-legs +and waved my fore-paws round and round like +a windmill, and roared.”</p> +<p>A general burst of merriment greeted this statement, +from all except the grandmother, who shuddered +in sympathy with the unfortunate hermit.</p> +<p>“Well?” asked Toto, “and what did he do +then?”</p> +<p>“Why,” said Bruin, “he crouched down in a +little heap on the ground, and squeezed himself +against the wall of the cave, evidently expecting +me to rush upon him and tear him to pieces; +I sat down in front of him and looked at him for +a few minutes; then, when I thought he had +had about enough, I walked past him into the +cave, and then he ran away. He has never made +me another visit.”</p> +<p>“No,” said the squirrel; “he went home to +his own cave at the other end of the wood, and +built a barricade round it, and didn’t put his nose +out of doors for a week after. I have a cousin +who lives in that neighborhood, and he told me +about it.”</p> +<p>“Have you ever been over there?” asked +Toto.</p> +<p>“Yes, indeed!” replied the squirrel, “hundreds +of times. I often go over to spend the day with +my cousin, and we amuse ourselves by dropping +nuts on the hermit’s head as he sits in front of +his cave. I know few things more amusing,” he +continued, turning to the grandmother, “than +dropping nuts on a bald head. You can make +bets as to how high they will go on the rebound. +Have you ever tried it, ma’am? sitting in a tree, +you know.”</p> +<p>“Never!” replied the grandmother with much +dignity. “In my youth it was not the custom +for gentlewomen to sit in trees for any purpose; +and if it had been, I trust I should have had more +respect for age and infirmity than to amuse myself +in the manner you suggest.”</p> +<p>The squirrel was somewhat abashed at this, and +scratched his ear to hide his embarrassment.</p> +<p>The pause which ensued gave the raccoon an +opportunity for which he had been waiting. He +addressed the grandmother in his most honeyed +accents:—</p> +<p>“Our ways, dear madam,” he said, “are necessarily +very different from yours. There must be +much in our woodland life that seems rough, and +possibly even savage, to a person of refinement +and culture like yourself. While we roam about +in the untutored forest” (“Hear! hear!” interrupted +the squirrel. “‘Untutored forest’ is +good!”), “you remain in the elegant atmosphere +of your polished home. While we fare hardly, +snatching a precarious and scanty subsistence from +roots and herbs, you, lapped in intellectual and +highly cultivated leisure, while away the hours by +manufacturing gingerbread and—a—jam.” The +raccoon here waved his tail, and gave Toto a look +whose craftiness cannot be described in words.</p> +<p>Toto took the hint. “Dear me!” he cried. +“Of course! how stupid of me! Grandmother, is +there any gingerbread in the house? My friends +have never tasted any, and I should like to give +them some of yours.”</p> +<p>“Certainly, my dear boy,” said the good old +lady; “by all means. I have just made some +this afternoon. Bring a good plateful, and bring +a pot of raspberry jam, too. Perhaps Mr. Coon +would like a little of that.”</p> +<p>Mr. Coon <i>did</i> like a little of that. In fact, Mr. +Coon would have liked the whole pot, and would +have taken it, too, if it had not been for Toto, +who declared that it must be share and share +alike. He gave them each a spoon, and let them +help themselves in turn, observing the strictest +impartiality.</p> +<p>The feast seemed to be highly enjoyed by all.</p> +<p>“Well, Bruin, how do you like jam?” asked +Toto.</p> +<p>“Very much, very much indeed!” replied the +bear. “Something like honey, isn’t it, only entirely +different? What kind of creatures make it? +Butterflies?”</p> +<p>“Lady makes it herself, stupid!” muttered the +woodchuck, who was out of temper, having just +tried to get a spoonful out of turn, and failed. +“Didn’t you hear her say so? Butterflies never +make anything except butter.”</p> +<p>The little squirrel sat nibbling his gingerbread +in a state of great satisfaction. “Who’s to tell +the story next time?” he asked presently.</p> +<p>“Parrot,” answered the raccoon, with his mouth +full of jam. “Parrot promised ever so long ago +to tell us a story about Africa. Didn’t you, +Polly?”</p> +<p>The parrot drew herself up with an air of +offended dignity. “The gentlemen of my acquaintance, +Mr. Coon,” she said, “call me Miss +Mary. I am ‘Polly’ to a few intimates only.”</p> +<p>“Oh, indeed!” said the raccoon. “I beg your +pardon, Miss Mary. No offence, I trust?”</p> +<p>Miss Mary unbent a little, and condescended to +explain. “My real name,” she said, “is Chamchamchamchamkickeryboo; +but, not understanding +the subtleties of our African languages, I do +not expect you to pronounce that. ‘Miss Mary’ +will do very well; though,” she added, “I <i>have</i> +been called Princess in happier days.”</p> +<p>“When was that?” inquired Toto. “Tell us +about it, Miss Mary.”</p> +<p>“No, no!” interrupted the bear. “No more +stories to-night. It is too late. We must be getting +home, or the owls will be after us.”</p> +<p>“To-morrow, then,” cried Toto. “Will you all +come to-morrow? Then we will hear the parrot’s +story.”</p> +<p>The animals all promised to come on the morrow, +and each in turn took leave of the grandmother, +thanking her for the treat they had had. +The bear, after making his best bow, led the way +towards the forest, followed by the raccoon, the +woodchuck, the squirrel, the parrot, and the wood-pigeon. +And soon the whole company disappeared +among the branches.</p> +<div class='chsp'> +<a name='CHAPTER_IV' id='CHAPTER_IV'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> +</div> +<p>“I was born,” said the parrot, “in Africa.”</p> +<p>It was a lovely afternoon; and Toto’s +friends were again assembled around the cottage-door. +The parrot, as the story-teller of the day, +was perched in great state on the high back of an +old-fashioned easy-chair, which Toto had brought +out for his grandmother. The old lady sat quietly +knitting, with Bruin on one side of her, and Coon +on the other; while Toto lay on the grass at her +feet, alternately caressing the wood-pigeon and +poking the woodchuck to wake him up.</p> +<p>When the parrot said, “I was born in Africa,” +all the animals looked very wise, but said nothing; +so she added, “Of course, you all know where +Africa is.”</p> +<p>“Of course,” said the raccoon hastily; “certainly, +I should hope so! We know <i>where</i> it is; +if you come to that, we know where it is.”</p> +<p>“Coon,” said Toto, laughing, “what a humbug +you are! How is Africa bounded, old fellow? +Tell us, if you know so well.”</p> +<p>“North by the Gulf States, south by Kalamazoo, +east by Mt. Everest, and west by the Straits of +Frangipanni,” replied the raccoon, without a +moment’s hesitation.</p> +<p>Miss Mary looked much disgusted. “Africa,” +she said, “as every person of <i>education</i> knows +[with a withering glance at the raccoon], is the +exact centre of the universe. It is the most beautiful +of all lands,—a land of palm-trees and +crocodiles, ivory and gold-dust, sunny fountains +and—”</p> +<p>“Oh!” cried Toto eagerly, “excuse me for +interrupting, Miss Mary; but <i>are</i> the sands really +golden? ‘Where Afric’s sunny fountains,’ you +know, ‘roll down their golden sands,’—is that +really true?”</p> +<p>“Certainly,” replied Miss Mary.</p> +<p>“Dear me, yes. A fountain wouldn’t be called +a fountain in Africa if it hadn’t golden sands. It +would be called a cucumber-wood pump,” suggested +the woodchuck drowsily.</p> +<p>“Toto,” said the parrot sharply, “if I am interrupted +any more, I shall go home. Will that +woodchuck be quiet, or will he not?”</p> +<p>“He will, he will!” cried Toto. “We will all +be very quiet, Miss Mary, and not say a word. +Pray go on.”</p> +<p>Miss Mary smoothed her feathers, which had +become quite ruffled, and continued,—</p> +<p>“I was not a common wild parrot,—I should +think not, indeed! My mother came of a distinguished +family, and was the favorite bird of the +great Bhughabhoo, King of Central Africa; and I, +as soon as I was fully fledged, became the pet and +darling of his only daughter, the Princess Polpetti. +Ah! happy, indeed, were the first years of my life! +I was the Princess’s constant companion. She +used to make songs in my honor, and sing them to +her royal father while he drank his rum-and-water. +They were lovely songs. Would you like to hear +one of them?”</p> +<p>All the company declared that it was the one +desire of their hearts. So, clearing her throat, +and cocking her head on one side, Miss Mary +sang:—</p> +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<p>“‘Chamchamchamchamkickeryboo,</p> +<p>Fairest fowl that ever grew,</p> +<p>Fairest fowl that ever growed,</p> +<p>How you brighten my abode!</p> +<p>How you ornament the view,</p> +<p>Chamchamchamchamkickeryboo!</p> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<p>“‘Chamchamchamchamkickeryboo,</p> +<p>You have wit and beauty, too;</p> +<p>You can dance, and you can sing;</p> +<p>You can tie a pudding-string.</p> +<p>Is there aught you <i>cannot</i> do,</p> +<p>Chamchamchamchamkickeryboo?’</p> +</div></div> +<p>“That was her opinion of my merits,” continued +the parrot modestly. “Indeed, it was the general +opinion.</p> +<p>“As I was saying, I was the Princess’s constant +companion. All day I followed her about, sitting +on her shoulder, or flying about her head. All +night I slept perched on her nose-ring, which she +always hung upon a hook when she went to bed.</p> +<p>“Ah! that nose-ring! I wish I had never seen +it. It was the cause of all my misfortunes,—of +my lovely Princess’s death and my own exile. +And yet it was a lovely thing in itself.</p> +<p>“I observe, madam,” continued the parrot, addressing +the grandmother, “that you wear no +nose-ring. Such a pity! There is no ornament +so becoming. In Africa it is a most important +article of dress,—I may say <i>the</i> most important. +Can I not persuade you to try the effect?”</p> +<p>“Thank you,” replied the grandmother, smiling. +“I fear I am too old, Miss Mary, even if it were +the custom in this country to wear nose-rings, +which I believe it is not. But how was the Princess’s +nose-ring the cause of your misfortunes? +Pray tell us.”</p> +<p>The parrot looked sadly at the grandmother’s +nose, and shook her head. “Such a pity!” she repeated. +“It would be so becoming! You would +never regret it. However,” she added, “you shall +hear the rest of my sad story.</p> +<p>“The Princess’s nose-ring was, as you may infer +from the fact of my being able to swing in it, a +very large one. She was a connoisseur in nose-rings, +and had a large collection of them, of which +collection this was the gem. It was of beaten +gold, incrusted with precious stones. No other +nose in the kingdom could have sustained such +a weight; but hers—ah, hers was a nose in a +thousand.”</p> +<p>“Pardon me!” said the raccoon softly, “do I +understand that a long nose is considered a beauty +in Africa?”</p> +<p>“It is, indeed,” replied the parrot. “It is, +indeed. You would be much admired in Africa, +Mr. Coon.”</p> +<p>The raccoon looked sidewise at his sharp-pointed +nose, and stroked it complacently. “Ah!” he +observed, “I agree with you, Miss Mary, as to +Africa being the centre of the earth. Pray go +on.”</p> +<p>“I need hardly say,” continued the parrot, +“that the jewelled nose-ring was the envy of all +the other princesses for miles around. Foremost +among the envious ones was the Princess Panka, the +daughter of a neighboring king. She never could +have worn the nose-ring; her nose was less than +half an inch long, and she was altogether hideous; +but she wanted it, and she made up her mind to +get it by foul means, if fair ones would not do. +Accordingly she bribed the Princess’s bogghun.”</p> +<p>“The Princess’s <i>what</i>?” asked the bear.</p> +<p>“Bogghun,” repeated the parrot testily. “The +Princess’s bogghun! Don’t tell me you don’t +know what a bogghun is!”</p> +<p>“Well, I don’t,” replied sturdy Bruin; “and +what’s more, I don’t believe any one else does!”</p> +<p>The parrot looked around, but as no one seemed +inclined to give any information respecting bogghuns, +she continued, “The bogghun is a kind of +lizard, found only on the island of Bogghun-Chunka. +It is about five feet long, of a brilliant green color. +It invariably holds the end of its tail in its mouth, +and moves by rolling, while in this position, like a +child’s hoop. In fact, it is used as a hoop by +African children; hence the term ‘bogghun.’ It +feeds on the chunka, a triangular yellow beetle +found in the same locality; hence the name of the +island, Bogghun-Chunka.</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_9' id='linki_9'></a> +</div> +<img src='images/i010.png' alt='' title='' width='424' height='375' /> +<br /> +<p class='caption'> +“She caressed the bogghun.”<br /> +</p> +</div> +<p>“The bogghun +is a treacherous +animal, as I have +found to my cost. +The one belonging +to my mistress was +a very beautiful +creature, and much beloved by her, yet he betrayed +her in the basest manner, as you shall hear.</p> +<p>“The Princess Panka, finding that the bogghun +was very fond of molasses candy, bribed him by +the offer of three pounds of that condiment to deliver +the Princess into her hands. The plot was +arranged, and the day set. On that day, as usual, +the bogghun rolled up to the door after dinner, +and the Princess, taking me on her shoulder, +went out for her usual afternoon play. She caressed +the bogghun,—ah! faithless wretch! how +could he bear the touch of that gentle hand?—and +then struck him lightly with her silver hoop-stick; +he rolled swiftly away, and we followed, +Polpetti bounding as lightly as a deer, while I +sat upon her shoulder, undisturbed by the rapid +motion.</p> +<p>“Away rolled the bogghun, away and away, +over the meadows and into the forest; away and +away bounded the Princess in pursuit. The golden +nose-ring flashed and glittered in the sunlight; +the golden bangles on her wrists and ankles +tinkled and rang their tiny bells as she went. +Faster and faster! faster and faster! The monkeys, +swinging by their tails from the branches, +chattered with astonishment at us; the wild +parrots screamed at us; all the birds sang and +chirped and twittered,—</p> +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<p>‘Come! come! tweedle-dee-dum!</p> +<p>See! see! tweedle-de-dee!</p> +<p>Hi! hi! kikeriki!</p> +<p>They have no wings, and yet they fly.’</p> +</div></div> +<p>And truly we did seem to fly, so swift was our +motion. At length I became alarmed, and begged +the Princess to turn back. She had never before +gone so far in the forest unattended, I told her; +and there was no knowing what dangers might +lurk in its leafy depths. But, alas! she was too +much excited to listen to my remonstrances. On +and on rolled the treacherous bogghun, and on +and on she bounded in pursuit.</p> +<p>“Suddenly, as we went skimming across an open +glade, a sharp twang was heard: I saw a white +flash in the air; and the next moment I was +hurled violently to the ground. Recovering myself +in an instant, I saw my lovely Princess +stretched lifeless on the ground, with an arrow +quivering in her heart!</p> +<p>“At the same moment the bogghun stopped; and +out from the surrounding coppice rushed the Princess +Panka and her attendants.</p> +<p>“‘Where is my molasses candy?’ asked the +bogghun. Three of the attendants presented him +with three one-pound packages; and thus in a +moment I understood the whole villanous plot. +The Princess Panka rushed to where Polpetti lay, +and snatched the golden nose-ring from her lovely +nose. Fastening it in her own hideous snub, she +sprang to her feet with a shrill yell of triumph. +‘At last!’ she cried,—‘at last I have it!’</p> +<p>“‘Hideous witch!’ I exclaimed. ‘You have +no nose to wear it in! You are uglier than the +blue-faced monkey, or the toad with three tails. +The very sight of you makes the leaves drop off +the trees with horror. You odious, squint-eyed—’</p> +<p>“‘Catch that parrot!’ shrieked the enraged +Panka. ‘Wring that parrot’s neck! Pull his +feathers out! Let me get at him!’</p> +<p>“I rose in the air, and flying round her head, continued—‘Snub-nosed, +monkey-faced, bald-headed +[this adjective was not exactly correct, but I was +too angry to choose my words], hump-backed +<i>Ant-eater</i>!!!’ and with the last word, the most +opprobrious epithet that can be applied to an +African, I gave the creature a peck in the face +that sent her tumbling over backwards, and flew +off among the trees. A storm of arrows followed +me, but I escaped unhurt, and flying rapidly, was +soon far away from the spot.”</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_10' id='linki_10'></a> +</div> +<img src='images/i011.png' alt='' title='' width='425' height='280' /> +<br /> +<p class='caption'> +“‘Hideous witch!’ I exclaimed.”<br /> +</p> +</div> +<p>Here the parrot paused to take breath, having +become quite excited in telling her story.</p> +<p>“Ahem!” said the woodchuck. “May I be permitted +to ask a question, Miss Mary?”</p> +<p>“Certainly,” replied the parrot graciously. +“What is it, Woodchuck?”</p> +<p>“Did I understand,” said the woodchuck cautiously, +“that the bogghun <i>never</i> takes his tail out +of his mouth?”</p> +<p>“Never!” replied the parrot. “Never, upon +any occasion!”</p> +<p>“Then how,” asked Chucky, “did he eat the +molasses candy?”</p> +<p>“Woodchuck,” said the parrot, with great severity, +“the question does credit neither to your +head nor to your heart. I decline to answer +it!”</p> +<p>The woodchuck looked sulky, and scratched his +nose expressively. The raccoon, who had been +on the point of asking the same question himself, +frowned at him, and said he was ashamed of him. +“Pray continue your story, Miss Mary!” said he. +“I assure you we are all, with perhaps <i>one</i> exception +[the woodchuck sniffed audibly], quite faint +with excitement and suspense. What became of +you after the Princess’s death?”</p> +<p>“I remained in the forest,” said the parrot. “I +could not go back to the village without the Princess; +the King would have put me to death if I +had made my appearance.</p> +<p>“For some time I lived alone, associating as little +as possible with the uneducated birds of the forest. +At length, finding my life very solitary, I accepted +the claw and heart of a rich and respectable green +parrot, who offered me a good home and the devotion +of a life-time. With him I passed several +quiet and happy years; but finally we were both +surprised and captured by a band of American +sailors, who had penetrated to this distance in the +forest in search of ivory. They treated us kindly, +and carried us miles and miles till we came to a +river, where other sailors were waiting with a +boat. In this we embarked, and after rowing for +several days, came to the mouth of the river, near +which their ship was waiting for them.</p> +<p>“In the confusion of boarding, my husband +managed to make his escape. He flew back to +the shore, calling to me to follow him; but, alas! +I was too closely guarded, and I never saw him +again. He was a very worthy parrot, and a kind +husband, though sometimes greedy in the matter +of snails.”</p> +<p>The parrot sighed, meditated for a few moments, +with her head on one side, on the virtues of her +departed lord, and then continued,—</p> +<p>“My life on board ship was a very pleasant one. +Petted and caressed by the sailors, I soon lost my +shyness, and became once more accustomed to the +society of men. I learned English quickly, and +could soon whistle ‘Yankee Doodle’ and ‘Three +Cheers for the Red, White, and Blue.’ One +phrase I objected very much to repeating, ‘Polly +wants a cracker.’ I disliked crackers extremely, +and could not endure the name of Polly; but for +some time I could not get anything to eat without +making this stupid remark.</p> +<p>“One day I received a shock which nearly +caused me to faint. I was sitting on the taffrail, +watching two of my particular friends, Joe Brown +and Simeon Plunkett, who were splicing ropes. +They always spliced better, I noticed, when my +eye was on them. They were talking about some +adventure in the forest, and suddenly I caught +the words, ‘golden nose-ring.’ I had been half +dozing; but this roused me at once, and I began +to listen with all my ears.”</p> +<p>“How many ears has she?” growled the woodchuck, +in a low tone.</p> +<p>“Twenty-five,” replied the raccoon, in the same +tone. “They are invisible to idiots, which is +probably the reason why you have never noticed +them.”</p> +<p>“‘How did you get that nose-ring?’ asked Joe +Brown. ‘You have begun to tell me once or +twice, and something has always stopped you. +Were there many of them lying around? I +shouldn’t mind having that myself.’</p> +<p>“Judge of my feelings when Simeon Plunkett, +before replying, pulled out from the breast of his +flannel shirt a huge golden ring, set with jewels,—<i>the</i> +identical golden nose-ring which had caused +the death of my lovely Princess. I shuddered, +and came very near falling from the taffrail; but, +composing myself, I listened eagerly, and heard +Simeon tell the other how, as he and his mates +were returning to their boat (he had been with a +second exploring party sent out from the ship), +they found a well, and stopped to fish in it.”</p> +<p>“To fish in a well?” interrupted Bruin. “What +did they do that for?”</p> +<p>“To see what they could catch,” replied the parrot. +“What do people fish for in this country?</p> +<p>“The first thing they caught was the body of +a young woman, with this golden ring in her nose. +Her feet were up, and her head was down; and altogether, +Simeon said, it was very evident that, +in stooping over either to drink or to admire her +beauty in the well, the weight of the ring had +overbalanced her, and caused her to fall in.</p> +<p>“When I heard this news I flapped my wings +and crowed, to the great astonishment of the +two sailors. My enemy was dead, and Polpetti +avenged. My joy was great, and I wanted to +thank Simeon Plunkett for being the bearer of +such good news; so I perched on his knee, and +sang him the sweetest song I knew,—a song +which had often brought tears to the eyes of my +lost husband. But he only said, ‘Princess [they +all called me Princess, I should observe], if any +other bird made such a row as that, I’d wring its +neck.’ The Americans, I find, have absolutely <i>no</i> +ear for music.</p> +<p>“We reached America after a pleasant and +prosperous voyage.</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_11' id='linki_11'></a> +</div> +<img src='images/i012.png' alt='' title='' width='413' height='584' /> +<br /> +<p class='caption'> +“But he only said, ‘Princess, if any other bird made such a row as that, I’d wring its neck.’”<br /> +</p> +</div> +<p>“After that my adventures may be told in a +few words. Joe Brown presented me, as a great +treasure, to the captain’s wife, Mrs. Jeremy Jibb; +but I found her a most unpleasant person to live +with. She kept me in a cage,—a tin cage,—me, +the favorite companion of the Princess Royal of +Central Africa! She fed me on crackers, called +me Polly all the time, and treated me in a most +degrading manner generally. If I had been a +canary-bird, her manner could not have been more +insufferably patronizing. After enduring this life +for several weeks, I managed to make my escape +one day while Mrs. Jibb was cleaning my cage. +After a long flight, I reached this forest, in whose +pleasant retirement I have remained ever since. +Here I find society and snails, both of excellent +quality; and, with these, what more does one require? +And here I hope to pass the remainder +of my days.”</p> +<p>The parrot’s story, with the various pauses and +interruptions, had occupied a good deal of time; +and when it was finished the party broke up, +promising to reassemble on the following day. +Before they separated, Toto asked, as usual, who +was to tell the next story.</p> +<p>“Tell it yourself, Toto,” said the wood-pigeon; +and all the rest chimed in, “Yes, Toto shall tell +the next himself.” So it was settled; and they +all shook paws, and departed.</p> +<div class='chsp'> +<a name='CHAPTER_V' id='CHAPTER_V'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> +</div> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>The</span> next day it rained, so the party of friends +did not assemble as usual. The bear stayed +in his cave, sucking his paw, and listening to the +chatter of the squirrel, who came to spend the +day with him. The raccoon, after one look at +the weather, curled himself up in his tree-house +and went to sleep. As for the woodchuck, he +never woke up at all, for nobody came to wake +him, and he could not do it for himself.</p> +<p>Poor Toto was very disconsolate. He never +stayed indoors for an ordinary rain, but this was a +perfect deluge; so he stood by the window and +said, “Oh, dear! oh, <i>dear</i>!! oh, <span class='smcaplc'>DEAR</span>!!!” as if he +did not know how to say anything else.</p> +<p>His good grandmother bore this quietly for +some time; but at length she said, “Toto, do you +know what happened to the boy who said ‘Oh, +dear!’ too many times?”</p> +<p>“No!” said Toto, brightening up at the prospect +of a story. “What did happen to him? Tell +me, Granny, please!”</p> +<p>“Come and hold this skein of yarn for me, +then,” replied the grandmother, “and I will tell +you as I wind it.</p> +<p>“Once upon a time there was a boy—”</p> +<p>“What was his name?” interrupted Toto.</p> +<p>“Chimborazo,” replied the grandmother. “I +should have told you his real name in a moment, +if you had not interrupted me, but now I shall +call him Chimborazo, and that will be something +for you to remember.”</p> +<p>Toto blushed and hung his head.</p> +<p>“This boy,” continued the grandmother, “invariably +put the wrong foot out of bed first when +he got up in the morning, and consequently he +was always unhappy.”</p> +<p>“May I speak?” murmured Toto softly.</p> +<p>“Yes, you may speak,” said the old lady. +“What is it?”</p> +<p>“Please, grandmother,” said Toto, “which <i>is</i> the +wrong foot?”</p> +<p>“Don’t you know which your right foot is?” +asked the grandmother.</p> +<p>“Why, yes, of course,” replied Toto.</p> +<p>“And do you know the difference between right +and wrong?”</p> +<p>“Why, yes, of course,” said Toto.</p> +<p>“Then,” said the grandmother, “you know +which the wrong foot is.</p> +<p>“As I was saying, Chimborazo was a very +unhappy boy. He pouted, and he sulked, and +he said, ‘Oh, dear! oh, dear! oh, dear! oh, +dear!’ He said it till everybody was tired of +hearing it.</p> +<p>“‘Chimborazo,’ his mother would say, ‘please +don’t say, “Oh, dear!” any more. It is very +annoying. Say something else.’</p> +<p>“‘Oh, dear!’ the boy would answer, ‘I can’t! +I don’t know anything else to say. Oh, dear! oh, +<i>dear</i>!! oh, <span class='smcaplc'>DEAR</span>!!!’</p> +<p>“So one day his mother could not bear it any +longer, and she sent for his fairy godmother, and +told her all about it.</p> +<p>“‘Humph!’ said the fairy godmother. ‘I will +see to it. Send the boy to me!’</p> +<p>“So Chimborazo was sent for, and came, hanging +his head as usual. When he saw his fairy +godmother, he said, ‘Oh, dear!’ for he was rather +afraid of her.</p> +<p>“‘“Oh, dear!” it is!’ said the godmother +sharply; and she put on her spectacles and looked +at him. ‘Do you know what a bell-punch is?’</p> +<p>“‘Oh, dear!’ said Chimborazo. ‘No, ma’am, I +don’t!’</p> +<p>“‘Well,’ said the godmother, ‘I am going to +give you one.’</p> +<p>“‘Oh, dear!’ said Chimborazo, ‘I don’t want +one.’</p> +<p>“‘Probably not,’ replied she, ‘but that doesn’t +make much difference. You have it now, in your +jacket pocket.’</p> +<p>“Chimborazo felt in his pocket, and took out a +queer-looking instrument of shining metal. ‘Oh, +dear!’ he said.</p> +<p>“‘“Oh, dear!” it is!’ said the fairy godmother. +‘Now,’ she continued, ‘listen to me, Chimborazo! +I am going to put you on an allowance of “Oh, +dears.” This is a self-acting bell-punch, and it +will ring whenever you say “Oh, dear!” How +many times do you generally say it in the course +of the day?’</p> +<p>“‘Oh, dear!’ said Chimborazo, ‘I don’t know. +Oh, <i>dear</i>!’</p> +<p>“‘<i>Ting! ting!</i>’ the bell-punch rang twice sharply; +and looking at it in dismay, he saw two little +round holes punched in a long slip of pasteboard +which was fastened to the instrument.</p> +<p>“‘Exactly!’ said the fairy. ‘That is the way +it works, and a very pretty way, too. Now, my +boy, I am going to make you a very liberal allowance. +You may say “Oh, dear!” forty-five times +a day. There’s liberality for you!’</p> +<p>“‘Oh, dear!’ cried Chimborazo, ‘I—’</p> +<p>“‘<i>Ting!</i>’ said the bell-punch.</p> +<p>“‘You see!’ observed the fairy. ‘Nothing +could be prettier. You have now had three of +this day’s allowance. It is still some hours before +noon, so I advise you to be careful. If you exceed +the allowance—’ Here she paused, and +glowered through her spectacles in a very dreadful +manner.</p> +<p>“‘Oh, dear!’ cried Chimborazo. ‘What will +happen then?’</p> +<p>“‘You will see!’ said the fairy godmother, with +a nod. ‘<i>Something</i> will happen, you may be very +sure of that. Good-by. Remember, only forty-five!’ +And away she flew out of the window.</p> +<p>“‘Oh, dear!’ cried Chimborazo, bursting into +tears. ‘I don’t want it! I won’t have it! Oh, +<i>dear</i>! oh, dear! oh, dear! oh, dear! oh, <span class='smcaplc'>DEAR</span>!!!’</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_12' id='linki_12'></a> +</div> +<img src='images/i013.png' alt='' title='' width='422' height='589' /> +<br /> +<p class='caption'> +“Good-by. Remember, only forty-five!”<br /> +</p> +</div> +<p>“‘Ting! ting! ting-ting-ting-<i>ting</i>!’ said the bell-punch; +and now there were ten round holes in +the strip of pasteboard. Chimborazo was now +really frightened. He was silent for some time; +and when his mother called him to his lessons he +tried very hard not to say the dangerous words. +But the habit was so strong that he said them unconsciously. +By dinner-time there were twenty-five +holes in the cardboard strip; by tea-time there +were forty! Poor Chimborazo! he was afraid to +open his lips, for whenever he did the words would +slip out in spite of him.</p> +<p>“‘Well, Chimbo,’ said his father after tea, ‘I +hear you have had a visit from your fairy godmother. +What did she say to you, eh?’</p> +<p>“‘Oh, dear!’ said Chimborazo, ‘she said—oh, +dear! I’ve said it again!’</p> +<p>“‘She said, “Oh, dear! I’ve said it again!”’ +repeated his father. ‘What do you mean by +that?’</p> +<p>“‘Oh, dear! I didn’t mean that,’ cried Chimborazo +hastily; and again the inexorable bell rang, +and he knew that another hole was punched in +the fatal cardboard. He pressed his lips firmly +together, and did not open them again except to +say ‘Good-night,’ until he was safe in his own +room. Then he hastily drew the hated bell-punch +from his pocket, and counted the holes in the strip +of cardboard; there were forty-three! ‘Oh, +<i>dear</i>!’ cried the boy, forgetting himself again +in his alarm, ‘only two more! Oh, <i>dear</i>! oh, +<span class='smcaplc'>DEAR</span>! I’ve done it again! oh—’ ‘Ting! <span class='smcaplc'>TING!</span>’ +went the bell-punch; and the cardboard was +punched to the end. ‘Oh, dear!’ cried Chimborazo, +now beside himself with terror. ‘Oh, dear! +oh, dear! oh, dear! oh, <i>dear</i>!! what will become +of me?’</p> +<p>“A strange whirring noise was heard, then a loud +clang; and the next moment the bell-punch, as if +it were alive, flew out of his hand, out of the +window, and was gone!</p> +<p>“Chimborazo stood breathless with terror for a +few minutes, momentarily expecting that the roof +would fall in on his head, or the floor blow up +under his feet, or some appalling catastrophe of +some kind follow; but nothing followed. Everything +was quiet, and there seemed to be nothing +to do but go to bed; so to bed he went, and +slept, only to dream that he was shot through +the head with a bell-punch, and died saying, ‘Oh, +dear!’</p> +<p>“The next morning, when Chimborazo came +downstairs, his father said, ‘My boy, I am going +to drive over to your grandfather’s farm this morning; +would you like to go with me?’</p> +<p>“A drive to the farm was one of the greatest +pleasures Chimborazo had, so he answered promptly, +‘Oh, <i>dear</i>!’</p> +<p>“‘Oh, very well!’ said his father, looking much +surprised. ‘You need not go, my son, if you do +not want to. I will take Robert instead.’</p> +<p>“Poor Chimborazo! He had opened his lips to +say, ‘Thank you, papa. I should like to go <i>very</i> +much!’ and, instead of these words, out had +popped, in his most doleful tone, the now hated +‘Oh, dear!’ He sat amazed; but was roused by +his mother’s calling him to breakfast.</p> +<p>“‘Come, Chimbo,’ she said. ‘Here are sausages +and scrambled eggs; and you are very fond of +both of them. Which will you have?’</p> +<p>“Chimborazo hastened to say, ‘Sausages, please, +mamma,’—that is, he hastened to <i>try</i> to say it; +but all his mother heard was, ‘Oh, <i>dear</i>!’</p> +<p>“His father looked much displeased. ‘Give the +boy some bread and water, wife,’ he said sternly. +‘If he cannot answer properly, he must be taught. +I have had enough of this “Oh, dear!” business.’</p> +<p>“Poor Chimborazo! He saw plainly enough +now what his punishment was to be; and the +thought of it made him tremble. He tried to ask +for some more bread, but only brought out his +‘Oh, <i>dear</i>!’ in such a lamentable tone that his +father ordered him to leave the room. He went +out into the garden, and there he met John the +gardener, carrying a basket of rosy apples. Oh! +how good they looked!</p> +<p>“‘I am bringing some of the finest apples up +to the house, little master,’ said John. ‘Will you +have one to put in your pocket?’</p> +<p>“‘Oh, <i>dear</i>!’ was all the poor boy could say, +though he wanted an apple, oh, so much! And +when John heard that he put the apple back in +his basket, muttering something about ungrateful +monkeys.</p> +<p>“Poor Chimborazo! I will not give the whole +history of that miserable day,—a miserable day it +was from beginning to end. He fared no better +at dinner than at breakfast; for at the second +‘Oh, dear!’ his father sent him up to his room, +‘to stay there until he knew how to take what +was given him, and be thankful for it.’ He knew +well enough by this time; but he could not tell his +father so. He went to his room, and sat looking +out of the window, a hungry and miserable +boy.</p> +<p>“In the afternoon his cousin Will came up to +see him. ‘Why, Chimbo!’ he cried. ‘Why do +you sit moping here in the house, when all the +boys are out? Come and play marbles with me on +the piazza. Ned and Harry are out there waiting +for you. Come on!’</p> +<p>“‘Oh, dear!’ said Chimborazo.</p> +<p>“‘What’s the matter?’ asked Will. ‘Haven’t +you any marbles? Never mind. I’ll give you +half of mine, if you like. Come!’</p> +<p>“‘Oh, <span class='smcaplc'>DEAR</span>!’ said Chimborazo.</p> +<p>“‘Well,’ said Will, ‘if that’s all you have to say +when I offer you marbles, I’ll keep them myself. +I suppose you expected me to give you all of +them, did you? I never saw such a fellow!’ and +off he went in a huff.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p>“‘Well, Chimborazo,’ said the fairy godmother, +‘what do you think of “Oh, dear!” now?’</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_13' id='linki_13'></a> +</div> +<img src='images/i014.png' alt='' title='' width='422' height='324' /> +<br /> +<p class='caption'> +“Touching his lips with her wand.”<br /> +</p> +</div> +<p>“Chimborazo looked at her beseechingly, but +said nothing.</p> +<p>“‘Finding that forty-five times was not enough +for you yesterday, I thought I would let you have +all you wanted to-day, you see,’ said the fairy +wickedly.</p> +<p>“The boy still looked imploringly at her, but +did not open his lips.</p> +<p>“‘Well, well,’ she said at last, touching his lips +with her wand, ‘I think that is enough in the way +of punishment, though I am sorry you broke the +bell-punch. Good-by! I don’t believe you will +say “Oh, dear!” any more.’</p> +<p>“And he didn’t.”</p> +<div class='chsp'> +<a name='CHAPTER_VI' id='CHAPTER_VI'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> +</div> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>The</span> rain continued for several days; and +though Toto, mindful of the sad story of +Chimborazo, tried hard not to say “Oh, dear!” +still he found the time hang very heavy on his +hands. On the fourth day, however, the clouds +broke away, and the sun came out bright and +beautiful. Toto snatched up his cap, kissed his +grandmother, and flew off to the forest. Oh, how +glad he was to be out of doors again, and how +glad everything seemed to be to see him! All +the trees shook down pearls and diamonds on +him (very wet ones they were, but he did not +mind that), the birds sang to him, the flowers +nodded to him, the sunbeams twinkled at him; +everything seemed to say, “How are you, Toto? +Hasn’t it been a lovely rain, and aren’t you glad +it is over?”</p> +<p>He went straight to the forest pool, hoping to +find some of his companions there. Sure enough, +there was the raccoon, sitting by the edge of the +pool, making his toilet, and stopping every now +and then to gaze admiringly at himself in the +clear mirror.</p> +<p>“Good-morning, Coon!” said Toto; “admiring +your beauty as usual, eh?”</p> +<p>“Well, Toto,” replied the raccoon complacently, +“my view of the matter is this: what is the use +of having beauty if you don’t admire it? That is +what it’s for, I suppose.”</p> +<p>“I suppose so,” assented Toto.</p> +<p>“And you can’t expect other people to admire +you if you don’t admire yourself!” added the raccoon +impressively. “Remember that! How’s +your grandmother?”</p> +<p>“She’s very well,” replied Toto, “and she +hopes to see you all this afternoon. She has +made a new kind of gingerbread, and she wants +you to try it. I have tried it, and it is very good +indeed.”</p> +<p>“Your grandmother,” said the raccoon, “is in +many respects the most delightful person I have +ever met. I, for one, will come with pleasure. I +can’t tell about the rest; haven’t seen them for +a day or two. Suppose we go and hunt them +up.”</p> +<p>“With all my heart!” said Toto.</p> +<p>They had not gone far before they met the +wood-pigeon flying along with a bunch of berries +in her bill.</p> +<p>“Where are you going, Pigeon Pretty?” inquired +Toto; “and who is to have those nice berries? +I am sure they are not for yourself; I +believe you never get anything for yourself, you +are so busy helping others.”</p> +<p>“These berries are for poor Chucky,” replied +the wood-pigeon. “Ah, Coon,” she added reproachfully, +“how could you hurt the poor fellow +so? He is really ill this morning in consequence.”</p> +<p>“What have you been doing to Chucky, you +naughty Coon?” asked Toto. “Biting his nose +off?”</p> +<p>“Oh, no!” said the raccoon, looking rather +guilty, in spite of his assurance. “Dear me, no! +I didn’t bite it <i>off</i>. Certainly not! I—I just bit +it a little, don’t you know! it was raining, and I +hadn’t anything else to do; and he was <i>so</i> sound +asleep, it was a great temptation. But I won’t do +it again, Pigeon Pretty,” he added cheerfully, “I +won’t really. Take him the berries, with my love, +and say I hope they will do him good!” and +with a crafty wink, Master Coon trotted on with +Toto, while Pigeon Pretty flew off in the opposite +direction.</p> +<p>They soon arrived at the mouth of the bear’s +cave, and looking in, saw the worthy Bruin +quietly playing backgammon with his devoted +friend Cracker. The latter was chattering as +usual. “And so <i>I</i> said to him,” he was saying +as Toto and Coon approached, “‘<i>I</i> think it is a +mean trick, and I’ll have nothing to do with it. +And what is more, I’ll put a stop to it if I can!’ +So he said he’d like to see me do it, and flounced +off into the water.”</p> +<p>“Humph!” said Bruin, “I never did think +much of that muskrat.”</p> +<p>“What’s all this?” asked the raccoon, walking +in. “Anything the matter, Cracker?”</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_14' id='linki_14'></a> +</div> +<img src='images/i015.png' alt='' title='' width='414' height='313' /> +<br /> +<p class='caption'> +“Bruin playing backgammon with his friend Cracker.”<br /> +</p> +</div> +<p>“Good-morning, Coon!” said Bruin. “Morning, +Toto! Sit down, both of you. Cracker was +just telling me—”</p> +<p>“It is that muskrat that lives in the pool, you +know, Coon!” broke in the squirrel excitedly. +“He wants to marry the Widow Bullfrog’s +daughter, and she won’t have him, because she’s +engaged to young Mud Turtle. So now the +muskrat has contrived a plan for carrying her off +to-night whether she will or no; and if you will +believe it, he came to <i>me</i> and asked me to help +him,—me, the head squirrel of the whole forest!” +and little Cracker whisked his tail about fiercely, +and looked as if he could devour a whole army of +muskrats.</p> +<p>“Don’t frighten us, Cracker!” said the raccoon, +with a look of mock terror. “I shall faint +if you look so ferocious. I shall, indeed! Hold +me, Toto!”</p> +<p>“Now, Coon, you know I won’t have Cracker +teased!” growled the bear. “He’s a good little +fellow, and if he wants to help the Widow Bullfrog +out of this scrape, he shall. I believe she +is a very respectable person. Now, I don’t know +whether I can do anything about it myself. I’m +rather large, you see, and it won’t do for me to +go paddling about in the pool and getting the +water all muddy.”</p> +<p>“Certainly not!” said the squirrel, “you dear +old monster. I should as soon think of asking +the mountain to come and hunt mosquitoes. But +Coon, now—”</p> +<p>“Oh, I’m ready!” exclaimed the raccoon. +“Delighted, I’m sure, to do anything I can. +What shall I do to the muskrat? Eat him?”</p> +<p>“I suppose that would be the easiest thing to +do,” said the bear. “What do you say, +Cracker?”</p> +<p>“He is very hard to catch,” replied the squirrel. +“In fact, you <i>cannot</i> catch a muskrat unless you +put tar on his nose.”</p> +<p>“That is true,” said the raccoon. “I had +forgotten that, and I haven’t any tar just +now. Would pitch or turpentine do as well, +do you think? They all begin with ‘A’, you +know.”</p> +<p>“I’m afraid not!” said the squirrel. “‘Tar +to catch a Tartar,’ as the old saying goes; and +the muskrat is certainly a Tartar.”</p> +<p>“Look here!” said Toto, “I think we have +some tar at home, in the shed. I am quite sure +there is some.”</p> +<p>“Really?” said the squirrel, brightening up. +“Good boy, Toto! Tell me where I can find it, +and I’ll go and get it.”</p> +<p>“No!” said Toto. “It’s in a bucket, and you +couldn’t carry it, Cracker! I’ll go and fetch it, +while you and Coon are arranging your plan of +action.”</p> +<p>So away ran Toto, and the squirrel and the +raccoon sat down to consult.</p> +<p>“The first thing to do,” said Coon, “is to get +the muskrat out of his hole. Now, my advice is +this: do you go to Mrs. Bullfrog, and borrow an +old overcoat of her husband’s.”</p> +<p>“Husband’s dead,” said the bear.</p> +<p>“That’s no reason why his overcoat should be +dead, stupid!” replied the raccoon. “It isn’t +likely that he was buried in his overcoat, and it +isn’t likely that she has cut it up for a riding-habit. +Borrow the overcoat,” he continued, turning +to the squirrel again, “and put it on. Old +Bullfrog was a very big fellow, and I think you +can get it on. Then you can sit on a stone and +whistle like a frog.”</p> +<p>“I can’t sit down in a frog’s overcoat!” objected +the squirrel. “I know I can’t. It’s not +the right shape, and I don’t sit down in that way. +And I can’t whistle like a frog either.”</p> +<p>“Dear me!” said the raccoon peevishly. “What +<i>can</i> you do? I am sure <i>I</i> could sit down in any +coat I could wear at all. Well, then,” he added +after a pause, “you can <i>stand</i> on a stone, and <i>look</i> +like a frog. I suppose you can do that?”</p> +<p>“I suppose so,” said Cracker, dubiously.</p> +<p>“And Toto,” continued the raccoon, “can hide +himself in the reeds on one side of you, and I on +the other. Toto whistles beautifully, and he can +imitate Miss Bullfrog’s voice to perfection. The +muskrat will be sure to come up when he hears +it, and the moment he pops his head out of the +water, you can drop some tar on his nose, and +<i>then</i>—”</p> +<p>“Then what?” asked the squirrel anxiously.</p> +<p>“I will attend to the rest of it,” said Coon, with +a wink. “See that I have cards to the Mud Turtle’s +wedding, will you? Here comes Toto,” he +added, “with tar enough to catch fifty muskrats. +Off with you, Cracker, and ask the Widow Frog +for the overcoat.”</p> +<p>The squirrel disappeared among the bushes, and +at the same time Toto came running up with the +tar-bucket.</p> +<p>“Well,” he said breathlessly, “is it all arranged? +Oh! I ran all the way, and I am <i>so</i> tired!” and +he dropped down on a mossy seat, and fanned +himself with his cap.</p> +<p>Bruin brought a piece of honeycomb to refresh +him, and Coon told him the proposed plan, which +delighted the boy greatly.</p> +<p>“And I am to do the whistling?” he exclaimed. +“I must practise a bit, for I have not +done any frog-whistling for some time.” And +with that he began to whistle in such a wonderfully +frog-like way, that Bruin almost thought he +must have swallowed a frog.</p> +<p>“How do you do that, Toto?” he asked. “I +wish I could learn. You just purse your mouth up +so, eh? Ugh! wah! woonk!” And the bear gave +a series of most surprising grunts and growls, accompanied +with such singular grimaces that both +Toto and the raccoon rolled over on the ground in +convulsions of laughter.</p> +<p>“My dear Bruin,” cried Toto, as soon as he +could regain a little composure, “I don’t think—ha! +ha! ha!—I really do <i>not</i> think you will ever +be mistaken for a frog.”</p> +<p>“Ho! ho! ho!” cried the raccoon, bursting into +another fit of laughter as he looked towards the +mouth of the cave. “Look at Cracker. Oh, my +eye! <i>will</i> you look at Cracker? Oh, dear me! I +shall certainly die if I laugh any more. Ho! ho!”</p> +<p>Bruin and Toto turned, and saw the squirrel +hobbling in, dressed in a green frog-skin, and looking—well, +did you ever see a squirrel in a frog-skin? +No? Then you never saw the funniest +thing in the world.</p> +<p>Poor Cracker, however, seemed to see no fun in +it at all. “It’s all very well for you fellows to +laugh,” he said ruefully. “I wonder how you +would like to be pinched up in an abominable, ill-fitting +thing like this? Ugh! I wouldn’t be a +frog for all the beechnuts in the world. Come +on!” he added sharply. “Let us get the matter +over, and have done with it. I can’t stand this +long.”</p> +<p>Accordingly the three started off, leaving Bruin +shaking his head and chuckling at the mouth of +the cave.</p> +<p>Arrived at the pool, they stationed themselves +as had been previously arranged: the squirrel on +a large stone at the very edge of the pool, with +the tar-bucket beside him; the raccoon crouching +among the tall reeds on one side of the stone, +while Toto lay closely hidden on the other, behind +a clump of tall ferns.</p> +<p>When all was ready, Toto began to whistle. +At first he whistled very softly, but gradually the +notes swelled, growing clearer and shriller, till +they seemed to fill the air.</p> +<p>Presently a ripple was seen in the clear water, +and the sharp black nose of a muskrat appeared +above the surface. “Lovely creature!” exclaimed +the muskrat. “Adored Miss Bullfrog, is it possible +that you have +changed your mind, and +decided to listen to +my suit?”</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_15' id='linki_15'></a> +</div> +<img src='images/i016.png' alt='' title='' width='424' height='327' /> +<br /> +<p class='caption'> +“‘Oh, rapture!’ cried the muskrat.”<br /> +</p> +</div> +<p>“I have,” said the squirrel softly.</p> +<p>“Oh, rapture!” cried the muskrat. “Come, +then, at once with me! Let us fly, or rather +swim, before your tyrannical parent discovers us! +Leap down, my lovely one, with your accustomed +grace and agility, into the arms of your +faithful, your adoring muskrat! Come!”</p> +<p>“You must come a little nearer,” whispered +the squirrel coyly. “I want to be sure that it is +<i>really</i> you; such a sudden step, you know! Please +put your whole head out, my love, that I may be +<i>quite</i> sure of you!”</p> +<p>The eager muskrat thrust his head out of +the water; and plump! the squirrel dropped the +tar on the end of his nose.</p> +<p>The muskrat gave a wild shriek, and plunging +his nose among the rushes on the bank, tried to rub +off the tar. But, alas! the tar stuck to the rushes, +and his nose stuck to the tar, and there he was!</p> +<p>At that instant the raccoon leaped from his +hiding-place.</p> +<p>Toto, still concealed behind the clump of ferns, +heard the noise of a violent struggle; then came +several short squeaks; then a crunching noise; and +then silence. Coming out from his hiding-place, +he saw the raccoon sitting quietly on a stone, licking +his chops, and smoothing his ruffled fur.</p> +<p>He smiled sweetly at Toto, and said, “It’s +all right, my boy! you whistled beautifully; +couldn’t have done it better myself!” (N. B. +Coon’s whistling powers were nearly equal to +those of the bear.)</p> +<p>“But where is the muskrat?” asked Toto, bewildered. +“What have you done with him?”</p> +<p>“Eaten him, my dear!” replied Coon, benignly. +“It is always the best plan in any case of this sort; +saves trouble, you see, and prevents any further +inquiry in the matter; besides, I was always +taught in my youth never to waste anything. +The flavor was not all I could have wished,” he +added, “and there was more or less stringiness; +but what will not one do in the cause of friendship! +Don’t mention it, Cracker, my boy! I +am sure you would have done as much for me. +And now let us help you off with the overcoat of +the late lamented Bullfrog; for to speak in perfect +frankness, Cracker, it is <i>not</i> what one would call +becoming to your style of beauty.”</p> +<div class='chsp'> +<a name='CHAPTER_VII' id='CHAPTER_VII'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> +</div> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>On</span> account of the woodchuck’s illness, and at +the special request of Pigeon Pretty, the +story-telling was postponed for a day or two. +Very soon, however, Chucky recovered sufficiently +to ride as far as the cottage on Bruin’s +back; and on a fine afternoon the friends were +all once more assembled, and waiting for Toto’s +story.</p> +<p>“I don’t know any long stories,” said Toto, +“at least not well enough to tell them; so +I will tell two short ones instead. Will that +do?”</p> +<p>“Just as well,” said the raccoon. “Five minutes +for refreshments between the two, did you +say? My view precisely.”</p> +<p>Toto smiled, and began the story of</p> +<h3>THE TRAVELLER, THE COOK, AND THE LITTLE +OLD MAN.</h3> +<p>Once upon a time there was a little old man +who lived in a well. He was a very small little +old man, and the well was very deep; and the +only reason why he lived there was because he +could not get out. Indeed, what better reason +could he have?</p> +<p>He had long white hair, and a long red nose, +and a long green coat; and this was all he had in +the world, except a three-legged stool, a large +iron kettle, and a cook. There was not room in +the well for the cook; so she lived on the ground +above, and cooked the little old man’s dinner and +supper in the iron kettle, and lowered them down +to him in the bucket; and the little old man sat +on the three-legged stool, and ate whatever the +cook sent down to him, with a cheerful heart, +if it was good; and so things went on very +pleasantly.</p> +<div class='figleft' style='width:265px'> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_16' id='linki_16'></a> +</div> +<img src='images/i017.png' alt='' title='' width='265' height='425' /> +<br /> +<p class='caption'> +“The old man thought it was raining.”<br /> +</p> +</div> +<p>But one day it happened that the cook could +not find anything for the old man’s dinner. She +looked high, and she looked +low, but nothing could she +find; so she was very unhappy; +for she knew her +master would be miserable +if he had no +dinner. She sat +down by the +well, and wept +bitterly; and her +tears fell into the +well so fast that +the little old man +thought it was +raining, and put +up a red cotton +umbrella, which +he borrowed for +the occasion. You may wonder where he borrowed +it; but I cannot tell you, because I do not +know.</p> +<p>Now, at that moment a traveller happened to +pass by, and when he saw the cook sitting by the +well and weeping, he stopped, and asked her what +was the matter. So the cook told him that she +was weeping because she could not find anything +to cook for her master’s dinner.</p> +<p>“And who is your master?” asked the traveller.</p> +<p>“He is a little old man,” replied the cook; +“and he lives down in this well.”</p> +<p>“Why does he live there?” inquired the traveller.</p> +<p>“I do not know,” answered the cook; “I never +asked him.”</p> +<p>“He must be a singular person,” said the traveller. +“I should like to see him. What does he +look like?”</p> +<p>But this the cook could not tell him; for she +had never seen the little old man, having come to +work for him after he had gone down to live in +the well.</p> +<p>“Does he like to receive visitors?” asked the +traveller.</p> +<p>“Don’t know,” said the cook. “He has never +had any to receive since I have been here.”</p> +<p>“Humph!” said the other. “I think I will go +down and pay my respects to him. Will you let +me down in the bucket?”</p> +<p>“But suppose he should mistake you for his +dinner, and eat you up?” the cook suggested.</p> +<p>“Pooh!” he replied. “No fear of that; I can +take care of myself. And as for his dinner,” he +added, “get him some radishes. There are plenty +about here. I had nothing but radishes for my +dinner, and very good they were, though rather +biting. Let down the bucket, please! I am all +right.”</p> +<p>“What are radishes?” the cook called after him +as he went down.</p> +<p>“Long red things, stupid! with green leaves to +them!” he shouted; and then, in a moment, he +found himself at the bottom of the well.</p> +<p>The little old man was delighted to see him, and +told him that he had lived down there forty years, +and had never had a visitor before in all that time.</p> +<p>“Why do you live down here?” inquired the +traveller.</p> +<p>“Because I cannot get out,” replied the little +old man.</p> +<p>“But how did you get down here in the first +place?”</p> +<p>“Really,” he said, “it is so long ago that I +hardly remember. My impression is, however, +that I came down in the bucket.”</p> +<p>“Then why, in the name of common-sense,” +said the traveller, “don’t you go <i>up</i> in the +bucket?”</p> +<p>The little old man sprang up from the three-legged +stool, and flung his arms around the +traveller’s neck. “My <i>dear</i> friend!” he cried rapturously. +“My precious benefactor! Thank you +a thousand times for those words! I assure you +I never thought of it before! I will go up at +once. You will excuse me?”</p> +<p>“Certainly,” said the traveller. “Go up first, +and I will follow you.”</p> +<p>The little old man got into the bucket, and was +drawn up to the top of the well. But, alas! +when the cook saw his long red nose and his +long green coat, she said to herself, “This must +be a radish! How lucky I am!” and seizing the +poor little old man, she popped him into the +kettle without more ado. Then she let the bucket +down for the traveller, calling to him to make +haste, as she wanted to send down her master’s +dinner.</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_17' id='linki_17'></a> +</div> +<img src='images/i018.png' alt='' title='' width='422' height='316' /> +<br /> +<p class='caption'> +“’Tis an ill wind that blows nobody any good!”<br /> +</p> +</div> +<p>Up came the traveller, and looking around, +asked where her master was.</p> +<p>“Where should he be,” said the cook, “but at +the bottom of the well, where you left him?”</p> +<p>“What do you mean?” exclaimed the traveller. +“He has just come up in the bucket!”</p> +<p>“<i>Oh!</i>” cried the cook. “Oh! <i>oh!!</i> <span class='smcap'>o-o-o-h!!!</span> +was that my master? Why, I thought he was +a radish, and I have boiled him for his own +dinner!”</p> +<p>“I hope he will have a good appetite!” said +the traveller.</p> +<p>The cook was a good woman, and her grief was +so excessive that she fell into the kettle and was +boiled too.</p> +<p>Then the traveller, who had formerly been an +ogre by profession, said, “’Tis an ill wind that +blows nobody any good! My dinner was very +insufficient;” and he ate both the little old man +and the cook, and proceeded on his journey with +a cheerful heart.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p>“The traveller was a sensible man,” said Bruin. +“Did you make up that story, Toto?”</p> +<p>“Yes,” replied Toto. “I made it up the other +day,—one of those rainy days. I found a forked +radish in the bunch we had for tea, and it had a +kind of nose, and looked just like a funny little +red man. So I thought that if there was a radish +that looked like a man, there might be a man that +looked like a radish, you see. And now—”</p> +<p>“Ahem!” said the raccoon softly. “<i>Did</i> you +say five minutes for refreshments, Toto, or did I +misunderstand you?” and he winked at the company +in a very expressive manner.</p> +<p>Toto ran to get the gingerbread; and for some +time sounds of crunching and nibbling were the +only ones that were heard, except the constant +“click, click,” of the grandmother’s needles. +Bruin sat for some time watching in silence the +endless crossing and re-crossing of the shining bits +of steel. Presently he said in a timid growl,—</p> +<p>“Excuse me, ma’am; do you make the gingerbread +with those things?”</p> +<p>“With what things, Mr. Bruin?” asked the +grandmother.</p> +<p>“Those bright things that go clickety-clack,” +said the bear. “I see some soft brown stuff on +them, just about the color of the gingerbread, and +I thought possibly—”</p> +<p>“Oh,” said the grandmother, smiling, “you +mean my knitting. No, Mr. Bruin, gingerbread +is made in a very different way. I mix it in +a bowl, with a spoon, and then I put it in a +pan, and bake it in the oven. Do you understand?”</p> +<p>Poor Bruin rubbed his nose, and looked helplessly +at Coon. The latter, however, merely +grinned diabolically at him, and said nothing; +so he was obliged to answer the grandmother +himself.</p> +<p>“Oh, of course,” he said. “If you mix it with +a <i>spoon</i>, I should say certainly. As far as a spoon +goes, you know, I—ah—quite correct, I’m sure.” +Here the poor fellow subsided into a vague murmur, +and glared savagely at the raccoon.</p> +<p>But now the gentle wood-pigeon interposed, +with her soft, cooing voice. “Toto,” she said, +“were we not promised two stories to-day? Tell +us the other one now, dear boy, for the shadows +are beginning to lengthen.”</p> +<p>“I made this story myself, too,” said Toto, +“and it is called</p> +<h3>THE AMBITIOUS ROCKING-HORSE.</h3> +<p>There was once a rocking-horse, but he did not +want to be a rocking-horse. He wanted to be a +trotter. So he went to a jockey—</p> +<p>“What’s a jockey?” inquired the bear.</p> +<p>A man who drives fast and tells lies.</p> +<p>He went to a jockey and asked him if he would +like to buy a trotter.</p> +<p>“Where is your trotter?” asked the jockey.</p> +<p>“Me’s him,” said the rocking-horse. That was +all the grammar he knew.</p> +<p>“Oh!” said the jockey. “You are the trotter, +eh?”</p> +<p>“Yes,” said the rocking-horse. “What will you +give me for myself?”</p> +<p>“A bushel of shavings,” said the jockey.</p> +<p>The rocking-horse thought that was better than +nothing, so he sold himself. Then the jockey +took him to another jockey who was blind, and +told him (the blind jockey) that this was the Sky-born +Snorter of the Sarsaparillas, and that he +could trot two miles in a minute. So the blind +jockey bought him, and paid ten thousand dollars +for him.</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_18' id='linki_18'></a> +</div> +<img src='images/i019.png' alt='' title='' width='419' height='249' /> +<br /> +<p class='caption'> +“‘Me’s him,’ said the rocking-horse.”<br /> +</p> +</div> +<p>There was a race the next day, and the blind +jockey took the Sky-born Snorter to the race-course, +and started him with the other horses. +The other horses trotted away round the course, +but the Sky-born Snorter stayed just where he +was, and rocked; and when the other horses came +round the turn, there he was waiting for them at +the judge’s stand. So he won the race; and the +judge gave the prize, which was a white buffalo, +to the blind jockey.</p> +<p>The jockey put the Sky-born Snorter in the +stable, and then went to get his white buffalo; +and while he was gone, the other jockeys came +into the stable to see the new horse.</p> +<p>“Why, he’s a rocking-horse!” said one of +them.</p> +<p>“Hush!” said the Sky-born Snorter. “Yes, I +am a rocking-horse, but don’t tell my master. He +doesn’t know it, and he paid ten thousand dollars +for me.”</p> +<p>“Whom did he pay it to?” asked the jockeys.</p> +<p>“To the other jockey, who bought me from +myself,” replied the Snorter.</p> +<p>“Oh! and what did <i>he</i> give for you?”</p> +<p>“A bushel of shavings,” said the Snorter.</p> +<p>“Ah!” said one of the jockeys. “A bushel of +shavings, eh? Now, how would you like to have +those shavings turned into gold?”</p> +<p>“Very much indeed!” cried the Sky-born.</p> +<p>“Well,” said the jockey, “bring them here, and +we will change them for you.”</p> +<p>So the rocking-horse went and fetched the shavings, +and the jockeys set fire to them. The flames +shot up, bright and yellow.</p> +<p>“See!” cried the jockeys. “The shavings are +all turned into gold. Now we will see what we +can do for you.” And they took the Sky-born +Snorter and put him in the fire, and he turned +into gold too, and was all burned up. And the +blind jockey drove the white buffalo all the rest +of his life, and never knew the difference.</p> +<p>Moral: don’t be ambitious.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p>They all laughed heartily at the fate of the Sky-born +Snorter; and the wood-pigeon said, “Both +your stories have a most melancholy ending, Toto. +One hero boiled and eaten up, and the other +burned! It is quite dreadful. I think I must +tell the next story myself, and I shall be sure to +tell one that ends cheerfully.”</p> +<p>“Yes, yes!” cried all the others. “Pigeon +Pretty shall be the next story-teller!”</p> +<p>“And now,” continued the pigeon, “my Chucky +must go home to his supper, for he is not well yet, +by any means, and must be very careful of himself. +Climb up on Bruin’s back, Chucky dear! +so, that is right. Good-night, Toto. Good-night, +dear madam. Now home again, all!” and flying +round and round the bear’s head, Pigeon Pretty +led the way towards the forest.</p> +<div class='chsp'> +<a name='CHAPTER_VIII' id='CHAPTER_VIII'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> +</div> +<p class='dropcapq'><small>“</small><span class='drop'>I</span><span class='dcap'>s</span> this one of your own stories that you are +going to tell us, Pigeon Pretty?” inquired +the squirrel, when they were next assembled +around the cottage door.</p> +<p>“No,” replied the wood-pigeon. “This is a +story I heard a short time ago. I was flying +home, after paying a visit to some cousins of mine +who live in a village some miles away. As I +passed by a pretty white cottage, something like +this, I noticed that there were crumbs scattered +on one of the window-sills. ‘Here lives somebody +who is fond of birds!’ said I to myself, and as I +was rather hungry, I stopped to pick up some of +the crumbs. The window was open, and looking +in, I saw a pretty and neatly furnished room. +Near the window was a bed, in which lay a boy of +about Toto’s age. He was evidently ill, for he +had a bandage tied round his head, and he looked +pale and thin. Beside the bed sat a little girl, +apparently a year or two older; a sweet, pretty +girl, as one would wish to see. She was reading +aloud to her brother (I suppose he was her +brother) from a large red book. Neither of the +children noticed me, so I sat on the window-sill +for some time, and heard the whole of this story, +which you shall now hear in your turn. It is +called</p> +<h3>THE STORY OF THE TAIL OF THE BARON’S +WAR-HORSE.</h3> +<p>Many years ago there lived a Baron, famous +in peace and war, but chiefly in the latter. War +was his great delight, fighting his natural occupation; +and he was never so much in his element as +when leading his valiant troops to battle, mounted +on his noble iron-gray charger. Ah! what a +charger that was!—stately and strong, swift and +sure, fiery and bold, yet ready to obey his master’s +lightest touch or softest word; briefly, a horse in +ten thousand. Right proud the Baron was of his +gallant steed; and right well did they love each +other, horse and master.</p> +<p>The vassals of the Baron knew no greater +pleasure than to see their lord ride by mounted on +Gray Berold; it filled their souls with joy, and +caused them to throw up their caps and shout +“Hi!” in a hilarious manner. As for the lovely +Ermengarde, the Baron’s young and beautiful +wife, she would far rather have gone without her +dinner than have missed the sight. Whenever +Gray Berold was brought to the door, she hastened +out, and overwhelmed him with caresses +and words of endearment, proffering meanwhile +the toothsome sugar and the crisp and sprightly +apple, neither of which the engaging animal disdained +to accept. In truth, it was a goodly sight +to see the golden locks of the lady (for was she +not known in all the country as Ermengarde of +the Fair Tresses?) mingling with the wavy silver +of the charger’s mane as he bent his head lovingly +over his fair young mistress,—a goodly sight, +and one which often sent the bold Baron rejoicing +on his way, with a tender smile on his otherwise +slightly ferocious countenance.</p> +<p>It chanced one day that a great tournament +was about to take place in the neighborhood. All +the knights in the country round, and many bold +champions from a greater distance, were to show +their prowess in riding at the ring, and in friendly +combat with each other. Among the gallant +knights, who so ready for the tournament as our +bold Baron? He fairly pranced for the fray; for +there had been no war for two months, and he was +very weary of the long peaceful days. He had +been practising for a week past, riding at any +number of rings of different sizes, and tilting with +his squire, whom he had run through the body +several times, thereby seriously impairing that +worthy’s digestive powers.</p> +<p>And now the eventful morning was come. +The vassals were assembled in the courtyard of +the castle, a goodly array, to see their master +depart in pomp and pride.</p> +<p>Gray Berold was brought round to the door, +magnificently caparisoned, his bridle and housings +glittering with precious stones. The gallant +steed pawed the ground, and tossed his head +proudly, as impatient of delay as his master. +From a balcony above leaned the lovely Ermengarde, +her golden tresses crowned with a nightcap +of rare and curious design; for the Baron was +making an early start, and his fair lady had not +yet completed her toilet.</p> +<p>Amid the vociferous cheers of his vassals, the +Baron descended the steps, armed <i>cap-à-pie</i>, his +good sword by his side, and his mace, battle-axe, +cutlass, and shillalah displayed about his stately +person in a very imposing manner. He could +scarcely walk, it is true, so many and so weighty +were his accoutrements; but then, as he himself +aptly observed, he did not want to walk.</p> +<p>He got into the saddle with some difficulty, +owing to the tendency of his battle-axe to get +between his legs; but once there, the warrior was +at home. An attendant handed him his lance, +with its glittering pennon. Gray Berold pranced +and curvetted, making nothing of the enormous +weight on his back; the Lady Ermengarde waved +her broidered kerchief; and, with a parting glance +at his lovely bride, the Baron rode slowly out of +the courtyard.</p> +<p>But, alas! he was not destined to ride far. +Alas for the proud Baron! Alas and alack for the +gallant steed!</p> +<p>He had scarcely ridden a hundred paces when +he heard a fearful growl behind him, which caused +him to turn quickly in his saddle. What was his +horror to see a huge bear spring out of the woods +and come rushing towards him!</p> +<p>For one moment the Baron was paralyzed; the +next, he wheeled his horse round, and couching +his lance, prepared to meet his savage assailant.</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_19' id='linki_19'></a> +</div> +<img src='images/i020.png' alt='' title='' width='417' height='289' /> +<br /> +<p class='caption'> +“The bear caught the charger by the tail.”<br /> +</p> +</div> +<p>But Gray Berold had not bargained for this. +Many a fair fight had he seen in battle-field and in +tourney; many a time he had faced danger as +boldly as his rider, and had borne the brunt of +many a fierce attack. But those fights were +with men and horses. He knew what they were, +and how they should be met; but this was something +very different. This great creature, that +came rushing along with its head down and its +mouth open, was something Berold did not know; +moreover, it was something he did not like. Stand +there and be rushed at by a thing that was neither +horse nor man? Not if he knew it! And just +when the bear was close upon him, Gray Berold, +with a squeal of mingled terror and anger, wheeled +short round. The bear made a spring, and +caught the charger by the tail. The terrified +animal bounded forward; the Baron made a downward +stroke with his battle-axe that would have +felled an ox, and Master Bruin (no offence to +you, my dear fellow! it’s the name of all your +family, you know) rolled over and over in the +dust.</p> +<p>But alas! and alas! <i>he took the tail with him</i>! That +noble tail, the pride of the stable-yard, the glory +of the grooms, lay in the road, a glittering mass +of silver; and it was a tailless steed that now +galloped frantically back into the castle-court, +from which only a few short minutes ago he had +so proudly emerged.</p> +<p>The Baron was mad with fury. Pity for his +gallant horse, rage and mortification at the ridiculous +plight he was in, anxiety lest he should be +late for the tournament, all combined to make +him for a time beside himself; he rushed up and +down the courtyard, whirling his battle-axe round +his head, and uttering the most fearful imprecations. +Finally, however, yielding to the tears and +entreaties of his retainers, he calmed his noble +frenzy, and set himself to think what was best +to be done. “Give up the tournament? Perish +the thought! Ride another horse than Berold? +Never while he lives! Ride him tailless and +unadorned? Shades of my ancestors forbid!” +thus cried the Baron at every new suggestion +of his sympathizing retainers.</p> +<p>At last the head groom had an idea. “Let us +fasten on another tail,” he said, “an’t please your +worship!”</p> +<p>“Ha!” cried the Baron, starting at the notion. +“’Tis well! Ho! there, Hodge, Barnaby, Perkin! +Cut me the tails from the three cart-horses, and +tie them together. And be quick about it, ye +knaves!”</p> +<p>The three grooms flew to execute their master’s +mandate, and returned in a few minutes, bearing +a magnificent tail, whose varied hues of black, +sorrel, and white, showed it to be the spoil of +Dobbin, Smiler, and Bumps, the three stout Flemish +cart-horses.</p> +<p>“By my halidome, a motley tail!” exclaimed +the Baron. “But it boots not, so it be a tail! +Fasten it on with all speed, for time presses!—ha! +what is this!”</p> +<p>Well might the Baron start, and exclaim.</p> +<p>The moment the three grooms touched the +flanks of Gray Berold, before they had time to +lay hands on the stump of his tail, they found +themselves flying through the air, and tumbling +in a very uncomfortable sort of way against the +wall of the courtyard. Marry, that was a brave +kick! and when he had given it, the charger +looked round after the unhappy grooms, and +tossed his stately head, and snorted, evidently +meaning to say, “<i>Don’t</i> you want to try it +again?”</p> +<p>But the grooms did not want to try it again. +They picked themselves up, and rubbed their +poor shins and their poor heads, and proceeded +to hobble off on their poor feet as fast as they +could. But they did not hobble far, for the voice +of the Baron was heard in angry expostulation.</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_20' id='linki_20'></a> +</div> +<img src='images/i021.png' alt='' title='' width='423' height='310' /> +<br /> +<p class='caption'> +“They found themselves flying through the air.”<br /> +</p> +</div> +<p>“How now, varlets!” cried that nobleman. +“Do you slink away like beaten hounds because, +forsooth, the good beast shakes off a fly, or lashes +out his heels in playful sport? Shame on ye, coward +hinds! Back, I command ye, and tie me on +that tail. Obey, sirrahs, or else—hum—ha—hrrrrugh!!!” +and the Baron waved his battle-axe, +and looked as if he had swallowed the meat-chopper +and the gridiron and the blunderbuss, all at +one mouthful.</p> +<p>Hodge, Barnaby, and Perkin were in a bad way, +assuredly. On the one hand was the charger, +snorting defiance, and with his heels all ready for +the next kick, should they presume to touch him; +on the other was the furious Baron, also snorting, +and with his battle-axe all ready for the next +whack, should they presume <i>not</i> to touch him. +Here were two sharp horns to a dilemma!</p> +<p>Cautiously the poor knaves crept up once +more behind Gray Berold. “Vault thou upon +his back, Perkin!” whispered Barnaby. “Perchance +from there—” Whizz! whack! thud!—This +time Berold did not wait for them to touch +him: the sound of their voices was enough; there +they all lay again in a heap against the wall, +moaning sore and cursing the day they were +born.</p> +<p>But now the Baron’s humor changed. “Beshrew +me!” he cried. “’Tis a gallant steed. +He will not brook, at such a moment, the touch +of hireling hands. ’Tis well! give <i>me</i> the tail, +my masters! and ye shall see.”</p> +<p>Alas! they did see; they saw their Baron rolling +over and over on the ground. They saw +their Baron roll; they heard their Baron rave; +they turned and fled for their lives.</p> +<p>At this moment the portal swung open, and +the Lady Ermengarde appeared. She had seen +all from an upper window, and she now hastened +to raise her fallen lord, who sat spluttering and +cursing on the ground, unable to rise, owing to +the weight of his armor. “Oh! blame not the +steed!” cried the lovely lady. “Chide not the +gallant beast, good my lord! ’twas not the touch, +’twas the <i>tail</i>, he could not brook. Tie the rustic +tail of a plebeian cart-horse on Gray Berold? +Oh! fie, my lord! it may not be. <i>I</i> will provide +a tail for your charger!”</p> +<p>“You!” exclaimed the Baron. “What mean +you, lady?”</p> +<p>The Lady Ermengarde replied by drawing from +the embroidered pouch which hung from her jewelled +girdle a pair of shears. Snip! snap! snip! +snap! and before her astonished lord could interfere, +the golden tresses, the pride of the whole +country-side, were severed from her head. Deftly +she tied the shining curls together; lightly she +stepped to where Gray Berold stood. She stroked +his noble head; she spoke to him; she showed him +the tresses, and told him what she had done. +Then with her own hands she tied them on to +the stump of his tail with her embroidered girdle; +and Gray Berold moved not fore-leg nor hind, but +stood like a steed of granite till it was done.</p> +<p>The retainers were dissolved in tears; the Baron +sobbed aloud as he climbed, with the assistance of +seven hostlers, into the saddle; but the heroic +lady smiled, and bade them be of good cheer. +She could get a black wig, she said; and she +had always thought she should look better as a +brunette.</p> +<p>And to make a long story short, said the wood-pigeon, +she <i>did</i> get a black wig, and looked like +a beauty in it. And the Baron went to the +tournament, and won all the prizes. And Gray +Berold lived to be sixty years old, and wore the +golden tail to the end of his days. And that’s +all.</p> +<div class='chsp'> +<a name='CHAPTER_IX' id='CHAPTER_IX'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> +</div> +<p class='dropcapq'><small>“</small><span class='drop'>O</span><span class='dcap'>h</span>! what a delightful story, Pigeon Pretty!” +cried Toto. “Did you hear any more like +it? I wish I had that red book! Did the boy +look as nice as his sister? What was his name?”</p> +<p>“His name,” said the pigeon, “was Jim, I +think. And he did not—no, Toto, he certainly +did <i>not</i> look as nice as his sister. In fact, although +I pitied him because he was ill, I thought +he looked like a disagreeable sort of boy.”</p> +<p>“Red hair?” interposed the squirrel, looking +at the raccoon.</p> +<p>“Freckled face?” asked the raccoon, looking at +the squirrel.</p> +<p>“Why, yes!” said the pigeon, in surprise. “He +<i>had</i> red hair and a freckled face; but how should +you two know anything about him?”</p> +<p>The squirrel and the raccoon nodded at each +other.</p> +<p>“Same boy, I should say!” said Cracker.</p> +<p>“Same boy, <i>I</i> should say!” answered Coon.</p> +<p>“What is it?” asked Toto, curious as usual. +“Tell us about it, one of you! It is early yet, +and we have plenty of time.”</p> +<p>“Well, I will tell you,” said the squirrel. “I +meant to keep it and tell it next time, for I cannot +make up stories as easily as some of you, and +this is something that really happened; but I +might just as well tell it now, especially as Pigeon +Pretty has told you about the boy.</p> +<p>“You need not be at all sorry for that boy,” +he continued. “He is a bad boy, and he deserves +all he got, and more too.”</p> +<p>“Dear, dear!” said the grandmother. “I am +sorry to hear that. What did he do, Mr. Cracker?”</p> +<p>“He tried to rob my Uncle Munkle of his winter +store!” replied the squirrel. “And he got +the worst of it, that’s all.”</p> +<p>“Who is your Uncle Munkle?” asked Toto. +“I don’t know him, do I?”</p> +<p>“No,” said Cracker. “He lives quite at the +other end of the wood, where people sometimes +go for fagots and nuts and such things. Nobody +ever comes near our end of the wood, because +they are afraid of Bruin.</p> +<p>“My uncle is a Munk,” he continued, “and a +most excellent person.”</p> +<p>“A monk?” interrupted the grandmother in +amazement.</p> +<p>“Yes, a Chipmunk!” said the squirrel. “It’s +the same thing, I believe, only we spell it with a +<i>u</i>. Third cousin to a monkey, you know.”</p> +<p>Toto and his grandmother both looked quite bewildered +at this; but the raccoon smiled sweetly, +and said,—</p> +<p>“Go on, Cracker, my boy! never try to explain +things <i>too</i> fully; it’s apt to be a little tedious, +and it is always better to leave something to the +imagination.”</p> +<p>“I am going on,” said Cracker. “As I said +before, people sometimes go into that part of the +wood; there are one or two hives not far from +it.”</p> +<p>“One or two hives?” interrupted Toto. “What +<i>do</i> you mean, Cracker?”</p> +<p>“Why, a lot of houses together,” said the +squirrel. “Don’t you call them hives? The +only other creatures I know that live in that +kind of way (and a very poor way it is, to my +thinking) are the bees, and their places are called +hives.”</p> +<p>“A collection of houses, Mr. Cracker,” said the +grandmother gently, “is called a village or a +town, according to its size; a village being a small +collection.”</p> +<p>“Oh!” said the squirrel. “Thank you, ma’am! +I will try to remember that. Well, this boy Jim +lives in the nearest village, and sometimes goes +into the forest. Now, the autumn is slipping +away fast, as we all know; and last week my +Uncle Munkle, who is always fore-handed and +thrifty, thought it was high time to be getting in +his winter store of nuts and acorns. So he sent +for his nephews to come and help him (he has no +children of his own). We all went, of course, and +Coon went with us, for my uncle always gives us +a feast after the nuts are in, and Coon always +goes wherever there is anything to—”</p> +<p>“What?” said the raccoon, looking up sharply.</p> +<p>“Wherever there is anything to be <i>done</i>!” said +the squirrel hastily.</p> +<p>“The second day, as we were all hard at work +shelling the beechnuts, I heard a noise among the +bushes,—a crackling noise that did not sound like +any animal I knew. I looked, and saw two eyes +peering out from the leaves of a young beech-tree. +‘That is a boy,’ said I to myself, ‘and he +means mischief!’ So I skipped off without saying +anything to the others, and crept softly round +behind the bushes, making no more noise than an +eel in the mud. There I found, not one boy, but +two, crouching among the bushes, and watching +the nut-shelling. They were whispering to each +other; and I crept nearer and nearer till I could +hear all they said.</p> +<p>“‘When shall we come?’ said one.</p> +<p>“‘To-night,’ said the other, who had red hair +and a freckled face, ‘when the moon is up, and +the little beggars are all asleep. Then we can +easily knock them on the head, and get the nuts +without being bitten. They bite like wild-cats +when they are roused, these little fellows.’</p> +<p>“‘All right!’ said the other, whose face I could +not see. ‘I’ll bring a bag and be here at eight +o’clock.’</p> +<p>“‘<i>Will</i> you?’ thought I, and I crept away again, +having heard all I wanted to know. I went back +to the others, and presently a snapping and crackling +told me that the boys were gone. Then I +went to Uncle Munkle and told him what I had +heard. He was very angry, and whisked his tail +about till he nearly whisked it off. ‘Call your +large friend,’ he said, ‘and we will hold a council.’ +So I waked Coon—”</p> +<p>“Waked Coon?” exclaimed the woodchuck +slyly. “What! do you mean to say he was not +working twice as hard as any of the others?”</p> +<p>“I had been, my good fellow!” said the raccoon +loftily. “I had been; and exhausted with +my labors. I was snatching a moment’s hard-earned +repose. Go on, Cracker.”</p> +<p>“Well,” continued the squirrel, “we held a +council, and settled everything beautifully. Uncle +Munkle, who has very particularly sharp teeth, +was to get into the nut-closet and wait there. The +rest of us were to be ready together on the nearest +branch, and Coon was to hide himself somewhere +close by. No one was to move until Uncle +Munkle gave the signal, and then—well, you +shall hear how it happened. We all went on with +our work until sunset. Then we had supper, and +a game of scamper, and then we began to prepare +for business. We sharpened our claws on the bark +of the trees till they were as sharp as—as—”</p> +<p>“Razors,” suggested Toto.</p> +<p>“Don’t know what that means,” said the +squirrel.</p> +<p>“As sharp as Coon’s nose, then; that will do.”</p> +<p>“We filled our cheek-pouches with three-cornered +pebbles and nut-shells. Then, when the +moon rose, and all the forest was quiet, we +retired to our posts. We had waited some time, +and were becoming rather impatient, when suddenly +a distant sound was heard; the sound of +snapping and cracking twigs. It grew louder and +louder, louder and louder; and presently we saw a +freckled face looking out from among the leaves.</p> +<p>“Cautiously the boy advanced, and soon another +boy appeared, not so ill-looking as the first. He +carried a bag in his hand. The two came softly to +the foot of our tree, and looked up. The leaves +twinkled in the moonlight; but all was still, not a +sound to be heard. The two whispered together +a moment; then the freckled boy began slowly +and carefully to climb the tree. We saw his red +head coming nearer and nearer, nearer and nearer. +We knew he must be near Uncle Munkle’s hole. +We all held our breath and listened for the signal.</p> +<p>“Presently the boy stopped climbing, and we +saw him stretch out his hand. Then—oh! such a +screech! You <i>never</i> heard such a screech, not +even from a wild-cat. Another yell, and another. +That was the signal. Now we knew what Uncle +Munkle meant by saying, ‘I may not give the signal +<i>myself</i>, but you will hear it all the same.’</p> +<p>“Instantly we sprang at the boy, ten strong, +healthy squirrels, teeth and claws and all. I +don’t think he enjoyed himself very much for the +next few minutes. He yelled all the time, and +at last he lost his hold on the tree, and fell heavily +to the ground. Also, Coon had been biting his +legs a little. But when he fell, Coon started after +the other boy, who was dancing about the foot of +the tree in a frenzy of terror and amazement. +When he saw Coon coming, he started on a run; +but Coon jumped on his back and got him by the +ear, and then rode him round and round the forest +till he howled as loud as the other one had.”</p> +<p>“A very pleasant ride I had, too,” said the raccoon +placidly. “My young friend was excitable, +very excitable, but that only made it the more +lively. Yes. I don’t know when I have enjoyed +anything more.”</p> +<p>“But what became of the first boy after he +fell?” asked Toto eagerly.</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_21' id='linki_21'></a> +</div> +<img src='images/i022.png' alt='' title='' width='431' height='296' /> +<br /> +<p class='caption'> +“His father took him away in a wheelbarrow.”<br /> +</p> +</div> +<p>“Well, my dear, he lay still,” said the squirrel. +“He lay still. He had broken his leg, so it was +really the only thing for him to do. And when +Coon came back from riding the other boy he +jumped backwards and forwards over him till his +father came and took him away in a wheelbarrow. +Every time Coon jumped, he grinned at the boy; +and every time he grinned, the boy screamed; so +one inferred that he did not like it, you know.</p> +<p>“Altogether,” said the little squirrel, in conclusion, +“it was a great success; a great success; +really, worthy of our end of the wood. And +<i>such</i> a feast as Uncle Munkle gave us the day +after!”</p> +<div class='chsp'> +<a name='CHAPTER_X' id='CHAPTER_X'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER X.</h2> +</div> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>It</span> was agreed by all hands at the next meeting, +that Bruin must tell the story.</p> +<p>“You have not told a story for a long, long +time, Bruin,” said Toto,—“not since we began +to meet here; and Granny wants to hear one of +your stories; don’t you, Granny?”</p> +<p>“Indeed,” said the grandmother, “I should +like very much to hear one of Mr. Bruin’s stories. +I am told they are very delightful.”</p> +<p>Mr. Bruin bowed in his peculiar fashion, and +murmured something which sounded like “How-wow-mumberygrubble.”</p> +<p>The old lady knew, however, that it was meant +for “Thank you, ma’am,” and took the will for +the deed.</p> +<p>Bruin sucked his paw thoughtfully for a few +minutes; then, raising his head with an air of +inspiration,—“Pigeon Pretty,” he asked, “what +kind of a bear was that in your story?”</p> +<p>“Really, Bruin, I do not know,” replied the +wood-pigeon. “It said ‘a bear,’ that was all.”</p> +<p>“You see,” continued Bruin, “there are so +many kinds of bears,—black, brown, cinnamon, +grizzly, polar,—really, there is no end to them. +I thought, however, that this might possibly have +been the Lost Prince of the Poles.”</p> +<p>Here Bruin paused a moment and looked about.</p> +<p>“The Lost Prince of the Poles!” exclaimed +Toto. “What a fine name for a story! Tell us +now, Bruin; tell us all about him.”</p> +<p>“Listen, then,” said the bear, “and you shall +hear about</p> +<h3>THE LOST PRINCE OF THE POLES.</h3> +<p>The polar bears, as you probably know, are a +large and powerful nation. They are governed +by a king, who is called the Solar-Polarity of the +Hypopeppercorns.</p> +<p>“Oh!” cried Toto. “What <i>does</i> that mean?”</p> +<p>Nobody knows what it means. That is the +great charm of the title. Gives it majesty, you +understand. The present Solar-Polarity is, I am +told, quite worthy of his title, for he is very +majestic, and knows absolutely nothing. He sits +on the top of the North Pole, and directs the +movement of the icebergs.</p> +<p>At the time of which I am going to tell you, +which was so long ago as to be no particular time +at all, the Solar-Polarity had an only son,—a most +promising young bear,—the heir to the kingdom. +He was brought up with the greatest care possible, +and when he had arrived at a suitable age, his +father begged him to choose a mate among the +youngest and fairest of the she-bears, or, as they +are more elegantly termed, bearesses. To the +amazement of the Solar-Polarity, the Prince flatly +refused.</p> +<p>“I will not marry one of these cold, white +creatures!” he said; “I am tired of white. I +want to marry one of those things;” and he +pointed to the north, where the Northern Lights +were shooting up in long streamers of crimson +and green and purple.</p> +<p>“One of those things!” cried his father. “My +dear son, are you mad? Those are Rory-Bories; +they are not the sort of thing one can marry. It’s—it’s +ridiculous to think of such a thing.”</p> +<p>“Well,” said the Prince, “then I will marry +the creature that is most like them. There must +be some creature that has those pretty colors. I +will go and ask the Principal Whale.”</p> +<p>So he went and asked the Principal Whale if +he knew any creature that was colored like the +Rory-Bories.</p> +<p>“Frankly,” said the whale, “I do not. Doubtless +there are such, but I have never happened to +meet any of them. I will tell you what I will do, +however,” he said, seeing the Prince’s look of disappointment. +“I am just starting on a voyage to +the Southern seas; and if you like I will take you +with me, and you can look about you and decide +for yourself.”</p> +<p>The young bear was delighted with this proposition, +and proceeded at once to assume the full-dress +costume of the polar bears, which consists in +tying three knots in the tail.</p> +<p>“A—<i>ex</i>cuse me!” interrupted the raccoon, “I +thought no bears had any tails to speak of;” and +he glanced complacently at his own magnificent +tail, which was curled round his feet.</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_22' id='linki_22'></a> +</div> +<img src='images/i023.png' alt='' title='' width='418' height='305' /> +<br /> +<p class='caption'> +“He sailed away for the Southern seas.”<br /> +</p> +</div> +<p>They have none to speak of; which makes it +all the more remarkable for them to be able to +tie three knots in them. As soon as this was +accomplished, the Prince declared that he was +ready to start.</p> +<p>“So am I,” said the Principal Whale. And +taking the Prince of the Poles on his back, he +sailed away for the Southern seas.</p> +<p>They went on and on for several days without +any adventures; till one day the young bear +saw a huge jelly-fish floating towards them. +“See!” he cried, “there is a lovely creature, as +bright and beautiful as the Rory-Bories. Surely +this is the creature for me to marry!”</p> +<p>“I don’t think you would like to marry that,” +said the whale. “That is a jelly-fish. But we +will go and speak to it, and you can judge for +yourself.” So the whale swam up to the jelly-fish, +who looked at them, but said nothing.</p> +<p>“My dear,” said the Prince, “you are very +beautiful.”</p> +<p>“Yah!” said the jelly-fish (who was in reality +extremely ignorant, and had never gone to dancing-school), +“that’s more than I can say for you!”</p> +<p>“I am sorry to hear you say that,” said the +Prince, mildly.</p> +<p>“Will you marry me, and be Princess of the +Poles?”</p> +<p>“Marry your grandmother!” replied the jelly-fish +in a very rude manner; and off it flounced +under the water.</p> +<p>The young bear looked sadly after it. “It was +very pretty,” he said; “why did it want me to +marry my grandmother?”</p> +<p>“It didn’t,” replied the whale. “That was +only its way of speaking. An unmannerly minx! +Don’t think any more about it,” and they continued +their voyage.</p> +<p>A couple of days after this they met the swordfish +and his daughter.</p> +<p>“These are some friends of mine,” said the +Principal Whale. “We will see if they can aid +us in our search.”</p> +<p>The swordfish greeted them kindly, and invited +them to come down and make him a visit.</p> +<p>“Thank you,” said the whale. “We have +not time to stop now. We are in search of a +creature as bright in color as the Rory-Bories. +My young friend here, the Prince of the Poles, is +anxious to marry such a creature, if he can only +find her.”</p> +<p>But the swordfish shook his head, and said he +could not think of any one who would answer the +description.</p> +<p>“<i>I</i> will marry you if you wish,” said the swordfish’s +daughter, who was much struck by the appearance +of the young bear. “I am considered +very agreeable, and I think I could make you +happy.”</p> +<p>“But you are not bright,” cried the poor +Prince in distress. “You are even black, saving +your presence. I don’t wish to hurt your feelings, +but really you are not at all the sort of creature +I was looking for; though I have no doubt,” he +added, “that you are extremely agreeable.”</p> +<p>“You might play I was a Rory-Bory behind a +cloud on a dark night,” suggested the swordfish’s +daughter.</p> +<p>But the Prince did not think that would do, +and the whale agreed with him. “One cannot +play,” he said, “when one is married.” Accordingly +they bade a friendly farewell to the swordfish +and his daughter, and continued their voyage.</p> +<p>After several days they saw in the distance +the coast of Africa. As they approached it, the +Prince saw something bright on the land, near +the edge of the water. “See!” he cried, “there +is something very bright and beautiful. Let +us go nearer, and see what it is.” So they +went nearer, and saw a long line of scarlet flamingoes, +drawn up on the beach like a company +of soldiers.</p> +<p>“Prince,” said the Principal Whale, “your journey +has not been in vain. I really think these are +the creatures you have been looking for.”</p> +<p>As he spoke, the flamingoes, who had caught +sight of the strange creatures approaching the +shore, rose into the air, with a great flapping of +wings, and flew slowly away.</p> +<p>The Prince was in ecstasies. “Oh, Whale!” +he cried, “these <i>are</i> Rory-Bories, real live Rory-Bories! +See how they shoot up, like long streamers! +See how they glow and shine! One still +remains on the shore, the loveliest of all. She is +my bride! She is the Princess of the Poles! +Swim close to the shore, good Whale!”</p> +<p>The whale swam up to the shore, the water +being fortunately deep enough to allow him to do +so, and the bear addressed the solitary flamingo, +which still stood upon the beach, watching them +with great curiosity. This was, in fact, the Princess +of the Flamingoes; and besides being rather +curious by nature, she thought it would be beneath +her dignity to fly away just because some +strange creatures were approaching. So she stood +still, in an attitude of royal ease.</p> +<p>“Lovely creature!” said the Prince, “tell me, +oh, tell me, are you really and truly a Rory-Bory? +I am sure you must be, from your brilliant +and exquisite beauty.”</p> +<p>“Not quite,” answered the flamingo. “Not +<i>quite</i> the same thing, though very nearly. I am a +flamingo, and the Rory-Bory is a flaming go; +pronounced differently, you perceive. That is +the principal difference between the two families, +though there are some other minor variations, +which may be caused by the climate. What is +your pleasure with me, and what might you happen +to be?”</p> +<p>“My pleasure is to marry you!” exclaimed the +young bear rapturously. “I am a white bear, +and am called the Prince of the Poles. After my +father’s death I shall become Solar-Polarity of +the Hypopeppercorns. Will you be my bride, +and reign with me as queen? You shall sit upon +the North Pole, and direct the movements of the +icebergs.”</p> +<p>The flamingo closed one eye, and drew up one +leg in an attitude of graceful and maidenly coyness. +“Your manners and bearing interest me much,” +she said after a pause; “and I should be glad +to do as you suggest, but I fear it is impossible. +We are not allowed to marry any one with more +than two legs; and you, I perceive, have four.”</p> +<p>The poor Prince was quite staggered by this +remark, for he was proud of his legs, which, +though short, were finely formed. He was silent +in dismay. But now the Principal Whale interposed. +“Would it not be possible to make an +exception in this case?” he asked. “My young +friend has come a very long way in search of you, +and has quite set his heart on this marriage.”</p> +<p>“Alas!” said the flamingo, “I fear not. It +is the first law in the kingdom, and I dare not +break it.”</p> +<p>“What shall I do, then?” cried the Prince in +despair. “If I cannot have you, I will go back +and marry the swordfish’s daughter, and you +would be sorry to have me do that if you knew +how ugly she was.”</p> +<p>“In difficult cases,” said the flamingo, “we +always consult the hippopotamouse. I should +advise you to do the same.”</p> +<p>“The hippopotamouse?” exclaimed the Prince. +“Where is he to be found? Tell me, that I may +fly to him at once.”</p> +<p>“He lives in the middle of the central plain of +Pongolia,” replied the flamingo.</p> +<p>“In that case,” said the Principal Whale, “I must +leave you, my Prince, as travelling on land is one +of the pleasures I must deny myself, being constitutionally +unfitted for it.”</p> +<p>The Prince thanked the whale warmly for his +kindness, and after taking a most affecting leave +of the Flamingo Princess, he set off for the central +plain of Pongolia.</p> +<p>He travelled night and day, and after many +days he arrived at the very middle of the plain. +There he found the hippopotamouse, sitting in the +middle of a river, nibbling a huge cheese.</p> +<p>This singular animal combined all the chief +qualities of a hippopotamus and a mouse. His appearance +was truly astonishing, and filled the mind +of the Prince with mingled feelings. He stood for +some time gazing at him in silent amazement.</p> +<p>Presently the hippopotamouse looked up sharply. +“Well,” he said, “what do you want? Do +you think I am pretty?”</p> +<p>“N-no!” replied the young bear. “You may be +good; but I don’t think you are pretty. I want,” +he continued, “to marry the Flamingo Princess. +I am the Prince of the Poles, son of the Solar-Polarity +of the Hypopeppercorns. You may have +heard of my father.”</p> +<p>“Oh! ah! yes!” said the hippopotamouse. +“I’ve heard of <i>him</i>. Well, why <i>don’t</i> you marry +her?”</p> +<p>“Because I have four legs,” answered the Prince +sadly; “and it is against the law for a flamingo to +marry any one with more than two.”</p> +<p>“True. I had forgotten that,” said the hippopotamouse.</p> +<p>“Can you suggest any way out of the difficulty?” +inquired the Prince.</p> +<p>Without making any reply, the hippopotamouse +plunged into meditation and the cheese at the +same moment, and nibbled and meditated in +silence for several hours; while the unhappy +Prince stood first on one leg, and then on the +other, endeavoring in vain to conceal his impatience. +Finally, when he was quite exhausted +with waiting, the hippopotamouse took his head +out of the cheese.</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_23' id='linki_23'></a> +</div> +<img src='images/i024.png' alt='' title='' width='418' height='243' /> +<br /> +<p class='caption'> +“My young friend,” he said, “I see but one way.”<br /> +</p> +</div> +<p>“My young friend,” he said, “I see but one +way out of the difficulty, and that is for you to +walk about on two of your legs until they are +worn out. Then, you perceive, you will have, +unless my calculations have misled me, exactly +two left,—the proper number to enable you +legally to marry the Flamingo Princess. You +may find this fatiguing,” he continued, seeing the +Prince’s look of dismay; “but really I can see +nothing else for you to do; and when you reflect +that everything is more or less fatiguing, and that +I have worn out five complete sets of teeth on this +very cheese, you may become reconciled to your +lot. Good-by. I wish you well.” And without +more ado, he plunged into the cheese once more.</p> +<p>The unhappy Prince uttered one wild howl, +and turning away, fled into the savage wilds of +the Pongolian forest.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p>Here Bruin paused, shook his head, and sighed +deeply.</p> +<p>“Oh! go on, Bruin,” cried Toto eagerly. “How +<i>can</i> you stop there? Go on immediately, and tell +us the rest!”</p> +<p>Alas! there is little more to tell; for from that +moment the Prince of the Poles has never been +seen or heard of.</p> +<p>The Flamingo Princess waited long and anxiously +for his return; but he never came. I believe +she finally married an ostrich, who led her a +terrible life.</p> +<p>The Principal Whale called at the coast of +Africa on his way back from the Southern seas, +and hearing the sad intelligence of the Prince’s +disappearance, departed in great sadness for his +Northern home, to break the news to the Solar-Polarity +of the Hypopeppercorns. When that +potentate heard of the disappearance of his son, +he fell off the North Pole, and broke his neck; +and the whole nation assumed the mourning costume +of the polar bears, which consists in tying +a sailor’s knot in the left ear, and a granny’s knot +in the right.</p> +<p>And thus ends, in sadness and despair, the story +of “The Lost Prince of the Poles.”</p> +<div class='chsp'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XI' id='CHAPTER_XI'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XI.</h2> +</div> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>One</span> afternoon (it was not a “story” afternoon, +for the grandmother was very busy, dyeing +some of her homespun yarn) Toto went off to the +forest early, intending to have a game of scamper +with Coon and Cracker. As he sauntered along +with his hands in his pockets, he met the woodchuck. +Master Chucky looked very spruce and +neat, and was trotting along with an air of great +self-satisfaction.</p> +<p>“Hallo! you Chucky,” exclaimed Toto, “where +are you going?”</p> +<p>The woodchuck stopped, and glanced around +with his sharp little eyes. “Is any one with you, +Toto?” he asked,—“Coon, or Cracker, or any of +those fellows?”</p> +<p>“No,” answered Toto in some surprise. “I was +just going to find them. Do you want them?”</p> +<p>“No, indeed!” exclaimed the woodchuck. “You +see,” and he lowered his voice confidentially, “I +am going to a rinktum, and I don’t want those +fellows to know about it.”</p> +<p>“What is a rinktum?” asked Toto. “And +why don’t you want them to know about it?”</p> +<p>“Why, a rinktum is a rabbit’s ball, of course. +What else should it be?” answered Chucky. “The +rabbits have invited me; but at the last one Coon +ate up all the supper, and bit the rabbits if they +tried to get any; so they determined not to invite +him again, and asked me not to say anything +about it.”</p> +<p>“Oh, Chucky,” exclaimed Toto, “I wish you +would take me! I have never been to a rabbit’s +ball, and I should like to go <i>so</i> much! and I +wouldn’t eat anything at all!” he added, seeing +that the woodchuck looked doubtful.</p> +<p>Chucky brightened up at the last remark, and +said, “Well, after all, I don’t see why I shouldn’t +take you. They are always glad to see people, if +they will only behave themselves. So come along, +Toto;” and the fat little creature hurried along, +with Toto following him.</p> +<p>“You may have some difficulty,” he said as they +went along, “in getting into the ball-room, but I +think you will be able to squeeze through. It is +in the Big Burrow, which is certainly large enough +for any reasonable creature. Here we are now at +the mouth of the burrow.”</p> +<p>They were crossing a rough, uneven meadow, +with trees and shrubs thickly scattered over it; +and the woodchuck stopped at a large juniper-bush, +in front of which sat a black rabbit.</p> +<p>“How do you do, Woodchuck?” inquired the +rabbit. “And who is this with you?”</p> +<p>“This is a—a—a boy, in fact,” said the woodchuck +in some embarrassment. “He is a great +friend of mine, and has never seen a rinktum in his +life, so I ventured to bring him. He—he won’t +eat anything!” he added in a whisper.</p> +<p>The rabbit bowed to Toto by way of reply, and +pulling aside the branches of the juniper-bush, +disclosed a large hole in the ground.</p> +<p>“Follow me,” said the woodchuck; “I will lead +the way.” And he disappeared through the mouth +of the hole.</p> +<p>Toto dropped on his hands and knees, and followed +as best he could. The path was <i>very</i> narrow, +and wound about and about in a very inconvenient +manner. Several times the boy was stuck so fast +that it seemed as if he <i>could not</i> get any farther; +but he always managed, by much wriggling, to +squeeze through the tight places. It was perfectly +dark, but there was no possibility of his losing his +way, for obvious reasons. At last he saw a glimmer +of light ahead. It grew brighter and brighter; +and at last Toto emerged from the passage, and +found himself in a large cave, which in one part +was high enough to allow him to stand upright. +He immediately crawled over to this part, and +getting on his feet, looked about at the strange +scene before him.</p> +<p>The Big Burrow was lighted by the United +Company of Glow-worms. These little creatures +had arranged themselves in patterns all over the +walls and roof of the cave, and were shining +with all their might. The effect was truly lovely, +and Toto could not help wishing that his +grandmother’s cottage were lighted in the same +way. The floor was crowded with rabbits of +every size and color, and they were all dancing. +Black rabbits, brown rabbits, white rabbits, big +and little rabbits, racing round and round, jumping +up and down, shaking their ears, and wiggling +their noses. Oh, what a good time they were +having!</p> +<p>“Would you like to dance?” asked a very large +white rabbit, who seemed to be the master of +ceremonies, looking up at Toto.</p> +<p>“Thank you,” said Toto. “I do not know the +step, and I should only make confusion among +the dancers, I fear.”</p> +<p>“Oh, you will have no difficulty in learning +the step,” said the white rabbit. “Nothing could +be easier: first you jump up, then wriggle your +hind-legs in the air, then turn round three times, +rub your nose with your right fore-paw, jump +again, rub your nose with your left hind-paw, +turn round—”</p> +<p>“But I have only two legs,” objected Toto +meekly.</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_24' id='linki_24'></a> +</div> +<img src='images/i025.png' alt='' title='' width='421' height='253' /> +<br /> +<p class='caption'> +“Would you like to dance?”<br /> +</p> +</div> +<p>“Dear, dear!” said the master of ceremonies. +“That does seem to be a difficulty, doesn’t it? +What a pity! Haven’t you ever had any +more?”</p> +<p>“No,” said Toto. “We are not made that way, +you see. But don’t mind me,” he added, seeing +that the hospitable rabbit seemed really distressed. +“I only came to look on, and I am enjoying myself +very much indeed, I assure you.”</p> +<p>“Pretty sight, isn’t it, Toto?” said the woodchuck, +bustling up, while the master of ceremonies +went off to attend to his duties. “See that +young white rabbit with the black nose and tail? +She is the belle of the evening, I should say. +Lovely creature! I have just danced twice with +her.”</p> +<p>“What <i>is</i> that brown rabbit doing?” exclaimed +Toto. “He has been standing on his head before +her, and now he is lying on his back and kicking +his feet in the air. I think he is in a fit.”</p> +<p>“No, no,” said the woodchuck. “Oh, no. He is +merely expressing his devotion to her, that is all. +He has been in love with her for a long time,” +he added, “but I don’t think it will ever come to +anything. He has no whiskers to speak of, and +he comes from a very inferior sort of burrow. +She ought not to dance with him at all, in point +of fact, but she is <i>so</i> amiable!”</p> +<p>“It is a pity they have no music,” said Toto. +“I don’t see how they manage to dance. Would +they like me to whistle for them, do you think, +Chucky?”</p> +<p>“Oh, <i>wouldn’t</i> they!” cried the woodchuck in +delight. “What a nice boy you are, Toto! I am +<i>so</i> glad I brought you!”</p> +<p>So Toto whistled a merry tune, and the rabbits +nearly went mad with delight. They capered, +and jumped, and wriggled their hind-legs, and +rubbed their noses, till Toto really thought they +would dance themselves into small pieces; and +when he stopped, they all tumbled down on the +ground in little black and white and brown heaps, +and lay panting and exhausted.</p> +<p>The master of ceremonies came up to Toto, +and after making him nine very polite bows, +thanked him warmly for the pleasure he had +given them. “This is certainly <i>the</i> rinktum of +the season,” he said, “and much of its success is +owing to your kindness.” He then begged Toto +to come into the supper-room, and led the way +to an adjoining cave.</p> +<p>Toto followed, with a comical glance at the +woodchuck, to remind him that he had not forgotten +his promise.</p> +<p>The supper was served in superb style, worthy +of “<i>the</i> rinktum of the season.” There was cabbage-soup +and broccoli broth. There were turnips +and carrots, celery and beets and onions, in +profusion; and in the centre of the room rose a +lofty mountain of crisp green lettuce. Ah! that +was a supper to do a rabbit’s heart good!</p> +<p>Toto, mindful of his promise, showed great +self-denial with regard to the raw vegetables, and +even remained firm against the attractions of the +cabbage-soup.</p> +<p>The white rabbit was quite melancholy over his +guest’s persistent refusal to eat of his good cheer. +“But perhaps,” he said, “creatures of your race +never eat. I see that your nose does not wiggle +when you speak, so perhaps you cannot +eat, eh?”</p> +<p>“Oh, yes,” said Toto in an off-hand way. “Yes, +we <i>can</i>; and sometimes we <i>do</i>. I have eaten in +the course of my life, and I may do it again, but +not to-night.”</p> +<p>At this moment the guests all came pouring +into the supper-room; and Toto began to think +that it would be wise for him to slip away quietly, +as it must be near his own supper-time, and his +grandmother would be wondering where he was. +So he took a friendly leave of the master of ceremonies, +and nodding to the woodchuck, he left +the supper-room, made his way through the ball-room, +and dropping once more on his hands and +knees, proceeded to wriggle his way as best he +might through the underground passage.</p> +<p>A very grimy and dusty boy he was when he +came out again from behind the juniper-bush. +He shook himself as well as he could, laughed a +little over the recollection of the unsuccessful rabbit +suitor kicking his heels in the air to express +his devotion, and started on his way home.</p> +<p>He had spent a much longer time than he had +meant to at the rinktum, and it was growing quite +dark. He hurried along, for his way lay through +a part of the wood where he did not like to go +after dark. The owls lived there, and Toto did +not like the owls, because none of his friends +liked them. They were surly, growly, ill-tempered +birds, and were apt to make themselves very +disagreeable if one met them after dark. Indeed, +it was said that Mrs. Growler, the old grandmother +owl of the family, had once eaten several +of Cracker’s brothers and sisters. The squirrel +did not like to talk about it, but Toto knew that +he hated the owls bitterly.</p> +<p>“I hope I shall not meet any of them,” said the +boy to himself as he entered the wood. “I am +not afraid of them, of course,—it would be absurd +for a boy to be afraid of an owl,—but I don’t like +them.”</p> +<p>The thought had scarcely crossed his mind, +when he heard a sound of flapping wings; and a +moment after a huge white owl flew down directly +in front of him, and spreading its broad pinions, +completely barred his passage.</p> +<p>“Who?” said the owl.</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_25' id='linki_25'></a> +</div> +<img src='images/i026.png' alt='' title='' width='415' height='587' /> +<br /> +<p class='caption'> +“‘Who?’ said the owl. ‘Toto,’ said the boy.”<br /> +</p> +</div> +<p>“Toto,” said the boy shortly. “Let me pass, +please. I’m in a hurry.”</p> +<p>“You’re late!” said the owl severely.</p> +<p>“I know it,” replied Toto. “That’s why I +asked you to let me pass. I don’t want to talk to +you, Mrs. Growler, and I don’t suppose you want +to talk to me.”</p> +<p>“Whit!” cried Mrs. Growler (for it was no +other than that redoubtable female). “Don’t give +me any of your impudence, sir! What do you +mean by coming into our wood after dark, and +then insulting me? Here, Hoots! Flappy! Horner! +Come here, all of you! Here’s this imp +of a boy who’s always making mischief here with +that thieving raccoon. Let us give him a lesson, +and teach him to stay where he belongs, and not +come spying and prying into our wood!”</p> +<p>Immediately a rushing sound was heard from +all sides, and half-a-dozen owls came hooting and +screaming around our hero.</p> +<p>Toto held his ground manfully, though he saw +that the odds were greatly against him. One owl +was all very well; but seven or eight owls, all +armed with powerful beaks and claws, and all +angry, were quite another matter, especially as +the darkness, which exactly suited them, made it +difficult for him to tell in which direction he +should beat his retreat, supposing he were able +to beat it at all.</p> +<p>He set his back against a tree, and faced the +hooting, flapping crowd, whose great round eyes +glared fiercely at him.</p> +<p>“I’ve never done any harm to any of you,” +he said boldly. “I’ve never thrown stones at you, +and I’ve never taken more than one egg at a +time from your nests. You have always hated me, +Mother Growler, because I am a friend of Coon; +and you’re afraid of Coon, you know you are. +Come, let me go home quietly, and I’ll promise +not to come into your part of the wood again.</p> +<p>“I’m sure, there’s no inducement for coming,” +he added in a lower tone. “It’s the scraggiest +part of the whole forest,—only fit for owls to live +in!”</p> +<p>“Hoo! hoo!” cried Mother Growler in a rage. +“I’m afraid of Coon, am I? A nasty, thieving +creature, with an amount of tail that is simply disgusting! +And our wood is scraggy, is it? Hoo! +Give it to him, children!”</p> +<p>“Peck him!” cried all the owls in chorus; +“scratch him! tear him! hustle him!” and, with +wings and claws spread, they came flying at Toto.</p> +<p>Toto put one arm before his face, and prepared +to defend himself as well as he could with the other. +His blood was up, and he had no thought of +trying to escape. If he could only get Mother +Growler by the head now, and wring her neck!</p> +<p>But blows were falling like hail on his own head +now,—sharp blows from horny beaks and crooked +talons. They were tearing his jacket off. He +was dazed, almost stunned, by the beating of the +huge wings in his face. Decidedly, our Toto is in +a bad way.</p> +<p>Suddenly a loud crackling noise was heard +among the bushes. It came nearer; it grew louder. +Toto listened, with his heart in his mouth. Surely, +but one animal there was big enough to make a +noise like that.</p> +<p>“<i>Bruin!</i>” he cried, with all the breath he could +gather, panting and struggling as he was. “Bruin! +help! help!”</p> +<p>A portentous growl answered his cry. The +boughs crackled and burst right and left, and the +next instant the bear sprang through the bushes.</p> +<p>“What is it?” he cried. “Toto, that was your +voice. Where are you, boy? What is the +matter?”</p> +<p>“Here!” cried Toto faintly. “Here, Bruin! +The owls—” But at that moment the little +fellow’s voice failed, and he sank bleeding and +exhausted on the ground.</p> +<p>“How-grrrrr-wow-<i>wurra</i>-<span class='smcap'>Wurra</span>-WURRA-WOW!!!”</p> +<p>In two minutes more there were no owls in that +part of the wood. Hoots, Horner, and the rest, +when they saw the fiery eyes and glittering teeth +of the bear, and heard his terrible roar, as he +rushed upon them, loosed their hold of the +boy, and flew for their lives. As for Mother +Growler—</p> +<p>“I <i>did</i> say,” remarked Bruin, taking some feathers +out of his mouth, “that I never would eat +another owl unless it was plucked. Feathers are +certainly a most inferior article of food; but in a +case of this kind it is really the only thing to do. +As Coon says, it settles the matter, and there is no +further trouble about it. And now,” continued +the good bear, “how is my dear boy? Why, +Toto! look up, boy. They are all gone, and +you are cock of the whole wood. Come, my +Toto! I’ll eat them all, if they have hurt the +boy!” he added in an undertone.</p> +<p>But Toto made no reply. He had, in point of +fact, fainted from exhaustion and excitement.</p> +<p>Bruin sniffed at him, and poked him from head +to foot; then, finding that no bones were broken, +he lifted the boy gently by the waistband of his +breeches, and shambled off in the direction of the +cottage.</p> +<div class='chsp'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XII' id='CHAPTER_XII'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XII.</h2> +</div> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>The</span> grandmother all this time was wondering +very much where her Toto was. “What +can have become of the boy?” she said to herself +for the twentieth time. “He is always punctual +at supper-time; and now it is more than an +hour past. It must be quite dark, too, in the +wood. Where <i>can</i> he be?” And she went to the +door and listened, as she had been listening ever +since six o’clock. “Toto!” she said aloud. “Toto, +do you hear me?” But no sound came in +reply, save the distant hoot of an owl; and reluctantly +the good woman closed the door again, and +went back to her knitting. She felt very anxious, +very much troubled; but what could she do? +Blind and alone, she was quite helpless. Suppose +the boy should have wandered off into some distant +part of the forest, and lost his way? Suppose +he should have encountered some fierce wild +beast, unlike the friendly creatures with whom he +played every day? Suppose—But here the +current of her anxious thoughts was interrupted +by a sound; a curious sound,—a soft <i>thud</i> against +the door, followed by a scratching noise, and a +sound of heavy breathing.</p> +<p>The poor grandmother turned cold with fear; +she did not dare to move for some minutes; but +the thud was repeated several times, as if somebody +were trying to knock. She tottered towards +the door, and said in a tremulous voice, “Who is +there?”</p> +<p>“Only Bruin, ma’am,” was the reply, in a meek +growl.</p> +<p>Oh, how relieved the grandmother was! With +hands that still trembled she unfastened the door. +“Oh, Mr. Bruin!” she cried. “Dear Mr. Bruin, +I am so glad you have come! Can you tell me +anything about Toto? He has not come home, +and I am very anxious indeed. I fear he may +have met some wild creature, and—”</p> +<p>“Well, ma’am,” said the bear slowly, “as for +being wild—well, yes; perhaps you <i>would</i> call her +wild. And I don’t say she was amiable, and she +was certainly very free in the matter of claws; +very free, indeed, she was!”</p> +<p>“What <i>do</i> you mean, Mr. Bruin?” cried the +poor old lady. “Claws? Oh! then I know he <i>has</i> +been attacked, and you know all about it, and +have come to break it to me. My boy! my boy! +Tell me quickly where he is, and what has happened +to him!”</p> +<p>“Don’t be alarmed, ma’am,” said Bruin. “Pray +don’t be alarmed! there are no bones broken, I +assure you; and as for <i>her</i>, you need have no +further anxiety. I—I saw to the matter myself, +and I have no reason to think—no, I really have +<i>no</i> reason to think that you will have any further +trouble with her.”</p> +<p>“<i>Her!</i>” said the bewildered old grandmother. +“I don’t—I <i>can’t</i> understand you, Mr. Bruin. I +want to know what has become of Toto, my +boy.”</p> +<p>“Certainly, certainly,” said the bear hastily. +“Very natural, I’m sure; don’t mention it, I beg +of you. As for a little blood, you know,” he added +apologetically, “that couldn’t be helped, you see. +I didn’t come up quite soon enough; but we know +the blood is <i>there</i>, after all; and a little of it outside +instead of inside,—why, what difference does it +make? He has plenty left, you know.”</p> +<p>“Bruin, Bruin!” cried a faint voice, “do stop! +You will frighten her to death with your explanations. +Here I am, Granny dear, safe and +sound, barring a few scratches.” And Toto, who +had been gradually recovering his senses during +the last few minutes, raised himself from the doorstep +on which the bear had laid him, and flung his +arms round his grandmother’s neck.</p> +<p>The poor old woman gave a cry of joy, and then +burst into tears, being quite overcome by the sudden +change from grief and anxiety to security and +delight.</p> +<p>At the sight of her tears, the worthy Bruin +uttered a remorseful growl, and boxed his own +ears several times very severely, assuring himself +that he was quite the most stupid beast that +ever lived, and that he was always making a +mess of it. “I didn’t mean to frighten you, +ma’am,” he said, “I didn’t indeed; but I am such +a stupid! And now,” he added, “I think I must +be going. Good-night, ma’am.”</p> +<p>“What!” cried Toto, turning from his grandmother, +and throwing his arms in turn round the +bear’s huge shaggy neck. “Going, before we +have thanked you? Going off without a word, +after saving my life? Oh, you unnatural old +Bruin! you shall not stir! Do you know, Granny, +that he has saved my life from the owls, and that +if it had not been for him you would have no Toto +at all, but only a hundred little bits of him?” And +he told the whole story in glowing words, while +Bruin hung his head and shuffled from one foot to +another, much abashed at hearing his own praises.</p> +<p>And when the grandmother had heard all about +it, what did she do? Why, she too put her arms +round the huge shaggy neck; and if ever a bear +came near being hugged to death, it was that +bear.</p> +<p>“And now,” said the grandmother, when she +had recovered her composure, and had thanked +and blessed Bruin till he did not know whether he +had one head or seven, “it is very late, and I am +sure you must be tired. Why will you not stay +and spend the night with us? There is a beautiful +fire in the kitchen, and a nice soft rug in front +of it, on which you could sleep very comfortably. +Do stay!”</p> +<p>The bear rubbed his nose and looked helplessly +at Toto. “I don’t think—” he began.</p> +<p>“Of course he will stay,” said Toto decidedly. +“There isn’t any ‘thinking’ about it. He will +stay. Walk in, old fellow, and sit down in front +of the fire, and Granny will give us both some +supper. Oh! my Granny dear, if you <i>knew</i> how +hungry I am!”</p> +<p>It would have been a pleasant sight, had there +been any one there to enjoy it, to see the trio +gathered around the bright wood-fire an hour +later. The grandmother sat in her high-backed +arm-chair, in snowy cap and kerchief, knitting and +smiling, smiling and knitting, as happy and contented +as a grandmother could possibly be. On +the other side of the hearth sat the bear, blinking +comfortably at the fire, while Toto leaned against +his shaggy side, and chattered like a magpie.</p> +<p>“How jolly this is!” he said. “It reminds me +of Snow-White and Rose-Red, when the bear came +and slept in front of the fire. By the way, Bruin, +you are not an enchanted prince, are you? The +bear in that story was an enchanted prince. +What fun if you should be!”</p> +<p>“Not to my knowledge,” replied the bear, +shaking his head. “Not—to—my—knowledge. +Never heard of such a thing in our branch of the +family. I had a cousin once who travelled with a +showman, but that is the only thing of the kind +that I know of.”</p> +<p>“Tell us about your cousin!” said Toto, eager, +as usual, for a story. “How came he to take to +the show business?”</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_26' id='linki_26'></a> +</div> +<img src='images/i027.png' alt='' title='' width='422' height='422' /> +<br /> +<p class='caption'> +“The man taught him to beat the drum.”<br /> +</p> +</div> +<p>“It took him,” said Bruin. “He was taken +when he was a little fellow, only a few months +old. The man who caught him made a pet of him +at first; taught him to dance, and shake paws, +and beat the drum. He was a drummer in the +army,—the man, I mean. He was very kind, +and my cousin grew extremely fond of him.”</p> +<p>“What was your cousin’s name?” asked Toto.</p> +<p>“They called him ‘Grimshaw;’” said Bruin. +“His master’s name was Shaw, and he was grim, +you know, when he didn’t like people, and so +they called him ‘Grimshaw.’ He mostly <i>didn’t</i> +like people,” added the bear reflectively. “He +certainly didn’t like the showman.”</p> +<p>“Then Shaw was not the showman?” said Toto.</p> +<p>“Oh, dear, no!” said Bruin. “A war broke +out, and Shaw’s regiment was ordered off, and he +couldn’t take Grimshaw with him. He was very +big then, and the other soldiers didn’t like him. +He had a way of going into the different tents +and taking anything he happened to fancy for +supper; and if any one said anything to him, he +boxed that one’s ears. They always tumbled down +when he boxed their ears, and they made a great +fuss about it, and so finally his master was obliged +to sell him to the showman. <i>His</i> name was Jinks.</p> +<p>“He taught my cousin several new tricks, and +took him all over the country, exhibiting him in +the different towns and villages. You see,” said +Bruin apologetically, “he—I mean Grimshaw—didn’t +know any better. He was so young +when he was taken that he didn’t remember +much about his family, and didn’t know what an +undignified sort of thing it was to be going about +in that way. One day, however, Jinks undertook +to make him waltz with a piece of meat on his +nose, without attempting to eat it. Grimshaw +would not do that, because he didn’t think it was +reasonable; and I don’t think it was. So then +Jinks attempted to beat him, and Grimshaw boxed +his ears, and he tumbled down and didn’t get up +again. Grimshaw waited a few minutes, and finding +that he did not seem inclined to move, he ran +away and took to the woods.”</p> +<p>“But why did not the showman get up?” inquired +the grandmother innocently.</p> +<p>“I think it highly probable that he was dead, +madam,” replied Bruin. “But I cannot say positively, +as I was not there.</p> +<p>“After this Grimshaw lived alone for some time, +wandering about from one forest to another. One +day, as he was roaming up and down, he came +suddenly upon a party of soldiers, three or four +in number, sitting round a fire, and cooking their +dinner. The moment they saw the bear, they +dropped everything, and ran for their lives, leaving +the good chops to burn, which was a sin. It +was a good thing for Grimshaw, however, as he +was very hungry; so he sat down by the fire and +made a hearty meal. After he had dined comfortably, +he began to look about him, and spied a +big drum, which the soldiers had left behind in +their flight. Seizing the drumsticks, he began to +beat a lively tattoo. In a few moments he heard +a rustling among the bushes, and saw a man’s +head thrust cautiously out. What was his delight +to recognize his old master, Sergeant Shaw! He +threw down the drumsticks and uttered a peculiar +howl. It was answered by a shrill whistle, and in +another moment Shaw and Grimshaw were in +each other’s arms. When the other soldiers ventured +to return, they found the two gravely dancing +a hornpipe, with great mutual satisfaction.”</p> +<p>“Oh! how delightful!” exclaimed Toto. “And +did they stay together after that?”</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_27' id='linki_27'></a> +</div> +<img src='images/i028.png' alt='' title='' width='418' height='376' /> +<br /> +<p class='caption'> +“They found the two dancing a hornpipe.”<br /> +</p> +</div> +<p>“No, that was impossible,” replied the bear. +“But they spent a couple of days together, and +parted with the utmost good-will.</p> +<p>“After roaming about for some time longer, my +cousin met some other bears, who invited him to +join them. To their great amazement, one of +them turned out to be Grimshaw’s elder brother; +he recognized Grimshaw by one of his ears, out of +which he had himself bitten a piece in their infancy. +This was a very joyful meeting, and led +to the restoration of Grimshaw to his parents, who +were still alive. He spent the remainder of his +life in peace and happiness; and that is all there is +to tell about him.</p> +<p>“And now,” continued Bruin, “you ought to +have been asleep long ago, Toto, and I have been +keeping you awake with my long story. Off with +you, now! And good-night to you too, dear +madam. I will lie here in front of the fire; and +if any creature, human or otherwise, comes to +disturb the house during the night, I will attend +to that creature!”</p> +<div class='chsp'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XIII' id='CHAPTER_XIII'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> +</div> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>The</span> grandmother thought, the next morning, +that she had not passed such a pleasant +evening, or such a comfortable and restful night, +for a long time. “Dear me!” she said, after Bruin +had departed, with many thanks and at least ten +profound bows,—“dear me! what a difference it +makes, having a bear in the house! one feels so +secure; and one does not think of waking up to +listen, every time a branch snaps outside, or a +door creaks in the house. I wonder—” But the +grandmother did not tell Toto what she wondered.</p> +<p>The next fine afternoon, the animals all came to +the cottage in good season, for they were to have +a story from their kind hostess herself this time, +and it was to be about a giant.</p> +<p>“And if you will believe it,” said the raccoon, +“our poor Chucky here does not—ha! ha!—actually +does not know what a giant is! Will +you kindly explain to him, dear madam?”</p> +<p>“Ugh!” grunted the woodchuck. “I don’t believe +you know yourself, Coon, for all your airs! +You said this morning it was a kind of vegetable, +and now—”</p> +<p>“Stop quarrelling, and listen to the story, will +you?” said Bruin. “Wow!”</p> +<p>When the bear said “Wow” in that manner, all +the others knew it meant business; and as he lay +down at the grandmother’s feet, they all drew +nearer, and were silent in expectation.</p> +<p>“A giant,” said the grandmother, “is like a +man, only very much bigger; very, <i>very</i> much +bigger. The giant about whom I am going to +tell you was one of the largest of his kind, being +no less than fourteen miles high.”</p> +<p>There was a general murmur of amazement.</p> +<p>“Fourteen miles high!” the old lady repeated. +“His name was as short as he himself was long, +for it was neither more nor less than <i>Crump</i>; and +he fell in love with the Lady Moon. He fell so +deeply in love with her that it was quite impossible +for him to get out again; so he informed her +of the fact, and begged her to marry him.</p> +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<p>‘Come and share my mammoth lot,</p> +<p>And shine in my gigantic cot!’</p> +</div></div> +<p>That was what he said, or words to that effect.</p> +<p>“But the Lady Moon replied, ‘Dear Crump, I +would gladly do as you suggest, but the thing is +not possible. I have no body, but only a head; +and I could not think of going into church to +be married without any body, to say nothing of +legs and feet.’</p> +<p>“‘Is that your only objection?’ asked Giant +Crump.</p> +<p>“‘The only one, upon my lunar honor!’ replied +the Lady Moon.</p> +<p>“‘Then I think I can manage it,’ said the giant. +Accordingly he went and gathered together all +the silver there was in the world at that time, and +out of it he made a beautiful silver body, with +arms and legs all complete. And when it was +finished he made a silver dress, and silver slippers, +and a silver moonshade, and dressed the body up +in the most fashionable and delightful manner. +Then, when all was ready, he called to the Lady +Moon, and told her that her body was ready, and +that she had only to come down and put it on.</p> +<p>“‘But I cannot come down,’ said the Lady +Moon. ‘Nothing would induce me to come down +without a body. You must bring it up here.’</p> +<p>“Now that was not an easy thing to do; for +though Crump was very big, he was not nearly +big enough. What are fourteen miles, compared +with two hundred and forty thousand? However, +he was a very persevering giant, and had no idea +of giving up; and he was very clever too. So he +sat down on the ground and reflected for the +space of seven years, and at the end of that time +a thought struck him.</p> +<p>“He rose at once, and went to work and made a +pair of stilts, high enough to reach to the moon. +That was quite a piece of work, as you may +imagine; but when they were finished, a new +difficulty arose: how was he to get up on them? +This required more reflection, and Crump sat and +thought about it for six weeks more. Then +another thought struck him, which was really an +extremely clever one. He made a long ladder, +as long as the stilts. He set this up against one +of the stilts, and climbed up and put one foot on +it; and then he set the ladder against the other +stilt, and climbed up and put the other foot on +that; this was very difficult, but it was also very +clever. I forgot to say that he took the silver +body up with him. Then he called out to the +Lady Moon, ‘Here I am, dear Lady Moon, and +here is your silver body. Stop now, stop your +rolling, and let me fasten it on for you, and then +come down and be my beautiful silver bride.’ +And he held up the silver body, which shone and +sparkled in the most enchanting manner.</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_28' id='linki_28'></a> +</div> +<img src='images/i029.png' alt='' title='' width='420' height='656' /> +<br /> +<p class='caption'> +“Here I am, dear Lady Moon.”<br /> +</p> +</div> +<p>“But the Lady Moon replied, ‘Stop rolling, +indeed! that is quite out of the question, I assure +you. I have never done such a thing, and I am +not going to begin at my time of life. No, no, +Giant Crump; if you want me, you must catch +me!’ and she went rolling on in the most heartless +and unfeeling way.</p> +<p>“There was nothing for the poor giant to do but +follow; so, tucking the silver body under his arm, +he set off on his tall stilts, and walked after the +Lady Moon. Round and round the world went +she, and round and round went the giant after +her; and as I have never heard of his catching +up with her, he is very likely walking round and +round still.”</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p>“Is that all?” inquired the insatiable Toto. +“What a very short story, Granny!”</p> +<p>“It is rather short,” said the grandmother; +“but I don’t see how it could be made any longer. +I will, however, if you wish, tell you another +short story, and that will be equal to one long +one. Listen, therefore, and you shall hear the +story of Hokey Pokey.”</p> +<p>So they listened, and heard it.</p> +<p>“Hokey Pokey was the youngest of a large +family of children. His elder brothers, as they +grew up, all became either butchers or bakers +or makers of candlesticks, for such was the custom +of the family. But Hokey Pokey would be +none of these things; so when he was grown to +be a tall youth he went to his father and said, +‘Give me my fortune.’</p> +<p>“‘Will you be a butcher?’ asked his father.</p> +<p>“‘No,’ said Hokey Pokey.</p> +<p>“‘Will you be a baker?’</p> +<p>“‘No, again.’</p> +<p>“‘Will you make candlesticks?’</p> +<p>“‘Nor that either.’</p> +<p>“‘Then,’ said his father, ‘this is the only fortune +I can give you;’ and with that he took up +his cudgel and gave the youth a stout beating. +‘Now you cannot complain that I gave you nothing,’ +said he.</p> +<p>“‘That is true,’ said Hokey Pokey. ‘But give +me also the wooden mallet which lies on the shelf, +and I will make my way through the world.’</p> +<p>“His father gave him the mallet, glad to be +so easily rid of him, and Hokey Pokey went out +into the world to seek his fortune. He walked +all day, and at nightfall he came to a small village. +Feeling hungry, he went into a baker’s +shop, intending to buy a loaf of bread for his +supper. There was a great noise and confusion +in the back part of the shop; and on going to +see what was the matter, he found the baker on +his knees beside a large box or chest, which he +was trying with might and main to keep shut. +But there was something inside the box which +was trying just as hard to get out, and it screamed +and kicked, and pushed the lid up as often as the +baker shut it down.</p> +<p>“‘What have you there in the box?’ asked +Hokey Pokey.</p> +<p>“‘I have my wife,’ replied the baker. ‘She +is so frightfully ill-tempered that whenever I am +going to bake bread I am obliged to shut her up +in this box, lest she push me into the oven and +bake me with the bread, as she has often threatened +to do. But to-day she has broken the lock of +the box, and I know not how to keep her down.’</p> +<p>“‘That is easily managed,’ said Hokey Pokey. +‘Do you but tell her, when she asks who I am, +that I am a giant with three heads, and all will +be well.’ So saying, he took his wooden mallet +and dealt three tremendous blows on the box, +saying in a loud voice,—</p> +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<p>‘Hickory Hox!</p> +<p>I sit by the box,</p> +<p>Waiting to give you a few of my knocks.</p> +</div></div> +<p>“‘Husband, husband! whom have you there?’ +cried the wife in terror.</p> +<p>“‘Alas!’ said the baker; ‘it is a frightful giant +with three heads. He is sitting by the box, and +if you open it so much as the width of your little +finger, he will pull you out and beat you to +powder.’</p> +<p>“When the wife heard that she crouched down +in the box, and said never a word, for she was +afraid of her life.</p> +<p>“The baker then took Hokey Pokey into the +other part of the shop, thanked him warmly, and +gave him a good supper and a bed. The next +morning he gave him for a present the finest loaf +of bread in his shop, which was shaped like a large +round ball; and Hokey Pokey, after knocking +once more on the lid of the box, continued his +travels.</p> +<p>“He had not gone far before he came to another +village, and wishing to inquire his way he entered +the first shop he came to, which proved to be that +of a confectioner. The shop was full of the most +beautiful sweetmeats imaginable, and everything +was bright and gay; but the confectioner himself +sat upon a bench, weeping bitterly.</p> +<p>“‘What ails you, friend?’ asked Hokey-Pokey; +‘and why do you weep, when you are surrounded +by the most delightful things in the world?’</p> +<p>“‘Alas!’ replied the confectioner. ‘That is just +the cause of my trouble. The sweetmeats that I +make are so good that their fame has spread far +and wide, and the Rat King, hearing of them, has +taken up his abode in my cellar. Every night he +comes up and eats all the sweetmeats I have made +the day before. There is no comfort in my life, +and I am thinking of becoming a rope-maker and +hanging myself with the first rope I make.’</p> +<p>“‘Why don’t you set a trap for him?’ asked +Hokey Pokey.</p> +<p>“‘I have set fifty-nine traps,’ replied the confectioner, +‘but he is so strong that he breaks +them all.’</p> +<p>“‘Poison him,’ suggested Hokey Pokey.</p> +<p>“‘He dislikes poison,’ said the confectioner, +‘and will not take it in any form.’</p> +<p>“‘In that case,’ said Hokey Pokey, ‘leave him +to me. Go away, and hide yourself for a few +minutes, and all will be well.’</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_29' id='linki_29'></a> +</div> +<img src='images/i030.png' alt='' title='' width='426' height='346' /> +<br /> +<p class='caption'> +“The confectioner thanked him warmly.”<br /> +</p> +</div> +<p>“The confectioner retired behind a large screen, +having first showed Hokey Pokey the hole of the +Rat King, which was certainly a very large one. +Hokey Pokey sat down by the hole, with his mallet +in his hand, and said in a squeaking voice,—</p> +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<p>‘Ratly King! Kingly Rat!</p> +<p>Here your mate comes pit-a-pat.</p> +<p>Come and see; the way is free;</p> +<p>Hear my signal: one! two! three!’</p> +</div></div> +<p>And he scratched three times on the floor. Almost +immediately the head of a rat popped up through +the hole. He was a huge rat, quite as large as a +cat; but his size was no help to him, for as soon +as he appeared, Hokey Pokey dealt him such a +blow with his mallet that he fell down dead without +even a squeak. Then Hokey Pokey called +the confectioner, who came out from behind the +screen and thanked him warmly; he also bade +him choose anything he liked in the shop, in payment +for his services.</p> +<p>“‘Can you match this?’ asked Hokey Pokey, +showing his round ball of bread.</p> +<p>“‘That can I!’ said the confectioner; and he +brought out a most beautiful ball, twice as large +as the loaf, composed of the finest sweetmeats in +the world, red and yellow and white. Hokey +Pokey took it with many thanks, and then went +on his way.</p> +<p>“The next day he came to a third village, in +the streets of which the people were all running +to and fro in the wildest confusion.</p> +<p>“‘What is the matter?’ asked Hokey Pokey, +as one man ran directly into his arms.</p> +<p>“‘Alas!’ replied the man. ‘A wild bull has +got into the principal china-shop, and is breaking +all the beautiful dishes.’</p> +<p>“‘Why do you not drive him out?’ asked +Hokey Pokey.</p> +<p>“‘We are afraid to do that,’ said the man; ‘but +we are running up and down to express our emotion +and sympathy, and that is something.’</p> +<p>“‘Show me the china-shop,’ said Hokey Pokey.</p> +<p>“So the man showed him the china-shop; and +there, sure enough, was a furious bull, making +most terrible havoc. He was dancing up and +down on a Dresden dinner set, and butting at the +Chinese mandarins, and switching down finger-bowls +and teapots with his tail, bellowing meanwhile +in the most outrageous manner. The floor +was covered with broken crockery, and the whole +scene was melancholy to behold.</p> +<p>“Now when Hokey Pokey saw this, he said +to the owner of the china-shop, who was tearing +his hair in a frenzy of despair, ‘Stop tearing +your hair, which is indeed a senseless occupation, +and I will manage this matter for you. Bring +me a red cotton umbrella, and all will yet be +well.’</p> +<p>“So the china-shop man brought him a red cotton +umbrella, and Hokey Pokey began to open +and shut it violently in front of the door. When +the bull saw that, he stopped dancing on the Dresden +dinner set and came charging out of the shop, +straight towards the red umbrella. When he +came near enough, Hokey Pokey dropped the +umbrella, and raising his wooden mallet hit the +bull such a blow on the muzzle that he fell down +dead, and never bellowed again.</p> +<p>“The people all flung up their hats, and cheered, +and ran up and down all the more, to express their +gratification. As for the china-shop man, he threw +his arms round Hokey Pokey’s neck, called him +his cherished preserver, and bade him choose anything +that was left in his shop in payment for his +services.</p> +<p>“‘Can you match these?’ asked Hokey Pokey, +holding up the loaf of bread and the ball of sweetmeats.</p> +<p>“‘That can I,’ said the shop-man; and he +brought out a huge ball of solid ivory, inlaid with +gold and silver, and truly lovely to behold. It +was very heavy, being twice as large as the ball +of sweetmeats; but Hokey Pokey took it, and, +after thanking the shop-man and receiving his +thanks in return, he proceeded on his way.</p> +<p>“After walking for several days, he came to a +fair, large castle, in front of which sat a man on +horseback. When the man saw Hokey Pokey, +he called out,—</p> +<p>“‘Who are you, and what do you bring to the +mighty Dragon, lord of this castle?’</p> +<p>“‘Hokey Pokey is my name,’ replied the youth, +‘and strange things do I bring. But what does +the mighty Dragon want, for example?’</p> +<p>“‘He wants something new to eat,’ said the +man on horseback. ‘He has eaten of everything +that is known in the world, and pines for something +new. He who brings him a new dish, never +before tasted by him, shall have a thousand +crowns and a new jacket; but he who fails, after +three trials, shall have his jacket taken away from +him, and his head cut off besides.’</p> +<p>“‘I bring strange food,’ said Hokey Pokey. +‘Let me pass in, that I may serve the mighty +Dragon.’</p> +<p>“Then the man on horseback lowered his lance, +and let him pass in, and in short space he came +before the mighty Dragon. The Dragon sat on +a silver throne, with a golden knife in one hand, +and a golden fork in the other. Around him were +many people, who offered him dishes of every description; +but he would none of them, for he had +tasted them all before; and he howled with hunger +on his silver throne. Then came forward +Hokey Pokey, and said boldly,—</p> +<p>“‘Here come I, Hokey Pokey, bringing strange +food for the mighty Dragon.’</p> +<p>“The Dragon howled again, and waving his +knife and fork, bade Hokey Pokey give the food +to the attendants, that they might serve him.</p> +<p>“‘Not so,’ said Hokey Pokey. ‘I must serve +you myself, most mighty Dragon, else you shall +not taste of my food. Therefore put down your +knife and fork, and open your mouth, and you +shall see what you shall see.’</p> +<p>“So the Dragon, after summoning the man-with-the-thousand-crowns +and the man-with-the-new-jacket +to one side of his throne, and the man-to-take-away-the-old-jacket +and the executioner +to the other, laid down his knife and fork and +opened his mouth. Hokey Pokey stepped lightly +forward, and dropped the round loaf down the +great red throat. The Dragon shut his jaws together +with a snap, and swallowed the loaf in two +gulps.</p> +<p>“‘That is good,’ he said; ‘but it is not new. I +have eaten much bread, though never before in a +round loaf. Have you anything more? Or shall +the man take away your jacket?’</p> +<p>“‘I have this, an it please you,’ said Hokey +Pokey; and he dropped the ball of sweetmeats +into the Dragon’s mouth.</p> +<p>“When the Dragon tasted this, he rolled his +eyes round and round, and was speechless with +delight for some time. At length he said, ‘Worthy +youth, this is very good; it is extremely good; it +is better than anything I ever tasted. Nevertheless, +it is not new; for I have tasted the same +kind of thing before, only not nearly so good. +And now, unless you are positively sure that you +have something new for your third trial, you really +might as well take off your jacket; and the executioner +shall take off your head at the same +time, as it is getting rather late. Executioner, do +your—’</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_30' id='linki_30'></a> +</div> +<img src='images/i031.png' alt='' title='' width='412' height='281' /> +<br /> +<p class='caption'> +“People,” he said, “I am Hokey Pokey.”<br /> +</p> +</div> +<p>“‘Craving your pardon, most mighty Dragon,’ +said Hokey Pokey, ‘I will first make my third +trial;’ and with that he dropped the ivory ball +into the Dragon’s mouth.</p> +<p>“‘Gug-wugg-gllll-grrr!’ said the Dragon, for +the ball had stuck fast, being too big for him to +swallow.</p> +<p>“Then Hokey Pokey lifted his mallet and struck +one tremendous blow upon the ball, driving it +far down the throat of the monster, and killing +him most fatally dead. He rolled off the throne +like a scaly log, and his crown fell off and rolled +to Hokey Pokey’s feet. The youth picked it up +and put it on his own head, and then called the +people about him and addressed them.</p> +<p>“‘People,’ he said, ‘I am Hokey Pokey, and +I have come from a far land to rule over you. +Your Dragon have I slain, and now I am your +king; and if you will always do exactly what I +tell you to do, you will have no further trouble.’</p> +<p>“So the people threw up their caps and cried, +‘Long live Hokey Pokey!’ and they always +did exactly as he told them, and had no further +trouble.</p> +<p>“And Hokey Pokey sent for his three brothers, +and made them Chief Butcher, Chief Baker, and +Chief Candlestick-maker of his kingdom. But to +his father he sent a large cudgel made of pure +gold, with these words engraved on it: ‘Now +you cannot complain that I have given you +nothing!’”</p> +<div class='chsp'> +<a name='CHAPTER_XIV' id='CHAPTER_XIV'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> +</div> +<p class='dropcapq'><small>“</small><span class='drop'>Y</span><span class='dcap'>a</span>-Ha!” said the raccoon, yawning and +stretching himself. “Ya-a-<i>hoo</i>! Hm-a-yeaow! +oh, dear me! what a pity!”</p> +<p>“What, for instance, is the matter?” demanded +the squirrel, dropping a hickory-nut down on the +raccoon’s nose. “I knew a raccoon once who +yawned till his head broke in two, and the top +rolled off.”</p> +<p>“Hm!” said the raccoon. “Not much loss if +it was like some people’s heads.</p> +<p>“I was sighing,” he continued, “you very stupid +Cracker! to think that summer is gone, and +that winter will be here before we can say ‘Beechnuts.’”</p> +<p>“Ah!” said the squirrel, looking grave. “That, +indeed! To be sure; yes.”</p> +<p>“The leaves are falling fast,” continued the +raccoon meditatively; “the birds are all gone, +except Pigeon Pretty and Miss Mary, and they are +going in a day or two. Very soon, my Cracker, +we shall have to roll ourselves up and go to sleep +for the winter. No more gingerbread and jam, my +boy. No more pleasant afternoons at the cottage; +no more stories. Nothing but a hollow tree +and four months’ sleep. Ah, dear me!” and Coon +sighed again, and shook his head despondingly.</p> +<p>“By the way,” said Cracker, “Toto tells me +that he and his people don’t sleep in winter any +more than in summer. Queer, isn’t it? I suppose +it has something to do with their having only +two legs.”</p> +<p>“Something to do with their having two heads!” +growled the raccoon. “They don’t sleep with +their legs, do they, stupid?”</p> +<p>“They certainly don’t sleep <i>without</i> them!” +said the squirrel rather sharply.</p> +<p>“Look here!” replied the raccoon, rising and +shaking himself, “should you like me to bite +about two inches off your tail? It won’t take me +a minute, and I would just as lief do it as not.”</p> +<p>Affairs were becoming rather serious, when +suddenly the wood-pigeon appeared, and fluttered +down with a gentle “Coo!” between the +two friends, who certainly seemed anything but +friendly.</p> +<p>“What are you two quarrelling about?” she +asked. “How extremely silly you both are! But +now make friends, and put on your very best +manners, for we are going to have a visitor here +in a few minutes. I am going to call Chucky +and Miss Mary, and do you make everything +tidy about the pool before she comes.” And off +flew Pigeon Pretty in a great hurry.</p> +<p>“<i>She?</i>” said Cracker inquiringly, looking at +Coon.</p> +<p>“She <i>said</i> ‘she’!” replied Coon, bestirring himself, +and picking up the dead branches that had +fallen on the smooth green moss-carpet.</p> +<p>“Perhaps it is that aunt of Chucky’s who has +been making him a visit,” suggested the squirrel.</p> +<p>“Oh, well!” said the raccoon, stopping short +in his work. “If Pigeon Pretty thinks I am +going to put this place in order for a woodchuck’s +aunt, she is very much mistaken, that’s +all. I never heard of such—” But here he +stopped, for a loud rustling in the underbrush +announced that the visitor, whoever she might +be, was close at hand.</p> +<p>The bushes separated, and to the utter astonishment +of both Coon and Cracker, who should +appear but the grandmother herself, escorted by +Toto and Bruin, and attended also by the wood-pigeon +and the parrot, who fluttered about her +head with cries of pleasure.</p> +<p>Toto led the old lady to the mossy bank beside +the pool, where she sat down, rather out of breath, +and a little bewildered, but evidently much pleased +at having accomplished such a feat.</p> +<p>The raccoon hastened to express his delight in +the finest possible language, while the little squirrel +turned a dozen somersaults in succession, by +way of showing how pleased he was. As for the +worthy Bruin, he fairly beamed with pleasure, and +even went so far as to execute a sort of saraband, +which, if the grandmother could have seen it, +would certainly have alarmed her a good deal.</p> +<p>“My dear friends,” said the old lady, “it gives +me great pleasure to be here, I assure you. Toto +has for some time had his heart quite set on my +seeing you once—though, alas! my <i>seeing</i> is only +<i>hearing</i>—in your own pleasant home, before you +separate for the winter. So, thanks to our kind +friend, Mr. Bruin, I am actually here. How warm +and soft the air is!” she continued. “What a +delightful cushion you have found for me! and +is that a brook, that is tinkling so pleasantly?”</p> +<p>“That is the spring, Granny!” said Toto eagerly. +“It bubbles up, as clear as crystal, out of +a hole in the rock, and then it falls over into the +pool. And the pool is round, as round as a cup; +and there are ferns and purple flags growing all +around it, and the trees are all reflected in it, you +know; and there are turtles in it, and there used +to be a muskrat, only Coon ate him, and—and—oh! +it’s so jolly!” and here Toto paused, fairly +out of breath.</p> +<p>Indeed, it was very lovely by the pool, in the +soft glow of the Indian summer day. The spring +murmured and tinkled and sang to them; the +trees dropped yellow leaves on them, like fairy +gold; and then the sun laughed, and sent down +flights of his golden arrows, to show them what a +very poor thing earthly gold was, after all. So +they all sat and talked around the pool, of the +summer that was past and the winter that was +coming. Then the grandmother made a little +speech which she had been thinking over for some +time. It was a very short speech; but it was very +much to the point.</p> +<p>“Dear friends,” she said, “you are all sad at +the prospect of the long winter; but I have a +plan which will make the winter a joyous season, +instead of a melancholy one. I have plenty of +room in my cottage, warmth, and food, and everything +comfortable; and I want you all to come +and spend the winter with Toto and me. There +is a large wood-pile where you can climb or sit +when you are tired of the house. You shall sleep +when you please, and wake when you please; +and we will be a happy and united family. Come, +my friends, what do you say?”</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_31' id='linki_31'></a> +</div> +<img src='images/i032.png' alt='' title='' width='423' height='289' /> +<br /> +<p class='caption'> +“Then the grandmother made a little speech.”<br /> +</p> +</div> +<p>What did they say? Indeed, they did not +know what to say. There was silence around the +pool for a few minutes. Then the bear looked at +the raccoon, the raccoon looked at the squirrel, +and the squirrel looked at the wood-pigeon; and +finally the gentle bird answered, as she usually +did, for all.</p> +<p>“Dear, dear madam,” she said, “we can imagine +nothing so delightful as to live with you and our +dear Toto. We all accept your invitation thankfully +and joyfully; and we will all do our best to +be a help, rather than a burden, to you.”</p> +<p>All the animals nodded approval. Then Toto, +who had been waiting breathless for the answer, +seized the bear by the paws, and the raccoon +seized the squirrel, and they all danced round and +round till there was no breath left in their bodies; +and the woodchuck—who had been asleep behind +a tree, and had waked up just in time to hear the +grandmother’s speech—danced all alone on his +hind-legs, to the admiration of all beholders. And +then Cracker went and brought some nuts, and +Coon brought apples, and Bruin brought great +shining combs of honey, and they sat and feasted +around the pool, and were right merry.</p> +<p>And then they all went back to the cottage,—the +grandmother, and Toto, and Bruin, and Coon, +and Cracker, and Chucky, and Pigeon Pretty, and +Miss Mary,—and there they all lived and were +happy; and if you ever lead half such a merry +life as they did, you may consider yourself +extremely fortunate.</p> +<p class='center larger'><b>THE END.</b></p> +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><i>Messrs. Roberts Brothers’ Publications.</i></h2> +<p class='center'>MRS. DODGE’S POPULAR BOOK.</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_32' id='linki_32'></a> +</div> +<img src='images/i033.png' alt='' title='' width='288' height='349' /> +<br /> +<p class='caption'> +<span class='smcap'>A Portrait of Dorothy at Sixteen.</span><br /> +</p> +</div> +<h3>DONALD AND DOROTHY.</h3> +<p class='center larger'><span class='smcap'>By</span> MARY MAPES DODGE.</p> +<p class='center'>Beautifully Illustrated and Bound. Price $2.00.</p> +<p class='center'><i>An honest tribute from an admiring friend.</i></p> +<blockquote> +<p>“<span class='smcap'>Dear Mrs. Dodge</span>,—I have just finished your book called ‘Donald and +Dorothy’ for the third or fourth time, and would like very much to know +whether Dorothy is a real person, and if so, what is her name? I am nearly +as old as Dorothy was at the close of the book, so am very much interested +in her. I would also like to know how old she is, and where she lives. If you +would be kind enough to reply, you would greatly oblige</p> +<p class='sig1'>“Your admiring friend,” ——.</p> +</blockquote> +<p class='center'>ROBERTS BROTHERS, <span class='smcap'>Publishers, Boston</span></p> +<hr class='pb' /> +<div class='figleft' style='width:196px'> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_33' id='linki_33'></a> +</div> +<img src='images/i034.png' alt='' title='' width='196' height='711' /> +<br /> +</div> +<blockquote> +<p class='padtop'>“Do you remember how you used to play ‘Pilgrim’s Progress’ when you were little things? Nothing delighted you more than to have me +tie my piece-bags on your backs for burdens, give you hats and sticks, and rolls of paper, and let you travel through the house from the cellar to +the house-top.”—<i>Vide</i> “<span class='smcap'>Little Women.</span>”</p> +</blockquote> +<p class='center larger'>A GIFT BOOK FOR THE FAMILY.</p> +<h3><span class='muchlarger'>LITTLE WOMEN.</span></h3> +<p class='center larger'><i>ILLUSTRATED.</i></p> +<p>This, the most famous of +all the famous books by Miss +<span class='smcap'>Alcott</span>, is now presented in +an illustrated edition, with</p> +<p class='center'><b>Nearly Two Hundred Characteristic +Designs</b>,</p> +<p>drawn and engraved expressly +for this work. It is safe to +say that there are not many +homes which have not been +made happier through the +healthy influence of this celebrated +book, which can now +be had in a fit dress for the +centre table of the domestic +fireside.</p> +<p><i>One handsome small quarto +volume, bound in cloth, with emblematic +cover designs. Price, +$2.50.</i></p> +<p class='center padtop'>ROBERTS BROTHERS, +<i>Publishers, Boston</i>.</p> + +<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE JOYOUS STORY OF TOTO ***</div> +<div style='text-align:left'> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will +be renamed. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United +States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part +of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project +Gutenberg™ electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG™ +concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, +and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following +the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use +of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for +copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very +easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation +of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project +Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away--you may +do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected +by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark +license, especially commercial redistribution. +</div> + +<div style='margin:0.83em 0; font-size:1.1em; text-align:center'>START: FULL LICENSE<br /> +<span style='font-size:smaller'>THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE<br /> +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK</span> +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +To protect the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase “Project +Gutenberg”), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full +Project Gutenberg™ License available with this file or online at +www.gutenberg.org/license. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg™ +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or +destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in your +possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a +Project Gutenberg™ electronic work and you do not agree to be bound +by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person +or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.B. “Project Gutenberg” is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg™ electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg™ electronic works if you follow the terms of this +agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg™ +electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (“the +Foundation” or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection +of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works. Nearly all the individual +works in the collection are in the public domain in the United +States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the +United States and you are located in the United States, we do not +claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, +displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as +all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope +that you will support the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting +free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg™ +works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the +Project Gutenberg™ name associated with the work. You can easily +comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the +same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg™ License when +you share it without charge with others. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are +in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, +check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this +agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, +distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any +other Project Gutenberg™ work. The Foundation makes no +representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any +country other than the United States. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other +immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg™ License must appear +prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg™ work (any work +on which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” appears, or with which the +phrase “Project Gutenberg” is associated) is accessed, displayed, +performed, viewed, copied or distributed: +</div> + +<blockquote> + <div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> + This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most + other parts of the world 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 <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you + are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws + of the country where you are located before using this eBook. + </div> +</blockquote> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is +derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not +contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the +copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in +the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are +redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase “Project +Gutenberg” associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply +either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or +obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg™ +trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any +additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms +will be linked to the Project Gutenberg™ License for all works +posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the +beginning of this work. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg™ +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg™. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg™ License. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including +any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access +to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg™ work in a format +other than “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other format used in the official +version posted on the official Project Gutenberg™ website +(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense +to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means +of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original “Plain +Vanilla ASCII” or other form. Any alternate format must include the +full Project Gutenberg™ License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg™ works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works +provided that: +</div> + +<div style='margin-left:0.7em;'> + <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> + • You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg™ works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed + to the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark, but he has + agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project + Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid + within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are + legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty + payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project + Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in + Section 4, “Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg + Literary Archive Foundation.” + </div> + + <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> + • You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg™ + License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all + copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue + all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg™ + works. + </div> + + <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> + • You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of + any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of + receipt of the work. + </div> + + <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> + • You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg™ works. + </div> +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project +Gutenberg™ electronic work or group of works on different terms than +are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing +from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of +the Project Gutenberg™ trademark. Contact the Foundation as set +forth in Section 3 below. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project +Gutenberg™ collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg™ +electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may +contain “Defects,” such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate +or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other +intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or +other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or +cannot be read by your equipment. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the “Right +of Replacement or Refund” described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg™ trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg™ electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium +with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you +with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in +lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person +or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second +opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If +the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing +without further opportunities to fix the problem. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you ‘AS-IS’, WITH NO +OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT +LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of +damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement +violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the +agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or +limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or +unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the +remaining provisions. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in +accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the +production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg™ +electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, +including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of +the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this +or any Project Gutenberg™ work, (b) alteration, modification, or +additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg™ work, and (c) any +Defect you cause. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg™ +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Project Gutenberg™ is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of +computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It +exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations +from people in all walks of life. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg™’s +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg™ collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg™ and future +generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see +Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation’s EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by +U.S. federal laws and your state’s laws. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +The Foundation’s business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, +Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up +to date contact information can be found at the Foundation’s website +and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact +</div> + +<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Project Gutenberg™ depends upon and cannot survive without widespread +public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND +DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular state +visit <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/donate/">www.gutenberg.org/donate</a>. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To +donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate +</div> + +<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg™ electronic works +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project +Gutenberg™ concept of a library of electronic works that could be +freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and +distributed Project Gutenberg™ eBooks with only a loose network of +volunteer support. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Project Gutenberg™ eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in +the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not +necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper +edition. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Most people start at our website which has the main PG search +facility: <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +This website includes information about Project Gutenberg™, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. +</div> + +</div> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/35281-h/images/cover.jpg b/35281-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8dfd5b7 --- /dev/null +++ b/35281-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/35281-h/images/i002.png b/35281-h/images/i002.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d403e8c --- /dev/null +++ b/35281-h/images/i002.png diff --git a/35281-h/images/i003.png b/35281-h/images/i003.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e81b6c5 --- /dev/null +++ b/35281-h/images/i003.png diff --git a/35281-h/images/i004.png b/35281-h/images/i004.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9323aa4 --- /dev/null +++ b/35281-h/images/i004.png diff --git a/35281-h/images/i005b.png b/35281-h/images/i005b.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..698f79c --- /dev/null +++ b/35281-h/images/i005b.png diff --git a/35281-h/images/i005c.png b/35281-h/images/i005c.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b737706 --- /dev/null +++ b/35281-h/images/i005c.png diff --git a/35281-h/images/i006.png b/35281-h/images/i006.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1e58940 --- /dev/null +++ b/35281-h/images/i006.png diff --git a/35281-h/images/i006b.png b/35281-h/images/i006b.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7f87094 --- /dev/null +++ b/35281-h/images/i006b.png diff --git a/35281-h/images/i007.png b/35281-h/images/i007.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3833250 --- /dev/null +++ b/35281-h/images/i007.png diff --git a/35281-h/images/i008.png b/35281-h/images/i008.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2ad8fc9 --- /dev/null +++ b/35281-h/images/i008.png diff --git a/35281-h/images/i009.png b/35281-h/images/i009.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..452dc38 --- /dev/null +++ b/35281-h/images/i009.png diff --git a/35281-h/images/i010.png b/35281-h/images/i010.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..199f6f8 --- /dev/null +++ b/35281-h/images/i010.png diff --git a/35281-h/images/i011.png b/35281-h/images/i011.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..98b5f6a --- /dev/null +++ b/35281-h/images/i011.png diff --git a/35281-h/images/i012.png b/35281-h/images/i012.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..598308c --- /dev/null +++ b/35281-h/images/i012.png diff --git a/35281-h/images/i013.png b/35281-h/images/i013.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6b55f03 --- /dev/null +++ b/35281-h/images/i013.png diff --git a/35281-h/images/i014.png b/35281-h/images/i014.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..70c7e08 --- /dev/null +++ b/35281-h/images/i014.png diff --git a/35281-h/images/i015.png b/35281-h/images/i015.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9b61884 --- /dev/null +++ b/35281-h/images/i015.png diff --git a/35281-h/images/i016.png b/35281-h/images/i016.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1563787 --- /dev/null +++ b/35281-h/images/i016.png diff --git a/35281-h/images/i017.png b/35281-h/images/i017.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5f46001 --- /dev/null +++ b/35281-h/images/i017.png diff --git a/35281-h/images/i018.png b/35281-h/images/i018.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..35dade8 --- /dev/null +++ b/35281-h/images/i018.png diff --git a/35281-h/images/i019.png b/35281-h/images/i019.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3d7c3ef --- /dev/null +++ b/35281-h/images/i019.png diff --git a/35281-h/images/i020.png b/35281-h/images/i020.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..594ce1c --- /dev/null +++ b/35281-h/images/i020.png diff --git a/35281-h/images/i021.png b/35281-h/images/i021.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4d69966 --- /dev/null +++ b/35281-h/images/i021.png diff --git a/35281-h/images/i022.png b/35281-h/images/i022.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..aec027c --- /dev/null +++ b/35281-h/images/i022.png diff --git a/35281-h/images/i023.png b/35281-h/images/i023.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..fa35c12 --- /dev/null +++ b/35281-h/images/i023.png diff --git a/35281-h/images/i024.png b/35281-h/images/i024.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f6d6c28 --- /dev/null +++ b/35281-h/images/i024.png diff --git a/35281-h/images/i025.png b/35281-h/images/i025.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4a482fa --- /dev/null +++ b/35281-h/images/i025.png diff --git a/35281-h/images/i026.png b/35281-h/images/i026.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4fd65e5 --- /dev/null +++ b/35281-h/images/i026.png diff --git a/35281-h/images/i027.png b/35281-h/images/i027.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..cc39dac --- /dev/null +++ b/35281-h/images/i027.png diff --git a/35281-h/images/i028.png b/35281-h/images/i028.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..964f6d1 --- /dev/null +++ b/35281-h/images/i028.png diff --git a/35281-h/images/i029.png b/35281-h/images/i029.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..66dac0d --- /dev/null +++ b/35281-h/images/i029.png diff --git a/35281-h/images/i030.png b/35281-h/images/i030.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7280129 --- /dev/null +++ b/35281-h/images/i030.png diff --git a/35281-h/images/i031.png b/35281-h/images/i031.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9ef3475 --- /dev/null +++ b/35281-h/images/i031.png diff --git a/35281-h/images/i032.png b/35281-h/images/i032.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5fe3d13 --- /dev/null +++ b/35281-h/images/i032.png diff --git a/35281-h/images/i033.png b/35281-h/images/i033.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a980196 --- /dev/null +++ b/35281-h/images/i033.png diff --git a/35281-h/images/i034.png b/35281-h/images/i034.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e918da1 --- /dev/null +++ b/35281-h/images/i034.png diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d6daf23 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #35281 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/35281) |
